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"Jam bands" - Who puts out the best studio albums?

Posted on 8/19/22 at 11:40 am
Posted by GentleJackJones
Member since Mar 2019
4228 posts
Posted on 8/19/22 at 11:40 am
I get that jam bands is a relatively broad classification. I also get that many fans of jam bands enjoy and prefer their live recordings as opposed to their studio content.

That said, in your opinion, which jam band puts out the best studio albums?
Posted by TrussvilleTide
The Endless Void
Member since Sep 2021
4069 posts
Posted on 8/19/22 at 12:05 pm to
Workingman's Dead is the best studio album by a jam band IMO. I don't think I can really give an opinion on which band generally puts out the best though. I know a few of the Dead's were stinkers, a few were really good.
Posted by MountainTiger
The foot of Mt. Belzoni
Member since Dec 2008
14673 posts
Posted on 8/19/22 at 12:18 pm to
Most jam bands have crap for studio albums but I'd say String Cheese's albums are pretty decent.
Posted by cgrand
HAMMOND
Member since Oct 2009
39178 posts
Posted on 8/19/22 at 12:23 pm to
the string of workingmans dead, american beauty, wake of the flood, mars hotel & blues for allah is the best jam band studio output. those are all very good and listenable albums

billy strings' three studio albums are all excellent

Posted by diddlydawg7
2x Best Poster Elite 8 (2x Sweet 16
Member since Oct 2017
27795 posts
Posted on 8/19/22 at 1:13 pm to
Til the Medicine Takes by WSP is one of favorite all time and I don’t like jam bands
Posted by rutiger
purgatory
Member since Jun 2007
21151 posts
Posted on 8/19/22 at 1:21 pm to
After the dead, i would say medeski, martin and wood. They have SO many amazing albums.
Posted by redneck hippie
Stillwater
Member since Dec 2008
5626 posts
Posted on 8/19/22 at 1:35 pm to
another vote for Widespread Panic.

Space Wrangler is personal favorite, but Till the Medicine takes is almost perfect.
Posted by hogfly
Fayetteville, AR
Member since May 2014
4662 posts
Posted on 8/19/22 at 1:49 pm to
WSP would be my vote (other than some of the classic Dead albums). I was way more into seeing and collecting live Phish back when I toured around, but I did feel like Widespread's albums were really enjoyable.
Posted by UPT
NOLA
Member since May 2009
5519 posts
Posted on 8/19/22 at 2:32 pm to
In no particular order











Posted by redneck hippie
Stillwater
Member since Dec 2008
5626 posts
Posted on 8/19/22 at 2:58 pm to
another classic

Posted by nobigdeal69
baton rouge
Member since Nov 2009
2183 posts
Posted on 8/19/22 at 3:10 pm to
WSP - Til the Medicine Takes
Grateful Dead - American Beauty
Posted by FirstCityDawg
Member since May 2017
2577 posts
Posted on 8/19/22 at 7:46 pm to
Goose
Posted by rlebl39
League City, TX
Member since Jun 2011
4741 posts
Posted on 8/19/22 at 10:43 pm to
+1 for goose. Jam band live albums are better but I dig goose studio albums just as much.

Will also add moe. Tin cans and car tires.
This post was edited on 8/19/22 at 10:46 pm
Posted by Eeyore
Mars
Member since Sep 2020
350 posts
Posted on 8/20/22 at 12:32 am to
Dave Matthews band - Before these crowded streets
Posted by tigeroarz1
Winston-Salem, NC
Member since Oct 2013
3409 posts
Posted on 8/20/22 at 6:15 am to
Railroad Earth
Posted by BLIZZAKE7
BRLA
Member since Apr 2005
6193 posts
Posted on 8/20/22 at 6:44 am to
Greensky Bluegrass
Posted by midnight1961
Member since Jan 2007
1463 posts
Posted on 8/20/22 at 7:23 am to
The Black Crowes. Some may argue that they aren't really a jam band...but they truly are.

To me a band that takes a 4 minute studio song and stretches it out to 15-20 minutes live, while sometimes noodling into a completely different song, only to slowly work back to the original song is a jam band.

That, and they change their set list nightly...at least they used to. Haven't seen them in a while so that may have changed.

They are a revolving door of guitarists.

Marc Ford was always my favorite guitarist in that band !

This post was edited on 8/20/22 at 7:42 am
Posted by UKWildcats
Lexington, KY
Member since Mar 2015
17342 posts
Posted on 8/20/22 at 11:03 am to
Yeah, I was gonna toss Black Crowes in there.

I'm probably alone in this, but I prefer a couple of Phish's studio albums. Specifically Ghost and Farmhouse. Just sounds real tight and put together well. I'd agree some of their earlier stuff lends itself more to live jamming. But those two are rock solid studio albums, and yes, they do kick arse live too.
Posted by Mizooag94
Hillbillyville, MO
Member since Sep 2018
1639 posts
Posted on 8/20/22 at 1:08 pm to


Live and possibly their worst album.
Posted by cgrand
HAMMOND
Member since Oct 2009
39178 posts
Posted on 8/20/22 at 3:24 pm to
quote:

possibly their worst album
not possibly, definitely
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