5 comments about Across A Wire: Live In New York City.

1. This is one of the best live albums I've ever purchased and I think every one who likes pop/rock like Counting Crows should get themselves a copy, because the band's perfomance is extraordinary good - both of the performances!
   
   It's a double live album which contains two live recordings from Vh1: Storytellers and a Mtv gig. The first is kind of an unplugged acoustic concert which is more quit and philosophic - also because of Adam's lyrical adds to the songs and the bands new interpretations of the songs. This is an individual decision if you like this or not, but I love it! The Mtv concert is more loud and the songs are more the ones you know from the albums, but still you feel the band's energy and you understand why they are such a popular live band.
   The album contain songs from the two first albums: August and Everything After and Recovering the Satellites.
   
   Overall it's a very good album, and I don't recognize any reason not to buy this if you like Counting Crows, because it shows some new sides of the band and if you don't like the band or have never heard of them before, then go buy it anyways because it's a musical experience under any circumstance.
   
   
   Nicolai ;D



2. I wasn't a huge fan of the live music. Too many audience noise to drown out the otherwise amazing music. The audio never feels authentic to me. The VH1 disk is worth the money and then some. But beware. If you are a person that only wants to hear as band sing their songs exactly like they do on the album, this is NOT for you. I love the way they have changed the songs and lyrics to fit the mood that they're in at the time they're singing it. "I think we know how to play them now" probably explaines more than I could ever attempt. If you looked back at things you have done years ago, I am sure you would change them to reflect your position today. This album makes those changes and it's truly blissful to go along for the ride.



3. Normally I am a total purist when it comes to concerts. I like the songs to sound the way they do on the CD, and I don't like surprises. But after seeing Counting Crows live this summer for the first time, I was amazed. It didn't matter that they changed the arrangements. They were just incredible. I immediately ordered Across A Wire, which didn't disappoint. This double CD captures their live performances for VH1 and MTV. It brought me right back to this summer's concert, and let me really appreciate Adam Duritz's vocals and the band's ability to change things up. Anyone who likes this band live will appreciate this CD set.



4. Live music from Counting Crows! I somehow only just found this CD after being a CC fan since 1994. The energy of this performance is exhilarating. Adam Duritz is still raw, a trait I love and miss, since I think the rawness of his performing and writing has evaporated over the last five years or so.
   I highly recommend this as a must have CD of Counting Crows. Two CDs, one is more acoustic than the other. My preference is for the second CD which is edgy and loud, long versions of songs I love. Sullivan Street, track 4 on CD#2 is awesome.
   There are two versions of "Round Here" on this CD, one acoustic with only Adam and Dave. Both are fantastic.



5. I actually went to live at the 10 spot. I remember them announcing they were recording this live. It was a great show, though I had wished it was longer. Seems like the Counting Crows are lazy. I was a little disappointed they didn't play Mr. Jones. Overall great show though.

5 comments about I Might Be Wrong: Live Recordings.

1. A compilation of what I believe to be the Kid Amnesiac-era tour, considering that out of these eight songs, three are from Amnesiac and four are from Kid A. And really, that's all I can come up with about this album. It's certainly good, but it's only necessary for the converted. However, if you are converted, you'll find that there's a lot to like, including the huge reworking of "Like Spinning Plates", when it becomes a thoroughly beautiful piano ballad! Yes, that's right, it goes from some crazed, frigged-out avant-techno experiment to that! How did that happen? Well, however it happened, I like it. "Dollars and Cents" is also massively improved upon, removing the freaky noises and as such turning it into a somewhat great song. And the moody "True Love Waits", which never made it on a studio album, is the other fantastic highlight. Thom Yorke's falsetto and his acoustic guitar are a very good combination. On the other hand, "Morning Bell", "Idioteque", and "I Might Be Wrong" are nothing to write home about. If you've heard the originals (and I'm assuming you have), you're heard the remakes. They don't do anything particularly wrong, since "Morning Bell" and "Idioteque" so happen to be two of the best songs from Kid A (same with "I Might Be Wrong" on Amnesiac). It's just that, given what they do to "Like Spinning Plates", there was so much more potential. Come to think of it, the only song I'm really unimpressed by is "The National Anthem". Yorke's vocals just don't do the job for me, and the barely audible vocal scatting taking the place of the crazy horn section ruins the song. Let's face it, two or three people singing scat isn't going to wipe you out the way a horn section blowing whatever they please does. The remake of "Everything in Its Right Place" isn't the best, either. Still, it's interesting to hear Radiohead take some of their most challenging songs and put them in a live format, most of the songs are good, and none of them is bad. So it's a worthwhile addition to any Radiohead collection.



2. I want to know, why, one of my favorite bands would release a live disc like this.U2 did this as well in 1983(Under A Blood Red Sky).8 songs?I was lucky enough to see the band, when they played in Victoria Park, Warrington ,England,10/02/00, the day before the release of Kid A.The show was recorded by BBC Radio 1.My buddy, who resides in London, recorded the show and sent it to me on two cd's.The sound is great and it has 20 songs.20,not 8.This live disc is a total ripoff.How do you get the nerve to charge your fans full price for a cd that is 30 min long?Discs, as everyone knows ,can hold nearly 80 min of music,so whats the deal?Why couldnt they have added a few more songs?The thing is,the live versions of songs from both,Kid A and Amnesiac sound much better live.But,this disc does have its moments.True Love Waits is the jewel here.It is a fantastic ,emotional,slow acoustic song perfomed by Thom Yorke solo.Like Spinning Plates is another song that sounds great live,the studio version from Amnesiac is weak and it has too many loops and other wacky sounds going on, that take away from the song.This version is Thom at the piano,its very moving and strong.The songs from Warrington,sound much more powerful than the tracks presented here.The National Anthem is not as loud or intense as the version from Warrington.Its actually quite dull.That is quite shocking,considering I have heard other live versions of this song, from this tour and they were great.This version is from Paris,France.Enough said.Why would the band release this version??Im sure, some of you, have been lucky enough to have a copy of the Warrington show.If you dont have it,somehow try to get it.You will understand what I mean.The band also allowed 2 shows from 2001(Rock Am Ring Festival,Germany,06/01/01 and Oxford,England,07/07/01)to be broadcast over BBC Radio 1.They both sound great,since they,the band,recorded the shows.The entire Rock Am Ring show was also broadcast live on German tv.4 out of the 8 songs here, are from the Oxford show,the bands hometown.The show was obviously recorded by the band. Why wont they release one, if not all 3 ,of the gigs I have mentiond.Instead,we get 8 tracks.Someone over there at the Radiohead camp dropped the ball on this one.Most hardcore fans,like myself, would,without question,love to pay and own each show ,IF, they were available.How great would it have been if say,the band released the Oxford show in its entirety.They played 24 songs that night.But,no,we,the fans get ripped off with only 8 tracks.Did I mention that enough.Sorry but,that really pisses me off.We could have used a little effort on this one.Thanks guys.Oh and,God forbid,you release a live dvd from this tour.Since,again,at least two, that I know of, were filmed.Maybe in another few years they will,like the Astoria show from 1995 ,released in 2005.That made sense right.Hang in there fellow frustrated fans.



3. Radiohead live... you can't go wrong. Quit reading others analyzing this record... just buy it! You won't regret it. Take care :)



4. In short, the recordings are excellent I think. For the most part, songs don't vary TOO much from the album versions, but the avid Radiohead fan will notice, and appreciate, the differences. The acoustic version of True Love Waits, which I don't believe I've seen on any other album, is another great Radiohead song and lyrically one of the most complex and interesting I've ever heard.
   
   Cheers to Radiohead, and boos to the haters who leave bad reviews for this album.



5. Okay. I love Radiohead to death. But i have one problem. Where in the heck is "Fake Plastic Trees"? That song is supposed to be on here. Live Recordings? I am so glad that the dreadful "Creep" isn't on here, although it wouldn't be too terribley bad. I am happy with everything else, but am saddened that "Trees" didn't make the cut. I wonder why? Is the song not good enough? I have heard the song played live plenty of times, and that's why i'm surprised that it isn't on here. Oh well. I'm not complaining as much as i could be. :)

5 comments about Live: Roseland NYC.

1. Hot on the heels of two acclaimed studio albums, the trio of Geoff Barrow, Adrian Utley and singer Beth Gibbons toured the United States and in doing so worked with an orchestra and horns for a live release.
   
   It is often thought that electronic music is difficult to capture outside a studio, but "Live: Roseland NYC" is at the very least an exception. Whilst many critics have said Portishead's releases are too similar to each other, a good listen to "Live: Roseland NYC" with reveal a great many surprises about how Portishead adapt their songs to a concert setting. Contrary to what some might expect all the samples of their studio work are present, notably on "Only You" where they are used to create a crescendo effect in the middle of the song.
   
   The strings add a great deal of melody to the songs compared to the stripped-down versions seen on their second album, but what is really surprising and overlooked in the much greater range of Beth Gibbons' voice found in the live setting. At the end of the dark "Sour Times" her voice - so restrined in the studio version - turns into an absolute growl that might put off some fans, but is as impressive as anything Bjork could ever manage. The quiet-to-loud dynamic of "Over" is similar in its effect, notably when Beth sings "recognise me any more" in an angry tone. On the other side, "Half Day Closing" is quite remarkably eerie and out-does any post-rock band. The opening tracks, "Cowboys" and "All Mine", and the earlier "Roads" are more akin to the studio versions but their powerful beauty is so unlike most pop music that it always captures the attention of someone weaned on the commercial music of the eighties.
   
   All in all, "Live: Roseland NYC" is the most essential release from Portishead and one of the very best albums of the 1990s. The material is played in a subtly but genuinely darker, moodier, more intense yet more wistful tone than in the studio, and the accompanying orchestra is completely part of the songs as they are arranged. The cover, too, which reminds me of a school orchestra as I once played wihtout success in, is very fitting.



2. It seems like it might not work at first, but Portishead's "Live: Roseland NYC" album is probably the most stunning and most original live electronica album. And the string orchestra enhances their songs in unexpected ways.
   
   If Portishead's second album sounded like a creepy soundtrack to a Halloween horror movie, the string ensemble take the scary crescendos to a whole new level. Beth Gibbons sings a crooning alto similar to the James Bond singer Shirley Bassey. In the song "Cowboys," the orchestra resounds with a wave of dissonance that escalates to a frightening peak with the electric guitars amplifying the dark tension. Combine that with the squeeky turntable scratches, and the band sounds like a deadly mix of James Bond mystery with electric mayhem.
   
   And believe it or not, there are plenty of smooth and sassy James Bond-style orchestrations. The blaring trumpets and strings in "All Mine" turns the copa cabana song into a smoky, jazzy scene, with guitars to electrify the atmosphere.
   
   Even though the live set begins with songs from their less popular second album, there are still plenty of fantastic mixes of songs from their debut album to spare. The high-pitched screeches of the violins in "Mysterons" transform the electronica song into a soundtrack from an Alfred Hitchcock horror film. "Glory Box" sounds even sassier and sexier with actual strings to back up Gibbons' voice and the funky DJ scratcher. And if Portishead fans thought "Sour Times" sounded cool, just wait until they hear the adrenaline-filled crescendo of strings, organs, drums, guitars and DJ scratches, combined with Gibbons' wailing at the end.
   
   And the band has an especially tender moment in the song "Roads," where the spacy jazz wah-wahs and the strings soften their set with a gorgeous faze of romanticism. Beth Gibbons' softening voice near the end make this ballad reach a wonderful intimate level like no other.
   
   But the strings are the most entrancing in the hip-hop beat-oriented jam "Strangers." The beats, combined with the snazzy horns and strings, make this Portishead exciting and electrifying. It's a great way to end an awesome concert of hip-hop, Halloween rock and orchestral splendor. It also shows Portishead in their prime, with an artistic taste like no other electronica band in the world.



3. I read a review for Third in the New Yorker, and I found out that this live album existed. I had to get it right away because the reviewer was basically saying that Third is great, but nothing can ever beat the Roseland NYC album.. I have to say that Roseland is genius and I am extremely sd to have missed out on it for so long. Roseland really is a masterpiece.



4. One word: "Roads." What a mess the dimwitted NYC audience made of this song. Their stupid little clap-a-long and early applause ruin what really would have been one of the standout tracks on this album. Good news: no clapping on the DVD version! That said, I think most people will be happier with the DVD audio. Buy the DVD, and download "Sour Times" as this is the only performance that is really missing from the DVD.



5. This is a masterpiece of contemporary music. PNYC is a very complex album, full of arrangements that goes to deep obsesive levels. No matter what kind of music do you really like. Everyone who cares about music should hear this album, and watch the dvd concert...many, many times. Pity i can't give them more than 5 stars.

5 comments about Kick Out the Jams.

1. This music is a snapshot in time of an era gone by. The raw energy of the MC5 inspired Detroit musicians and others to "Kick out the Jams" with their music. I was amazed to find this "live" recording still available. I haven't heard or even thought about the MC5 in the past 35 years. So on the 40th anniversary of this album, I listened to it and a flood of memories came back to me as I revisited the MC5 live at the Grande Ballroom in Detroit. This album captures the essence of being back at the Grande. At the time this album was recorded, the MC5 was the most exciting high energy rock band around. For those who remember the counter culture of the 60's, this music epitomizes the frustration of the youth: anti war, anti draft, anti establishment, radical politics, radical lifestyles, turn on, tune in, drop out, etc. The album cut "Motor City's Burning" about sums this up. I would recommend this album to anyone interested in rock music history and music of the 60's counter culture. Who knows, it may inspire you to "kick out the jams" in your own way.



2. it was in great condition and is a fantastic album thats hard to find. you should buy it



3. I was there in 1968 at the Grande Ballroom in Detroit, with several of my hippie friends, when the MC5 recorded this album and it was fantastic. The energy that was generated, by the MC5, at the Grande that evening was wild and everyone was on their feet rocking. The first album release had the words Kick out the jams M..F..rs on it and the album was quickly pulled off the shelves and rereleased with the M..F..rs changed to Brothers and Sisters, if you have the first vinyl you are fortunate. Listening to this album takes me right back to the Grande and the memories come flowing back. This album is history in the music world and a must have.



4. This is one of the BEST hard rock CD's from the early days. I NEVER get tired of listening to this. Each song rocks like there is no tomorrow. These guys gave it all and it really shows on this recording.
   
   I've always wished there was more music like this, but I'm also glad that this CD exists. It'll definetly get you through the day!!! This CD is definetly hard rock heaven!!!



5. This is the '90s CD reissue of this iconic band's 1969 debut on Elektra, with liner notes by the late Rob Tyner, the group's vocalist. Nobody, but nobody, rocked harder than the Five in the late '60s, and this album, recorded live on Halloween, 1968, at Detroit's Grande Ballroom, proves it. The group was actually politically active, too, which set it apart from, say, the West Coast psychedelic bands of the same period. "Come Together" is indescribably chaotic. These guys make fellow Detroiter Ted Nugent sound like Lawrence Welk. The group is long gone, having succumbed to the usual, but its name is still invoked with a certain amount of awe all these years later. This record demonstrates why.

5 comments about Live @ The Fillmore.

1. I have been trying to listen this album for some time but it's intolerable.
   
   I listen to Lucinda constantly, have for years, she is a wonderful and soulful artist, I certainly dig her whole style and groove but this performance is just depressing so out of my life it goes. It really upsets me to hear her sounding so bad, it is puzzling how this performance was so bad and why it was released! We should have been spared this.



2. I love these CD's. She starts out with slow mellow music and builds to some great rock.



3. Fans of singer Lucinda Williams will likely be fond of Live @ The Fillmore (2005), which was recorded at the famed theater on the corner of Fillmore Street and Geary Boulevard in San Francisco. The players appearing here are Jim Christie, Doug Pettibone, Tara Prodaniuk, and Lucinda herself; basically the same quartet that recorded World Without Tears.
   
   In the interest of balance, Lucinda has included twenty-two songs on this two disc set; eleven of thirteen tracks (excluding Minneapolis and People Talkin') from World Without..., and seven of eleven tracks (excluding Steal Your Love, I Envy The Wind, Get Right With God, and Broken Butterflies) from Essence, right alongside four new sparkling songs.
   
   Let me tell you, Changed the Locks (Track Nine, Disc One) -- a slightly ironic number sung in the style of Warren Zevon -- is almost worth the purchase price alone. The song has a strong percussive kick at the start, with several blistering guitar solos and Lucinda's whiskey-tinged voice ranting above it all.
   
   Lyrical numbers like I Lost It (Track One, Disc Two) and Pineola (Track Two, Disc Two) blend well with songs from Lucinda's two preceding albums. Joy (Track Four, Disc Two) is a bluesy rocker with nuanced drumming from Jim Christie. All four of the new songs mentioned above received thunderous applause and whistling from the audience.
   
   My outlook on live albums is somewhat lukewarm. For example, Lucinda's live performance of Essence (Track Five, Disc Two) is absolutely tepid in comparison to the polished studio version. Conversely, her enthusiastic live version of Atonement (Track Ten, Disc One) changed my mind about a song that I found lacking on World Without....
   
   One or two songs -- like Ventura (Track One, Disc One) and Bus to Baton Rouge (Track Eleven, Disc Two) -- are indistinguishable from studio recordings, save for a dozen extra seconds. I find buying live albums to be a substitute for attending concerts, but I'd rather be there in person to experience the artist.
   
   Really, the band was surprisingly uneven -- especially on Disc Two. This two-disc combo was recorded over three nights and mixed & engineered at Radio Recorders in Hollywood, but you can audibly pick out numbers where Williams' voice was taxed. I'll give Live @ The Fillmore a recommendation because I liked the new songs.
   
   Essentially, this is a live album that is intermittently brilliant -- but at times frustratingly mediocre. If you already have Essence and World Without... you just might consider skipping this particular CD. When Lucinda attempts a live album again, I think she should use guest artist from the Lost Highway label to back her band up.
   
   
   Amazon.com: This two-disc set can be purchased for only [...]



4. Lucinda's rough, boozy voice is the perfect instrument for her poetry of unrequited and obsessive love, loss, sorrow and guilt. Her backup matches the mood of every song - inventive, original and pulsing with electricity and virtuosity.
   
   Like John Prine and Dylan her lyrics tell stories with laser insight. Like Janis Joplin, she turns herself inside out, hurling emotion without restraint. Like Delbert McClinton she integrates her powerful lyrics with musical accompaniment that socks it home. But Lucinda with guitarists Doug Pettibone and Tara Prodanick, Jim Christie on drums, are soul mates, soaring above them all in this rare, raw event.
   
   Lucinda repeats some of the best songs from other albums. But this time, they're not done with the same tenderness. Her voice has become more desperate and ragged. Every cut has an edge. Like a wounded woman, stripped to her soul, alone in a dark room with hard booze in a dirty glass, drinking away the pain. Hurt and melancholy, she shares with us the bitter leftovers of rejection and abandonment.
   
   The first disc of this two disc album starts with "Ventura," The morning after, with nothing but emptiness and regret, she longs for redemption. "I want to be swallowed up in an ocean of love." Hawaiian sound - slide guitar. Sweet, sad, spent.
   
   By "Out of Touch" things heat up. The beat gets more insistent and driving. Hints of rebellion. Guitars on the loose. Then back to melancholy.
   
   "Sweet Side" reveals a deeply compassionate understanding of character.
   
   "Changed the Locks" Fury! Revenge! Opens with a threatening drum beat and guitars grinding, squealing, whining while Lucinda lays it down, her teeth gritted, in a heavy vengeful beat.
   
   "Atonement", the last cut on disc one, honors ZZ Top. It starts with a strip club beat as Lucinda calls all sinners to the bible. Drum punches in the march to redemption. The guitars break loose, screaming, twirling, crying, pushing on. The beat is unrelenting. "Come on!" Lucinda bawls out.
   
   On Disc Two things get going. Supersized sixties sound, Hendrix style - a stew of rock, blues, and country guitar - rich with vibe, slide and ride, wail and whine. Powerful counterpoint to Lucinda's raunchy vocals.
   
   "Righteously" - pure sex. [...]. Audience gets turned on. Guitar ramps up, stretching, sliding, vibrating. Drum beat skips, rattles. Hot, hot, hot.
   
   Then "Joy." Primal. Fierce. Raw. "I don't want you anymore. You took my joy." Against Lucinda's furious rant, the music is a bouncy, mellow rock. Mid way it starts to build a fever, then retreats back to the subtle rocking beat, fades down and murmurs a few notes. Lucinda cries out. Guitar rises up, gains speed, shakes it hard, retreats again to a slow drawl, lying in wait for Lucinda's final exhausted lament, then gently carries her off in a soft retreat.
   
   "Real Live Bleeding." Old style. Like a Stones number. Bitter lyrics.
   
   Those Three Days." A killer. Skin crawling heartbreak and loneliness embraced in elegant language.
   
   "American Dream." Her rap number "Everything is wrong!". Military beat with a raoomp drum, sticks, and a smooth guitar glide.
   
   The finale, "Words Fell." Slow. Country blues. Guitar wails like a soft wind. Beautiful lyrics. Words fall, like roses at her feet.
   
   In this well balanced duo of lyrical and raucous, Lucinda is the musical mistress of anguish, anger, regret and love.



5. I love it and think just about every song on it is amazing. Thing is... she does sing like a druggy. I bought the act and love it. If you don't buy the singin', then you gonna hate it! I don't have many "gritty" cd's so this fills that void for me.

5 comments about The Ultimate Collection: Recorded Live.

1. From the moment when the MC announces "Brian Setzer and his 17-piece big band" on through Brian's "Thank You And Good-Night" amidst the last wild applause from the reprise of "Rock This Town" on Disc 2, this is among the most electrifying live albums I've ever heard! High energy...a performer who loves what he does, does it damn well, and knows how to communicate that to his band..er..ORCHESTRA and to his audience.
   
   GREAT STUFF!
   
   What is it? Rock n' roll? Big Band Swing Jazz? Urban blues? A maddening amalgam of 'em all? Who knows, and frankly, who cares? It Makes You Feel Good...so What more could you want???
   
   GO GET IT!!



2. This 2 CD collection of the Brian Setzer Orchestra is a blast. It is so high energy, that it rocks from start to finish. I love the use of themes from James Bond, Hawaii 5-0, The Pink Panther and Peter Gunn. I have had a lot of fun listening to these CD's!



3. Whether you love the big band sound, dig rockabilly or groove to that old time rock and rock you are sure to be impressed with The Brian Setzer Orchestra's 2004 release "The Ultimate Collection: Recorded Live". Having not heard too much by this outfit prior to purchasing this 2 disc set I was absolutely blown away by the variety and quality of the tunes I was hearing. What an unexpected treat!
   "The Ultimate Collection: Recorded Live" offers up an impressive total of 31 songs from all over the musical landscape performed flawlessy by Brian Setzer and his 17 piece big band. What is even more remarkable is that this collection is the sum total of two "live" concerts. Disc one was recorded during the group's appearance at the Montreal Jazz Festival in the summer of 1992. The Brian Setzer Orchestra was still feeling their oats in those halcyon days and the music has a wonderful edge to it. Disc 2 on the other hand was recorded in Tokyo in 2003. By now the presentation is highly polished and frankly amazing. According to the liner notes you are hearing these two concerts exactly as the audiences did. There was absolutely no editing needed.
   Those who enjoy instrumentals will certainly appreciate the bands take on three of the most popular rock and roll instrumentals of all time. "The James Bond Theme" and "Hawaii Five-O" themes pretty much mirror the originals while the approach taken on Santo and Johnny's "Sleepwalk" is definitely different. Those who appreciate the vocal stylings of the late great Bobby Darin will not be disappointed with Brian's take on the Darin classic "As Long As I'm Singin". In much the same vein you will also enjoy the Brian Setzer penned offering "My Baby Only Cares For Me". Rockabilly fans will revel in a number of rockabilly tunes in this collection. Be sure to check out "Hoodoo Voodoo Doll" and "Your True Love" to name but a couple. Of course, everyone will fondly recall Brian's days with Stray Cats with "Rock This Town" and "Stray Cat Strut". But for me, this collection definitely saved the best for last. While "Jump, Jive 'An Wail" is undoubtedly my favorite track I also was astounded by the sheer excitement and energy demonstrated on two Glenn Miller favorites "Pennsylvania 6-5000 and "Gettin' In The Mood". Perhaps the biggest surprise of all was Brian's totally unique rendition of "Get Me To The Church On Time" from "My Fair Lady". Outstanding!
   "Brian Setzer Orchestra: The Ultimate Collection: Recorded Live" comes with a colorful and informative set of liner notes. The sound quality is nothing short of spectacular and the selection of material was simply amazing to me. What a great record to play at a party! This is a collection you will come back to again and again! So as they recommend in the liner notes: "Crank it up and enjoy!" Very highly recommended!



4. I cannot describe how energetic and fun these two discs are from beginning to end. your collection will be greatly enhanced if you get this. it is kind of big band rock, it rules, and it has all the songs that Setzer is famous for on it. just go get it right now!



5. AS IS THE NORM WITH BRIAN SETZER, THERE IS NO LACK OF ENERGY. YOU CAN NEVER GET ENOUGH OF THIS UPBEAT, TOE TAPPING MUSIC THAT REMINDS YOU OF MUSIC LIKE GOD INTENDED IT - AS OPPOSED TO THE "RAP CRAP" OF TODAY.

5 comments about Any Given Thursday.

1. I am a big John Mayer fan, however, this one is just ok.
   The jams are a bit long and the sounds quality could use some refinement.
   John has matured as an artist a great deal in the last five years since this recording. I much prefer his latest work and production.
   He is still cool as sh---.
   Gary / White Plains, NY



2. Only for John mayer attempting to play/sing it. A teensager with a sore throat.



3. This is a great live cd. It has all of John Mayer's older songs that got you liking him in the first place. Sometimes his live singing skills are a bit flat, but what the heck, it's still a great cd.



4. Mayer is no studio voice, and on his live Any Given Thurday from Atlanta we get to hear new songs, and old ones performed in a new way. He's truly in love with his music, and you can hear it in the variations from his CD. He sings a sculpted version of old faves, like your body is a wonderland. He also has a previously unreleased song called "Covered in the Rain" that has some of the most beautiful guitar I've ever heard. His 83 start off with a Cyndi Lauper cover, and is ultra creative. it's unpredicatable, which makes the crowd go wild. There is also a Sting cover of Message in a bottle, and a beautiful song called Comfortable. It's a new listening experience that Mayer fans will revel in.



5. this is a great cd, John Mayer is musician way beyond his years.

5 comments about Live at Sin-é.

1. The startling beauty in this piece is its fragility. It plays, if one can say so, like a quiet evening amongst close friends, where little is forced, and the occasional silences come to play as well as the impromptu jokes, allowing one ephemeral moment to blend within the next, permitting an occasional smile from the listeners. I have found myself listening to this amazing collection on repeat, making my way through the day, occasionally losing myself in work only to be drawn back by a certain song or joke. It is all the more powerful because it does not play like a collection of individual pieces, but like Grace, with an incredible unity - a harder feat here I believe, given the length of this collection. Buckley's occasional commentary, jokes, and imitations (which have been commented on by other reviewers - my favorite is the Jim Morrison) give those who are already fans of his small body of music, another confirmation of his rarity, and our loss. The few covers included here also permit one to delve in a little deeper than most studio albums will also allow. Indeed, some of these are so remarkably captured by Buckley that I would not have been surprised if, not having heard some of them before, someone had told me he wrote them himself.



2. This CD set, probably more than any other product released, reveals more of the personality and charm of Jeff while interacting with the audience, and more importantly, shows his passion and emotion for the music he plays. Listeners familiar with the songs released on the Grace album will find them re-presented in a new, but certainly not diminished, light. Some songs in particular that show their more sentimental sides are "Eternal Life", "Grace", and "Lover, You Should've Come Over".
   
   This is an exquisite representation of Jeff's talent and charisma. A must have.



3. I had the EP when it came out. I was floored when I heard it... "one guy"???
   
   He's another "sing the telephone book and it would sound awesome".
   
   My opinion is this: he wasn't intending to release the whole thing when he had the tapes rolling, but was capturing his cafe days "in the moment" before he started playing larger venues (although theaters were the norm for him and a few festivals). This was a place he served coffee at AND played his heart out.
   
   It is funny to hear his swipes at the then current "grunge scene" and then going into all these different styles that cover the spectrum of the 20th century, not just in America but internationally. You could tell he was already fighting being pigeonholed, not just in with Nirvana and Pearl Jam but his own father. If you see the music videos it just seemed like one of those mandatory things that he would rather not have done. Jimmy Page and Robert Plant among others became huge fans. One would've hoped he would've done his father's "Song to the Siren" when he recorded this.
   
   I can't believe how much material was recorded, and this is probably 1% of the songs he knew.
   
   I think Mary's (his mom) paced the releases out nicely. This year the limited release movie about Jeff is supposed to be on home video.



4. I am a fan of him and Grace is still one of the best cds of the 90s but this sure does blow. His voice is mostly awful on this. I especially dont like those very long covers he does on here. The way young lovers do does not need to be 10 minutes with a bunch of annoying sounds. The listable songs on here are the short ones . The reason Grace was good is becasue it was well produced and his voice was more polish. It surprised me that this thing averages 5 stars on amazon. If he did not die young this cd would not even seen the light of day. I am so glad i did not buy this i found it at the libary. This show's you how awful this cd is this thing retails for 30.00 yet i found it at a libary.



5. I got this 2-disc set for Christmas. Having been only a mediocre fan of Jeff Buckley before, I was unsure what to expect, but even before the first CD had ended, I was in pure awe.
   
   Jeff Buckley weilds his guitar with a loving ferocity that most guitarists can only dream of. His unique and tantalizing voice flows through the music he plays. It says in his book that Jeff's renditions of cover songs (and indeed, some of his original creations as well) were never the same, and that each performance was vastly different from all the others.
   
   But the renditions he does in this recording are virtually flawless and even turned me on to artists I hadn't previously given a chance. Even Buckley's cover of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" on his "Grace" release pales in comparison to the live recording of it on this set.
   
   Many reviewers are labeling this a great "historical document," but I must protest. This is not an historical document that captures an intimate performance of a short-live, underrated artist. This is an indescribable record evidencing the beauty and unsurpassed talent of a man who died before his time, but certainly not before he came into his own as a guitarist, singer, performer, and even songwriter.
   
   Beautiful in every way!

5 comments about Alanis Unplugged.

1. Alanis Unplugged is a very good audio cd of the live concert. This isn't a perfect cd but quite good. Great renditions of You Learn, Joining You, Head Over Feet, I Was Hoping, and Uninvited. There's a cover of Sting's classic, King of Pain and a couple of unreleased tracks. Alanis has a great and unique voice and her lyrics are complexed but straight to the point. Can't wait for her new cd, Flavors of Entanglement!



2. When i first heard Alanis Morissette, it was in 1995 when "You Oughta Know" played on the radio. My first reaction to Morissette and "You Oughta Know" was not positive - it was "what is this, why is this woman so angry, and what is this chip on her shoulder?" However as the subsequent singles from Morissette's "Jagged Little Pill" album were released, I soon began to see more than an angry young woman. When I listened to "Jagged Little Pill" in its entirety, I realized that this album lived up to all of the hype. Not only did this album garner critical acclaim, but it was one of the best selling albums of all-time. While her follow-up album, "Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie" did not generate the commercial success of "Jagged Little Pill", I still felt that it maintained the high quality standards set by Morissette. It was these two albums that left many fans wanting a live album, thus in 1999 Morissette would release "MTV Unplugged". This would provide a whole new spin on many of Morissette's classic songs as well as some lesser-known material.
   
   "MTV Unplugged" albums contain recordings from the MTV series with the same name. The idea was to showcase popular artists performing material with an emphasis on the acoustic material. I do think this whole "Unplugged" angle is a bit too played out, however I like what Morissette brings to this particular "Unplugged" concert. Yes she utilizes acoustic instruments, but she brings a more orchestral quality to her music - complete with piano, strings, and even Morissette playing the flute. As a result, this is what contributes to the new spin on Morissette's material.
   
   Here are ten thoughts on this collection - in no particular order:
   
   1.The collection contains four songs from "Jagged Little Pill" ("You Learn", "Head Over Feet", "Ironic", and "You Oughta Know"). There are three songs from "Supposed Future Infatuation Junkie" ("Joining You", "That I Would Be Good", and "I Was Hoping"). I found it interesting that Morissette included the "hit" songs from "Jagged Little Pill", but opted for the lesser-known songs from "Junkie". Also included are three unreleased songs ("No Pressure Over Cappuccino", "Princes Familiar", and "These R The Thoughts") as well as her soundtrack song from "City of Angels" ("Uninvited"). Finally, Morissette includes a cover of the Police's "King of Pain".
   
   2.It is worth noting that this does not contain all of the material from Morissette's performance. For example, some of the hit songs from "Junkie" that were performed that night were not included ("Baba", "Thank U"). Normally, a prefer a live album to include the entire performance from a single night - with the tracks arranged in the same order as they were performed. This allows for the magic of the performance to be captured on the recording. Despite the fact Morissette does not include some tracks, the arrangement of the tracks that are included is done very well
   
   3.The three songs that were not prior released are outstanding. I've seen some reviews rip these songs and I completely don't understand it. These songs were left off the "Junkie" album, but it is important to know that they were competing with 17 powerful tracks from that album. There's no shame being left off that collection. All three tracks are outstanding and all demonstrate some of the Indian music influence that was so prevalent on the "Junkie" album.
   
   4.Morissette's performance of "You Oughta Know" is very interesting. On "Jagged Little Pill", this was the defining song for much of the anger that Morissette demonstrated on that album. The unplugged version is softer and highlighted by some piano work and some great orchestral sounds. This performance isn't going to show the angry Morissette, but it will put a whole new spin on one of her classic songs.
   
   5-"Uninvited" also demonstrates a terrific orchestral backdrop. In fact, this song isn't going to have much of an unplugged feel, but it is going to demonstrate some terrific orchestral sounds. In fact, this song was tailor-made for the orchestral sound.
   
   6-One of those most interesting songs included is "King of Pain". It takes a few seconds for the audience to realize that this is a cover of the Police's classic song. Normally I am never bowled over by an "Unplugged" cover, but this one really surprises. It is going to be the piano that really gives this cover a whole new spin from the original. This song includes some great background vocals from Deron Johnson. This might be one of the strongest tracks of the collection.
   
   7-One of the highlights of "That I Would Be Good" is going to feature a flute solo by Morissette. It is worth hearing that track just for the flute solo.
   
   8-"Head Over Feet" is a very good performance. It starts out as a classic "Unplugged" acoustic sound and then progresses with many of the orchestral sounds that are prevalent on this collection.
   
   9-"Joining You" is an unbelievable performance. It really showcases Morissette's vocals in a live setting. It will be the piano that gives this a terrific sound.
   
   10-On "Jagged Little Pill", the chorus of "Ironic" was highlighted by Morissette's trademark raspy vocals. On "Unplugged", we are treated to some softer vocals. Like many of the other tracks, once again it showcases a new spin on some favorites.
   
   As with many live sets, the liner notes do not contain the lyrics. We are told to go to Morissette's web-site for the lyrics to the unreleased songs. The liner notes also contain the musician credits. Overall this is an outstanding collection. My only disappointment is that the whole performance isn't included on here. However what one gets from what this collection provides is outstanding. Highly recommended.



3. Beautiful, enchanting, simply magical. I have become and will stay a huge Alanis admirer only thanks to this album. No other album ever came close to this one, the unplugged atmosphere and emotions it induces are overwhelming at times. Alanis gave her best here, singing so honestly, so pure, she often leaves me spellbound by the depth she is able to reach within. It is a shame the video was never realeased officially, since this album does not cover this stunning performance in whole.



4. This is an amazing collection of rarely heard tunes, done in an MTV setting, simple and mostly acoustic. I would strongly recommend this CD for even the most timid Alanis fan, but it has universal appeal.



5. This is a solid release by Alanis that showcases her talent and is a pleasure to listen to. Her cover of King of Pain is a real treat too!

5 comments about From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah.

1. Seattle is known for producing the finest alternative in the 1990s. Pearl Jam, Mudhoney, Mother Love Bone and Alice In Chains all hail from Seattle. And, in my opinion, the best group to come out of Seattle was by a long shot Nirvana. Led by the heavy vocals of Kurt Cobain, Nirvana made some of the best music of the 1990s.
   
   Tragically, Cobain shot and killed himself in 1994, committing suicide. And, in 1995, to commemorate Nirvana's legacy as a live act, Geffen released 'From The Muddy Banks of the Wishkah,' which is easily one of the finest live records of the 1990s.
   
   You get shows dating back to the bands beginnings in 1989, right up until late 1993. It's great live record that documents every phase of Nirvana's short career.
   
   Overall, if you're a new or casual fan of the group who wants more than their studio offerings and 'MTV Unplugged In New York,' than this is the set for you. It's by a long shot my favorite Nirvana CD that I own.
   
   Highly recommended for any Nirvana fan. ENJOY!!!



2. To everyone who has had or still does have an ambition in music, also loves Nirvana, you all have to have this record. It's a success in the world of music and recordings anyways... The tracks are chosen exactly the way it suits your ear and also put together so it seems the right people have made this compilation of live Nirvana performances. Intro is definitely the one, Kurt screaming before the School song riff is played. All the songs are amongst the Nirvana famous ones and the sound is great! The atmosphere can be relived once for ever for this great rock n' roll band. Buy it!



3. oh my god this album is soooo goood. any nirvana fan appreciates the raspy voice of k. cobain so wait until you hear it here, live. very rough and it sounds great. i especially like drain you. spank thru is also on here which is a rare treat. if you are a nirvana fan then this is a must own.



4. Great tracklisting, lots of fun upbeat cuts without the majority of the band's downer tracks. Really well sequenced. A touch of bleach, nevermind and in utero all mixed into one recorded performance. Also see the muddy banks of wishkah paperback version, a must for all deafs.?



5. I'll preface this review by noting that my favorite Nirvana album - and I'm sure I'm not alone in this - is "MTV's Unplugged in NYC." That album is notably softer (in volume and energy) than this one, but "From the Muddy Banks" still scores a solid five stars.
   
   The tracks are taken from various live concerts, and here's where buying a hard copy rather than a digital one comes in handy: Krist Novoselic (Cobain's long-time friend and music partner) provides great narrative commentary in the liner notes, identifying the concert dates and locations for the songs as well as providing context of the band's relative success/obscurity for the 1989-1994 time frame it covers. The songs themselves are raw, unpolished, and fueled by the energy of the audience. A word of warning: Nirvana concerts typically involved a lot of screaming by both the band and the audience, but don't be turned off by the messy noise of the intro. A little perseverance will bring you a few tracks in and the lyrics/sound that changed rock (how many bands, even today in 2007, still sound like a second-rate version of Nirvana?) will hook you.
   
   This is not the album for someone just becoming acquainted with Nirvana, but you don't have to be a hardcore fan to enjoy it either. Kurt Cobain wrote catchy, angry, passionate songs and his love of music (if not fame) was most evident in his live performances. It's absolutely impossible to listen to the CD without finding your feet moving a little.