Do you ever wonder?

entire books should be (and probably have been) written about the whole grateful dead cult phenomenom. i've been subjected to their interminable live shows and bootleg tapes, which is my idea of hell. now, i don't think their whole ouevre is entirely worthless--workingman's and american beauty are good country rock lps--but seldom has more adulation been poured over less musical substance. some of my less drug-addled deadhead friends have theorized that (sorta like the rocky horror picture show)artistic merit isn't the point; rather the whole communal let's drop-acid-and-buy-the merchandise-together vibe is the draw; all in all they're a fairly benign place for like-minded aging white people to gather and avoid reality.

There is/was (may have gone under) a Radio Dead IO internet radio station that I tried a few times recently with my Roku Soundbridge's Internet radio source option thinking I will get to hear a lot of Dead stuff that I've never heard before and find some new gems. But everytime I turned it on, there was some pointless meandering live jam going on where I lost interest in seconds. Maybe I just have a short attention span these days....

>Shirley Bassey I do not get yet but then again I have been underexposed to-date.

I discovered her videos on YouTube about a year ago, and I love her!

from 1968: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KWT_a9g-II

from 1973: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51Wg6k9cWhM

from 1991: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raQqGLPcHzg

A live audience seems to bring out the worst in Shirley Bassey - Her live performances are way over the top IMO. But once she did "Goldfinger" and "Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" she should have been contracted to do every Bond film.

95% of Grateful Deads music is pretty marginal. The thing is though is that almost everything they have ever done has been recorded and they've been around a long time and played allot of concerts. The math is pretty impressive. So if you can weed through the nonsense and find them on a good night, their playing can be magical. Not so different from the great live jazz bands when the players have those great nights. It's also been my experience that the great GD recordings that I have are all about Jerry Garcia playing these inspired improvisational threads. Some people think it's mindless noodeling but I find it a very high form of art and sheer musical beauty. How come it's OK to improvise on a trumpet or piano but when a guitarist does it, it's mindless noodeling??

I've never understand Clapton bashing. He has a great voice, written a fair share of really great songs, he can play alt country, blues, hard rock, ballads and everything in between. Just check out the DVD tribute to George Harrison when he sings "Something" and completely out classes Paul McCartney. You don't see him running around craving attention like McCartney and Steve Wonder. What's not to like?

I also will have to disagree about Wilco. They are one of the better bands out there right now. Check out their last appearance on Austin City Limits.