5 comments about VH-1 Storytellers.

1. It's hard to fault this pleasing album. Billy Idol is right on the money and belts out a set for posterity. The songlist speaks for itself...not much else to say!



2. This is easily the best Billy Idol CD to date.
   
   Not only is it chock full of Billy's earliest and greatest hits but is so full of raw rock and roll energy, it is one of my overall favorite CDs I own. (And yes, I own hundreds of music CDs!)
   
   This CD leaves you feeling satisfied and throughly rocked out. Idol's newest rendition of LA Woman makes the Door's version very weak and dull by comparison. Ever since Billy debut'ed this newest song version - he owned it!
   
   Every single song on this CD is fantastic. His best ever.



3. Billy Idol is without a doubt one of the finest artists of our time, and also is very underrated. But this 2001 performance at the legendary House Of Blues for the VH1 show "Storytellers" is a great way to bring Idol back into the spotlight.
   
   This album is unlike nay other album Idol has done, live or studio. It's a mostly acoustic perfromance, which gives the songs performed new lives. For instance, when listening to "Cradle Of Love", the opening track and Billy's best song, one does not hear the hard rocking 1990 hit. Instead one hears a jaunty barroom rocker complete with some excellent piano flourishes. Similarly, electric guitar driven numbers like "White Wedding" and "To Be A Lover" are done brilliantly acousticly. And who but the great Steve Stevens can help revive these classics with his siganture guitar talents? The only track that I thought could have been better is "Rebel Yell". To hear a really good acoustic version of this classic, pick up "Billy Idol - Greatest Hits". That has an awesome version of that song and it's done acousticly.
   
   Towards the end of the show, Billy plugs in, kicking off with a blistering "Dancing With Myself", a nod to his Gen X days. That 1970s' puk band is also represented finely on "Ready, Steady, Go", another underrated gem. "Blue Highway" is a rocker from "Rebel Yell" that is great for a long carride. "Mony Mony" has a foul mouthed Billy really getting inot the song with Idol flair. Clsoing out the album is an explosive "L.A. Woman", which I prefer to The Doors' original.
   
   This is definitely a must own for all Idol fans. Heck, most people wo like anything music will love this. Just go out and get it.



4. Billy Idol is truly an enigmatic rock star. He was, arguably, the driving force behind Generation X, a late 70's punk band. He saw the wave coming (new wave) and got on it in the U.S. with his MTV good looks and bad boy style and dynamite delivery. Idol knew how to make good music, but he was an even better at marketing himself. He made sure he surrounded himself with excellent people (Steve Stevens). He kept up his style and his image and it served him well. Unfortunately, as the 90's came about, Billy seems to have begun to believe his own press and he started spiraling down a drug addicted path that saw him become creatively deprived and his career dried up.
   With this Storytellers album, Billy and Steve prove that what they had previously crafted wasn't just about fluff and image. It was real music with real emotion behind it.
   They're the same songs we knew and loved (and still do), but they're much more acoustic here (for VH1 Storytellers show). Rebel Yell is not the stadium song it usually is. Eyes without a Face is even more achingly painful. Catch My Fall is emotional with a bit of a rockabilly twist to it. You get the picture.
   Left to deliver his music without his stage antics (and hopefully sober - come on Billy we're nuts about you - get off the drugs), Billy proves that he was and is a real talent.



5. 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.

5 comments about Live.

1. THE TRILOGY OF DEBUT ALBUMS, 1993-1996
   
   Music (1993)
   Debut Trilogy Part 1: An original, energetic, raw, explosive fusion of rock, hip hop, funk, reggae and rap. About two-thirds of the songs are re-worked versions of the band's best songs from the Omaha years. The other third are butt-kicking new songs made just for this release. This album says, "This is what we can do."
   
   Grassroots (1994)
   Debut Trilogy Part 2: An exploration of their roots, a musical journey of growing up from the ground up. This album says, "This is where we came from."
   
   311, "self-titled" or "the blue album" (1995)
   Debut Trilogy Part 3: A crisp, tight, bold, definitive, well-oiled machine. This album says, "This is what we are."
   
   The previous three LPs are all tied for my favorite 311 album, and I admit my hard-hitting rock-rap bias.
   
   Enlarged to Show Detail (1996)
   A "behind the scenes" DVD Epilogue to the Debut Trilogy containing interviews, music videos, concert footage, etc. - with a bonus EP of outtakes from 1995.
   
   
   THE TRANSITION YEARS, 1997-2001
   
   Transistor (1997)
   4th Studio LP: The next phase in the evolution begins with this ambitious and psychedelic exploration of 311's unique style. This is their longest album, and it shows a marked increase in the sing/rap ratio. Transistor is my 4th favorite release (or 2nd fave if you count the first three LPs as one).
   
   311 Live (1998)
   A complilation of live versions of songs from the 1993-97 releases. If you only get into 311's first four studio albums and you enjoy listening to music that was recorded live in concert, then you will probably like this CD. However, I recommend the 311 Day DVD (2004) instead.
   ...
   Enlarged to Show Detail #2 (2001)
   DVD Epilogue to the Transition Years containing interviews, music videos and concert footage - with a bonus EP of outtakes from 99 and 01. I actually like this well-produced DVD better than the original ETSD.
   
   
   THE NEW SCHOOL, 2002-?
   ...
   Live in New Orleans - 311 Day (2004)
   Only four songs are missing from this epic five-hour concert (which I attended). This DVD features the live performance of 64 songs, mostly from 311's 1990-2003 releases. A handful of rare outtakes and covers were also played, including a reggae classic from Led Zeppelin.



2. If you haven't seen 311 live, do it now! Seriously, this album proves that they sound just as great.
   
   Unfortunatly, this is just a souvenir. It does feature three ample changes (applied Science with it's drum solo, ) and 2 songs not featured on the albums (well, one's rare, who's got the Herb makes it's only appearance here). These songs are must here's, but the rest are just a souvenir, with the atmosphere that most people love. I would rather just see them live whenever I can. I reccomend finding a way to pay for the live songs on a service.
   
   This ain't the live expirence. See them live instead, then save the rest for an afterthought. Do the rest.
   
   6.0/10



3. This is a fairly sweet live album from 311, even if it is a little predictable. Actually I'm glad to see that it's not just a live hits collection, however I do love "Transistor" and "All Mixed Up". My biggest beef though is where's "Do You Right"? I mean c'mon. This also, as good as it is, struggles in some spots to re-create their live energy. I'd send the newcomer to the "Greatest Hits" disc, and call this mostly a fanatic must, especially with "Who's Got The Herb" included. As always, listening to anything from 311 "Feels So Good".



4. This album ranks in the top three albums of all time. This band is simply the best...nobody can match their punk, funk, rock sound. A must have.



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

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

   Put it in, press play, and enjoy.

5 comments about Live from the Hard Rock (Deluxe Fan Pack Edition, CD/VCD).

1. Without a doubt one of the most popular modern punk rock bands today, the Canada based Simple Plan continue to impress me with their fantastic albums and brilliant live shows. This DVD, in particular, shows exactly why this group is at the forefront of punk rock today. It is quite simple: if you are a fan of this band and you haven't yet bought the DVD, punch yourself for not owning it yet, dig out twenty or thirty bucks from your wallet or purse and go and purchase it. If you happen to be one of the few unfortunate people who doesn't own a DVD player, buy it anyway just for the CD version which features every song they performed.
   
   The reason why Simple Plan are a favourite among punk bands these days, is because they are the voice of every angst-ridden, troubled teen out there. They cover all aspects of youth culture, eg. love ("I'd Do Anything", "Addicted"), broken relationships ("I Won't Be There", "You Don't Mean Anything"), family issues ("Perfect"), general stress ("God Must Hate Me", "Untitled") and of course, partying ("Jump"). Every teenager who has these sort of complications in their life, has a form of emotional release when they listen to Simple Plan. The listeners connect with the band through their heartfelt and emotional lyrics. Oh yeah, and they just happen to make some kick-a*s music too.
   
   This Live DVD/CD set captures the group at their best, as they perform their most popular hits in front of a ten thousand plus crowd in Orlando, Florida at the MTV Hard Rock concert.
   
   My personal favourite on the DVD, is "Perfect", their closing track. I believe every teenager on the planet can relate in some way to this song. Everyone has issues with their parents. The song starts off as an acoustic version, with Pierre letting the crowd provide the vocals. This is fantastic to listen to. Knowing that everyone out there feels the lyrics and connects with them, and singing them out as loud as possible, is enough to send a shiver up AND down your spine. After the audience sings the first chorus, the music kicks in and the band rock out. Pierre takes over and delivers the rest of the song.
   
   "Perfect" is the stand out song for me, but the entire DVD is just dead-set fantastic.
   
   The only negative thing I have to say is about the CD. The tracks "Shut Up" and "Me Against The World", two of the best songs on their 2nd album Still Not Getting Any, don't go for the full song. For example, "Shut Up" only goes for 1:54 mins and it automatically finishes right after the first chorus. "Me Against The World" ends after Pierre says "say what you want to, we'll never let you in..." and goes straight on into "Crazy". Apart from these two small mistakes, the album is superb. The DVD is even better. It captures all five members at the peak of their talents, lifting the roof off with their insanely catchy music.
   
   And there just happens to be acoustic versions of three different songs on the CD. That just tops it off.
   
   I reckon Simple Plan will be around for years and years to come.



2. I can't say enough about this CD! Out of all of their CD's (and we have them ALL!) we love this the most. They are amazing live! We saw Simple Plan in Canada recently and they rock...their personalities really show through when performing live and you have to hear this CD! The music is incredible and they don't hold back at all. Awesome CD!



3. I dunno why everyone always disses Simple Plan. They are a unique band and have really catchy songs. Plus, they are all cute! They sing about fun things, and also serious things. If you are looking for a great band that you can jump around to, pick this cd up!



4. Simple Plan has a way 2 say things that you can only say with a gutiar.They're one of those bands that rarely has a bad song, and doesn't always get recignized for it.And they sing anout real life things!!!!



5. I just bought this album today and I was suprised that it has a hardcover booklet with pictures of their tour. The CD and the DVD that are both inside the book are songs from the concert except the acoustic version of Crazy, Welcome to My Life, and Perfect. This album also includs a Simple Plan patch and a "I Love SP" pin. This product makes a nice gift. I really like this album because it was recorded in a live concert, but they should have wrote more songs. THese are all their old songs from previous albums. Other than that, this is a great album.

4 comments about Robyn Sings.

1. I'm years behind on this review, but I see that this set is unjustly rated!
   
   Assign a value between 1 & 10 on the following criteria: Robyn Hitchcock, Bob Dylan, The Importance of Good Song-writing. If your average rates 6 or higher than you must own this collection. To me:
   
   Robyn - I love Robyn! He is, at this very moment, one of the most entertaining performers on stage and his current song-writing is LIGHT YEARS beyond Dylan's current. I am, however, not oblivious to the sub-par albums and I don't own two, and next-to-never go back to two others. He's a 9, though.
   
   Dylan - Can't stand his voice. Past, and most definitely not present! 3 songs in and I want to destroy my ear canal with a screw-driver. "Nobody sings Dylan like Dylan"? Yeah? GOOD!! Nobody sings Tiny Tim like Tiny Tim, either! Before buying this set, I gave him a 2 mostly due to the Wilbury's stuff.
   
   Good Song-writing is an easy 10! ANY great song should be heard by ANY means necessary. If "A Day In The Life" needs a hip-hop/rap re-make in order to reach otherwise unknowing ears, than let it be!!
   
   So, I bought this record when it was released, and have been thoroughly educated on Dylan's song-writing talent. Over the years, I've gradually accepted his gift through covers (Wire Train, 16 Horsepower, Aztec Camera, etc...), but this set validated his legendary status in my ears.
   
   I have given this set as a gift 9 times with 100% success: to Dylan purists, who are now Hitchcock fans...to Dylan avoiders (like my previous self) who now get it...and to fans of great song-writing by any means necessary. I play this set on a regular basis in my high-traffic, art gallery. I have, on dozens of occassions, written this set down on the back of a business card. Maybe somebody owes me some kick-back, but Dylan DEFINITELY owes Hitchcock a 'Thank You' card!



2. There is an old saying in Dylan circles: "Nobody can sing Dylan like Dylan". That is not true on this live recording!
   I have to strongly disagree with the previous reviews. Robyn recreates these Dylan songs and makes them his own. And believe me, this recording will not stay up on my shelf only after a couple of "spins"! (No offense!)
   It is great to hear Robyn sing "Ballad of a Thin Man" and this song has to be the highlight of the CD for me. He has a very 'thick' British accent that adds to the recording and makes the song(s) sound fresh.
   To be honest, I am more of a Dylan fan than a fan of Robyn's. They are both very different in their own right and I respect Robyn's music greatly. Having said that, I believe this recording will 'turn on' quite a few Dylan fans to Roybn's music (past and present).
   Final word: Even if you are not a Dylan fan, this recording 'works'and is worth every penny. Just have a listen to 'Ballad of a Thin Man'!!!



3. When Robyn & The Soft Boys came through town last winter, he closed the show with an 11 minute version of "Stuck In Side of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again". Didn't miss a word. Which was impressive in itself. Suffice it to say, it was a rousing faithful rendition. It was great but don't get your hopes up---it's not on here. So I was none too surprized to discover he put this out. If he were on a major label, it would be a bootleg. Cos' they'd never let him put this out. And that's the best way to approach this recording. A coveted bootleg. The kind you listen to once or twice & then display proudly on your cd rack for all eternity. He did this one for himself. At times his singing is gleefully over the top & at times painful to listen to. He's obviously obsessed with "Visions Of Johanna" and the closer version is better than the opener in my book. He fares well on "Not Dark", "Baby Blue" & "Dignity" though. I think if he had taken on more obscure numbers this would be a bit more interesting than it already is. In regards to his spare, ballsy take on "Desolation Row", I can't but wonder if he didn't have ol' Bob himself in the studio tossing off cue cards. The 2nd disc of the Royal Albert Hall bootleg is a testament to Hitchcock's uncomprimising eccentricity. Though not essential, it all serves as a nice warm-up for the forthcoming LUXOR (which I've already ordered on Amazon UK). Browsing through Hithcock's back catalogue, it's depressing to see so many "out of stocks". Needless to say, it's like wee Tiny Tim pressing his sniveling nose up to a shop window & gazing in awe & envy at all the goodies he cannot have. So straved fans will not be able to resist this tiny bauble. Just keep in mind, all that glitters is not gold.



4. The very idea of Hitchcock doing an album exclusively dedicated to covering Dylan songs is enthralling. The fusion of the two worlds, Robyn's fabulously quirky one and Bob's effortlessly philosophical one, would seem destined to create a fascinating blend of styles and visions, populated by the classic ticks and twitches of the two artists.

   Strangely, the album overall fails to deliver on its promises and, instead, quickly descends into the mundane. Mostly, Hitchcock's singing is forced -- often unnecessarily urgent and loud -- lacks subtlety in reading Dylan's songs, and adds a grating, sometimes irritating edge to most of the pieces. Robyn sounds more intent on recreating Dylan -- and noisily, at that -- than on providing his own brand of interpretation. His band, which accompanies him on the second cd, come across like a truck with massive gear problems that cannot get a grip on the road--either stalling awkwardly or simply threatening to sideswipe anyone around. Despite the sensible choice of songs, Hitchcock's slipshod-ramshackle approach, unusual even in his own work, does little to shwocase his uniqueness as a performer or the compositional beauty of Dylan's pieces.

   Sadly, "Robyn Sings" is the sound of nuisance, with neither good ol' Robyn nor Bob coming to the fore.

5 comments about Live.

1. THIS IS A FANTACTIC LIVE ALBUM !!!! A MUST HAVE FOR ALL ROXY FANS AND A
   GREAT INTRODUCTION FOR NEW FANS. I'VE BEEN A ROXY FAN SINCE 1973 AND HAVE
   MANY OF THE ORIGINAL VINYL ALBUMS. THIS ALBUM JUST "BLOWS ME AWAY" !!!!
   BEST CUT...EXTENDED VERSION OF "SONG FOR EUROPE". TRUST ME YOU'LL LOVE
   THIS LIVE SET !!!!



2. The best thing about this cd is that I am on three of the songs!!!
   A Song For Europe, Love Is The Drug and Editions Of You.
   You can hear me. I am the one clapping and cheering.



3. Roxy's comeback was a triumph - even given the lack of new material, given the great musicianship, the energy to put on a fantastical show, and the cool vibes all around. This disc is from the same tour of the DVD, but the songs are not taken from the same performances and there are songs not on the DVD. A must have for Roxy fans and amongst the very best live albums ever made.



4. Roxy Music confirm that they are an excellent live band. For long-time fans who know that a new studio album is not likely, this is the next best thing.

   The sound quality is not as flawless as it could have been, hence one star removed.

   Could they have made this a three-CD set? Given their calatogue of great material, yes. I'm not sure, though, if they performed more than these songs on the tour.




5. The music of Roxy Music can be separated to 2 eras: the first 5 studio albums (1972-75) that brought us something fresh, new and interesting, and the music from the 80's that is more Brian Ferry solo - shmaltz, elevator music, just choose for yourselves. Lets call it "The Avalon era". In between there was a bad album from 1979 by the name of "Manifesto".
   Last live album of the band, that was also the band's last one, "Heart still beating", from the 80's, took many fans to cardiologists, cause it was so B-A-D (kids, don't try it at home!). So I had many reasons not to expect much. But After reading that most of the material is taken from the 70's, I decided to give it a chance.
   So... "Live" is not "Heart still beating", and also better than a few live albums from the Manifesto tour ("Concerto", "Live concerts"). But it's inferior to the old live album of the band, "Viva!", and to "Valentine" and "Vintage", 2 live albums of the early band, (that were released only lately) that include video clips (with Eno, Eddy Jobson, John Wetton and so). "Live" sounds too syntetic for more than once, by trying to bring us the original studio sound like in Re Make/Re Model, Out of the blue and others (ah, they brought us the motorcycle from "Virginia", but forgot the car from "Love is the drug"!). It's hard to understand it, because during the 70's, the band changed, improvised and improved the studio versions of many songs."Chance meeting" that was mixed together with "Both ends burning" in "Viva!" is a good example. Last part and the most dramatic one, in "If there is something" was done in "Viva!" much better than in the original first album. "Street life" (listen to Jobson's great violin solo!) and "Virginia" were done great in "Vintage" and "Valentine"; "Do the Strand" best version is in "Concerto". Jobson, in his time did not try to copy Eno, and brought us a new sound that for more than once was better than Eno's.
   So why did they try to copy the old solos now?
   Also I'm not satisfied with the sound. Roxy is a band of great individuals, but, sometimes they're lost here among the good technicians (on stage and in studio), that joined the band for the tour. After listening to the BBC 2 broadcasting of the show from Glasgow, I suspect that many mixes, too many, were done in the studio. But don't get me wrong. the album is a good one and if you are Roxy's fan, you'll love it,despite of its weaknesses.

5 comments about King Biscuit Flower Hour.

1. Back in the day, the King Biscuit Flower Hour was a mainstay on Sunday evening FM radio and featured concerts from a variety of artists.
   
   Iggy Pop was on the road in 1988 promoting Instinct, with this show taped on July 19 from the Channel in Boston. The 17 numbers are high-octane, with Pop in top form and diving straight ahead with his legendary performance art.
   
   The sound quality is top notch and is part of an ongoing series by King Biscuit Flower Hour Records. The King Biscuit archives burst open in 1996, with this CD released two years later.
   
   This is an essential recording to hear Pop live at a point in time when he was back embracing hard rock and allowing the sonic soundscape to wrap around the lyrics for amazingly intense shows.



2. I saw 2 live shows from the "Instinct" tour back in 1988. This cd is a great live document from that tour. The KBFH show has a great set list and an extremely spirited performance from Iggy. While the instrumental mix is not great, Iggy wails though the set with a wild abandon. The lead guitarist for this tour was Andy McCoy from Hanoi Rocks. Andy's playing here rocks hard & slays anything done he's done with own band. Although the guitar is a bit low in the mix, the lead fills are as good as any of Iggy's previous guitarists. If you need to add on live Iggy cd to your collection, you can not go wrong by starting here.



3. I had only heard about Iggy Pop before I bought this album. I think the only song I knew was 'Lust for Life' at the time, and that's not even on this disk. There are a bunch of good tunes on this CD... Instinct, Search & Destroy, Penetration, etc. And my favorite, Johanna.
   
   The energy of the show translates well on this album. If you like listening to music to psych you up while exercising/working out, there aren't to many better choices than this. It is constantly in my changer while I'm 'sweatin' to the oldies'.
   
   This disk may have the best quote in Rock & Roll history... "This song is about a girlfriend I used to have. She spent all my money on heroin. I loved her for it." Now, I don't condone heroin use, but ROCK ON IGGY!!!!!!!!!!!



4. I still have the home tape that I recorded off the radio when this show played on a Sunday night,on a very worn down BASF brand cassette.Now thanks to King Biscuit releasing the entire gig on CD,I can happily put the cassette out of it's misery.This seventeen track/70 minute disc is a must-have for all Iggy/Stooges fans.Needless to even have to mention it,but the sound quality is top notch.The gig took place at The Channel in Boston sometime in 1988.Best tunes would be "Kill City","1969","Five Foot One",the timeless ass-kicker "Search And Destroy",the '80's punk-metal gem "Cold Metal" and "I Wanna Be Your Dog".Just an all around great sounding high-energy show of pure classic punk.



5. I discovered the music of Iggy Pop about 6 years ago when I first listened to the Stooges' album Fun House. After listening to the first three songs on that album, I was hooked. After buying Fun House, I soon followed by purchasing The Stooges, and then, Raw Power. Later, I moved on to Iggy's solo stuff, The Idiot, Lust for Life, etc. All of these albums were great! While listening to all of this great music, I couldn't believe that I hadn't known about it before. Iggy was and still is all about singing hard-charging, powerful, in-your-face music that completely rocks. But aside from all of this, Iggy's reputation as a live performer is legendary. I am a huge fan of energetic frontmen in music and Iggy definitely fits the bill. He's actually LIVED the decadence he sings about and he does it with the energy of a wild animal. Unfortunately, I never had the good fortune to hear Iggy perform live, until I bought this album.

   I am always careful when buying live recordings, but given it was Iggy, I thought I would take a shot. This album, as it turns out, is great. It is Iggy's concert recorded by King Biscuit Flower Hour on July 19, 1988 at The Channel in Boston. The sound quality is excellent, the setlist is solid and Iggy and his band are in top form. As he says in one of his between-song dialogues, "We're just gonna rock it straight tonight!" and that's exactly what he does! The songs really move right from the opening track, "Instinct", and continue all the way to the closing track, a great version of "I Wanna Be Your Dog". As the title of this article suggests, this CD makes for great driving music. In fact, I liked this album so much, I bought King Biscuit's other Iggy Pop concert, Live in NYC, a 1986 show from the Ritz in NYC. If you like this album, check out Live in NYC, which is equally great and contains a great version of "Real Wild Child". Thank you for the music and honesty Iggy!

5 comments about Ziggy Stardust & the Spiders from Mars.

1. "Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars: The Motion Picture Soundtrack" is a recording of the final live performance by David Bowie's 'Ziggy Stardust' era band. Bowie had fully embraced the glam sound and his live performances carried an unnervingly high level of energy, and with a group more than capable of matching his intensity featuring guitarist Mick Ronson, this performance captured is enormously powerful.
   
   Before I note anything else, it's important to mention that the sonic improvement of this reissue over all the other ones is staggering-- this has always been a great show that was not great to listen to, but through some arcane wizardry, it's been restored to really pristine sound-- it could have been recorded last month instead of over 30 years ago.
   
   The music itself is about intensity and energy-- from the opening strains of a fierce and explosive "Watch that Man" to the closing "Rock n Roll Suicide". Along the way, Bowie manages distorted hard rock energy ("Ziggy Stardust", taken up in volume from the studio recording), sensitive and moody ("My Death"), and excitable ("Suffragette City") and a blazing take on "The Width of a Circle" with a seemingly endless bout of pyrotechnics from Ronson. This is an artist and a band in full flight, and it is an invaluable recording.
   
   I would highly recommend this to anyone interested in Bowie's glam era, even if you've the previous issue of this recording. The sonic improvements are worth the cost alone. Highly recommended.



2. Great CD
   
   Possibly one of the best Live recordings ever.
   
   Both discs are fantastic.
   
   Worth the money



3. Unfortunately, Tony Visconti had very little to work with when remixing this album. In particular, the ever-impressive piano parts sound muffled, as if only a faraway microphone covered by a pillow was picking up the sound. The liner notes explain the sound problems to an extent, but it still seems like a crime that this historic concert was recorded so badly.
   
   Despite the technical problems, this album has many highlights, including a veeeeeery long Width of a Circle and the most moving rendition I've heard of My Death.
   
   If you don't mind some DIY rough edges, you will find plenty to enjoy in the manic playing of the Spiders From Mars, and, of course, Bowie retiring Ziggy onstage is of no small significance.



4. If you are putting off buying this because you have heard previous versions (on vinyl or CD), wait no longer. This release features incredible sound in comparison to earlier versions. Thanks to Tony Visconti for cleaning things up so nicely.

   This disc is worth having for The wild-Eyed Boy From Freecloud/All the Young Dudes Medley alone.

   A must for any Bowie fan! Only the continued absence of The Jean Genie featuring Jeff Beck keeps this from being a perfect Five.




5. This new mix of Bowie's legendary "farewell" concert in 1973 is in every way an improvement on the Rykodisc release. I originally owned the album on a two-record vinyl LP set, and for the first time, it sounds like a concert rather than a live recording. The balance between the ambient noise of the crowd and the performance is much more realistic, the bass and piano have more punch, the guitar is jackhammer solid, and Bowie's vocals sound better than ever.

   In contrast to previous audio releases on vinyl and CD, this contains the soundtrack as presented in the film. The original 2-disc vinyl release, and subsequent CD reissues, not only have a mix that's markedly different from what you hear in the movie, but some of the performances are different. For example:

   In the older issues, on "Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud" Bowie hits a spectacular high note on the last word ("free") and holds it for several seconds as the band segues into "All the Young Dudes". It's a spine tingling moment, one of the high points of the recording... but it's not here --- and it's not in the movie. Bowie sings an ordinary low note at the transition.

   I saw the movie in a theater and again on VHS and laserdisc, and recently watched the new DVD release. I'd forgotten how strong these differences were! Some of them can be attributed to the difference in the mix, but others must have been taken from a previous performance.

   This new mix is a dramatic improvement in every way; but I'm going to hang on to my old Ryko CD; I miss that high note. It
   really makes a difference!

5 comments about Live Jam.

1. What does the Amazon critic mean by "cannibalizes?" There are no repeat songs from these live CD's--and in every way, "Dig the New Breed" is SO so very superior. and 'oi oi' ferver? Excuse me? Okay, never mind.
   
   For those of us who graduated from high school in the very early 1980's, our version of 'who is better, the Beatles or the Stones' was "The Jam or the Clash," but for for those of you who weren't there--and foolishly buy this CD before "Dig the New Breed" you must wonder, 'Why? this group doesn't belong in the same discussion with the Clash. Frankly, I am surprised at how lacklustre this CD is, especially when until I ruined it from overplaying, I had an unauthorized cassette of their Newcastle England February 1981 concert that just smoked. SMOKED. I mean, every single song is like the best of "Dig the New Breed" ("Ghosts," "Going Underground, "Start," and "That's Entertainment"). I make the analogy: whatever Bruce Springsteen's 1978 Winterland concert in San Francisco was in absolute on-fire brilliance, in cultural right-on, heroism and inspiration, and coolest thing in the whole United States at this moment power, this (also unrelased) Jam tape was to the British Isles and working class/middle class environs. Why oh why then can't someone release that tape?? If you heard it, people, I'm telling you, you would understand the Jam next to the Clash discussions...you might even--as I did at the time, think that they were better live than the Clash, bigger even, less rubbishy (like about 1/2 of Sandinista, right? and I LOVE the Clash). LOVE them.
   
   In summary, this yes, rather long Live compilation (24 songs) is priced less than the 14 song "Dig the New Breed" for a reason: it's not nearly as good. For the Jam fanatic, sure, it's nice to have; but it doesn't cannabalize anything. and oi ferver? The Jam were smarter than that. What was THAT guy on about? ha



2. This excellent companion of sorts to the earlier Live CD "Dig The New Breed" was a gift for the fans coming as a long playing
   CD,packed with great photos,notes from admirers and totally different songs from the earlier live release.
   These performances come from 1979-1982 all recorded in the UK and Scotland...another essential band another wonderful collection..from a full set at their glory listen to the bonus disc 3 of their great The Jam At The BBC collection capturing the Jam Live At The Rainbow 1n spring 1979 with things in full swing.



3. This is a terrific addition to the Jam catalogue. Featuring 24 tracks recorded between 1979-1982 this is a great companion to Dig The New Breed (no songs appear on both records so I advise any fans to pick up both albums). The Jam were truly an exceptional live group and any fan will love this cd.



4. The Jam may have evolved out of the 1976-77 British punk movement into slick studio hit-makers, but onstage they remained punks to the bitter end.

   While this raw and somewhat sonically-challenged- in-spots live recording won't impress non-fans of The Jam (in fact, they may be somewhat horrified by the musical sloppiness found on this disc), it's a remarkable document of a purely British phenomenon in full live frenzy that came to an abrupt end in 1982 when the group's singer/songwriter/frontman Paul Weller decided to call it quits.

   No one ever accused Weller of having a pretty voice (one critic once likened Weller's singing style to that of a foreman barking orders) but the times weren't as demanding of aesthetics back then as much as wanting truth unfettered by pop music's tendency to sugarcoat the message. Which made Weller the right man with the right voice at the right time.

   "When You're Young", "The Eton Rifles", "Town Called Malice", and "Down At The Tube Station At Midnight" are a few of the songs that The Jam aimed at the top of the British charts which are included here. Brilliant album tracks like "Pretty Green" and B-sides like "The Butterfly Collector" are on this as well, swapping the polish found on the studio versions for a sweaty grit and frantic energy.

   Non-fans of The Jam should start with the several available greatest hits packages before attempting to digest this disc. For the rest of us, this collection of live tracks is one more reason to mourn the loss of a truly unique band.




5. Envy is a word that comes to mind when listening to "Live Jam", and that's only because I wasn't there when they performed and recorded the songs! The raw energy of the music--from Bruce Foxton's intense bass, to Rick Buckler's thundering drums, to Paul Weller's tight guitar and vocals--just hits you from the moment you press "play." It's like nonstop for the 70 some-odd minutes. A great intro to their music, as well as a keep sake for diehards like myself. Totally recommend it, because they were a truly great band who sounded even better live. It's like listening to history too, since the music covers the several years they were together. Trust me--this is where the sounds of today come from!

5 comments about Live In New York.

1. Laurie Anderson concert in NYC recorded just days after the 9/11 tragedy. Great quality audio and a beautiful and diverse mix of Laurie songs from over the decades. The highlight, as other users have mentioned, is O Superman. A prophetic song first recorded in the early 80s, it becomes even more important and moving in the context of the 9/11 tragedy. This recording of O Superman is worth the entire price of the CD. Listen to it and recall that it was laid down mere days after the attacks. It is the most chilling performance I have ever heard. "And I've got a message...to give to you...here come the planes." I can think of nothing else that so convincingly faces the fear and sadness, but also the inevitability, of the tragic 9/11 attacks. If you can listen to it without crying and asking what America has come to, then please hold out your right index and middle fingers and place them on the underside of the left wrist to see if you are still alive.



2. I've seen Laurie Anderson live on a half-dozen occasions, and the shows are always somehow new.
   
   This show is no different. Unlike most of her shows in recent years, this one heavily features her earlier, most-quirky material. But, that material is re-conceived for the live band. Although updated and punched up a bit, it's still true to its original spirit.
   
   The results are wonderful. If you enjoy the earlier albums like Big Science, you'll love hearing their formerly-sparse arrangements augmented with a really great live band. Some of these songs haven't been performed live for many years, and hearing them now is a treat.
   
   I have to agree with the Amazon reviewer and a couple of others: "O Superman" is clearly the climax of the show. The audience's reaction -- surprised and then delighted -- to the opening of O Superman fading in as if sent from long ago is exhilarating.
   
   Knowing the conext of this show and hearing Laurie sing, voice barely controlled, about the "American planes", gives me chills every time I listen. To think that this song was written nearly 20 years before the events of 9/11 is eerie. Extremely powerful stuff.



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



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



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

2 comments about Ziggy Stardust: The Motion Picture.

1. "Of all the shows on this tour, this particular show will remain with us the longest, because not only is it the last show of the tour, but it's the last show that we'll ever do. Thank you."---Ziggy Stardust, 3 July 1973.
   
   Available for years only as a bootleg, this digitally-remastered soundtrack to Ziggy Stardust & The Spiders From Mars - The Motion Picture captures the spectacle of a live performance by David Bowie as his alter-ego, Ziggy Stardust, in his farewell show at London's Hammersmith Odeon in 1973. The tour began in 1972, and featured the "Spiders from Mars:" Mick Ronson on guitar, Trevor Bolder on bass, and Mick Woodmansey on drums. A live album of the performance was originally abandoned due to poor audio quality. Bowie and producer Tony Visconti then remixed the recording in 1981 for a 1992 Rykodisc release, and Visconti remixed it again to improve the sound quality for this 2003 EMI release. Bowie's vocals and Ronson's guitar riffs are crisp and clear. (Unfortunately, due to a royalty dispute, the new recording omits "The Jean Genie/Love Me Do/Round and Round" encore with Jeff Beck.) The soundtrack features songs from both Ziggy Stardust and Spot, as well as a few earlier Bowie classics ("Changes," "All The Young Dudes," and "Space Oddity"). The complete setlist includes:
   
   Disc: 1
   1. Intro (incorporating Beethoven's Ninth Symphony) 1:06
   2. Hang On To Yourself 2:55
   3. Ziggy Stardust 3:19
   4. Watch That Man 4:14
   5. Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud 3:15
   6. All The Young Dudes 1:38
   7. Oh! You Pretty Things 1:46
   8. Moonage Daydream 6:25
   9. Changes 3:36
   10. Space Oddity 5:05
   11. My Death 7:23
   
   
   Disc: 2
   1. Intro (incorporating William Tell Overture) 1:02
   2. Cracked Actor 3:03
   3. Time 5:31
   4. The Width Of A Circle 15:45
   5. Let's Spend The Night Together 3:02
   6. Suffragette City 4:32
   7. White Light/White Heat 4:01
   8. Farewell Speech 0:39
   9. Rock 'N' Roll Suicide 5:19
   
   G. Merritt



2. "Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars: The Motion Picture Soundtrack" is a recording of the final live performance by David Bowie's 'Ziggy Stardust' era band. Bowie had fully embraced the glam sound and his live performances carried an unnervingly high level of energy, and with a group more than capable of matching his intensity featuring guitarist Mick Ronson, this performance captured is enormously powerful.
   
   Before I note anything else, it's important to mention that the sonic improvement of this reissue over all the other ones is staggering-- this has always been a great show that was not great to listen to, but through some arcane wizardry, it's been restored to really pristine sound-- it could have been recorded last month instead of over 30 years ago.
   
   The music itself is about intensity and energy-- from the opening strains of a fierce and explosive "Watch that Man" to the closing "Rock n Roll Suicide". Along the way, Bowie manages distorted hard rock energy ("Ziggy Stardust", taken up in volume from the studio recording), sensitive and moody ("My Death"), and excitable ("Suffragette City") and a blazing take on "The Width of a Circle" with a seemingly endless bout of pyrotechnics from Ronson. This is an artist and a band in full flight, and it is an invaluable recording.
   
   I would highly recommend this to anyone interested in Bowie's glam era, even if you've the previous issue of this recording. The sonic improvements are worth the cost alone. Highly recommended.