Reviews (2)

simply amazing
Y'know how good, raw, and live rock records are hard to come by? Look no further! Great performance, great historical value, great cover photo by Michael Lavine and design by Art Chantry...what more could you want?

Okay, maybe better sound quality. For an official live record recorded in the late eighties and released in the mid-nineties, this *could* be a bit better. I mean, gain, Pussy Galore was never a band that was known for sounding especially hi-fi, and of course there's no bass player, but hey, you just can't make out Bob Bert's great drumming all the time, and that's a ... shame, because as you may know from the later studio recordings, it's interesting stuff to hear. Why? Oh, let's see...found objects in his kit, I'd say! A gas tank, a shock absorber spring, a custom-made metal snare...you get the idea. Since the guitars take up so much of the upper frequencies, you can't hear all the great, piercing bashes and clanks that punctuate Bert's work in PG.

But, that aside...this is a ... album. They start off with a RIPPING, INSANE cover of The Twilighter's "Nothing Can Bring Me Down". Never heard of it? Look around for an .mp3, it's pretty good in its own right. But this is a deadly arrangement...most especially the ascending/descending riff in the chorus. You'll know what I mean when you hear it. From there, it's largely a retrospective of PG's best. A lot of songs which were laughable scuzz-fuzz tracks in the studio are raw and hard hitting here..."Kill Yourself" and "Alright" couldn't be better. "Sweet Little Hi-Fi" and "Dick Johnson", while both great in the studio takes, are still great here but in a different way...in fact, that's how a lot of this breaks down. It's their *last* show, so it only makes sense that a song like "Kicked Out", originally preceded with a long intro, is a basic rock and roll song, but WHAT a rock and roll song! Same for "Understand Me", which has a quicker tempo and is all the more brutal for it. See, what's happened by this point is that Jon Spencer's learned how to sing, Neil Hagerty AND Kurt Wolfe are dividing up the guitar duties (with Spencer occasionally punctating things), and Bob Bert...well, he just ... like he always does. The ... has been cut through and it's nothing but insane, crazy, too loud rock and roll. If there's one rock live album you GOTTA have, it's Metallic KO by the Stooges, but if there's another one, get this. ... it even ends with Hagerty smashing his guitar, and let me just say, what a wonderfully disgusting sound it is. Get it!

Understand Pussy Galore
Live: In the Red is a work of unquestionable genius. It pulls off the tricky feat of actually being a good rock 'n roll live album. I heard Skynryd has one, and that it sucks. All the hits are here, from "Kill Yourself" to "Dick Johnson", alive and mean and undead, ready to rip your silly little lungs out. Buy it now. Kid Rock beware! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great Live Material
Sister Midnight is one of the best live albums I've ever heard. I'm suprised it isnt more popular in the Iggy Pop catalogue. Iggy's voice is in great form, raw and raspy yet also soothing and seductive and the guitars are fuzzed out and reverberating all throughout. This performance of "Gimme Danger" I consider to be far superior to the Raw Power version, it just is bursting with a fierce energy and exhuberance that makes the original seem tame by comparison. Iggy's reputation has frequently been battered with drug and sex accusations but this live recording seems plagued by neither, the sound is great and his performance is simply raw and powerful. A must have if your an Iggy fan.

Iggy In Cleveland 77
I am a huge collector of iggy's music having this under a different title I took my chances and bought it again and was amazed at the sound quality. As far as live I would recommend this along with Hippodrome (Paris 77). ... Read more

Reviews (7)

America's Greatest Power Pop Band Resurrected for one day!
On _Columbia live at missouri university_, Big Star rocks out!

The band features original members Alex Chilton on guitar and vocals, and Jody Stephens on drums and vocals. Original guitarist vocalist and group founder Chris Bell had died in 1978, and bassist Andy Hummel has left the music world behind for a day job. So the band is rounded out by Jon Auer on guitar and vocals and Ken Stringfellow on bass and vocals. Jon and Ken are normally members of the very excellent power pop band the Posies.

The songs come out a little harder rocking live than they do on the original Big Star studio albums. Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow sing most of the songs that Chris Bell originally sang though Alex Chilton does sing Bell's _In The Street_. Possibly because his voice has deepened with age, Chilton also allows the Posies to sing two songs that he originally sang, _Daisy Glaze_, and _Feel_.

The highlights are: the rocking intro, _In The Street_; the almost Van Halenesque reworking of _Don't Lie To Me_; Jon Auer's excellent rendition of Chris Bell's _I Am The Cosmos_; Chilton's lovingly performed _Ballad Of El Goodo_; the raucous take of _Back Of A Car_ complete with nicely placed feedback; a very emotional version of _Daisy Glaze_; a Chuck Berryesque rocking cover of T-Rex's _Baby Strange_; a great and inventive, to compensate for lack of strings, version of _For You_; and a totally ballistic version of Todd Rundgren's _S-L-U-T.

Once you get past the fact that it's not real glossed up and studio enhanced like Frampton _Comes Alive_ or one of the KISS _Alives_, you realise that this is a great and VERY REAL live album!...

I was there, and here's some details
I don't know if "the ground rumbled," but it was a hell of a show. I was there, a student at the University of Missouri, Columbia (I don't know where the hell they got that Missouri University thing).

Some details for you fans... The show was organized by MU's student radio station, KCOU, very nearly by accident. The station already had booked Alex for the annual Springfest, again organized by KCOU, and somebody there said - "Hey, wouldn't it be funny if.." and history was made with a couple of calls to Jody Stephens, Alex, and the Posies.

We were outside in a tent, of all things, because the Hearnes Center was booked with, if I remember right, a Bryan Adams concert. There couldn't have been 200 people in the tent, either. As always, it was a great performance by the best unknown band in the world. Alex was in fine form, and was a treat to see during his waking hours, versus some of the darker shows I've seen him do. And it was the only time I've seen him perform Chris Bell's work, which was nice.

Anyway, thought you might like some details from an eyewitness to the show.

S. Clayton Moore Denver, Colorado

The air was electrified and the ground rumbled
The short-lived Big Star produced some of the most significant hard-edged Pop to date - severe electric rhythms featuring irrepressible melodies. Columbia serves several purposes. Gratifying the appetite of core fans with a nostalgic tribute. Introducing graying Power Poppers to two superb young musicians (from the Posies). And perhaps sharing a bit of Big Star with younger Posies' fans.

The air was electrified and the ground rumbled on April 25, 1993, at Missouri University. The fourteen song concert opens with the heavy-handed 'In The Street,' and the bitter 'Don't Lie To Me.' 'In The Street' is a ferocious rocker built on a seven-note bass guitar progression. The opening song sets the tone for the evening: rumbling base guitar, rousing lead and rhythm guitars, and enticing vocal harmonies. 'Don't Lie To Me' sounds like a solid brick wall of electric rock moving unstoppable from the stage into the audience. The song doesn't have a quiet second that you can stick your finger into. The poignant 'I Am The Cosmos' (adolescent infatuation at its best) sounds as if someone accidentally plugged the toaster into a 220-volt socket - sparks fly. The concert continues with the vigor of an 18-wheel tractor-trailer. Sing-along melodies? You can bet you copy of #1 Record - 'The Ballad Of El Goodo' (a rebellious but melodic teenage statement) and 'September Gurls' are gorgeous. The concert ends (too soon) with a rousing boogie titled 'Slut' (the politically incorrect anti-feminist statement).

Columbia includes a share of "imperfections." At times the tempo is not quite synchronized, and the harmony vocals are less than "angelic." Thank goodness. Columbia is not sanitized like the starched white linen at the Hyatt Regency - this is "live" rock. Crude, raunchy, brazen and liberating. Just the way rock is supposed to be.

2/4 of Big Star avoid sounding like an oldies act
Perhaps it's a testament to the songwriting of Chilton, Bell, and Hummel, perhaps it's that Chilton and Stephens haven't been retreading these songs in concert for the past 25 years, or maybe it's just the added energy of the Posies' Ken Stringfellow and Jon Auer, but these renderings of Big Star's essential canon sound *fresh*. The performance is at turns sloppy, inspired, raw, and cohesive. It doesn't shed new light the way "Big Star Live" did at the time of its release (mostly because this isn't the first peek into Chilton & Stephens live sound), but it's certainly a welcome addition to any Big Star fan's collection.

Now what *I* want to know is where to get tapes of the two missing tracks (shown in a photograph of the set-list, but missing from the disc): "O My Soul" and "13" - the latter being my very favorite Chilton composition. At less than 45-minutes, there was certainly room on the disc for these two tracks.

Raw Big Star
I love this recording of the reunion concert (without two of the original line-up). This has grown on me over the past two years and I find it is on my stereo more than any of Paul Westerberg's solo albums. I like the arrangements of the Big Star material and the guitar of Chilton is excellent. ... Read more

Album Description

Japanese tour souvenir, a mini-album featuring eight of their best recorded live at Manta Studios in Toronto on January 14, 1998: 'Everything To Everyone', 'Amphetamine', 'I Will Buy You A New Life', 'Loser Makes Good', 'Heroin Girl', 'Normal Like You', 'Santa Monica' and 'Local God'. Standard jewel case. 1998 Capitol release. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

This shows what Everclear should sound like.
This is an expensive album, no matter where you look, and you only get eight songs, but its well worth it. Everclear sounds better live than they do on any of their albums, with the possible exception of "World of Noise". You don't get the total sence of energy they have at a live show, but you can see can hear it to a point. There is a great version of "Herion Girl" that sounds like the Eagles could have done. Local God also sounds great. Pick this album up if you want to know what Everclear should really sound like.

8 LIVE TRACKS! YAY!
This CD is great! I simply cannot say how great of a bandEverclear is. Obviously, you are debating purchasing it. Well, Iwould highly recommend it. There are no other Everclear Live CD's on the market that you will find (except for auctions, and some live tracks on singles), so if you would like 8 live recorded songs, this is for you. CD is approximately 30 minutes long.

Just not a great live album
Live from Toronto is the only live everclear album. But as live albums go, this one is just plain bad.

Except for some crowd noise at the beginning and end of the tracks, each song sounds just about like studio version. Even the guitar solos are [bad], uninspired, and pretty much sound like the studio version as well. Nor is there any dialogue. Art says "hey this is the next single off our album," and "goodnight" at the end. That's it. In other words, unless you're just a die hard everclear fan, I wouldn't recommend live from toronto - this album doesn't offer anything new on everclear.

the best rock band
everclear is very talented. there better than most of those grunge rock bands.there music talks about people and events and its not trash.the lead singer doesnt scream and u can hear what there saying.there music has a catching tune to it.

everclear is great
i have seen everclear live 4 times in my life. they are a very talented band. I own 2 other everclear live cd's that are very rare. along with two videos of them live that are very rare. being that this is the only cd with any of there new stuff on it i say it is a definite buy. cuz i m still living with your... ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Wonderful Way to Remember Him
Boy was I surprised. I was expecting a run-of-the-mill live album that cashed in on poor Ian's death. But this has to be one of the very best live recordings I've ever heard. Dury is in excellent, ascerbic form, and the Blockheads sound absolutely awesome. If you're like me and have fond memories of New Boots and Do It Yourself, you really need to pick this up. You will not be disappointed. ... Read more

Album Description

Never before released album, recorded live at Grant ParkChicago on July 4th, 1988, contains the previouslyunreleased song, 'Sinkin Low', along with 11 other numbers. Digitally remastered. Includes 12-page booklet with manyphotos along with comprehensive liner notes. Alchemy. 2003. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Another Great Live Set!
Stumbled across this in the CD bins while on vacation in New Orleans, and had to add it to my shelf-toppling G.P. collection. It's worth the price of admission and the effort spent in reshuffling your discs to fit this one into your stash.'Nuff said!

Start a Fire
Those who like Graham Parker's solo live albums "Live! Alone in America" and "Discovering Japan" but miss the punch of a full-band live album should check out "Blue Highway". This decent-sounding disc from an Independence Day, 1988, appearance at Grant Park in Chicago delves back into Parker's bag of tricks and wisely avoids his early '80s mediocre period. Parker lights a fire under five tracks from his then-new album "The Mona Lisa's Sister" (excellent, that), lending nice punch to "OK Hieronymus" and "Get Started. Start a Fire." No, the sound, though fine, is not revelatory, and few tracks actually surpass the originals, but at least we get some variety and not the slavish note-for-note recreation of the "Live Sparks" bonus concert. "Durban Poison", from the live solo "Alone in America" gets the full-band treatment here, and there's the previously unreleased song "Sinkin' Low." The liner notes are poorly written (at least the first set) and absolutely rife with typos. The publishing company is even misspelled on the back cover. The somewhat rowdy audience at this festival (not sure about festival details) is mixed too loud between songs, and the introduction at this July 4 event is a little embarrassing. Noting that Parker is the lone Englishman on the bill, the announcer says: "After all, it's their country we have to thank for our independence!" Er... Anyway, so while this Alchemy release has a slapped-together feel to it, the music is a good keepsake of Graham Parker's power in a full band setting during a point of rejuvenation in his career.

Essential Graham Parker
This is now the 9th live cd released by GP! Chances are you may have a few titles already..but this one is essential! This, like "Live Sparks", was a very popular bootleg that has now been officially released. The sound is powerful and the performances are inspired. Especially noteworthy are "Durban Poison", "Howlin' Wind", "Under The Mask Of Happiness", "Get Started Start A Fire" & the previously unreleased "Sinkin' Low". "Sinkin' Low" is a stone classic- an inspired soulful moment that defines a performer- it's a recording that would catapult GP back to charts if radio gave it a shot. "Blue Highway", along with "Live Sparks" & "Live At Marble Arch" are the must-have Graham Parker live. ... Read more

Album Description

'I've Suffered for My Art...Now It's Your Turn' is thelatest release from King Biscuit Flower Hour. Recorded live at the Stone Pony, Asbury Park NJ in February 2001, this CD features 14 tracks, including 'Someday, Someway','Television Light', 'You're My Favorite Waste Of Time' andmore. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

rockin' acoustic record
This is a great sampler for new fans, as well as a great addition to your Marshall Crenshaw collection. Super cross section of tunes. I love the talk in between songs, gives you a great sense of "being there." Much better production than other live disc, which is cut up and choppy. If your a fan- you gotta have this.

Good example of Crenshaw's work...but not the best
Marshall Crenshaw was one of the most criminally underrated songwriters of the eighties. His work can be compared to such talents as Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe and John Hiatt. He's that good. This new acoustic live album, recorded at the Stone Pony earlier this year, showcases some of his great songs, along with some covers. It's an entertaining listen, marred by a few flaws.

Marshall sounds great, and he's in a great mood. Unfortunately, some of the between-song patter is a bit annoying. There are times when I wish he'd just move on to the next song. There are some performers, like John Wesley Harding, who are naturally gifted in regaling the audience with jokes and stories. Marshall's idea of gabbing with the audience is saying stuff like "hey, all right!" I'm almost expecting something like "Helllooooo, New Jersey!" Also, even though this is really insignificant in the general scheme of things, I have to say that the cover of the disc is godawful.

Fortunately, there are many great songs here. "Television Light" is marvelous, as is "Better Back Off," "Cynical Girl" and the closest thing he ever had to a hit, "Someday Someway," which closes the disc in a rollicking, tuneful fashion.

If I could give it three and a half stars, I would. If you want a great example of Marshall's work, get the compilation "This Is Easy."

Alas, an Apt Title
Did he listen to these tapes before releasing them?

Marshall Crenshaw has an ear like no one else -- for the pop hook, the unforgettable guitar lick, the surprising chord change, the addictive chorus. His brilliant studio albums over the past 20 years haven't received anywhere near the notice they deserve. Nor have there been enough of them -- I guess that explains why so many of us snatch up anything he releases!

However, this one won't get a second listen. (Okay, maybe a second, but no THIRDS!)

The songs are great but pale in comparison to the studio originals. The playing and singing are sloppy and reveal nothing new. The sound and arrangements are surprisingly amateurish coming from someone with such meticulous studio standards (and amazing studio technique!) And shy guy that he is, the onstage patter is limited and predictable.

By all means, support this guy by buying his complete studio catalog - but you can safely skip this one.

Loses Something in the Translation
Marshall Creshaw is an outstanding musician. As such, he should understand that it is incumbent on the musican to take a few minutes to repurpose/rearrange a song for acoustic presentation. Many of these cleverly crafted electric pop songs just don't translate easily in an unplugged format. They are presented with the same vibe and tempo as they are when Crenshaw is backed by a full band.

This is a good album with a few gems and frankly a must have for Crenshaw fans. However with a little extra work from Crenshaw on the front end, it could have been a truly great album.

Hangin' Out With Mr. Crenshaw...
This CD gives me the great feeling of hanging out with Marshall and hear him play his favorite songs and covers. It's not perfect, I agree with others that his voice is mixed too "hot" (listening on headphones) and sometimes his guitar playing is sometimes too busy and flashy for the song's own good. But its fun to hear these songs stripped down from the big production and standing on thier own. I wouldnt reccomend this to first time listeners - get the Rhino Best-Of and leave this one to longtime fans. ... 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)

Red Patent Leather
The New York Dolls: Red Patent Leather

The New York Dolls' live release, Red Patent Leather, that humbly marked the end of their career (at the time being, at least), is an excellent live album, to be put lightly. For connoisseurs of unblemished sound, you must overlook your pickiness! This is absolutely worth it, even aside from the subdued quality. On tracks such as Pirate Love, the steady flow of Nolan's drums paired with choppy, vibrant piano work from Sylvain makes for an amazing sound. "Pills" is executed almost as flawlessly as a studio song. These are not, however, the only admirable songs on the album, only the ones on the B side (believe me, the A side is just as great), which I have chosen to critique. Teenage News is beautifully performed, and to be followed by the much anticipated Personality Crisis just makes the record all the better. "When I say I'm in luv, you best believe I'm in luv, L-U-V." unexpectedly states Johansen as Looking for a Kiss rumbles to an introduction. To conclude this review, I advise that you pick up this album-FAST.

Addictive
While I had heard of the Dolls prior to experiencing them, I had no idea what I was in for until I checked some of thir CDs out of the library after three people told me that this band changed their entire outlook on music. Upon hearing this CD, I must say that not only am I now listening to it compulsively and struggling to concentrarte on this review as I do so, I also find myself wondering why in the world they are not more widly-known. The music in itself is difficult to describe so I will not attempt to pigeon hole it with any labeling, and instead just say that if you are at all openminded and especially if you call yourself a music lover of any kind, then you must at least try them on for size. My one complaint about this particular recording is that it is a bit muffled and as a result difficult to discern all the nuances present in the music. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Absolutely Amazing
A fabulous collection of live, unplugged, unique versions of solid alternative rock hits from the mid nineties, recorded right here in West Michigan.

I wish more music was like this. Having grown up during this period, recently listening to it brought back a load of fresh memories and nostalgia from a long-gong era of intense musical development in rock. Many tunes I haven't heard in years, and most notably never in such a form as this.

Bootleg '98 is musically creative and not "overproduced"; something hard to come by these days. If you like "real" music, check it out and I promise you won't be disappointed.

WGRD's bootleg is the best unplugged cd ever
I'll start out by saying that I'm from Grand Rapids, Mich., where the WGRD studio is located. This cd has sold many, many copies, and for those of you who don't know, Grand Rapids is a hotbed for alternative rock music. Bootleg '98 features unplugged versions of many rock hits. You'll probably recognize the bulk of them. They are all unplugged and most of them creative. I fully believe that every fan of unplugged music must own a copy of this cd. You have my guarantee that if you purcahse it, you'll give it 5 stars, too. My personal favorites off the album are "Raining on the Sky" by Naked and a very creative version of "If I Run" performed by Semisonic.

GREAT ALBUM FOR A GOOD CAUSE
HEY, I bought this album because of SEMISONIC, it's a great album.. It's so unique from all the other albums because it's LIVE, Really shows the artists talents!

A sweet CD.
I bought this album for the two live Better Than Ezra songs, but this CD is so much more than just those BTE tunes ... Marcy Playground and Jewel are dominant with their live recordings as well. Even the songs that I hadn't heard of before ["Wait" & "Raining On The Sky"] were surprisingly solid. If you love live music with great quality, then by all means buy this CD ... Read more

Album Description

1997 live release that's deleted domestically. The punk icon's 'last show' (2,263rd) recorded at Billboard Live August 6, 1996. 32 tracks. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Last Show...=We're Outta Here-video
Maybe you can tell by the song selection or the title, but this is the exact same cd you got in the "We're Outta Here" collection, just without the video.All the artwork is the same as well, so if you have "We're Outta Here", you really should save your money unless you really have to collect everything.If you don't have their last show on cd, this would have to be it, since "We're Outta Here" seems to be out of stock (at least as i'm writing this).
Not really being a fan of the later, faster live Ramones, I still gave it 4 stars cause the songs are great, & I like the cool guest stars. ... 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 (13)

The Fury from the Mid-West
I saw the Huskers on the Candy Apple Grey tour and they were simply the best band I have ever seen in over 20 years of watching live bands. Thjis live album(Along with Lynddales Burning Bootleg) are as close as you will get to the sonic tornado that was Husker Du. Some of the real favourites are missing of this, but they were that good a band that they could not play everything. The 'New Day Rising'(My Favourite Album of All-Time)intro is awesome, as are so many others on this CD.
This is the real deal. This is what punk rock was, is and will always be merasured against!!

Earplugs Not Included...
and for good reason! Husker Du are one of those bands that are forever being cited as "seminal influences", especially during the early '90's grunge movement. Nirvana, and Green Day (especially pre "Dookie" Green Day) have molded their sounds, unsuccesfully I might add, to the power that was Husker Du, and this live album goes to prove this point even further. For those unfamiliar with the band, I have a hard time advising that you pick up this CD. It's not that it's bad, rather the power and energy of these live songs put their studio versions to shame. Hell, I bought most of the studio albums before hearing this, and I still have a hard time going back and listening to them the way I once did. The hollow, tinny drum sound of most studio Husker albums takes a while to get used to, but after hearing them live, you can never go back! As for the collection of songs on this CD, not a single one is worth skipping. From the insane hyper drum beat of "New Day Rising" to their cover of "Sheena is a Punk Rocker", this CD is a fine, career spanning colection of some of their best songs. Sure, some of the classics (or should I say singles) are missing ("Eight Miles High", "Don't Want to Know If You Are Lonely", "Makes No Sense At All", etc), but this doesn't matter. The near 77 minutes of fuzz, energy, and brilliant song writing will soon make you forget. This CD is, without a doubt, the way the Husker's were meant to be heard.

Emo is as emo was.
If its worth taking the time to read this, its worth buying this album. After Its Alive by the Ramones, this is the best live punk album around.

Yes, I was there...
I was at the Living Room in Providence, RI for this show. It was only a few months earlier in Boston that the group played one of the best and strangest sets I've ever seen. They played the entire Warehouse album, cover to cover, with only When Pink Turns to Gray (Zen Arcade) as an encore. The band was nearing the end. This final tour was for the fans. It was a tour to leave on a high note. The Living Room concert was pure pleasure. The band was tight and made everyone's ears bleed that night. This album is a strong approximation of that show. It's a strong live album, even though the high end tops out a bit much and all you're left with is a shrill ache in your ears. Well, that's what a good Husker Du concert should leave you with anyway. They were a great band. This is a good epitaph.

Great CD from one of the 80' best bands!
The previous review enjoys no merit beyond the fact that it is a string of words. Although I do not entirely agree with the song selections, this album captures the essence of Husker Du live. Listen to Bob Mould singing with reckless abandon on Celebrated Summer or the pounding rendition of Terms of Psychic Warfare. I was lucky enough to see them many times throughout the 80's, I also have a large collection of live recordings but this a great CD and a DEFINATE starting point, along with Zen Arcade, for anyone just getting into the band. Some people only like the live versions of the songs on this CD when exposed to the studio CDs for the first time. While not one of the best live cd's of all time, it shows the Huskers at their very best but, unfortunately, at the very end ... 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 (5)

I was at this show!
The bulk of this album is taken from the Sweet FA tour stop on April 9, 1996 at the Metro in Chicago. If you follow the used bins at your local wax depot, you've probably seen this album labelled as a 'radio only' disc (meaning only meant to be broadcast by radio stations, not purchased by consumers) or maybe even heard it played over the airwaves as part of your local rock station's programming. Anyway, an 8-song version of this album was floating around pretty good as a bootleg in the music stores, so to recoup some of the sales L&R put a proper copy out for all to enjoy. The tail-end of the album comes from a different concert back in the late 80's in California and was previously available as B-sides to a few of their singles. As for which singles the songs appeared depended on whether you were looking to purchase vinyl, cassette, or CD.

I was in attendance of the Chicago show and boy did it rock! Full house, lively crowd, $14 tickets, the "Dandy Warhols" opened, Love and Rockets were "on" that night including 3 encores, and that cute short girl with the retro 60's glasses standing stage left who....I digress. The live sound was almost exactly like the album sound - I'm at a loss as to why these recordings sound so raw and different. Oh well. Still a great show.

For the interested, here's the set list from the Chicago show in case you want to play the tracks back in their original order:

1) Body And Soul (taped intro)
2) Ball of Confusion
3) So Alive (dirty version)
4) Judgement Day
5) Rock On
6) Slice of Life (1st ever playing at a Love and Rockets show)
7) Use Me
8) Sweet Lover Hangover
9) Kundalini Express
10) Clean (David J.)
11) The Light

--- Encore 1 ---
12) No New Tale To Tell
13) Mirror People

--- Encore 2 ---
14) Holiday on the Moon
15) Yin and Yang (the Flowerpot Man) (really long trippy version)

--- Encore 3 ---
16) Sweet F.A.

great live cd
this cd shows the progression of Love and Rockets.  the newer material shows a rock band with glam influences..ie, current dance, sampling, and drum and guitar.  this version of the hit "So Alive" is the "dirty" version which is stripped down to just drum and guitar, no samples.  a lot of the "newer" old songs are stripped down, guitar and drums.
 
I sorta wished it was 2 discs: Disc 1, circa 1989, when Earth Sun Moon came out, so you can see their glam/ psychedelic period.  Disc 2, circa 1996, the stripped down rock and roll period.

I have seen Love and Rockets live 3 times and this covers everything.
 
ps...there is even a "shout out" for Heartbreak Hotel which was covered by Daniel Ash in Tones on Tail.

Love and Rockets are a great rock band
This album jumps out to a great start, and keeps it going. What a fantastic album! To be perfectly honest, I was expecting to hear something a little more electronic (I thought it was from their last tour), only to find out that this recording came on the heels of their "Sweet F.A." album, which rendered some amazing tunes. What can I say about this album? Raw, pulsating, frenetic -- classic Love and Rockets. Of course, I could listen to Mirror People again and again at incredible volumes until my ears bleed....

I hope this isn't the last we hear of the Rockets
This album slams! Sure, there are some lackluster moments, but for the most part this is a great live record. Ball of Confusion is amazing and the dirty version of So Alive kicks you right in the nuts.

Unlike some of the more temperamental Rockets fans, I loved Sweet F.A., and I think it compares favorably to the best of the eighties material (like Express). The title track is here as well as a killer version of Judgement Day. Fever was a bit of a dissapointmet though, I kept waiting for the groove to kick in. If you avoided Sweet F.A. due to some spooky prejudice about the eighties, then deal with the pain and go buy the record.

Anyway, never fear, the eighties are well represented, with nice versions of No New Tale, Mirror People and It could be Sunshine. My only complaint is that they didn't include Motorcycle, a track which always punishes my speakers.

For hard-core Love & Rockets fans only:
Typically compilation CD's that are released after the break-up of a band tend to be career-spanning works that double as "best of" collections stripped down to the necessity of what can be performed live with the obligatory crowd noise back-ups to re-confirm that yes, this album is a live performance that accurately sums up the audio experience of how the band sounds when performing.
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In that regard this Mexican (?!) import CD succeeds fairly well; the songs that are included here were taken from two performances in Southern California 9 years apart, with transition between songs from the older set and those from the newer set being relatively seamless.
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However, the weakness in the "So Alive" Love & Rockets release lies in its rather heavy reliance (7 out of 16 tracks, not counting intros) on songs from their 1996 recording "Sweet F.A.", an album that is far from warmly regarded by fans of the band who revel in their earlier work, particularly "The Seventh Dream Of Teenage Heaven" (from which only the title track appears), "Express" (from which 3 songs are chosen, including a stinging version of "Ball Of Confusion"), and "Earth, Sun, Moon" (from which another three songs, including arguably the band's signature '80's college radio staple "No New Tale To Tell" are chosen).
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Fans who were turned off by "So Alive" (the band's one Top 10 hit from 1989's self-titled 4th LP) and stopped following the band afterward wil be relieved to know that the song has been given such a fierce makeover (they call it "the dirty version") that it barely resembles the INXS-wannabe strip club fare it once was; even though the band can't seem to remember that the song has three verses rather than two, the truncated live version of this song is still one of the highlights of this CD, as is the (heavily Bauhaus-influenced) interpretation of the David Essex '70's glam anthem "Rock On". Another high point and a terrific start to the CD is "Ball Of Confusion", a track of theirs that bores me to no end in its studio form, but literally comes to life as a far more dynamic live performance. In contrast, "Love Me", one of my favorite songs EVER, comes up flat live (though no less energized); there is simply too much distortion to appreciation the beauty and simplicity of the guitar riff around which that two-chord wonder of a song is based. "It Could Be Sunshine", originally the opening track on "Express" and the last track on the CD ends the show well and lives up to the energy level set by the song's studio version.
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I would have been much happier if Love & Rockets (an '80's band by all standards of the term) would have concentrated more on providing live versions of their '80's recordings; whether or not they were available is another matter of course, but someone who listens to this live retrospective will come away with the wrong impression of this band and will in fact be cheated of their best side. The material from "Sweet F.A." was weak and aimless when it appeared in 1996 and it hasn't improved since.
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On the other hand, at least die-hard Love & Rockets fans who have been searching eternally for bootleg live material will have at least some respite (and a chance to help support the band, as well); the still-underground appeal of this band means that a band-sanctioned live album probably won't get a 2nd chance to be done right, and that is a shame. Still, half a loaf is better than none. Dwell on the '80's material and it's not a bad CD...still, the real Love & Rockets fans know that it could have been a lot better. ... 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

Album Description

Aussie edition of 1983 album that's out-of-print in theUS. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great live album capturing the essence of Public Image Ltd.
Well since I own a copy in VHS of the album, 2 CD's (Japanese & European version of the album) I can assure that this album is great.

Is a great concert
Is the most powerful sound of PIL. Includes the best version of "This is not a love song" than I hear ... Read more

Reviews (3)

the best descendents ever.
this is my favorite descendents album. for those of you not familiar with the group, i would strongly recommend starting with this one. the stellar set list captures the energy of one of their live performances. my personal favorite track is "good good things," and i can't even bear to listen to the studio version anymore. the song choices, although less "popular" than some of those on liveage, have become my favorites because of this record. buy it now. what are you waiting for?!?

DESCEND YOURSELF LIVE
WHICH RECORD BY THE DesceNdents DOESN'T RATE '5'STARS??? I REALLY CAN'T THINK OF ONE. DEFINITELY SHARP 'A CRISP FOR A LIVE RECORDING.

their 2 live album
Like "Liveage" this is live Descendents, in ALL their glory... All the songs kick,and Milo is in top form. The only complaint is that it is soooo short (but thats like all the songs). One day i will get my wish and they will put out an album that is like 3 hours long...ah to dream..... ... 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