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Customer Reviews of Terrapin Station

An essential GD release to own
I agree w the good review of the Dead expressing a 'prog' type of sound in terrapin. To be percise, you have to look at classic prog albums to evaluate this sound. Premiata forneria marconi's storia di un minuto, Genesis' foxtrot & nursery cryme. And of course an epic one like Yes' close to the edge. There are more but these are the ones that mean the most in the prog scene (old but classics). The truth is, prog was done in the 70 s and fading in the 80 s. Very few neo prog do justice to the genre.

Anyway, back to this album. I first heard it 10 years ago at a friend's house, and the sound like the other review said, just blew me away. "Quirky and interesting" is just how i would label the sound on this record. Estimated is just a great song to open the album. It went on to be a very strong choice for the band to play live. Followed by Dancin' and Samson & delilah. Good musicianship throughout. One thing is that Steve howe (of Yes), and Anthony Phillips and Mike Rutherford - of Genesis - play much differently than Jerry. Actually Howe played very similar, and admired Jerry s playing. What i m trying to get at, is that the album's are in the same vein - prog - and at least one has to do a comparison.

Following in the album are Passenger, and sunrise. Great tunes. Lesh's Passenger is awesome. I recall al live tape from 7-7-78 at red rocks where my favorite version of this song is played. Well. Finally we arrive at Terrapin. Crafted super nice. There are songs the size of this one that are in the same level, but this one is in a universe of its own. When the Grateful dead would get this song out live and serve it to you after an incendiary Playin' in the band. It was an orgasmic experince to say the least, or just one of those moments you will never forget. A legendary experience.

Go ahead, if you are gettting into this band, obtain this cd and play it along w Shakedown street, like the other review said, and some of the classics from the late 60 s and early 70's.

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The last album to capture the essence of the Dead experience
I had already been introduced to The Grateful Dead a few years before this release, so I knew what made them tick. When "Terrapin" came out, I was anxiously awaiting. It came out at my most musically impressionable age (16) and didn't disappoint. The Dead's albums seemed to be produced better with each release and "Terrapin" peaked in that category at that time. Don't be deceived by the fact there's only a handful of songs. The title track is a marathon performance that epitomizes the Dead experience. Arguably, more than any other Dead tune the song "Terrapin Station" shows the many sides of the Dead that garnered their cult following. The song is full of sounds and, yes, visions that only the Dead could produce. No other band can get those sounds from the same instruments. And Garcia's voice and guitar are at their melodic best, both with the classic silkiness that made it impossible to sit while listening - be it under a brightly lit moon on the lawn seats of your favorite outdoor concert venue, or in your home next to your stereo. For a special treat pop the headphones on for a musical experience that is why headphones were made in the first place. Most testimonials to this album seem to acknowledge only the tunes that garnered radio play, and that's not entirely fair. "Estimated Prophet" and "Passenger" are such tunes and are deserved of such praise, but that's shortchanging this CD. There's a nice version of "Dancing in the Streets" that were it not already written would have been written by the Dead - it's what this band in concert is all about. "Samson and Delilah", featuring Bob Weir's vocals, is another concert staple (of course which Dead tunes weren't?) but doesn't reap the praise that Garcia sung tunes do from the more casual Dead fans. Perhaps they're too wordy for those who like to zone out and get lost in the Dead Dimension. But in this case those words are vital to a nice story - plus Garcia's guitar sizzles on cue. And the Godchauxs - Keith and Donna have never been completely embraced by Dead purists in spite of their contributions to this CD and their next CD, "Shakedown Street". While "Sunrise" doesn't typify the Dead many grew up with, it nevertheless is a strong performance by Donna and rounds off a nice offering by the Dead - perhaps their last completely satisfying CD recorded. "Shakedown Street" would also be a great recording, but not as strong. And subsequent CDs too would see the Dead tailing off in a different direction - which is not to say entirely untrue to their roots. But let's face it. The era that breed the Dead would no longer be there for them to derive the same sounds and themes that gave us their early CDs. So future CDs would just have a little more difficulty in concocting the formula that created the mood of those recordings. For that reason alone this album is a must for anyone wanting to know what made this band so great. Those who say this CD isn't a great album by comparing it to their earlier recordings miss the point. Each Dead CD had something different to offer and can only be judged with that in mind. Given that, this is truly a 5 star performance.

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still driving that train
the first and last songs are the heart of the album. The first, Estimated Prophet, is one of the most sonically perfect rock songs ever recorded, with some cool reggae sounds, a whole new vibrant sound from Jerry's guitar, his best synthetic wah sound ever, and great licks for a low key rocker that won't quit. The last song, the title track, is brilliant for the most part, a little sluggish in places (it's very long) - particularly with the string section, but it's a grand design that works out excellently in the long run.

The middle songs on the album could have been easily excluded for a better whole.