Album Description

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

Reviews (54)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Reviews (3)

The Ziggy stuff really rocks!
Disc 2 really kooks (!) This is rock'n'roll at it's best. Mick Ronson's guitar shines through the way it never did on the Ziggy Stardust studio album. Check out Hang On To Yourself. But disc 1 isn't bad. It kind of grows on me. I feel I'm ready to check out Bowie's earlier catalog. I consider myself a Bowie fan although not a hardcore one. The albums Hunky Dory and Scary Monsters are some of my all time favourites. I will now add Bowie At The Beeb to that list.

Disc 1 deserves 3 1/2 stars but Disc 2 deserves 5+stars!
This is certainly an interesting collection of songs! I can't say I love DISC 1 in general, but there are some nice surprises. "Kooks" is a lovely little song! The band playing with Bowie is quite good in "The Width Of A Circle" and "Unwashed And Somewhat Slightly Dazed." I heavily prefer Disc 2 because I have loved the "Ziggy Stardust" material for many years. The familiar songs sound different but as enjoyable as the released versions. Bowie was great at reworking good songs into even better songs, which is quite apparent on "I'm Waiting For The Man" and "White Light/White Heat." I can't say enough positive things about Disc 2 other than "Freak out, in a Moonage Daydream! Oh yeah!"

Stripped down and worth it.
Unlike a lot of the overblown versions on his first five albums, one of which being the magnificent Ziggy Stardust, those presented here are live and very stripped down, allowing you to hear the song instead of the studio. Surprisingly, the primitive sound of these recordings sound fresher when heard for the first time today than the produced album versions, which can sound dated due to the use of late '60's/early '70's production techniques. Also, the versions of Space Oddity songs with Mick Ronson on guitar add a more rock feel and therefore fit better alongside the Ziggy stuff, which start to appear toward the album's end. A good representation of a hungry pre-fame Bowie, when he still sang in a higher register. The energy on this is as electric as it can get, and that's all that he was shooting for back then. ... Read more

Amazon.com

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

Reviews (55)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Finally, we miss you Jeff.

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

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

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

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

Amazon.com

Billy Idol, the original Gen X-er, remains one of the decade's enduring symbols--for better or worse. It's debatable whether this live career retrospective (taped in New York City for the VH1 Storytellers show in April, 2001) is intended to burnish the legacy of Idol's recently stalled career or, more likely, is an attempt to resuscitate it in time for the expected rising tide of '80s nostalgia. (I've got my parachute pants ready; how about you?) An intimate, largely acoustic outing co-helmed by longtime guitarist and songwriting partner Steve Stevens, it's a performance that succeeds by underplaying Idol's MTV-familiar, platinum-haired, curled-lip, and pumping-fist antics and imagery in favor of welcome doses of musical dynamics and scaled-back vocal drama. Indeed, when he drops the snarl, Idol can be a stylist of emphatic conviction, as he proves repeatedly on this set, whose songs range from his days as frontman for early U.K. punk stars Generation X ("Ready Steady Go," "Kiss Me Deadly," "Dancing With Myself") through his prime run of '80s solo hits ("White Wedding," "Rebel Yell," et al.) to more emotionally involved, if less successful, late '80s fare like "Cradle of Love" and "Don't Need a Gun." This is a reinvention for sure, but it's one that cuts beneath Idol's sometimes-insufferable mannerisms to find the musical worth beneath. --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Reviews (12)

A Classic
This is an excellent CD. The original versions are great of course, but on this CD it's like hearing the old songs again for the very first time. The new, acoustic versions of "Eyes Without a Face" and "Don't Need a Gun" are as good as, but different from the original. The band is tight and this album has a great live vibe. I HIGHLY recommend this CD to any Billy Idol fan.

The best of Billy Idol - unplugged!
When I see Billy Idol I think about Beavies (MTV's Beavies & Butthead you know) for some reason.

This one is a "best of Billy Idol - unplugged" and if you got his "Greatest hits" I guess that will do. The only reason to spend money on this album is to get the opportunity to hear unplugged versions. The sound is good, some songs do better than other being unplugged. This is mainly for Billy Idol fans or maybe unplugged lovers - others will do fine without this one.

Sort of Like a Live Greatest Hits Album
This culls songs from Billy Idol's Storytellers show on VH1, but it's JUST songs (if you're looking for all the between-songs-stuff, you need to get the DVD instead). Still, it's great to hear Idol dust the cobwebs off of his old hits, ranging from "Dancing With Myself" to "Cradle of Love". There's not too much to recommend this to anyone who already owns his Greatest Hits or isn't an Idol fan, but you do get to hear him swear when he messes part of a song up, and that's kind of funny.

Billy Show's 'Em How It's Done!
With Steve Stevens back on guitar this album builds to a climax that flat-out rocks concluding with "Mony Mony" & a great cover of the Door's "LA Woman". The songs sound as fresh now as the did almost 20 years ago. Billy Idol is one of the few singers who combines good ole' 50's Eddie Cochran-Gene Vincent era rock and roll, 70's punk, and hard rock. Write off Billy as an MTV cartoon character, but he has more balls and a better voice than any other singer from that era. Billy's ace in the hole is Steven's guitar. He rips thru the Gen X classic "Ready Steady Go" and the acoustic playing on "Cradle Of Love" is killer 50's style Hank Marvin or James Burton.
A must.

Great Set Of Idol's Best Works.
Billy Idol, one of the great rockers from the 80s gets the VH1 treatment here. "Storytellers" is a fresh take on Idol's best songs and there are truly exhilarating moments. The acoustic version of "Rebel Yell" is excellent, incredibly well-played and sung. Those who have come down on it being changed to acoustic obviously lack a good melodic sense. "White Wedding" remains an interestingly emotional, deep yet hard-edged song. My favorite moment was the closing track, a treat which is a cover of The Doors' "L.A. Woman." It is explosive, dirty and exhilarating, superior to the original album version. It actually does Jim Morrison some justice. Overall it is a great showcasing of Idol's talent as a singer and his band's overall incredible skills with the instruments they play. ... Read more

Amazon.com

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

Reviews (14)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Note that this is also available as a DVD.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Reviews (7)

top notch
A truly fine performance by a master. I enjoyed the songs, humor and variety. The portion where he imitates a couple dozen other guitar greats is worth the price alone. Sound quality of disc is very good.

THIS CD IS JUST TOO MUCH FUN!
If you're gonna throw a party, first ya need the beer, then comes the entertainment. And that would be the dancing girls and this Bill Kirchen "Hot Rod Lincoln Live" cd. If your a fan of Commander Cody, I promise you'll love this. If you've never heard of the ole Commander, think "Hot Rod Lincoln". And you really haven't heard "Hot Rod Lincoln" till you've heard this funky 8 minute version that's played on the same "Coal Burning" guitar that was used on the original tune from 1971. This new version is soooo good that you'll press track 4 over and over again until your dancing feet wear out. I don't think there has ever been anybody around who has as deep of a twangy guitar sound as Bill Kirchen. Not even Duane Eddy, who is just one of the many musicians that Kirchen playfully mimics on Hot Rod Lincoln. But this isn't the only great song on here. Kirchen throws in a couple Commander Cody songs from the good old days. "Lookin at the world through a windshield", and one of my favorites "too much fun". BIll Kirchen isn't any novelty act though. This guy writes great original songs like "secrets of love", "swing fever" and a great rockin tune "rockin' over China". I highly recommend running out and getting this before your next party. You'll definitly want to have this cd handy, just in case the beer runs out.

Experience the smell of diesel fuel
This is what a Fender Telecaster should sound like. Bill has been doing the roadhouse and truckin' twang since before it was cool and needs to be given fair credit for the influence he had had on other players throughout the years. This is a great "live" recording that puts the listener right behind the wheel. To no surprise, it has a real Commander Cody feel to it which is emphasized by the many songs it contains from the Commander days. Bill's personality, humor and diversity really pop out on his version of Hot Rod Lincoln.

Did someone say "Smokey Texan Bar Room"?
This album is perfect for anyone looking for a CD's worth of great goodtime music. The Centerpiece of the album is the 8 minute version of Hot Rod Licoln. It shows off Bill's sense of Humor, and his great tele playing. If you're lookin for a good CD to listen to driving down any highway, this will fit the bill (Bill Kirchen that is!)

This CD made a Dieselbilly fanatic outta me.
If your idea of great music is three musicians rocking a bar until 2 AM, this CD is as good as it gets. Bill's energy, humor and talent for playing his coal burning" guitar are worth travelling a thousand miles to see. The only thing better than buying this CD from amazon is getting directly from Bill at one of his shows. ... Read more

Album Description

A Live Just for Love is the fully uninterrupted set fromthe El Rey show in Los Angeles on November 30th during thePeter Murphy Just For Love Tour 2000, featuring PeterDiStephano from Porno For Pyros on guitar. The set alsofeatures a bonus disc, containing the entire live acousticencore with former Bauhaus member David J from the December 1st show in Los Angeles. This supplemental disc featuresWho Killed Mister Moonlight, All We Ever Wanted and Hope.As another added bonus, the disc features a cover ofElvis's Love Me Tender. 18 tracks over 2 CD's in a slimline double jewel box. 2001 Metropolis release. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

a quiet storm....
As a rule, I find live albums to be overly indulgent product... usually of questionable sound quality and rarely offering any insight or improvement on the studio versions of the music. There are exceptions of course (see Nirvana's "Unplugged in New York"), and thankfully this outstanding effort by Mister Murphy is just such a rarity. Containing the entire set as it was played at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles in november, aLive Justforlove is a beautifully realized revisiting of some of the finest moments from what is truly an amazing body of work. From the entrancing "All Night Long" to the achingly beautiful "Indigo Eyes" and "Marlene Dietrich's Favourite Poem" and on through the more full productions of "I'll Fall With Your Knife" and "Gliding Like A Whale" the musicians create a loving framework in which the full depth and stark beauty of these songs is wonderously apparent. Accompanied only by Peter DiStefano on guitar and Hugh Marsh on electric violin, Mister Murphy strips down these lush and poetic songs.... in many cases totally reinventing them, showcasing not only his gift for evocative and gorgeous lyricism but also his rich, expressive voice. In many cases live albums may serve as a sort of greatest hits compilation for an artist, in the case of aLive Justforlove the songs are presented in such strikingly original compositions that it stands alone as an album unto itself. For the uninitiated, Mister Murphy is one of the most intelligent and compelling songwriters and vocalists making music today, and this album offers intriguing possibilities as to the direction of his future work. With an stellar second disc featuring an encore performed with Bauhaus cohort David J, aLive Justforlove is required listening for even a passive fan, and for those unlucky enough to have not yet been exposed to this work it offers a hypnotic overview of Peter Murphy's career that will leave them scrambling to find the rest of his discography. Impressive, fragile, lush and lovely.

aLive is simply amazing
I saw this tour in Seattle and was completely blown away. I have seen Peter Murphy perform many times (both solo and with Bauhaus), and this was my favorite show to date. The simplicity and passion of the music carried me far into that place -- that place only his voice can take you. This recording captures that feeling perfectly, and I have listened to the first CD (yes, there are two: the second only has four songs, but David J makes an uncredited appearance to play several Bauhaus tunes) four times since yesterday. The only disappointment is that one girl in the audience is a bit too loud and I would like to tell her to shut it.

A great performance for the aging PM fans
While I am one of the biggest Peter Murphy fans ...I thoroughly enjoyed this album .... I have to say that I wish he would spice things up again and move away from the adult contemporary path down which he seems to be treading. Granted, the songs are becoming more personal and more of a religious experience for Peter, but I miss the fire of earlier works. However, this album showcases a smoldering side of Peter's work, accented by talented artists DeStefano and Marsh, and once again atests to the man's talent to capture the mood. Anything that includes this man's voice is going to resonate, and I highly recommend the album. Standouts for me include 'Subway', the great guitar work on 'Gliding Like a Whale', and the perfect and pure rendition of 'Indigo Eyes'. Now go buy it.

The obligatory double-live album
Ok, this isn't a typical live album. To promote his best-of album, Murphy assembled an all-star band of sorts featuring members of Bauhaus, Porno for Pyros and Jane's Addiction. For this tour, he took a drastically different course employing only 2 other musicians, a violinist and a synth-guitarist, to back him up. The result was a very stripped down, honest sound. This album has my favorite versions of Subway (although the Dust version is a close second) and Marlene Dietrich's Favourite Poem. For the second disk Peter is joined by ex Bauhaus bandmate David J for memorable versions of some Bauhaus songs. Another great album by one of the best vocalists ever.

Once Again, Excellent
Peter just continuously blows me away. "Just for Love Live" is a brilliant performance I only wish I could have seen live; however, for a live double disk, it does capture the overall vibe, atmosphere, and the quality; absolutely excellent for a live CD.

He seduces us with a diverse array of material that spans from his solo career, and surprises us on the second disk with an appearance by David J, and with it, 3 Bauhaus songs -- a rarity in itself. What I found most impressive about this album is how Murphy converted several of his older songs, and enhanced them with Turkish instruments, allowing us an opportunity to hear his dearly beloved older songs with an underlay of unique instruments by unique musicians. It is an absolutely wonderful double CD, and I strongly encourage anyone who is into Peter, Bauhaus, and the slew of others, to grab this and expect a new sound beneath Peter's brilliant, and highly developed voice!

Richard C Williams
I encourage feedback by fans or those who might disagree. ... Read more

Reviews (32)

Footnote to my previous review
I'll concede that, yes, I was a bit too harsh in my condemnation of the box set. One way or another, you need to hear the `unplugged' Debut material and the `Jools Holland show' performances...But, as I said, these and other items are already available on DVD. Only one and a half discs of previously-unreleased material is not worth forty-something US dollars, even with the mini-DVD and booklet taken into account.

And my criticisms still stand regarding the "play-it-safe" track selection. Perfectionism is not a virtue where archival releases are concerned - someone like Bjork who puts so much experimentation and improvisation into her live performances requires a live album - if you get my drift - less like 'Frampton Comes Alive' and more like `You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore'.

Good...but could be better.
I purchased Bjork's Live Box set yesterday and (being a huge fan) have been waiting ages for a live album.

The discs cover her tours for each album: Debut, Post, Homogenic and Vespertine. While the sound is excellent and Bjork is in top form I couldn't help but wish there was an extra disc of songs that should have been included.

This would have earned a 5-star rating had she included "Play Dead" from the Post Tour and "Human Behaviour" and "Possibly Maybe" from the Vespertine Tour. The last two having been performed with a radically different style and sound. Did we really need "Anchor Song" twice???

Great music, bad packaging.
Bjork is quite the musical goddess! I never tire of hearing the same songs resung given her unique vocals and instrument variations.

I've got one major complaint though; it's the only reason I'm shorting this one star. Get a new packaging designer, Bjork! It's a cardboard box containing five separate, flimsy sleeves that hold an additional sleeve containing the CDs. It's wasteful, ugly and downright annoying! It may seem artsy to have all this cardboard junk to dig though, but form does not follow function here!

The artwork is also bland and mediocre, far from representation of Bjork's music.

Björk rules!!!
WOW! I love Björk. She is my favorite singer of all times. This Box Set is a piece of art. I think she realeased this collection in the best time possible. Having 5 amazing studio records gave her a lot of material to work with. Many people have compared this box set with the Family Tree Box set. I have them both, and there is no comparison between them. The Family Tree concept is very different, it shows not only her solo career but also her work with other bands (Kukl, Sugarcubes) and it shows the evolution she has been having over the years. Meanwhile, the Live Box Set shows you her albums in a live form. CD 1, Debut Live, it's the MTV Unplugged she recorded. There is nothing different between the DVD and the CD, except that it includes Venus As A Boy. But then, I wondered, where is Atlantic? I have Atlantic live in mp3, and it is one of her best songs in icelandic. Definetely it should have been included. CD 2, Post Live. Again, it is the CD version of the Shepherd Bush DVD concert. It includes other songs from other performances (Hyperballad, I Miss You...) The beautiful song I Go Humble is there. CD 3, Homogenic Live. The BEST! It is the best of the CD's in the package. It includes almost all of the album songs and B-sides as So Broken. The strings are amazing, and the whole CD is breathtaking. At this point, I've read other reviews and I've seen that many people were not happy having The Anchor Song on three of the four CD's. The thing about this song, is that it shows you the evolution on her different tours. I think it's the only song that can show those changes. CD 4, Vespertine Live. Definetely, the choir is the best thing on this CD. However, on It's Not Up To You they could have done something way better, but it sounds good anyway. I was kind of dissapointed when I noticed that Generous Palmstroke is exactly the same that comes on the Family Tree box set, the same live version. I also think that a masterpiece she should have included was Verandi, just imagine the combination of her voice, Matmos and the orchestra performing that song. That would have been something gooooood! The DVD is just a taste of her other DVD's. It's good, a great bonus. Overall, if you are a truly Björk fan, don't hasitate and BUY THIS NOW! Don't mind the money, it's worth every single penny. BUY IT!!!!

A collection of genious performances by a genious artist
Before receiving the Live Box as a gift, I had only liked Bjork mildly. Only some songs appealed to me, and I could only handle her on various occasions. Quite frankly, when I was feeling out of my mind. The experience of this box set changed things. I had never given her live performances a chance. I spent time listening to each disc, chronologically (Debut to Vespertine). The experience was incredible, and her music began to touch me in a way I hadn't expected.

The Live Box made me appreciate her albums to the max, and I now consider myself a Bjork fan. I hear what she's saying, I know her motivation for music...I get her.

Besides only being a personal benefitting factor for me, the Live Box is also a gem in itself. Bjork's genious takes over when she performs. Her albums do much justice for her talent, but nothing compares to her concerts. Hearing the amateur performances of the songs from to the techno-filled dance party of the tour, all the way up to the theatrical beauty of the advanced tour is the best treat this box set can offer. You also get a handy book that features a lengthy interview with the artist herself, and a DVD to slightly hint at how these amazing performances looked.

My next step is to buy all the DVDs to see these shows rather than hear them. I'm sure that experience will only be even more gorgeous and inspiring. It took me some to realize it, but Bjork is an amazing intellectual talent that will continue to amaze with everything she releases. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

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

Reviews (189)

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

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

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

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

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

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

1. the introduction of the song "untitled"

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

3. "f*ckin up"

4. the first official live recording of classic songs

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

Album Description

MTV's 'Music In High Places' brings musicians to the mostancient and intriguing sites on earth, and captures theiracoustic performances and in-depth interviews during thejourney. Unwritten Law's performance in YellowstoneNational Park in August almost sounds antithetical to their punk sound, but when you hear the songs in their raw form,you immediately hear what longtime fans have known foryears. This is the California band's first Lava releaseafter parting ways with Interscope. 2003. ... Read more

Reviews (33)

say you'll be here for the rest of my life
i hope they stick around! unwritten law is an awesome band and i am totally in love with the songs "seein' red" and "rest of my life". these songs are just great, and i also think it's really cool that they recorded this cd from a national park. it gives it a more intimate feeling. buy 'from music in high places'!!

Music in High Places, a very rad album
I snuck out with a friend to purchase this album, we drove to a neighbor town bout 15 minutes away to get it, it was not a dissapointment, the CD sounds so rad up in Mt. Rushmore the quality and sound and everything are so amazing, and its live!, my only complaint is on seein' red, although Both the one on Music in High places and the track on Elva are very good, Elva's is Better, Props to Up all night and Geronimo, those sound so great on that Music in High Places, i encourage everyone to Buy this CD and All of Unwritten Law's other CD's. Cheers

Great listen
If you like Unwritten Law you will love this. It almost has a very innocent sound to it. It also has an old treasure for old UL fans in the last track. Good Stuff!

such a treasure
I stumbled upon this particular album by accident, and I am so thankful I did. Immediately, you are struck by the sheer talent of this band from the first notes. Fresh, exciting, and completely fierce,Unwritten Law delivers acoustic renditions of their punk/rock songs. It's a wonder why they are not one of the biggest bands around. Their lyrics are honest and forceful, their music is intricate and extremely well-played.

Different styles integrate into an acoustic medley that make for an amazing listening experience. Personal favorites include the beautifully honest 'Rest of my Life' and the blues rock infused 'Blame it On Me'

Unwritten Law are unlike any other band out there. 'Music from High Places' is an album that fully embodies all elements of good music: raw talent, fresh sounds, seasoned skill.

It's what all albums should strive to be.

Enjoy!

If you like Unwritten Law you'll love this
I bought this album because i liked most of the songs on it. All the songs including "Before I Go" and "Elva" are great. This album is a must buy. Rock On!!! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Goodbye Get Up Kids, It's Been Quite A Ride
Well this could be the last album we get of The Get Up Kids, who are breaking up after a final farewell tour this summer.It's been a great ride, and this album gives a good selection of their greatest hits, especially a lot of their older stuff, the songs that got most of us fans hooked in the first place.Hopefully they won't "Stay Gone" forever.. ... Read more

Album Description

1989 Beggars Banquet release of the influential goth band's'Swing The Heartache: The BBC Sessions', a collection of 18tracks from their five sessions for the BBC between 1980-1983. Out of print in the U.S., it includes 'Telegram Sam','In The Flat Field', ... Read more

Reviews (5)

undoubtedly a most exellently put together piece
This is a wonderful album that was played and recorded live in england (bauhaus' homebase). I would recommend it to anyone interested in modern/post-modern/post-punk/expressionistic/dark wave/new wave/ect. rock. I was genuinely tired of some of the versions of some of the versions of the songs on the other bauhaus albums like mask, burning from the inside, and the sky's gone out, so I went searching for live albums from this band in hopes of perhaps finding some fresher versions of these songs or maybe even some new material. I had already purchased an listened to bauhaus' press eject and give me the tape, loved it too much, and played it over and over again until I reached the point where I could not stand to listen again. And then I found this album. This album comes complete with some very haunting new versions of
A God in an Alcove, Double Dare, In Fear of Fear, and In the Flat Field, which I continue to enjoy undoubtedly. All of these songs come complete with rare chorus coming from the other band members . It also has some rare material at the end, which, if you can call them songs, are very interesting to say the least. I would go ahead with this one, you will not be disappointed. And for those of you who were wondering, yes, alot of bauhaus' songs are repeated in different recordings. But no, they are not all the same. They all seem to vary in terms of the atmosphere expediated from the band members' instruments and Peter Murphy's hollowing vocals.

modern music lovers must have
It's a must have - not just for Bauhaus\goth\punk\blah blah blah fans, but for anyone who is open to exploring & understanding contemporary music. It's a great collection of Bauhaus material, and the sound is so cool. I'm a huge fan of the BBC\John Peel sessions because the performaces are 'live' and the sound is raw. Thses recording let you hear what bands that are famous for their 'eletronic' sound actually sound like with minimal studio magic!

the real bauhaus
Those who can appreciate a harsher edge to their music can appreciate 'Swing the Heartache'. These sessions were recorded live (with minimal overdubs) for broadcast on BBC radio. Being a person who always enjoys a band more live than in the produced perfection of the studio (and always seeming to prefer the b-sides to singles), 'Swing' is by far my favorite Bauhaus CD. If you're not someone who appreciates the energy--and the lesser degree of polish--of live music and you want a Bauhaus sampler, try 'Crackle'; if, on the other hand, you want to know what these boys sound like live, this is a good choice.

Dissapointing
I was very dissapointed with this release. It was one of the first bauhaus cd's I bought, and thought it was really cool. I then realized most of these songs are on other albums, and the versions on those albums are much better. This is the one bauhaus CD I wouldn't recommend.

Five stars does little justice-but the top rank here is 5...
This is really a remarkable collection of their older songs, re recorded, and re released. Yes, these notes sound just like they did in their first presentations, but somehow, Bauhaus managed to perfect what was perfect already, by sharpening and blending so descretely in their work, that you don't even notice a change. Play it through, and again play it all. It's easy to become addicted to their music, as always.(call me silly, but hey) ... Read more

Amazon.com

For his DreamWorks debut, spoken-word artiste Henry Rollins turns the funny-dude charm way up on 13 jocular monologues. Recorded live at 1997 and 1998 gigs in Chicago and Australia, Think Tank presents a far lighter side than Rollins previously has recorded. He shows another side here, one different from the counterculture icon--the guy with so much pain, he had to tattoo it all over his body and scream it out through rad punk tunes as the human throat for Black Flag and the Rollins Band--and, surprisingly, the lighter Rollins isn't Rollins Lite. The 30-something performer has found his ultimate calling as a caring but angry über-punk who's on your side in the fight against evil. Channeling his rage into prosaic humor, Rollins details the really big problems of life (homophobia, lyrics to Journey songs, racism, vegetarians) and small everyday bummers (the cast of Friends, idiots everywhere, fax machines) alongside detailed postcards from the rock-star life. --Mike McGonigal ... Read more

Reviews (18)

A "Tank" to swim in for hours...
"Think Tank" showcases Henry Rollins at his Spoken Word best, IMHO. This record is so far my favorite of Hank's "Talking" records. The first disc is a collection of mostly short pieces from a birthday show in Chicago, while the second disc contains longer tour stories told in Australia.

Think Tank is great because it takes all the elements of Rollins's storytelling that have shown up individually in his previous records and BAM! Suddenly they all come together, and the result is funny, vicious, cynical, compelling and thought-provoking all at the same time. "El Nino" is a hilarious look at the much-ballyhooed weather pattern that trashed California in 1996-97, while "Airport Hell" rehashes the negative aspects of living life on the road.

My favorite tracks on this Album are the final 5, however. "Nothin Can Go Wrong" is enormously funny, chronicling some of Rollins' more embarassing moments onstage. "Russia" recounts one of the Rollins Band's memorable trips, and "Marius" is the touching (yet not saccharin by any means) tale of a lad with leukemia who Henry got to meet in Australia.

Over and over, these tracks amaze and amuse. I have listened to this record more times than I can count, and I still crack up every time. This is a great record, and I suggest you pick it up. If you're not a Rollins fan yet, you will be after getting this record.

Also check out the companion (sort of) video, "You Saw Me Up There". Not quite as tight as the CD, but it contains one EPIC story about Hank, a single engine plane, and a guy in a cover band.

A Rollins spoken word record which is long overdue.
To those unfamiliar with Henry Rollins' spoken word records, this CD is a very nice introduction to his work. To those who are, this Rollins at his absolute finest. From second one, Hank brings you through his adventures at the airport (continued), television, Bill Clinton, etc. The first CD is a very rapid fire comedic routine, as the second CD is more involved with telling long storylines and being just as funny if not funnier. Henry has mastered his storytelling ability to the point where its effortless, and this is readily evident in these 2 hours. Everyone can relate to at least one of his stories, as he speaks from a perspective of everyday life. This CD set will become a constant companion to you on a lonely night for years to come. If you enjoy this, I highly recommend Human Butt, Live at McCabe's, and the Boxed Life for even more great rides from the life of Henry Rollins.

Why would you buy this here?
Dude, if you want to buy a Rollins CD, go to his website and buy it direct. Why pay $16 for a $10 CD, just to pay for corporate overhead. Henry would not approve!
Oh yeah, screw Ticketmaster too!

Henry's Other Job...
When not fronting Rollins Band or hosting the carnage on TLC's "Full Metal Challenge", Henry tours the globe with his comic act. By this point, the material is professional and polished - until you get to "Marius". This story, of a fan who taught Henry a major life lesson, is the best and most honest bit on the cd.

While I truly prefer Henry's earlier work - the less well-honed sets - this is a very good cd. However, if you really want the Rollins experience, a ticket to his show is required.

Workingmans Hero
After listening to different spoken word artists I would have to say Henry is at the top of the list. Henry is a very intense, funny guy. He has the ability to take what he sees, process it in his brain and then regurgitate it to the audience in a very straightforward humorous way. There is no b.s. with this guy he says it like it is. He's very on the level, never alienates with any kind of "I'm a star" attitude. In fact he went out of the way to play in Chicago as a thank you to his fans. Henry lets his fans know they are appreciated and are the main reason he gets to make a living doing what he does.

Rollins talks alot about society and about how he views peoples interactions with him and each other. Of notable instances, "The Gay Thing" and "Television" will keep you laughing all the way through. The gay thing makes you laugh as well as teach you about being more open minded. After hearing television you might have urges to throw away your tv. Henry's humor isn't over the top, or full of slapstick punchlines. He is very good at observation comedy(add a dash of sarcasm) kind of like a Steven Wright.

Overall this album is a hit; there are some serious moments "Marius" for example is about a fan who is terminally ill. Even an occasional miss such as "El Nino" where Rollins humor just misses the mark. Still even with its little flaws this is a very solid piece of work. Remember this is done by a man who isn't a professional comedian or a trained orator, instead you have a regular Joe off the street doing something people only dream of. ... Read more

Amazon.com

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

Reviews (29)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rest in peace, Layne Staley.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

All in all, this is still a must have for AIC fans, but one can only hope that someone puts some effort into a real "Live&quo