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Day of the Dead
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Day of the Dead Image
Metascore
74

Generally favorable reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 6 Ratings

  • Summary: Anohni, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, Courtney Barnett, The Flaming Lips, Jenny Lewis, Lucius, Mumford & Sons, The National, Angel Olsen, Phosphorescent, The War On Drugs, Bob Weir, Wilco and yMusic are some of the artists covering Grateful Dead songs on the compilation curated by Aaron and BryceAnohni, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, Courtney Barnett, The Flaming Lips, Jenny Lewis, Lucius, Mumford & Sons, The National, Angel Olsen, Phosphorescent, The War On Drugs, Bob Weir, Wilco and yMusic are some of the artists covering Grateful Dead songs on the compilation curated by Aaron and Bryce Dessner of The National for the Red Hot Organization.… Expand
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Loser
MP3MP3 Share on emailEmailShare on printPrint Play the Beck Quiz "Loser" In the time of chimpanzees I was a monkey Butane in my veins So I'm out to... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 19
  3. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. PopMatters
    Jul 13, 2016
    90
    It would be easy for me to pick apart Day of the Dead track by track, giving all 59 parts their own unique analysis. The collection is that strong, and even when there are rare moments when the covers don’t particularly work, it’s hard to not at least admire what the artist is attempting to do.
  2. Record Collector
    May 20, 2016
    80
    Day Of The Dead not only represents a triumph of admin on the part of its curators, but the sweetest love letter to the Grateful Dead imaginable. Deadheads will adore it; the unconverted may find themselves a lot more Dead-curious.
  3. The Independent (UK)
    May 18, 2016
    80
    Bryce Dessner brings his minimalist experience to bear on “Garcia Counterpoint”, a Reichian exercise of layered guitar lines, but only Wilco’s Nels Cline comes close to the spirit of exploratory abandon in Wilco’s live version of “St. Stephen”. And amongst a tranche of dutiful replicas, Anohni’s “Black Peter” stands out for its transformative orchestration and delivery.
  4. Magnet
    Aug 2, 2016
    80
    There's so much good music here, performed affectionately but not reverently, that it's a keeper. [No. 132, p.60]
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  5. Rolling Stone
    May 20, 2016
    70
    What emerges is a beautiful crosscutting conversation – about life and death, the ways we recover the past and honor it and remake it to suit our needs, community as a fraying security blanket we cling to during the high times around Uncle John's campfire and deep in night when we feel Black Peter casting his side-eye our way.
  6. Austin Chronicle
    Dec 15, 2016
    67
    Deadheads don't require this or any other tribute, but connecting with at least a couple of the set's five hours comes easily. Its modern cast, too, may well bridge a generational gap to rouse new converts.
  7. Boston Globe
    May 19, 2016
    40
    The few gold nuggets too easily get lost among the many chunks of lead.

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 1
  3. Negative: 0 out of 1
  1. Jacobabe
    Mar 19, 2017
    10
    This is a must for every Dead fan, young and old. What is particularly impressive of this set is that the artists all give a fresh, exquisiteThis is a must for every Dead fan, young and old. What is particularly impressive of this set is that the artists all give a fresh, exquisite performance of the songs. Each performance stays true to the original material but also is given new life with each performing artist's own thoughtful, true to their selves, interpretations. This is not a run of the mill covers project. It's most definitely a love affair.

    For non Grateful Dead fans, this set should definitely be given some consideration. The compositions are strong of course, but the choice of artists spans several different genres and are a good representation of quality and inspiring artists from the last couple of decades.    … Expand

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