Garcia - JERRY GARCIA***

Deal/Bird Song/Sugaree/Loser/Late For Supper/Spidergawd/Eep Hour/To Lay Me Down/An Odd Little Place/The Wheel

Eponymous solo album from Grateful Dead leading light Jerry Garcia, in which he plays all the instruments except drums. Described as similar sounding to recent group albums, mixed with some experimental pieces. (US:35)

“I was expecting a lot more from Garcia's first solo record, but there's too much homespun atmosphere here. Bird Song retains its great melody but loses its form too easily by the close, whereas Sugaree is a few too many choruses long. There are other moments that are worthwhile, To Lay Me Down is mostly excellent for instance, but there is too much experimenting with avant-garde noise making.”

“The most popular solo release from the leader of the Dead is a solid effort, let down only by few shorter tracks that don't really do much. The twangy, blues-like guitar on the opener Deal makes it evident that this solo album would maintain a heavy Dead influence. Having said that, Garcia performs almost every instrument.”

“It's Jerry on everything except drums, but you can still fairly call this a Dead album in disguise. Not only did six of the songs enter the band's repertoire, most of them became mainstays. The music very much inhabits the same sound world as Workingman's Dead and American Beauty.”

“Garcia is a strong solo debut from one of the greatest rock musicians in history, but this should have been beefed up with a couple more songs. The experimental instrumentals are fine, and An Odd Little Place provides a nice introduction to an excellent rendition of The Wheel. Bird Song is another standout here with this electric version demonstrating the diversity of the tune when contrasted with the acoustic version.”

“The anti-dead heads who complain that the Dead have too many boring solos will not have that criticism here. Several tight songs comprise both sides of the LP.”

“This album is such classic Garcia. The Deal is a hot song and has some incredible guitar licks like only Jerry can give. Sugaree is a classic, Lay Me Down is gentle and reflects the subtlety of his music, and The Wheel articulates what it is to live on the razors edge in life. You won't be sorry to own this one.”