Cold War Kids :: Up In Rags EP

Besides absolutely loving the name of this band, I also have been incessantly listening to their two EPs all weekend. They have been on repeat in my disc changer, and on the iPod in my car. I know little about them, other than they are from California and play an interesting brand of post-rock with a vocalist who probably goes off live. Check these tracks out below and get both of their EPs on this site for twelve bucks.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Cold War Kids :: Hang Me Up To Dry
MP3: Cold War Kids :: We Used To Vacation
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www.coldwarkids.com
www.myspace.com/coldwarkids
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Shearwater :: Palo Santo

Misra has become one of my go-to labels lately -- their taste seldom, if ever, lets me down. Their latest release, Shearwater's Palo Santo, is no exception. Touted as the first Shearwater album with co-founder Jonathan Meiberg taking on all the songwriting duties, it has been floating through my speakers since last week.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Shearwater :: Seventy Four, Seventy Five
MP3: Shearwater :: White Waves
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Bonus: Shearwater :: St. Mary's Walk (demo)
www.misrarecords.com
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+ Shearwater catalog available at eMusic: 50 Free MP3 Trial +

R.E.M. :: Murmur

Maybe I should move more often, as I keep happening upon albums that while not forgotten, have been severely ignored by yours truly for years. The latest case being R.E.M.'s debut long-player Murmur. I have this on vinyl somewhere too, but it's the CD that caught my attention and led me to ripping it on my computer.

One of the greatest albums of the past 20+ years, Murmur consistently draws me into it's mysterious world of kudzu, folklore, pines and ghosts. While the band recorded many a great album with the IRS label in the '80s, Murmur stands out above the rest as a whole entity unto itself. It's a planet -- the other albums merely gyrate in it's presence.

All beautifully mumbled vocals and ringing Rickenbackers, the album unfolds itself a little at a time. Seventeen years after first hearing it I am even now discovering subtle nuances making it new all over again. If you somehow haven't been exposed to the band's early output I am terribly envious, as you have much to look forward to (start here). If you, like myself, are a longtime devotee, go dust this one off and give it a fresh spin. Two-headed cow.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: REM :: Pilgrimage
MP3: REM :: Perect Circle
----------
Amazon: R.E.M. :: Murmur
www.murmurs.com
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+ eMusic: 50 Free MP3 Trial +

Pink Mountaintops :: Axis of Evol

Fuzzed out, contemplative Canadian, sex-folk/rock. Is that a genre yet? If so Pink Mountaintops have been owning it, and occupying lot of time on my stereo since the release of their eponymous debut last year. Not to mention the other Black Mountain spin offs. Here's one off their latest -- for a taste of their debut, scroll down a few posts and look for "Erected."

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: The Pink Mountaintops :: Slaves
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Amazon: The Pink Mountaintops - Axis of Evol
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www.myspace.com/pinkmountaintops

+ Pink Mountaintops available at eMusic: 50 Free MP3 Trial +

Living With War :: Stream This Record

Neil Young makes his third appearance on An Aquarium Drunkard in a week. If you haven't heard, Neil's thrown together a raucous protest album this past month and is not at all mincing words/fucking around (See: "Impeach The President"). Throughout his storied career, The Loner's been no stranger to controversy, so this record should not be much of a surprise to anyone keeping tabs.

As of today you can stream the album in it's entirety courtesy of his website. I'm sure the FBI/CIA/INS will be, so you should too!! It's also likely uber-cheesy Country music wank , Toby Keith, will prepare a "rebuttal album."

**The album will be available at digital retailers beginning May 2nd. CDs will be available in stores early May.

STREAM IT

Tracklist:
:: After The Garden
:: Living With War
:: The Restless Consumer
:: Shock And Awe
:: Families
:: Flags of Freedom
:: Let's Impeach The President
:: Lookin' For A Leader
:: Roger And Out
:: America The Beautiful
----------
Living With The War Blog
www.neilyoung.com
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+CNN Showbiz Tonight Interview
+Fox News' Neil Cavuto clip
+FoxNews.com story 4/27

Now Podcasting :: Episode Four

Subscribe: Add This Feed
MP3 Download/Stream: Episode IV
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aquarium Drunkard Podcast: Archives Here

The Aquarium Drunkard Show :: Tracks

Here are three randomly chosen tracks from this afternoon's set from The Aquarium Drunkard Show. Broadcasting out of the Little Radio warehouse in downtown L.A. -- tune in every Wednesday from 2:00 - 4:00 PST. Hosted by yours truly (I've stopped chewing gum on the Mic). Cheers. -- Satisfied '75

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Spaceman 3 :: Come Down Easy (demo)
MP3: The Microphones :: I Want Wind To Blow
MP3: Pink Mountaintops :: Erected
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www.littleradio.com

Neil Young :: Cocaine Eyes

One of An Aquarium Drunkard's readers emailed me this track yesterday from Neil's rare Eldorado ep. Allegedly written about sometime- bandmate Stephen Stills drug problems in the '80s. Check out Thrasher's Wheat for extensive details.

In other Neil news, it looks like he will indeed be on tour this summer with CSNY. I saw them during the 2000 run and it was pretty solid. Also, check out Neil's website next month for details on his upcoming "protest" album as well as streaming tracks. Keep on rockin in the free world, dos?

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Neil Young :: Cocaine Eyes
----------
www.neilyoung.com
Amazon: Neil Young - Eldorado [IMPORT]
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The Avett Brothers :: The Robbinsville Sessions

Perception's a funny thing. The first time I heard this album I was a little put off...not sure why really, I think I was listening to some sort of post-post-rock nonsense just prior, and the two juxtaposed were just too contrary for my ears to handle. Anyway, my loss! As it's pretty damn cool, and I am into it more with every listen. Check these NC brothers out -- all gruff vocals, banjos, acoustic guitars and the like. Some of the album reminds me a bit of their NYC neighbors to the North, O'death.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: The Avett Brothers :: The Lowering
----------
www.theavettbrothers.com
Amazon: The Avett Brothers - Four Thieves Gone: The Robbinsville Sessions
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Josh Rouse :: Hotel Cafe'

photo credit: steve akers

Last Wednesday night Josh Rouse played here in Los Angeles at the Henry Fonda Theatre in Hollywood. Backed by several cellos, and on occasion members from opening act Strays Don't Sleep, Rouse turned out an impressive, low-key performance in spite of several sound problems that plagued him throughout his set. Most of the night's material drew from his latest LP Substitulo, which was released last month on his own Bedroom Classics label (note: his first full-length since his split from former label Ryko).

For me, the real treat of Rouse's L.A. stop was his intimate showcase the following day at the Hotel Cafe'. Relaxed and free of technical hang-ups, Josh played an excellent five to six song set -- solo, with backing cello accompaniment, and a duet on "The Man Who" with Spanish girlfriend Paz Suay -- perhaps the highlight of the performance (and album), as their chemistry was evident and giving to the nature of the tune.

Here is a track from the performance, courtesy of Nettwerk, originally found on the Bedroom Classics II ep digitally released via eMusic & iTunes in late 2005.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Josh Rouse :: O, I Need All The Love (live)
----------
Amazon: Josh Rouse - Substitulo
www.joshrouse.com
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+ Bedroom Classics II available at eMusic: 50 Free MP3 Trial +

Scrapple :: The Soundtrack

Stereogum's post from last week got me thinking about underrated film soundtracks...like this one.

The movie Scrapple is a little independent that came out seven or eight years ago, and generated a small buzz with it's '70s style cinematography and aesthetics. Though, to me, the real star of the film was the soundtrack. Quite possibly the greatest Summer road-trip album ever, the soundtrack to Scrapple is a mix of obscure '70s folk, rock, and reggae with original Taj Mahal compositions flavoring it throughout. Seek this soundtrack out.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: John Martyn :: Over The Hill
MP3: J.J. Cale :: One Step Ahead of the Blues
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www.scrapplemovie.com
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Grandaddy :: Just Like the Fambly Cat

You should know: This is Grandaddy's swan song. This is the end of their road -- but as an audience we are left with this parting gift -- Just Like the Fambly Cat. The album opens with a small child's voice repeatedly enquiring "what happened to the family cat?" As the track progresses toward the end, the listener can only assume the cat, and quite possibly the child, were/will be devoured by some malevolent technological noise/static-demon. With this, Grandaddy (mistrustful luddites that they are) stay true to form.

Just Like The Fambly Cat wraps up a lot of familiar motifs the band has toyed with over the years. Here is the second track off the album.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Grandaddy :: Geez Louise (megaupload link)
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Amazon: Grandaddy :: Just Like the Fambly Cat
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+ Grandaddy's catalog available at eMusic: 50 Free MP3 Trial +

Neil Young :: For The Very First Time

I promise there is no unwritten rule stating Neil Young must grace the virtual pages of An Aquarium Drunkard, at least in some fashion, once a month. Admittingly, it does seem like that sometimes. So hell, in keeping with tradition, let's get to it.

This past week I started boxing up CDs as we are putting our stuff in storage next month and taking a couple of months off from L.A. (more on that to come). While doing so I ran into an old friend -- CSNY's live album Four Way Street. While this album is by no means perfect, it was my introduction to Neil Young as a teenager and therefore remains special to these ears. My dad had this on vinyl and when he replaced it with CD the addition of Neil's medley of The Loner/cinnamon Girl/Down By The River immediately pulled me in. Neil was quite unlike anything I had ever heard before, take pause and think about that -- think about the first time you heard Neil's weird, high-pitched, alien voice. And to come across that voice in the confines of an otherwise pretty album of nice acoustics and harmonies? Wild.

After all these years, and countless live albums, this acoustic medley still remains one of my favorite Neil Young moments ever captured in time. The Loner/Cinnamon Girl/Down By The River.

What was your first Neil Young experience? Leave a comment....

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Neil Young :: Medley: The Loner/Cinnamon Girl/Down By The River
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Amazon: CSNY - Four Way Street (live)
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The Black Keys :: Chulahoma EP

Having gotten ya'll warmed up with some modern blues covers via The North Mississippi All Stars, here is a track from The Black Keys upcoming EP, Chulahoma, available May 2nd from Fat Possum. Here, the Keys cover songs from Blues legends Junior Kimbrough, Dan Auerbach (guitar/vox) and Patrick Carney (drums). This is the stuff of greatness -- I can't wait to see these guys Live for the first time.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: The Black Keys :: Work Me
----------
www.theblackkeys.com
www.fatpossum.com
Amazon: The Black Keys - Chulahoma
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+ The Black Keys available at eMusic: 50 Free MP3 Trial +

North Mississippi All Stars :: Blues Covers

Released in 2000 on the Tone Cool label, Shake Hands With Shorty is an album comprised completely of classic blues covers -- and it's a great. I saw the band a couple of times upon it's release and they pulled it off every time. Check out the Dickinson brothers below.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: North Mississippi All Stars :: Skinny Woman
MP3: North Mississippi All Stars :: Goin' Down South
----------

www.nmallstars.com
Amazon: North Mississippi All Stars - Shake Hands With Shorty
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+ Shake Hands With Shorty available at eMusic: 50 Free MP3 Trial +

Spider :: On The Quiet

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Spider :: The Ballad of Clementine Jones
MP3: Spider :: The Bitter One
MP3: Spider :: Midnight on the Nile
----------
www.spidersongs.net
www.myspace.com/spidersongs
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Aquarium Drunkard Show :: Little Radio

A good time was had by all during yesterdays Aquarium Drunkard Show at Little Radio's warehouse space in downtown L.A. I enjoyed The Whigs song I played so much that I played it twice. Dig that, commercial radio. This is a regular gig for the Drunkard, broadcasting every Wednesday from 2-4 PST, so tune in and watch stella get her groove back. Word.

Below is the tracklisting for the show. You can find last weeks HERE.

1. Alejandro Escovedo - Sex Beat
2. The Whigs - Don't Talk Anymore
3. The Microphones - I Want The Wind To Blow
4. My Morning Jacket - Cobra
5. Deadboy And Elephatman - Break It Off
6. Sonic Youth - Teenage Riot
7. Harlan T. Bobo - Only Love
8. Billy Bragg - New England
9. Bonnie "Prince" Billy - Death To Everyone
10. The Brunettes - Loopy Love
11. Gnarls Barkley - Crazy
12. Taj Mahal - Leaving Trunk
13. Drive-By Truckers - Margo & Harold
14. Steve Earle - CCKMP
15. Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - The End
16. The Stooges - 1969
17. Tapes 'n Tapes - Just Drums
18. Blood on the Wall - Stoner Jam
19. Alejandro Escovedo - Guilty
20. Daniel Hutchens - This'll Get Us To Birmingham
21. Centro-matic - Covered Up In Mines
22. Bobby "Blue" Bland - Lovelight
23. Cat Power - Could We
24. Josh Ritter - Girl In The War
25. Josh Rouse - Looks Like Love
26. Johnny Clash (Billy Bragg) - Bush War Blues
27. The Whigs - Don't Talk Anymore (outro)
www.littleradio.com

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Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings The Flood

photo credit: Ryan Dombal

Blacklisted was great, but I think Fox Confessor Brings The Flood transcends even it - which is pretty damn impressive. I posted "Hold On, Hold On" a couple of months ago -- so if you missed it, here it is again with another sample. I highly recommend purchasing this album in it's entireity, and of course see her Live if the opportunity presents itself. That voice of hers is even more spell-binding in a Live setting. Album available at eMusic.

+ GvB has photos from Neko's Dallas show
+So Much Silence has MP3 rips from her NPR run

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Neko Case :: Hold On, Hold On
MP3: Neko Case :: Fox Confessor Brings The Flood
----------
www.nekocase.com
Amazon: Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings The Flood
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+ Use eMusic's 50 Free MP3 Trial to download Fox Confessor Brings The Flood +

Also ------->
Tune in to www.littleradio.com between 2-4 PST for The Aquarium Drunkard Show

Calexico :: Garden Ruin

The rumors are indeed true. On Garden Ruin, Calexico move away from their signature Southwestern spaghetti-western tinged sound for a more straight up (indie) pop/rock sound. While I enjoyed the bands past albums, I must say this one is sitting quite nicely with me as well. I do imagine some of the longtime die-hard fans will be upset though-- but I'm no die-hard.

** So Much Silence has MP3s from Calexico's KEXP performance

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Calexico :: Yours And Mine
MP3: Calexico :: Cruel
----------
eMusic: Calexico - Garden Ruin
Amazon: Calexico - Garden Ruin

www.casadecalexico.com
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+ Use eMusic's 50 Free MP3 Trial to download Garden Ruin +
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Also ------->

Tune in to www.littleradio.com between 2-4 PST for The Aquarium Drunkard Show

The Whigs :: These Guys Are Good

Yeah, these guys are good, so listen up. Sounds like: humid and sticky - kudzu draped - intelligent -indie rock & roll. Athens, GA continues to produce the good-shit regardless of genre...The Whigs just further prove this point. Recently pegged by Rolling Stone as one of the "ten artists to watch," and voted "most likely to succeed" by numerous other rags, this trio is primed to explode - hype or no hype - and fast. You can purchase Give 'em All a Big Fat Lip off the band's website.

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04-20-06: Greenville, SC. - The Handlebar0 * 4-21-06: Philadelphia, PA. - The Fire0 * 4-27-06: Athens, GA. - Farm 2550 * 4-28-06: Nashville, TN. - The Basement0 * 5-05-06: Milledgville, GA. - Buffingtons * 05-06-06: Macon, GA. - The Hummingbird * 05-10-06: Nasvhille, TN. - Mercy Lounge w/ Autovaughn0 * 5-11-06: Chapel Hill, NC. - Local 506 * 05-12-06: New York, NY. - Mercury Lounge * 05-15-06: Chicago, IL. - TBA * 05-20-06: Atlanta, GA. - The Earl * 05-26-06: Charlotte, NC. - the Visulite w/ Noises 10 * 05-27-06: Charleston, SC. - Cumberland's * 05-28-06: Columbia, SC. - The Art Bar * 06-02-06: New Orleans, LA. - Howlin Wolf w/ Will Hoge * 06-03-06: Mobile, AL. - Monsoon's w/ Will Hoge* 06-10-06: Charlotte, NC. - the Visulite w/ the Sammies

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: The Whigs :: Don't Talk Anymore
MP3: The Whigs :: Technology
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www.thewhigs.com
www.myspace.com/thewhigs

Blood On The Wall :: Brooklyn's Awesomer

So it was only a matter of time until I got around to this one. Brooklyn based Blood On The Wall may sound like a cross-breed of Sonic Youth and The Pixies, but are a fine cross-breed. Distorted-melodic-scuzz-rock. Turns out lots of folks have written about their album Awesomer already, so go check out the Hype Machine for extended coverage. I'll leave you with the excellent "Stoner Jam."

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Blood On The Wall :: Stoner Jam
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Amazon: Blood On The Wall - Awesomer
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www.bloodonthewall.com

The Vaselines :: Re-Revisited

This indie-pop/twee mini-masterpiece is undoubtedly in many of your collections already. If not, well, it should be. While reading up on Isobel Campbell (see my infatuation with her latest album with Mark Lanegan) I learned that she is touring with (ex-Vaseline/ex-Eugenius) Eugene Kelly. The two also plan on collaborating on a studio project in the near future as well.

Many of us got turned onto The Vaselines in the early '90s thanks to Kurt Cobain's constant pimping of them in the press. His band also covered The Vaselines' "Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam" during their Unplugged performance, but I digress.

I dug out my copy of The Way of the Vaselines, and it sounds as good or better than it did in 1992. Here are three tracks to sample you will undoubtedly recognize. You need this music in your life.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: The Vaselines :: Rory Rides Me Raw
MP3: The Vaselines :: Molly's Lips
MP3: The Vaselines :: Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam
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Amazon: The Vaselines - The Way of the Vaselines : A Complete History
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Find artists influenced by The Vaselines though eMusic's 50 Free MP3 Trial

Thurston Moore :: Psychic Hearts (reissue)

Question: Does anyone know what the difference is between the1995 version of this record I had back in the day, and this newly reissued version? All Amazon has listed under the tracklisting is "album version" next to some of the tracks on the reissue -- which means nothing to me.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Thurston Moore :: Psychic Hearts
----------
Amazon: Thurston Moore - Psychic Hearts
Amazon: Thurston Moore - Phychic Hearts (reissue)
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My Morning Jacket :: Chocolate And Ice EP

It's here, on the band's fourth EP, I realized I could pretty much listen to Jim James' reverb soaked vocals sing the phonebook and be content. Years ago, after consuming At Dawn, I knew I needed more of this band. At the time I was under the impression that At Dawn was the band's debut release (it was not), and was ecstatic to find this EP at a local record store. Being a six song collection it felt more like an album than an EP. The cornerstone here is the 24 minute epic "Cobra" with it's snaking reggae inflected beat morphing into a raw and bluesy Black Sabbath-like jam session before flying off into an ambient space entirely.

The other tracks are all excellent early/mid-period MMJ, barr the one throwaway which appears to be a drunken phone message from Jim James' cousin. Compared to their latest full-length, Z, listening to this EP makes me yearn for the earlier/spookier My Morning Jacket, recording in grain silos and all.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: My Morning Jacket :: Can You See The Hard Helmet On My Head?
MP3: My Morning Jacket :: Cobra
----------
Amazon: My Morning Jacket - Chocolate And Ice EP
www.mymorningjacket.com
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Download the Chocolate And Ice EP with the 50 Free MP3 eMusic Trial...

Now Podcasting :: Episode III

Subscribe: Add This Feed
MP3 Download/Stream: Episode III
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aquarium Drunkard Podcast: Archives Here

+ Ballad of the Broken Seas +

I would like to weigh in with tmwsiy* on the Mark Lanegan/Isobel Campbell collaboration Ballad of the Broken Seas. I too agree it to be one of my favorite releases thus far in 2006. Lanegan's trademark whiskey & cigarette informed vocals own the majority of the album's tunes, with Campbell's light, airy vocals complimenting throughout. Here is the lead track off the album -- be sure to visit tmwsiy* for more samples, plus the original version of Ramblin' Man.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan :: Deus Ibi Est
----------
Amazon: Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan - Ballad of the Broken Seas
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Download Mark Lanegan with the 50 Free MP3 eMusic Trial...

Live Upload Series IX :: Grateful Dead 5.8.77

Having amassed a quite ridiculous amount of Grateful Dead bootlegs over the years, choosing a show for their first appearance on the A.D.'s Live Upload Series was no small feat. One of the first criteria was that it had to be a show that has not yet had any sort official release (Dick's Picks Series, etc.). Also, I wanted to go with a recording with pristine sound, as I can hardly stand fuzzy audience recordings anymore. Having knocked those two out, I was pleased to learn that one of my favorite late '70s Dead shows was in the clear: Cornell University: 5-8-77, Ithaca, New York.

Recorded at the school's Barton Hall, this is a prime example of the band at their late '70s zenith. My interest in the band wanes in their '80s and beyond output, but throughout the 1970's they remained both an artistic and Live force to be reckoned with. Ditch your tye-dyed pre-conceptions and get on board.

**Great version "Morning Dew" here.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: New Minglewood Blues
MP3: Loser
MP3: El Paso
MP3: They Love Each Other
MP3: Jack Straw
MP3: Deal
MP3: Lazy Lightnin' > Supplication
MP3: Brown Eyed Women
MP3: Mama Tried
MP3: Row Jimmy
MP3: Dancin' in the Streets
MP3: Scarlet Begonias>Fire on the Mountain
MP3: Estimated Prophet
MP3: St. Stephen>Not Fade Away
MP3: Morning Dew**
MP3: One More Saturday Night
----------
www.dead.net
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Related Posts:
Live Upload Series I :: James Booker
Live Upload Series II :: Steely Dan
Live Upload Series III :: The Meters
Live Upload Series IV :: My Morning Jacket
Live Upload Series V :: Ryan Adams
Live Upload Series VI :: The Meters II
Live Upload Series VII :: Undertow Orchestra
Live Upload Series VIII :: Foamfoot (1-8-94)
Download the artists individual albums with the 50 Free MP3 eMusic Trial...