Bonnaroo Music Festival 2004

Performer: Various Artists
Distributor: BMG (distributor)

Notes: Certainly this document from the annual Bonnaroo Music Festival is the best one in the series so far. The fest's ability to draw bigger names and rock legends to the annual mix lends depth and weight to this compilation, but so does the organizer's programming of more adventurous music than in previous years. This two-disc collection opens with Bob Dylan, performing a rocking version of "Down Along the Cove." As if to showcase the two ends of the continuum, the CD producers sequenced Dave Matthews and "Friends"' "Trouble" immediately after, which may really be a bad thing for Matthews since the Dylan track is so rock & roll hot. Other legends performing are the Dead, Steve Winwood -- who does a wonderful "Dear Mr. Fantasy," -- and David Byrne. Of course Gov't Mule is here, as are moe., Trey Anastasio, Primus, and String Cheese Incident. But so are Gillian Welch, Ani Difranco, Beth Orton, the Bad Plus, Gomez, Damien Rice, the Black Keys, Ween, and My Morning Jacket. The sound quality on both discs is consistently high, and most of these performances are inspired. As far as live festival comps go, this is one is a cut above most. ~ Thom Jurek By 2004, the Bonnaroo festival's third year, the lauded Tennessee music event had transcended its jam-band tag, becoming the one of the preeminent annual US rock gatherings. Although jam-oriented acts such as the Dead, Dave Matthews, and Trey Anastasio all turned in sets here, the 2004 lineup also included acclaimed singer/songwriters (Gillian Welch, Beth Orton, Damien Rice), Southern alt-rockers (My Morning Jacket, Kings of Leon), and rock icons (Bob Dylan, Steve Winwood, David Byrne). While this two-disc, 24-song sampler barely skims the surface of the music on offer during this three-day festival, it still presents a fine example of Bonnaroo's eclectic sounds. On "This Disc," Dylan leads his band through a rollicking take on "Down Along the Cove," Welch brings haunting bluegrass to the masses with "Caleb Meyer," and My Morning Jacket rocks out with fierce abandon on "One Big Holiday." On "That Disc," eccentric bands Primus and Ween churn out strange, moody tunes with "Frizzle Fry" and "Zoloft," respectively. One thing that unites many performers here, regardless of their musical style, is love of the extended live song, with more than half of the tracks exceeding the five-minute mark. Clearly, the Bonnaroo festival is a place for both musicians and their fans to cut loose, and this compilation serves to reinforce that carefree vibe.

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