By Bonnaroo’s third year in 2004, the exalted Tennesee music destination had transformed from its jam-band roots into the ‘nu-Woodstock’ for the MTV2 generation.

I can’t discount the traditional jam groups like Dave Matthews, The Dead, String Cheese, moe. and Trey Anastasio that headlined, but 2004 brought acclaimed singer/songwriters like Gillian Welch, Beth Orton, Damien Rice, indy-southern rock favs My Morning Jacket and Kings of Leon, plus Steve Winwood, David Byrne and why not Bob Dylan to top it off?

If you weren’t there, the two-disc, 24-song album won’t do you justice for a three-day, balls out festival, but it will probably give you a reason to plan a trip to Manchester, Tennessee this June.

I was impressed my local favs The Bad Plus made the cut with “Big Eater,” to round out the first disc and another highlight would be the one-two punch of Primus and Ween halfway through the second disc (“Fizzle Fry” and “Zoloft”). It’s great the moe. is getting more attention in the post-Phish era, too.

Only a loser would buy this album, the live DVD partner, some good mushrooms and sit outside in the sun and dirt with no shirt at his mom’s house for three days to recreate a missed experience.

My advice, buy a ticket for 2005. It’s only $150, and this is as close to Woodstock as you’re ever going to get. Besides, your mom always steals your ’shrooms.

The live 2004 Bonnaroo Music Festival double disc album is available from Sanctuary Records and is in stores now.