The Deep End, Vol. 2

This second and final installment of the band's ambitious tribute to their late bass player, Allen Woody, concludes what they began with 2001's Vol. 1--namely, to record each track with a different bass player while retaining a cohesive feel to each album. The two are indeed bookends; this second release is by no means comprised of leftover tracks. Rather, so many of Woody's favorite players wanted to be involved that it led to the recording of enough material to fill two full-length CDs. As on Vol. 1, the guest list includes notable players from different genres, such as Les Claypool (Primus), Billy Cox (Jimi Hendrix), Phil Lesh (Grateful Dead), Tony Levin (Peter Gabriel, King Crimson), Meshell N'degeocello, Jason Newsted (ex-Metallica), and Chris Squire (Yes), among others. The intent was to have each guest incorporate their own style into their selected track, while retaining the identifiable sound of the band, and again they have succeeded, especially on the Squire track, "Sun Dance." A notable exception is "Greasy Granny's Gopher Gravy, Pt. 1" which is pretty much transformed into a Primus song by Claypool's distinctive bass and vocal. It's still a worthwhile song, but more enjoyable if you're a fan of his band. Three covers out of 13 tracks--Tower of Power's "What Is Hip?," the more obscure "Hammer and Nails," and the traditional "Catfish Blues"--fit in smoothly alongside new originals such as "World of Confusion" and "Slow, Happy Boys." --Kim Hughes