American Beauty
by Grateful Dead

From junodog4 06/01/2026 22:52 | #314738

Makes sense that this would be the highest ranked Dead album. There's way more to them beyond this album, but this is a great start for most.

From the pedigree of laid back folk, country blues they're known for, this just didn't hit me like I was expecting. But on saying that, I've found it really is one that takes multiple listens to absorb. And you know it's slowly seeping in when you have earworms days after listening.

Grateful Dead best album

I wasn't a member of this site until I saw how criminally underrated this album is on this site.
In what universe can Kid A/The White Album(overly long but would've been amazing if reduced to 12 songs)/London Calling etc even lace American Beautys sneakers.

Box of Rain/Ripple/Brokedown Palace/Friend of the Devil/ Candyman EVERY SONG is good or great.

Enough of that but 350.... come on now. Kid A???? REALLY?!!!? Dude even a Moon Shaped Pool is ranked 77th? What are we doing here. I love Radiohead but that album was trash.

American Beauty is at worst a top 25 album of all time

A thoroughly enjoyable record that is relaxing, smooth and gives the listener a great experience. The group have nailed this style of music on this release and have made one of the best records in the genre. Musically, it is so cohesive and packed full of brilliant instrumental performances across the whole group. They really shine on songs like Friend Of The Devil, Ripple, Sugar Magnolia and Box Of Rain. These songs are the peak of the record and show the beautiful music this group could create. Despite this, Operator still draws me out of the album every time I hear it and I argue it should be skipped. Overall, this is one of those albums that you can stick on and just relax to and get lost in the music.

I used to think that "Workingman's Dead" with songs like "Uncle John's Band," "Dire Wolf" and "Casey Jones" must be the strongest Grateful Dead album. After listening carefully to "American Beauty" there is no doubt that I have to reconsider my opinion. Where the "Uncle John's Band" has a few less interesting numbers, "American Beauty" comes out as a full set album. Stylistically the two albums, of course, are very close to each other, with the emphasis that is placed in magnificent vocal harmonies, with considerable inspiration from Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

Grateful Dead's songwriting is troughout the album marked by both inspiration and creativity and many of the group's most beloved songs can be found here. First and foremost, the bluesy "Truckin '" is highlighted because it was a great concert favorite, the closest the group came to a single hit, and of course because it's nice song.

Otherwise, it is the country / folk-inspired songs that dominate with "Box of Rain", "Sugar Magnolia," "Ripple" and "Till the Morning Comes" as my personal favorites.

The magnificent vocals are particularly expressed in the hymn-like "Attics of My Life", which also help make this album an unforgettable milestone.

More upbeat is "Friend of the Devil" and "Operator", the latter written and sung by Ron McKernan. Otherwise, it is as usually Jerry Garcia who is the most prolific songwriter, with Phil Lesh and Bob Weir contributing with the classics "Box of Rain" and "Sugar Magnolia".

In addition to the single versions of "Truckin '" and "Ripple" the bonus tracks consist of fine live recordings from various concerts played in 1970. Fine sound and great performances.

https://www.angelfire.com/nv/Badfinger/BANDgrateful.html

Favorite GD Studio album

I am not Grateful Dead fan but that was decent record.

Una de las dos joyas country rock de Grateful Dead (la otra es Workingman's Dead).

Only getting round to this in 2021. Didn't know any of their stuff or back ground so able to listen to it fresh with no preconceptions. Didn't really get it grabbing me. Attics Of My Life was top track.