I personally don't care for Wake Of The Flood , the 1973 release from the Grateful Dead. While there are some songs on the album I enjoy, there are others that just are listless, and I look forward to listening to this album nearly as much as I look forward to a root canal without novicaine. The end result, Laughing Water , has its moments, but still is unable to breathe a lot of life into the plodding material - but that's not due to lack of trying. Each member does bring their own unique spark of creativity and excitement to this project. But more often than not, the material on Laughing Water calls for a more gentle sonic attack from the guitar, and not a crisp, sharp rendition.
Jazz Is Dead is augmented by the addition of some wonderful guest musicians.
Donna Jean Godchaux, who was a member of the Dead at the time of Wake Of The Flood , briefly makes an appearance on two vocal intros - the only time vocals are heard throughout this project. Unfortunately, she is not used enough, and I would have liked to have heard her sing more. Also making contributions to the project are guitarists Steve Kimock and Derek Trucks. But they can't make something great out of something so mediocre in its basis. Laughing Water will undoubtedly be a treasure trove if you're one of the fans of the Dead who lived Wake Of The Flood .