The Other Ones - The Strange Remain 1999

When the surviving members of the Grateful Dead announced their return, Deadheads and other music lovers around the globe rejoiced. Sure, Jerry Garcia had passed on to another plane of existence, but the strange did, indeed, remain. Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, and Phil Lesh were joined by piano man Bruce Hornsby, Dave Ellis, Steve Kimock, Mark Karan, and John Molo to form the Other Ones and to headline a tour called the Further Festival. Some members of the media have called the Other Ones the "ultimate Dead cover band," but this group is far from a cover band. the Other Ones' versions of Dead songs are immaculate, and many times they prove to be actually better than the Deadversions. Soaring saxophone, Hornsby's on-target piano, and the other "new" bandmembers add a whole new set of colors to the palette. Kicking the live set off with a medley of "St. Stephen" and "The Eleven," the Other Ones perform flawlessly as they make their way through a set of Dead favorites, from "Jack Straw" to "Corrina" to the bizarre time signature of "Estimated Prophet." It's a real pleasure to hear that one live again, to be sure. Weir delivers the most unusual track with a Zappa-esquestyling, "Only the Strange Remain," before the band pumps its way through "White Wheeled Limousine." Disc two has even more goodies to enjoy, from "Mountains of the Moon" to "Friend of the Devil," "Playing in the Band," and the hottest track on the album, a medley of "China Cat Sunflower" and "I Know You Rider." Garcia's spirit is alive and well, and the Other Ones are the perfect successors to the Grateful Dead empire. Fans can delight in the sheer spirit that comes through by way of this live document. Put on a set of headphones, light some incense, close your eyes, and go to The Other World. AMG.

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