Anarchyx, I agree you simply must do some homework and get to know the Dead. They're simply awesome... beyond awesome.
I don't say this as a DeadHead (although I AM -to be sure). I enjoy an extremely wide range of music from classical (especially Bach, Chopin, and Debussy) to rock (especially the Beatles, Hendrix, Dead, Pink Floyd, King Crimson) to jazz (especially Miles, Coltrane, just about everything -especially the Big Three fusion bands... Weather Report, Mahavishnu Orchestra, and of course, Return to Forever) to blues (especially Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, Albert the Iceman Collins, Albert King, and B.B. King) and LOTS of other stuff.
So I'm not one of the devoted DeadHeads who ONLY listens to the dead and considers them the end-all/be-all; NOBODY is.
But they're great, and any musician with an open mind who loves and appreciates good music will have to love them if they give them the chance and get to know them... they're awesome. As individuals, they were exceptional. Jerry was an incredible soloist, with a great style and a a distinct voice. Phil is an awesome (and highly underrated/underappreciated) bass player. And both Mickey and Bill (especially Mickey -IMO) are exceptional drummers... IMO some of the all-time greatest (rock) drummers alongside Bill Bruford, Neal Peart, and Stuart Copeland. But as a group, they were much more, much more than the sum of their parts.
Excluding Dick's Picks I own ALL the Dead CDs except the one released after In the Dark. It's the only one I didn't like, can't even remember it's name.
I think they're all good; but my favorite 7 -which I think are the best for someone not familer with 'em to start with, are, in recommended order of listening: (1) Greatful Dead (live double album from 1971 -it has two nicknames: Skull and Roses, and Skullf***; (2) Blues for Allah; (3) American Beauty; (4) Workingmans Dead; (5) From the Mars Hotel (which Jerry regarded as their best studio album); (6) Live/Dead; and (7) Terripin Station.
Give it a chance and you'll love it, it's great stuff!
Mark
(Message edited by the 8 string king on October 13, 2007)