For all of you Deadheads who may consider this luke-warm rating blasphemy, permit me to plead my case. First of all, IÕm a Deadhead myself. Though I didn't discover them until I was 24, I've since made up for it and have seen them in at least 25 different venues and have probably seen somewhere between 40-50 shows. (Naturally you're free to make up your own joke as to why I can't remember the exact number.)

As strange as it may seem to those unfamiliar with the microcosm of the Grateful Dead, to most tie-dyed-in-the-wool fans, 40-50 shows would barely make you worthy of a window decal. But around these parts I would imagine 40-50 shows puts me on the map. Suffice it to say that I love the Dead, I cried when Jerry died, and if I had to choose between one more Dead show, with Jerry still alive, or a night of hot, passionate love with Cameron Diaz . . . wait that's a bad example. Let's just say I miss going to see the Dead--it's the second funnest thing a human being can do.

Anyhow, since Grateful Dead fans aren't exactly known for being financially set, it's my recommendation that you save your money on this Jerry-less live double disc. Though it contains some of their finest songs, (among them "Jack Straw," "Playing In The Band," "Estimated Prophet"), most of you will already own live recordings of these gems--with Jerry playing. As for the stuff you may not already own, there are two Bruce Hornsby tunes and two songs penned by of Drummer Mickey Hart and long-time Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter, as well as two newer songs penned by Bob Weir along with Hart and Hunter. My point is that I wouldn't recommend investing $18 for this new stuff. And the old stuff you already know by heart.

Believe me I don't mean to minimize the role of Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzman et. al. in the creation of the Dead's unique and patented sound, but without Jerry it's kind of like the Bulls without Michael. The Other One's are without question, phenomenal musicians, but Jerry was the centerpiece of the band. It was Jerry who brought the magic to the table. It was his simple soulful voice and his meandering guitar genius that made 15-minute songs float by like a cool breeze. Though Steve Kimock and Mark Karan have done an amazing job of recreating Jerry's style and signature sound, just the fact that I know it isn't Jerry spoils it for me. It's like 'Jerryaoke.'

I don't think I'm going to be in the minority with this opinion, despite the name, Deadheads for the most part are extremely critical. If the band played a bad show, or they didn't like the set list, you'd hear about it back at camp. Serious Deadheads were in it for the music, and the carnival atmosphere was only part and parcel of the experience.

The Strange Remain could've been a better record. If they'd stuck mainly to Weir/Barlow songs and cut the improv jams in half, they would've had room for a half dozen more songs. Bruce Hornsby has toured with the band long enough to sing Jerry's parts, without any great loss of legitimacy; but with such a rich library of songs to choose from, I would've preferred they spared us the lengthy Jerryoake jams and just added more songs. The main problem with The Strange Reamin is the excessive saxophone, it was like Kenny G plays the songs of the Grateful Dead. I'm not knocking Dave Ellis' musicianship, but the Dead were a guitar band, and all that sax is just wrong.

I suppose this opinion will arouse an understandable amount of acrimony among some--there are some fine moments on The Strange Remain, and the musicianship is dead on. By no means do I believe that Bob, Phil and the boys should just hang up their guitars because Jerry died, but The Strange Remain, is faux-Dead that would have been better left to rest un-exhumed.