Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 02/25/2003
A companion piece to the luminous
Workingman's Dead,
American Beauty is an even stronger document of
the Grateful Dead's return to their musical roots. Sporting a more full-bodied and intricate sound than its predecessor thanks to the addition of subtle electric textures, the record is also more representative of the group as a collective unit, allowing for stunning contributions from
Dave Torbert (the poignant opener
"Box of Rain") and
Bob Weir (
"Sugar Magnolia"); at the top of his game as well is
Jerry Garcia, who delivers the superb
"Friend of the Devil," "Candyman," and
"Ripple." Climaxing with the perennial
"Truckin'," American Beauty remains
the Dead's studio masterpiece -- never again would they be so musically focused or so emotionally direct. [The 2003 reissue on
Rhino contains expanded liner notes with lots of photos. It also adds five new tracks to the album's original running order: the single version of
"Truckin'" and four live tracks (
"Friend of the Devil" recorded at
the Filmore East on 5/15/1970,
"Candyman" recorded at
Winterland on 4/15/1970,
"Till the Morning Comes" recorded at
Winterland on 10/4/1970,
"Attics of My Life" recorded at
the Filmore West on 6/6/1970, and
"Truckin'" recorded at
Legion Stadium on 12/26/1970).]
~Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide
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