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Widespread Panic - Ain't Life Grand Audio CD

A fair review of the Widespread Panic "Ain't Life Grand" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Widespread Panic reviews here, or go back to the Widespread Panic tabs.

Widespread Panic Band: Widespread Panic
Title: Ain't Life Grand
Rating:
Release Date: 1994-09-06
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Little Kin 2: Ain't Life Grand 3: Airplane 4: Can't Get High 5: Heroes 6: Raise The Roof 7: Junior 8: L.A. 9: Blackout Blues 10: Jack 11: Fishwater

Widespread Panic always pleases
Aint Life Grand is a portrait of the Band at its original peak! Although now with the recent addition of Jimmy Herring to the band, I expect bigger and sweeter things to come. I have almost all of Widespread panics Albums and this one is at the top of my list. Widespread Panic is always a great buy if your looking for some of the best Jam Band, southern fried rock around. .


Widespread Rules!!
P. I recently crushed my foot(broken in several places) and have been recooperating with the help of W. Although I have been heavily medicated most of the time this is still some of the greatest music I have ever heard. I've been a Widespread fan for a while, but until recently I have only owned 3 of their CD's. In the last month I've purchased every CD they have. They just get better and better. I can't wait til I break something else!.


Nice rebound.
It is 56 minutes long, but there is about 3 minutes of silence in the middle of the last track. Released in 1994, this is Widespread Panic's fourth CD. The sound quality is very good. The album sounds much better than the previous album. Credit should go to John Keane who produced the album and plays on some of the tracks.

Widespread Panic put two excellent albums, where they were mostly a quartet. These albums had excellent, hard driving southern rock type songs. They were distinctive and the interesting.

On the third album, Everyday, the group expanded to a sextet. There sound became muddled and muted. It was more like their live act, where everyone is playing at once, whether or not they should be. Many on the songs sounded indistinquishable. And then there was the addition of John Herrman's piano playing that consisted of pounding the keys and sounded out of place in many parts.

On this fourth album, Ain't Life Grand, the group reverts back to the sound on the first 2 albums. The production and mix are brought under control. It all sounds great and you can really enjoy the band.

There is quite a bit more variety and experimentation on this CD. There are some accoustic tracks. Jack sounds similar to Marshall Tucker.

Almost all of the songs on this CD are very good. And there is some excellent music to accompany them. And, you can really hear the playing.

The last song, Fishwater, is really only about 4 minutes long. It is followed by 2 minutes of silence and then a really nice acoustic guitar piece. It is excellent and I don't know why it was hidden at the end of the CD.

The only downside is the cover of Can't Get High. It has got to be about the worst song Widespread Panic has ever done. It is just a bad song from all angles. It is poorly written and poorly performed. For some reason, it is one of the songs that got the most airplay.

I think this is the last really good studio album from Widespread Panic. Future albums would revert back to that muddled sound. All of the albums do have some great songs, and some great playing. It is just none of them are good from start to finish.


An awesome original Panic album
This was probably the second album I'd ever listened to from Panic but as with the first album ('Till the medicine takes) I was blown away by how awesome their music is. . which has prompted me to go to as many shows as I can get to. I would highly recommend this cd toany panic fan and even those who have never heard their music. .


PANIC stricken from that moment on...!
When it was first released back in '94 I bought it even though I hadn't heard any of their music yet.
This was my first WSP purchase. But I remember hearing "Little Kin" for the first time while reading Col. Bruce's whacked liner notes (my first introduction to him, too) and knowing right then and there that I was hooked!

Twelve years and numerous shows later, plus having since bought everything else they've put out, this one is still my favorite. "Jack", "Blackout Blues" (especially great for listening to while skiing!), and the title track are standouts that rank at the top of my list.

There's not a dud track here. If you don't have it, get it! While you're at it, check out some Col. Bruce and/or the ARU, too!.


You can see a complete list of all Widespread Panic discography, or go back to the Widespread Panic tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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