In addition, there are some terrific photos included with the 16-page booklet along with an essay by Deadhead David Gans, who wrote last year's "Conversations with the Dead: The Grateful Dead Interview Book."

While there are several live albums available that would give you a broader view of the Grateful Dead, this album along with WORKINGMAN'S DEAD are the finest studio albums of their storied career and belongs in any serious music fan's collection [Total running time: 79:56] ESSENTIAL


Why Must People Attack this Album?   September 18, 2004
 13 out of 16 found this review helpful

The point of these reviews is not to attack the artists (or the lifestyles of their fans), but to try to describe and/or objectively critique the music. Yes, people are allowed their opinions, but an album such as American Beauty clearly is a classic folk-rock album, and to try to label it as a one-star piece of music just ain't right. That being said, this album is one half of the pair with "Workingman's Dead" that appeared in 1970. The Dead had already established themselves as a psychedelic bluesy jam-rock band, and had a loyal following. However, they had not created much in the way of well-crafted songwriting until these two albums were recorded. Basically, they fused together blues, country, boogie-woogie, traditional roots, and folk into a unique sound. While Workingmans Dead may have more blues influence, this album leans a bit more towards folk and country. Many of the songs are slow and introspective. Please don't be scared away by reviewers who have some strange axe to grind -- trust the rest of us, and the fact that established music guides all rate this as a true classic.


Beauty   July 3, 2003
 12 out of 12 found this review helpful

I always feared having to write a review of this album, but I guess I can accept it as a challenge, and attempt the impossible. For truly, how could one review something like a part of their lives, a place where they lived, or a transitioning period? To me the album brings on smells, tastes, and visions from all three of those stages.

Objectively, American Beauty has its flaws. The songs were done in the studio, something the band never looked forward to, and a little bittle of evolution, well, took some of these songs a long way. Look at Sugar Magnolia and Truckin' for instance, two of the bands most famous works, they never became great songs until they played them live, let them evolve, unfold, and bloom. Any experienced listener would take a live Truckin' or Sugar Magnolia over the studio versions anyday. But that doesn't really matter, because what the rest of the album has to offer is probably the best of what folk and rock music have to offer....

Box of Rain, Ripple, Brokedown Palace, Candyman, Friend of the Devil, and Attics of My Life.

Of all the jazz, classical music, folk & roots music, and world & ethnic music I have ever listened to, I still have not found songs which parallel these in their strength and grandeur. These are'nt merely songs, these are moments, these are Zen watercolor paintings, and they are the most sincere, and human pieces of art that I have ever come to know.

Coming to know these songs was like developing a new sense for me. It was like seeing, or smelling, or hearing for the first time, when the buddha sprang from beneath the bodhi tree he must have felt similar. I truly envy you if you have never listened to these songs, I would pay astronomical amounts of money to hear these songs again for the first time.

But then again, that was another time, another world....


The Best Greatful Dead Studio Album!   February 17, 2004
 11 out of 13 found this review helpful

This is by far the best studio album The Greatful Dead ever recorded. Workingman was good but this is just that much better. Jerry Garcia's amazing guitar playing comes through full blast here on this classic album. The lyrics are the best they had been up untill this point.

The album starts off with the bands all time best song 'Box Of Rain' its a slower ballad with some beautiful lyrics. The album also closes with The Greatful Dead's second best song 'Truckin' this song is The Deads most rock and roll song, and it has Jerry Garcia's greatest guitar solo of all time! Other classics include 'Friend Of The Devil' 'Sugar Magnolia' 'Ripple' and the awsome 'Ripple' The band was never tighter then on this album.

Like I said you cant get better then American Beauty for The Greatful Dead, Working Man's Dead is good but this is bettter. Dont be fooled by the people who tell you that the live albums are better, beacuse they can get boring some of the songs are like 45 minutes long on Europe '72. If you want a good live album stick with Live Dead, its their only decent live album.Col


A studio masterpiece from the quintessential live band   November 28, 2003
 10 out of 12 found this review helpful

The Dead sound has never been captured in a studio but American Beauty was undoubtedly their best studio album if not the best country/folk/rock album ever released. The remastering of this beautiful collection of songs is well worth owning and the sound quality is wonderful.This was the Dead at the absolutely peak of their creative powers both in terms of the compositions and the musicianship. The influence of Crosby Stills Nash and Young is evident in the harmonizations but the Dead were certainly more on the edge. The lryical tunes that make up this recording are some of my alltime favorite Dead songs. Ripple, Box of Rain, Sugar Magnolia.
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