There and Back Again

Amazon.com
Former Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh's first solo album (not counting Seastones, his 1975 electronic collaboration with Ned Lagin) traffics more in Springsteenian arena rock than in the jazzily extended high-wire improvisations of his live shows. While the music lacks the lilt of Lesh's former combo, the band is tight and Dead lyricist Robert Hunter's verses are as evocative, regretful, and optimistic as ever--usually at the same time. Song after song alludes to a golden age of rock hedonism while simultaneously reassuring listeners that the past can be recaptured in the here and now. "Give it up for love, so I've been told," sings deep-throated Lesh in the barrelhouse "Rock-a-Roll Blues," "It seldom gets younger but it never gets old." Guitarist Warren Haynes, who contributes a handful of downbeat power ballads, smears the record with his signature slide playing while fellow guitarist Jimmy Herring bobs and weaves like Bob Weir to Haynes's Jerry Garcia. It's a nostalgia trip for sure, but it just might do until the real thing reappears. --Hazel Luftglass

There and Back Again,Phil Lesh,Sony,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop

There and Back Again

Average customer rating:

A great album!!!
The Best CD I Own.....
Absolutely, Absolutely Fabulous
A pleasant suprise!
Incredible, but only a peek at what was to come

There and Back Again
Vertical Horizon
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Post Grunge | American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Go [With Bonus Track]
Everything You Want
Go
Lifehouse
Coil

ASIN: B00000IM6H
Release Date: 1999-01-12

Tracks:

Trying To Find Purpose
Children's Lullaby
Footprints In The Snow
Love's Light
The Mountain Song
Prayer For An Innocent Man
Lines Upon Your Face
Willingly
On The Sea
Liberty

Customer Reviews:

A great album!!!.......2006-07-20

Being a mobile disc jockey, I have to keep up with all of the new Top 40 hits. I first heard of these guys when Everything You Want came out. I was very hesitant to pick up any of their earlier CDs as I really didnt know what to expect. One day I broke down and bought this album. Believe me I have NO regrets. This is a great CD and shows their melodic sound and great songwriting abilities. If you are a fan of Go and Everything You Want then, as many other customers said, have an open mind. The lyrics in this CD are heart-felt and the acoustic guitar playing is superb. Now when I get around to it, I have to order Running On Ice and Live Stages. Buy this CD, listen to it with an open mind, and I guarantee you will not have any regrets. I surely didn't.

The Best CD I Own............2006-01-05

My brother brought this CD back when he was in college and it hasn't left my CD player since. I am actually writing this review as I order yet another copy to give as a gift. Since it is always in my disc carousel, it is inevitably played whenever I have people over for a party / dinner. Turns out it is as popular w/ my eclectic group of friends as it was over a decade ago w/ me (when I was a teenager!) As written above though, it isn't like their popular radio tunes. However, it is a must buy if you enjoy DMB, James Taylor, Toad the Wet Sprocket, or Jack-o-Pierce!

Absolutely, Absolutely Fabulous.......2002-06-26

In 1995 in Austin, TX, some friends took me to the White Rabbit on Sixth Street to listen to two guys play acoustic guitars. They, of couse, were Vertical Horizon. I had never heard of them before, but wow, the show was incredible.

Since that concert, I have been a big fan. "Everything You Want" was their big breakout record. It's not a bad record, but I admit that I got disenchanted with their live shows after that release. They were loud and electric and lost all of the soul that their earlier shows had. Did these guys sell out? That's what I am wondering.

Anyway, this record is a reminder of what they were before they became household names. All these reviews say the same thing -- the music is folksy. Well, I am not disagreeing. It has some grassroots sound, but what struck me so much was the songwriting. Good stuff. It's a pretty mellow, melancholy record.

It sounds silly, but some of the lyrics just bring tears to my eyes. "Trying to Find Purpose"...I mean, any guy in the world probably can relate to that song sometime in their life. It could be called, "There's something better out there, I know it, and I'll find it someday with you at my side." My favorite one is "Love's Light". It stikes a chord with me. This one could be called, "You and I are so good together, but you can't see that, so I need to let you go before I become an emotional wreck."

For those who are VH fans because of "Everything You Want", then take this review with a grain of salt. The styles are quite different. But the songs here are great, writing is great, just something to listen to on a lazy afternoon.

A pleasant suprise!.......2002-06-15

I guess it helps to know going in that this album is nothing like Vertical Horizon's hit album 'Everything You Want', and that's not neccessarily as bad as it sounds. 'Everything You Want' was a great pop/top-40/commercial rock album that transcended the limitations of that genre because of the great muscianship and quality songwriting, while 'There And Back Again' shows the early beginnings of those positive qualities and strips down the music to its barest essentials: two vocalists who play acoustic guitars.

All of the songs on this album have a down-to-earth, folksy feel to them, but should be accessible to fans of rock music as well. Obviously Keith Kane and Matthew Scannell are influenced by James Taylor and you can hear that throughout the ten compositions. Contrary to that, most of the acoustic guitar work is very aggressive (no laid back folksy strumming here) and includes many muffled and muted chords with a choppy rock style that is more reminiscent of Pete Townshend than anyone else. Both players wrote five songs each for this album, and their song styles are distinctly different; you will immediately hear the difference from 'Trying To Find Purpose' to 'Children's Lullaby'; the former is my favorite song on the disc--I love the guitar work and inspirational lyrics.

Overall, this album fits nicely in my collection because it is so different from most of the music I listen to. If you are not ready to go in with an open mind, then you might be disappointed, especially if you became a fan after 'Everything You Want' and specifically like that type of music. I tend to like all types of music, and 'There And Back Again' was certainly a pleasant suprise from what I expected.

Incredible, but only a peek at what was to come.......2002-06-13

I love many kinds of music. I love bands like the Goo Goo Dolls, Toad the Wet Sprocket, and especially Dave Matthews Band. I love bands like Creed and Default. I love bands like Nirvana and Soundgarden. I even love bands like Godsmack, Kid Rock, Blink 182, and Pink Floyd. But among all those musical greats, Vertical Horizon holds its own as my favorite band of all time. This is an awesome debut album, but only showed a hint of what would become Running On Ice.

Trying To Find Purpose: This is a great song with an awesome
solo--the best one on the album If you like James Taylor, check this one out.

Children's Lullaby: A touching song with great vocals and easy-to-relate-to lyrics. One of Keith Kane's best vocal performances, up there with Shackled and Wash Away.

Footprints In The Snow: A very sad song, but excellent. Matt Scannell proves himself as a songwriter right here.

Love's Light: One of the only VH songs I don't love...it should be called Whithering Away, just listen to the song and see why. That part ruins it for me.

Mountain Song: One of VH's worst is followed by one of their best. This is an awesome, upbeat song, pointing more in the direction of Running On Ice. Another Tayloresque number.

Prayer for an Innocent Man: VH's only religious song. It's a good song, but the lyrics are a little corny ("Let me do thy bidding, yeah"...come on Keith, you can do better).

Lines Upon Your Face: Awesome song, my personal favorite from this album. It's about a friendship perservering through separation.

Willingly: Pretty good, not the strongest on the album though. The lyrics and the music don't fit together.

On The Sea: Incredible song, with truly touching and tragic lyrics. The live version is so much better, but it's a shame this is the only song from this album they still do live.

Liberty: This has a great folksy sound to it, this was their first minor underground radio hit. Great song.

Tracks:

Celebration
Night Of A Thousand Stars
The Real Thing
Again And Again
No More Do I
Patchwork Quilt
Liberty
Midnight Train
Leave Me Out Of This
Welcome To The Underground
Rock-n-Roll Blues

Amazon.com

Former Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh's first solo album (not counting Seastones, his 1975 electronic collaboration with Ned Lagin) traffics more in Springsteenian arena rock than in the jazzily extended high-wire improvisations of his live shows. While the music lacks the lilt of Lesh's former combo, the band is tight and Dead lyricist Robert Hunter's verses are as evocative, regretful, and optimistic as ever--usually at the same time. Song after song alludes to a golden age of rock hedonism while simultaneously reassuring listeners that the past can be recaptured in the here and now. "Give it up for love, so I've been told," sings deep-throated Lesh in the barrelhouse "Rock-a-Roll Blues," "It seldom gets younger but it never gets old." Guitarist Warren Haynes, who contributes a handful of downbeat power ballads, smears the record with his signature slide playing while fellow guitarist Jimmy Herring bobs and weaves like Bob Weir to Haynes's Jerry Garcia. It's a nostalgia trip for sure, but it just might do until the real thing reappears. --Hazel Luftglass

Customer Reviews:

Different.......2005-11-09

The first time i listened to this cd I didn't like it. I thought it sounded too much like the Allman Brothers Band. But not until after I listened to it a few times did I realize exactly how unique this band really is. Each member of Lesh & Friends has incredible talents. The best songs are "Midnight Train" "Welcome to the Underground" and "Patchwork Quilt". I recomend this to anyone who is into southern rock, jam bands, or plain ol' feel good music.

There and Back -- Worth the trip.......2004-03-24

First, buy the package with the bonus disc.

Regarding the studio recordings, read the previous reviews. They cover the disc fairly and well. I won't waste time and space repeating what's already been said.

Now let's move on to the real jewel in this package -- the bonus disc.

On this disc, Lesh steps into his familiar role of anti-frontman. Although he does take a few vocal turns on these live performances, Lesh mostly does what he does best, create bass lines that manage to drive and snake through the music all at the same time. Phil Lesh is a monster bass player. He has been for years and he hasn't lost his touch (Phil, if you read this, please follow Jack Cassidy's example. Make an instructional video).

The disc opens with Passenger, a personal favorite of mine. The cut features burning slide guitar, an extremely hot organ solo and rough, but dead on vocals. With each of the following cuts, the disc just gets better and better.

St. Stephen, Dark Star, The Eleven (another personal favorite) are all warhorses from Lesh's days with the Grateful Dead. If you've listened to the Grateful Dead at all, you've at least heard the clasic versions of these songs as they were captured on "Live/Dead." The performances by Phil and his friends pay homage to the "Live/Dead" versions without aping them. The music sparkles throughout. The closing cut, "The Eleven" is a joyful romp. Like the Dead, Phil and friends can truly swing in meters that would tie most bands in knots.

"There and Back Again" is a solid disc that holds up to repeated listenings. It rates close to four stars. However, as I said earlier, it's the bonus disc that's the real jewel here. It hasn't left my car's CD player since the first time I loaded it. The four live recordings included on this disc all rate as five star road music delux!

Once in a while you get shown the light..........2002-06-25

Yes Phil Lesh played bass for the Dead and yes he's been rehashing old tunes live on the music circuit but this CD is mostly original material served on a 70's style platter. It's somewhat of a cross between the Dead and the Allman Brothers with a little bit of Charlie Daniels thrown in for flavor. For an old head like me it's quite refreshing to hear above the blur of Puff Daddy (whatever he calls himself) and Britney Spears. Not that I'm knocking them but well... I guess I am.

When I bought this I listened to it over a couple of beers with a friend who hates the Dead and he asked me, "Who is this?" Believe me this guy is a great friend, however, he is not one to convince of anything he wants nothing to do with. When I told him who it was he replied, "Never would have guessed. I think I kinda like it." And with that I found myself at one of lifes moments where you look back and shake your head.

What my point is: this is not just for Dead heads and the like, but anyone who enjoys good old Rock and Roll.

Phil's Where It's At.......2002-05-27

Some have said Phil Lesh & Friends sound like the Grateful Dead, others have said they sound more like the Allman Brothers. Neither of these statements are really true. Phil is Phil and you can't say anything more. This album is the culmination of a lot of new material written a large part by Phil with many vocals by Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter. The album also features tracks written by Warren Haynes alone. Phil's composition skills shine through and must be heard to be believed.

Not live, not dead..........2002-05-26

How do you describe a Phil Lesh & Friends performance?

Enigmatic, narrative, electrifying, intense. The type of concert that will have you dancing in philisophical harmony, the music and lyrics bringing forth solutions to many unanswered questions that have lain dormant in your unconscious mind. Phil Lesh has a jazzmans creativity, a jaguars soul, and a relentless will to give.

You will not, however, find this type of action on "There and Back Again."

But let us look at the album itself, at the songs for what they are, and we will see that this is a finely executed record, with a lot of really good songs on it. I was never a big fan of the Grateful Dead's studio efforts, nor has anybody else ever been, but this is a damn fine album. "Celebration" brings us into the record, a pulsing song that is just bursting with positive energy, this song is everything that it's title implies. Songs of particular beauty are "The Real Thing," and "Patchwork Quilt," both allusions to the lives of artists, and the tragedy and struggle of expression. "Night of 1000 Stars" is definitely the song with the most commercial chance on this record, although I doubt that Phil Lesh will even pursue that road.

I definitely recommend buying the "Limited Edition" version of this album, because it contains REALLY GOOD live performances on the bonus disc, most notably the 18-minute "Dark Star."

Tracks:

This Year Of Grace: Dance, Little Lady
This Year Of Grace: A Room With A View
This Year Of Grace: Mary Make-Believe
This Year Of Grace: Try To Learn To Love
This Year Of Grace: Lorelei
A Dream Of Youth (The Dream Is Over)
Bitter Sweet: Zigeuner
This Year Of Grace: World Weary
Private Lives, Act 1, Love Scene: Someday I'll Find You
Private Lives, Act 2, Scene: I Never Realised/If You Were The Only Girl In The World
Half-Caste Woman
Any Little Fish
Cavalcade: Lover Of My Dreams (Mirabelle Valse)
Cavalcade Vocal Medley: Soldiers Of The Queen/Goodbye Dolly Gray/Lover Of My Dreams/I Do Like To...
Cavalcade, Epilogue: Toast To England
Noel Coward Medley: Parisian Pierrot/Poor Little Rich Girl/A Room With A View/Dance Little Lady...

Customer Reviews:

The style is the man--and the song.......2001-05-02

Many composers have chosen to perform their own material and commit it to discs, with mixed results. Only with Noel Coward do we feel that a good deal of the charm of his numbers lies in the very way he performs them. For proof, we now have the Naxos Nostalgia (8.120529), which dishes up 16 tracks of the ultra-refined son of W. S.Gilbert, giving us six selections from "This Year of Grace," one from "Bittersweet," a medley of treasures from his "Cavalcade," another from his other works, and a few other trifles that are better than most of what is written today.

Add to all this two classical scenes with Coward and co-star Gertrude Lawrence from his "Private Lives," incredibly valuable for those local drama groups who butcher this work in that this CD can teach them the tone and rhythms that are essential in making this classic succeed.

Tracks:

Celebration
Night Of A Thousand Stars
The Real Thing
Again And Again
No More Do I
Patchwork Quilt
Liberty
Midnight Train
Leave Me Out Of This
Welcome To The Underground
Rock-n-Roll Blues

Tracks:

Passenger
St Stephen
Dark Star
The Eleven

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Just as much a Warren Haynes CD as a Phil Lesh one.......2006-02-20

Not that this is a bad thing. As a Bassist who does some harmony vocals, Lesh is not in the spotlight as often as lead guitarist and vocalist Haynes, from Allman Brothers and Gov't Mule fame. Disc one is the studio set with all new material. Haynes does a tribute to Jerry Garcia on "Patchwork Quilt" and it is memorable. Haynes has taken this song and done it live with Gov't Mule and the Allman Brothers and it has become of his better known songs. Disc 2 is the live set, including a lengthy Dark Star.
There are 2 versions of this set sold- you can get the studio CD by itself or as part of the 2 CD set. Deadheads will definitely want the 2 CD set with the strong live jams SO IF YOU ARE GOING TOBUY IT, GET THE RIGHT ONE.

Blend of the Allman Brothers/Grateful Dead..........2004-12-28

This is really a collaboration between Lesh and Warren Haynes which is the reason why this album sounds like a blend of the Allman Brothers/Grateful Dead. There is some great music here. Plus if you're a Deadhead or you're in the mood for some long jams there is a bonus 4 track disk that includes a 25 minute version of Dark Star.

PHEWWW WHAT A LAME CD.......2004-01-16

This is lift musik with pretentions. It is as ballsy as a LIBERACE CD. Musicaly as challenging as anything by the OSMONDS. The frightening thing is that it took some of my favourite musicians ( HERRING / HAYNES ) to concoct this mess. As my copy cost about a 1,- $, it was at least priced correctly. Sometimes not having a definable style is a bonus as you can attack any genre you like on your CD, in this case it is not an attack it is a killing. Only the HAYNES songs have any merit what so ever, but he does his thing much better on his own CD. The rest is superb if you are an insomniac. This CD can put you back to sleep about 5 minutes after rising. Lucky for me I know a DEAD head ( he would buy and enjoy anything to do with the DEAD, if GERRY farted for about 30 minutes, I swear he would buy the bootleg.) He now loves this CD, as I knew he would. Please do yourself a favour and give this drivel a wide berth. If you must buy DEAD musik, check out JAZZ IS DEAD and there reworkings of older DEAD material.

Best New Rock Album in Ages!!!.......2002-10-30

Reading the 20 other reviews preceding mine, I'm surprised at how divided the opinions are. I think the formula is... if you're an older Deadhead looking to repeat the Magic that was, and still is, the Grateful Dead, you'll be disinterested in the (first) CD full of wondrous new material, but "Grateful" for Bonus Disc 2 (and everyone agrees that you should get the special Limited Edition), which trods in faithful Dead territory. If you're an open-minded listener thirsting for music that is brand new, yet somehow strikes a familiar chord, then you will love this new CD, which i.m.h.o. is The Best New Album of Good Ol', Downhome, Straight-Ahead Rock in maybe 20 years. I've been following GD music since 1970, heard some awesome live shows, but as a singer-player-songwriter myself, I've always sought diversity. The fact is, it's getting harder & harder to do anything really ORIGINAL in the "pop" music arena anymore, especially since the name of the game is "Give 'em what they want"; I think Phil & co. have succeeded on both counts in a big way. Phil is admittedly proud of this record, as he says in the cyber-interview you can see if you buy the Ltd.Ed.,"...if I had to pick one or two songs from this album, I couldn't, because I think every song stands on its own, makes an impression..." It's really wonderful; 62 years old, after a life-saving transplant surgery, and here's Phil, still rocking with terrific, vital, fresh material, and...ON THE ROAD AGAIN!!! You've just gotta hand it to him; Phil Lesh is a real Rock & Roll Legend, just like Jerry Garcia. And the songs are great---Robert Hunter is in fine form, fabulous guitar playing from Haynes & Herring, grooves you won't lose... To the reviewer who called this "elevator music", I say: TURN IT UP, and you WILL be ELEVATED!!! Personal faves: "Night of 1000 Stars"-a HIT, it COOKS! "Again & Again"-special mood, great chorus; "No More Do I"-great groove, unforgettable vocal hook; "Patchwork Quilt"-lovely tribute to Jerry G., did you ever hear a Waltz or a 6/8 ROCK like that? Warren Haynes is so soulful, excellent vocals throughout the album. "Midnight Train"-haunting changes, a slick funky groove reminiscent of Steely Dan at their peak; "Rock-n-Roll Blues"-ragtimey shuffle a-la "Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo". "Liberty", while perhaps topping the Dead's version on "So Many Roads" as far as tightness of the arrangement goes, for my taste, the vocal treatment is a bit too "pretty" for this song and lacks the raw guttiness of Garcia's vocal, but it's a minor point. This CD SHINES with more than the holographic spectral colors of its surface. Repeated listening will reward the attentive, even the spaced-out, listener. This music downloads itself right into your soul. And... you can BOOGIE to it! One interesting note: The title "There & Back Again" carries with it a few meanings, from the way a jamband like the Dead takes you "out there" and brings you "back again", to how Phil is living a "second life" after his close call. But something else comes to mind. In the fabulous documentary video "Anthem to Beauty" (a must-see), we witness the conflict that was between Phil Lesh and Warner Bros. exec Joe Smith, who wanted the Dead to "cut the weirdness" and craft accessible pop songs to reach the radio audience. By the time "American Beauty" was recorded, the Dead were moving more in that direction, led off by Lesh & Hunter's beautiful folk-rock classic "Box of Rain". Now, 30 years later, Phil has come full circle to the point where he's released an unabashedly "pop" album loaded with great songs, but also continues as The Elder Statesman of all those who love to JAM, and these songs will also work their way into "the flow", right alongside "Dark Star" and "Eyes of the World". There and back again, indeed... Somewhere, Jerry Garcia, and even Joe Smith, are smiling.

Fall in to the Phil zone..........2002-08-23

This CD grows on me with every playing. I was eager to see what this incredible lineup could pull off in the studio, and I'm not the least bit disappointed. Very different from seeing them live (and if you get the chance to do that and miss it, you should kick yourself). But that's a good thing; instead of just trying to jam in the studio without an audience, they have made an album of fine material that showcases their virtuosity and rapport without sounding overthought or overproduced. This is top-notch rock and roll. And as others have said, do get the limited edition for the bonus tracks, because you can never have too much live Phil. And get out and see the band, because nothing lasts forever and they have the power to make you laugh, cry, and dance like you never have.

Average customer rating:

Undine - Complete Opera in Four Acts

Manufacturer: Capriccio
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Cowboy | Country | Styles | Music

General | Country | Styles | Music

Nashville Sound | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Box Sets | Stores | Music

Pop | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00002604Q
Release Date: 1995-12-12

Tracks:

Rhinestone Cowboy
Gentle on My Mind
By the Time I Get to Phoenix
Dreams of the Everyday Housewife
Heartache Number Three
Please Come to Boston
It's Only Make Believe
Crying
Blue Grass Medley
Milk Cow Blues

There & Back Again (Multichannel/Stereo)

Average customer rating:

There & Back Again (Multichannel/Stereo)
Phil Lesh
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Rock Jam Bands | Jam Bands | Rock | Styles | Music

Roots Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00006B1NO
Release Date: 2002-09-10

Tracks:

Celebration
Night of a Thousand Stars
Real Thing
Again and Again
No More Do I
Patchwork Quilt
Liberty
Midnight Train
Leave Me Out of This
Welcome to the Underground
Rock-N-Roll Blues

Average customer rating:

A great album!!!
The Best CD I Own.....
Absolutely, Absolutely Fabulous
A pleasant suprise!
Incredible, but only a peek at what was to come

There and Back Again
Vertical Horizon
Manufacturer: Rhythmic Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Post Grunge | American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Go [With Bonus Track]
Everything You Want
Go
Lifehouse
Coil

ASIN: B0000048IE
Release Date: 1997-07-10

Tracks:

Trying to Find Purpose
Children's Lullaby
Footprints In The Snow
Love's Light
The Mountain Song
Prayers For an Innocent Man
Lines Upon Your Face
Willingly
On The Sea
Liberty