I always enjoy tribute albums, I always dig fresh takes on well-known songs or new life to obscure songs. Naturally Dylan songs lend themselves to interpretation so the 30th Anniversary and I'm Not There soundtrack are some favorite tributes I've heard. I really dig moments like Sam Moore on "Please Call Home" or The Roches on "Acadian Driftwood" or Rollin' in the Hay on "Jessica"; but it means you might get a dud like Dierks Bentley's "Chest Fever".

I'm not a huge Dead Head, so I don't have the baggage of hearing these songs with a love or knowledge of the originals. But just from the few samples I've heard, I'm enjoying it. Most of the tracks I've heard have Dead DNA in there, with new personal touches (I've been digging what I hear from Phospherescent lately). Some take a few more liberties than others, which is always kind of cool, even if it only works half the time. I'd much rather hear a fresh take on a tune than a slavish remake. Maybe some of these will grow on you over time. Also, a cool doorway to new bands - always a nice little rabbit hole.

Thanks for sharing!

One of my favorite albums of the year. I put it on my phone and hit shuffle. I don't know about 75% of the bands and it's an eye opener. Much better than Dead tribute that came out in the 90s. I think Dad is on to something about the bands not necessarily being huge dead fans or having grown up with them.

Phospherescent was the only singer I knew going into it. He's very cool if almost too laid back at times. His album " Muchacho" is great and he has a whole album of Willie Nelson covers. He does Standing on the Moon very well which is one of my fav later era dead tunes. Im luke warm on the National but they're responsible for putting the compilation together and they do a nice Morning Dew .

Others I like are Steven Malkmus - China/Rider. Hss golden messenger, and Tallest Man on Earth. As you guessed , it's mostly under the radar bands. At least for my 40 something self they're under the radar. Some misses for sure but over all very good.

Marc Maron on one of his pod casts said something I agree with about how in the 90's it was cool for alt rock bands to say they hated the dead but the newer generation coming up who didn't witness the whole dead head phenomenon for the most part focuses on the songs and have realized how great they were.

This has nothing to do with the Dead, but a cover of a tune, sorry for thread-jacking.

I was in a bar in Ormond Beach, FL recently and there was a guy with a guitar playing.

At one point he played a Johnny Cash song (which one now escapes me) but it was a totally different arrangement of that song and it sounded GREAT.

I asked the guy afterward if that was "his" arrangement and he said -

"funny story, yes that is my arrangement and I actually met Johnny Cash one time and asked him if he would listen to "my arrangement" of his song, and I played it for him there on the spot. He said he loved it and did not mind me playing it that way at all ! "

How cool is that ?

How cool is that ?

That's super cool. And considering Johnny Cash spent his last years excelling at contemporary covers like "Hurt", not surprising at all.

This box set is truly mind blowing.

China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider-just an incredible version by Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks...whoever they may be!

Great story about Johnny Cash-thanks Heineken515!

I haven't heard all of it yet but I'm glad they did this release. My favorite so far is Bela Fleck with the Wood Borhters doing Help On The Way>Slipknot>Help On The Way