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Kick Out The Jams still sounds astonishingly powerful after almost 30 years. Recorded live at Detroit's Grande Ballroom in 1968, this relentless, aggressive set offers the frenzy of politicized garage punks blasting through giant stacks: a blitzkrieg of hard rock ignited from the dueling guitars of Wayne Kramer and Fred Sonic Smith and of the throttled vocals of Rob Tyner. The Stooges with barricade-busting ideals, the Five turned the Motor City into a Mecca of sonic excess and shattered the dazed dreams of hippie America. From the pounding of the title track to the eight-and-a half-minute weirdout of "Sun Ra's "Starship,"" Kick Out The Jams will rip your head to shreds. --Barney Hoskyns ... Read more

Reviews (42)

The best punk album to come before The Ramones
Most people know punk officially started with The Ramones and The Sex Pistols. Before those bands, there was a form of proto-punk called garage rock (And, no, I'm not talking about The Strokes or The Hives). These bands included The Monks, The Stooges, The New York Dolls, and MC5. MC5 remain to be the best of all these bands, with this politically-charged masterpeice. Music hadn't been this political since 1966's "Black Monk Time" by the Monks, and wouldn't be more political until The Clash's self-titled album. Well, enough with the history lesson, and a reveiw of the album.

1. "Rambilin' Rose" 10/10: The opening speech is amazing, and you can feel the excitement.

2. "Kick Out the Jams" 11/10: The classic of the album, legendary for the controversial opening line "Kick Out the Jams MOTHAF*CKA!". One of the best songs of the 60's, and certainly an anarchy anthem.

3. "Come Together" 10/10: Another classic on this album.

4. "Rocket Reducer No. 62 (Rama Lama Fa Fa Fa)" 9/10: Not my favorite on the album, but good anyways.

5. "Borderline" 8/10: It's good, but no classic.

6. "Motor City Is Burning" 6/10: My least-favorite song on the album. A little bit slower than the other songs.

7. "I Want You Right Now" 10/10: The album picks up after a slight slump. Of course this is nothing compared to the next track....

8. "Starship" 10/10: A memorable weirdout cover of Sun Ra (!). Words cannot describe this avant-garde classic.

Like so many other political bands of the past (Dead Kennedys, Millions of Dead Cops), the politics slightly date. However, just like it is with Dead Kennedys and MDC, the music certainly doesn't. Go and spend the $10, it's worth it.

full tilt rock and roll at its best....
I can remember ther first time I heard "Kick out the Jams". I was at a party for a friend of mine and he happened to have an old dog-eared reissue jamming on the CD player. I borrowed it that night nearly five years ago and haven't given it back yet. Do I regret it? My neighbors' ears have never been the same. The energy at the heart of this album is the complete essence of rock and roll. Nothing has been distilled or added at all. Their mutation of anger and brashness and overall guts (and this album spills over the brim with guts) is often echoed in the music of Pearl Jam and the best hardcore punk (Black Flag comes to mind, as well as the Minutemen). Many mornings in peaceful suburban Azusa the air was shattered by the primal scream of this record (the UNCENSORED version, thank you) blaring through my apartment window. "Well I feel pretty good...." Music to play when your grandma comes over and you have plans with the opposite sex. She'll run for cover guaranteed. Not many people I know are fans. Buy this CD and let me know what you think by email. I'd like to hear from people who liked it. LA is full of fake punks who've never heard it. Long live the Motor City Five!

Outrageously wild
When I first met this CD,I was nearly knocked down to the floor.The extreme heat that this album possess is almost incredible.If you want to search for proto punk music ,this will be the one.And these guys are really politically aggressive,many taboo words can be heard.This Cd can lift you into higher ground.
Loud and hard-driving sound will set you free from your tedious everyday life.Shut your mouth ,and listen !

A Grande Night Indeed
It was only a short 10 days before my first birthday that this event took place. I guess Mom and Dad wouldn't let me trek from Philly to go see this; well the 60's for the most part except for some pop tunes, and country, and stuff like Glenn Yarbourough were part of "thier" record collection. It took to when I was a teenager to find out about this group. I got the sanitised version of "Kick Out The Jams" in a local record store. Mind you I drove the owner nuts as he was more into accapella, and doo wop. I got this tape for my 19th birthday, and was a little put off by it at first as the first song "Ramblin Rose" sounded like a woman singing. It made up for it quickly as the title cut followed, and then there was "Come Together", and my fave "I Want You Right Now". This was rock at it's angriest. The snarl that The Standells used in "Dirty Water" was a pussycat mew compared to this. Not even other local legends like Iggy and The Stooges, or The Sex Pistols were as "MANLY" sounding as this. It was after this that the MC5 severed ties with thier manager as they felt he was turning them into a hate machine with his lyrics, and his propaganda. I'm glad that the group woke up to that realization, but you can't help, but feel "Oh What A Night(Halloween, 1968)".

I was there, man!
This is the greatest rock album, ever.

Wayne Kramer didn't use an SG, he used a Strat painted like the Stars and Stripes. The only thing missing from this album is the intense ear-splitting volume.

Brothers and sisters, the MC5's music will drive you wild, into the streets, tearing down everything that would keep us from being free.

Kick out the Jams and stay alive with the MC5. ... Read more

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It may have taken until 1991 for punk to break as a commercial form, but the genre was hardly new. In that story, even Jane's Addiction were latecomers to the revolution. But it was the frenzied trailblazing rock of this quirky Los Angeles quartet that made the later successes of Nirvana, etc. somehow inevitable. In this recording of a hometown club gig, Jane's offer raw versions of songs that would appear in a more refined form on their debut album, along with a dubious cover of "Sympathy for the Devil." Hear a noticeably younger and shriller Perry Farrell while guitarist Dave Navarro plays out his Jimmy Page dreams across a punk canvas the rest of the world would soon discover. --Steve Appleford ... Read more

Reviews (34)

incredible promise
The band Jane's Addiction is one of the most important bands in the last twenty years of music. They brought rock and roll back to a music scene dominated by pop acts. This is their debut indie release. It documents their early life on the streets of Los Angeles. A series of live cuts including covers of the Rolling Stones "Sympathy for the Devil" and Lou Reed's "My Time." Not on the level of their follow up classic albums "Nothing's Shocking" and "Ritual de lo Habitual" this self titled album offers an early look at what will become one of the greatest bands of our time. An early version of the now-classic "Jane Says" and "Chip Away" are the best songs on this album.

Ear-blowing
Jane's Addiction is the only band I know who released a live debut album. Any other band would run too great a risk doing that. Not Jane's. They already had an incredible live reputation by 1987.

Particularly the first 5 songs on this live CD prove how good Jane's Addiction already were back then. The interplay of Perry's echoed vocals and Dave's juicy, voluminous guitar playing cause an eargasm, no more no less.
Compared to the band's 1988 studio debut "Nothing's Shocking", however, this is just an embryo. Later, as we know, it would grow into a voluptuous, beautiful girl.

Not every song works as well as the opener "Trip away" or the conscious, street-smart "Whores" and "1%". The covers of "Sympathy for the devil" by Rolling Stones and "Rock'n'roll" by Lou Reed don't leave any impression- these songs were only played for this record and didn't belong to the band's repertoire.

This album features 2 early versions of Jane's Addiction classics "Jane says" and "Pigs in zen", the best song ever written about pigs with a spoken part not featured on "Nothing's Shocking": "The pig is led to the slaughter/This he says is the price some pay for a simple life". Perry's lyrics- deep and insightful as on any Jane's Addiction album.

4 recommending stars for this ear-blowing live disc

Shockingly good.
Their other albums might have gotten more attention, but this debut from "Jane's Addiction" is just as good as the next two. In some ways it's better. The big difference is that this is live, and has a much more raw feel, and captures their sound before they got more popular. A much younger "Perry Farrell" adds alot to the music with his unique voice, and "Dave Navarro" plays guitar better than he possibly does today. Plus some absolute classic songs are on here, like "Trip Away", "Whores", "I Would For You", "My Time", and of course "Jane Says". There's also great covers of the "Stones" and "Velvet Underground". Anyone new to this should be greatly impressed, and any major fan will find this as essential as any other album.

Own this Album
For a live album, this disc is incredibly crisp & audible. You can hear the energy of the band and can't help but jam out. The tracks are a lot of fun... I particulary like the cover of the Rolling Stones' SYMPATHY. Not to mention, TRIP AWAY is a great rolling tribal beat that is easy to get lost in... awesome!

Bringing back the medicine train...
Probably the most incisive thing ever said about Jane's was a comment my brother made, just after we got out of one of their early gigs. Something along the lines of (my paraphrasing):

"You know, people make such a big deal about the hype, and the "new Led Zeppelin" thing that they forget the band just seems like four guys that want to play music."

Here's the proof. A no-frills, underproduced live album made up of some early "Nothing's Shocking" material, a few covers ("Sympathy For The Devil"; average--Lou Reed's "Rock&Roll"; quite good), and some all-around great pop tunes ("My Time", "I Would For You").

I'm not going to say I was there since the beginning; like most of us, I began with "Ritual..." and made my way back. And in this case, the search is worth the time spent on it. Disregard, however, the "Live 1986" album which is poorly recorded. ... Read more

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Punk rock is meant to be played loud and snotty. Blink 182 are a San Diego punk rock threesome whose interest in arrested development has led them to a sparkling array of sex jokes that cover everything from anal sex to masturbation to... Well, you get the idea--and that's just the between-song banter. This limited-edition live collection--a holding pattern until the band's fifth studio album is released in 2001--features a slam-dunk collection of the band's hits, fan favorites from their various studio albums, and new tunes ("Blew Job" among the enlightened tracks). One additional studio track, "Man Overboard" (already a hit on a radio near you), packs a harder punch than most, thanks to the studio finesse. But mostly these are revved-up versions of songs to break a skateboard by. With the added appeal of a color booklet and about seven minutes of "stage banter" tacked on at the end, guaranteed to either leave you in stitches or have you grounded for a month. --Rob O'Connor ... Read more

Reviews (260)

A great live album for every kind of Blink 182 fan!
For those of you that like Blink 182's punk-turned-pop album, Enema Of The State, you'll appreciate some of the songs that they play in this album, such as "All The Small Things" or "What's My Age Again?"But this album also contains some old Blink 182 favorites such as "Dammit" or "Carousel" that will keep the punk fans satisfied. Mark, Tom, and Travis play great, with few mess-ups and very high quality sound. The jokes in between songs and the ones in the last 28 tracks are hilarious, but inapproprate, which is probably the reason it got the parental advisory label, but hey, they aren't too bad, and most 12 year olds could hear em. This album has 49 tracks, the first 19 being a whole show with entertaining commentary in between, 20 is "Man Overboard," their awesome new single. 21-49 are just the guys jokin around at various concerts. This CD is great, only a few problems being:1.It gets a little boring hearing it over and over, especially the jokes, and 2.Travis doesn't talk at all. C'mon, Travis, don't just bang on those drums! Other than those facts, this CD rules, and is a must-have for any Blink 182 fan.Buy it NOW!!!!

Pure Blink 182.
Wow. This is a fabulous CD. Right off the bat, you realize what you have- a CD that totally embodies what the band Blink 182 is all about, that being girls, potty humor, and punk rock. The boys do great live versions of some of their best hits, "Dammit," "All the Small Things," and "Dumpweed" standing out, though I was disappointed that their early hit "Girl Next Door" wasn't included. That aside, they did a great job on this CD. They sound great live, and aren't one of those bands that needs numerous studio tricks in order for you to like them. Mark's bass solos are great, and make the songs that much more of unpredictable and fun ride. Tom's recognizable lead guitar chords jump out at you, and as you hear them a smile comes on your face knowing what the song is. Travis's drumming is as phenomal as ever, never missing a beat and rocking hard. These three big kids mixed together have a style that is impossible to resist. They blend their love for girls, bathroom jokes, and their token punk rock in one desirable package. A real treat on the CD is their latest single "Man Overboard." Totally Blink's style, it has all the guys at their best, with catchy lyrics, plenty of times for each one of them to shine, and an overall tone that's impossible to resist. Another aspect of the CD fans will love are the last minutes of the CD, devoted entirely to commentary made by Mark, Tom, and Travis at their live shows. It includes outrageous dares, hysterical dips into their pasts, and even a visit from Satan. Simply put, if you love Blink 182, this CD is a must-have. You will laugh, sing along, and when it comes to "Adam's Song" maybe even cry on the wild trip with the guys of Blink. So get this CD. It's worth the money, and you'll love it guaranteed.

Awsome Live CD!
This CD is the next best thing to actually being at one of their live shows. Listen to them as they ramble on about pointless crude things in between songs and hear the audience loving it just like you will. After the last song listed #19 Man Overboard, there is alot more on the CD. There is alot more tracks of them making lots of jokes and of course more crude humor. This is one of their best releases. Not only does it have songs from their extremely popular cd Enima of the State, but also songs from their older stuff too! Overall this is a great great cd!

Good live album from Blink 182
The Mark, Travis and Tom Show is Blink 182's live album documenting the Enema tour.Many great songs make the album, and the songs are performed with great energy, but there is way too much stupid dialogue in between songs, that after awhile it gets annyoing and starts to take away from the enjoyment. I'd borrow it from someone before, I'd fork over 20-30 dollars for it.

The next best thing to a Blink concert.
You want this CD ... you want this CD.

"Untitled" is the ultimate break-up anthem from Blink. Oh wait ... no, "Dammit" is, but "Untitled" comes as a close second. Blink has a way of writing songs that people can relate to, with honest lyrics and damn depressing themes. Between songs, there are a lot of dirty jokes and funny dialogue (it's not tasteful, but who cares?). After "Man Overboard" the CD goes on and on for about an extra 40 minutes with talk. Good stuff. Best of all, it's like a portable Blink 182 concert. ... Read more

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The mannered vocal style that has always been the most off-putting element of Ani DiFranco's music is still present on this two-disc live set, but for some reason it doesn't matter anymore. Maybe it's the way you can hear DiFranco using her breaths to accent a rhythm section that's downright merciless with its circling, pulsing, scary grooves. Or maybe it's the way, with an audience screaming, she pours heart and soul into "Unforgettable Face" and the story song "Gravel." Whatever, Living in Clip is the album where DiFranco begins to deserve her hype. And "Amazing Grace," backed by the Buffalo Philharmonic, is where she surpasses it. --David Cantwell ... Read more

Reviews (120)

Oh, I adore, you.
A good friend of mine turned me on to Ani sometime last year. So here I am, listening to 2 Little Girls off Little Plastic Castle, and I'm falling into this deep fascination with this voice. So, I go to find an Ani CD of my very own to start off with. I see Dilate, Not a Pretty Girl, Little Plastic Castle, and Living in Clip. My good friend had everything there except LIC. So I bought this one. Thank goodness. This album, twisting in every emotional direction feasible, is a tribute to Ani's musical genius, her live act, and her phenomenal writing. To list a few trully noteworthy gems: "Hide and Seek"--Beautiful in it's haunting lyrics and almost tribal beat. "Napoleon"-- It's sooo much better live! "32 Flavors" Alana Davis (Is that who covered it?) gave it no justice. "In or Out"--Dynamic and stirring, unlike the studio version. "Amazing Grace"--Mmmhmm.;) Also, be sure to wait until the last song on disc 2 reaches 7:00 for about the most giggle worthy display of audience/band interaction I've ever heard!

Ani's good, but only as good as Ani wants to be
I dont dought the talent of Ani Difranco. I just started listening to some of her stuff and i was very impressed with her talent, but i really do think she could reach a new level of excelance that she appearently has no intent to reach. Her live double cd, "Living In Clip" showcases Ani's talented Dave Matthews like guitar work in combination with a Alanis Morisette type attitude that she sings with. Alot of the tracks on this disc sound great and she has proven to me that she is definately a very talented and original voice in the womens music bussiness. My biggest problem with Ani is that it seems to me that she has to grow up alittle, not only in a mature sense, but also in a musical sense. She has the talent to become among the elite women singers in the bussiness, but it seems to me her attitude and her lack of maturity is holding her back. I like her music on this album, but i have to say i really dont like and cant relate to some of her comments inbetween songs, it is almost a musical turn off to this listener. Overall i enjoy her music and do recomend this album, its just a shame to see such a talent limiting her self to mediocre song writing and little imagination.

One Of The Best CDs of All Time
Ani seems to touch every feeling a person can have on this CD. She goes from subtle and soft, to yelling, screaming and laughter. This is the best CD I have ever bought. I suggest it to anyone who likes folk music or has a an open mind towards new things!

Living in clip
Ani Difranco is one of the few artists who has made a successful career out of her do-it-yourself ethics. She has bypassed the conventional career path most artists takes by not signing with a major record label and by doing that, she has a greater percentage intake in the profits from her music as opposed to being in debt for years to a major record label. I always have and always will respect Ani for taking the high road and do things her way. I was a big fan of Ani Difranco when I was a college student in Wisconsin nine years ago. I first heard about her in a magazine (I think) and decided to check out her music. "Dilate" was my first Ani Difranco cd. I was hooked. During the next few years, I would buy her latest cds religiously on the day they were release, one of them was "Living in Clip". I rarely buy live cds but in Ani Difranco's case, I was willing to buy a live cd of her music. Besides there were a bunch of songs at the time I hadn't heard before like the gorgeous "Both Hands" (my all-time favorite Ani Difranco song) and "Sorry I Am". "Living in Clip" is definitely one of the best live cds that I have ever heard. Although each song was recorded in different cities, you would have never guessed that they weren't recorded at one performance. The occasional banter with the audience gives the listener an intimate insight of an Ani Difranco performance. One of the most stunning performances on the cd is Ani's rendition of "Amazing Grace" with the Buffalo Philharmonic. It simply took my breath away. That alone makes this cd worth listening to. Although I am not nearly the fan that I am of Ani's music any more, I still enjoy throwing in "Living in Clip" every now and then. This is a good representation of Ani Difranco as an artist as well as a performer.

The Rocked Folk album of the Century!!!
Living In Clip shines as Ani's most versatile and amazing album yet, out of her 25 five or so. This album covers some of her most classic songs such as the unforgettable Both Hand, Adam And Eve, In and Out, Out of Habit, and Out of Rage. Combining folk rock punk and poetry, Ani definitely delivers in this piece of musical art. With only a three person band with ever so lovable Sara Lee on bass and Andy Stochansky on drums we are given even a bigger treat, but the double album really shines when Ani sings solo only with her guitar. Me being an original Ani fan from the early 1990's I have seen her music evolve and change into something amazing, which is shown through this classic album. If you are interested in becoming an Ani Difranco fan for the first time I strongly suggest this album. Also if you ever get to actually see her live that is the True Ani expierence! I was also given a treat of meeting her, quite an expierence!
Enjoy!!! ... Read more

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Even if Social Distortion have lost some their edge on more recent studio releases, this new live set is solid proof that the band's musical urgency is still intact. Seventeen years of classic Orange County, California, punk is represented over 17 tracks, as the band moves through speaker-rattling alternative-radio hits like "Bad Luck," "Let It Be Me," and "Ball & Chain." Singer Mike Ness's rockabilly roar is in fine form, as is the grinding rock energy his bandmates put out. Recorded over three nights at Los Angeles's historic Roxy nightclub, the disc serves as a great testament to one of America's finest punk bands. --Aidin Vaziri ... Read more

Reviews (47)

O.C. Legend
Listening to Social D's "Live At The Roxy" you'll feel the punch and energy of an authentic legend of O.C. punk. Young people might think that they are part of the new generation, because of the success that they got with the successfull "White Light..." and their MTV's popularity. But, after 17 years on the road, they know exactly what they do. The incredible drummer Chuck Biscuits gave the band a new and hard blood and Ness is still a loser. The album was recorded at the Roxy, the same place as another O.C. legend, Agent Orange, gave birth to the classic "Real Live Sound". Some songs will even make you cry, especially "Don't Drag Me Down", "Ball And Chain" and "Telling Them".

Live and Loud
Social Distortion albums are usualy strong, but let us face it they really come to their right on stage. Live at the Roxy is a perfect example. The energy that shows on this album is amazing, and some of the tracks are actualy better live than the album releases. Here is stuff from their earliest days such as Mommy's Little Monster and 1945 up to their reunion on Prison Bound and right up to White Light, White Heat, White Trash. Ness is ever present on stage and the mannages to get the audience "going". The album is a perfect example of Social Distortions production thorough the years, and shows us their evolution from the basics of punk and into their maturing into their current stage. Get this album and enjoy among others an exeptional version of Don't Drag Me Down.

best live album ever
WOW. This disc perfectly capture a SD live show. They tear through classics like "Bad Luck", "Mommy's Little Monster", "Prison Bound", "I Was Wrong", "Don't Drag Me Down" and "Story of My Life" with the ferocity of caged animals. "Live At the Roxy" is as close as you get to a Social Distortion "best of" album so if you're new to the band this is the one you want. Overall I would rank this a close #2 behind the nearly flawless "White Light, White Heat, White Trash". Let's hope that the 8 year hiatus since that album means that their new stuff will be just as good.

U got 9 more of those fingers....
This album is second only to white light white heat white trash. The sound quality is great! Everything about this album rocks! Mike Ness's lil comments between songs are also cool to listen to. This is pure social distortion at their best!!!! Buy this cd or be forever lame.

5 stars = 5 angry construction workers
I borrowed this record from my uncle and I loved it so much he let me keep it. I never would have suspected that punk rock would sound so dangerous live. Up until I got this album, all I listened to previously was hippie music (the Who, Janis Joplin). Records like these are ones that make you want to broaden your musical horizons which I have been doing ever since.
Mike Ness and the boys play a great set which includes most of their best songs (Ness apologizes for forgetting "Sick Boys" in the liner notes). Their rendition of "Under My Thumb" is loud and aggressive as well as their cover of "Ring of Fire" even if Ness does claim it was dedicated to the ladies in the audience. SD's originals are far from shameful as well. Their versions of "Prison Bound" and "Mommy's Little Monster" are sharp enough to cut through stone and from then on, you're listening to the story of a kid who was never quite cool enough to be one of the "guys" but could rip through distortion drenched Chuck Barry licks as well as anyone, the kind of outsider story punk rock is based on and seems to be Ness's life story.
While all the songs are exeptional, highlights include the sorrowful "I Was Wrong", and "1945" but their anti-discrimination anthem "Don't Drag Me Down" is probably the most powerful track on the disc.
If you like punk rock in the least bit and you like live albums in the least bit, steal this from Sam Goody today! ... Read more

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In 2000 Oasis wisely dispensed with theatrics and concentrated on being the world's greatest stadium-sized pub-rock band. And so, with just three mammoth video walls in tow, they toured the world. Big as the video screens were, however, the band's straight-ahead rock and Liam Gallagher's mouth were even bigger, and contributed much to the drama, tension, and entertainment of the tour behind Standing on the Shoulder of Giants. Fine examples of both were recorded when they played Wembley Stadium. Musically, Oasis make good on their claims to be the biggest and the best with rocking versions of "Supersonic," "Shakermaker," "Cigarettes & Alcohol," and "Live Forever." As for Liam, Familiar to Millions wouldn't be half the album it is had his inane ramblings, brotherly abuse, and audience taunts been edited out. That's where the real live atmosphere lies--there and in the sound of 70,000 fans singing the choruses of "Wonderwall" and "Don't Look Back in Anger." --Dan Gennoe ... Read more

Reviews (77)

Hope springs eternal for American rock fans......
I'm biased - Oasis can do very little to disappoint me. That being said, I think any fan of real rock-n-roll, not the garbage that American audiences seem to crave (boy bands, girl bands & mindless hip-hop etc.) will appreciate this live album. The entire band is in fine form. Highlights include Supersonic, Wonderwall, Don't look back in anger, Stand by me & Live Forever plus the seldom heard Step Out and a great cover of Hey Hey, My My. Listening to 70,000 people sing along is absolutely electric - Long Live Oasis

Rock n roll at its finest
Oasis may have lost a lot of their popularity stateside during these times of bubblegum pop (aka Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears, etc), but any afficionado (lover, baby) of straightforward in-your-face-rock n roll should include this compilation of live tunes from one of the best rock bands of our time in their collection. There are imperfections in this CD certainly - Liam's off key singing in "Acquiesce" for example, but then thats what a live rock n roll gig is all about. Liam comes through on all other tracks with virtousity. This is a real rock gig at a premier venue (Wembley Stadium) by a real rock band. There first two albums were masterpieces for sure and the last two had their moments as well- this record definitely goes to show that this band is one of the very few keeping the rock n roll flame burning throughout the world. And with the addition of Andy Bell and Gem Archer in their line-up, it also shows that they are a long way from disappearing in the annals of rock history anytime soon(sibling rivalries aside!) Step Out, buy this CD and capture the atmosphere of a good ol rock gig with this CD. Live Forever.

Adnan.

Where are the objective reviews?
I am sorry. I love Oasis' music, own all their albums, but this live recording just sounds terrible. Liam's voice is really rough (too much smoking & drinking?) and he sounds half asleep/drunk on many of the tracks. I really like the new band members and Heathen Chemistry was just awesome, but they sound really new and not that great yet live on this recording. They should really release some live recordings from years ago - How about the Knebworth show? Oasis should take a lesson from U2 - They still sound great live after 20+ years in the business. Hopefully Liam will work on his voice and stay off the booze for shows in the future...

Great Live Album
This is, without a doubt, the best live album in the past ten years along with Nirvana Unplugged. This is in the midst of the changes Oasis were going through, of the heels of their heavily criticized Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants album, the replacement of rhythm guitarist Paul 'Bonehead' Arthurs and bass player Paul 'Guigsy' McGuigan with Gem Archer and Andy Bell, and the gradual change of Liam's voice.
The band begins with F**king in the Bushes. There's not much to be said for this because it sounds a lot like the album version, and follows in the tradition of Oasis starting a show with an instrumental. They follow with two more songs from Standing On The Shoulder of Giants (the poppy Go Let It Out and the psychadelic Who Feels Love), befopre launching into Supersonic, a fan favourite from 1994, and follow it up with Shakermaker, which is usually a tedious song, but it is done quite well here (I also see the songwriter credits have been changed to comply with the whole New Seekers thing). Then comes the ultimate Oasis live favourite Acquiesce (amazingly a B-Side). Finally Noel gets a go at singing with Step Out which was left of Morning Glory because of legal problems with Stevie Wonder. Gas Panic follows. This is the best song of Giants, and is chilling here. Roll With It comes next which average on Morning Glory and average here. Then comes the only song from Be Here Now, Stand By Me , which is done nicely here, but let down by Liam's husky voice.
An amazing electric version of their masterpiece, Wonderwall introduces us to Disc 2, and follows with the rocker Cigarettes & Alcohol. Noel sings again on a good version of Don't Look Back In Anger, continuing onto the live favourite Live Forever. A cover of Neil Young's Hey Hey My My comes next, but then the concert is let down for 6 minutes with 'Champagne Supernova which I think shouldn't ever be performed live. The 'last one', the stellar Rock & Roll is followed, and the album closes with a separately recorded cover of the Beatles classic Helter Skelter.
All in all, this is a great live album.

An Amazing 2nd CD......
But the first one, not so much. The 2nd CD is just brilliant, the only song that doesn't blow my mind is Rock n' Roll star, and I don't hate that song at all. Oasis does amazing covers of "Hey,Hey,My,My" and "Helter Skelter" as well as amazing version of Wonderwall, Live Forever and Don't Look Back in Anger. Unfourtanatly there wasn't a single song on the first CD worth listening too. So as great as the 2nd CD is, the package falls short. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Kurt Cobain's former bandmates Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl clearly had an agenda in compiling From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah, the second of what will no doubt be a long line of posthumous Nirvana albums. Because of its somber, intense nature, the first post-Cobain release, MTV Unplugged in New York, was largely perceived as music for a wake--an impression reinforced by MTV's constant airings of the special in the days following Cobain's suicide. But that acoustic detour aside, the Nirvana live experience was always about displaying a lust for life--not a death wish--with all the energy the musicians could muster.Wishkah offers 16 songs spanning the band's career, all delivered in the loudest, most frenzied, and sometimes the sloppiest versions imaginable. In the opening "Intro," a snippet of pre-show noise, Cobain screams his heart out in joyful contrast to the haunted screams on "Where Did You Sleep Last Night." Then the group launches into "School," which ends with the spirited chorus "Don't be sad." Indeed, it's impossible to dwell on the maudlin when listening to these renditions of "Smells Like Teen Spirit," "Sliver," "Heart-Shaped Box," and "Negative Creep"--they're too loud and too full of life. But while it should be applauded, Wishkah isn't the great lost Nirvana album--there are no unheard gems to add to the catalog--and in the end, it isn't nearly as essential as any of the band's studio albums--or even the downbeat but revelatory Unplugged. --Jim Derogatis ... Read more

Reviews (129)

An intelligent introduction to Nirvana...
Originally intended to be released as a double cd along with "Unplugged: Live in NY," this album is THE perfect way for anyone interested in Nirvana to start their collection. As Krist says in the liner notes, "Nirvana started as a live band..." This CD is an excellent sampling of Nirvana's canon in their element...the stage. There is an added slice of attitude in these live versions of the songs that solidify what Nirvana was about. Several songs on the album stand shoulder-to-shoulder with their studio versions if not better. Several I enjoy listening to more than the studio cuts. The best part about "Wishka" is the track selection: you can tell that a true fan compiled this cd (instead of say the greatest hits cd)...hits like Lithium and Heart-Shaped Box are found along side Blew and Spank Thru...spanning the band's career from Bleach to Utero. In conclusion, anyone who is genuinely interested in getting into this great band should pick this album up before Nevermind and (definitely) before the greatest hits album and the real Nirvana fans would miss an integral part of what Nirvana was about without it.

Ok, could have been much better
Disclaimer - I possess and have listened to almost 200 different Nirvana concerts obtained through tape trading. I am not your run-of-the-mill Nirvana fan!

The good: A lot of the performances chosen for certain songs were very good...anything from the 12/28/91 performance (Drain You, Aneurysm, Smells Like Teen Spirit), Scentless Apprentice from the MTV Live and Loud concert, Tourette's from the famous 1992 Reading Festival, Negative Creep from the famous 1991 Seattle Halloween concert, and the Heart-Shaped Box is a good one.

Also, they only repeated one track from Unplugged, and the screaming intro was a nice addition.

The bad: Some of the performance choices were sub-par, and that's coming from a person who, unlike Krist and Dave, doesn't have access to soundboard recordings of every show...I could name dozens of better performances than the ones chosen for School, Been a Son, Lithium, Blew (suggestion: also should have been culled from Halloween 1991), Sliver (any 1990 or 1991 version would have been better), Milk It (the next night same city and venue was much better), Breed, and Polly (much better in 1991, but even sticking with pre-Nevermind versions as this album did there are way better ones).

Also, though longer than the travesty of a greatest hits album released last year, this only runs about an hour. In the 20 minutes of space left, they should have included other live staples not on Unplugged like Floyd the Barber, Dive, Radio Friendly Unit Shifter, Serve the Servants, and the grand finale should have been a live version of Endless, Nameless (preferrably, again the 1991 Halloween performance), the secret track off Nevermind.

Finally, the dates documented in the liner notes are often incorrect.

The ugly: That has to be the worst performance of Spank Thru I've ever heard. Wow, it's bad.

This is as good of a place to start to get into Nirvana's live performances (since there's nothing else available), but I hope that there will be a better release than this someday, preferrably one that is a full live concert.

From the Muddy Banks of Wishka [LIVE]
From the Muddy Banks of Wishka [LIVE]~ Nirvana is an interesting post nirvana album. The treacks vary greatlin quality. Some are really good like other sound terrible. Overall 4/5.

NIRVANA
If u love nirvana u should check this band out all their influences include nirvana their name is cannibal garden their site is http://www.cannibalgarden.cjb.net/ you should spread the word around about them.

Some great picks then some god-awful ones.
Overall this is a good cd to show what nirvana was like live. It gives me some idea since i would have only been 4 when kurt died. I will tell u upfront i love all the bleach songs on this album with david grohl on drums. This is a great album but in the future i hope they will make a better one, along with a new greatest hits(that was a horrible choice of songs on the greatest hits).
1. Intro- Why in the hell include this, ditch it for a song
2.School-sounds awesome with dave at drums

3.Drain You-It is a more hard rock verison of the song but it sounds awful(especially the vocals)
4.Aneyurysm-This sounds great, one of the best songs on the cd
5.Smells Like Teen Spirit-this is a damn emabarrasment a very lazy performance. I have heard way better live versions.
6. Been A SOn-sounds exellent. great choice.
7. Lithium-sounds alright bad vocals at the chorus parts
8. Sliver- Kurt is mumbling the whole time and disotion sounds awful. Damn awful choice.
9. Spank Thru- the beginning sux, but the rest of the song is awesome, it also has an extended guitar solo. Kool song.
10. Scentless Aprrentice- The best song on the cd drums, bass, and guitar are rockin, and Kurt's vocals rock!!
11. Heartshaped Box-Lacks the emotion of the original version, I have also heard great live performances of Heart-Shaped Box on TV why chose this 1?
12. Milk It- This song sounds GREAT the dueling guitars it is just really kool.
13. Negative Creep- SOunds great with dave at drums. Awesome choice.
14.Polly- Thsi more upbeat verison of Polly is great another good song.
15. Breed- God-Awful. They ruined a great song.
16. Tourette's- sounds good but where's the "moderate rock" from IN UTero
17. Blew-Sounds better than studio vertsion great vocals
All in all this album had its ups and downs, but still gets 4 stars from me. If you wanna get Nirvana best live get MTV Unplugged In NEw York, but i am warning u its all on acoustic guitar. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

For once it's better "Live"
I went to the store after hearing "Here Without You" on the radio & bought "Another 700 Miles". When I found out it was "live", (It didn't say on the cover) I was not happy, as I don't like most "live" performances. But after buying "Away From The Sun" & comparing the two renditions, I personally like the "live" version alot better. The guitar picking is crystal clear, where as on the studio version it is almost completely lost. (To me, this adds greatly to the song) There is also a another instument (a mandolin?) that is also unheard on the "studio" version, that makes the "live" version that much better. The other songs also have good sound without the crowd noise being obtrusive. As a Skynyrd fan I have to say that their "That Smell" version was excellent! A great CD for ten bucks!

Finally...
I am a huge 3 Doors Down fan and have been to 2 of their concerts so I was really looking forward to this CD so I went out and bought it the day it came out. I was blown away by the live version of Here Without You the first time I heard it. Here Without You is such a great song because I think just about everyone can relate to it (I know I can). I have to say that for under $10 it is quite a good CD (meaning every song on it is good) and I definitely recommend that if you like 3 Doors Down, rock music, or #1 hits (there are 1, 2, 3, 4, ah.. 4 #1 songs) that you buy it immediately either from right here or a store.

Loved it Live
This is a great sampling of 3 Doors Down. If you are a fan of the band then you will be impressed with this CD mainly because they take on some of the great songs from their first 2 releases "The Better Life" and "Away from the Sun." 3 Doors Down is an excellent live band, so it was great to see them finally produce a live disc.

The songs that are on the CD are some of their hits, like "Kryptonite", "Duck and Run", "Here without You", and "When I'm Gone.". "Kryptonite" really comes alive, and the band really rocks out on the chorus. (The only negative of the song is that the band does one of those hokey "let's get the crowd involved" moments towards the end of the song, having the fans chant off key lyrics for part of the song. Still it doesn't mess up a good song). The other songs sound pretty good as well, "Here Without You" being a great slow ballad and "When I'm Gone" being dedicated to the U.S troops with an intro before the song.

My favorite on this CD was the "new" song "It's Not Me", which is track 6. The song has a real hard rockish edge to it, kind of which makes it very effective live and loud. This song seems to personify Three Doors Down and their style of music as well; the "live" effect of this song is good to hear, and the song exemplifies why live rock is often better than studio rock (as one reviewer noted).

If you are a fan of Lynard Skynard, the last song is a pretty good rendition of "That Smell."

For the price, this is an excellent buy. My only issue is that I wish there were more original "non radio released" songs on the CD.Also, I wish there were more songs. Still, a great CD that I would recommend to the average rock fan, or anyone else.

Wrong Songs
I really love their two first albums, but I was not pleased with the song selection on this live album.

Awesome times infinity
All i can say is that 3dd is the best bend ever!!! ... Read more

Reviews (37)

What every Rage fan wants
I am a big live album junkie, and a concert document of Rage Against The Machine has long been on my wish list. I've never had the pleasure of seeing the greatest band of the 90's in concert- in fact, I didn't even become a fan of theirs until after their breakup- so Live At The Grand Olympic Auditorium will have to do. And it doesn't disappoint.

I agree somewhat with the reviewers who said the mix is muddy- it is, on some tracks. Tim C's bass is noticeably high in the mix, but never ruins any of the songs. "Sleep Now In The Fire" comes to mind as a good example of a time where it almost does- the bass is just absolutely *exploding* through, sometimes overshadowing Tom Morello's guitar riff- but doesn't mar his solo (more forceful and passionate than the by-the-numbers studio version, I might add) at all.

The songs are mostly performed very raw and powerful. And while none of the songs' running times deviate drastically from their studio counterparts, they aren't just copies of the CD versions. The aforementioned "Sleep..." has a great vocal performance by Zach de la Rocha, coming across almost spoken-word. He also performs Maynard James Keenan's part on "Know Your Enemy," which absolutely ruined the studio version for me (otherwise it's a fantastic song).

The setlist is good, although it's pretty much a "greatest-hits in concert" collection (Rage did have awesome singles though, didn't they?). Opening a concert with your biggest hit ("Bulls On Parade" in this case) is only something that the best artists can do successfully.

I would have loved a live recording of my favorite song of theirs, "Township Rebellion," but oh well. And "Renegades Of Funk," one of their two or three best singles, is missed (although I don't even think they ever performed that song live, so you can't blame them).

Overall a must-have for any Rage fan, or really any other person who wants a greatest-hits collection for the best band of the 90's.

Oh, and Audioslave rocks.

RAGE'S BEST YET!!!!!!!!!
When i found out Rage Against The Machine broke up three years ago, i was pretty disappointed. I loved their music, but at least they ended on a good album, Renegades. Earlier this month i was on Rage's official site for the first time in about a year. As i scrolled down the screen i saw something new! "Live at the Grand Olympic Auditorium" I was very excited! This is a recording of Rage's last two nights together as a band. Once again they proved they were one of the most creative and politically active bands to ever hit the stage. They also porve they're the most powerful bands of the last decade. Not only is Rage a great band, but they're at their best live! So i decided to buy this CD the day it came out. I did and i was not disappointed! This CD is everything i expected and more. If you'd like to hear one of the greatest rock bands ever, then pick up this CD or one of their earlier ones. If you don't like rock much, i'd still recommend you check Rage out. Or if you like a much softer version of Rage then listen to Audioslave, Rage's sister band.
Track Listing
1 Bulls On Parade
2 Bullet In The Head
3 Born Of A Broken Man
4 Killing In The Name
5 Calm Like A Bomb
6 Testify
7 Bombtrack
8 War Within A Breath
9 I'm Housin'
10 Sleep Now In The Fire
11 People Of The Sun
12 Guerrilla Radio
13 Kick Out The Jams
14 Know Your Enemy
15 No Shelter
16 Freedom

Flawless, absolutly flawless
First of all, this cd kicks majorly! Some don't think the sound is good, and I'll give 'em that one. But, its still one of the best dang live recordings out there. No one matches the rage and energy as Rage does. It was absolutlye beuatifull. The only two beafs to this wunderfull cd is that whoever mixed needs to have thier head rearagened. I hope the band had nothin' to do with this, for one reaseon.(two really) One is where the hell is "How I could just kill a man?" That song was wild! B-Real and Sen Dog actually came out and preformed it with them! It was dope yall. The other only problem I could'nt ignore was that they copletly took out Zack's rantings! I mean what the heck man?!?!?!? I wanna hear him discuss these things. You can hear and see 'em on the dvd though, but still. Other than that, it was a great cd full of energy and an overall great preformence
Peace

Rediscovering Rage
When Rage Against The Machine disbanded in 2000, they left behind a mere four studio albums and a massive fanbase that was thirsty for more material. Well, luckily for us, their last two concerts were recorded and edited into one disc for all of us fans to feast on. Recorded on September 12 & 13 of 2000 in Los Angeles, CA, 'Live At The Grand Olympic Auditorium' is a snapshot of Rage in their best form: performing live. Although I never got to see them live (they barely toured to begin with), this disc serves as the next best thing. All of the intensity and integrity of Rage's music translates well onto this disc. The collection almost serves as a "Best Of..." compilation as well, as all the classic cuts are here, along with a few covers & rarities. It's hard to imagine any fans being displeased with the package. The standout performances to me would be the powerhouse opener "Bulls On Parade," "Calm Like A Bomb" (come on, we were itching for a live version of this), "Know Your Enemy," "No Shelter," "Guerrilla Radio," "Freedom," and "Born Of A Broken Man." The disc as a whole is superb; as odd as it is, I think this is their second best recording (their self-titled being their best), which is just a testament to how well they hold up live and how their music stands the test of time. One of those bands that you never really fully appreciate until they are gone.

one last glimps...
I truley belive rages best days where ahead of them befor zack unexpectedly called it quits. This album is rages last two performances ever, and boy it is a killer. They defenetly went out with a bang and even tho I love this record, It sucks knowing this is the last thing to ever be realesd by the greatest band of the 90s. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The band's goofy charm and sure-footed melodic sense is in full flower here, and the singalongs on "Brian Wilson" and "If I Had $1000000" are proof of the bond between band and audience. A hidden rap tribute to Ed Robertson's "Uncle Elwyn" is vintage Bill Cosby. --Jeff Bateman ... Read more

Reviews (124)

It's raining macaroni!
"The bare naked what?" my parents said the first time I mentioned the band. The BNL consists of Tyler Stewart, Steven Page, Ed Robertson, Jim Creggan and Kevin Hearn.

In a field of one-hit-wonder alternative bands, the Barenaked Ladies have a unique acoustic style in concert which isn't as apparent in hearing their radio hits.

The Rock spectacle is a LIVE cd consisting of BNL's best-loved classics. If you're a new BNL fan, THIS is the CD with which to start your journey.

Everyone loves "Brian Wilson" and "If I had a million dollars"- which brings raining macaroni from concert-goers when it's done live. But other classics are the tender "Break your Heart" and "Jane", and the creative "Farmer" and Hello City."

"Uncle Elwyn", a spontaneous rap, shows you how BNL loosens up and shows their well-known creativity in concert.

This album is a classic you'll play again and again.

A perfect introduction
This is probably my favourite Barenaked Ladies CD. It artfully showcases classic BNL, choosing a perfect blend of songs from the earlier three CDs. Its variety, from slow, rich melodies with thoughtful lyrics, to more upbeat, fun songs, does an excellent job of showing the bands range and capabilities. In addition, this CD is wonderful simply for the pure emotion which comes across in the voices of the lead singers, Steve and Ed, during the live performances. They sing without restraint here, showing what they're truly capable of.

I actually prefer the Rock Spectacle versions of some of these songs, particularly "Break your Heart". Even if you favour the original recordings, it's a treat to hear the differences in the live performances and the energy with which the band is infused. This is a perfect introduction to the original Barenaked Ladies for anyone who's discovered them because of the later recordings, Stunt or Maroon.

Happy Music
This album is sure to put a smile on your face. I've had it for 6 years and listen to it more often than any other CD that old. BNL Rocks!

Timeless...
Sounds just as fresh today as when I bought it years ago. They may not sell albums like they used to, but this album shows why they rule as a live act.

Excellent Live Album!!
"Rock Spectacle" gets played more than just about any other CD in my collection. Even if you don't like the music of Barenaked Ladies, there's no denying that this is an exceptionally well engineered live album that does a first rate job of capturing the energy and fun of a live Bnl performance. The songs were recorded when the band was touring in support of the "Born on a Pirate Ship" CD. In my opinion, the best and most noteworthy tracks on this CD are:

Brian Wilson-Ed Robertson's acoustic guitar style has never been better than in this version of a song that originally appeared on the shamefully underrated "Gordon" CD.

"Break Your Heart"-I think this angst ridden song about ending a relationship one of the best songs Bnl has ever recorded. Steven Page's searing vocal just rips your heart out, and keyboard player Kevin Hearn is in fine form playing minor chords from what sounds like a Hammond B-3. Much better than the studio version on the "Pirate Ship" CD.

"Jane"-Great guitar work by Robertson, along with great drumming from Tyler Stewart. I frequently hit the repeat button when this song is going in my car's CD player. Way better than the original studio version from the "Maybe You Should Drive" CD.

"What a Good Boy"- A favorite of long time Bnl fans and a very good song, done even better live.

As one previous reviewer mentioned, "Rock Spectacle" would make a very good introductory CD to someone who is not familiar with Bnl's music. For the listener who loves the band's live shows, I humbly suggest taking a trip to www.barenakedladies.com, where for a nominal fee you can download authorized bootlegs of concerts from their "Everything to Everyone" tour. As good as they are, they're still a far cry from the craftsmanship and sonic impact with which "Rock Spectacle" dazzles the lister. ... Read more

Album Description

The first live album and first DVD from one of Modern Rock’s most admired bands, Guster On Ice—Live From Portland, Maine captures Guster at its very best. Recorded during the tour for 2003’s Keep It Together, which cracked the Billboard Top 40 to become the group’s highest charting album to date, Guster On Ice is a celebration for its legions of devoted fans and the ultimate introduction for those yet to experience Guster. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Above and beyond...
If you've ever seen Guster live in concert, your well aware of the unique energy and charm they bring to the stage, this DVD captures all of it and more. For those of you who havent seen Guster live before, this DVD/CD set is awesome. For those of you that have, its like reliving those concerts again and again in the comfort of your living room. The setlist for the show recorded is a great mix of classics and recent hits, a grab bag from all four cds. This set would've have been enough with just the show on DVD, but they added an armful fo special features including music videos, behind the scenes looks at the band, and even Brian's rendition of the state song. This makes for a great live concert DVD, but included in the set is a cd of selected songs from the concert. This was a huge plus for me, because I usually find that I would love to be able to listen to concerts I buy on DVD in my car. This set is a great deal, and most of all a great concert. Enjoy!

Awesome Package
I've loved Guster since their Goldfly days back in the mid to late 90's. It's about time they came out with a live album following their awesome Keep It Together album last summer. Very smart how they not only made a DVD, but included a CD so you can listen to it on the road etc and not be restricted to needing a DVD player. The DVD disc is awesome and has great background footage and extras. It's not your usual live concert that just goes straight through the show, but has unique clips and transitions between songs. For those of you who are not familiar with Guster, go listen and buy all 4 of their studio albums as well as this live one. They are 3 great guys, with a great sense of humor, who make amazing music, and do it simply for the love of music and their fans and don't hyperfocus on money as so many other musicians do.
My only complaint is that the CD doesn't have more songs on it, and it would have been cool if the CD had some extra songs that arent on the DVD, but it's ok. I was also surprised to find that some Guster classics such as "Window" and "Medicine" aren't on the DVD/CD. Oh well. Guster, for the next live one, put more songs on.

Pleasantly Surprised
I bought tickets to an upcoming O.A.R. concert, who is by far my favorite band, for the 2nd of September show ('04}. After reviewing the bands that will be accompanying O.A.R., and finding out that they are all recieving the same amout of stage time, I thought it would be wise to do a little research on the them (Guster and Howie Day). Since I didn't know very much, if at all, anything about Guster I decided to pick up their Live cd, "Guster on Ice," which had recieved good reviews. Ever since I recieved the CD it constantly is being played in my cd-player giving my O.A.R. cd's a well-needed rest. I highly recommend this CD to people who are fans and others who are out there searching for some excellent new tunes. The only thing that really bothers me about this album is I dont know which CD, if either of them, is the right order of the concert. I do not think the audio CD is in concert order because there are songs on the DVD that are not on the Live Audio CD, which is irritating. This is just a minor irritation that in no way takes away from the quality of the CD. In fact, if anything it has motivated me to go purchase thier other albums, 'Lost & Gone Forever' and 'Keep it together.' The DVD cd included in the 2-CD set is artistically put together. Transitions from behind the scenes to Guster's live concert was well-done. Again, the only thing that is bothersome about the DVD is that I do not think it is in concert order, which I feel takes away from it. Nearing the end, there is one song that I believe was the end of the concert as Guster is shown waving to the crowd and exiting the stage following them thanking Maine. The first time I watched the DVD i thought the CD was over but to my surprise another song came on. I was not at the concert and Guster may have came back onto the stage so I don't know for sure. All in all this cd deserves no less than the available 5 stars. I recommend this CD and look forward to not only seeing O.A.R. in Sept but also await Guster.

How Could Any Fan Not LOVE This?
Guster's DVD/CD set "Guster On Ice: Live From Portland, Maine," is a lavish package that fans will love.

With a superb array of bonus features, in addition to a spectacular show recorded between two December nights last year, it is 2 1/2 hours long, and a welcome addition to the band's catalog.

The program is shot in documentary style, with the beginning of the band's day shown as they ride into Portland and stop at the headquarters of 98.9 WCLZ FM to perform "Careful," the second single from last year's sharp "Keep It Together" album.

After footage of excited fans waiting to enter the venue, a smooth transition into the show ensues. Throughout the concert, the fans remain enthusiastic and enthralled by the band, often singing along in unison.

Although during the actual performance, Guster makes their job seem effortless, there is plenty of footage interwoven throughout the DVD that displays the reality that this is not so. Stressing over various aspects of the live performance, the band's perfectionist attitude ultimately pays off.

After opening to the ecstatic audience with "Fa Fa," from 1999's "Lost and Gone Forever," the band keeps the magic going for the next 17 songs. The razor-edged "Airport Song" and the dark "Red Oyster Cult" blend wonderfully with more comfortable material, such as "Backyard" or the tongue-in-cheek "(Nothing But) Flowers."

Throughout the setlist, the band never loses its footing. The only true downside of the release -- aside from the fact that the CD, while excellent, contains not enough songs from the DVD -- is that only one song, "Mona Lisa," is included from their first major-label album "Parachute." A gem of a debut, its presence is missed.

The bonus features included are generous and just as enjoyable as the concert. "Dave Yonkman's Week With Guster," a lengthy documentary, showcases the personalities of each member of the band -- and gives a great deal of insight into their daily lives, as well as their history as a band and as friends.

A few minutes where the viewer gets to "meet" Joe Pisapia, Guster's unofficial fourth member as of last year (who is declared official during the concert) and the awesome videos for "Careful" and "Amsterdam" are treats that make this package a must buy.

Absolutely the Best Live DVD Ever!
This is the best live concert DVD I have ever seen. It has the best production of any DVD, and the way they implement the backstage footage with the actual concert puts the great DVD's like The Central Park Concert (I'm actually on this DVD, and still think Guster's is better), Coldplay Live 2003, Any Given Thursday, etc... to shame. All of those are highly recommended but have no where near the effort put into as Guster on Ice . And the extra features, like "Chips Ahoy," are fantastic. ... Read more

Reviews (42)

What a discovery
I had heard about DCD for some time and heard that those with my musical taste might like them. Well, this was the first album of theirs which I purchased and I put it on as kind of background music as I was doing some work at home. Within the first minute, I had stopped what I was doing and just started listening. I have heard a lot of music over my 40+ years, but I cannot recall being grabbed so thoroughly from the first listen. This CD highlights their knack for merging primal beat, folk, medieval, and almost operatic grandeur in a most unique way. Lisa Gerrard's voice is extraordinary, as is the band's wonderful capacity for merging some eclectic instrumentation. I have since purchased many other DCD CD's with mixed results, and find this one to be the best, by far. I have played it as background before some adult classes I teach in, and many students have been drawn to it enough to ask that wonderful question which all of us music lovers like to hear: "Who is this?" If you are curious about this band, this would be the one CD to try first.

Dead Can Dance can do no wrong
I'm astounded by the haunting beauty of Dead Can Dance. They truly were, and still are, one of the greatest bands around! Although Lisa Gerrard has been successful at her work on solo projects and movie soundtracks since the demise of DCD, I wish they would join forces one last time to create another breathtaking album. Of course I don't yet own their entire catalogue so I'll be patient for that hopeful day to arrive...

I admit to liking the faster world songs with upbeat percussion, which usually feature the vocals of Brendan Perry, over the slower more somber pieces that LG tends to sing but they balance it out so well on 'Toward The Within' - a record filled with live performances taken from their concert in Santa Monica, California - that it flows without notice as every track keeps you captive. Plus they both have such enticing voices that run deep with emotion and, despite how different they are, it wouldn't be the same without one or the other.

The fact that this isn't a studio album but something given straight up and raw makes the experience of listening to this that much more personal. If they messed up they messed up but the musicians played impeccably and in turn made a masterpiece that just might be deemed as the best work they ever did. That will always be an argument never settled, though, as every fan has their own opinion for the darkly lavished 'Within The Realm of a Dying Sun' along with the renaissance fair of 'Aion' were also very good and those two were later released.

Point is, whether you have all these songs or not, this is an album worth having for the sheer unraveling of talent unfolding.

Every track is great with A+ production quality but my absolute favorites include "Rakim", "Desert Song", "Yulunga (Spirit Dance)", "American Dreaming", "Cantara" and "Oman".

{Also check out the VHS version}

"What's that music???"
Every SINGLE time I play this CD on friends reunions or whatever, I always get the same: "What's that music?? It's Fantastic!!!"

You wont regret it. This CD must be a part of your collection, it can be placed in the MASTERPIECES rack of your house... No doubt about that!

Smooth, deep... This CD holds the perfection of rythm, sounds and voices.

If you believe that this CD will go make you go to sleep, You are TOTALLY wrong. Won't make you sleep at anytime, but will make you FADE AWAY...

A Natural High!

Their best work
Toward The Within is the high point of Dead Can Dance's catalog, IMHO. I discovered DCD with the video from which this soundtrack was taken. Discovered is an understatement. It was more like knocked on my backside by a bolt of lightning.

I have not heard anything like this mixture of music before or since. This band would be equally at home in ancient Egypt, on Babylon 5, or in Vahalla. The way they weave Celtic, Germanic, Turkish, Egyptian, African, and who knows what other influences and instruments with synthesizers and electric bass is unique beyond verbal description.

Lisa Girrard's voice is unbelievable. You really have to see the video because they do closeups while she is singing, and it is quite powerful to see her actually producing these sounds. Her voice is like one would imagine a valkyrie - the power of a tsunami with the delicacy of a hummingbird all at the same time. When you hear some female singers, like Kate Bush, Tori Amos, Enya, etc., you see goddess archetypes like Diana or Isis. With Lisa it is more like Kali. This is feminine energy, but it hits you like a freight train in the chest. Which is not to say it is harsh or ragged. Quite the contrary, she exhibits a control over her voice that is remarkable. She weaves soft Celtic lilting notes with deep, powerful tones, modulated by a Turkish or Berber-style vibrato that is amazing. Think German opera blended with belly dancing music and you will be in the ballpark, although that description really misses the true power and beauty of the songs. This is a woman who makes you feel the goddess in your gut as well as your heart, like Ann Wilson, Tina Turner, Janis Joplin, etc., but with a decidedly surreal twist. Lisa often sings in a language she creates herself, which adds to the mystique of their music. In some ways, she reminds me of Nina Hagen, although Hagen went from opera to more average punk rock. The power and control of their voices seems similar to me.

I don't care for the more traditional folksongs, although they are very well done. The quality of the other musicians is superb, and again, watching them in the video gives you an added perspective to the way all the different influences weave together.

If you like world music with a touch of other-worldliness, try out this CD. It is not for the faint of heart or those who like common, run-of-the-mill music of any flavor. This is very different stuff indeed.

Awesome. Just awesome.
I don't know if words can truly describe what I heard when I first put "Toward The Within" in my CD player and pressed play. This CD shows the true beauty and eclecticism that music truly is and should be. It shows Middle Eastern and Celtic influences, mainly but the overall feel of it is like you went back to the caveman days because the beat of all the songs, especially in "Oman," is seductive and gets in your blood, making you want to dance all night long. Then you get to some songs like, "I Can See Now," "American Dreaming," and "Don't Fade Away." They are simple songs, just Brendan Perry and a guitar but they are probably the most beautiful songs on the whole album! They are TRUE love songs, simple melodies with the most BEAUTIFUL lyrics probably ever written and Brendan Perry's soothing voice, making them soar. These songs are for when you are laying in the arms of your significant other with candles all around you, just cuddling and relaxing all night. Lisa Gerrard isn't on here as much as Brendan but her presence is still felt on this album. Especially on "The Wind That Shakes The Barley." Overall, a must buy! Soft, eclectic, soothing melodies with exquisite lyrics....who could possibly ask for more? ... Read more

Reviews (27)

I was there!!!!!!!!!!!
This concert, at the time, was the longest Pearl Jam show ever. It was an amazing sight and I can relive it every time I listen to it. The Highlight of the show is a flawless cover of John Lennon's Gimme Some Truth, played by just Eddie. The show was just GREAT! I really don't think it's lacking anything. Of all the 2003 shows I've heard, I rank this one at the top. The only other show that even touches it is the 3rd Boston show, which includes an entire acoustic set. Anyway, buy this CD if you are a Pearl Jam fan because you'll definitely enjoy...go PSU!

Pearl Jam a pearl of a band.
The is the best live cd of 2003 so far and This is the final show of the first leg of their 2003 North American tour (Live: 05-03-03 - State College, Pennsylvania), Pearl Jam go for broke. They play a marathon three-hour-plus set that includes all their live favorites almost the entire Ten album as well as "Corduroy", "Rearviewmirror", "Daughter", "Betterman", and "Yellow Ledbetter" and they also include a number of surprises. Most notably, Eddie Vedder plays a two-song solo acoustic set of John Lennon songs "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" and "Gimme Some Truth" and Pearl Jam close the show with a few covers: Victoria Williams' "Crazy Mary", Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Fortunate Son", and Neil Young's "Rockin' in the Free World". Furthermore, the band jams liberally on a number of songs, including a seven-minute "Even Flow," eight-minute "Black" and "Crazy Mary," nine-minute "Rearviewmirror" and "Daughter," and ten-minute "Betterman," "Porch," and "Rockin' in the Free World" all of which boast fiery guitar soloing and occasional improvisation. As at most of the 2003 shows, Vedder infuses his between-song rhetoric with a heavily political slant, not necessarily anti-Bush but certainly liberal, the covers of "Gimme Some Truth" and "Fortunate Son" being quite emblematic of this attitude. This State College show sprawls on and on, becoming increasingly freewheeling toward the show's conclusion, where the song structures loosen and Vedder grows increasingly vocal and charismatic. Pearl Jam fans will undoubtedly love this show, even if it's relatively casual at times and heavily unbalanced, laden with the aforementioned live favorites in favor of latter-day songs. It's a fittingly spirited finale to a spirited trek across America during a spirited time by a spirited band led by an especially spirited frontman.
So if your a fan of Pearl Jam or new to them This cd is a must own for fans of great american rock. But for fans this cd is a no brainer.

Beware of other reviews
The five star review by bmaniii is not original and was not written by him. He pulled it off of a website called allmusic. Who knows if he even listened to this thing. You know someone probably did not listen to the CD if they fail to mention that Pearl Jam plays Pink Floyd's Another Brick in the Wall or English Beat's Save it Later, but they are not credited on the cover or song list.

Pearl Jam has almost 80 live albums released. If you read the reviews about each one of them, everyone says that they are the best and they deserve 5 stars. Well, they can't all be the best, and probably none of them deserves 5 stars. Each show has it's ups and downs. What would deserve 5 stars would be a box set that features the best performances from one concert tour. People listen to one show and say how it is the greatest, but they really don't listen with a critical ear and they haven't heard the 76 other albums, so they don't know how it compares.

I admit that I have only heard a few of the Pearl Jam shows. This one is the best one I have heard. It has a lot going for it. But it also has a few downsides.

This is a three plus hour show, from the last concert in the US from the 2003 tour. It is highly energetic, and the band seems to enjoy playing. Since it is near the end of the tour, the band is highly polished, but they don't seem fatigued. Maybe because it is the last show, they really open up. They also seem to keep on playing well beyond what they originally planned. Pearl Jam typcially does two encores and plays a couple of songs at each encore. But here, they extend the encores so they end up playing more than an hour beyond the end of the official show.

The band really opens up on a number of songs. There are 9 songs that are over 7 minutes long. There is a lot of inspired jamming on both guitar and keyboards.

My only complaints are that they do too many old songs and that the sound quality is not great. They do 5 songs from the first album, Ten. For the most part, the old songs are just quickly run through. If you already have other, older live albums from Pearl Jam, then you really don't need to hear these songs again. But, if this is the only Pearl Jam live CD you have, it is nice to have the old hits. One exception is that they do a really nice job on Alive.

The sound quality is mediocre. It's kind of mushy and muted. Also, Vedder's voice seems out of place and too up front.

The only other problem is that almost the whole concert is included. That includes the chearing between songs and all of Vedder's chatter. It is good to hear once, but it gets annoying if you listen to the album more than once. You can go up to 3 minutes between songs. Fortunately, much of the audience cheering was edited out, especially between the encores.

This CD ABSOLUTELY ROCKS!!!
I was at this show!!! and what a show it was. This CD is definitely a must have for anyone's cd collection. The Bryce Jordan Center, where the show was played, was packed full of people listening to the rockin' tunes of Eddie and the guys! What a night! You'll be sure to love every single song on this CD. My personal favs were "Ederly Woman...", "Crazy Mary", "Jeremy", oh my gosh! The list could go on and on! In the words of Eddie Vedder from that very night..."If you guys wanna stick around we're willing to make this the longest Pearl Jam show that ever has been played." I'll never forget those words! PJ Rocks and so does this CD.

El bootleg más completo, por mucho!!!
Este es un cd esencial para cualquier fan de Pearl Jam o cualquier fan de la buena música. Contiene por lo menos 3 o 4 canciones de cada uno de sus álbumes, más se complementa con lados-b, rarezas y covers de Lennon. El sonido no es de la misma calidad como los bootlegs de los tours del año 2000, pero es aceptable. ... Read more

Reviews (40)

Great Live Sound
This CD totally captures the live sounds of Sublime. Not playing before a stadium sized crowd adds to the fact that Sublime was content with where they were in the industry. The one thing I want to know is for those people that have this CD, why doesn't the song list give the name of the song played directly before "Date Rape"? I know it's off the 40 oz. CD, and it's only a little cut, but it deserves it's due. Anyway, get this CD if you are familar with the Sublime studio sound, and would love to hear them taped live. Even if the sound quality is a little less than par, it's a great collectiion of Sublime tunes.

Awesome
Even if this CD doesn't have the best setlist they could have put together it does accomplish the most important thing it needed to do: capture the feeling of live Sublime. From the openning explosion of Don't Push to the melodic ending of Ruca and everything in between this album captures the atmosphere and feeling of being at a Sublime concert. For anyone who started liking Sublime when they heard the self-titled album and obviously never got a chance to see Sublime live this album will keep you hooked for life. Also if all you have is the self-titled and are looking for more, earlier music you can't go wrong with this.

A sublime masterpiece
For most of my life, i have been interested it badmusic until i came along sublime. sublime turned be on to the greatful dead(scarley begonias), the maytals(5446), peter tosh(steppen razor) and many more of the greats. I guarentee that anyone will like this album, it is some of sublimes best work, my favorite song on this album is "all you need" and "djs" (very different from 40 oz version). if you enjoy this, i recomend picking up "40 oz to freedom" and "robbin the hood."

lets go get stoned
This was the CD that introduced me to sublime. It is my favorite album I own. Bradley sounds amazing on this. My favorites are Dont Push,Right Back,Lets Go Get Stoned,,Badfish,DJS,Work That We Do. I don't dislike any of the songs on here. Even though I normally listen to hip hop I think this easily beats any rap albums and I think its great that Sublime opened our eyes to the fact that there are white people in the Hood.

dont push
this song is one of my favs but like any other sublime song its great sublime is the greatest band ever ... Read more

Reviews (24)

If you liked "Sketches" you will adore this album.
It's been quite some time since the release of the last true Jeff Buckley album which I consider to be "Sketches for my Sweetheart the Drunk". If you liked that album, you will absolutely love this one. Cover songs like "Yeh Jo Halka Halka Saroor Hai" clearly show the influence of Nusrat Fateh Ali Kahn, and exemplify the amazing range that Jeff had in his voice, all this six years before Sting recognized how profound this type of music is. Other covers on the album include selections from Nina Simone, Bob Dylan, and Van Morrison as well as his own original tracks clearly showing Jeff's versatility and maturity as an artist. The monologues included in this set are hilarious, and you will hear Jeff mock everyone from the Doors, to Nirvana. Furthermore, this legacy edition also has a very well put together 12 page insert detailing the relation ship between Jeff and Sin-e (the venue this album was recorded at) with some very nice pictures taken by photographer Merri Cyr. The DVD video included is only 10 minutes long, and it isn't the greatest quality, but if you really want Jeff live in video, you should buy the "Live in Chicago" dvd, (the DVD included in this edition was supposed to only be an extra anyway). In the end I have to say that if you are a Jeff fan, you really have to buy this album, and if you are new to Jeff Buckley, "Grace" is probably the best way to go.

My favourite Jeff release ever
I've been a Jeff Buckley fan for about 2 years now, and I am probalby his biggest fan that can say "I don't like Grace"

Hear me out. I find Grace to be a very boring album. It's atmosphere is very dull, but the songs are fantastic. Each individual disc of Sketches stands on its own as being better than Grace. However, I've always seen Jeff as a jazz artist in the fact that his interpretations of other people (who suprass him in writing talents) are always far better than the original songs. combine his voice and guitar skills with tyhe words of a fantabulous songwriter like van morrison (har har... come on) and you've got a beautiful song.

My favourite release of his has always been Live at Sin-e, so when I heard that this album was coming out I nearly s*** a brick. You get the 4 original songs plus 30 more. Not only are his songs great, and the interpretations, but his "musical impressions." I laugh so hard everytime I hear his Miles Davis impressiosn on this, or his Jim Morrison, or his Edith Piaf from Mystery White Boy. He either covers the song perfectly for a brief instant ("the end" by the doors) or a complete ambiguous cover that sounds like everything the artist has recorded (his miles davis impression... his voice sounds like every miles davis solo, but not any specific one.)

This is truly an excellent buy. My ONLY complaint is the DVD. I knew it was just a bonus, so I didn't take off a star, but i was expecting a high quality bonus DVD (what was I thinking, Mary Guibert was involved. never expect quality in the actual release). It's 10 minutes long, and the 2 performance clips are great. But the interview is just from the Grace EPK, and most of it is available on MWB. But its a HORRIBLE interview. It seems so rehearsed and dramatic and pretentious. It doesn't seem at all like the jeff you can see and hear from live tapings. Its a scripted "this is a very important interview for my career" interview.

But still... this is fantastic. I drove across the border into Detroit to buy it so that I could have it 2 weeks before my Canadian counterparts. I had to... I've been waiting for it for so long (again, thanks Mary)

What's taking you so long?
If you are interested in an incredible talent growing then this is the disc for you. I've been a fan of Buckley's for a while now and these are by far the discs that get the most spins in my CD player. The disc is a compilation of recordings from Jeff Buckley's early solo shows in the cafe Sin-é. The versions are raw and developing however they are soaring and passionate.
Buckley covers all ground from Dylan to Zeppelin to Billie Holiday. The most inspiring moment on the discs comes when Buckley attempts to cover Qawwali prodigy Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. When Buckley begins his interpretation of the Pakistani vocal style he is met with snickers from the audience. But as the song goes on he slowly wins the crowd over with his sincerity and by the end the entire audience is clapping along.
Though some spots seem a bit too indulgent, it is a by-product of Jeff's willingness to experiment and find himself. The two discs are all about him experimenting. Though only five of the songs are Buckley compositions (two collaborations w/ Gary Lucas) he makes each and every song his own.

Highlights are "Be Your Husband" "Lover You Should've Come Over" "Yeh Jo Halka Halka Saroor Hai" "If You See Her Say Hello" "The Way Young Lovers Do" and from the DVD a gorgeous Buckley Poem "New Year's Eve Prayer"

A Heartfelt Last Goodbye
Having purchased this album several months ago, i decided to wait to write a review. i wanted to let the emotional impact of this album sink in after several listens. If 'Grace' was one of the best albums of the last 20 years, then 'Live at Sin-e' is the best live album of the past 20 years. These recordings transport the listener to a time when music was simpler. You can't help but feel as though you were one of the hundreds trying to cram into this lower east side cafe to catch a glimpse of arguably the greatest singer/songwriter of our time. Buckley's haunting voice captivates the listener and sucks you into his world of heartbreak, love, and fun. He was a realist and loved to just play music; nothing more, nothing less...just play music. those who were fortunate enough to see him live got to experience a true musical genius. this album offers us who did not the closest feeling to that experience.
There is one major negative to this album though, it is just a reminder that there will be no more heard from Jeff.

A historical document more than a great album
LIVE AT SIN-E: LEGACY consists of two concerts played by Jeff Buckley shortly after being signed to Columbia at Sin-E, the Manhattan cafe where he first gained public attention. Four songs had been released before as the "Live At Sin-E" EP, but in celebration of the tenth anniversary we are presented with the full recording.

Buckley performs unaccompanied, a single man standing before a small crowd of cafe-goers. There are no barriers between the audience and the performer, and he even takes suggestions from spectators on what to play next. There are a large amount of cover versions, showing Buckley's vast knowledge of all kinds of music. In the second disc alone he covers Nusrat Fatah Ali Khan, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Edith Piaf, and Leonard Cohen. But there are also early versions of his original songs that would take their final form on his only album GRACE. While the version of "Grace" here is, I feel, uninspiring, we hear solid versions of "Mojo Pin", "Lover, You Should Have Come Over", and "Eternal Life". The third disc is a DVD which consists of an interview and performances of three songs. The interview is the same as that from the Electronic Press Kit on the LIVE IN CHICAGO DVD, but there is more of it here. Unfortunately, the quality of the video on the performances is poor, as it appears to have been shot with a camcorder.

LIVE AT SIN-E is not something for the listener who merely liked a few songs of Grace. Instead, it is for the die-hard Buckley adorer who has also collected the various other posthumous releases. The Sin-E concert is of value not as a brilliant display of music in its own, but because it shows the genesis of Buckley's musical vision, and the monologues help explain turns that came in his career afterwards.

My only real complaint with the music of LIFE AT SIN-E is the sparseness of the sound. Buckley was an incredible artist, but his band was a key part of his sound. In this Sin-E we don't have Mick Grondahl's superb bass or Matt Johnson's drumming. As a result, the concert as a whole seems a little hollow and incomplete.

If you are a dedicated Buckley fan, and are interested in the work that led up to his major-label signing, LIVE AT SIN-E is an important document. If you're new to Jeff Buckley, this is a bit much for the moment, and I'd recommend GRACE or LIVE AT L'OLYMPIA to get started. ... Read more

Album Description

In the 1970s lower Manhattan's Max's Kansas City was the place to be, a perpetual meeting place for scene-makers and their satellites. In the summer of '70, The Velvet Underground was the house band, and their nightly gigs, propelled by Lou Reed's mesmerizing vocals, are the stuff of legend. Documented on a cassette player by one of the Velvet's entourage, this recording has since become the most famous "bootleg" ever, capturing one of Reed's last-some say final-performances with the band before going solo. It both immortalizes a precise moment in pop culture history, and also spotlights one of rock's most influential bands at the peak of their extraordinary powers. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Originally a two-record set, this live recording has been split and released as separate albums, volume 1 and volume 2. No matter, it's an essential document of one of the finest and most innovative rock bands of all time. 1969: Live catches the band at a juncture in their career, still reeling from the departure of John Cale and settling into the addition of multi-instrumentalist Doug Yule, who would help the band find their rocking heart. Thank god that Maureen Tucker was still around--her inspired, primal drumming makes this recording such a delight. Her quiet thumping on "Lisa Says" is understated and touching, and her timpanic, thunderous rolls on "New Age" are nothing short of awesome. Lou Reed is particularly loose and chatty, more comfortable with his voice as he stretches to hit some tender passages. And the version of "Rock and Roll" here is perhaps the finest of all it's many versions, epic in scope and focused in intensity. --Tod Nelson ... Read more

Reviews (31)

Changed my life
Even more than "The Velvet Underground and Nico," this album made me a lifelong VU obsessive. I learned to play guitar because of this album. It redefined how I would listen to all music afterward. It makes me ache with regret because I was too young to ever see this band live. It's ample proof of Lou Reed's songwriting genius--and surprisingly revealing evidence that he's not just a nasty, scary human being (despite his efforts the rest of his career to prove he is). It's where you should go to hear the underrated, quiet heroes of the VU: Sterling Morrison and Maureen Tucker. It's so essential you won't mind the low-fi sound and tape hiss. It's music that makes you glad to be alive. A Top 5 desert island disc. I could go on...

However, as has already been noted often, breaking up the original two-LP set into individual CDs is an injustice. And the cover is one of the all-time eyesores.

But who cares?

Ehh... good, not their best.
Well, its pretty tough to give an overall "sweeping" rating of this album... there are some great versions, and some lousy ones. Personally, I'd have to say that "Heroin," on this album, really doesn't meet up to expectations, but then again, this was during the post-Cale Yule days, so naturally the older songs are going to be missing something. The gargantuan "Ocean" however, is absolutely amazing, and "Pale Blue Eyes" isn't too bad either. Unfortunately, the people who compiled this album have a little too much "Loaded" bias, and they pretty much admit it(on the back of my old vinyl copy, at least). This is a good album, to be sure, but my personal recommendation is to buy each of the Velvets' studio albums in the order they were released, from self-titled through "Loaded," and then start checking into their live releases.

Lou and company in '69
After hearing all the hype, I was rather disappointed when I actually heard this record. I was expecting fast rocking music. The absence of Cale and attendance of Yule is probably the reasonthis thought was proved wrong. The first three songs are probably the best considering the great slower groove of Waiting For My Man, the gentleness of Lisa Says, and subtle rage of What Goes On. After that though, the CD is merely alright. The Lou sung Femme Fatale is nice and so too is the Rock and Roll. I dont particularly like the Sweet Jane, New Age, or the We're Gonna HAve A Real Good Time Together though. And, the bonus Heroin is missing something. It is still worthy of being owned, even though it's just not up to par with the Studio records.

A beautiful moment in Texas, trapped in time
What a wonderful live set and a wonderful cd from the Velvet Underground. Rather good bootleg quality and sound, Volume 1 really shows the group in their element: live, and in a small setting. They even joke before the show actually begins about the way the Dallas Cowboys played the Eagles before their show, giving it even more of a close feel to it.

This cd contains my favorite renditions of some classics: "Waiting for my man," "Lisa Says," "Femme Fatale," "New Age," "Begining to see the light," and "Heroin."

The sleve of the cd even contains notes from Elliot Murphy talking about the history of the band and what he feels history will remember about the group.

I don't have a lot of Velvet Underground, but what I have I like. This is definately in my top 15 cds in my collection.

Latter Day Velvet Underground At Their Best
Once John Cale left Lou Reed and the gang to pursue his own musical identity, the Velvet Underground was never quite the same. However, while this alone would be more than enough to tear the vast majority of groups apart, The Velvet Underground continued on and proved that they still had a wealth of creative ideas left inside their drugged up brains. These ideas finally took shape in the form of Loaded, an album that is without a doubt the most obvious and recognized example of the Velvets' accomplishments following the departure of their former comrade. In retrospect though, the nearly quintessential live Velvet Underground album 1969 is perhaps an even more telling recording of the band's post-Cale years than the legendary Loaded. Culling together songs from various performances in Texas and San Francisco during a 1969 tour, this two-volume set is the most informative and comprehensive collection of latter era VU material to date. The fact that this detailed set of classic Velvets' songs is live is only an added bonus lifting the impenetrable walls of production on old classics to expose their raw, swirling innards and revealing some previously unreleased gems in the process. Unfortunately, although the Velvet Underground have traditionally always had an amazing live presence with their bursts of feedback and twitchy fiddle runs, the absence of the avant-garde informed John Cale really detracts from their pure shock value. Then again, even though the performances are not as striking or otherworldly on first listen, closer inspection shows that the scaled back aggression really permits the songs to finally breathe freely and display the band's burgeoning songwriting skills. In essence, the Velvet Underground makes up for their less instantaneous attack by developing creatively. The playing of different versions of memorable hits like Sweet Jane and a number of included fully developed unreleased songs shows that even though the VU might not have sounded as poised or vital, they still had plenty of life left in them. With amps roaring and drums pulsing, 1969 really shows how volume and power can be sublimely beautiful as well as disturbingly abrasive making this CD not only valuable as a stunning live release, but as recorded documentation of a brilliant band's equally brilliant, yet understated, meditative, melodic side. The poppy and serene Velvet Underground showcased on 1969 will certainly not take the place of the classic original lineup that emerged from New York in 1964, but such an equally genius and drastically different side of one of rock's most influential groups is definitely not to be ignored. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Who besides Ani DiFranco would begin an album with a piercing buzz and a muttered "I don't know why the f**k I play acoustic guitars"? But then who else would release a double-disc concert set only five years after the last one? Like 1997's Living in Clip, her latest live document is sublimely packaged and messily recorded, and features the backing of a howling audience and a hot jazz-rock band. Highlights include a funky, almost gangsta take of her best New York song, "Cradle and All"; Julie Wolf's grinding organ on "Napoleon"; and the previously unreleased post-9/11, antiwar poem "Self Evident." The performances (culled from venues across the U.S., as well as France and Canada) feature lots of witty soap-boxing (apparently no one told Ani that Clear Channel's infamous banned song list doesn't exist... does it?) in addition to some gorgeous guitar picking and inventive horn lines. In the end, all the flaws, giggles, stumbling starts, and risky arrangements are a testament to how much she trusts her audience and how much they trust her. Do her fans really need another double live album? When the performances brim with this much charisma, adventure, and conviction, yes, they do. --Roy Kasten ... Read more

Reviews (52)

ani's like no one else live
I saw ani difranco live about a year ago and was totally blown away by her enthusiasm, charisma, and fun she had for her audience. She really connects with them like no one else, and thats what makes her such a great live act. This CD showcases it as well. For the old fans, there is a total potpourri of stuff from her puddle dive days (my iq), dilate (napoleon), not a pretty girl (title track, 32 flavors) to the teeth (title track) little plastic castle (swan dive) all the way up to her last album, revelling/reckoning (aint that the way, tambrritza lingua, revelling, reckoning, rock paper scissors, whathowwhenwhere) and the songs sound really different live. So thers whole new, extended or abridged versions of classics. Plus, she performs her poem about 9/11 (self evident) and a bonus, "you had time". The CD runs for more than 2 hours and even if you havent heard ani before here is a fabulous place to start.

So Much Enjoyment
Disc One:
Swan Dive - 10/10 This much needed live version of the song does not disappoint. Adds great depth to the originally very accoustic song.
Letter to a John - 9/10 Very good rendition of the song. A favorite of mine from Out of Range
Grey - 9/10 I glide past through this song on Revelling/Reckoning, but this rendition is amazing. You can feel the intimacy of the song in the performance. Stunning!
Cradle and All - 10/10 One of the best songs on the album. Good song from Not a Pretty Girl, but a highlight rendition on So Much Shouting, So Much Laughter
What All is Nice - 6/10 I skip past it
What How When Where - 8/10 Good song, not one of my favorites from Revelling/Reckoning but a good rendition nonetheless
To the Teeth - 10/10 So much better than the album version. It's nice to hear the crowd reaction add more relatability to the performance.
Revelling - 7/10 Good rendition
Napoleon - 9/10 not as good as the version on Living in Clip, but it'original and fun and that's all that matters
Shrug - 8/10 From Evolve, I actually like this version. The song sounds raw on this version
Welcome To: - 10/10 So much better than the album version (from Evolve). She sings it on a higher key and it sounds so much more melodic and so much more passionate

Girls Singing Night:
Comes a Time - 5/10 Skip it. No point in having it on the album
Ain't That the Way - 8/10 I don't like this song, but this is a good rendition of it anyways. She sounds very good on it, but the lyrics are her worst ever.
Dilate - 9/10 So much better without the disruption you hear on Render. It sounds good with the full band as well.
Gratitude - 10/10 A highlight to hear an old Ani classic
Rock Paper Scissors - 6/10 Another boring song from Revelling/Reckoning
32 Flavors - 9/10 I actually prefer this version from Living in Clip because it's fuller and less boring. Some may disagree, but I mark it as a highlight on Girls Singing Night
Loom/Pulse - 9/10 I love this version. The tempo is sped up and it is very enjoyable
Not a Pretty Girl - 10/10 Perfect. Amazing. The best version I've heard live. She totally rearranges the song, and it benefits it greatly here.
Self Evident - 10/10 Here we go. One of the best poems I have ever heard. I was lucky to hear it live, but the band adds so much depth to the song. We hold these truths to be self evident: number 1 - George W. Bush is not president.
Reckoning - 7/10 It's ok. I like it better than Revelling
My IQ - 10/10 Awesome with the band. Awesome
Jukebox - 10/10 Her vocals are amazing and the arrangement is really good. A song you can have fun with while listening.
You Had Time - 9/10 A good way to end the album and I'm sure Ani fans will appreciate a classic song at the end.

Ani Difranco is so much better live. You can hear the intimacy and passion in her when she is on stage. While this is not a ticket to a show, So Much Shouting/So Much Laughter is a good representation on Ani's making good music with her band. Not as good as the incredible album Living in Clip, but still amazing nonetheless.

She's amazing!
This CD was my introduction to Ani DiFranco - a friend of mine put on the song about September 11th and it sent shivers fown my spine. This woman is an artist. To call her a singer is mistaken. This is way more powerful than merely singing. Highly recommended!

Sheer energy: shocking and powerful
To say Ani DiFranco is a powerful performer is an understatement. Let me put this out: this is my first Ani DiFranco album ever, but now I know it will not be my last one. Musically, her style brings to mind Dave Matthews (with her guitar playing and somewhat fusion-jazz-rock sound in the background at times), but Tori Amos, Laurie Anderson and Kate Bush influences can -to a certain extent- be felt here.

However, her lyrics (loaded with a significant social weight and an clear anti-establishment theme, sometimes sung in a clever slow rap-like fashion that I just love) make her stand out on a totally different level. The newly released "Self Evident" is the best testimony of this. The only other artist I have heard that remotely sounds like her on stage is Peter Hammill, but even that can be a bit of a stretch. The fact is: you have to take Ani DiFranco at face value, take any prejudices off your mind and listen to her. I think you will be surprised as I was, and wonder: where have I been all this time, while she's been recording music?

BEST live CD
What's great about this cd is that Ani provides different versions of already published tunes, so that the songs performed live are almost different songs -- musically speaking. LOVE them! ... Read more

Amazon.com

It's the rarest of live albums whose songs add anything to the majesty of the original studio recordings. This one adds immeasurable data to the Velvet's story. Without 1969: Live we might never have known that they were more than just an art outfit, that they could actually rock with fury. Check out Reed's strumming on "What Goes On" if you want to have your mind blown. None of these staples of the V.U. catalog can be truly known without hearing these fully formed, fleshed-out versions, so for history's sake alone we must treasure this. History's tragedy of course is that we get to hear the excruciatingly light applause--it sounds like there's only 10 people in the room at some points--after each course in ass kicking. They were wrongly under-appreciated in their time, and for this we must all pay forever by playing this record constantly. --Gene Booth ... Read more

Reviews (15)

-+Historic performances by legendary Velvet Underground
Some live recordings of standard VU-songs that outperform the original studio-releases.

Pale Blue Eyes has a perfect laid-back mood to it and sounds real vivid compared to the original that was recorded too clean. The playing grows in tightness and spirit while performing. Guitar solo is great.

An absolutely stunning version of Herion, contrary to the one on the first disk. Towards the end, Reed sounds agressively decadent and the band is playing brilliantly. This is the only time on both CD's I get the impression that I'm hearing the rock-side of the VU like they really were all about in their early years.

Some Kinda Love is a simpele song with nice, though rather (anti-) moralistic lyrics. It is played absolutely intense however and this both lifts the song to a higher ground and makes its performance very entertaining.

Over You is one of my favourite songs ever. To my knowledge, no studio-recording exists. This 'little' song illustrates once more that Reed is indeed one of the greatest songwriters who ever lived on this planet. The recording has some annoying noise to it in the beginning.

Essential
This was where I first heard "Ocean"-- and that ten minute version that opens this disc is reason alone to buy it. "Ocean" is now available in several versions- but despite the poor, hissy audio this is probably my favorite version of one of VU's masterpieces. Oh yeah, I haven't mentioned the other 8 tracks-- terrific versions of some better known songs as well as a couple obscurities. It's been said many times but this combined with Vol. 1 makes up one of the truly great live rock albums.

No collection is complete without it
The version of "Ocean" on this album is mind-blowing. You have to buy the CDs just for that. The rest of the Vol. 2 CD is excellent, as is Vol. 1, but that recording of "Ocean"...oh, it's impossible to do any justice to it here.

THE BEST Velvets Album
This is one of the rare cases when volume 2 is better than the first. Of course, it would be best to buy both but if you have to pick one, pick this volume.

This is the album that made me really appreciate the Velvets. I love live music and this album really captures the band as they were meant to be heard -- Jamming, Moody, Rock and Roll. The first 3 songs especially (Ocean, Pale Blue Eyes, and Heroin) have reverberated in my musical memory for a very long time.

A GREAT FIRST VU ALBUM! If you know the Velvets or even just think you might like them, you can't go wrong with these live concerts.

If you have the 1st one you must get this...or vice versa
Volume 2 picks up where the first one leaves off, opening with a ten minute version of OCEAN, complete with Crashing waves of cymbals. This also has rare gems you cant find anywhere else like the short but sweet OVER YOU, and the 50's rockabilly, speed freak sounding combo of SWEET BONNIE BROWN/IT'S JUST TOO MUCH.
Then there is the extended noise drone of WHITE LIGHT/WHITE HEAT.

Just more evidence that the VU were a real loose dirty rock band who were more at home playing in dive bars than the early Warhol era trendy art crowd. ... Read more