5 comments about Live.

1. If you miss country fried southern rock jam bands like the Marshall Tucker Band mixed with more modern acoustic rockers like the Dave Matthews Band, Georgia's Jupiter Coyote may be what you are looking for.
   They have been recording since the mid 90's, but their double 2000 live CD Jupiter Coyote Live is probably the best indication of what they can do.
   An enraptured crowd enjoys a hypnotic live show t full of layers of guitars, electric violin, banjos and laid back melodies which hold the listener close right from the start of Tumbleweed and carrying through to an impressive take on Dueling Banjos andFoggy Mountain Breakdown at the end
   There are all kinds of favourites -- Tumbleweed, Parkway Blue Binder, Confusionville, Man In Your Band and that's just on the first CD. On the second, The crowd sings happily along with Real Thing and are left with their jaws on the ground after Duelin' Banjos. Very cool.
   -- By Richard Amery



2. It's truly a wonder that this band isn't more popular. On this live set are stellar performances of all superb material. Coyote tunes are very accessible and sometimes the jamming soars of into the stratosphere. This record is flawless!



3. As the individuals from South Carolina & Indianapolis noted, JC is probably the greatest band you've never heard of. Independent, and therefore not bound by any "corporate contracts" that dictate creative processes, Jupiter Coyote ROCKS! If you ever get an opportunity to see them live, do not miss them. Every time I've seen them (in Columbus) they've played 3-4 hour sets that just jam!! Long live (and jam!) Jupiter Coyote!!



4. The previous reviews are detailed enough to do this album justice, but I'll chime in because it deserves plenty of recognition. I'll toss in the opinion that this is a very well recorded live album--it has that "being there" but also crisp and clear sound that the best produced live albums have. The fiddle player, Trisman, has added a lot to their sound--many sweet moments from him. As a whole, it flows very nicely--it feels like a really great show. Very nice choices of songs. If you aren't really familiar with their sound, it certainly displays all of those southern rock influences others have cited, but it is also fresh and unique--the "guijo" helps, and has a sweet hint of folk/bluegrass. (Not that they don't rock out.) Also, their songwriting and vocals are superb--something all too many jambands don't quite achieve. These guys deserve big crowds and there are plenty of people with good taste who deserve them. Buy this album, go see them play!



5. If you haven't listened to Jupiter Coyote you are missing out on one of the best unknown bands in America... at least for now. Jupiter Coyote has a knack for taking the very best that classic bands like the Allman Brothers Band, Doobie Brothers, Lynyrd Skynrd, etc. have to offer and combine that with an updated sound for the new Millenium. This is absolute feel good music. I've listened to these guys since the early 90s. They refuse to "sell out" their sound to mainstream America. This album will give you a healthy dose of what other JC fans have been listening to and seeing in concert for years. If you like Dave Matthews Band, Widespread Panic, Freddy Jones Band, Allman Brothers, Phish, Blues Traveler, Doobie Brothers, Grateful Dead...pick this CD up. You will not be disappointed I promise you that. There are hints of bluegrass here but don't let that stereotype the sound. It's done through a Guijo(combination electric guitar and banjo) and it adds a unique sound that no one else has. Bottom line: this is great music. Such highlights include Tumbleweed(what a great first song that sets the tone), Everytime, and one of the 2 new songs Inquire With Delight(which has a little Grateful Dead/Phish influence). This band has a rabid, loyal, and growing following. They are true to their roots and you will not only hear that in the music but grow very quickly to appreciate it. See what you've been missing. They are truly one of the great bands in America representing what is now known as "mountain rock".

5 comments about Heart Still Beating.

1. Put this on and watch the womens pants melt right off! Also, you will need 2,000,000 amperes heat lamp. Like they use in Abu Gahreb prison.



2. Roxy Music's Heart Still Beating was released in October of 1990.
   The album was recorded Live in Frejus in the South of France in August of 1982 during the tour to support Avalon.
   Originally, four tracks from this concert was released as The High Road EP in 1983. In October of 1990, the rest of the concert was used to create this lasting document of the final 80's version of the band which featured original members guitarist Phil Manzanera, lead singer Bryan Ferry and saxophonist Andy Mackay plus new drummer Andy Newmark, future Dire Straits/Mark Knopfler keyboardist Guy Fletcher and Bryan's guitarist neil Hubbard and bass player Alan Spenner plus three backing singers.
   This EP turned full live album included their superb cover of Neil Young's 1977 classic Like a Hurricane(original yet contained the classic elements of the original), killer versions of Out of the Blue and Can't Let Go(the former had Phil Manzanera play a guitar solo in place of the original track's violin solo).
   Plus great versions of A Song For Europe, Love is the Drug, Avalon and a stirring version of John Lennon's classic Jealous Guy are among the highlight.
   This was a great live album which would be their last until their 2003 reunion live album which saw the return of original drummer Paul Thompson.
   Highly Recommended!
   NO COUNTER REVIEWS PLEASE!



3. Given a choice I will almost always take a good live cd over a good studio cd. This is a good live cd.
   
   The cd starts slowly (the reason for docking it a star). While the songs are not bad, the only one that reaches out and grabs you is "Impossible Guitars" (a taste of what Phil Manzanera is capable of - if you like it, check out his cd "Primitive Guitars").
   
   With "Love Is the Drug" things pick up. One of roxy's few "hits" it would likely be tough to perform this in a way I wouldn't like - but the version here is excellent. Then comes an excellent cover of Neil Young's "Like a Hurricane" - better, in my opinion, than the original. Next is "My Only Love", another well done song, then a few hit an miss attempts (the best - "Avalon" - another song that would be tough to ruin). Concluding the cd is a killer cover of John Lennon's "Jealous Guy" - containing an excellent sax solo (with feedback!) and free whistling by Brian Ferry sure to send chills up and down your spine.
   
   Buy this cd - there are no bad songs and several outstanding cuts.



4. A fine live album. Some songs are extremely extended without necessity. But the album has good vibe, smart production, good guitar solos and the always mesmerizing voice of Bryan Ferry.



5. I have NO idea what the one-star reviewer was listening to, but if for nothing else than the brilliant despair of "Can't Let Go" this live album is a stunner. And then . . . and then . . . one gets to "Like a Hurricane" and there isn't a more emotionally charged moment in any live album I have ever heard by any band. Phenomenal. Ferry is the true genius of our time.

5 comments about 2x4.

1. If any other compilation of early Neubauten live performances captured the brutal thrill and primal frenzy of EN in the early '80s more ably than "2X4," I haven't heard it. ROIR's excellent audio cassette edition was more critically and commercially successful than Neubauten's own studio-forged "Kollaps" or "Zeichnungen Des Patenten OT" LPs; the quality of the album's audio fidelity and the performances themselves ensured excellent sales for "2X4" in spite of competition consisting of innumerable live bootlegs that were heavily circulated throughout Europe during the '80s. It's also a great companion album to supplement the first "Strategies Against Architecture" compilation.
   
   All that aside, this album's CD edition is a waste of time. Who wants to pay $17 for approximately 38 minutes of reissued music? Even if over half of the disc's capacity didn't go to waste and the price wasn't exorbitant, Neubauten never received much of a profit from this album's sales.
   
   Fortunately, Amazon's MP3 edition provides a cheaper and more flexible option. You'll save about $9 and be able to squirrel away a digital copy of good quality on your hard drive, MP3 player or CD-R sampler, however you please.



2. Well, two Seinsucht's for the price of one - that alone should justify the purchase of the premiere Live industrial album.
   
   Like many, I had purchased this on tape, and like many I wore that tape out letting it cycle thru over and over again. It's only eight songs, short of fifty minutes - skimpy for a cd.
   
   But the songs capture the feel of live performance. I saw them in Myrtle Edwards Park (with the Burlington Northern freight trains roaring past) in Seattle's epic free concert, and nothing was really canned.
   
   While not entirely impromptu, it was certainly immediate. 2x4 is the best intro to Neubauten, and ROIR was right to simply reproduce the original cassette.



3. I'm a fan of the later E.N. records so this one was way too "industrial" for me. Lot's of gutteral screaming and also just poorly recorded. It seems those who like the early stuff often don't care for the later works but I'm just the opposite. I think these guys grew into something special but to me this stuff is just nothing but noise.



4. YOU PROBABLY ALREADY KNOW IF THIS KIND OF THING IS FOR YOU OR NOT. FOR THE UNINITIATED, EINSTURZENDE NEUBAUTEN IS , AT LEAST ON THE SURFACE, WHAT WE USED TO CALL "INDUSTRIAL", BEFORE THE TERM WAS CO-OPTED AND CORRUPTED BY THE LIKES OF MINISTRY AND NINE INCH NAILS. LABELS ASIDE, EN THEMSELVES HAVE GONE FROM MAKING VERY PRIMITIVE, ABRASIVE, SOMETIMES DOWN-RIGHT DISTURBING "SONGS" ( I HASTEN TO USE THAT TERM, THESE RECORDINGS DO NOT FOLLOW THE BASIC "VERSE - CHORUS -VERSE -CHORUS - BRIDGE- CHORUS- FADE" STRUCTURE OF FAMILILAR ROCK N ROLL )ON THEIR EARLIER RECORDINGS HEARD HERE, AND HAVE EVOLVED INTO SOMETHING QUITE UNIQUE; A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS WHO TAKE FOUND SOUNDS AND INCORPORATE THEM INTO MUSICAL PIECES THAT RANGE FROM SEMI- CLASSICAL, AMBIENT, SOMETIMES DANCE-ISH ( BUT CERTAINLY NOT WHAT I'D CALL DANCE MUSIC - IT IS SIMPLY OFTEN VERY RHYTHMIC ) AND SOMETIMES APPROACH WHAT I WOULD CALL TRADITIONALLY ARRANGED "ROCK" MUSIC. I PERSONALLY PREFER THE EARLIER, MORE FREE FORM RECORDINGS. THEY ARE FOR THE MOST PART HEAVILY PERCUSSIVE, USING HAMMERS, PIECES OF METAL, HUBCAPS, ETC TO FORM THE BASIS OF THE RHYTHMS OF THE PIECES. THEY ALSO FEATURE VOCALS THAT ARE ENTIRELY GERMAN, SOME SPOKEN, SOME WHISPERED, SOME CHANTED, AND SOME SCREAMED. I CAN ONLY SAY THAT FOR ME, "2 X 4" INFORMS SO MANY EMOTIONS - IT IS QUITE A ROLLERCOASTER RIDE, DESPITE ( OR MAYBE BECAUSE OF ) ITS SHORT LENGTH. I HAVE PLAYED THIS FOR MANY OF MY FRIENDS WHOM I CONSIDERED TO BE OPEN-MINDED ENOUGH TO ENJOY THIS. THE REACTIONS RUN FROM "THAT IS AMAZING, WHO IS THAT?" TO " MY GOD, WHAT A DREADFUL RACKET, WOULD YOU PLEASE TURN THAT OFF?" AT ONE HALOWEEN PARTY I HOSTED SEVERAL YEARS AGO I PROGRAMMED A FEW EN SELECTIONS INTO THE BACKGROUND LISTENING , AND ACTUALLY HAD A FEW GUESTS TELL ME "THAT SCARES THE HELL OUT OF ME." BLIXA AND CO WOULD HAVE BEEN PROUD. IN PARTING I CAN TELL YOU ONLY ONE THING, IF YOU LIKE EN AND DON'T HAVE "2X4" I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT.



5. I always thought the notion of a 'live' industrial album was a bit of a con. The fact is, most audiences at a true industrial show won't make the anywhere NEAR the kind of noise the act will (unless you're a NIN stalwart) during the course of the show.

   But here, in one of the earliest Neubauten efforts, most of the tunes work in so far as they represent where the band was at that point in time. "Strategies Against Architecture II" is infinitely better, but decidedly NOT for the timid. It's got it's boring moments as well, which is why I haven't given it one of those absurdly reverential 5-star ratings.

   Industrial music is not meant to sooth, and this album is no exception. But complete your collection with sharper Neubauten releases, and pick up this one after you're sure you can handle it.

5 comments about Precise Modern Lovers Order: The Modern Lovers Live In Berkeley And Boston.

1. This is easily my favorite Jonathan Richman album. Although he has several strong records, his gifts have always shown better live than in the studio. These recordings were made when he was at his early, brilliant peak.
   
   As mentioned by some other reviewers, the song A Plea for Tenderness alone makes this disc an absolute must-have for any fan. There is nothing like it in the world. I don't even think Jonathan ever made anything similar. I'm grateful that this song exists.
   
   Some people have said that this album might not be the place to start for new fans. I disagree. In my experience, people either love Jonathan or they hate him. I doubt it would make much difference what album they start with. The reaction usually happens quite quickly, and as far as I know, few people ever change their minds about it. But you don't even have to listen to the Amazon sound clips to decide. If you believe in the possibility of love and tenderness, and want to make the world a better, saner, more human place, you are in Jonathan's camp.
   
   So I recommend you put this CD into your shopping cart, and proceed to checkout.



2. There is very little of the original Modern Lovers caught on tape out there, at least legally (I'm sure there are plenty of bootlegs floating around). Jonathan Richman and his great band are caught live at two venues, one at Harvard in 1971 and another in Berkeley in 1973, with the inclusion of a great song (Plea for Tenderness) from a Boston gig sometime in 1972(?). The record itself is absolutely essential if you are a Jonathan Richman fan or just looking for something different from the manufactured pop of today's "hit parade". Richman and company don't disappoint, and the record is a unique mixture of the original Lovers' sound.

   First formed in the late Sixties when Jonathan Richman became infatuated with the Velvet Underground and started his own band, blending the influence of that band with his earlier love for Fifties-era rock. The result, The Modern Lovers, were together in their original format until 1974, and by the time their one album (really a collection of individual sessions which form a cohesive album) was released in 1976, the band backing Jonathan Richman had changed. Jonathan moved towards softer musical styles, and while this would provide some great music, the original band's sound was lost.

   That's what makes this recording so great: here is the "rockin'" Modern Lovers captured in their primal heat, bringing down the house to a bemused audience who doesn't quite know what to make of them. One of the charms of the live shows is the way Jonathan and the band switch from heavy, fast songs like "Someone I Care About" to slower, low-key numbers like "Hospital" or "Girlfriend". The sound captured on this is pure fun and enjoyment, tempered with Jonathan's own hearbreak-fueled songs about girls who hang around in the Cezanne wing of the modern museums.

   This is a gem of a record, worth seeking out if you wonder what all the fuss was about. If you have no idea who Jonathan Richman is, this will be a perfect intro. All in all, this along with the original album are perfect compliments to each other, and both illuminate how punk evolved. Get this first, then the album. You can't go wrong...




3. If you already appreciate the unique genius represented by the original Modern Lover's Beserkly release then you will likely find this live collection very interesting and moving... but if you are new to the world of JoJo in general, or the Modern Lovers thang in specific, then this piece would not serve as a good entry point.

   For one thing, the sound quality is "bootleg"... also, the song selection / running order leans heavily on slow, meandering sad stuff instead of the more upbeat, cutting/rock-edged stuff. This may turn off first-time or casual listeners... but there are definitely some very magic moments for those with patience and determination... you get some "unheard/unrecorded" songs including the phenomenal "the Mixer" which is easily on par with classics like "Roadrunner" and "She Cracked". Also, alternate lyrics for Roadrunner are interesting and the extended "patter" in-between songs really gives you some intense insight into where Jonathan Richman's head was at during this period.

   The stand-out cut for me on this album though was the monumental version of "I'm Straight". During the spoken intro the pain and scars are so fresh that Jonathon sounds like he is seriously about to break into tears... the band unsteadily slids in behind him and things slowly build in intensity until we get to a point by the end of the song where all the microphones and recording gear overload heavily into the red-line as the whole band shrieks the refrain "I'M STRAIGHT!!" at the top of their lungs. I can't think of anything else in the history of recorded music that compares with the emotional intensity of this track... well worth the price of admission alone!




4. My Modern Lover's collection will often sit untouched for months on end but when I dig them back out they don't leave my CD player for weeks.

   This album captures everything the Modern Lover's stood for. The essential piece on this disc is "A Plea for Tenderness". Call me a bizzare case but that song that may sound like a bunch of unstructured noise to anybody else brings a tear to my eye every time I hear it.When Jonathan begins pleading, he sounds like he's really breaking down from desperation.

   Jonathan's constant pleas of "play softer" and the bands obvious desire to not comply with his wishes give you a look into the reasons this truly unique band dissolved but it also makes for highly entertaining listening.

   In my view this is hands down the best live recording of any rock band ever, mainly because it's not about perfection. it's about sincerity and the freedom music can give you to be your own person.




5. If you believe, as I do, that the first Modern Lovers album was Jonathan Richman's creative watershed, this is an essential purchase. You can really hear how close their live sound was to the John Cale-produced "demos" that constituted their Beserkley debut. What makes this indispensible, however, is the inclusion of a handful of original songs that were never recorded, as well as Jonathan's inimitable stage patter. Added bonus: The great John Felice, the original 15-year-old Modern Lovers guitarist, is on several tracks. (Who's John Felice, you ask? Check out the 1977 debut album of his boss band the Real Kids, which is available thru Amazon.com. You won't regret it.)

5 comments about Hot Rod Lincoln Live!.

1. I heard this version of Hod Rod Lincoln (HRL) on a road trip. It's exceptionally entertaining and funny. I live in Spokane, WA, met Charley Ryan the writer and original performer of HRL. I saw the car several times. It took me a few years to find this version of HRL. I was really happy to find it. The surprise was that the rest of the album is good and fun too. All fun old rock 'a' billy songs.



2. Do you like truck drivin' twang? How about the occasional country shuffle? Or some flat out, butt kicking rock n roll? It's all here in one masterful CD. HOT ROD LINCOLN LIVE features Bill Kirchen's warm appealing singing, his imaginative and funny lyrics, and the best burning Telecaster you'll ever hear. There are too many great songs on the CD to mention them all, but you truck drivin' junkies will get your fix from BIG MACK'S OFF THE BLOCKS, LOOKIN' AT THE WORLD THROUGH A WINDSHIELD, and WOMB TO THE TOMB, which contains the great line, "I was broke down, dead in the water on interstate 10. With a load of frozen fish fillets (pronounced FILL' lettes) that was learning how to swim again."
   Kirchen's humor and warmth is also out front on TOO MUCH FUN (featuring some nice and not over-long bass and drum solos), SWING FEVER (featuring some beautiful, jazzy, Western-swing type playing), and the amazing ROCKIN' OVER CHINA.
   CHINA is Kirchen's take on Warren Smith's UBANGI STOMP, but instead of rockin' to Africa, "I called up China and reversed the toll, and asked them did they want to hear some rock n roll. They said they'd be delighted cause they were bored to tears with the music they'd been playing for 10,000 years." I met Bill Kirchen briefly last summer at a club he was playing and talked to him about this song. He said that he had taken UBANGI STOMP and made it "slightly more politically correct."
   
   I've been listening to this CD on a regular basis since I got it a month ago, with no end in sight. A must have CD for Kirchen fans and for anyone who likes the kind of music I've described.



3. I just thought I'd add a "caveat emptor" for readers who might take the phrase "in the style of" in the review below too literally.
   
   To my mind, playing guitar "in the style of" someone means playing the "Hot Rod Lincoln" solo as that person would (obviously, this would just be a guess on Kirchen's part, but would be very interesting nonetheless).
   
   What REALLY happens on the song is Kirchen (is it pronounced KER-chin or KEER-k'n?) plays "snippets" or short riffs from songs made famous by the artists mentioned--which is not quite the same thing as playing "in the style of."
   
   IOW, instead of pretending to be Ritchie Blackmore or Eric Clapton or... (etc.) playing the solo to Hot Rod Lincoln, Kirchen plays some signature riffs for which those gents are famous (the riffs from "Smoke on the Water", "Sunshine of your Love" etc.).
   
   My biggest complaint is that he left out Rory Gallagher, the best guitarist ever.
   
   Nevertheless, I still find the CD, and that song in particular, highly entertaining and do not at all regret buying it. In fact, I'm thinking about getting Kirchen's "King of Dieselbilly" recording.
   
   A dream team: Bill Kirchen joining forces with Dwight Yoakam!



4. If you're a Commander Cody fan and you have all the Cody/Airmen stuff you can find, then get over to the "K" aisle and start picking up on Bill Kirchen.
   
   "Womb to the Tomb" is a neat little "magic reality truck" song.
   
   All of the Cody classics covered here are, as one would expect, excellent -- particularly "Hot Rod Lincoln", which runs eight minutes, and has a middle section wherein Bill demonstrates he can make his Telecaster sound like anything, including Jimi Hendrix's left-handed Strat. (I caught his live show shortly after i bought this album, and the Really Live "Lincoln" ran more like fifteen minutes, with even more messing around, including longer "tribute" segments, including most of a verse of the Kinks' "You Really Got Me").
   
   I could have stood another couple of tracks off the Cody album "Let's Rock", particularly "Rockabilly Funeral" (which was part of the live gig i caught) and "The Home of Rock'n'Roll" (Which wasn't) -- but hey -- what's here is great.
   
   If you like rockabilly or Western Swing; if you like Commander Cody (duh), Asleep at the Wheel or Jason & the Scorchers you probably ought to have this CD.



5. The first four tracks along are worth the price of admission. With Track 4, "Hot Rod Lincoln", you will understand why Bill Kirchen is known as a "Master of the Telecaster". It wasn't until my middle age that I began to understand the importance of "Live Music". Bill Kirchen is an actual *musician* who sounds as good on the road as he does in the studio, sometimes better. "Rockin' over China" and "The Finger" are good finishers for this set of excellent live music.
   
   I would definitely agree with the previous reviewers. This CD is a keeper.
   
   If you enjoy the genre of "Swamp Rock/DieselBilly/Bang&Twang" then is is an album for your collection.

5 comments about Seattle, Washington, November 6, 2000.

1. This particular album is so awesome. I think the live recording adds to the life of the music. Eddie Vedder has such a distinct voice. He has his soft moments and then will be completely expressive with a screaming style of singing. It sounds so good and his voice can really attract one to the lyrics of his song. Mike McCready plays the guitar so naturally and with passion. I really love the lead guitar in the song "Alive" and "Yellow Ledbetter." Both of those songs tell a story and the guitar seems to take on the role of lead singer along with Eddie. The combination of the two is an awesome call and response technique. Most of their songs create an emotion. "Alive" is deep and really draws emotion once the meaning of the song is revealed. I guess I am drawn to "Yellow Ledbetter" because of Mike McCready. The lead guitar is one of the most beautiful pieces of music I have ever heard. I do not play the guitar, but that song really makes me wish that I could. Their music is simply a pleasure to listen to and just JAM. If I had to make a comparison of music that may be sort of the same, I would have to say Nirvanna because of the similarities in the grunge style. I have every CD they have made and now I am starting to purchase their albums in vinyl.



2. Live In Seattle (Nov. 6 2000), the Pearl Jam's 72nd and final show on the 2000 Binaural Tour
   
   By the turn of the new millenium, the Pearl Jam were one of the few, if not the only band still in existance from the days of Seattle grunge. The band released 'Binural', their 6th studio album in the May of 2000 and following its released, went on tour. It was during this landmark 72 concert tour that the band came up with a completely new idea. To counterract unofficial bootlegs of their concerts, they had the whole of the tour recorded and each concert officially released on CD. No band had ever done this before and so the Pearl Jam trod in unchartered territory with this move. However, the 72 bootled styled concert releases proved to be greatly popular, especially amongst the fans who went to the concerts and wanted a record of the performance they witness. This particular gig is the Pearl Jam's final concert on tour and has gone on to be one of their most famous live performances; so how good does it shape up to be?
   
   For me, Pearl Jam live bootlegs are hard to come by as they are seldom available in England. However, I was fortunate enough to spot a copy of this CD whilst on holiday in the US and immediately snapped it up, being the fanatical Pearl Jam fan that I am. All I can say is, that if this concert is anything to go by, this is a legendary tour. This is classic live music in action. The band's studio albums are awesome but their live performances are something else. The band play stuff right across their catalogue. They far from neglect the early grunge stuff from 'Ten', 'Vs.' and 'Vitalogy' nor are they short on current/recent material and neither do they forget the fan favourites such as 'Yellow Ledbetter'. Aside from this, what makes the concert even better (and all of Pearl Jam's concerts for that fact), is its length. With most modern day bands, you probably expect up to 90 minutes music; with the Pearl Jam, you get up to 3 HOURS, yes 3 HOURS! It just goes to show, yet again how the band truly are in this for their fans and for their love of music, not the money they get from it. This concert, furthermore is interesting in a number of ways. Aside from being the last performance of the tour, it also happened to be the day before the 2000 US election, and you hear Eddie Vedder speaking about that at one point. The album also features Vedder hinting at the prospect that this concert may be the band's last ever (the band at the time was seriously thinking of retiring following the incident in Denmark where fans were killed). However following this comment, he is met by booing and jests, 'For A While, Anyway'. However, at least it is good to know that my all-time favourite band haven't thrown in the towel and are still making albums following this tour! All in all though, this is a legendary concert and one of the most remembered live moments in the band's great career.
   
   During the concert, Pearl Jam play a whole motherlode of songs from their catalogue, 30 in total. The concert kicks off with an introspective performace of 'Release', the closing classic from 'Ten'. Eddie Vedder weaves and emotional performance before the band then jam out 'Corduroy', the protest masterpiece 'Grievance' and punk-rocking 'Hail, Hail' in style. Following highly charged performances of 'Evacuation' and 'Dissident', Eddie Vedder speaks on behalf of the band for the first time in the gig. After mentioning prospects of it being 'the end' for the band and questioning the overpresence of the security guards at the concert, he introduces more 'Binaural' material in 'Nothing As It Seems'. Like a lot of material from the great 'Binaural' album, this song translates excellently live. The band play it excellently, with Gossard catching the song's slow groove with great assurance and Vedder giving another stellar vocal effort. Then, following 'In Hiding' from the 'Yield' album, Vedder marks his appreciation to Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament's 18 years of collaboration before the band proceed to give performances of 'Leatherman', 'Betterman' and 'Nothingman'. The 'Betterman' performance as usual gets a great crowd reception.
   
   CD 2 opens up next with the classic rock songs from 'Ten' in 'Even Flow' and 'Jeremy'. Even after 10 years since 'Ten', the band haven't lost their touch at playing the early material. The aggression filled 'Lukin' follows and then one of my personal favourite Pearl Jam songs in 'Not For You'. It's great to hear this dark, anti-media song played live. It's not the band's best version of the song (the bass lines and guitar hooks felt a little cut down in parts) but I enjoyed it none the less. Then, following an excellent version of 'Daughter', Eddie Vedder takes the opportunity to tell the audience how much better they were than the previous nights crowd before introducing 'Off He Goes' as a tribute to one of the fans who was killed in the Denmark incident. Following a shakey start, the band give a real emotive version of this song. 'Light Years' follows; mellow sounding and rhythmically assured, this is a great performance. Further great 'Binaural' material follows with 'Parting Ways', where the band feature string musicians to create the true style to the song. The band then close the second disc with performances of powerful album openers in 'Go' and 'Once'.
   
   CD 3 is the climax of this great concert. 'Crazy Mary' transmits well, with Vedder giving a strong performance and then the band play their ode to suicide in 'Immortality' with its beautiful riffs and thoughtful lyrics. An inspired jam in 'Alive' follows before Vedder makes a few jibes at Bill Gates before picking up his ukelele and playing 'Soon Forget'. Eddie Vedder then gives an assertive speech on advising people to go out and vote in the coming election before he gets the crowd brimming when he says about the up and coming encores. The first two of these are takes on some songs by the Who. The band gives great versions of 'The Kids Are Alright' and 'Baba O'Riley' before playing their classic finishing song in 'Yellow Ledbetter'. Vedder's vocals deliver once again and McCready's guitar work is first rate.
   
   All in all this is a great concert. Eventhough the band don't give their best live takes on some of the songs and there are some notable slips occasionally, you can't deny that this is a great concert. This finish in Seattle to the band's mammoth tour is a memorable concert and is a great addition to any serious Pearl Jam fan's collection, provided you can get your hands on a copy!
   
   MY RATING: 9/10



3. I think the album speaks for itself, therefore I will not comment on the bredth of the songs played or the energy you feel from the crowd and PJ (although I just did didn't I?).
   
   Anyway, for all you naysayers out there commenting on the politics, and "rants" from Eddie in this concert I do have a few words...The politics and issues behind Pearl Jam's music is what makes them a great band. They are not just among the best musicians in the business, but the passion behind their message is unmatched in a mainstream band. PJ is clearly touched by social issues and is doing what it can to spread their message. If you don't appreciate musicians speaking their mind then don't go to PJ shows or listen to their music, its an essential component. After all, the best art is that which comes from the heart. To quote another favorite of mine, Greg Brown: "There's a singer singing about nothing at all, but he looks pretty good and he's knocking them dead down at the mall"...a fine statement about mainstream music. Fortunately, with Pearl Jam, you get the best of both worlds and with this concert hours and hours of listening enjoyment to reflect on the impression this band has left on the music world and the world as a whole.



4. I'm the owner of roughly one out of every six 2000 bootlegs, and this one is the best. The lyrical flubs that plague some shows limit themselves here to Evenflow. To make up for it, all Pearl Jam does is give us transcendent takes on virtually all of their best material. If Betterman, Corduroy, Dissident, Hail Hail, Immortality, In Hiding, Leatherman, Not for you, Nothing as it Seems, Nothingman, Parting Ways, RVM, Soon Forget, or Yellow Ledbetter are your favorite Pearl Jam songs, you'll find them performed at their finest here. And YES, Ed finally gets Immortality right! Also included are excellent Who covers: Baba O'Riley and The Kids are Alright. If there's any criticism to be found, it's because of the relative absence of No Code/Yield material. I don't know about you, but getting a definitive collection of the rest of their music is good enough for me.
   
   After what turned out to be the defining year of the band's career, the emotions run high in every Mike McCready guitar solo, every Matt Cameron drum beat, and every word out of Eddie Vedder's mouth. If you can't feel it, I don't know what to tell you. It just always seems to get a little dusty in my room when I'm playing the third disc, and Ed says "This is it... this is it, and we go home... We'll see you in the voting booth tomorrow." The world's greatest rock band, home after six months of triumph and tragedy... and then Yellow Ledbetter starts up.
   
   *sniff*
   
   Just buy this CD. Do it now.



5. i bought this one in 2001 i believe.. sometime in june.. it has to be the greatest live album i've heard.. the sound quality was excellent, and everything.. awesome setlist, i just wish it had Breath or Last Exit on it.. but regardless it's a great live album.. and i would prolly pay $300 to have gone.. but i didnt really listen to Pearl Jam till march of 2001.. if you haven't kept track with the band, no they did not break up or anything.. actually they released another album (Riot Act), a few live concert CDs from that tour (the PA State College one is pretty good).

   THEN they released the long awaited Rarities album, and live DVD of their Maddison Square Garden concert.. which is deffinetly worth buying. keep on rocking!

3 comments about Dils Dils Dils.

1. While the Dils' handful of studio recordings are great, I've always felt that their best songs unfortunately never made it on to wax. These bootleg-quality live tracks of "New Kicks", "Before The Law", "National Guard" etc. only remind me of what a crime it was that they never got around to recording a long player, or at least more singles. The Clash influence is pretty obvious, but you also hear the Everly Brothers, Roy Orbison, and 60's pop (among other things) in the Dils' sound. As musicians and songwriters, they were head-and-shoulders above most of their peers.



2. What a great group! Saw them perform in Monterey in 78 (me and about 40 others). Did they ever look cool in just denim jackets and jeans. Also played a Hendrix cover as an encore...can't remember what though. Anyway, this is a good collection of songs from a band that should have been bigger, and probably would have been had they stuck to it a few more years (and lost the hammer-and-sickle tee shirts).



3. Yeah, this is a great CD, it gives you that kinetic live feeling they had (even tho I was too young to see 'em in the flesh at the time), altho from Chip I'd gotten on tape even RADDER live versions of Citizen, National Guard, Wreck, and New Kicks (the makers of this CD should've asked him for 'em!! that's why only 4 stars).....it's great that these songs are included on this CD tho. And Blow Up, (included on the Rat Music for Rat People lp back in the day), is very fine. They do a cool cover of the Velvet's What Goes On, and the great acoustic version of Sound of the Rain is a foreshadowing of their version on the 2nd Rank and File album (yum!)...good deal.

5 comments about Live '84.

1. When this stuff....My War, Slip It In, and Live '84....cam out, I was one of those "punk rockers" who thought that Black Flag (and hell, ANY band that really learned how to play) had "sold out". Greg Ginn is the type of musician that could not simply keep on playing minimalistic chords, over-and-over, like the classic Jealous Agaim e.p. He had chops, man, and when My War came out, I listened to the album (um, it was actually on vynil) and I thought side one was decent enough, what with all of the paranoid/insane screaming on the song "My War" and the emotional agony expressed on "Can't Decide"...but then it got real, real SLOW (and slow was a "sin" back in the early 80's M.D.C./Verbal Abuse speed/hardcore/punk time), and well, the songs were all over 1:25 minutes long. Man, this just sucked, or so I thought. So I grabbed ahold of my old Black Flag albums, along with D.R.I. (before they became a metal band), Wasted Youth, Verbal Abuse, M.D.C., Free Beer, etc.
   
   But NOW I realize that the mid-80's era Black Flag was actually brilliant, and Live '84 showcases a band that was way ahead of it's time in a lot of ways. You have it all here; the punk rock of "Nervous Breakdown", the sexual twistedness of "Slip It In", the suffocating atmosphere of "Black Coffee"....man, this cd has it all.
   
   The sound quality is good too.
   
   If you want to experience a band that was highly misunderstood within the confines of the hardcore punk scene in the mid-80's, then by all means, buy this! This is a soundtrack to the emotional state of most of us at the time, and byt the way, for those of you who are young; it "rocks"
   
   Thanks!



2. I love Black Flag and "Live 84'" is a great live album by them. It is filled with songs that have been classics from previouse albums. Just great stuff. Not much more to say about it but awesome!



3. By far, this is Black Flag's best. They never were much of a studio group, but once the songs found their way onto the stage, Ginn & Co. would mangle them into pure, raw musical terror. I survived two Black Flag shows, including one in '84, and this CD, especially the first six tracks, captures the amazing power that this group wielded. Hard to believe twenty years have passed since this recording, and it's even harder to believe that anyone could take "punk" or any other purportedly "hardcore" group seriously after listening to "Live '84."



4. HENRY ROLLINS AND GREG GINN LIVE AND RAW, ENOUGH SAID! Everybody says oh Damaged was Black Flag's greatest record, but I don't think so. This record really showcases the ax precision of Mr. Greg Ginn, and it shows the hardcore lyrical talent of Mr. Henry Rollins. This is an amazing album to say the least. If you like punk and hardcore you should definitly pick this cd up, you will not be dissapointed.



5. I love it! Nice to see some people here who think along the lines I do, bringing up for comparison "Ascension" from Coltrane's late period, and the guitarist Derek Bailey who collaborated with jazz avant-gardist Anthony Braxton. I was lucky enough to attend numerous Flag concerts, and '84 was the year they attained their technical, musical, and philosophical maturity. Sadly, it was the year the band peaked, as drivel like "Loose Nut" attests. But in their concerts and three 1984 releases, Black Flag forged a devastating meld of punk, metal, and free jazz, and articulated a rage against society, nature, consciousness, you name it. There is a paranoia in the closing three songs of "My War," for instance, that is not only interpersonal but metaphysical; if you don't believe me, listen to the words for yourself. Later I came to believe that what Werner Herzog undertook in his films, Black Flag tried to do in its music, to resist all the pressures and influences surrounding your life, to arrive at whatever genuine existence you have. Even if this project was flawed by circuitous reasoning from the start, there was a nobility in the effort.

   This live album has the most of Greg Ginn, a supreme guitarist who got buzzes and pierces from his instrument like no one else I've heard. It has enough of Henry Rollins without too much, thank goodness, and the rhythm section of Kira Roessler and Bill Stevenson was the tightest the band ever had and played off Ginn the best. The album has a raw feel, and the songs simply feel less scripted than on their studio versions. It may be an unlikely candidate, but "Live '84" is probably Black Flag's shining moment of darkness. Glad to see it's on CD; it was first released on cassette only, and I've been hanging onto my tape, trying to preserve it for all these years!

5 comments about Ballot Result.

1. This is just classic live Minutemen at their best. What makes this one special is that the tracklist was compiled by the fans' votes which truly makes it special for the Minutemen enthusiasts. Some of the live performances don't translate well on the disc only because of their "bootlegged" sound quality, but either way it's still worth a spin. Included was a fan favorite, "Mr. Robot's Holy Orders" in which each member is able to show their incredible talent and they do! Recommended for the true fan. If you are new to the Minutemen catalog make sure you check out Double Nickels On The Dime.



2. If memory serves correct, The Minutemen had plans to record a live album of their fan's favorite songs entitled Ballot Result. However, due to the untimely passing of D. Boon, they were forced to assemble this collection of radio broadcasts, live and rehearsal recordings, and even some studio tracks (when live versions didn't exist). Ultimately, you have to commend Mike and George for carrying on with the project. None the less, there are some definate peaks and valleys on this collection. This record starts out strong with a decently recorded 1985 radio brodcast featuring smokin' versions of some of their best songs. These tracks alone justify purchasing this CD (preferably the LP for the extra songs). The remainder of the tracks, however, are a hodge-podge of live and rehearsal material that is either marred by poor recording quality or sub-par performances. Tracks like "Tour Spiel" and "Take Our Test", while far from unlistenable, stick out in my mind as being especially inferior to the studio versions. In addition, the remix of "No One" single-handedly demonstrates what is so horribly wrong with 80's studio production. Yes, I'm nit-picking, but these issues keep this from being a 5-star disc, in my opinion. Still, Ballot Result is well worth owning based on its obvious strengths.



3. a fitting tribute to the greatest band of any genre. listening to this album you can see where they were evolving - from a band with lightning fast short songs to a jam band. if d. boon had lived they'd be the grateful dead of their generation. as it is mike watt (the bass player) has just released his second punk rock opera. remember d boon every april fool's day - that was his birthday! (really)



4. Seeing as I am halfway (along with the Minutemen, of course) responsible for a number of songs on here (those recorded at WREK, a show I set up), it would be difficult to not recommend this or any other recording D., Watt & George did. We'll never know what they might have accomplished, but the direction they were heading was quite promising. and the CD is different from the album which is different from the cassette, so load up on all of them........



5. Being all of 10 years old when D. Boon died never really allowed me to see them live. Unfortunately, this is as close as I'll get. Fortunately, this is a great album. For those of you who don't know, SST took a poll of fans' favorite Minutemen songs and made up a live album. I assume they would have included the actual results, but fidelity they didn't have 'em all. They include the actual results in the liner notes.

   Great stuff. Has three of my favorites, Jesus and Tequila, Political Song For Micheal Jackson To Sing and If Reagan Played Disco. Also, This Ain't No Picnic. Great all around record.

5 comments about Live at the Brattle Theatre / Griffith Sunset EP.

1. Any fan of intimate acoustic music will love this album, but more importantly fans of Evan/The Lemonheads must hear this! This is the kind of album that if he had played on MTV Unplugged in the 90's would have gone down as legendary - it is that good. Dando clearly has not lost his talent and it is interesting to hear him in such a vulnerable setting. Just Evan and his acoustic guitar. Dando's voice is strong and deep and he really sings with passion at this concert. It is one of my favorite albums to listen to in the car on a nice summer day - not sure why but the setting just seems to fit.



2. All I can say is I wish the acoustic set was longer... I saw him at Joe's Pub in Manhattan a year or two ago and he played acoustically for 2 hours, and it was awesome!! Dando's great!



3. I was at the 9:30 pm Brattle concert on the night of October 18, 2000, which I believe is the source for some of the songs on this CD (he played another show earlier in the evening as well). It was a very, very good acoustic show -- his voice was deep where it needed to be ("Ride With Me"), and raw when he had to be ("Rabbit", which unfortunately did not make the final cut). He also played some great stuff I hadn't heard before, like "Frying Pan".



4. nothing would give me more pleasure than to tell you that this cd is a superb, unqulaified success deserving of 5*'s. it's very good, but i have a few reservations.

   on the positive side - welcome back Evan, 1 record in the preceding 7 or 8 years is a void in the music world. the quality of the live set is excellent, i always thought evan was at his best on his own and acoustic when i saw the lemonheads previously. remember those encores of 'being around' or 'divan'?? also really glad to see a couple of 'lovey' tracks on here including 'ride with me', 'stove' and 'half the time'. the rendition of 'the outdoor type' stands head and shoulders above the rest here. cd2 is a studio record of covers, with only the tribute to hank williams a standout in my opinion.

   on the downside and top of the list is the length. as usual with evan there is precious little music for your money, in fact not even 60 mins all told on both discs in this case. for a full-price 2cd set that isnt much bang for the buck. only one new song on the live set (albeit the excellent 'same thing you thought hard about' from baby i'm bored) is a little disappointing. cd2 doesn't quite work, evan never seems to sound as comfortable with other people's songs and the only time he did was when a bit of a joke backfired on him (must confess i quite like the alt lyrics of mrs robinson that evan sang live!).

   the live cd is well worth getting hold of, the other disc is far less interesting so it is probably a 5* recommendation and a 3* recommendation at a fairly hefty price... that said, it did pave the way for 'baby i'm bored', which is excellent....




5. Evan Dando is Back!!! He is better than ever. This CD lets us listen to his melodic voice in an intimate setting. Evan Dando is perhaps the best at performing an acoustic show. His EP with a little alt-country is terrific as well. I saw him...at a show and he was superb there as well....