Amazon.com essential recording

Seventy-one minutes of live Pearl Jam plus an unreleased song? It's aural nirvana for fans of the reclusive, integrity-driven Seattle quintet. Pearl Jam are nothing if not passionate and unabashedly rocking, and this 16-track offering, recorded during their Yield tour, illustrates why the mumbly voiced rock deity and his band of merry men inspire such ardor in their followers. Eddie Vedder's emotive vocals, Mike McCready and Stone Gossard's raw and raging fretwork and edgy, catchy, whisper-to-a-scream dynamics are deftly and inspiringly captured. Though a few staples (including "Jeremy") are missing, songs running the gamut of the band's seven-year career--from "Corduroy" to "Nothingman" to the Neil Young-penned "F*ckin' Up"--more than make up for any exclusions. The breadth and scope found on Live on Two Legs (a take on the Queen song, "Death on Two Legs"?)proves the once über-"alternative" Pearl Jam have struck a loud chord in the mainstream...and that's not a bad thing. --Katherine Turman ... Read more

Reviews (189)

It's about time!!! Thanks PJ
I'd like to give thanks to Pearl Jam and their label who finally came up with the idea to release a live PJ album. I do agree with the other fans who say that the song selection for this CD isn't great (They could have put in "Jeremy" Won't Get Fooled Again" or "Yellow Ledbetter" on it. But other wise it's great. The versions of "Hail,Hail", "Nothingman" and "MFC" are mind blowing. I love all of the concert posters on the inside cover. The only dissapointment that i have with this CD is the version of "Black", which is their most emotional song, isn't sung with much emotion. 1998 has been the year of Pearl Jam. They released 2 great albums, a home video, and an amazing music video. I think these guys are the greatest band, and I hope that after all of this they will still be a great band.

Interesting live stuff
Well, the main problem with Pearl Jam today is Ed Vedder's voice. What happened? His growling baritone seems to have caved in on him; now, when he goes for those powerful roars, like on "Even Flow," his voice just gives out. It's kind of depressing; for all their musical genius, Pearl Jam's heart and soul is really Vedder's voice. But as for the rest of this record, Pearl Jam are still awesome live. It's actually good to be able to hear songs from their different albums together; it doesn't sound as weird as listening to each album separately. Belive it or not, the songs actually sound good together. While of course they had to play the rebels and refuse to include any of their huge mainstream hits (except for "Even Flow"), the collection of songs here is pretty good on its own. The previously unreleased "Untitled" is a pretty good melodic tune, and the Neil Young cover is great. But the two best moments on the album are the lengthy rendition of "Daughter," which has Vedder adding some new lyrics, and then adding a verse from their song "W.M.A."; and the great job they did on "Black," with the 2-minute ending guitar solo. Overall this is a great addition to any Pearl Jam fan's collection.

live on two legs?! Live in a thousend legs
i got to say that is a great cd to begin the journey of knowing pearl jam, why?, because i start that way; long ago i ask my mom to give me this cd for x-mas because even flow was on it, when i listen the cd for the very first time the only song that i listen to was even flow, then i started to listen the rest of the cd and something hits me like "this is it" so after i started to buy the discography and here i am, i truly thanks the masterminds behind this:
eddie with his mindblowing lyrics
mike with his solos
stone with his riffs
jeff with his playful way to play the bass
and to matt for joining this great family which his name is PEARL JAM!!!!!!!!!
Best songs:
off he goes, exelent live take
daughter, with his tags (another brick in the wall II and w.m.a)
given to fly, the first time that i listen this song, i cried
corduroy, great opener

Pearl Jam - 'Live On Two Legs' (Sony)
This 16-track disc was recorded live from the band's summer tour not to long ago.I've never had any Pearl Jam bootlegs before,so I was really glad to recieve this title.As for live albums,it's pretty flawless.I wasn't aware that Soundgarden's drummer Matt Cameron joined the band.Best songs would be "Hail,Hail,Hail","Daughter",the wailing "Red Mosquito","Even Flow","Do The Evolution",the beautiful "Better Man"(I always wondered who did this tune),(...) Somewhere in here,vocalist Eddy Vedder comments 'pretty good singing...' That's okay.He's right.Recommended.

4.5 stars. First Official Live Album does not disappoint...
why not 5 stars you ask? well, considering they have released official bootlegs for each concert during the entire 2000 and 2003 tours, this live album falls a bit short in comparison.

for those that bought the album as it came out (and arent familiar with unofficial bootlegs), several "firsts" made this album memorable.

1. the introduction of the song "untitled"

2. first live recording acoustic recording of "off he goes"

3. "f*ckin up"

4. the first official live recording of classic songs

Play it loud, play it often... ... Read more

Amazon.com

There are a lot of diehard Pretenders boosters out there who'll warm to this unplugged hits set much faster than Last of the Independents. Hynde's singing has never been finer, and it was a brilliant stroke to incorporate a string quartet into the acoustic soundscape. Everything here is first-rate (notably the little-known "I Hurt You" and "Criminal"), but it's the ultra-fresh versions of "Brass in Pocket," "Private Life," and "2000 Miles" that will bring a lump to the throat of thirtysomething fans.--Jeff Bateman ... Read more

Reviews (14)

"The Isle of View" is every Chrissie Hynde fan's dream.
This album is what I had been desiring for a long time. It features Chrissie with her unique and soothing voice backed by an incredibly talented orchestra. This "Storytellers-esque" live CD allows the listener to feel everything that Chrissie feels when she sings these stripped down Pretenders classics, and what she felt when she first wrote them. "The Isle of View" is a hauntlingly personal trip into the soul of Chrissie Hynde that will leave you breathless and amazed by her talent and passion. Only a brilliant songwriter would know that her hard-hitting, rock and roll songs could be delivered with such grace and dignity in this completely new orchestral genre. I highly reccomend this CD for all fans of truly great music.

A favorite unplugged; one great track
This is a very enjoyable, if not a landmark, recording. Hynde's gorgeous voice is naturally more prominent in an unplugged setting, great lyrics are often more intelligible than in the originals, and a few songs from the early 90s that weren't optimally recorded first time around sound better here. At this stage in her career, Ms. Hynde was slowing down in concert, and going unplugged was one way to showcase what she did best in addition to catching the unplugged craze and being able to sell a new CD while in a creative lull. That wasn't at all bad for the average Pretenders fan, who got a chance to hear her sing, and sing well, without having to wait 5 years for the arrival of the next recording of original material.

The acoustic performances here are consistently masterful, the only off-moments being a missed high note near the beginning of Chill Factor and the use of a war-drum sound on Revolution, which seems a bit corny. The harmonium backing on Hymn to Her and the string quartet on Kid are particularly lovely. This slower version of "Kid" is quite moving, and is an interesting new reading of a classic song. Otherwise, it's striking how closely Hynde sticks to every note and nuance of the original recordings. She shows great craft here, but little risk or spontaneity.

Still, it would be a rare Pretenders fan who didn't enjoy this CD. I might quibble with some of the choice of material (this song isn't a favorite or that song was diminished by the loss of the original instrumentation) but I wouldn't want to have missed this one.

Unplugged with strings
This is nice but not spectacular. It is the pretenders of 1996 playing acoustic instruments and being backed with a string quartet. The CD is 58 minutes long. The "bonus" track is 15 seconds of silence and 30 seconds of spacy violin music.

The sound quality is good. There isn't a lot of talk between songs and the audience noise is kept to a minimum. You do have to wait through a minute of cheering at the beginning of the CD before any music starts. The Pretenders at that time is basically the same personnel that is playing today. Say the title 3 times very fast.

Note that this is also available as a DVD.

This is very nice music, but kind of disappointing. First off, this is basically the hits. There are no new songs. There are a couple that don't get played much, so that is nice. And second, for the most part, nothing is added to the songs to make them that much different than the originals. It is just the original songs with the electrical guitars missing. A song like Chain Gang just becomes boring.

But, there are some great moments. Hynde's vocals are forced to carry the album, and they do so for the most part.

Some songs do get played in new and interesting ways. The older songs like Brass in My Pocket and Private Life have a new life on this album. (The best version of Private Life I have heard was done by Grace Jones).

This is not a bad album, and in fact is quite nice. And there are some very good parts to it. But, if you have all of the other Pretender albums, a lot of this CD is unnecessary. While the CD is not that special, the DVD might be. I haven't seen it, but I am thinking about buying it.

One of the best live albums I have heard
I never been much of a live album sort of person. I have heard my fair share of really good live albums (Sade, Ani Difranco, Tori Amos) but I just never saw the appeal of buying them in the long run. One of my personal favorite live albums is The Pretenders' "The Isle of View". I remember seeing the legendary rock band perform on my local PBS station when I was in college and loved what I heard. I immediately bought the album afterwards (found a promo copy at a local independent record store). Chrissy Hyndes truly is one of the best rock vocalists around. She and her band sounds great on this live acoustic album. I especially loved listening to "Hymn to Her" (my personal all time favorite Pretenders song), "Sense of Purpose", "Back On the Chain Gang", and "Revolution" be performed live and on acoustic instruments. All the songs I mentioned sounds good in their original form and sounds equally good when Chrissy and co. performs them acoustically. Without a doubt I really loved the live version of "Revolutions" over the original version. I was so moved by the live version. It sounded incredible. Same with "Hymn to Her", a gorgeous ballad which I have always loved since I was a teenager. After all these years, I still love "The Isle of View". It still holds up for me but then again The Pretenders' music is always timeless.

Cracking great live concert.
The Pretenders have produced some real classic songs over time.This is really an acoustic greatest hits concert. Well played, well recorded and well sung. Being mainly acoustic/string orientated the interpretations of some of the classics may take getting used too, but with the basic tune of the song, they cant really make a mistake. For recording it gets 88% and music 92%. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Pearl Jam eases into its epic 48-song marathon!
Pearl Jam eases into its epic 48-song Mansfield, MA, show with the poignant "Long Road" from the 1996 film Dead Man Walking. It is the perfect opener for these aging alternative giants who have made a mission out of avoiding the path of least resistance and putting on marathon live shows. This first set of the evening sticks to acoustic versions of fan favorites like "Indifference" and "Sometimes" before breaking for a Sleater-Kinney set (not included). Set two kicks off with an ominous version of "Can't Keep" from Riot Act before exploding into brutal, full-throated renderings of "Breakerfall" and "Brain of J." Eddie Vedder sounds tired yet incrementally possessed as the show continues, delivering the anthemic "Why Go" with its chorus of "Why go home/Why go home" like a schoolyard dare. The audience takes his advice and screams through three encores, including classics like "Jeremy" and classic covers like "Fortunate Son" and "Rockin' in the Free World," before delivering the enduring singalong B-side "Yellow Ledbetter" like the blue-collar road dogs the band has become

A must for Pearl Jam fans
This terrific cd shows why people still come to Pearl Jam's live shows. They still have not "lost it."(...)
In this unusual setup, Pearl Jam was their own opening act, so to speak. They came out early to do a (mostly) acoustic set for almost an hour. Following the performance of their real opening act (Sleater-Kinney), they returned for their main set, for about another two-and-a-half hours!
Disc one includes the acoustic set. Eddie Vedder thanks the crowd for coming early "to the experiment". The set starts with the lesser-known "Long Road." This song is so good,one wonders why it isn't on one of their regular albums. Excellent versions of "All Those Yesterdays", "Thin Air", and the b-side "Footsteps" are included.
The main set is included in thier entirety on the second and third discs (except for "Arc", which isn't on any of the live cds).
This tour was in support of the "Riot Act" album, and killer versions of songs from that album appear here. "Can't Keep", "Ghost", and "Cropduster", for examlple, show why "Riot Act" ranks among their best albums. (...)
PJ include a wide variety of songs from thier entire catalog here, and do them well. Big hits, album cuts, b-sides, songs that only PJ fans know all appear here.
The "man" trilogy appears here, highlighted by the crowd singing along with "Betterman". Proof positive That PJ still thrills and excites their audience. Even early fan favorites such as "Blood", and "Jeremy" are still played to the hilt. There is no "walking through" these songs,even after having played them a zillion times over the years.
Sleater-Kinney return to play CCR's "Fortunate Son" and Neil Young's "Rockin'in the Free World" with PJ. The set finishes with "Yellow Leddbetter."
Filled with outstanding live material, this 3 cd set is a "must own" for any and all Pearl Jam fans.

Gives me goosebumps
After a bit of last minute rushing around (including a strange run-in with a couple of jerk parking lot attendants), I was lucky enough to attend this show, and it was more than worth both the overpriced ticket and the afformentioned difficulties. PJ made good on their promist to cover as much of their catalog as possible and both the band and the crowd got quite a workout. Starting in the late afternoon with an acoustic set (disc 1), the band offered a nice laid back mix of old favorites and rarities highlighted by some of my personal favorites like "Footsteps", "Off He Goes", "Drifting", "Thin Air", and ending with a powerful version of "Indifference". Then after an OK Sleater-Kinney performance, the fun really started. With Great Woods' stupid time restraints, the boys had to hurry through the set, but it ended up being a good thing as the sped-up versions of songs like "Brain of J", "Why Go", "Spin the Black Circle", and "Given to Fly" were even more powerful than usual. They slowed it down a bit and Eddie interacted with the crowd, asking for our help to sing along with the end of "Wishlist" and then went into the Man trilogy, in which the entire crowd took over on lead vocals for "Betterman". Listening to it now makes me tingle. The 3rd set included a great rendition of "Breath" and an even better version of "Habit". Then they closed the 3rd set with "Black" & "Jeremy", the latter in which we all were reminded why we loved this band in the first place as we all belted out the final "Oooooooooohhhhhhoohhhoooo!" (very loud and accurately I might add). After being joined by SK for the Encore version of CCR's "Fortunate Son" they teased us with a one note song, and sent us all home satisfied with the only song they repeated over the 3 shows they played at Mansfield, "Yellow Ledbetter". This was one of the most incredible shows I have ever attended and I was so pleased to learn the bootleg was out. I listen to this constantly despite my usual distaste for live albums, and I never get sick of it. It is a great reminder of a great night, and the set list is so good that it is still worth the price of the set even if I hadn't been there. Any PJ fan would have enjoyed the show, and luckily for those who missed it, the excitement is captured here. Simply a great show.

Addendum to my previous review
I had to submit a new review, this one at 3 stars, to balance out my 5 star review for a total of 4...the previous reviewer, Todd M. Goff, is going to be disappointed when he gets his discs for this show, because Pearl Jam decided not to release the song where "Veder (sic) worked - seemingly adlib - recording his voice one layer on top of another. Each time they would play it back, he would add another layer on top of it. He did this for about 5 minutes until the recorded version - containing all the various layers he had just cried out - became this melodic and haughting melody; it absolutely kicked my ass and I can't wait to hear it again." This song is called "Arc", appears in shortened form on their album "Riot Act", was performed 9 times (and since this was dedicated to the 9 people who died at the Roskilde Festival, some claim that it was performed one time for each person who died, though there's no band confirmation of this)....and does NOT appear on any official bootleg release, including the 8 other shows where this appears that were distributed through Sony direct only. I'm so glad I taped in Council Bluffs, and you can find the performances from Council Bluffs, Fargo, and this one if you look around. Pearl Jam is ok with taping so you don't have to worry about piracy or "angering the band" so long as you don't PAY anyone to obtain this recording.

Retaining the Memory
Okay. I've actually just purchased this CD. I write this review already knowing the content because I was there at the third show in Mansfield. I have been a solid fan for many, many years and have attended some spectacular shows of their's while living in Atlanta during the 90s. This show in Mansfield blew everything else away. The vast majority of the show was songs that you almost never would hear @ your run-of-the-mill PJ concert. If you've been looking for a recording holding many alternative Pearl Jam songs, look no further. One song in particular was stunning. Veder worked - seemingly adlib - recording his voice one layer on top of another. Each time they would play it back, he would add another layer on top of it. He did this for about 5 minutes until the recorded version - containing all the various layers he had just cried out - became this melodic and haughting melody; it absolutely kicked my ass and I can't wait to hear it again.
I write this knowing what's in store for me. I can't wait to get it. It's unlikely I will ever see another of their shows that will out do this one - buy it today. ... Read more

Amazon.com

For those late to the Soul Asylum party, which began in 1981 on cozy Minneapolis stages as Loud Fast Rules, the "Best-Live-Band-in-the-Country" badge pinned on them by countless longtime fans from David Letterman to George Wendt may seem like an exaggerated yarn. After the Flood finds the foursome at the pinnacle of their runaway-train popularity, a potent, airtight foursome living up to its reputation on a Saturday night at an airplane hangar in North Dakota, circa 1997, playing for high schoolers in a northern town ravaged by floods that summer. The applause meter on "hits" like "Black Gold," "Misery" and "Runaway Train" proves that most of the audience hopped aboard during 1993’s Gravedancer’s Union. And while the band fails (purposely neglects?) to sample from its essential punk rock back pages--Made to Be Broken or While You Were Out--it manages to revive those legendary stage chops on a half-dozen covers, including a metalish jaunt through Alice Cooper's "School’s Out," a straight shot of Johnny Nash's "I Can See Clearly Now," a flannel-soul edition of Marvin Gaye’s "Sexual Healing" and LuLu’s "To Sir With Love," on which chameleon vocalist Dave Pirner wails with grace. -- Scott Holter ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Good album, great memories
I thought this was a great album as well, mostly because I was there was well.I not only attended the prom the two previous years, but also went to this prom a year after I graduated (I subsequently went to two more proms after that) and this music brings back good memories.

Normally I listen hip-hop when I drive my civic around town, but I give this album a thumbs up.

Great Live CD - Great Cover Choices
This band is a phenomenal live band and this CD features them playing a great set list at the peak of their popularity.While their most memorable hits are here, what really makes this set list great is the cover tunes that they chose to play.The extraordinary Alice Cooper rock anthem 'School's Out' kicks the CD off.'I Can See Clearly Now' is very appropriate given that they were playing a post flood prom.'To Sir With Love' is awesome.'I Know' is really fun to listen to.Even 'Rhinestone Cowboy' is given the royal rock treatment and becomes a sing along favorite.I gotta believe that this track was added for the cheesiness factor, but it's done very well.

The only negative to this CD is that Dave Pirner's voice sounds off at times during Misery.But I didn't mind that so much because it only adds to the credibility of this being a true live CD and not an over produced piece trying to pass for a live CD.

I've seen Soul Asylum live multiple times.They are an incredible live band.It's great to be able to be able to bring that energy home or in the car via this CD.I'm impatiently awaiting their next studio album.(Soul Asylum, if you are reading this, I'd love to hear you guys cover Shawn Cassidy's `That's Rock & Roll' for the cheesiness factor.I think you could make it rock)This is an excellent buy.Do yourselves a favor and buy this CD.

Excellent
One of the best live albums I have ever picked up. Thanks Sony, thanks Soul Asylum. This needed to get out!

I was there...
Wow, I can't believe this got released!I was at the hanger for the Prom that night... the only High School dance I ever attended.I can tell you first hand that the atmosphere in the town at the time was pretty depressing.Most everyone I knew had lost pretty much everything they owned; houses, vehicles and almost everything else was fair game for the raging Red River that spring.

Our graduating High School class had spent the weeks leading up to the eventual evacuation sandbagging the dikes around the river, trying (in vain it turned out) to keep the flooding river out of our homes and lives.

Many families didn't realize the severity of the situation until the National Guardsmen came to our doors and told us to "pack for about 3 days, you need to be gone in 2 hours".That 3 days turned into upwards of 2 months for many of us.Friends were seperated with no way to get back in touch with one another and not knowing who was going to make it back for graduation... or even if we were going to have one.

When they announced that we would be still having a graduation and would even still hold the Prom, we were ecstatic.It was a much needed break from all the rebuilding that was going on.Even more exciting; somehow, someway, someone had managed to get Soul Asylum to agree to play our Prom!

When Soul Asylum took the stage, the energy in the hanger was palpable... you could almost taste excitement in the air.They didn't just *play* for us though, they got up there and poured their hearts into making the best of a bad situation for us and for that, I will be forever grateful.It was a stellar show and made for some pretty interesting stories when we started returning tuxedo's with tore-off sleeves and jackets that got ripped while crowd surfing.

Thanks again gentleman for giving yourselves to a town that needed a little pick me up, it was a much needed boost and it's not something that we'll soon forget!

Great music recorded live...doesn't get any better than this
I have several live Soul Asylum albums...this one takes the cake. I've seen them live in person before, but I can only imagine what this one felt like to be there.They are indeed the best live band you could see live. You can tell that Soul Asylum poured their hearts and souls into this performance. A forgettable tragedy turns into an unforgettable night that student will always remember and fans can listen in on again and again.You will not regret it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

While Live may be a stopgap measure to bide time for a troubled band that hasn't released an album of new material since 1995, it's also a cool and comprehensive live portrait of a sonically superb band. The 14 tracks, recorded at various venues between 1990 and 1996 and featuring both bassists--ex-member Mike Starr and replacement Mike Inez--show a vitality and looseness not evident on the band's serious studio albums. AIC's spirit is most evident on the countrified "Queen of the Rodeo," although their personalities shine throughout. Sequenced from a booming 1990 version of "Bleed the Freak" through "Dam That River," captured during AIC's stint on a 1996 Kiss tour, Live provides a striking cross section of performances from a seminal hard-rock band. --Katherine Turman ... Read more

Reviews (29)

LIVE! - AS REAL AS IT GETS!
I purchased "LIVE!" on the day it was released. A live Alice In Chains CD had been long overdue. There was a prior live CD, "MTV UNPLUGGED", but that's different. "UNPLUGGED" is a come in, sit down, dim the lights, fire up some candles, and play some laid back music for a television audience kind of thing mainly directed by the suits at MTV and Columbia Records. Somewhat like going to a church service. Don't get me wrong, any church service led by Layne Staley and Jerry Cantrell is going to be damn interesting church service, and well worth adding to your CD collection, it's just . . . well . . . not the Alice In Chains live CD I had been longing for.

"LIVE!" is the REAL DEAL! "LIVE!" is to Alice In Chains as "From The Muddy Waters Of The Wishkah" was to Nirvana. "LIVE!" is Alice In Chains the way an Alice In Chains concert was - LOUD!

Jerry Cantrells guitars are crisp, Layne Staleys vocals are awesome, and the rest of the band is tight. Sure, they may misfire once or twice among the tracks from the '86 shows, but nothing demeaning in any way. The track list is top notch and the sound quality is superb. The AIC standards are here, Man In The Box, Bleed The Freak, Angry Chair, Rooster, Would, Them Bones, etc. Queen Of The Rodeo is one of those rarities that no AIC fan should be without. My only real complaint with the track list is the omission of a live version of Down In A Hole. All things considered, LIVE represents an excellent Alice In Chains concert.

If you don't already own any of their live stuff, then buy LIVE first, and then go for MTV UNPLUGGED. Both are ESSENTIAL ALICE IN CHAINS.

Good Live offering; wish there were more songs
Don't get me wrong. Alice in Chains "Live" is a great album. But I wish there were more songs on it.

There are fourteen, so it's well worth the price; I certainly didn't get cheated. But AIC had so many great songs, more than enough for two such albums. Wonder if Columbia will try to put out another album sooner or later?

The album starts off with "Bleed the Freak," from the album Facelift. Very good rendition; showed Layne Staley in top, energetic form and showcased the emotional power of AIC to perfection.

Next was "Queen of the Rodeo," a sort of updated version of Johnny Cash's "A Boy Named Sue" for the 90s and beyond. Staley's "Queen" is more than a bit confused; his idea of fighting is to "scratch and bite," he wears nylons and makeup because his mother didn't know how to raise a boy, but . . . don't think he's a woman just because he's a transvestite, as Staley growls, "Last night I met your mother . . . I hope you understand, 'cause she did!" (profanity omitted because I don't want to get the review banned)

Very funny song. Showed AIC's humorous side to perfection.

Many other great songs are here, including "Angry Chair, "Man in the Box," "Love, Hate, Love," "Rooster," and "Would?" "Man in the Box" is done at a slightly faster tempo, with Staley ever-so-slightly emphasizing different words in the delivery. Cantrell harmonized with Staley flawlessly, once again adding a different dimension than just about any other rock band could claim. Staley effortlessly hit the high notes in this song, something that was more troublesome later in his career; in a way, it encapsulates the message even more firmly, putting this song into historical perspective.

Simply put; as every other reviewer has touched on, Staley had a drug problem. Died from them. Even here, he knew it, and wasn't happy about it; "Man in the Box" is a lamentation about his own situation, people in similar situations, and also points out the danger of trying to put _everyone_ in the same box. The sarcasm evident in this song often goes unnoticed; too bad, because Staley, Cantrell and the others were smart men, and very artistic. Hopefully one of these years the rock community will wake up to it, and they'll get voted into the Rock Hall of Fame, or something.

(Granted, too late for Staley. But better than nothing for the rest of 'em.)

My personal favorite, though, is "A Little Bitter." This, like "Get Born Again" from "Nothing Safe," would have been great to hear in a studio performance, on a new album. Staley's raw, tortured voice works very well here, showing a man who's more than a bit upset with how his life has went. From the instrumental intro, which almost seems to be crying, "Remember me! Remember me!" to Staley's haunting, evocative vocals about how his mind "shouts out for rest," and how he wonders if his life is a test sent from the Almighty, and asks aloud, "Oh, Lord, is this a test? Was it fun creating me? My God's a little sick . . . ", it's a superlative song about a tremendously unhappy man, reaching out to others who also were unhappy, trying to show *them* the way while he couldn't find his own.

To me, that encapsulates Staley's life. I read the Rolling Stone interview he did; seems to me that songs like this, "Don't Follow" from "Jar of Flies," and many others, were Staley's way of saying, "I'm messed up and I know it. Please do not do this; find another way, for this does not work."

Because Staley was able to articulate his pain, and the rest of AIC was able to help him give it beauty, meaning and purpose, he may have done more than just be a great rock singer. He might have given many people the idea that there were more people than usually believed that were depressed, and helped them realize they were not abnormal.

If so, Staley's death in 2002 is even more of a shame and a waste, because he had great gifts. Even more so than seen here.

Rest in peace, Layne Staley.

Oh, and for the rest of you, buy this album. It's definitely well worth the price, gives the idea of what a live AIC concert was like, and is a well-balanced collection.

If only Columbia will put out another album from the vault, preferably with Cantrell, Kinney and Inez's input, I'll be satisfied.

excuse me
are none of you people writing reviews aware of the fact that layne staley is dead??? scratch your head and figure out if maybe thats not the reason they havent released any new material since 1995.

any alice in chains is good alice in chains. so whether its a re-released song youve heard 45,689,273,465,872,463 times or a live recording from glasgow, it doesnt matter. buy the cd.

"LIVE" ups the Ante in Emotion; diminishes the Sound Quality
To confess the blameworthiness of this cd (and the series of ALICE "cds" from 1999 to 2001) that's transparent already: this cd is a corporate exploitation of its fanbase that it deceives will receive more Alice songs, without even caring about if what they release will be worth it. This cd wasn't even constructed with Alice's supervision probably. For these, but not restricted to alone, reasons, I didn't buy this and instead took 'em from alternative means, where I didn't have to spend my money for callously cold, corporate, consumer-raiding schemes.

In a certain, scorching sense, the years after Alice In Chains' last cd which featured original, new material (Get Born Again, Died from Music Bank) have been implacably barbaric for the legions of AIC loyalists thirstily waiting for new work from the band. The tragedy here is that, profanely clearly, the exploitative record company has been taking advantage of said yearning fans by malevolently and teasingly snaring them by subsequently, from 1999 to 2001, releasing crap, basically, in the form of incrementally uncharitable, falsely new, unreleased material. Case in point, this "LIVE" offering is just another, in the record company's plans, subtly and slightly alternative offshoot or version in a severe rehashing of the same limited number of Alice In Chains songs. That said, "LIVE" is still just a repulsively marked, subtly different enough derivative of Alice In Chains' catalog to warrant a new listening, even if it is albeit grudging.

The ethical dilemmas-of clashing interests between the band, not being involved in its promotion, and the company prostituting the music-aside, I'm divided on the songs on this cd. Not as much which songs were chosen to be delivered for its "LIVE" set, but the unpardonably shoddy, failure of quality! The heavily and hinderingly crippled sound quality is objectionably, wretchedly awful, that on even the most powerful tour-de-force versions of their live stuff, it drenches the excitement. For instance, the crushing noise level of the savagely roaring masses of crowds that Alice In Chains was playing to is, infrequently but disturbingly present nonetheless, heard unedited on the live track, which, stupidly bluntly, disrupts the enjoyment of the Alice In Chains song. Other times there are other plagues, like Staley's voice being flimsily dilapidated and thus not emerging as transparently audibly as demanded to appreciate an Alice In Chains song.

Nonetheless, though, my faves on this inhumanly succinct 'collection' are: Bleed the Freak; Love, Hate, Love; Rooster; Junkhead; A Little Bitter and God Am. The reasons for my choosing this set of six are, primarily, that they boast the superbly commanding guitar wizardry of Cantrell that their studio albums are brimming with, and, also, that set of six songs features Staley rawly singing his heart out, giving the utmost exertion for his delivery. As a matter of fact, and I hear it this way, since the 14 songs chronicle Alice's belting capacity from 1990 to 1996-because Staley was dilapidating himself continually exhaustively-you can actually hear the hurt sound quality of his viciously degrading vocal chords. It's scarily true; you can hear that on songs like "Again", this cd's "Dam that River", and 1996's "Would". Somehow though, on possibly the most ferally stormy AIC song, God Am, even though performed in their 4-city opening act tour, Staley finds the vocal mastery from internally deep inside of him and unleashes one of the fiercest vocal offensives in AIC history. Cantrell's opening guitar chords, that are blaring and searing, also add to the lust one has for this song. The live "Bleed the Freak" is intimidatingly masterful, and persecutes you to listen in awe at the full, total, Alice live experience. Staley's singing is ungodly mean here. That raises it to the most unprecedented heights of aggressive, ferocious wailing, which complements AIC's loud music perfectly! Love, Hate, Love is singly the best of the live group. If I can expand just a bit, Love, Hate, Love is one of Alice In Chains' songs that's on par on a classic level with other instant-classics like Man in the Box. It sounds even heinously MORE better than on Facelift! On "LIVE", Love, Hate, Love touches on shades of an almost sacredly sanctified quality, as the dreadfully miserable, yet somehow temptingly sweet, rush of Staley's powerfully subduing vocalization and Cantrell's scathingly fierce guitar playing impose the listener with connotations of a menacingly impending force to be reckoned with. Staley's singing is outrageously superlative, so much so, that live, it sounds like a guy about to irreversibly, terminally lose control-and awesome because of it! Cantrell's monstrously, harmoniously wild playing is even far superior to the cd. His solos and effects, live, on this song are unholy, grossly excellent. It could almost be a religious experience (for an atheist); they're just wickedly, appallingly sweet. On Rooster and Junkhead, respectively, Staley's dominant singing is once again seizing control of the impression of the band's performance. His singing is willfully, extremely abused, that you feel that he's throwing his vocal chords clear out. Also, ever-dependable Cantrell improvises severely, the already superhumanly, abusively amazing solos from Rooster and Junkhead. On Rooster, for one, Cantrell turns the solo from the cd into something unforgettably remarkable, as he molds the originally depraving solo chords into frenetically splintering warbles. These 6 songs epitomize the highest level of cohesive excellence that a live band could attain, and also the most superior that AIC could strive for, being healthy enough to concentrate on music.

Disquietingly lapsing, are live inclusions of better songs than some on this horrifically lax list. I would have literally killed to hear live versions of 'Down in A Hole', 'Rain When I Die', 'Sickman', 'Hate to Feel', 'Nutshell', 'Rotten Apple', 'Grind', 'Head Creeps', 'Shame In You', 'So Close', 'Over Now', 'Heaven Beside You', 'Brush Away', 'Confusion', 'Sea of Sorrow', 'We Die Young', 'It Ain't Like That', and 'Sunshine'. Also not to be overlooked are some live versions of their Music Bank-featured demos, which I'd have liked here.

Not enough songs
Great band that put on excellent shows during its heyday. The earlier recordings really showcase Layne's powerful voice. Rooster was probably my fave. However, there weren't nearly enough songs on this CD. I'm sure this bothered many other AIC fans out there.

Also, they shouldn't have put some of their later work on here. "Them Bones" was from a 1996 recording, when Layne's voice was obvisouly suffering...the track sounded like garbage. I know for a fact there were better recordings of this.

All in all, this is still a must have for AIC fans, but one can only hope that someone puts some effort into a real "Live" album, and showcases their best work. Oh, and more songs....where was "We Die Young"?? ... Read more

Album Description

Japanese 12 track import only collection features the rarecuts 'Darkness Of Greed', 'Clear The Lane' & a live coverof N.W.A.'s 'Fuck Tha Police', plus nine other rare & livetracks. 1997 Sony release. ... Read more

Reviews (54)

the Cd Rage fans must get
This cd kicks @$$! It is the best cd I own. There is so much energy in these live tracks its unbeliveable. The guitar solos alone are enough to make you buy this cd; they really show how talented Tom Morrello is. Also, "**** Tha Police" is one of the best songs I have ever heard. It is amazing. The only drawback on the whole cd that I found was on "Bombtrack", where they screw up a little between the chorus and the second verse, but its easily forgivable since so much energy is packed into the rest of the song. Other than that, it shows what Rage is all about. A must buy!

Better than Live at the Grand Olympic Auditorium
This "official bootleg" is a telling compilation of various Rage concerts throughout the mid-90s and may represent the final phase of "old school" RATM. What do I mean by old school? From the beginning up until the Evil Empire days, Rage's live concerts emphasized speech and wicked guitar improvisations. Oddly, this sense of adventurism faded out around the time BOLA was released... and it's quite obvious too. The "Bullet in the Head" solo on this disc destroys the one on Grand Olympic Auditorium. "Zapata's Blood" is a recognizable live track to any hardcore Rage fan and this may be the best performance of the song ever. The bonus demo cuts are pretty good, and "F*ck tha Police" is a wild ride. But the real treat is "Hadda be Playing on the Jukebox", an 8 minute poem that tells a story by its guitar work alone.

This CD may not be as accessible to Rage newbies as Grand Olympic Auditorium, but will be an instant classic to true fans.

Too bad it isn't better-known
I can imagine that the import price made a few people in the US think twice about buying this album-I know I thought twice. But Rage is the kind of band that makes you think, "well it's expensive, but from this band it is worth it." Their studio albums are more of an excuse to get their message out and raise money for charity, as well as a way to remember their live shows. Because that's where the group really shines, onstage. Bullet in the Head is a great song live, and the guitar on it is impeccable. Get any album with Tom Morello playing guitar, trust me.
Just so you know, the songs on this disc are compiled from various shows which are listed in the liner notes. Other than their usual live songs (all pre-Empire except one) there are other interesting features. Chuck D and the band collaborate on Zapata's Blood and Intro-(just hearing the first part of that sentence should make you want to buy it), and Rage jams to the lyrics of a poem by Allen Ginsberg.
But if you still aren't convinced, you can hear the last two tracks, which are not on any of their other releases. They are good, too, not just throwaways.

A Great Live Rage Album Not To Be Missed
A great collection of live and rare songs from Rage Against The Machine, one of the best live acts in modern rock. I still remember Rage's charged performance at Woodstock '99 and how bad they made Metallica, the band going on stage after them, look. The two rare tracks are merely mediocre, although they may be of interest to hardcore fans. One especially noteworthy performance is Rage's cover of NWA's anti-police brutality anthem, F*** The Police. They turned a great old-school gangster rap song into an even better one. Chuck D. of Public Enemy, a large influence on Zack, also makes an appearance on the CD. This album is not to be missed, although it makes you want to kick yourself for not seeing Rage live when you had the chance.

great for all rage fans
i am a big fan of rage against the machine, i own all their cds. i bought this one a few days ago. even though its expensive, its worth the money. this cd has songs from their first self titled cd, and other songs not on any other rage cd. they are really good live and this cd is sweet. i recommend it to all fans of them. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Mystery White Boy, culled from Jeff Buckley's eight-month world tour of the same name, is not just another live album blighted by whoops and catcalls. Such was the reverence granted the ill-starred singer-songwriter's electrifying confessionals that hardly a whimper issues from the audience in 78 minutes--not, at least, until each gargantuan heart-and-soul epic ends. Buckley treated music like it was Shakespearean tragedy, and that grandiosity makes the live "Grace" and "Mojo Pin" at least the equal of their recorded counterparts. The gems, though, are the cover versions found here--especially a closing nine-minute rendition of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" that lurches into a whispered chorus of the Smiths' "I Know It's Over." Ultimately, this posthumous collection is utterly captivating. --Louis Pattison ... Read more

Reviews (55)

Stellar Live Performances From Jeff And His Band
It's no secret that many knowledgable music lovers and talented musicians all over the world are devotees of Jeff Buckley's music. Mystery White Boy gives more than enough proof as to why performers like Thom Yorke, Chris Cornell, Elvis Costello, Chrissy Hynde, Jimmy Page, Duncan Sheik, Bernard Butler and many many others love Jeff Buckley's music; they all saw him play when he was alive.

Having heard many bootlegs of Jeff Buckley concerts, I must say that Mary Guibert (Jeff's mother) and guitarist Michael Tighe have truly picked out the finer points of Jeff Buckley's live sets throughout the 1995 - 1996 tours of the US, Europe and Austrailia.

Mystery White Boy contains renditions of 7 songs from Buckley's only proper studio album Grace, and it is rounded out by Big Star and Judy Garland (yes Judy Garland!) covers, as well as 3 unreleased Buckley originals. One of them, "What Will You Say" was recorded for Grace but wasn't included on the album. The version heard here isn't the best version I've heard of the song, but it is amazing none-the-less.

Jeff Buckley never played a song the same way twice, and his love and passion for music shines through on Mystery White Boys' outstanding versions of Dream Brother (better than the Bataclan version), Lilac Wine (great jazz vocal improvisations), Grace (a thunderous version), I Woke Up In A Strange Place, and Hallelujah (w/ a bit of the Smith's "I Know It's Over" thrown in).

If this is your first exposure to Buckley, this disc probably won't win you over, but that's okay. Go listen to Live at Sin-e, Grace and Sketches for My Sweetheart The Drunk...if they can't convert you, nothing will.

Transcendant.....
Rife with anticipation, I ripped this cd from it's package and promptly listened to it 4 times in a row. Every moment is a sonic fruit to be savored...lush, full...trembling with beauty. Jeff Buckley was a masterful vocalist and gifted songwriter. This album, comprised mostly of songs from his '94 release Grace, gorgeously showcases Buckley's ethereal genius in this, the unfakable forum of live performance. A voice that moves through you like a thought...conjuring every emotion known. Mean, sexy, and powerful....at the same time being delicate and vulnerable , Jeff's vocalism is astonishing. I'm so grateful for the previously unreleased pieces. They add the proper facet to the otherwise perfect stone known as the music of Jeff Buckley. If you are a lover of music - especially of true singer/songwriters - you will want for nothing more than this album...except for more of his music. So let this amazing soul twist your heart. And thanks to his incredible mother and bandmates for giving us this gift.......JEFF BUCKLEY LIVES!

hauntingly beautiful
This is one of those albums that would be one of my picks if I was stranded alone on a deserted island. While I only have Grace to compare it to, I prefer the live versions of the songs on this compliation to those on the studio-released Grace. "Mojo Pin," "Dream Brother," and "Last Goodbye" are particularly energetic, full, and dreamy. And Buckley's voice - there's just nothing quite like it.

Really Good Live Buckley.
To say that this is the best live album ever is a bit of a stretch, but it is certaintly very good. I'd not say it's a live album, more of a series of memoirs collected from the band members and his mother Mary Guibert. While it is correct to assume that there are much better whole, live, concerts that capture the Buckley-concert experience from beginning to end, this is a logical progression if you are not yet an enthusiast and looking for something beyond Grace (the debut studio album).

There are several gems on this album. My personal favorite is "I Woke Up in a Strange Place," a nice little rocker about ghoulish encounter with a ghost. I've not delved into a deeper meaning of the song, it's just far too good to over analyze. Another great track is "What Will You Say," which shines despite its angst ridden, abandonment lyrics. It captures his voice so well, you really have to hear it.

This also includes many of the gems from Grace, including a very stirring preformance of "Dream Brother." Classics like "Eternal Life" which is even more ballsy live, "Last Goodbye," and "Grace" are really good live. It even includes an Ira Gershwin song, "The Man That Got Away." Of Course, it also has "Hallelujah" in a medley with "I Know It's Over." (As a side note, you can't really critique these songs for Buckley fans, you either know them or you aren't a fan).

I didn't really prefer this version of "Lilac Wine," but since I don't really dig that song, anyway, I guess I'm kind of prejudiced.

This is a 12 track, 72 minute (I think) treat for the ears. Please forgive my cliche, rolling stone-esque line there, but I think if you check it out, you'll agree. I'd definitely prep for this one by AT LEAST purchasing Grace first though, of course if you don't have that by now... well, you have my pity. Then move onto the Live at L'Olympia, Live at Chicago sets, Live At Sin-e or even Sketches for My Sweetheart. Actually, that is precisely the order you should all buy these: Grace, Mystery White Boy, than either of the 4.

Finally, we miss you Jeff.

Suffers in comparison to other Buckley live releases
The live disc MYSTERY WHITE BOY consists of twelve tracks selected from Jeff Buckley's 1995 tour, mixed together to sound like a single concert. I found the release disappointing, especially in contrast to the superior DVD release LIVE IN CHICAGO and the import LIVE AT L'OLYMPIA.

About the only great thing I can say about MYSTERY WHITE BOY is that it has great sound. Whilst the audience is hardly audible, the performance is consistently clear.

Jeff Buckley was one of the greatest musicians of the 90's, but when I first heard MYSTERY WHITE BOY I couldn't help but feel that it was a collection of some of his worst moments. Buckley's cover of Alex Chilton's "Kanga Roo" lacks passion, while the version on LIVE IN CHICAGO stands out as one of his most innovative performances. The version of "Grace" here is the weakest we have, and is difficult to listen to after hearing the savagely beautiful L'Olympia rendition. Furthermore, the disc lacks "Lover, you should have come over", a great tune from GRACE which appears on all other live releases.

If you want to hear a superb live recording from Jeff Buckley, I'd recommend getting LIVE AT THE L'OLYMPIA, a recording of a single Paris evening in 1995 which Buckley considered his finest performance. If you want visuals and lots of on-stage banter, LIVE IN CHICAGO is what you're looking for. MYSTERY WHITE BOY is only for completists. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Good Live Cd not the best
First off I've been to a OLP concert and this cd does captivate the intensity and enregy that is but into each concert they do. I thought the song selection was choosen very well minus a few tracks but that's expected. I really though "are you Sad" and "Naveed/Life" were the standout tracks on this album. The only thing that I didn't care for was some of the crowd singing and remaking of certain songs. If you're looking for a better Live candaian band album look no further than the Tragically Hips "Live Between Us" cd probally one of the best cds I own and one of the most entertaining bands in the country, but that's just one mans opinion.

OLP at their best - in concert
I love the intensity of Our Lady Peace in a live performance. Don't be deterred by some people's disappointment at a lack of some hits on the CD. A disc can only hold about 120 minutes of music, and this disc has 117 minutes of music, so it's difficult to complain.
I'm not generally into live albums, because most bands and singers don't sound as good live as in the studio. But last year I went to see an OLP concert, since they're my favorite band. I was amazed to realize that OLP is even better live (I didn't think it was possible for them to be any better). So, in short, buy this CD, because you will not regret it.

Awesome
This cd rules, i just can't stop listening. My favourite songs are Not Enough, Clumsy, Superman's dead and Somewhere Out There.
That's all Folks.

Proof there is a difference between live and recorded
Though the years Our Lady Peace have prooven themselves to be only popular in there how country, Canada of course. Here in the UK and probably everywhere in Europe OLP are unknown and generaly disliked anyway. After the first 4 albums I decided that olp were unbeleivably underestimated in the on going music industry. obviously not every has the same taste depending on were you live other wise I would be a Punk rock loving drugged up looser. No, I listen to the one and only olp. This album demonstrats the brilliance of the band members, more pacifically Raine Maida who managed (like loads before) to climb onto a stage and sing(badly) his heart out to an audience which, judging by the noise they made was a fairly large number. Well anyway, I am fairly picky so I just want to point out the bear facts about Our Lady Peace. Number One, the guitarist is ausome he really knows how to play examples:- "dirty Walls" and "Starseed". Number Two, Raine Maida cannot sing if his life depended on it. Number three, The lyrics make no sense. Number Four, Snare drums are in there element and are obviously used to the best of there ability here. And finally Number five. Even though Raine Maida can't sing and there is not a word of sense in the words, I do think that the reason the band made it this far is because the lead singer is well, er, cool. What else can I say?

nice performance
i wish 4am and hope were on the playlist, but nonetheless, the way they performed the songs were awesome. the mix could have been better that's why it doesn't get the full 5 stars.

I was impressed w/ the new song our time is fading. i also think it's cool they put whatever on there. that's wwe star chris benoit's theme song in case you didn't know. the naveed/life combo was also good. i'd never have thought that they could put something like that together and make it work.

overall, our lady peace did a fine job in this live album, just sucks that it probably could have sounded better if properly mixed right. oh well, what can you do. ... Read more

Amazon.com

For most musicians and groups, the live box set marks the culmination of a lengthy recording and concert career. Not so for Laurie Anderson, whose United States Live appeared in 1984, following her tenure in academic and bohemian circles and a small handful of releases on Warner Bros. and smaller labels. The release was an unusual event, though perhaps less so for a musician who seeks to upend musical traditions, most notably the distinctions between pop and classical, spoken and sung, live and Memorex. The lengthy set is a recording of a live performance composed of dozens of carefully defined experiments in form and technique, most of them fitting into one or two of these three categories: show pieces for items from her technological music arsenal (like her emblematic electric violin), witty narrative snippets (back when "spoken word" was called "performance art," prior to the rise of the poetry slam), and full-band performances, featuring, among others, Peter Gordon and David Van Tieghem. "O Superman" and "Big Science" are the familiar titles that appear amid the nearly 80 tracks. "Just a slow accumulation of details," her computer-enhanced voice intones moments before the intro to "Blue Lagoon" (later heard in a studio version on Mister Heartbreak). That makes a nice epigram for the collection as a whole, which is essential to understanding art music of the '80s in general and the New York scene in particular. --Marc Weidenbaum ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Professor Anderson's American History 101
One of the many qualities that separates Laurie Anderson from the sub-par pop world of the Backstreet Boys and Korn is her unerring intelligence, and it is on full display in the ambitious four CD box set entitled "United States Live". Taken from a series of shows at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Anderson attempts nothing less than a cultural, historical and psychiatric dissection of America. Though this was probably much more interesting to watch (as it included the use of multimedia which is obviously incompatible with audio formatting), the songs nevertheless work on a cerebral level, the likes of which have seldom, if ever, been duplicated. Utilizing her electric violin, Harmonizer and toy saxophone (among other instruments), Anderson has concocted a tour de force of sound and expression. Admittedly, each of the 78 tracks available here are exceedingly intellectual and demand the listener's full attention; consequently, one cannot listen to this box set in one, five or even ten sittings as though it were a simple collection of pop songs. The themes, multiple meanings and interior layers of each track unfold gradually with repeated listenings. It is also of note that a few of the songs included here can also be found on Anderson's first studio album, 1982"s "Big Science". Personal Favorites: the history of Tesla's relationship with Einstein that accompanies the song "Dance of Electricity", the philosophical musings on the nature of human motion found in "Walking and Falling", and the pseudo-Native American vocal rhythm of "Hey Ah". Representative Lyrics: "I can see the future and it's a place- about 70 miles east of here." ("Let X=X")

Professor Anderson's American History 101
One of the many qualities that separates Laurie Anderson from the sub-par pop world of the Backstreet Boys and Korn is her unerring intelligence, and it is on full display in the ambitious four CD box set entitled "United States Live". Taken from a series of shows at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Anderson attempts nothing less than a cultural, historical and psychiatric dissection of America. Though this was probably much more interesting to watch (as it included the use of multimedia which is obviously incompatible with audio formating), the songs nevertheless work on a cerebral level, the likes of which have seldom, if ever, been duplicated. Utilizing her electronic violin, Harmonizer and toy saxophone (among other instruments), Anderson has concocted a tour de force of sound and expression. Admittedly, each of the 78 tracks available here are exceedingly intellectual and demand the listener's full attention; consequently, one cannot listen to this box set in one, five, or even ten sittings as though it were a simple collection of pop songs. The themes, multiple meanings and interior layers of each track unfold gradually with repeated listenings. It is also of note that a few of the songs included here can also be found on Anderson's first studio album, 1982's "Big Science". Personal Favorites: the history of Tesla's relationship with Einstein that accompanies the song "Dance of Electricity"; the philosophical musings on the nature of human motion found in "Walking and Falling"; the pseudo-Native American vocal rhythm of "Hey Ah". Representative Lyrics: "I can see the future and it's a place- about 70 miles East of here." ("Let X=X")

Overdue for digital remastering
I remember seeing this performance series being advertised in The Village Voice & wanting desparately to go...but at 17, I didn't quite have the wherewithall to get the $ together to go & have always regretted this. But it was soon enough after that I had a summer job & the LPs were available. The sound was rather thin & scratches noticeable, so I bought the CD box soon after that. I always see this box set around (new & used), so I'm surprised that people say they haven't been able to find it. I always had half-wished that it had gone out of print, if only so that it finally gets the digital remastering (from the original tapes) that it deserves. The one thing that has bugged me about the set is that there is occassional popping/crackling noises that makes it sound as if the cd's were mastered from a pristine LP. The sound on the LP's was always very quiet & you had to turn up the volume, which made any surface noise extremely unpleasant. The CD's are louder, but the tape hiss is more obvious. Some cd's are already on their 3rd remastering.....so it seems that an upgrade is long overdue, SACD would be nice too.

Buy it, relive it or live it for the first time...
I had the good fortune of attending this two day performance in Brooklyn. It felt then like we were participating in something special. Looking back it was as I can't think of anything else from the 80's that was in anyway cultural or arresting. Maybe the Clash's first night at bond's before the fire dept showed up? Anyway during intermission the second night my current wife then girlfriend accidently kicked Grace Jones in the ankle while she was sipping champagne. We thought she was going to kick both of our asses. Luckilly Phillip Glass was walking by at that moment and struck up a conversation w/ her and save us from such humiliation. Plus it was so hard to get a cab to take you from the city to brooklyn back then.

Nights I Swim in the Blue Lagoon
Yeah, it's worth [money] for her 13:00 minute version of "Blue Lagoon" from MISTER HEARTBREAK. Professor Anderson says it all very well, below. I never fully appreciated Laurie until I saw her live recently on tour. I mean, I knew she was smart and inventive, but she finally got to me. She's paying attention to it all; she sees beneath the surfaces.

I suspect you do, too.

And she's coyly feminine and beguiling.

This is a great live set. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The last date of the best-documented tour in rock history, Pearl Jam's Seattle, Washington 11/6/00 might be the most important record in the band's entire career. Starting with the dates from the European leg of the tour, then moving through the U.S. East Coast, and finally concluding with the West Coast, every date on Pearl Jam's world tour has been immortalized with its own accompanying CD. Why would the band choose to do this? After listening to this three-disc set, one possible answer looms closer to reality-- it's the last gift to their fans before Pearl Jam calls it quits. "Hello, Seattle, this is it," says lead singer Eddie Vedder after a scorching rendition of "Dissident" (from 1993's Vs.). "One last show, (and) we never play again." After a round of boos, he retreats a little, backpedaling with "at least for quite a while," but it's clear that Vedder and the band are not just tired after a long tour. They're giving some thought to an extended, perhaps permanent, break.

Perhaps better than any other of the "bootleg" releases, it encapsulates the dichotomy of Pearl Jam's iconoclastic catalog. The sweeping set list from the longest show on the tour ranges from the Ten-era anthem rock that made them superstars to the introspective and artsy fare that has characterized their later work. They attack each song the same--with boundless energy and the tight stage savvy of veteran performers. Leading off with a stirring "Release," Vedder's voice bleeds with his now-familiar throaty power, laying into one of the band's signature ballads. He works a similar magic with "Off He Goes" from No Code and "Crazy Mary" (memorably captured on the Victoria Williams benefit record Sweet Relief), as well as Vitalogy's "Betterman," which the Seattle crowd turns into a giant choral number. But Pearl Jam are a rock band, and nowhere is that more apparent than on the start of the second disc, when Vedder and company rip through defining versions of "Even Flow" and "Jeremy," giving guitarist Mike McCready and the rest a proper forum to work the crowd into a sweaty mess.

It has been a wild 10 years since Ten blew the doors off alt-rock, when Vedder and company became worldwide icons and were swept up in the intense, if short-lived, ascendancy of grunge. If it's all coming to an end, it makes this already essential disc that much more so. --Matthew Cooke ... Read more

Reviews (42)

The Emotion is Evident
When I bought this CD I was expecting a highly charged emotional bootleg. That is exactly what I got. The superb opener Release really shows the superb vocals of Eddie Vedder while rearview mirror shows the amazing guitar expertise from Mike McCready. This bootleg really shows how Pearl Jam have changed their style with the contrast of songs from the first album TEN like Even flow that are really groovy grunge tracks to the mellow Parting Ways from Binaural the latest LP. The main plus point of this album is the way the crowd follow the songs through singing along and making the event a really special occassion. Just listen at the end of Daughter where we hear Eddies usual wandering into a very smooth chanting which the crowd copies to a T. The highlight track from this album I feel is a cover of the Who's Baba o Riley which really adds that bit of spice to an already amazing performance. The only problem with this bootleg is the lack of two songs Black and Elderly woman......town but they certainly make up for it with the inclusion of a highly emotional Crazy Mary and a brilliant uplifting Jeremy. I own 7 of the bootlegs this is the best. This is a must for all Pearl Jam fans.

Inspired Performance in Seattle
The final recording of Pearl Jam's 2000 tour came from their final show that year on November 6 in Seattle. At the beginning of the show, Eddie Vedder teases that this may be it for Pearl Jam. I found that interesting because I hadn't heard anything prior to that, which would suggest that to be the case. Then again, it just might have been me.

The show is one of the best from the tour. Eddie and the boys are clearly energized to be playing at home in front of fans that they say are one of the best on the tour. Throughout the recording, Eddie repeatedly thanks the fans for their energy. Apparently the crowd for the 11/5/2002 tour was found to be lacking. In addition, all the proceeds from the show were going to charity.

The set peformed by the band was a culmination of their best work from their five albums. 'Couduroy', 'Betterman', 'Even Flow', 'Jeremy', 'Daughter', 'Alive', and 'Yellow Ledbetter' were some of the highlights.

Before closing out the show with 'Yellow Ledbetter', Eddie encourages everyone to get out and vote the following day. Like the rest of us, he had no idea what a fiasco the 2000 election would be. On top of that, he shot off some criticisms towards the city for mandating a ton of extra security for the show.

Fortunately, it turns out that Pearl Jam was not calling it quits, and a new album is due sometime in the later half of 2002. If the fans are fortunate, a long inspiring tour will follow with plenty of 'official' bootlegs to follow.

has to be the best Pearl Jam concert ever
i bought this one in 2001 i believe.. sometime in june.. it has to be the greatest live album i've heard.. the sound quality was excellent, and everything.. awesome setlist, i just wish it had Breath or Last Exit on it.. but regardless it's a great live album.. and i would prolly pay $300 to have gone.. but i didnt really listen to Pearl Jam till march of 2001.. if you haven't kept track with the band, no they did not break up or anything.. actually they released another album (Riot Act), a few live concert CDs from that tour (the PA State College one is pretty good).

THEN they released the long awaited Rarities album, and live DVD of their Maddison Square Garden concert.. which is deffinetly worth buying. keep on rocking!

Great Show, Great CD
I was fortunate to be at this, it was also on my 20th birthday. Truly one of the longest and best shows I've ever been to.

An all encompasing must have live CS (4.5 stars)
This was the last show of the 2000 tour and it did not dissapoint. The sound was perfect, Gossard was exquisite on the guitar, Vedder's voice was in fine form and the setlist speaks for itself. Having seen the band live twice, I must emphasize how different the band is in person in compared to in the studio. Live is where they really bring it up a notch. They connect with the audience, they improvise and the emotion of their music is amplified live. The only drawback of this album was the incessant talking by Vedder near the end which becomes very annoying and goes on way too long.

Bottom Line: A good into live Pearl Jam. Most of the heavy hitters are part of this set and the band was on fire this night. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Simply Amazing
Ween has always been a great live band, and they've shown that since their first official live CD release "Paintin' The Town Brown". Since then there has been a steady supply of live Ween; including the 3 disc set "Live at Stubbs," "Live in Toronto" touring for their country album, and now "Live in Chicago" with a DVD. This DVD is spectacular. Mastered in 5.1 surround and great picture quality. They change the songs so much, refusing to recreate the studio album version of the song. This makes the concert so much fun and instresting to watch. They change instruments, lyrics, add/change sound effects; it's fantastic. And Dean must be one of the greatest guitarists in music today; some of those solos were just sick, such as "I'll be your Johnny on the spot" or "Voodoo lady"; just tearing up every song with some killer lead guitar. Also, a great cover of Led Zeppelin's "All of my love". This is a must own for Ween lovers, and for anyone who appreciates good music and a great live performance.

I think you NEED this....
If you are a Ween fan, you are going to buy this. If you are new to Ween, you NEED to buy this. This is Weens first DVD release and what a release it is. The quality of the recording on both the DVD and the CD is incredible. Not to mention that the setlist on both is top notch. It covers the hits spanning Ween's illustrious career thus far. The DVD also has a cover of Led Zeppelins All of My love which they rock out to the fullest. I think the boys in Lep Zep would agree with me on that. So enough of my rambling and enough of you reading. This is a must have. So buy it. ... Read more

Album Description

Limited edition numbered deluxe digipak features 16 tracksincluding 2 exclusive bonus tracks (both rehearsals - 'Pale Blue Eyes' & 'Candy Says'). This is the legendary showrecorded at the Bataclan Club in Paris, on January 29th,1972. Lou Reed is accompanied by John Cale & Nico, on stage for the first time since the break up of the VelvetUnderground. Only 10,000 copies of the digipak edition with bonus tracks will be pressed after which it will revert tostandard packaging with no bonus. Includes 16-page bookletwith extensive liner notes with photos. Alchemy. 2003. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

a treat for Velvet Underground fans
As a fan of The Velvet Underground, I had always heard of the La Bataclan '72 concert and was excited to hear it was being released on CD. When I first heard it, my intial reaction was that it was great but not as great as other Velvet Underground recordings like the live 1969 series. However, one can't judge it as a Velvet Underground recording. It is Lou Reed, John Cale, and Nico playing after The Velvet Underground broke up, and a lot of the material played here is from their solo albums. Each member gets their own set within the concert and play from previous Velvet Underground songs and their own solo material. It is really amazing to see how each of them progressed after The Velvet Underground and The Velvet Underground songs that they do play, are much more mature. I have read other reviews of this album and the main criticism is that the sound quality is poor. Apparently the bootlegs sound better but I, like many don't have access to bootlegs and refuse to pay $30 for a CD-R burned copy in a record store. Also most of the Velvet Underground live recordings released have been of poor quality, so I am kinda use to it. The sound quality is poor and that's why it doesn't get 5 stars BUT it is still listenable and well worth buying if you are a fan of The Velvet Underground and the solo carrers of the members that play in this concert. I am thankful that this concert was released and reccomend it to anyone who loved The Velvet Underground. It is by no means the best to come from The Velvet Underground and its members, but it comes pretty close.

5 star event, 3 star sound
A remarkable record for fans, though the quality may be below what some expect from reissues these days. And it does seem possibly low or slow at first (that was my first reaction even before I read these reviews) but give it a few songs--I'm not sure that's not just the way they sounded that night. It's just a cool, down-low vibe (even at 45 rpm it would be). I'm no sound expert and am much more interested in having an incredible performance, and this is--all the peformances are. Those who say there's only one good vocal per performer are way wrong. (And poor Nico--people do cough! If I were there I wouldn't have minded or been upset. And if they'd edited it out, her smoking joke before the next song wouldn't've made sense; it enhances the moment, doesn't detract. Also, some here over-esteem "the consumer" in my opinion. Look at the Top 40 to see the customer's not always right. On this point, the bonus tracks are rehersals and as such, a wonderful look behind the scenes--a great, thoughtful addition.) I love this record, and my expectations were sky high--thinking, "this may be the best record I've ever heard in my life"--since I'm a huge Lou Reed & VU fan and the thought of a soon-after acoustic trio get-together seemed impossible to top. So, if you want the moment (which is great) you'll probably be pleased and glad you got it (like me). Even a sub-par bootleg of this would be incredible--and this is better than that. But if you're a real stickler for sound, you may be disappointed, so do be cautious. But I can't see slamming the performances like some have. Maybe their expectations were as high as mine but they just have more sensitive ears or something? I'm very glad I bought this amazing music. (Packaging, photos, and liner notes (soulfully written) are very good too.) Now I hate the thought of not having this record, just as it is. If they improve the sound someday, great. Until then I'll love this. Thanks Lou, John, and Nico for being the real deal.

Not Bad, But Could Have Been Better...
Bought this album on a whim today, after hearing a few tracks off of it. Sounded decent enough for me to buy.

It essentially, as one already put it, a "VU Unplugged" style of album. Some of the songs sound kinda neat in a different atmosphere or performance than originally recorded in a studio environment.

The sound quality is a bit dissapointing. Sure, for those of you well-accustomed to VU recordings, particularly their demo songs or live bootlegs, this isn't that bad. But as has been said, it could have, with modern re-mastering technology, been much improved. The mic feeds back severely during Cale's "The Biggest, Loudest, Hariest Group Of All", and there is some slight distortion on a lot of the tracks. While some of these are inevitable to be seen on the recording, I feel there was much that could have been done to repair the bootleg. The last two tracks, enclosed as a "limited edition bonus", are pretty much crap. I even think the quality of the demos on the first disc of the "Peel Slowly And See" box set sound better than these two.

All said, it's a decent album, and if you don't have the bootleg version of this recording (sorry to some reviewers; just because you're a VU fan doesn't mean you have access to these expensive, hard to find bootlegs), it's a good way to go. One more note: Amazon says only 10,000 copies of the limited edition packaging will have the last two bonus tracks on them. Huh. My disc's serial number (they are all numbered) is 10,078. Hmmm.

I guess I just don't know...
I am a die-hard Velvets freak, and have had the Bataclan bootleg in various forms for some time now. I thus consider myself reasonably qualified to assess this release.

The overall performance is very tastey. This version of "Black Angel's" is spooky and dark, but not blood curdling as it is on the Banana album. It conjurs visions of Gypsies dancing around a trash can fire in some littered Lower East Side back alley under a crimson moon (or at least an orange sky). Likewise, Cale's "Ghost Story" and all of Nico's material are at once creepy and pretty. They represent a certain bittersweet maturity that prevails throughout this set much like the dry wisdom and blushing warmth one might detect in a well-aged cabernet. "I'm Waiting for the Man" is perfectly introduced by Lou ("Hello. Took us a while to get here. This is a song about copping drugs in New York"). The song is given sublime treatment until Lou F***s up the lyrics by substituting the "brownstone" segment with a repeat of the "here he comes" verse. I sadly have to admit that this flub turns what would have been a stellar version into a decent version that gets monotonous toward the end. Oh well...

The highlight is Heroin. With this version (my favorite), we are treated to one of Lou's best vocal performances of all time. I also find the simple but poignant accompaniment of Lou's acoustic and Cale's droning viola to be much more compelling than the Banana arrangement (and certainly light years better than those wretched Peel Slowly and See demo versions).

What we get in performance, however, we lose in quality. Now granted, this should be no surprise considering the low-fi nature of most other officially released live VU material (I actually have a pristine copy from the End of Cole Ave master that sounds far better than the sources used for the original Live album). Nevertheless, there really is no excuse for having been so totally asleep at the wheel while remastering this release (In truth, I suspect there really was no remastering whatsoever). At the very least, it is in dire need of pitch correction. There are times when Lou's voice sounds so slowed down that I half expect to hear secretly embedded satanic messages. I actually took it upon myself to fix the speed in Cool Edit Pro, and in 15 minutes I was done.

Which brings me to my point. This set is worth getting for VU fans, especially if they have access to pitch correction software. But this is probably not for n00bs or casual fans. Nice that it's out there, but shame on those who were supposedly "overseeing" this project. ZzzzZzzzZzzzz....

VERY DISAPPOINTING AND POORLY EDITED
If you are a die-hard VU fan, then you probably had this show already in one bootleg format or another. I must admit, that this packaging job is outstanding. The booklet, the photos, the slipcase...everything about it, visually, is extraordinary and immaculate. However, what is it they say about "judging a book...?"

The actual recording is CRAP. When this was originally issued on bootleg vinyl, the mix was recorded quite a bit too slow...which is the problem here. Unfortunately, the sound editors for this potentially stellar CD ignored modern technology completely, which is to say they did not download a sound editor for free off of the internet! Any freeware editing program could speed the mix up enough for Lou, Cale, and Nico to sound normal.

I have a bootleg of this that not only sounds better, but has more songs! My 20 year old VHS tape of the concert sounds better than this.

What a disappointment. Hopefully, this can be reissued after it is properly edited. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The Cocteau Twins were one of the more distinctive recording acts of the 1980s and their dreamy, atmospheric sound provided an ethereal sonic template for many Euro-pop groups of the time. With Elizabeth Fraser's haunting vocals and Robin Guthrie's innovative use of guitars, drum machines, and other electronic instrumentation, the Cocteau Twins created a rich, textured sound that endured over a large number of recordings. This double disc serves nicely as a greatest-hits package as well as a lengthy memento of the band's evolution from 1982 through 1996. Including shimmering renditions of old favorites like "Musette and Drums" and "Ivo," as well as a stirring rendition of Billie Holiday's "Strange Fruit," this collection is a must for all Cocteau Twins fans. --Mitch Myers ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Live jibe erroneous
I have to take issue with "A music fan from San Diego" regarding the Cocteau Twins live. I saw them in Manchester (U.K.) in 1994, and it was the best concert I had ever seen in my life up to that point (bested the year after by the Stones).

As for the music contained herein, it is early Cocteaus, and, therefore, a little more coarse than later works. But Garlands, Sugar Hiccup, Dear Heart speak of the wonders to come, and Musette and Drums must be considered classic semi-instrumental by anyone who can respond to beauty in powerful, rhythm-driven, music (equivalent to the blissful Me In Honey, on R.E.M.'s Out Of Time).

I totally agree with "San Diego"'s in respect of Heaven Or Las Vegas - one of the most emotive albums I've ever experienced, and along with Victorialand the best of the Cocteaus (thus far!)

A More Intimate Experience
This CD contains renditions of their songs that are slightly different and, to my mind, perhaps more intimate, than the studio versions. This effect is especially pronounced on the version of Serpentskirt. This rendition of Serpentskirt is less grandiose than the version on Milk and Kisses, yet I find myself listening to this version over and over and over again, perhaps for its starkness or perhaps because the guitar sounds like something from another planet.

Truly magnificent
This is an album you should enjoy and enjoy a lot. Incidentally when a BBC sessions album is released by a band it doesn't really mean it's a live album. It's just the band recording the songs at BBC's studios so that it can be broadcasted on radio at a particular time. So for those who were wondering why there were Liz's voice in the background as well as at the forefront should rest at ease - there was a little bit of studio trickery there. I just I should point that out lest someone gets confused

Pleasant enough but don't listen to it straight through
I am not a huge Cocteau Twins fan but find their music works well as a background for when I am working. I did not find this CD as interesting as Treasure but it is pleasant enough. (Will probably get some plays while I am ironing my shirts!) Don't listen to both CDs straight through, as it gets pretty samey.

I love them, but live Cocteau Twins isn't optimal
I'm as big a fan as they come, but live Cocteau has a problem -- there's just one Elizabeth. On studio albums, as you know, there are numerous vocal tracks, creating a rich, layered sound. I never knew how important this element was until it was gone. Live recordings (including the BBC Sessions) just feel sort of anemic, because only one melody is being sung. Yes, her voice is still beautiful, but it changes the nature of the songs.

I'm not going to tell anyone not to listen for themselves, but I was disappointed. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Suck on this
this very first Primus album still sounds very agressive and punchy - "Heckler","Jellikit","John the fisherman" are full of energy and anger. Claypool's virtuoso bass lines,Herb's hard drumming and some noisy guitars are what Primus is famous for on their live showes.here we have them in all grace.
The songs have many black humour in lyrics.Les is not only amazing bass player and vocalist,i believe he is the best lyricist in modern avantgarde rock.
i prefer their studio albums but i love the raw sound they have got here.brutal and unpolished.
hats off for Primus.

Bad as hell!
This is Primus' first release. Tracks found on this album have been spread out to almost all of the studio albums except The Brown album and Punchbowl. I've read that this album was recorded on a Tascam 1/4" 8 track-mixer. That could explain the previos comments on sound quality but as a home recorder I have no problem with it. This is definitly a band to check out live as this disc should prove. Fav tracks are To Defy the Laws of Tradition, The Pressman, and Harold of the Rocks. Great start for one of my favorite bands.

An amazing live debut
I have listened to this about 50 times and I still love every second of it. The songs that would appear on later studio albums sound pretty much the same, but it's better to compare the tracks on this to the ones on their later studio albums, since these came first.
My favorites are Pressman, Jellikit, Tommy the Cat, The Heckler, and John the Fisherman. The bass solo on Tommy the Cat is simply astounding.
And the best thing is, it's Primus.

ROUGH, RAW , & REAL TALENT REVEALED!
My first Primus album, and STILL my favorite (i have a total of 5 of their albums now, plus the DVD, plus some recorded tapes of their various work, plus a Porch CD), and still this album has got to be THE BEST live album i've ever heard from any band!

This album is nothing less than incredible. it is definately the raw sort-of off the cuff and kinda wild sound you'd expect from a band in their early days and as such, reveals the full extent of Les Claypool's impeccable abilities. since it's live, the tracks aren't bound to the structure and precision that comes with rehearsed studio cuts. instead you get Les playing totally freelance and he just goes off on that bass of his with some hard-core solos, all throughout the album.
This is an album that many people tend to look over simply because the majority of the tracks on it are also on Frizzle Fry. Primus picked up much of their following with the release of that album and so, already having had Frizzle Fry, most of that following just skipped picking up Suck on This. That's too bad because those people really are missing out. This album is definately not one you want to skip.
If it comes down to it and you MUST make a decision for one or the other (Frizzle Fry or Suck On This) absolutely, without a doubt, no question... GO WITH SUCK ON THIS!!!!
Quite frankly... i just recently aquired Frizzle Fry for the first time and i was completely disappointed with it. after knowing what those tracks could really sound like, i felt rather cheated upon hearing the same tracks Frizzle Fry. Nothing is as impressive as when Les is unrestrained by the conformity of studio sound. but what actually disappointed me more was realizing that so many people out there have credited FF as Primus' breaking album when it really should have SOT. and, yes, FF is still a good album... compared to a lot of other bands, but it pales in comparison to SOT.

Great Album
This is a great album. My first primus album. Les Claypool is an amazing bassist, now i wish i had picked up the bass instead of the guitar!! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

July 8, 2003
Will be now and forever the absolute best concert I will ever go too. Mansfield was as good, but no doubt NYC CD be a clasic CD in years to come.

Not to good...
This was a pretty shotty CD, the quality was bad. Singing some times out of key. I love Pearl Jam but this was their worst live album I've heard. They didn't play some of their hits as well.

Still not bad, only cost me 12 bucks new.

Both shows are great
Great shows. More than 50 different songs, including gems like Crown of Thorns and Breath; along with classics like Do the evolution, Alive, etc.I prefer the first show, but both of them are great performances by the band. Get them both.

Buy the pack, you get a great deal!!!!!!!!
Asome shows, specially the second show.

Touring band 2K3
A great band at the height of thier powers. Returning to New York City the first time after 9/11. Pearl Jam shows the power of a band with something to prove....

A must for even a casual fan. ... Read more

Reviews (39)

Great as far as live CD's go
The problem with live CD's is that you can't make everyone happy because everyone has their favorite songs and if those aren't on there people get disappointed. So then the formula for a successful live album is to change up the songs a bit by throwing in new elements and adding in rare stuff. By this 311 succeeds brilliantly. They mix up the songs like a whole new verse in Misdirected Hostility, and a whole minute of build-up guitar before Hydroponic. Also Nix Hex and Light Years sound very different than their studio counterparts. Also in the mix is the great song Tribute from the Enlarged To Show Detail video EP which only hard-core fans have and a great cover of Who's Got the Herb? which is a great concert song. So as far as live albums go this one is really good.

One of the best live albums.
If you're not familiar with 311 or you're new, this album is a must for all fans alike. There are no fillers in this one and it's sure to keep you pleased.

A fine note: We're tributed to a drum solo by Chad Sexton on Applied Science. Chad is an awesome drummer and you shouldn't look him over. There are also solos from P-Nut and Tim Mahoney. The quality isn't bad, and I prefer some of these songs live rather then the studio versions. Some great examples are Omaha Stylee, Hydroponic, Who's Got the Herb, Beautiful Disaster, and Nix Hex.

Put it in, press play, and enjoy.

311 and Sublime are the greatest of all time
This cd to start is great. It has a lot of 311's best songs. I like down and whos got the herb, a lot it is a great live cd that has a lot of great drumb and guitar solos. If you are true to the game and love 311 then you gotta get this cd it is one of the best ever.

if you have never seen these boys live...do it now
to show their appreciation for their fans' support, the group decided to compile a live album, including tracks from all of their albums up to that date and more. stand-out tracks (although they're all pretty amazing) include "applied science" with chad sexton's 3-minute drum solo, "homebrew," and "down." the band also decided to add in a live version of "tribute," a song previously unreleased and now only available on the bonus CD that comes with their home video titled "enlarged to show detail." if you want to get the "live show feel" you get when you see three eleven on the road, get this album. it's great.

Good, but nowhere near the live experience
First off, this review is coming from a big 311 fan. Having seen them in concert, I can attest to the fact that they have one of the most energetic shows out there today. I have never been as dehydrated as I was when I saw them in concert - even during the slower songs, the energy never waned.

That said, I picked up this album expecting it to blow me away like live albums from other explosive groups. At times it does. "Nix Hex" improves on the studio version with its extended coda leaving ample room for Tim Mahoney to flex his musical muscles; "Applied Science" features a phenominal drum solo by Chad Sexton - funky, fast and jaw-dropping, it's enough to make people who hate drum solos take notice; "Feels So Good" grooves along better and stronger than the studio version and P-Nut improves on his original bass break. Plus, there's also the rare cut "Tribute" originally only on the "Enlarged to Show Detail" EP and the remake "Who's Got The Herb" that has been a crowd favorite for years but has never been featured on one of their albums.

However, the rest of the album is a mixed bag. The other tracks are almost note-for-note replicas of the studio versions and some - "Freak Out" and "Light Years" - actually sound weaker.

Any big 311 fan should pick this up - "Herb" and "Applied Science" are worth the list price alone - but don't expect it to come anywhere near the experience of a live show. Any tepid fan should probably stick with the studio albums. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Laurie Anderson scored an improbable hit in the early ‘80s with the atmospheric "O Superman," a song that appears near the end of this exhaustive two-disc live set. Despite a new arrangement, the track sounds just as entrancing as it did 20 years ago, if only because the 90 minutes leading up to it features some of the most complex, dreamlike, and unnerving music ever produced. But given that these concerts were recorded just days after the September 11 attacks in New York, the effect is all the more chilling--just try to hold back the goose bumps when Anderson sings, "Here come the planes / They're American planes / Made in America." The air of intensity is palpable throughout Live at Town Hall, as Anderson pulls out vintage pieces like "Let X=X" and "Strange Angels," each one taking new shape and meaning in the process. It is a harrowing listen. --Aidin Vaziri ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Brave New World
Laurie Anderson recently applied for and was hired as kitchen worker at McDonald's hamburger joint near her studio in Manhattan. Huh???...yes it's true, and she recounts her McDonalds experience in her new performance piece, "Happiness". Laurie Anderson can find beauty in strange places. At Town Hall, eight short days after the collapse of the Trade Towers, Laurie found beauty in a terrifying place. She performed "Love Amoung the Sailors", from her Bright Red album and the lyric..."There is no pure land now, no safe place...If this is the work of an angry God, I want to look in his angry face..." ; becomes a prophetic statement of iron willed resolve. "Let X=X" takes on a new meaning as we, the listeners, are placed in an aisle seat of a burning plane. George Bush talked about "wanted dead or alive" and "hunting down terrorists like dogs" and Laurie Anderson talked about the phenomena of flaming birds in the sky after the American planes became guided missles from hell. Now, one year later as Sadam becomes the ghost of Osama, I look to Laurie Anderson's concert at Town Hall as a defining moment in a Brave, New World. Laurie Anderson (not Rudy Guliani) is New York's first citizen and the heart and soul of this planet, Earth.

She's amazing....
Well, the first time I got to see Laurie live last
year (2001) in a small theater in New Hamsphire
she doesn't sing a word really, it turned out to
be a talk. Sure, I wanted to experience Laurie
Anderson with a band but I'm glad in a way that I
didn't get to hear her perform considering all that had
happened this past year it has made her new/older music so much more
compelling to experience live. I've listened to this many times now
and I find this to be a classic set of songs for troubled times
and I'm just glad there are caring artists around that have
something to say about this or have written songs that still
mean something. I'm more perplexed that musicians as a group
haven't had a whole lot to say about 9/11?? since the fundraisers. It doesn't say to much
to me about the music community of this country? Music in general seems so hard to be all about being young and unstopable but we all learned real quick whats important! many musicians are still caught up in the get rich
quick trip, thanks to Laurie for this gift of music. I also
enjoy the song "Silver Lining" the David Grey song that Bonnie

Raitt covers on her new Cd, she really shines on this, and she
to has something important to say, as well.

Love
A maximum of 1,000 words is not enough to do justice to one of the most glorious artists of our time.

Attending the event
Playing this CD makes the listener feel they are attending the event itself. The music itself is amazing right through, as are the spken word pieces. There is an intimacy, some intensity, some discomfort but some delight too, for example when the anecdote ('Beginning French') about French 'traffic testers' gives way discreetly to the intro of 'O Superman.' But the intensity is felt most when Laurie refers to 9/11 and her reactions, playing that evening, the sense of an entirley changed world. Her songs fit. My favourites here are O Superman, which I knew from the 8os and Strange Angels, which I didn't know before.
The discomfort comes in when you've listened all the way through and get to O Superman on Disc 2, when the references to 'Amercian planes, made in America' are heard.
This is a good place to go for a live compilation of Laurie Anderson songs.

The Best Concert I've Ever Seen
Firstly, I have yet to hear this album, but I did see her show In Toronto on September 13th, 2001, and I have to say that it was aesthetically and artistically the most incredible concert that I've ever attended. The quality of her performance (and band!) was superb, and the themes that she's been weaving for all of these years really came together. For me, peak of the show was the transition from O Superman to Pieces and Parts: very emotional, new layers of resonance to say the least. She was visibly shaken at the "American Planes" line, almost as though she had just realized what she was singing. The show ran from the quiet and delicate (White Lily) to surprisingly (and successfully) noisy, loud and aggressive (My Compensation), to arty and humourous (distributing pencils and papers for the audience to draw with and pass back after the show). She's consistently been the most interesting American artist for the past 20 years. Content-wise, she has all the bases covered: musicality, intelligence, technique, experimentation, insight, wit, and grace.
Inspired. ... Read more

Album Description

The Blasters emerged from the Los Angeles rock scene in the late 1970s. Led by brothers Phil and Dave Alvin, their contemporary twist on America’s not-so-distant past set new standards for American roots rock. Frequent shows with fellow Angelenos X helped earn the band legions of loyal fans whose numbers continue to swell today. In August 2003, the original members reunited (once again) with both Alvin brothers intact. Captured on their first DVD and this companion CD, the set showcases 19 tracks, including staples like "Marie Marie," "Border Radio" and "I’m Shaking." Joining them onstage are Sonny Burgess, Billy Boy Arnold, and surviving members of The Calvanes and The Medallions – artists who have all played an important and influential role in the band’s history. The Blasters Live! Going Home documents the band nearly 25 years after its formation. They’ve never sounded better. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Exellent come back cd, recorded in Santa Ana, CA
I love local bands from the most beautiful place on earth Orange County! This is one of OC's best rockabilly bands, and they sound as good if not better then they ever have, an extra added bonus is hearing Billy Boy Arnold's duet with them, his voice is so "rockabilly 1950's", and of course he really was a recording artist from that period, and hasn't lost a thing. This concert sounds like it could have been recorded in 1955, I mean this music sounds like the stuff from Sun Records! A great fun set of lively rockabilly and occasional jump blues, by a super tight swingin' band, recorded at the famed Galexy theatere in Santa Ana!

The Blasters are back!
A blistering live set, recorded in the Santa Ana, California's Galaxy Theatre, in the band's old Southern California stomping grounds... Phil Alvin spits out his lyrics like he wants to set the mic on fire, while Dave whips through some dazzling guitar licks... These guys may be old geezers, but they sure haven't mellowed out!

Awesome CD!! Blasters Forever!
Just had to post a few comments about this. When i heard that the Blaster's first and only concert video would be released on DVD and CD i just had to go out and get em both.. all you blasters fans out there will know that these guys are all about playing live! - well, the CD & DVD totally captures the energy and atmosphere... and if you never got to hear em play live... u just have to get this !! - The companion DVD that comes with the CD is just as awesome in it own capacity... Both the CD and DVD feature performances of "Blasters" classics such as "American Music", "Marie, Marie" and "Border Radio". They are also joined on stage by rockabilly guitarist Sonny Burgess, Chicago blues great Billy Boy Arnold and the surviving members of the California doo wop legends The Calvanes and The Medallions.

go buy this now!!

adios

Better then i thought it would be.
Here is the truth, this is a great dvd. The sound quality is excellent, the picture very sharp, the Blasters as a group materiel is a bit stronger then the seven tracks with there invited guests.I was not sure to i wanted to take a chance on this dvd at first, but i am glad i did.I believe it was put together by the former Rhino people, it is a top notch product. ... Read more

Album Details

Punk Attitude and Drive Comes Through on their First Live Album featuring Some of their Biggest Hits from 'insomnia'. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

buy insomniac
this cd has all of the same songs as in insomniac but insomniac has alot more tracks the only song on here thats not on insomniac is knowledge. (check out the new superhits album before you buy it, i have most of the songs on it and i only have five greenday cds) a four because of the lack tracks and because it has the same songs. but its greenday so its got to be great

Green Day kicks even more @$$ live!
"Bowling Bowling Bowling Parking Parking" is Green Day's first live EP, and they sound even better playing live than they do on their regular albums. Their punk attitude shows through more when they play live than on any other album, even "Dookie." The tracks are few here, only 7 songs, but it is still an incredible record. Personally, I think "Brain Stew" is the best track on this album, but every song is great. I highly suggest this to any Green Day fan. Don't let the high price drive you away, it is well worth the money!

AWESOME GREEN DAY CD
Despite the shortage of tracks, this CD has the live versions of most of Green Day's best songs- which sound BETTER than the Album versions. I think that Brain Stew is the best song on this CD. A must-buy for Green Day fans!

GREEN DAY RULES!
I Bought this CD because I Wanted to own all the green day CD's. The only bad thing about this live cd is there is only seven songs! Where are the rest! [Only] 7 songs? Its worth it if you like green day as much as i do.

Live Green Day Is Good Green Day
'Bowling Bowling Bowling Parking Parking' is the first of the two live Green Day records released officially by Reprise Records, and the only thing it lacks is length. There are only 7 songs blasted out quickly by the punk-rock kings, but a worthwhile purchase nonetheless. 'Knowledge', the fourth song on the record, is especially good and a fun song to listen to live. With the live experience of Green Day in their existence, this album is certainly very good, and easier to get too than the large amount of Green Day bootleg cds there are. Teamed up with the second official live recording, 'Foot In Mouth', 'Bowling... Parking...' results in a very enjoyable record that gives you the brilliant experience of Green Day LIVE! ... Read more

Album Description

Recorded live (by the original Blasters) at the House ofBlues, Los Angeles, March/June 2002. Features new (2002)performances of Dave Alvin-penned Blasters favorites suchas 'Marie Marie,' 'Long White Cadillac,' 'So Long BabyGoodbye' and 'Red Rose.' It also contains a version oftheir first hit, Little Willie John's 'I'm Shakin' and aDave Alvin song they recorded but seldom performed live,'Common Man.' Digipak. Hightone Records. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

ONE OF THE GREATEST BANDS EVER!!!
Founded by brothers Phil and Dave Alvin, the Blasters tore up the early 80s L.A. punk scene with their electric, punked-out, blend of rockabilly, blues and country. Breaking up shortly after their John Mellencamp-produced "Hard Line" failed to garner the national attention it deserved, and the brothers began fighting all the time, it looked like the Blasters would be nothing more than a vinyl-only footnote to the later, Grammy-winning, career of Dave Alvin. Luckily, however, their catalog is being reissued and, even luckier, Phil and Dave have mended some fences. The result of that fence-mending was an intentionally brief live reunion last year that yields this scorcher of an album.

Joined by fellow Blasters John Bazz, Bill Bateman and Gene Taylor, the Alvin brothers tear through seventeen of their best songs, from originals like "Long White Cadillac" (later a hit for Dwight Yoakam) and Dark Night (featured in the film "From Dusk to Dawn") to blues classics like "Cryin for my Baby" and "One Bad Stud," all done with a fiery style that makes moving your body mandatory.

If there's a flaw to this album, it's that it's probably their last for another twenty years, given the brothers are back to their solo careers. But at least we have this one.

Viva Phil Alvin!
3.5 stars

Don't get me wrong, I'm as happy to see the Blasters back together as I would be if Carl Perkins crawled out of the ground and reached for a Stringbender. For all the crowing about Dave Alvin's maturation as a solo artist, the Blasters were his high-water mark for energy and just plain fun music. And there is plenty of energy here, but perhaps a bit too much bombast. A few of the tracks sound like Jimmy Thackery or some other uber-amplified bar-band drudgery. The Blasters worked because they could mix tasteful playing with driving, nine-pound hammer rock and roll.

Nevertheless, this is a welcome return. Good covers of Guitar Watson and Billy Boy Arnold, great version of "Long White Cadillac." ...

One of the Best Live Recordings Ever
I know I'm going to sound like an oldtimer in writing this review, but back when I was in high school in the early 1980's I had the pleasure of growing up in Southern California when music was so alive. Bands like X, Van Halen, Los Lobos, the Plimsouls and the Minutemen were playing small clubs and creating excitement about new music. Some of it was punk, some of it was hard rock, and then there were the Blasters.

Some folks said the Blasters played rockabilly. Some even thought they sounded Country. Then again, they were playing blues too. The bottom line is that they played the best American music you would ever want to hear, and they were absolutely the best live band around.

Alas, things don't last forever. The band, which features brothers Phil and Dave Alvin couldn't stay intact in their original form and that was a good thing. Dave went on to a great solo career and even won a Grammy and continues to be one of America's great songwriters.

Given the Blaster's heritage, the band re-released a compendium of all of their recorded music titled Testament. The two CD-set enabled the band to offer a more permanent public release of music that had long been out of print.

Last year, the band played five concerts in Southern California and this CD was recorded at one of the shows at the House of Blues on the Sunset Strip. The band also toured after the release of this CD as well.

I had the pleasure of attending two of those shows and feel honored to have had the opportunity to witness two of the greatest rock and roll shows I've ever seen. This CD is faithful to the quality and energy of those shows and is worth your investment.

Yes, the band members have aged a bit. Phil is a bit heavier and Gene Taylor has plenty of gray hair in that bushy beard. But they will give any band in the world a run for their money. This CD doesn't have a single track on it that won't make you want to sing along or dance. This is what American Rock and Roll is supposed to be.

Top 10 of 2002
Why, oh why has massive acceptance escaped this band? They continue to be one of the vital forces in American music, after more than 20 years. The caliber of live performances contained herein will never be matched by 75% of the CDs on Billboard Magazine's weekly Top 10 in sales in any given week, even with millions of dollars in studio "sweetening." Talent and tunes!!!When I win the mega lottery, this is the band I'm hiring to play at my celebration party.

Quit teasing us
So they got together in L.A. last year to put together a terrific show, which sounds great when played on CD as a live recording. I love this album. What sets it apart from many live albums is that the songs still sound fresh. Maybe it's because they "broke up" and hadn't played in awhile, and needed to prove something. Maybe because they knew it was going to a gig just to record a live album and they wanted to get it right. But boy, I miss them even more after seeing this.

So then why four stars instead of five? Stubborn principle. First, they're redone songs. Second, I didn't see the band tour in my area, so I imagine it was a one time get together. The album itself has all the energy and musicianship I would expect from the band, and I've played it over and over again. It's just not knowing if they're going to get back into the studio or tour again that bugs me. ... Read more