Reviews (5)

A landmark recording
Galas' performance of these songs is simply awesome. Many have sung them before her, but who will dare to sing them after her? Her performance somehow transfigures these very familiar classic blues and spirituals, bringing out a depth of emotion, an awesome power and force, a wonderful subtlety of feeling that was hitherto unknown. Her voice blends perfectly with the piano, her vocals are perfectly balanced, each "scream" and intonation neither too much nor too little, but just perfect. I don't think I will ever again be able to listen to someone else's interpretation of "I put a spell on you" or "A balm in Gilead" without somehow finding it lacking in comparison with Diamanda Galas' performance. She simply outshines them all.

A real performance...
This CD is absolutely brillant!
When I first bought it...I didn't think
much about it. But.. then I listened
carefully to the version of "I put
a spell on you" which she does here.
Around the same time, there was
a version of "I put a spell.." by
Brian Ferry. Brian sings it without
any feeling. Its like he is falling asleep
while singing. Diamanda on the other hand,
gives a real delivery...punctuated ...and
more like someone who is actually living
and talking it: "I put a spell on you"...
pause...becaaaaause "You're Mine!!".
Absolutely commanding! And throughout this
CD she keeps her screaming to where its
appropriate, which I like. I don't see the
point to some of her other cd's where she
only screams.

Not the best...
I've been a fan of Diamanda's work for quite a while. I must admit this isn't the best Diamanda Galas album, but it does have some wonderful songs. The Singer consists of performences performed on the Judgement Day tour, however, if you can find a copy of the Judgement Day VHS you'll find a better example her amazing work. This album is not as beautiful as Malediction and Prayer but is still a good example of her work with her voice and her piano. The best tracks include Gloomy Sunday and Judgement Day!

A chanteuse back from Hell
The Singer

Operatically-trained AIDS activist/performance artist Diamanda Galas plays the "it's the song, not the singer" game here, and wins. Accompanying herself on piano, Galas gives thoughtful, impassioned= readings of these songs (mostly standards, many previously recorded as parts of her performance pieces), leaving behind for the moment her infamous 8-octave vocal gymnastics and beyond-the-pit-of-Hell moaning.= Maybe not as personal an album as "Plague Mass", but certainly accessable to those afraid of her earlier (and scarier) works.

A chanteuse back from Hell.
Operatically-trained AIDS activist/performance artist Diamanda Galas plays the "it's the song, not the singer" game here, and wins. Accompanying herself on piano, Galas gives thoughtful, impassioned readings of these songs (mostly standards, many previously recorded as parts of her performance pieces), leaving behind for the moment her infamous 8-octave vocal gymnastics and beyond-the-pit-of-Hell moaning. Maybe not as personal an album as "Plague Mass", but certainly accessable to those afraid of her earlier (and scarier) works. ... Read more

Album Description

Live at Convocation Hall is a performance of songs fromHayden's three domestic releases, as well as his limitededition Canadian EP & the title track from Tree's Lounge.The performance is from his March 2002 sold-out show inToronto, Ontario. Includes 3 new (2002) tracks, plus acover version of Neil Young's 'Tell Me Why' (featuringguest vocals from Howie Beck & Julie Dorion). Elaborate,double digipak with a 16-page booklet designed by Hayden.Badman. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

live, breathe music
this is a great, great album. I'm so happy he put out a live album. I seen him live last year in Detroit and met him, cool guy. I was a fan before that concert so I was excited to see him. If you don't feel like getting his older stuff, which i HIGHLY recommend, get this. bob dylan, leanord cohen, hayden. another musician that has talent,no, a gift. just him, his guitar, piano and harmonica.

intimate and stirring performance
When I first listened to this album I realized just how many great songs Hayden has written. It plays out like a greatest hits CD of his 7 years+ musical career. He is such a strong performer and the recording is intimate. And his in-between song bantor is hilarious. It's beautifully packaged in a foldout digipack and includes a booklet of lyrics with photos. Recommended for all fans of this remarkable songwriter/performer. ... Read more

Album Description

Exclusive French pressing of this Import only live albumfeatures the same tracks as the less expensive Australianpressing but the French with exclusive French liner notesand lyrics in French. A nice piece for the legions ofBuckley collectors out there. The CD features 11 tracks all recorded Live at the La Olympia Theater in France. Includes covers of Led Zeppelin, MC-5 & Leonard Cohen. Tracks,'Lover, You Should've Come Over', 'Dream Brother', 'Eternal Life', 'Kick Out The Jams', 'Lilac Wine', 'Grace', 'That'sAll I Ask', 'Kasmir', 'Je N'en Cnnais Pas La Fin','Hallelujah' & 'What Will You Say (Duet With AlimQasimov)'. Gatefold digipak. 2001 release. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

To short, but incredible none the less. . .
I'm Still waiting for "vancouver" and a few other songs of his to be published on cd, but until the time comes when all of Jeff's material is released, this cd in wonderful. "That's All Ill ask" is a good unrealesed song, and the versions of "dream brother" and "Eternal Life" are great. I'm dissipointed there isent a good quality live version of "Last Goodbye". The one of "Mystery White Boy" is the only bad quality recording on the entire cd.

Amazing!
Jeff Buckley's "Live A L'Olympia" is a work of art! You can just feel the happy atmosphere in the concert, and it's like you're actually there. Jeff's Zeppelin parody is hilarious, and every song will have you either laughing or crying!
I have total respect for Mary Guibert, and for even allowing us to have this capsule of time of Jeff is too nice of her. "Live A L'Olympia" is one of my all-time favourite CD's, and you will love it too!!

Beautiful. But still leaves much to be desired.
The sound on this CD is not the best- it was taken from a cassette that was found among Jeff's belongings after he "left us". But as many people have pointed out, it is a BETTER recording because there is a flow to it (unlike Mystery White Boy), being that it is ONE concert rather than many put together. There aren't any new songs besides "That's All I Ask", and the duet of "What Will You Say". What one might think is a Led Zeppelin cover is just one minute of Jeff messing around, playing a segment of "Kashmir" really past and singing high-pitched. It's funny, but a small let-down. Where are the songs we haven't heard? Jeff didn't play only songs from "Grace" at his concerts. Towards the end of 1996 and up until his death, he was trying to get AWAY from "Grace". Of course I will buy anything that comes out with Jeff's name on it, but if you want to hear what they've been keeping from the fans, then take advantage of the MP3's floating around on the net while they are still there. Yeah, it's illegal, but my CD burner doesn't think so.

Dear Mary,
Why do you promise us new recording's of your son's music, only to release the same songs yet again? We know you have in your possession countless recordings of material we have never heard, and sadly will probably never hear until you yourself are long gone. Even then you will probably have it in your will that the tapes be burned over your grave. Is this what Jeff would have wanted? I doubt it. I never knew him, but maybe you should ask his friends what they think he would have liked. Yes, the "Grace" songs are beautiful, and I will listen to them as many times as you force me to (what else have you given me to choose from?). I personally would like to know what Jeff played all those nights at Sin-E (covers, mostly....but I'm sure they are quality), and what his days in the band Gods and Monsters sounded like. Surely if Jeff was involved it couldn't have been bad. I know there are tapes of his performances in Memphis recorded days, weeks before his passing. Still, this is what we are offered, and beggers can't be choosers. This album is breathtaking. Like someone else noted, it is ONE concert instead of many concerts pieced together, and though the sound is not the absolute best, who cares? I sure don't.

More unreleased B-Sides - That's All I Ask!
Import-only release, consisting of highlights from two nights at The Olympia in Paris, France, with an excellent biography of Jeff and interviews with Mary Guibert and Michael Tighe inside. There are no revelations, and considering the dearth of quality live material circulating around, these releases do not supercede or fare any worse than other performances of the _Grace_ material. What helps _L'Olympia_ is the fact that it is highlights from two nights at the same venue, which provides the listener with more continuity than _Mystery White Boy_ could offer. Sourced from an ordinary casette tape found with Buckley's posessions, it actually sounds quite good (other than tape hiss and occasional imbalance of instrumentation) and is another solid addition to the growing collection of live material that will probably be the enduring bulk of Buckley's musical legacy. The best song is "That's All I Ask" which is a fantastic addition to the growing list of covers and assorted unreleased tracks creeping out from the Buckley estate. There is also a very interesting duet between Buckley and Qawwali singer Alim Qasimov on "What Will You Say".

I like the pattern of releases from Columbia, although clearly intended to milk the legacy of another tragic artist, the involvment of Mary Guibert and other members of the band, and their content indicate that the fans are definitely considered when compiling them. That having been said, I think its time to dig deeper into the archives and take a look at some live performances of other material from the _My Sweetheart_ (the Arlene's Grocery gig in particular), or maybe a collection of B-Sides and unreleased material, rather than another re-hash of the Grace material, which between the live B-sides from CD-singles (_Grace_ EP, _Live at the Bataclan_, _Live At Sin-e_) _Live at Chicago_ and _Mystery White Boy_, is already very well-represented. Given that we have been given an unusually intimate glimpse into Jeff's work, with the release of 4-track demos and now this "bootleg", I have no doubt that the tradition of quality releases will continue. ... Read more

Reviews (30)

Sweet and stripped of gimmicks, a lovely EP
Jeff Buckley has always had a mystique about him since his untimely death. No recording of his generates this mystique better than the 'live at Sin-E' EP. The first two songs, Mojo Pin and Eternal life, actually sound better than on the album 'Grace' because of the lack of backing instruments. 'Eternal life' inparticular is far more heartfelt and melodic on this EP. 'Je ne connais pas le fin' is so innocent and touching, while his mammoth length version of Van Morrison's 'The way young lovers do' is incredible. Just to hear Jeff Buckleys voice towards the end of the song where it rises to impossible tones, is cataclysmic, sends a shiver down my spine every time I hear it. On the minus side, for the price, other songs or out-takes could have been released, but as it is, this is a fine introduction to the astonishing singing and guitar work- it is only him and the guitar- that Jeff Buckley was rightly revered for.

An indication of things to come...
To test the waters for singer/songwriter, Jeff Buckley, Sony released the concert EP, Live at Sin-e, nine months before Buckley's first full-length album, Grace. Live at Sin-e features four tracks recorded in the tranquil atmosphere of New York City's folk circuit. Although the studio setting best showcased Buckley's abilities, which is surprising given his rawness of his talents, Live at Sin-e makes for a somewhat charming debut. The acoustic versions of the Grace songs, "Mojo Pin" and "Eternal Life" display quite a spark. The cover of "Je N'en Connias Pas la Fin," from the repertoire of French vocalist, Edith Piaf, makes for a quaint moment without the emotionally heaviness of most of Buckley's material. The EP, however, would have been better off without the ten-minute rendition of Van Morrison's "The Way Young Lovers Do," which breaks apart into an onslaught of rapid guitar strumming and vocal scats that scream "show off." Although plagued with some flaky moments, Live at Sin-E is an adequate live sampler that sometimes shows hints at the talent that would explode a few months later on Grace.

A Bombshell
Everyone knows that "Grace" is one hell of an album, but just as deserving of attention is this less popular early EP from the Buckley collection. With 4 tracks, clocking in at around 27 minutes, this cannot be beat for the five dollars you can pick it up for. 'Mojo Pin' is just as good here as it is on Grace, but this solo rendition is much more haunting than on his proper debut LP. It's drenched in mountains of reverb and is amazingly ghost-like. 'Eternal Life' contains just as much intensity as it does on it's full-band counterpart recorded later. While the cover of 'Je N'en Connais Pas La Fin' is fine and reveals Buckley's penchant for choosing eclectic covers, the real high-note here is his 10 minute cover of Van Morrison's 'The Way Young Lovers Do'. It is a masterpiece of improvatory ferocity with Buckley strumming and scatting like a madman (and I dig that stunned silence of the crowd right after the song comes to a close).
On this recording Buckley is in top-form throughout. His vocals fly and float and his guitar playing is top notch.
I recommend this highly.

Love Jeff = Love Sine-E
Sine-E is the essence of Jeff and his talent. I am thankful that Columbia released music capturing Jeff at the place and in the format that led to all of the buzz about him. Each track shows a unique side of his musical tastes and abilities. To make a statement that one track or another should be left off the cd is missing the point. The review indicating that there are other artists with a better range is accurate, but there is more to his voice than his range. If you are thinking of buying this cd, you may want to wait as this fall they are releasing 2 cds full of these recordings and others that were recorded at that same time. I was fortunate enough to preview this release and it will blow you away!

A diamond in the rough
Add another star if you are truly a Jeff fan... that means beyond "Grace" i guess.

Great live renditions of "Mojo Pin" (the highlight of this four-song recording) and "Eternal Life".

"The way young lovers do" may have you bopping along as the song hits the crescendo. Buckley sounds raw yet still beautiful in this one. But isn't that what makes him so amazing; you know he was an artist of dream-like quality in the flesh and not just in the recording room.

And I believe that to be quite rare. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Must have for Gusgus fans
This is a wonderful collection of tunes spun by Gusgus at a small club in Iceland. Every track is very lush, funky and very gusgus-esque (only one real gusgus song on here). Def a must have for every gusgus fan out there, only complaint I have about this cd is that the recording quality is not all that great, yeah its kinda cool that you can hear all the folks in the bar but it does have a bootleg quality which detracts from the great tunes that are on here. But, don't let that hold you back from getting this cd, its def worth having! Oh, and by the way, be kind to animals, don't eat them! Peace! ... Read more

Amazon.com

As a founding member of the early-'90s psychedelic band Spacemen 3, Jason Pierce and bandmate Sonic Boom, a.k.a. Peter Kember, proudly proclaimed they were "taking drugs to make music to take drugs by." These days Sonic pretty much adheres to his original credo, but Pierce has blasted off on an entirely different trip. OK, Spiritualized's droning chords, sedated melodies, and atmospheric passages don't exactly discourage stoners from toking up, but their music is far too emotionally involving to be called drug rock. Not that it's complex, exactly. Many of the group's songs revolve around endlessly repeated two- and three-chord progressions. But what the group is able to express in these simple structures is breathtaking. Some songs splash and spiral like slow-motion Spin Art, some ascend like rising mist, and still others reach the heavens via gliding strings and gospel choirs. Spiritualized is hands-down one of the most captivating, mesmerizing live bands since early Pink Floyd, and the double CD Live at Royal Albert Hall captures every violin quiver and guitar dribble with absolute clarity. On old Spacemen 3 tracks like "Walk with Jesus" and on Pierce's own "Electric Mainline" and "No God Only Religion," Spiritualized are truly celestial. --Jon Wiederhorn ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Get yourself out of it. This live double CD takes you there.
This is just what you would want in a live Spiritualized CD. The songs, the sound, the energy are all present. Amazing versions of Shine a Light, Take Your Time, Walking with Jesus, and I Think I'm in Love. Jason adds to Take Your Time, the junkie's lament, "You know I've been thinking 'bout not coming down." Broken Heart takes on a bluesy feel with harmonica replacing the violins of the studio version. Home of the Brave starts with a Chuck Berry-esque guitar riff. Electricity, Medication, and Come Together all move you with their high energy rock. Electric Mainline can best be appreciated while in an altered state of conciousness. Jason begins and ends this record with a spiritual hymn that takes on different flavors in the two renditions. As always, Jason's attention to detail makes the wait for this year old recording well worth it.

If you like Spiritualized...
If you like Spiritualized then obviously you'll like this album. It offers so many songs, with hits such as "Electricity", "Medication", and "Walking with Jesus". All these songs sound just as good or better than their studio/album versions. Live at Royal Albert Hall was the first Spiritualized cd I got into. And will be a cd I will always come back to. So in the end, if you still can't decide what Spiritualized cd you want next, I extremely recomend this one for its diverseness, and for a successful Spiritualized journey.

A PERFECT LIVE WITHOUT FLAWS
it's totally different interpretations of the original songs from their albums! & both versions are perfect!u're gonna miss a lot if u think it's jsut another live album coz the live version of [broken heart] does break yr heart right away! this live album is as good as,maybe even better than LADIES&GENTLEMEN.......

Why did I buy this again?
I like Spiritualized a lot, but objectivity is more important here than awarding them with a good review merely because I'm partial to the band. This album is not very good. The first three songs are good, especially "Electric Mainline." The rest is an uninspired reading of the ...Ladies and Gents... album, and an overproduced one at that. With the exception of adding an orchestra on almost every song (READ: not very interesting), these songs sound exactly the same as the original studio versions. It doesn't even sound like a live album. Jason Pierce is usually meticulous; it would have helped to think LONG and HARD before unloading this on the public.

Amazingly dangerous
Like a strong acid trip. Live is not for everyone.

You have to be willing to give yourself over to the sound. You must be able to put your trust in the fact that spz will guide you through. If you can do this, this album will take you to amazing places that you have probably never seen (or heard) before. If you can't this album will likely rip your head off and hand it to you on a platter.

You have to ride this album, and let it drive. If you try to steer you will be left scrambling for a stop button before Shine A Light.

That said, this is one of the reasons headphones were invented. Throw on a pair, and just lie down on your bed listening to the sounds. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

too short, worth buying for 2/4 songs
very good version of with my own two hands/war. end of amen omen is awesome. sexual healing is boring and redundant with live from mars. brown eyed blues was a dissapointment compared to the album version. wish there was more songs from the concert on the CD.

Good Stuff
This little EP is the audio version of some of the tracks off of Ben's newest live DVD "Live At The Hollywood Bowl", and is definitely worth checking into if you enjoyed the Live On Mars album.

What's great about this is that it lets us hear some live performances of songs that come off of Ben's most recent album which came out after the last live offering. It's fun to hear the extended live cuts of the tracks which have a lot more dynamics and life to them than can be found on the album, particularly "Amen Omen" which is absolutely tremendous here and alone is worth your money.

This is a great little EP, and really makes me hope that there is another live full-length in the works. The only thing holding this back is that I wish there were more tracks on it that we haven't heard a live recording of before, but then again this is just an EP and you can find those tracks on the DVD.

Definitely worth picking up, and reminds us once again of why we all love Ben so much. He's such an amazing performer. ... Read more

Album Description

Japanese exclusive mini album featuring seven tracks, 'InThe End', 'Papercut' (live), 'Points of Authority' (live),'A Place For My Head' (live), 'Step Up' (1999 demo), 'MyDecember' & 'High Voltage'. 2002. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Great
I think it's really a great album.To me,the live track may sound terrible but it's a more 'live' version & not like Live In Texas-which was edited to much.

LP is GREAT, but the live audio on this CD is terrible
I LOVE Linkin Park and the studio tracks on this import CD are fine. However, the audio is horrible on the live tracks. When Chester starts singing on "A Place for my Head" it sounds like it was recorded by someone with a tape recorder in the audience. It's pretty clear why this is an import and was not released in the US (even though you can get it here). I do not think this devalues LP at all in any way. Despite the terrible quality of the sound, you can still tell how great they are. I would just save my money and get the US CDs instead (Live in Texas is FANTASTIC if you want an alternative to the poorly recorded live tracks on this CD--but you have to join LPU 3 to get the tracks on Live in Texas DVD that aren't on the CD--but that is worth the money too!).

Nothing New but...
Nothing New but when has that ever been a problem for the unstoppable Linkin Park. This did cost me a bit of money but it was worth it, given you havn't heard most of the songs or are a die hard fan. But I reccomend if you have this much money buy SE Meteora. This is the single that did it all for the guys and a very very very great peice for a collection. since most people do this so will I:

In The End: 4.5 (would have been perfect if we didn't all hear it a million times)
Papercut Live: 4 (a great song and you can hear the energetic crowd but it just doesn't quite fit with the other songs on the album)
Points Of Authority: 4 (great live performance but doesn't compare to...)
Place for My Head: 5 (simply the greatest live song...ever)
Step Up: 5 (no chester but and mostly rap but its a great song none the less.)
My December 4 (a bit long and slow and defitely not Linkin's Style. I LOVE IT!)
High Voltage: 5 (a great song though once again...not much chester to be heard anywhere)

Interesting, but not worth the money
Now don't get me wrong, I love Linkin Park, but who pays this much for a few bonus tracks? If you want different stuff by Linkin Park, go to mp3.com, type in Hybrid theory in the search column, and go to the old Hybrid Theory site. They've got some really cool freebe songs by Mike Shinoda, Chester Bennington, the whole crew. Personal fav; Carousel.

Imported, and good.
You may have seen this CD at a high price in stores, but it's truly worth it. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Cool Set List, and a Surprisingly Solid Performance
Disclaimer: Owner of all 72 official PJ bootlegs. This show in Oslo has not garnered much attention from collectors of the Pearl Jam bootleg series, but I feel that this one is a little underrated and is actually a surprisingly good performance if you sit back and let it sink in. Stone Gossard and Mike McCready are both in especially prime form tonight, working perfectly in unison and delivering slamming versions of the heavy rockers "Hail Hail," "Spin the Black Circle," and "Last Exit." Jeff Ament and Matt Cameron add an unexpectedly funky groove to the inevitable jam sessions in "Daughter" and "Porch." Another advantage for this show is a rather unusual set list, starting off with the quiet but effective "Sometimes," and adding the rarities "Evacuation," "Sleight of Hand," a grandiose "Immortality" and an incredible "Red Mosquito" in which Mike's slide solos are extra mindbending. Eddie Vedder talks about The La's to the uncomprehending Norwegians before the band launches into its sparkling cover of "Timeless Melody." The only unfortunate aspect of this bootleg is the feeling you get about the tragedy that would occur at the very next gig in Denmark, where nine fans would die.

They're still one of the best
I just want to say that Pearl Jam is amazing on this records, they are still one of the best live groups around, this CD has a good set and very good new versions of old songs like immortality, but especially Daughter when Eddie shows the crowd that he is a great singer, also has a good version of Timeless Melody. The band show that they are better musicians than before, Mike is playing incredibly well, and Matt is really a good drummer I guess that the best Pj. ever had. I just hope that one day Pearl Jam visit Costa Rica, i really love that to happen.

allRIGHTYthen
I was present when Pearl Jam kicked off in Oslo. I was very exited, FINALLY I got to see Pearl Jam live! They have not been to Norway since 1993, 7 years. The concert was incredible! The sound, the mood, Pearl Jam gave 9000 norwegian fans a fantastic show. It is very nice to see that PJ still can hit life into their old hits. Also, to see them playing their song, the way they put energy and soul into them. It becomes magical. I have bought all of the 25 albums. "Rolling stones" rated Oslo 21. I believe it decerves better. The version of "Immortality" is the highlight of the setlist. "Daughter" was also very good. Ed brought the croud into the song.. Best concert : Fila Forum. It contains songs like "State of love and trust", "Garden" and "Jeremy", personal favorites. Thank you Pearl Jam, for giving us the opportunity to keep all the memories from a great show. I Thank you!

I was there!!!!!!
I was one of the 8500 people who got to see Pearl jam in Oslo Spectrum this night. I have no doubt in my mind, this is the best live show i have ever been to. The whole set is brilliant, "Corduroy", "Breakerfall", "Daughter", "Alive", they all sound brilliant. BUY NOW!!!!

The best of them
THis is the best of the bootlegs i've heard. Especially the version of SPIN THE BLACK CIRCLE ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Elvis, stripped down and brilliant
Unsurprisingly these songs sound fantastic stripped down to guitar and piano (Pete Thomas plays drums on a few cuts). Only 30,000 of these were pressed ... 5 eps from 5 different concerts that the duo played in 1996. Your EC collection is incomplete without this one! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent
Ok, this is my first live Pearl Jam album, so I didn't know what to expect. Nevertheless, I was not disappointed in the results.

This is two discs and roughly 2 hrs. and 30 min. of live material, so you can take a break in-between if you want to.

Now, to the album itself; it is superb production-wise, with each track flowing to the next, aside from Disc 2 which has two encore breaks, one being a 7-minute chat between Eddie and the fans, and the other being a 50-second segway for 'Go'. The solos in the songs, the extended length of the songs, all make this one of the greatest live albums I've heard. So, if you need a 32-song sampler (that is affordable) for Pearl Jam, go with this, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

P.S. When they cover The Ramones' 'I Believe in Miracles', listen to Eddie calling Johnny Ramones house. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

An Evening With Rollins Band
If you like Rollins Band, get yourself a copy of this album. The recording quality is razor sharp and, as said below, it really sounds like you're there. Whoever recorded this definitely got the band on a good night because this is right up there with some of their best live performances that I've been lucky enough to be present at.

Hit yourself in the head a few times, tip beer on your floor, tear your shirt a little and fling yourself around your loungeroom with this on as loud as it will go: you can't have a better time listening to Rollins Band unless you're actually at a gig.
Top stuff.

Insert ROCK here
This CD, a great, intimate recording (only friends of the band and, of course the band, at sound check) is an awesome document of a band at the height of it's powers (and sadly, less than 2 years from implosion). From the opening might of "lonely" to the great, unreleased "Out there" through the Cheech and Chong opus "Earache my eye," this a must-have live Rollins band document. The versions of "Down and away" (I sing love songs into the abyss and it screams back, ahh ha, ahhh haaa!)and "Turned inside out" are worth the price of the CD alone. Buy it!

Live rock at its best
To be brief, this album is amazing. The Rollins band is one of the best live acts out there and this album catches the energy and passion on CD. If you've never seen the band live, crank up the headphones, fill your room with the scent of smoke and stale beer (on the floor), turn up the heat, and close your eyes. Its the next best thing to being there.

Cleaner, meaner and louder!
This is a great recording of Rollins Band. Many of the songs here are also on "Turned On" but the overall quality is as different as night and day. It's cleaner, Henry's voice is stronger, and the band's playing seems tighter. And if you're old enough to remember Cheech and Chong, you'll get a good laugh from "Earache my Eye" Rollins style. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The women ofVärttinä can sing likeFinnish angels, howl like banshees, and growl like devils on the prowl, and theydo it all on this live album, recorded before an adoring audience in theirhomeland. They've developed into a marvelously tight unit, able to move from themultipart, unaccompanied vocals of "Käppee" to the out-and-out groove of"Laulutyttö" without missing a beat. Led by violinist Kari Reiman, the band isspare, framing and emphasizing the vocals that have always been Värttinä's focalpoint. And the way the four singers work together--answering each other, playingoff each other, coming together, and moving apart--is a joy to hear. There's aplayfulness to their approach that's irresistible, and this live performancedisplays a very fierce energy and presence in the way they attack the songsthat's missing from their studio work. Captured on a great night, they simplyrock--and bring the house down.--Chris Nickson ... Read more

Reviews (3)

girls from the big forest
Värttinä first became popular in our country in the 80's as part of the new folk movement and quickly established themselves as spokesgirls for roots music. this album captures their in their prime. Outstanding tracks are "Kylä vuotti uutta kuuta" (The village was waitin for the new moon") and "Ukko lumi" (Snow man). These girls had a way of putting you under their spell - maybe it was the Eastern-Karelian mysticism that's so hard to resist for a Finnish audience. As a time piece this album is essential - a reminder to us Finns that Värttinä could really touch our hearts and make us cry (and a moment later laugh through the tears).

A taste of the Valhalla!
I love Varttina, I love the vocals.

Having said that I would say this group is one of the reasons why I started studying Finnish (after all, I wanted to understand what was sung :).

"Kyla vuotti uutta kuuta" is the best traditional song I have ever heard. The strength with which Varttina vocalists sing this song is touching. If you close your eyes, you can almost see valkyries taking you from the ground and sending you to paradise.

The first time I heard this song I thought to myself: "This is the song I want someone to sing for me in my funeral and send me strait to paradise!"

The live presentation has its pros and cons but the overall result is really impressive. I would love to have the tape or better a DVD of this show in Helsinki.

A good live effort
This is a good live effort from Värttinä's tour supporting the "Ilmatar" album. Värttinä's strengths are captured well on this album, and the harmonies, as usual, are top notch on their live renditions of "Käppee", "Liigua" and their perennial classic "Kylä Vuotti Uutta Kuuta". These renditions are almost all shifted up a notch in tempo from the original recordings, which adds some energy (which is good and bad in some cases here) to the festivities.

Outside the core of vocalists Mari Kaasinen, Susan Aho, Johanna Virtanen and (the recently departed from Värttinä) Kirsi Kähkönen, the band is spry and energetic, although not all of the arrangements work well, and some of the playing is sloppy, notably the bizarrely reworked version of "Vihma" (renamed "Ukko Lumi" here) and a rendition of "Seelinnikoi" which is rearranged into a pale imitator of the studio version.

Still, it's all good fun, and the energy is infectious. This is a good first live album from Värttinä, and could be a sign of more to come. ... Read more

Album Description

Two disc set that captures at it's best the anarchic glory of the Stooges final chapter. Recorded in 1973 in Baltimore and on New Year's Eve at the Academy of Music in New York (opening for Blue Oyster Cult & a newly-formed KISS. Neither show has been released before. Tracks include 'Raw Power' & 'Gimme Danger'. 2000 release. Slimline double jewel case. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Iggy&The Stooges - 'Double Danger' (Bomp)
Regarding all the various Iggy/Stooges archive live releases that have been made available in the last couple of years,this 2-CD title has to be the best.Disc one is a headlining gig the Stooges played at a club in Baltimore,MD in Nov.1973.Easy to figure the ENTIRE set,like TOTALLY rips!!Disc two is of a shorter set when the band played New York City on that New Year's Eve,while opening for Blue Oyster Cult and Kiss(apparently their first ever show).My only regret is that I wasn't there.Both shows were in fact mastered off an audience recording.Don't worry,though.The sound quality,is actually quite adequate.A must for all true fans of classic punk.

CLOWN JEWELS
I LIKE THE KEYBORD like some kinda, of mozart in context to these morons,PLAYIN,[ the only album of note from these clowns,]NOTE the recording quality is awesome meant for the stooges.

barely audible
i love the stooges/iggy but when it comes to bomp records.buyer beware.this cd sounds like a tenth generation copy.dont take the chance.rocon@nb.net.and also ,notice cant find sound samples anywhere.

Playing to the faithful during a snowstorm at Latin Casino
This super pair of CDs contains Latin Casino (Baltimore MD) and Acadamy of Music NYC. Latin Casino is especially good because the audience really wanted to see them. It was during a snowstorm in Baltimore but the faithful showed up and were rewarded with a great show. The offensive comments that Iggy makes from the stage are in great Iggy style. This show was recorded off the board. It has 11 tracks 64:01 minutes for the show. The Academy of music show was a great new years eve show Iggy and the Stooges being one of 4 bands that played that night. They play fast and frantic as if they are trying to play as many of their best songs as possible before their time on stage is over. I like the keyboards. The songs are the same songs that were played at Latin Casino but only 8 songs. It was recorded from the audience. Both shows include Wet My Bed. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The first sign that the live acoustic set Perfect Night is going to be dodgy is the liner notes, where Reed enthuses over the "Feedbucker"--a device that wipes out feedback. This from the man who recorded "I Heard Her Call My Name." Reed walks-and-talks through 15 of his songs with the absolute confidence of a man convinced he's a great urban poet. The problem is that he's only that sometimes: "The Kids" and "Vicious" come out just fine, but later material sounds flatter and preachier than ever--reviving "The Original Wrapper" is a mistake any way you want to cut it. Reed isn't just a lyricist, he's a songwriter, and reducing his music to functional accompaniment doesn't do his songs justice. --Douglas Wolk ... Read more

Reviews (16)

It has its moments, but very few of them.
Remember when Lou Reed was great? And when he actually sang? This live collection is a disappointing document of Reed's current live show--and a blatant attempt to cash in (late, as usual) on the "unplugged" trend. Some of the tunes, like "Kicks" and "Coney Island Baby" are wonderful to hear again, but the butchering of "Vicious", is very hard to stomach. The vocal delivery is so stuttering and off-handed (even for Lou), it makes you wonder if the guy has forgotten the lyrics. Move over, David Bowie--here comes another once-great has-been.

Lou Reed's A Perfect Night is perfect
A "Perfect Night" is nearly perfect. I say "nearly" because there are a few tracks that I could do without, but on the whole this is a remarkable album. The pace of the song selection works masterfully, particularly the first half. The album opens up with a beautiful rendition of the Velvet's "I'll Be Your Mirror", followed by an absolutely stunning version of "A Perfect Day", "The Kids", and then a blistering run through "Vicious", "Busload of Faith", and "Kicks". "Vicious", in particular, rips with subtle guitar shifts weaving in and out, building to first one peak then riding hard onto another. Reed's voice, which he has used to great experiment through the years, has never sounded better. Like Dylan, Reed continues to endure and challenge. I highly recommend this album to both Reed fans and those who might be interested in checking him out for the first time. I would also highly recommend New York, Coney Island Baby, Transformer and the entire Velvet Underground collection.

Perfect Night: Live in London [LIVE] ~ Lou Reed
Perfect Night: Live in London [LIVE]~ Lou Reed is a interesting and very well produced album. To me this is good music, then again I am not an expert when it comes to lou reed. 5/5.

I really wanted to like this cd....
I've been a fan of Lou Reeds for a long time. I've seen him in concert three or four times and I do appreciate his storytelling style.

In listening to this CD, I simply wasn't impressed. Vicious, which was always more a parody to me than serious, sounded pretentious. Dirty Boulevard was rushed...the very musicality of the whole concert seemed lackluster. If I was at the show that night, I would have though Reed was having a serious off-night.

Using an online radio service, I heard a version of Perfect Day (a wonderful Velvet Underground song, one of my favorites) that I wanted to own. I clicked on buy this album and this was the one it directed me to. Not the same version, but it is still the best song on this CD.

Hope this helps...

Reed's best solo live offering
This is the best live Reed collection out there available. Here, Lou gives the songs a unplugged-like, almost soft treatment..but it's an ominous, tense softness. The material is performed on a slow build that one expects to explode at any second during the performance, but never does. That tease is what always keeps the listener not only attentive, but on the edge of the seat as well.
Lou is in fairly good command of his voice here, keeping the painful cracks at a minimum and thus sounding much like the Reed of the Velvet Underground era...a real rare event in the later Reed catalog. Stellar, almost definitive, live versions of "Perfect Day", "The Kids", "Kicks", "Riptide" and especially "Coney Island Baby" are all highlights of this great, though much maligned, live album.
It's the one live Reed package to really own. ... Read more

Amazon.com

You'd have to look long and hard to find a more unclassifiable artist than Diamanda Galas. Her mesmerizing voice sounds something like Tina Turner, something like Janis Joplin, and something like Jessye Norman. It's hard to pay attention to what she's actually singing at first; Galas's voice is that compelling, from the deep, heavy notes of "Iron Lady" to the high, shivering pitches of "The Thrill Is Gone." She takes everything from French writer Baudelaire's "Abel et Cain" to legendary bluesman Son House's "Death Letter" and makes them her own, the thundering chords and deep growls of her piano complementing her astounding voice perfectly. Love her or not, Diamanda Galas will provoke a deep-seated response such as few vocalists can aspire to. --Genevieve Williams ... Read more

Reviews (11)

you must be certain of diamanda galas
if you are ready to be knocked flat, you might just be ready to try malediction & prayer. this may be diamanda's most tame cd to date & perhaps one of my all-time favorites. for those who have been curious enough to delve into her extensive catalog but weren't quite brave enough, this should be the first album you purchase or listen to. there's so much great material on prayer that i can't really begin to tell you which song to listen to first. in fact, i never skip a track when i listen to it or play it for friends.
to really describe what you 'll hear for the first time is about as difficult as telling you how you'll feel on the first day of school. you will most likely feel a tingly feeling in your spine when first listening to malediction & prayer but you'll get used to this feeling with time. witness the eight-octave range of the voice behind the piano & i'm certain every listener of classic music or blues will be thoroughly impressed. though not an easy listen by any means, malediction & prayer may be slightly tame in comparison to other works of ms. galas which are often considered intense at best but nevertheless packs the same punch as some of her earlier work.
here we have all live material which primarily comes from the concert for the damned. unlike the singer, the piano is much more crisp & less jagged which makes this a far better listen in my opinion. also, i think diamanda's voice here is a lot easier on the ears. most songs you'll hear are either traditional songs from around the world or classic blues/ r&b so i'm certain you've probably heard a great deal of them performed somewhere before but nobody does any of them quite like diamanda galas & i don't think anyone ever will. with a voice as versatile as her own piano skills, one cannot help but admire & respect the great talent behind such masterful sounds.
should you ask what other female vocalist diamanda could be comapred with, i can name a few even though very few of them have quite as much range.

patti smith, marianne faithful, tina turner, janis joplin, marias callas, edith piaf, & jessye norman

What music should be like
When I first listened to "Malediction and Prayer" I thought I was a lucky man to had the chance to bring Diamanda's music in my life. Especially to have this one album in my life, in which she reavels once more to the world as such a great performer and classical pianist. She sings against death row. She sings in 5 languages. She screams against dumbness. She takes your heart in her hand and wanderfully tortures it with her piano and voice. The most wanderful instruments you have ever heard. There's nothing but complete adoration in my words for this album. I found others cds of hers pretty unlistanable and over-disturbing. This one makes nothing but make you wanna listen it forever and ever.

Finally some "Benediction and Prayer!" ---- DIAMANDA GALAS
"Malediction and Prayer" was the first Diamanda Galas c.d. I ever bought. I absolutely was thrilled by it, astonished by her eerie delivery of such dark material and most importantly, I was very moved by her voice. Diamanda cannot be compared to any other artist-living or deceased. She is truly an original, seperate entity from today's contemporary music! I do hear from her music/renditions, an influence from blues and cabaret. Maybe she is a fan of Edith Piaf, Nina Hagen or Bjork? Obviously she is a fan of B.B. King and Willie Dixon. I was so mesmerized by Diamanda's voice that I went out and nearly bought her entire discography. If you're into husky female vocals with a touch of ear/glass shattering, multi octave interplay and an added bonus of blues, not to mention a host of multi lingual songs, than Diamanda Galas is definitely for you! I cannot name any other artist/musician that I deeply admire. I recommend this one first before venturing off into anything else in Diamanda's world- it may be to shocking, yet too enticing!!!

Brilliant
Malediction & Prayer is my favourite out of all her album. The quality of the live recording is excellent! Her voice has got even more texture and feeling than on "The Singer". Malediction & Prayer (Concert for the Damned) is a collection of songs about execution and death. Some stunning cover versions that sound extremely different than the originals. On other songs she put her own lyrics to famous songs, and on other songs she put her own melody to famous poet's writings. She sings in English, Spanish, Greek, French and Italian. The subject might be dark but in my opinion the whole album is a very pleasant and beautiful experience. Her piano playing is breath-taking too. Mute records did a great job in the packaging of this CD.

Liquifing the Human Condition
When people hide their pain and suffering and let it ferment and eat up their souls and then finally express that which is repressed it sounds like this album. Although there is talk about Diamanda's work only coming from the perspective of people of extreme pain and insanity, I strongly identify with her expression not as just representive of this marginalized social category but of the human condition in general. I believe Diamanda's performance on this album and her music in general to be a strikingly genuine, honest, sincere, and true representation of the actualities of the human psyche. In particular songs like "The Thrill is Gone" embosses our ears with the real feeling of personal loss and pain. But "Kiegome, Kiegome" stirs more than just anger and painfull sadness, it unites the listener with the waves of feeling associated with burning (so the title translates). This album is highly recommended for those individuals who hold a deep esteem for the freedom artists have to explore different modes of expression as well as the content of those modes. It is necessary for the listener to not only hold an open mind but allow themselves the capacity to move there emotions in amplified frequencies. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Really Not Very Good
I enjoyed Scott previously with Game Theory and some of Loud Family. What this proves to me is that some bands are best live and some best in the studio. This one is best in the studio.

Worth the high price tag
Another excellent outing from Scott Miller. In light of his decision to disband the band, it makes this recording all the more precious. Hard to pick out a highlight, although the cover of the Pixie's Debaser is a smash. I would suggest another, less expensive avenue of purchasing this cd by way of the... website. The only cd worth paying $20 for is a used copy of Lolita Nation. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

testify reveiw
This is a great single.
The first remix of testify is really good, with differant music.
The rownena project remix is good.
The two live track's are awsome.
I have all ther albums but this was still worth getting.

An excellent single.
RATM knows how to make singles. The great first track from "The Battle Of Los Angeles", "Testify", is the highlight, with two great remixes complementing it. The first mix, the Testifly Mix, has a nice drum beat that is reminiscent of Brad Wilk's drumming in Evil Empire. The second mix, the Rowena Projects Mix, has a heavy techno influence that would violate RATM's commitment to "all sounds produced by guitars, vocals, drums", but nevertheless, I like it. The single also has awesome live versions of "Guerrilla Radio" and "Freedom". It's worth getting even if you already own "The Battle Of Los Angeles".

Testify
Darn it! Is it me, or does Rage Against the Machine put out the best singles? I have Battle of LA, and I like Testify and Guerillia Radio. I can only imagine how much money Rage rakes in with these awsome singles. I wish they would just make longer, limited Ep's or something. This is awsome, but Rage should take example of Incubus and make a limited, worthy Ep.

good single, great song.
Testify is one of my personal favorite rage songs. This single has the studio version plus two remixes of the song Testify. It also has two live tracks, also found on the Sleep Now in the Fire singles. The two remixes are prettty good and the two live tracks are really good. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

hgjh
this cd sounds crystal clear, the instrumentals are great, but the levels on edde vedders mic are too low, and at times the vocals are almost completely obscured (state of love and trust). the selection of songs are all great, but most, if not all are played at 1.25 to 1.5 times the tempo of the studio versions. this cd is not the best ever example of thier live performences (especially compared to their earlier days) but totally, totally worth every penny.

A Great Halloween Dance Party
Disclaimer: Owner of all 72 official PJ bootlegs. I have spent months and months absorbing all of the PJ bootlegs, and I believe that this show in San Francisco was a rather average performance, as compared to the top shows in the tour. But I've got a soft spot for this gig, because I was there! Eat your heart out. Listen closely and you might hear me yelling "GO MIKE" (I'm a big McCready supporter), but of course I was drowned out by the large, ravenous crowd. This show was on Halloween night in 2000, and the crowd was full of costumed freaks. Eddie Vedder noticed two dudes dressed like Al Gore and George W. Bush (the presidential election was one week away), and he invited these two up on stage during "Do the Evolution" and pretended to kill both of them. At the end of the song, you hear him say "George W refuses to die!" In the second encore, the band came back on stage dressed like various members of the Village People. Before the beginning of "Yellow Ledbetter" you can hear Stone Gossard describe Jeff Ament as the most "butch" member of the group. Mike then started the song while mooning the audience!

Those of you who have many of the bootlegs will find that this show has a rather predictable set list. But there are a few surprises thrown in, like rare appearances by "Soldier of Love" and "The Kids are Alright" (two different Who songs tonight). The not-so-common "Release" is the show opener, and "Yellow Ledbetter" is played but is NOT the show closer, making this one of only three shows in the tour in which this unusual situation occurred. Note that video footage of the Gore/Bush guys and the Village People costumes is featured in the "Touring Band" DVD.

We can expect nothing less from these guys!!!
I saw this show Halloween night, it was my first live Pearl Jam show. Unfortunately I missed them the past several times they were here, but they did NOT let me or the other 25,000 heads down!! Musically they are so incredibly tight and you can just tell they have a blast making their music which to me, is a super strong sign of excellent musicianship. This is a must have bootleg for any and all PJ fans! They truly are a classic rock n' roll band and I can only hope that my kids will appreciate them even half as much as I do. Selah.

This concert was magical
This was the first Pearl Jam concert I had ever gone to see. I drove five hours to Mountain View in order to see it. Since there aren't many Pearl Jam fans left, it was awesome for me just to be in a room of 25,000 screaming Pearl Jam fans. I own all of their studio albums, but was disappointed with Live on Two Legs, and I wondered how good of a live act they actually were.

The band exceeded my expectations, and put on an awesome show. Eddie Vedder was funny, poking fun at Gore and Bush and praising Nader, and he was also very into the music. As a Halloween gag, the band walked out first the last couple songs dressed as the Village People; it was absolutely hilarious. As far as the music goes, the band put energy into normally dull songs, and made the really good ones shine. As one of the few people that actually liked Binaural, I've fallen in love with "Sleight of Hand" since this concert. When I drove home that night, I was thrilled. Everyone should own this recording of the concert. ... Read more

Amazon.com

On one of their longer performances on the European tour, Pearl Jam starts slowly with one of Binaural's highlights, "Of the Girl." The Zurich show is heavy with core set-songs such as "Grievance," "Animal," "Given to Fly," and "Better Man," which are mainstays of the tour, but is also peppered with treats such as "Nothing Man," "Brain of J," "Dissident," and "Leaving Here." And if there's any doubt as to the truly live nature of these recordings, one need only listen to the false start at the beginning of "Nothing as It Seems," which bassist Jeff Ament apologizes for and blames on an out-of-tune guitar--a problem that doesn't seem altogether solved when they try it again a song later. Another magical moment captured by the mics in the crowd comes at the end of "Alive," when the crowd continues to sing the chorus after the band has stopped playing. The mammoth nine-song encore completes a performance that is both epic and, at times, gratifyingly human and prone to errors, a perfect summation of what makes Pearl Jam shows so great. --Adem Tepedelen ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Best one out of the European tour series!
This has to be one of the best performance in the European tour series. Especially in my favorite country, Switzerland. Not to mention, the hometown of Death Metals own "Celtic Frost"! This concert was a success. Along in Sweden & the rest of Europe. Eddie Vedder & the band know how to get the crowd going. Definitly, because they are the best Grunge band ever to invade Zurich, Switzerland! This is the [best]import ever! In other words "This album is a collectors item"!!!

Kick-[butt] Tour!
This is one of the best few of the European tour series. Especially in Zurich Switzerland. Not to mention, the home town of Death Metals own "Celtic Frost"! This has to be one of the kick-[butt] concerts Pearl Jam did in Europe. Along with Sweden & the rest of Europe. It has all the smashes & etc. You can tell that Eddie Vedder & the Band got the crowd all rawled up. This is the best import ever!

It Must Be the Thin Mountain Air
Disclaimer: Owner of all 72 official PJ bootlegs. When you listen to 72 live recordings by the same band from the same tour, you will find that there are some below-average off nights. Unfortunately this is one of them. Like a carbonated beverage high up in the Swiss Alps, this show is flat and lifeless from beginning to end. It sounds like they just woke up from a deep slumber, and everybody in the band is sluggish and drowsy. Things perk up in a few places, like in strong renditions of the not-so-common tracks "Habit," "Brain of J," and "Leaving Here," but these sprightly moments are few and far between. I'm still happy to give this one four stars, because the performance is competent and mostly professional, with few errors. That is, except for a disastrous attempt at "Nothing As It Seems," which Stone Gossard destroys by playing in the wrong tuning. The band gives up after about twenty seconds, jokes about it, and then plays "Dissident" instead. They try "Nothing As It Seems" again one song later, and it's still out of tune, but at least they get through it. Also of note tonight is the quietest crowd in the European series, but they seem more respectful than bored. They do sing along enthusiastically in many songs, and even spontaneously break into the chorus of "Alive" long after the band has finished the song. For you perceptive types out there, listen for Eddie Vedder's loud belch in "Grievance." Longtime PJ fans will surely appreciate the way they have released problematic shows like this in the bootleg series, because it shows their humanity and camaraderie with their fans. However, if you're new to the band and are trying to decide if you like them or not, you probably won't be too impressed by this particular bootleg.

A funny little story!
I have a funny little story....I actually ordered the Hamburg, Germany set but was accidentally sent Zurich. At first, I was a little disappointed that I was sent the wrong CD. But after very careful consideration as to whether or not to return this set and get the one I had originally requested, it took me about 5 seconds to realize that this is a brand new live CD from my favorite band in the world...let's give it a try. Thankfully, I'm glad I hung on to this one. There are some great moments (intro to what should have been Nothing As It Seems eventually turned into Dissident after a mistake on stage by thge band). It seemed as if the band enjoyed the mellow atmosphere that evening and did a great set for all the fans. The only other live European recording I have is Verona, Italy. This being only my second purchase I would have to say for some reason I liked Verona a little better but this is a very, very close second. This set definitely worth a shot. I just want to thank the band for all these CD's, now I'm gonna be broke!. What I was planning on was one or two from the European dates and both of the shows I attended in the Boston area. If every set is as good as the two I already have, I'm in trouble. Never thought I'd Habit...but things could be worse!

Not First, Twenty First
This show was actually the 21st show of the European tour this summer. I basically bought this 2-disc set for based on the setlist which included some personal favorites such as Grievance, Off He Goes, Porch and Leaving Here. The format for these discs is great. They show the spirit of a PJ concert much better than LOTL. Although I like the Verona set a little better, this is still a great show. ... Read more