A majority of fare lacks any significant instrumental breaks. Indeed, Garcia doesn't even indulge in a single guitar solo on the record. Again taking advantage of the best songwriting of Robert Hunter's career, the Dead turns in its most collective studio performance, with every individual contributing equally and focusing on nothing but the songs at hand. Understated amplified passages, graceful melodies, layered singing, and old-time string flavors-including mandolin work from masterful guest David Grisman-bestow the material with easygoing, comfortable vibes. Made just months after its companion release, Workingman's Dead, the San Francisco legends' second 1970 masterpiece furthers the former work's close-knit relationship between country and folk while adding extra rock and bluegrass currents. The supple tension of Phil Lesh's bass lines, charismatic timbres of Jerry Garcia's pedal-steel fills, and interwoven dialogue between the pianos and percussion are rendered with lifelike scale and tone.

Instruments, too, resonate in glorious Technicolor. Every member's distinctive singing resounds with tube-like clarity the intended expressionism is as plain as day. The seamless, effortless integration of the group's vocals has always been a high point of American Beauty, and when you hear it here, you'll want every record you own to sound half as good. Mastered from the original master tapes and pressed on 180g LP at RTI, this deluxe set possesses seemingly limitless dynamics, reference-grade presence, and expansive soundstages.

It's a rare album that makes one feel, restores one's faith, and renews one's appreciation for all life offers. Songs flower with majestic melodies and emotionally direct lyrics. Warmth, relaxation, and poignancy envelop the performances and create sensations of bliss, peace, and honesty. Strummed acoustic guitars amicably intermingle with plaintive percussive beats. Airy vocal harmonies blow like fresh breezes. The pinnacle of the Dead's studio output, American Beauty lives up to its name-as well as that of the 'American Reality' ambigram on the iconic cover. They don't make albums like this anymore, but thankfully, Mobile Fidelity's extraordinary 180g 45RPM 2LP set allows you to experience this 1970 masterpiece with unrivaled intimacy, realism, detail, and perspective. The Most American Folk-Rock Ever Made: Indelible Harmonies, Spare Playing, and Gorgeous Textures Surround Masterfully Crafted Songs Close Your Eyes as the Dead Serenade You in Your Room: Mobile Fidelity Edition of American Beauty Epitomizes Realistic Space, Vocals, Instrumentation, and Ambience Ranked #261 on Rolling Stone's List of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: Includes 'Truckin',' 'Sugar Magnolia,' 'Friend of the Devil,' 'Ripple' 1/4' / 15 IPS analog master to analog console to latheĪmerican Beauty is the most perfectly realized, superbly played, and openly natural folk-rock record ever released.

Grateful dead vinyl