5 comments about B-Sides & Rarities.

1. I don't really consider myself a diehard fan of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds but I do like a good deal of his work. I recently picked up a copy of B-SIDES & RARITIES from my library because I wanted to re-acquaint myself with his music (it has been a few years since I have listened to Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds). It did not take me very long to remember why I like Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. I just love Nick Cave's deep baritone voice. I am often reminded of one of my favorite singers Voltaire. I enjoyed most of the songs on the album, like the beautiful cover of "What a Wonderful World" and a different version of "Where the Wild Roses Grow" (minus Kylie Minogue). There were a small handful of songs I wasn't too keen on but otherwise this anthology of rare and unheard tracks by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds is a nice reminder to Nick Cave's talents as a singer/songwriter.



2. This is Nick Cave's very own favourite album by the Bad Seeds, and this also happens to be my favourite album of all time. I purchased these three discs for about 16 dollars, making it my first Nick Cave CD of purchase. I listened to it all, and it was just perfect.
   
   I've bought a lot more Nick Cave albums since then, in which he has turned out to be my number one favourite artist, but i always look back on this one as my ultimate favourite.
   
   The 3-disc compliation of b-sides and rarities are all good enough to be sprawled across his other albums, but at the same time im happy that this compliation was made. There is too many songs to highlight, but stand-outs included the bluesy jam of God's Hotel with great lyrics, the acoustic versions of Deanna, City Of Refuge, The Mercy Seat and Jack The Ripper, a great upbeat tune called Come Into My Sleep, a magnificent cover of Rainy Night In Soho, Sail Away, and so so SO many more.
   
   This album showed me how good music can get. I highly recommend you should buy it, right now.
   
   p.s although this is under a kids review, i'm not a kid



3. They may be called B Sides and Rarities but there is nothing sub par about these songs. And even plucked out of different eras and line-ups, they actually form a sort of cohesive, deranged, drunken blues and poetry whole.
   There are album offshoots, some unashamedly beautiful like Train Song, acoustic versions and jazzed up remixes of classics, like Red Right Hand, Deanna and Scum, there are cover songs and crazy jam session on a theme, both of which apply to Leonard Cohen's Tower of Song, plus live gems like God's Hotel - just listen to what the band does in the background!
   For old faithful, this is a treasure box, even if you thought you had it all. I had almost all of these on CD singles and such, but one was rendered inaccessible by technological progress- the track from the X Files soundtrack; it was hidden before the first song and impossible to play on computer CD players. And it's nice to have the whole collection handy on three CDs.
   For new fans this could actually be a great, offbeat introduction to the wonderful world of the Bad Seeds: dark humor and great songwriting, with a touch of inspired insanity, in one cool package. Just sample "The Ballad Of Robert Moore And Betty Coltrane", a three minute Quentin Tarantino movie rolled into a song, and you will be exploring Cave in no time.



4. Meestal zijn B-sides en rarities een collectie bijeengeraapte rommel die niet verkocht raakt van een artiest die 'fin-de-carriere' is... maar dit is zeker een uitzondering. Alleen al voor de compleet geflipte versie van O' Malley's bar is het zijn geld meer dan waard. The ballad of Robert Moore and Betty Coltrane had eigenlijk ook op Murder Ballads moeten staan...
   The Tower of song is beter dan de originele versie. Gewoon supergeslaagd!!



5. What I love the most about this 3 disk set is volume III.
   That disc alone is what made buying this worth it. To start it
   off, you have "My little empty boat". I fell in love with this
   song the first time I heard it. I wonder why he never put that
   on of his regular albums. It may be one of his best. The rest of the disc reflects a part of his life that is more personal.
   It's calm. I haven't liked his last albums that much, but when
   I heard this, I was like what the f---. Why was he waiting so
   long to put this stuff out. Volume III is mature. And I don't
   mean there is sex and violence in it. It's sophisticated.

5 comments about The Misfits Box Set.

1. First off, i love the Misfits period. This review is so that people don't get disappointed when they buy the box. It's a bare-bones box witch absolutely the cheapest cd covers .- no extras worth mentioning . Yes, the box itself is pretty okay - but that's it. Also, this came out at a time when cd packaging wasn't as nice as it is now - but still - total cheapery. The only other box-set i can think of that was a worse rip-off was the Gone With the Wind box-set i bought for my mom for alot and came with only one vhs box inside. Anyway, i stray. I don't care - being a fiend, the price is worth it for disc 3 alone to me. If you wanna buy fits cd's, definitely buy all the regular cd's (which are just as bare-bones as far as info/liner notes/pics - but at least you still get the beautiful artwork and don't feel gypped - yes that's how i spell it. One of my favorite bands of All time. Danzig, make fiends with the rest of the band already!!!?



2. One of the best box sets money can buy!!! Tons of awesome music, great book, cool pin and very cool casket housing.



3. If you are a real big fan of the best horror punk band ever you must got this box. The box has the coolest design i've ever seen, and the four cds provide a wide view of Misfits music. You get all the classics, "Last Caress", "Night of the Living Dead", "Where Eagles Dare", "Horror Business" and so on. The book is not that good, with few pictures, but at least, with all the lyrics of the cd's. It's an expensive item, but the Misfits fan's we'll be happy with the material.



4. Definately worth your money. It's awesome. If you love the old school Misfits, buy it!



5. It was everything we expected, the only thing is I would have liked to see more detail in the description. For example what was included in the box set. Overall very satisfied.

5 comments about Like, Omigod! The '80s Pop Culture Box (Totally).

1. Sometime in the 1990s, Rhino released a set of 15 CDs titled Just Can't Get Enough: New Wave Hits Of The 80s. Most of those have fallen out of print, and I suppose this box set was supposed to act as a replacement. Whatever the scenario may be, I'd encourage anyone to try to hunt down the 15 Just Can't Get Enough CDs, because everything that Rhino did right in that series is amplified by all that is done wrong here.
   
   The 1980s produced a lot of great New Wave singles, some of which are on this box set and many of which can be found on the Just Can't Get Enough series. But instead of going the extra mile to license those off-beat tracks for this box set, the producers filled the discs with a whole bunch of crap.
   
   Sure, you get "Whip It" and "Turning Japanese." You get Gary Numan, The Buggles, Blondie and Duran Duran. And you get some great rock tracks from the J. Geils Band, Billy Idol, and Georgia Satellites. But Christopher Cross? Grover Washington Jr.? Billy Crystal? The theme to The Greatest American Hero? Simply put, for every great song like the Cars' "Shake It Up" there are tracks by Styx or New Kids On The Block.
   
   This issue is compounded more when you consider what is not on the set. While chart-topping artists like U2, Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, Guns N' Roses and Def Leppard may have presented licensing hurdles, the entire underground alternative rock scene is ignored. You'll find nothing from the Replacements, Husker Du, Dinosaur Jr., the Pixies, R.E.M., or any other groundbreaking alt-rock 80s band.
   
   Also absent is XTC, "88 Lines About 44 Women," "I Don't Like Mondays," "Pop Muzik," Marshall Crenshaw, "I Melt With You," "The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades," A Flock Of Seagulls, Adam Ant, Ultravox, "Mexican Radio," and Midnight Oil's stellar single "Beds Are Burning." These omissions are simply inexcusable. The birth of hip-hop is also given the short end of the stick.
   
   In short, the 80s could have been done much better.



2. I had been looking for a number of these songs and found it in all one boxed set. Buying from Amazon was much more economical than from the bookstore, even with 15% off. Delivery was immediate, as promised.



3. its a very good and almost complete 80's colletion.
   there is a few songs not important or famous.
   the box is pretty and the book its interesant.



4. As a child of the 80's I really enjoyed hearing all of the songs in this box set. The box set really showcases all of the one-hit-wonders that seemed to make up top 40 radio in the 80's: Kajagoogoo, Bow Wow Wow, Taco, The Fixx, etc. Most of the decade's major stars are absent, but I'm sure one Madonna, Michael Jackson or Prince tune would have cost way too much to license. If you love 80's music, you will enjoy this box set, that is if you don't already own most of these tunes.
   
   My problem with the box set is that it doesn't differentiate itself from so many countless others that are available. I picked this box set up after listening to Rhino's "Have a Nice Decade: 70's Box Set". The 70's box featured about 4 or 5 soundbites per disk wedged between songs. The scope of music found of the 70's box set was fantastic, and the various styles presented kept my attention. The Newscasts and soundbites, the variety really captured the flavor of the 70's. You won't find this in the 80's box set. The tunes presented in the 80's set are basically all Top 40 hits, and really doesn't scratch the surface of the music scene in the 80's. Where is Siouxsie and the Banshees, where are The Dead Milkmen, where is Morris Day and the Time? I like the hits, but let's face it, I don't need another copy of "Tainted Love" or "Take on Me" which are readily available on almost any 80's best of CD.
   The booklet that comes with the box set has some decent info, but why does it start off with an essay that is so critical of the decade? Instead of celebrating the Reagan years, we get a diatribe about "greed" and how shallow and dismal the decade was???? Buyers of this box set probably have fond memories of the time this set represents...why have such a negative essay start things off? The song by song rundown is good, as is the timeline running along the bottom of the booklet which points out key events of the decade.
   I guess in the long run it boils down to if you don't have these tunes, this is a handy collection to pick them all up in one shot, but if you already have plenty of 80's cds in your collection..you may want to pass as there really isn't anything new here.



5. Although this set has a good selection of 80's music i don't feel it included a lot of songs that are better than what it has. I really like the 70's version of this set though.

5 comments about Music Bank.

1. I can imagine most people who're considering buying Music Bank are salivating over the same thing I was when I bought this box set: the unreleased tracks and the demos. The good news about Music Bank: the unreleased tracks do not disappoint. Any AiC fans should find themselves thoroughly enjoying these songs during the first listen. On top of that, there's a mini-booklet full of AiC history and comments from the band members. The bad news: The majority of Alice in Chains' studio material also appears here, including the entire album Dirt, and all 4 tracks from SAP. So, for those of us who already have all the studio albums, a good part of Music Bank is essentially worthless.
   
   Despite containing a load of studio tracks, I will say this for Music Bank: it keeps the listener interested. The unreleased tracks are fresh enough and the demos are different enough from their studio versions to satisfy most AiC fans. They also did a good job of mixing up the studio tracks, even though Music Bank goes in chronological order by release (for the most part).
   
   Disc 1 is the most valuable part of Music Bank as far as "new" material goes. It includes the single Get Born Again and 7 demos, 4 of which never appeared on an AiC album as actual songs. You also get the song "Queen of the Rodeo", which appears on the AiC album "Live." Disc 1 also includes a slew of tracks from Facelift and a pair from SAP.
   
   Disc 2 is, unfortunately, the disappointing part of Music Bank. Anyone who has the album Dirt will find little desire to listen to Disc 2. Ten of the songs on this disc are straight off of Dirt, and 4 more are studio tracks from other albums. There are two unreleased tracks and a demo of "Junkhead" on this disc, but I hardly find it worth my time to listen to this one all the way through when I can just pop Dirt into my stereo and essentially listen to the same thing.
   
   Disc 3 is, in my opinion, the strongest disc (overall) in the set. You get the remixes of the songs "What the Hell Have I" and "A Little Bitter", both of which originally appeared on the Last Action Hero soundtrack, and a remix of "Again", though I can't say I'm a fan of this version. You also get 3 songs from AiC's Unplugged live show, including "The Killer is Me." The real gem on this disc, however, is "Died", the last song Alice in Chains ever recorded, and, in my opinion, the best song in the whole set. For studio tracks you get 5 off of their self-titled album and the 2 from "Dirt" they didn't include on disc 2.
   
   Disc 4 just has some interactive stuff you can access through a PC. It's kind of cool, but it isn't something most people will need to see more than once.
   
   To sum up Music Bank, it's definitely something serious AIC fans can enjoy, and it's also a good way for the casual fan to get into the band. The only downer: All of Dirt and SAP did not need to be included here. I would have been satisfied if they had taken 6-8 tracks from Dirt and only 1-2 from SAP. Definitely worth 30 dollars, but think hard before spending more than 40 on it.



2. If you are a fan of Alice in Chains, I highly recommend this compilation of works by them. They have put all the songs, even some unreleased demos on the cds, and it is definitely worth the price.



3. This box set is one of a kind. I was impressed to see how many unreleased songs were in this set and that all of the CD's came in their own case, instead of sleeves like most box sets. All in all, it is a fantastic addition to any collection.



4. For hardcore AIC fans, not for the casual listener. Be aware that there are studio outtakes and alternate versions of songs on this set that are found on other AIC offerings.
   
   For the hardcore AIC fan, it is a must.



5. 48 Alice In Chains songs. All the hits, all the fan favorites, all the rare songs, and even some new ones!
   You get early, classic demos like: "I Can't Have You Blues", "Whatcha Gonna Do", "Social Parasite", and "Queen of the Rodeo".
   
   You get rare songs like: "A Little Bitter", "What the Hell Have I?", "Killing Yourself", "Lying Season", and "Killer Is Me".
   
   You get new, unreleased songs: "Get Born Again", "Fear the Voices", and "Died".
   
   Combine all those great songs with great booklets (pictures, notes, etc), and awesome packaging, and you get one of the best music sets ever released for a band. Also, I would get Music Bank: The Videos, because it has all of their music videos, which were some of the coolest vids I've ever seen. Enjoy!

3 comments about Billboard Top 10 Karaoke, Vol. 1.

1. This CD does live up to it reviews. It is an excellent compilation of the decades passed. i love it. A must have for any karaoke r.



2. The music is not the original artists but is music "made famous by the original artist" and is only evident once you read the fine print. It seems a bit dishonest to use the Billboard Top 10 as a selling vehicle. I rated the item a 4 because the music is ok and after all it is Karaoke. Worst of all is the price--I found these at Walmart for $30.



3. The songs are fine, but there is no way to tell how close you are to the next lyric when in between verses. Unless you know the songs it can be tough to track. Many other competitors have ...s or something to signal how close you are to the next verse.

5 comments about Five Guys Walk into a Bar....

1. !. Because it's the Faces.
   2. Allmusic's Review and the Reviewers on this page.
   3. This is one Box Set that lives more than up to it's 5 stars.
   4. The Experience of trying to pimp my Rolling Stones collection on main street.
   5. For giving my 5 stars worth.



2. This collection is excellent for those who wish to hear what is considered the true, basic Rod Stewart and the Faces. Before the all the stardom and sometimes thought of over production seem to control
   the music. Great basic raw cratfmenship shines in this product.



3. If your wife, girlfriend or someone you know loves rod stewart as much as my wife then they will enjoy this pre solo stewart era band.



4. actually, i think that rod and ron consecutively re-launched the faces and then rod's solo career on the basis of having so much material to lay down following their creative and psychedelic stint with the jeff beck group. the first 2 jeff beck recordings are stellar examples of rod's impressive vocal skills. also, the first 2 rod records sound identical to the faces material from the same period. all of these releases still sound great today



5. I wasn't terribly familiar with the Faces, but a friend got this and I was blown away. Booze and blues. Great stuff. A four discs are fantastic. If you like British blues this is for you.
   
   Only negative is the packaging is the typical nonsense these days. It is a book format with four overlapping CDs. What should come is four jewel cases with a separate book. The book here is epoxied to the binder and weak and anything resembling a digipak sucks and scratches the discs.
   
   Put the discs in jewel cases and enjoy the book.
   
   Great stuff.

5 comments about Live at the Gorge 05/06.

1. I attended every one of these shows at The Gorge, and listening to this CD reminds me of each of them at different moments. Mainly when Ed Vedder discusses things. This is a great gift for any PJ fan.



2. I recently bought this box set and I really like it. I have bought other live cd's from Pearl Jam before, but can't help buying cd's that come out. They really give out a great show in every concert which makes them unique. It is a great group that still makes good music. If you already own this set, I could also recomend Live At Benaroya Hall which is an acustic concert.



3. Just get it!! This is a great set of shows. All three shows are great!! The music is great and the atmosphere that Eddie Vedder creates is awesome!! Enjoy it!



4. I like Pearl Jam. When I had just graduated from high school they were the biggest thing in Rock. They were cool and more importantly back then, I was cool because I liked them. Some 18 years later, somewhere in a dusty corner of my house I have the CD's alphabetized in some kind of time capsule that my wife wishes was boxed up and out in the garage.
   
   So last week I found myself at a music store and I came across this really cool looking box... "Pearl Jam". I picked it up and looked at the incredible amount of music contained on the discs... some titles I knew, some I had no idea about. I am 39; I have a good job, so I came home and ordered from Amazon. Well I got the package last night... I put in disc one at 11 pm and I sat up all last night listening to these songs, the new and the old, and I held the box like you do when you are 14 and music is everything. I felt transported during this musical journey and I wanted to share with you how good this group of songs is, how drawn in to the concert setting you will be. I liked Pearl Jam when it was 1991 and now in 2008 they seem so damn good, not just angry but powerful. What a find. I encourage anyone with a dusty corner in their home to relearn Pearl Jam and to enjoy the wonderful tracks that you might not even know about it you moved on after the "Vitalogy" years.
   
   Five stars ***** Pearl Jam is the new Dead, with a better catalog. For a few hours I did not have a mortgage, car payment, and a house that needed to be cleaned... For a few hours I was Live at the Gorge with Pearl Jam... and it was a place that I had not been to for a long time, too long.



5. I feel sorry for the seasoned PJ fan, especially the fanatics who buy EVERYTHING! There are many, many, many live PJ cd's out there. They record everything and offer it to the fans. For collectors it has to be hell to keep up. May have to mortgage the house to have them all, but this set is an exception. Even the big fans that dont buy every one (like myself), but buy their studio CD's should have this.
   
   3 shows in their entirety and very raw yet excellent sounding. The crowd sings along to a lot of tracks, which is good for the feel, but can be annoying. Small complaint to an otherwise flawless live set. The set-lists themselves offer a great variety and hit on each disc. A couple extras and fun covers are here too. The packaging is excellent and is cool for collectors.. Songs do repeat in the set, but makes the shows legit.
   
   I really pick my spots to purchase 'Live' CD's, but i have to say that this one is really well done. A no-brainer for PJ fans. And is a decent value for 7-discs if you find it onsale. Even live rock junkies should have this as the band sounds tighter than ever.

5 comments about The Singles 81-85.

1. The price on this boxed set kept me away from it for a long time. When I finally found it for a decent price on Amazon through a re-seller, I jumped on it. I am so glad that I did.
   This boxed set is amazing. It is like having all of the 7 inch 45s singles (for you younger fans, that's the small vinyl records that played at 45RPM, as opposed to the 12 inch 33.3s). There are 13 disks- each with at least two songs (A side and B side), some with as many as four songs.
   With this set, you get otherwise unreleased songs (not on any albums):
   1. Late Bar
   2. Khanada
   3. Fame
   4. Faster Than Light
   5. Like an Angel
   6. Faith In This Colour (two versions)
   7. Secret Oktober (my fave B side ^_^)
   8. Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)~live
   
   It also has the "night versions" (made for night clubs, I believe) of the following:
   1. Planet Earth
   2. Girls on Film
   3. My Own Way
   4. Hungry Like the Wolf
   
   In addition to all that, there are live versions and alternative mixes of the basic singles.
   
   The coolest thing about this boxed set is that the CDs are individually packaged in mini-record jackets. It's just like having the actual singles in your hands when you have these. And the insert with the list of all the song has an awesome photo of the band from what looks like 1981 (they were all just so young! Nick was just a baby!! <3 LOL)
   
   Okay, the draw-back to this set...it's a pain to load into your computer for MP3 or iPod use. There are 13 disks, so it takes some time...but that's it. Other than that, I have absolutely no complaints about this boxed set. In fact, I think every Duranie should own this!
   >^..^<



2. I had most of these singles on 12" vinyl back in the day and lost them when my self-storage unit was burglarized in college. That was 17 years ago, and now I can listen to some vintage b-sides with this collection. Yes, I agree the packaging is wasteful (the entire compilation would fit on just a few CDs), but it's nice having reproductions of the original cover art, and for those who actually care about discography, it's a reminder of how the songs were originally released. In any case, unless you were a Duran Duran fan, especially their early stuff, you probably won't enjoy this set. Recommended for the over-35 crowd with 80s nostalgia.



3. I'm loving the various versions of the hits I so enjoyed as a kid. I especially like the night version of Hungry Like the Wolf. I remember listening to that on the vinyl LP and then feeling really disappointed while listening to the CD version (not the same). The packaging is well done. It's nice to see the original artwork from the old singles. I agree with one of the other reviewers that 13 discs is overkill. I would've been happy with 2 discs and inserts with the original artwork. Regardless, if you are a fan of DD this makes a nice addition to your music collection.



4. Original artwork, B-Sides, great music. What more can be said.
   This compiliation includes all of their singles from Planet Earth to A View to A Kill in the original sleeve artwork (UK artwork). A must have for any D2 fan.



5. I absolutely love this collection! Sure,there have been compilation CDs that have several of these songs on them, but to have them on CD as they originally were, complete with the original artwork, makes the experience that much more special for those of us who had the 45s back in the day, back when we'd sit and look at the cover while the music was playing. It is truly a must-have for anyone who considers themselves a Duran Duran fan.

5 comments about Hampton Comes Alive.

1. This is nothing crazy, but good solid jamming with some rare songs. A must have.



2. If there has been a band that has had the most success of being an "underground" band, it would have to be Phish. Phish has long had the reputation of being a band with an "open audio taping" policy and as a result they built up a great following - especially as a live act. . In fairness to the quartet, this is a band that produces some of the most innovative music anywhere on the music scene. Phish's reputation both as a studio band and a live act really took off in the mid 1990s. Phish would release two live albums in the mid 1990s - 1994's "A Live One" and 1997's "Slip Stitch and Pass". Both were terrific live sets, but the best was yet to come as Phish would release in 1999 "Hampton Comes Alive" - a six CD boxed set that chronicles a two night 1998 gig in Hampton, Virginia.
   
   "Hampton Comes Alive" is the third live album by Phish. The first one was 1994's "A Live One". "A Live One" was a good introduction to Phish as it really showcases Phish's jams in top form. "A Live One" was a double CD set with only 12 songs, but contained 131 minutes of music. During the mid 1990s where Phish would not only cement themselves as a jam band, but they also would establish themselves as a premier improvisational band. In fact, they might just be one of the greatest improvisational bands of all time. They put a mix of Folk, Rock, Jazz, and Country into their music. "Slip Stitch and Pass" does a great job at showcasing the live improvisational skills of Phish while performing an an intimate setting. At the same time, the mid 1990s saw Phish emerge as one of the great cover bands in a live setting. Covering other artists' songs would be a natural extension of the improvisational skills of Phish. "Hampton Comes Alive" would not only showcase Phish's jam and improvisational skills, but would also continue to showcase Phish covering other artists.
   
   "Hampton Comes Alive" is a six CD set. The first three CDs are from the November 20th show and the second three CDs are from the November 21st show. Although this is a six CD set, there is not a equal distribution of material. This could have probably been compressed to less than six CDs. However, Phish does divide the material up by the sets they play on each night. In the groupings for each night, the first two CDs (Disc 1,2,4,5) contain Set 1 while the third CD (Disc 3,6) contains Set 2 for each of the two nights.
   
   Here are ten facts about this collection:
   
   1-Phish performs two separate playlists on each of the nights (typical for Phish) with no repeats. I happened to think the November 20th show has the slight edge. However, on each of the two nights I consider the second set of the night stronger than the first.
   
   2-Phish performs eleven covers. These include: "Rock and Roll, Part 2" by Gary Glitter; "Quinn the Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn)" by Bob Dylan; "Funky Bitch" by Son Seals; "Roses Are Free" by Ween;"Gettin' Jiggy Wit It" by Will Smith;"Cry Baby Cry" by The Beatles; "Boogie On Reggae Woman" by Stevie Wonder; "Nellie Kane" by Hot Rize; "Bold as Love" by The Jimi Hendrix Experience; "Sabotage" by The Beastie Boys; and "Tubthumping" by Chumbawumba.
   
   3-The two best covers are "Gettin Jiggy Wit It" and "Tubthumping". These performances show a knack for Phish being able to improvise. Longtime Phish lyricist, Tom Marshall guest vocals on "Tubthumping". Phish improvises by injecting a humorous spin on these tracks. A honorable mention goes to "Rock and Roll Part 2" - this is a song that fits the musicianship of Phish just perfectly.
   
   4-The band overall delivers top musicianship. Throughout the collection, you can hear Page McConnell's keyboards, Mike Gordon's bass, Trey Anastasio's guitar, and Jon Fishman's drums all shine. I give Fishman's performance a lot of credit - he is often overlooked as a drummer, but on these performances he shines.
   
   5-Perhaps the one negative is that there is one only one song from "Hoist" - which I consider one of their strongest albums. The lone representative song is a good version of "Axilla".
   
   6-Phish brings in their longtime trumpet player named Carl Gerhard who provides horns on the final tracks of each of the shows - "Cavern" (11/20 show) and "Tubthumping" (11/21 show). Gerhard's horns are perfect on "Tubthumping" and add a whole new dimension to "Cavern".
   
   7-On "A Live One", it featured two Phish classics in "Wilson" and "Simple". On "Hampton Comes Alive", we are also treated to these songs - however we are treated to longer, extended jams of these songs on "Hampton Comes Alive". These songs adapt well to the extended jam perfectly.
   
   8-There is sort of an extended "Mike's Groove" included on the final set. This is the strongest block of the collection. "Mike's Groove" normally consists of "Mike's Song", "I Am Hydrogen", and "Weekapaug Groove". We are still treated to "Mike's Song" and "Weekapaug Groove", but sandwhiched in between are "Simple", "The Wedge", "The Mango Song", "Free", and "Ha Ha Ha". The segue from "Mike's Song" to "Simple" is perfect.
   
   9-This collection treats us to live versions of "Piper" and "Farmhouse". These songs would actually be released several months later on the "Farmhouse" album. In particular, "Farmhouse" is outstanding on this collection.
   
   10-Other standout performances on this collection worth noting (and not mentioned above) include "Stash", "Split Open and Melt", "Bathtub Gin", "Character Zero", "Foam", and "Guyute".
   
   The six CDs are packaged in a unique two sided opening box. Each CD is packaged in an envelope (a little difficult to pull in and out). Unfortunately there is nothing in the way of liner notes. Still overall, this is a premium live collection by Phish - and really gives a great flavor for what this band is all about. Highly recommended.



3. Oh yes. This is nice. Funky B*tch, Simple, The Wedge. Lots of hilarious covers. You can't go wrong here. Sounds quality seems to be very good.



4. I'm biased 'cuz I was at both of these shows. Of course, I had an absolute blast. Having said that, if you weren't there, there's probably a few songs on this boxset that might not do much for you. For starters, let's just say I doubt any fans have "Get Jiggy Wit It" or "Tubthumping" on their own compilation CD-Rs...lol Overall 'tho, it's fairly solid. But really, the last disc (2nd night, 2nd set) is the high point. With the exception of the already mentioned "Tubthumping", Phish delivers the goods with authority, and several hair-raising moments are sprinkled throughout the set...some moments in the unlikeliest of places, too. For example, there's a briefly unexpected buildup during the "Mango Song" that never fails to give me goosebumps, and I've never gotten that on any other version...go figure. It's a worthy two nights' worth of music, however the price tag will probably only appeal to completists. So if you're just a casual fan, you're probably better off investing in something from the Live Phish series (much less expensive). But for what it is, Hampton Comes Alive is a good release nonetheless...



5. Received Hampton Comes Alive as a Christmas gift, and it's a live set I'd been eagerly awaiting. Having read the reviews I was almost worried but after listening to discs 1-5 over the weekend while on a roadtrip, and listening to disc 6 right now, I have to say that I am not disappointed at all. What some fans comment on as lackluster or otherwise imperfect performances, I embrace. Those so-called "glitches" serve as a valuable reminder - these boys are real, they're genuine, they're everything that cookie-cutter, over-rehearsed "musicians" are not. They're human, and I think that any serious musician can appreciate that. That said, I love it. There are tracks on here that I haven't heard live yet and in a couple cases, hadn't heard at all. All six discs will definitely be in heavy rotation from now until... I dunno, I download this year's NYE run? A great buy, for either the hardcore Phishhead or the unlucky soul who has yet to see a live performance.

5 comments about Talking Heads.

1. I was very excited to finally see these titles get remastered. Aside from the musical content, which is excellent, this package could not have been more poorly manufactured. First, you get a easy to crack plastic outer box. No booklet is included other than the individual CD liner notes. When I purchase a box as expensive as this, I expect excellent quality packaging, as well as audio fidelity. This set does not deliver.
   
   On a normal tray-style CD player, these discs function fine. In slot load drives however, simply inserting these discs can damage your player. The dual-disc format is just too wide. It can jam the motors, or get caught in the slot and not come out. If you attempt to rip these for MP3's, get ready for disaster. It can take forever, if they rip at all. Lot's of errors and skips. Computers just don't like these, especially Macintosh's. These actually caused my G4 iBook to fail to recognize the disc drive, and then they could not be ejected. It took me two hours to get the disc out of the computer! Read all the other peoples bad reviews on this if you don't believe me.
   
   As for the bonus content, it's nice, but nothing special. Most have a few demo's and alternate versions on the CD audio side, and throw away 5.1 audio mixes and a couple videos on the DVD side. All in all there really isn't that much content on DVD sides. Rhino could have easily made these as normal CD's, and thrown in a single bonus DVD disc for all the content contained on the flipside's in this entire box. Instead, they chose the unreliable, easily scratched/smudged, dual-disc format. I suggest you wait until this gets reissued again before purchasing these albums again. Go with the cheaper, non-remastered versions that really don't sound that bad.
   
   The price on this box isn't exactly that great either. You really are getting scr*wed by the man on this one. Shame on Rhino for this huge error. They know how a good box set should be made, and this isn't the way.



2. The ultimate collection, all lyrics and cover art included. If you're a fan this collection rocks.



3. My husband loves the Heads and has been waiting to receive this album for a long time. We had to purchase online because we were unable to find it in stores. The husband is extremely happy to have it! He says there are a few little strange quirks in the backgrounds of some of the recordings, but overall is very pleased.



4. This was a Christmas present for our son-in-law. Shopping online for this seemed easier than shopping locally for something we were unfamiiliar with. The item arrived quickly, in great condition at a reasonable price.



5. It's pretty simple. Great music, but lousy packaging. I owned all of their albums, so I wanted CD versions of them. I had read some of the reviews talking about the inferior packaging, but figured how bad could it be? So, I got this box set, and here are my issues with it: 1) You have no clue which CD is in which case. The sides of the jewel cases are blank white, so you need to start pulling them out of the cheap plastic box to find the one you want. 2) Three of the jewel cases were broken at the hinges, so the covers pop off. 3) One of the cases was cracked all along the bottom of the front.
   
   The quality of the music is great, some nice bonus tracks, and some great extras, like music videos, but...they could have made it even better with good packaging.