Completely Conspicuous 535: Built to Last

I'm joined by guest Phil Stacey as we discuss the final Grateful Dead studio album Built to Last.

Show notes:

- Recorded via Zoom

- Built to Last released on Halloween 1989

- Jay had just graduated from college, Phil was a junior

- Jay: Don't remember this album even coming out

- Phil: It's not memorable

- Felt like band was going through the motions

- Brent Mydland dominated the album with four songs

- He was suffering from depression; died a year later

- Maybe Garcia and Weir didn't have enough good material

- Fall '89 Dead shows are considered the band's last great run of concerts

- Tried the same recording technique as previous album but it didn't work

- Garcia said Mydland's songs were better

- Final song is really bad

- Phil: They had enough material to record another album

- You can find version of them online

- Garcia started getting into drugs again

- Concert performances suffered

- Band members started doing other projects

- A couple of decent songs on this album

- Mydland songs seemed like they'd fit in a different genre

- Phil: He was good in concert

- The Dead didn't need another hit album

- Jay: At the end of this journey, have more of an appreciation for the Dead

- Definitely some bad records

- Can appreciate the live performances to a point

- Jay: I respect the fanaticism of Deadheads; not for me, but that's okay

- No more guilty pleasures; you like what you like

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The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.