Anthem Of The Sun – GRATEFUL DEAD***

That’s It For The Other One/New Potato Caboose/Born Cross Eyed/Alligator/Caution(Do Not Stop On Tracks)

Anthem Of The Sun, the follow up album from The Grateful Dead, encapsulates their experimental rambling free-form psychedelic playing style with which they are most associated. (US:87)

"Psychedelic to the core. There is nothing holding this baby to the ground. Badly underestimated record that may need to be heard a few times to be appreciated."

"Certainly more representative of the sound most people equate with this band than their debut. This one also features great period flavour, along with more noticeable psych influences, but with some of the more extended improvisations that have become their trademark."

"Filled with daring psychedelic playing, inventive experimentalism, a constant flow of ideas and a balanced mix of careful studio work and raw live energy. Anthem Of The Sun may not be the easiest listen, but it surely is a very original album."

"This is not simply an album. The composition, performance and craftsmanship of this work sets it apart. The blending of live and studio material, the incorporation of avant-garde modern music, and the melodic flow of side one is pure genius. Side two is acid-drenched blues-rock jamming at its finest."

"Rambling and chaotic, but that's the idea I suppose. Garcia pulls out some burning leads amongst the trippy haze."

"This is The Grateful Dead I loved: acid-drenched, spontaneous, crazed and loopy. Anthem Of The Sun catches some of their concert magic. Never mind that they blended studio and differing concert recordings - this album gives the feeling of the psychedelic Grateful Dead when they were really cooking."

"I wasn't a big fan of the first record but I thought I would try them again. A big, big mistake, and a real waste of money. There is nothing remotely musical about this record. It is a cacophony of noise. Anyone who disagrees with this, I would ask them to sing any of this from memory. Do not buy this record if you are a musician or if you have any musical taste at all."