Search - Bob Weir :: Bobby & The Midnights

Weir's Book Of Rules...Rules

marleyscott | Long Island, NY | 10/18/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Bobby & The Midnights stands out among the several varied solo efforts by ... founding member, Bob Weir. Backed by a crackerjack rhythem section including Billy Cobham on drums, Weir cruises his way through some interesting orginals. He even manages to sound conviencing on a delightful version of The Heptones Book Of Rules, something many ... artists have failed at. Bobby & The Midnights won't leave you mezmerized, but it won't leave you cold either. All in all this is a fun package with more highlights than lows."

Magnificent Cheese

George Mostoller | Philadelphia, PA | 08/29/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Bob Weir, rhythm guitarist for the Grateful Dead, has always had a slightly sick sense of humor and a complete disregard for making the kind of music Dead fans think they want to hear. For this solo project, Weir got together with a stellar group of musicians including Bobby Cochran on lead guitar, jazz greats Alphonso Johnson and Billy Cobham on bass and drums respectively, and the Grateful Dead's Brent Mydland on keyboards. With lyrical supervision by John Barlow and some harmonica contributions from Matthew Kelly, they proceed to make music that perfectly straddles the fence between parody and excellence. Combining influences from reggae, seventies arena rock and California country rock, this CD often makes you wonder how serious they are being. Aside from a straightforward cover of the reggae classic "Book of Rules", every song is just a little over the top both lyrically and musically. Are they being serious? It's hard to tell. If not, the joke is being told very well. Having seen this band live, I can affirm that the musicians played these songs to work the crowd. The biggest problem with this CD, in my opinion, is a lack of stylistic continuity; the jumps from arena hair music to reggae can be a little jarring, but maybe that is the desired effect. And if nothing else, this CD has some of the best examples of Bob Weir's patented screaming. I like this record, but I have a sick sense of humor too: there is definitely some cheese here, but it is really good cheese."

Worth your time

Jannean Yusko | Deatsville,Alabama | 04/30/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Good music

sit back and enjoy

take a trip --or-- be where

you are. It will be there

with you whatever you choose.

"