Given that the surviving members of the Dead continue to maintain the psychedelic San Franciscans as a live force, the idea of a best-of doesn't seem so daft, until you consider that the band's massive output can hardly be distilled onto one disc. Virtually bereft of actual hits, the late Jerry Garcia's autobiographical "Touch Of Grey" aside, this easily assembled package concentrates on their more hummable moments like "Truckin'", "Ripple" and "Friend Of The Devil". The...Mars Hotel choices are welcome, but this is a marking/marketing time exercise in the implausible.

SUBSCRIBE FOR 12 ISSUES AND PAY FOR ONLY 9!