This might be the most appropriately named album they ever made. Without a Net describes the music they made to a tee... Huge balls, no fear, always pushing the limits, performers on a highwire act with no net below. Though this album title might have been more appropriate for the earlier years, they always played on the tightrope, the borderline of disaster and genius right up to the very last show. Sometimes it all went bad... and sometimes it transcended what I think is possible with a live band.
This album, however, is not a borderline disaster.
This album shows a band that is at it's peak. Very polished, very jazzy, completely confident and focused on what they are trying to achieve. Brent Mydland died after this tour, and it all went downhill for the next 5 years after that. But here you can hear Brent's last call, and see what magic music they were making.
The "first set" of this album contains perfect versions of every song, something that was never achieved in any concert they ever played. Let alone a whole tour. I have listened to almost every concert they have played thanks to the archives, and I can say with quite a bit of confidence that the songs represented here are the best versions they played within 10 years of this album's release (1985-1995).
My favorites are the Walkin Blues, Althea, Birdsong (the midi guitar flute freakin rules) and Cassidy among the perfect renditions of the other songs.
However, the Eyes of the World is beyond the pale and might be the best of the best. Branford Masalis sits in on this song. It will make you think about how he should have been a full time member. It shows his musical genius to just fit right in so perfectly with a maniac band like the Grateful Dead, it is like he had played these songs 5000 times along with Jerry. It really is something to behold. If you enjoy the Eyes of the World as much as I do, be sure to check out the complete show which contains a Dark Star with Branford Marsalis along with the rest of the 2nd set from 3-29-90.
This is the perfect album to give to a friend who is into Jazz, but has never heard the Dead before. It will surely surprise anyone unfamiliar with the Dead, as they have never been a band to meet anyone's preconceptions, or expectations for that matter.
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Without a Net: Live
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The Grateful Dead - The Music Never Stopped Live 1976-1990 - 10CD BoxsetGrateful Dead ProductionAudio CD
Product details
- Package Dimensions : 5.55 x 4.97 x 0.54 inches; 4.05 ounces
- Manufacturer : WSM/FULL FREQUENCY RECORDINGS
- Date First Available : January 29, 2007
- Label : WSM/FULL FREQUENCY RECORDINGS
- ASIN : B0002T2Q8S
- Number of discs : 2
- Best Sellers Rank: #463,695 in CDs & Vinyl (See Top 100 in CDs & Vinyl)
- #1,152 in Jam Bands (CDs & Vinyl)
- #5,107 in Classic Psychedelic Rock
- #11,019 in Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) (CDs & Vinyl)
- Customer Reviews:
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4.7 out of 5 stars
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33 global ratings
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Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2010
Reviewed in the United States on August 23, 2012
I was an early fan of the Grateful Dead. I played the first album on my 4-track stereo over and over. I listened to the albums as the band evolved until about 1974 or '75. I didn't get back on the bus until the In The Dark album. I had never explored or knew about the years & years of live recordings that had been preserved by the band and its loyal fans. It wasn't until Jerry's death that I heard the variety of previously released and unreleased tapes. I am now a more avid fan than ever. I only ever saw the GD twice before Jerry passed away. I've seen various members and different incarnations of the band eight times since '95.
All that said, this is my favorite LIVE Grateful Dead album. I love the mix of songs, the sounds they were using at this time, and the vocal mix. I've got lots of Dick's Picks, and From the Vault releases, and lots of DVDs, but if I could only have ONE LIVE GD album this is the one I would have. I play this one more than any of the others.
P.S. American Beauty is my pick for favorite studio release.
I know that there are lots of favorite GD choices out there, and no one's opinion really matters. If you are new to the Grateful Dead this is a fine introduction.
It's all good. The music is what really matters. Find your favorites and enjoy them.
Peace, Love, & Keep on Truckin'!
All that said, this is my favorite LIVE Grateful Dead album. I love the mix of songs, the sounds they were using at this time, and the vocal mix. I've got lots of Dick's Picks, and From the Vault releases, and lots of DVDs, but if I could only have ONE LIVE GD album this is the one I would have. I play this one more than any of the others.
P.S. American Beauty is my pick for favorite studio release.
I know that there are lots of favorite GD choices out there, and no one's opinion really matters. If you are new to the Grateful Dead this is a fine introduction.
It's all good. The music is what really matters. Find your favorites and enjoy them.
Peace, Love, & Keep on Truckin'!
Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2017
Funny but the older I get, the more I get into The Grateful Dead. I had known about their music in the 60's and 70's but never really took the time to explore it further. Then, my late brother brought home their first LP and I have been hooked ever since. This is a really good LP and bought for the performance of Bob Weir on "Walking Blues" which I saw him do in performance with the Dead back in the late 80's/early 90's.
Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2016
I love this one for someone just getting into the Grateful Dead. I love Spring 1990 and this opens that door of listening. Brent Is brought forward in the mix as a tribute to him after his untimely death a few months later.
Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2005
This recently remastered (in HDCD from Rhino) 2-CD set of songs was recorded live between October 1989 and April 1990. It's a completely different sounding Grateful Dead than what I've been listening to lately. Not bad, just different.
For one thing, there are more instruments here than just standard bass, keyboards, drums, guitars, vocals. On Without a Net, there's a whole plethora of instruments, from brass to synthesizer. The overall result is a polished, funky, Las Vegas-y sound. (Brandford Marsalis guests on "Eyes Of the World.")
I prefer the stripped-back sounds of the Grateful Dead circa 1968-1972, personally. (My two favorite live Grateful Dead CDs are Two From the Vault and Hundred Year Hall for that reason.)
However, that doesn't mean there's anything wrong with Without a Net. On the contrary, there are some great tunes on this live CD set -- among which are "China Cat Sunflower/I Know Your Rider," the opening salvo on the second CD, and "Help On the Way/Franklin's Tower," "Let it Grow," and "One More Saturday Night." Not coincidentally my favorite tracks are the longer, more energetic ones that get jamming and settle into a cool Grateful Dead groove.
Without a Net is a really solid Grateful Dead concert. The sound quality is, as always with Rhino, top notch. But be forewarned. If you buy this CD thinking it'll be like Two From the Vault or The Grateful Dead Movie Soundtrack, you'll be sorely disappointed. That's not the sound, or the groove, in this CD. Without a Net has a kind of distant feel to it. To me, it doesn't reveal the brilliance of the Grateful Dead's live shows.
But, to each his own.
For one thing, there are more instruments here than just standard bass, keyboards, drums, guitars, vocals. On Without a Net, there's a whole plethora of instruments, from brass to synthesizer. The overall result is a polished, funky, Las Vegas-y sound. (Brandford Marsalis guests on "Eyes Of the World.")
I prefer the stripped-back sounds of the Grateful Dead circa 1968-1972, personally. (My two favorite live Grateful Dead CDs are Two From the Vault and Hundred Year Hall for that reason.)
However, that doesn't mean there's anything wrong with Without a Net. On the contrary, there are some great tunes on this live CD set -- among which are "China Cat Sunflower/I Know Your Rider," the opening salvo on the second CD, and "Help On the Way/Franklin's Tower," "Let it Grow," and "One More Saturday Night." Not coincidentally my favorite tracks are the longer, more energetic ones that get jamming and settle into a cool Grateful Dead groove.
Without a Net is a really solid Grateful Dead concert. The sound quality is, as always with Rhino, top notch. But be forewarned. If you buy this CD thinking it'll be like Two From the Vault or The Grateful Dead Movie Soundtrack, you'll be sorely disappointed. That's not the sound, or the groove, in this CD. Without a Net has a kind of distant feel to it. To me, it doesn't reveal the brilliance of the Grateful Dead's live shows.
But, to each his own.
Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2009
I first heard a few songs from this CD right around New Years, maybe 1991, and fell head over heels for Eyes of the World. There's so many great tunes on this CD, so many great musicians who helped, one of my favorite Dead albums. Once again, played into oblivion, buying another copy for the good stereo.
Top reviews from other countries
Dr. Erik Hoeller
4.0 out of 5 stars
In Ehren ergraut.........
Reviewed in Germany on January 3, 2010
ein wertvolles Album, auch weil es relativ wenig Veröffentlichungen der Dead - Spätphase gibt, leider zu Unrecht denn hier glänzen nicht nur die Gitarristen Jerry Garcia und Bob Weir sondern so nebenbei noch Gastsaxofonist Marsalis. Es dominiert fliessender Jazzrock, wenig Country-Rock. In gewisser Weise ein Revival der extensiven Jams der Frühphase , allerdings weniger wild denn homogen. Als Deadhead wünscht man sich mehr von diesem Stoff ! Die Songauswahl reflektiert die Hinwendung der späten Dead zu verrsponnenen Kompositionen, siehe " Help on the way " und " Eyes of the World ". Schön auch " Cassidy " und " Victim or the Crime ".
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