5 comments about The Tigers Have Spoken.

1. Stellar album (every pun intended). If you have to beg, borrow or steal to get to a live Neko Case show, do it. Steal the neighbor kid's lunch money if you have to. One of the best live performances I've ever seen, hands down.
   
   Sometimes, the fates get together and slam dunk someone with a voice like Neko and throw in some great song writing skill. And, if all that wasn't enough, she just so happens to be performing with some great musicians.
   
   This album is one of my favorites but I have to say, you can't go wrong with Fox Confessor or Blacklisted either. On this album, Hex simply stopped me in my tracks the first time I heard it. A Patsy Cline strong, velvet voice; an enveloping wall-of-sound vibe. Drown in it. This is what it sounds like when your ears die and go to heaven.



2. this is a great live concert from neko case. every song is good. the only improvement would be to make it a little longer. the sound is good.



3. As gripping and immediate as her last studio CD was (Fox Confessor) I have to say that this is an artist best enjoyed live. And you just can't say that about most artists (My Morning Jacket, White Stripes). As a consequence this CD really satisfies as it showcases her vocals in a live setting and conveys the excitement of the audience she's taken along for the ride. The only gripe is that this CD runs a bit on the short side.



4. Okay, so the last track is a little weird, maybe I just don't get it. But this really is a phenomenal CD by a woman to whom the Britney's, Christina's and other blonde bimbos could learn a thing or two. Suggest to anyone that's a fan of the Blues, Gospel, or just good rockin' music. Enjoy!



5. There are a few songs here that absolutely make me hair stand on end, it's unbelievable. The first track is true perfection and evocative of a great, epic western soundtrack. Then there is the fantastic old time country gospel of This Little Light which is electrifying. As far as sound quality: if anything, it adds to the "classic" feel found in vintage live recordings of the 70's. It's good AS IS. What is it about tigers that resonates with Neko? I envision a day when she performs these songs on stage with live tigers going berzerk in cages on each side of the stage. She could walk up to one of them, and the tiger would flash his paw through the bars, angry that he/she is being subjected to the loud noise, the audience. She could even bring a stool and sit next to the caged feline and serenade it.

5 comments about Set List.

1. I was given this CD on Sunday and listened to it today (Tuesday) for the first time. I would say that it is the most striking experience I have had listening to a CD for the first time since, well, perhaps the first time I heard London Calling. Beautiful, haunting, energetic, I could go on and on. Instead do yourself a HUGE favor and just get yourself a copy of this as quickly as you possibly can. Wonderful from start to finish.



2. I got introduced to The Frames after seeing the movie "Once." I absolutely loved the movie and the soundtrack. The actual band in the movie was The Swell Season which was formerly The Frames where they replaced one member with Marketa Irglova (the lady singer/piano player in the movie). Both bands are great; however, my favorite is The Frames. These guys are absolutely magical and electrifyingly musical, and lyrical. They rock! My two favorite albums of The Frames that you must buy whether you are a fan or not are The Set List and the Fitscarraldo. If you are a music lover, you will absolutely love the Set List and Fitscarraldo by The Frames. Do the right thing and help these great musicians out by spreading the word. Although now they are becoming very well known and famous, they are very humble and they show true appreciation of their listeners and fans. They do great music and they deserve your recognition.



3. This is my third cd of the Frames which I have bought, and it is quite obvious that this is a band who should be seen live. This recording captures an ecstatic audience and a band that is just feeding off them to give an outstanding performance. That performance is captured brilliantly in this recording, which must rank as one of the best live rock concert recordings of recent years.g



4. In all honesty, this is the only way in which one can be introduced appropriately to The Frames. Their live performances add an extra dimension to music that, in the studio versions, at times fails to represent the true spirit and character of the band (and particularly of Glen Hansard, their lead singer). That being said, of course, the studio albums are somewhat more understated and exquisite, and I would recommend them regardless.
   
   However, live is where The Frames really hit their stride. The sheer energy and exuberance of their performances are a thing to be reckoned with, and having seen them live I can truly say that it was one of the most enjoyable live music experiences of my life. Their wonderfully passionate Irish enthusiasm (and I hate to say that, as it is such a tired cliche for Irish groups, but this really is the case) pervades each and every song, from the rollicking opening of 'Revelate' to the increasingly anthemic 'Lay Me Down' and the oddly comforting closer, 'The Blood.' And it is on songs such as 'Fitzcarraldo' and 'Your Face' that the impact of this live element is most evident. Understated as studio recordings, here they are imbued with such glorious passion and spirit that they are entirely new songs (and my favourites on this record, simply for their complete trnsformation).
   
   'Set List' is one of the few live albums I know of that is equally as enjoyable to listen to as a whole set or as standalone songs. If you appreciate music with true heart and spirit, if you like Irish music, or if you are merely looking for a rock band with an element of real character, pick up 'Set List.' For me it confirms The Frames as Ireland's best band, by a mile. Better than U2 in my books - all of the spirit without the posturing and proselytising of Bono. Glen Hansard is an outstanding frontman, and thankfully through his role in 'Once' more and more people are being engaged by his thoroughly charming personality, a personality that is clearly reflected in this album. 5 stars.



5. This is the first review I've ever been compelled to write. An Irish friend suggested The Frames to me based on my taste in music. I bought "Set List" on a whim, having only heard the song Fitzcarraldo. Sometimes live albums are best appreciated with prior knowlege of the music, but this album is so verstitle and impactful that I will waste no time aquiring the rest of their albums. Very charismatic with a huge style range. The lead singer is clearly a wonderful storyteller, both with lyrics and onstage. I haven't taken the CD out of the player since it when in, and have told everyone I know about it. I feel ill-prepared to rate the songs, or even discuss the styles, as I am very new to them. Still, its important for me to share my newfound musical love, in case there is a newbie weighing whether or not they should take a risk. DO IT!

5 comments about Live at the Grand Olympic Auditorium.

1. This live album was RAGE's final performance together,so the best of their songs are included in the album. I would reccommend this to someone who wants to witness and experience politically (or rather, anti-political) charged lyrics being spewed out, while simaltaneously being backed up by equally harmonic and juxtapositioning guitar. I feel that the live recording is better than the studio takes, mainly because of the palpable emotion (mainly anger, or rather rage) that helps get their message of individualism and transcending political stupidity to the listener better. The crowd roars when u roar and u feel as if u are at the concert. This is not an album to pass up, GET IT!



2. LOVE this album.....what an amazing band!
   We had tickets to a show that was cancelled right before the break-up and never got over it, at least this makes it a little better. Just sit back with a six pack & wish you were there!



3. but never bad. Buy it just to play loud and feel like you're not really a complete sell-out (even though you are).



4. I loved Rage Against the Machine before this album, but this album made them my favorite band ever. It blew me away right from the start with "bulls on parade". The intro to that song works perfectly with the bass that would later start it off. This album might have been the worst thing that has happened to Rage. Because after listening to all those songs live, it made their studio versions sound quieter and not as energetic and fun. Especially songs like "born of a broken man" and "know your enemy". Most of the songs were nailed perfectly like "killing in the name", "calm like a bomb", and "testify". I think that is just a tribute to the band and shows how talented they are. Zack is very explosive and i love how he changes his singing styles. I could just feel all of his emotion in "FREEDOM!"
   The one song that I did not think was too good was "kick out the jams" i thought his singing was way faster than the music and sounded sloppy.
   I also recommend the DVD, so you can see their performance at the 2000 Democratic National Convention.



5. A couple of years ago, I was beginning to wonder if Rage Against the Machine were ever going to release a Greatest Hits album. After all, they were a very popular and influential and innovative group, and I'm sure Zach de la Rocha misses the income (no matter how much he is against money/greed/wealth).
   
   Well, only a short while before these political rap-rockers disbanded (because Zach left), Rage were busy touring in support of their latest album, 2000's covers disc, "Renegades." While touring, they made a stop over in their hometown (Los Angeles) and played a show which was actually recorded and was to be released as a live album which wouldn't see the light of day for three years.
   
   Unless the record label decides to cash in and releases a Greatest Hits album for Rage's anniversary, "Live At The Grand Olympic Auditorium" is as close to being a greatest hits album that you're going to get. But, at the same time, this live C.D. is much better than a Greatest Hits release. Why? Well, RATM's live shows were quite powerful, energizing, and inspirational. Thus, some of the songs on here are so intense, they actually make the studio versions sound calm and restrained (for proof, see "Bulls on Parade" and "Testify")!
   
   The rhythm section (composed of Tom Morello, Tim Cummerford, and Brad Wilk), coupled with Zach's angry vocals and inspired lyrics, makes every one of these songs detonate like a grenade. Tom, not surprisingly, pulls off a flawless performance. As "Testify," and the aforementioned "Bulls On Parade" show, he makes noises on the guitar that I couldn't even make with my mouth! His guitar swoops, beeps, punches, crunches, chugs, creaks, wails, and about everything in between. Also, Tim's bass (which hums, grumbles, and makes a wah-wah sound) is a lot more audible, here, than originally. Finally, drummer Brad Wilk fills in the remaining gaps and anchors the songs, making them as solid and impenetrable as a brick wall.
   
   Even though the whole set is great, my personal favorite songs are "Bulls on Parade," "Bullet In The Head" (where Zach switches off vocal parts with the crowd), "Sleep Now In The Fire" (which also features some great bass riffs), the exciting, adrenaline-pumped and very catchy renditions of "Guerilla Radio" and "Kick Out The Jams," and the perfect album/concert closer, "Freedom" (which has a few impromptu, added lyrics).
   
   Ultimately, it's just a hair away from being perfect. Zach can't complete the whole rendition of "Killing In The Name" without pausing to take a breath, and he forgets part of the ending to "Know Your Enemy." And, I, overall, prefer Rage's "Live and Rare" album to this. But, even still, "Live At The Grand Olympic Auditorium" is more than a welcome inclusion in your collection and a great snack if you're tired of listening to the same four Rage C.D.'s again and again.

5 comments about And All That Could Have Been.

1. _And All That Could Have Been_ is a live album that initially sounds like a studio recording - clear, precise, and nearly flawless. Now mix in the raw energy and power of a live performance and you get this intense masterpiece that will please NIN fans worldwide.
   
   So, what's on this CD? About half of the songs are reworks from _The Fragile_, and include "The Frail," "The Wreteched," "The Great Below," and "The Mark Has Been Made." _The Fragile_ not being one of my favorite NIN albums, I was a little skeptical about this CD... until I listened to it. In my opinion, these live and reworked versions tend to be BETTER than the originals (especially "The Wretched"). Live versions of songs from other albums are also included, with hits like "Closer," "Sin," "Head Like a Hole," and others completing the almost 74 minutes of music on this CD. Buyers will definitely get their money's worth.
   
   Note: _And All That Could Have Been_ was originally sold as two CDs. The second CD is not contained in this package, and had numerous "softer" and near-acoustic versions of various songs on it. That CD is currently being sold as the album _Still_.



2. From the first song, this album explodes. I'm not a live album fan either, but this one is an exception. As an old time fan I also like the very nice blend of both old and new songs , both fast and slow songs. It is very well done. Too bad every album cannot be as good.



3. Being just about the biggest NIN fan in the area that I live in, I own both the DVD AND the CD version of And All That Could've Been. As I said in my review for the DVD, Trent's songs are a lot better performed lie. Terrible Lie has a lot more energy live than it did on Pretty Hate Machine (don't get me wrong, the original is great, but the live version is even better), as do Sin and Head Like A Hole. There's just something about how raw and powerful Trent's voice is that makes NIN's concert's spectacular. The audience doesn't drown out the music, which is always good to know; and they know when to keep quiet during softer and more melodic songs like The Great Below, The Mark Has Been Made, The Frail, The Day The World Went Away, and Hurt. Trent also extends a few of the songs, like Sin, March of the Pigs, Starf***ers Inc, and more. He also adds a few extra words in songs, like in The Wretched where Trent chants "there is a place... in the back of my mind... where I used to try... try" during the interlude with the jumpy keyboard.
   
   While this isn't the entire concert, the live album has a song that wasn't included on the DVD. I.E. The Day The World Went Away (which, in my opinion, isn't one of the better tracks off The Fragile). The DVD has La Mer, Complication, and Just Like You Imagined. My reccomendation is that you buy both, just so you can listen to the record in your car or on your ipod when your walking home from school (that's what I did) and buy the DVD so you can hear the extra songs and watch Trent's antics on stage.
   
   Highly reccomended from a big NIN fan!



4. Ever since Trent Reznor and his band made a mud-drenched splash as Woodstock 1994, almost all music fans have known that Nine Inch Nails put on a fantastic live show. NIN's first live disc (which was recorded on the "Fragility: 2.0 Tour") proves that their live songs make their original, studio versions sound tame and controlled. "And All That Could Have Been" is about as intense and full of vitriol as industrial metal gets. And, from the opening wallop of "Terrible Lies" to the dark, introspective "Hurt," which closes out the album, every song is a hit.
   
   The crowd is only rarely audible, and they know when to shut up (like during the ballads), so the audience noise never gets in the way of the music.
   
   Tracks like "Terrible Lies," "Head Like A Whole" (both singles from NIN's 1989 debut, "Pretty Hate Machine") and "Starfers, Inc." pack a powerful, cathartic, adrenalized punch. Plus, these songs sound even louder and crisper, here, than in the studio. Elsewhere, electronic frenzied, techno-lite cuts like "Sin" and "March Of The Pigs" are heavy on new-wave keyboards, and "Piggy," "The Frail" (a piano interlude), and "The Great Below" are very slow and ambient. Songs like "Suck" and "Closer" bring the best of both worlds; these songs have a stomping rhythm section married with synths and other atmospheric instruments. And, lastly, the ballads ("The Day The World Went Away" and "Hurt") are very touching and beautiful.
   
   So, this album *IS* all that it could have been, and more. It's no less than great, and it's as close to being perfect as live albums get nowadays.



5. This album, by far, is the best live recording that I have ever listened to. The sound quality is excellent, and if you listen to it on a stereo with the volume up high, it's as close to being there as you can get. I've seen NIN twice in my life time, the first time in 96 on the Downward Spiral tour, and then again after the Fragile was released, and this album really incompases their live performances. Listen to the raw intensity on classics like Wish or Terrible Lie, and then imagine being tossed around in a pit and getting bruised and banged up. Listen to the crowd chanting the choruses of Head Like a Hole or Closer, and imagine seeing the sweat dripping off of the band clad in black and tossing water bottles at each other. See the lights in your mind as the crowd breaks out their lighters to ballads like The Great
   Below and Hurt. I'm telling you, for live perfomances, this album has outdone itself.

5 comments about Live in Buffalo: July 4th 2004 (CD & DVD).

1. Cd is in perfect conditions. And it arrived faster than expected. They were great !



2. This is an album that is a must have for your Goo Goo Dolls collection. There is nothing like a live show in Buffalo. Whether you are watching the DVD or listening to the CD, you will not be disappointed. It is amazing. It is a must have for every Goo Goo Dolls fan!



3. Amo este show e amei o DVD. O detalhe da razão dos pingos d'água na capa é fantástico.
   A banda é demais, o show foi ótimo e a produção do DVD idem.
   O cd bônus é ótimo tb.



4. This DVD is a really great introduction to the live Goo experience! They've put out some great songs over the years, but the albums can only give you so much. To really appreciate Goo you've got to see them live and if you can't get tickets, this is the next best thing. They've got a really great energy and despite the rain, they give their all to the show.



5. This is the kind of concert you want to sit back, get up, jump around and then sit back again...it rocks!

5 comments about Stand by Your Van.

1. After listening to this album, every time i hear the studio version, i can't help but sing the live lyrics. It's a fun album; it's rare live sublime, a best of.., and a must have



2. This album changed my life.
   
   I heard this album at the age of 14 (I'm 23 now), and I can honestly say it was the album that made me pick up a guitar and eventually become a professional musician.
   
   Though my musical tastes have evolved, the beauty and soul of Bradley Nowell's voice, bumping bass lines of Eric Wilson, and rocksteady beats of Bud Gaugh get me every time. Live is the way to listen to Sublime. For superfans, I would suggest finding copies of "Contact Buzz" and "It All Seems So Silly in the Long Run" to experience the entire shows that this album cuts from.
   
   I really hope Bradley Nowell died at his peak, because to think otherwise is sad for all of us.



3. This album was mostly recorded live to 16 track tape at Komotion, a warehouse/performance space in San Francisco's Mission District in September 1994. The 1st three tracks were delivered as a "triple threat" medley and create an awesome introduction to an underground band laying down serious jams for a happy few dozen sweaty and drunken friends & fans, with all getting their $5 worth. The band would later go on to sell millions of records, but these tracks are true to the loose spirit and incredible live give and take they had with audiences on certain magic nights.



4. this is a must have album for a Sublime fan... you can feel the vibe as if you were there in the concert.



5. I wish I had a van. Vans are pretty cool. I mean...there's just so much room. And sure, they can't drag real well, but you don't drag in a van. You got subs, and room for gals. And if you're really classy you can get a couple of couches back there and a TV, and you can roll in it.
   
   If I had a van I'd probably be playing this album in it. I kid you not, Stand By Your Van has been in my '04 Taurus' CD player for the last 5 months. That's staying power music isn't supposed to have.
   
   There's something magical about this album. I think it has something to do with the band in general. Sublime was a real band. They were underproduced until their final album, and a lot of the stuff they recorded came straight out of their living room. The problem with that is that their earlier stuff had pretty crappy production. It felt like the music was on plastic. And a lot of their later songs, although good, sounded a bit overproduced.
   
   Stand By Your Van is a perfect blend of good production with that authentic sound you can only get live. Bradley Nowell is drunk, the crowd is singing, a lot of the songs have improved parts. I think this is Sublime at their best. Particularly, the first 8 songs on the album - the flow is amazing, and the live sound tops each and every studio recording.
   
   I'm not the biggest Sublime fan. But I can roll to this album anyday. If you want to hear Sublime, get this.

5 comments about Rock Spectacle.

1. This is the middle time for the BNL. They do great live versions of their classic songs. The only objection I have to this is there is some profanity in one of the songs. I listened to this with my cousins when we were younger. Outside of the small useage of profanity, this is a classic album and a must for any BNL fan.



2. I love BNL and this CD is a wonderful gathering of some of their best songs. And the fact that there is some live comedy added in makes the CD almost perfect. You really get an idea of what these guys are like if you've never been able to see them in concert.



3. Buy it...listen to it....then listen to it again louder.....'nuff said.



4. Here is a live record containing a band that sounds as good live as they do in the studio. In the Spring of 1996, The Barenaked Ladies performed amazing rock sets at both the Rivera in Chicago and The Oympia in Montreal. With a group trained on the double bass, bass guitar, keyboards, accordian, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, drums, and vocals; it is pretty obvious that the Barenaked Ladies' music is very musical and unique. Their songs are a light rock, very poppish, but ear catching. Some of them are even given a Swing feel and beat. This album is a must have for any fan and for anyone who enjoys listening to music. Enhanced CD features include footage of skits and and live performances.
   
   Stand out tracks include:
   "Brian Wilson"
   "Straw Hat And Old Dirty Hank"
   "Jane"
   "When I Fall"
   "Hello City"
   "The Old Apartment"
   "Life In A Nutshell"
   "If I Had A $1,000,000"



5. So many live albums can be "flat". You can't go back and redo anything and if the crowd has an off night or isn't into your show, you can't go back to the studio and re-record cheers or fill in the "other" instrument (the audience).
   
   Oh, how different this album is. BNL have so much energy and so much interaction with the crowd, I'll bet no editing was needed. You can hear the crowd singing along with them and they interact with the crowd and play along with them so well. The energy of this album makes you feel like you are at the show (and I've seen them live and this is a great record).
   
   Filled with so much energy you may never go back and listen to the studio versions of these songs again. A great record with great mixing, great energy and great lasting power.

5 comments about Anodyne.

1. 2.50 out of 5 stars.
   
   Lyrics look good on paper but, are hurt by a solid mediocre voice with a faux southern accent I could do without. The vocals could have been more like the familiar Indie-hipster-rock-nasal-geek-Muppet voices used so often in groups The lyrics and music often sound like a Yankees' interpretation of a music he (they) never really knew by not living in The South. The players know their instruments and the clichés and play them as if learned in a class. I really don't get the punk influence I heard of much. They do often sound Indie-rock. I also have not responded well to Gram Parsons. After hearing artists like Emmylou Harris, who turned out an incredible rock/country LP "The Wrecking Ball", and possibly the real first alt-country artist, Mickey Newbury, who used a large palate of beautiful compositions on par with The Beatles, it's hard to be impressed by the "Alt" of Tupelo or Gram. I also like Lyle Lovett more than those "innovators".
   The two albums I checked out are "Anthology" and "Anodyne", Anthology being difficult to get through twice. The 3rd attempt was played as a background to sitting on the back porch but, my wife made me turn it off half way through track 2! I can't get beyond the fake accent and the overly "sittin'-on-the-front-porch" feel to nearly every song. Pat your hands softly and sip a PBR. There is not enough oomph to any of the tracks and just not any staying power for me, save the stale cliché of a song overstated and over....
   The last half of "Anodyne" felt glummer. I have to say that at most was a little more pure. Still, it does not have the emotional impact or beauty of a fairly comparable artist, Mark Kozelek, also of the beloved Red House Painters.



2. I discovered Son Volt and Wilco in the last year or so and really love both of them. My appreciation for the two spinoff groups led me to Uncle Tupelo, and everything I read said Anodyne was THE Uncle Tupelo album -- so I was excited to get it.
   
   Anodyne is a really solid album; it's very easy to listen to the whole thing and there are no bad songs. But it didn't quite match up to the high (probably unreasonable) expectations I had for it. The album is a little more country-ish/less alt-ish than I had hoped and I don't find it quite as interesting as some of the Wilco/Son Volt albums.
   
   But I'm clearly biased by my perspective. I came to this album backwards and I'm not a huge country fan. Still, I recommend Anodyne for anyone who loves their alt country with a little more country. And I think it's the type of album that will really grow on listerners after a paying it a half-dozen or so times.



3. Depending on what dictionary you use, you'll find different defintions for the word "anodyne."
   One says "anodyne" means "a cure for all depression."
   Another says it means "soothing, calming."
   Another: "a medicine that relieves pain."
   It can be a noun, or an adjective.
   In all these definitions, it fits this album perfectly. This, Uncle Tupelo's last (and best) album together, "Anodyne," will cure those depressed by a lack of beautiful music, it will soothe and calm those who have wasted their time on music less melodious and less mournful, and will relieve the pain of those who have their hearts broken with no one to tell their sorrows to.
   This album is full of songs of struggle and longing, hopefulness and the feeling of being betrayed, acceptance and resignation. The cover version of "Give Back the Key to My Heart" will lodge itself in your brain for weeks. "New Madrid" with its banjoish, country road, "Driving on 9" type of feel will make you rush to your car keys and out the door, slamming the screen door behind you. And "No Sense In Lovin'," with its lilting steel guitar and walloping lyrics will reaffirm your suspicion that Jeff Tweedy is among the greatest songwriters of all time. (It has to be Uncle Tupelo's best song.)
   "There's no sense in lovin'
   Anyone
   Who hates themself."
   This is the last album of a great band full of great musicians. Listening to it, one is filled simultaneously with the sadness that this band may never play together again and a joyful knowledge of the great music that both of this band's main songwriters (Jeff Tweedy of Wilco and Jay Farrar of Son Volt) would go on to write on their own.
   I love this album. (My daughter's NAME is Anodyne. Seriously.) You can listen to this album when you're happy, or when you're sad, and they'll be something in it for you no matter what.
   It's alt.country at its best.
   It's MUSIC at its best.
   It's GREAT.



4. The item arrived promptly and in better condition than promised. THANK YOU!



5. Anodyne catches Uncle Tupelo at their zenith. At that moment when a band realizes their potential just before the wheels come off. Each of these songs have much too offer. "Acuff-Rose", "We've Been Had", the Doug Sahm cover "Give Back the Key to My Heart" are the highlights of a cd full of gems. Buy this record, turn it to 11, pour a glass of bourbon of your choice, and become a part of the greatest American alt-country band doing what they do best.

5 comments about Minimum-Maximum.

1. There is something inherently prosaic in this dead dull "music of der future". Fortunately, man has still some sense of individualism, but barely, and Kraftwerk's fascist goal for music has not rendered vocals obsolete. Listening to this, it harkens back to the techno geek 1970's when Germans laden in neo-fascist uniforms with thin ties and a pound of grease on their hair, showed no emotion on stage, acting like machines. Most of them wore leather pants so tight that they froze while playing, hence the dumb and inarticulate Krautbot look. They copied architecture chic from the 1930's, added some 70's porn montage and called it "modern" 1970's and praised the revolution of robots and computers. Not only is that very idea horrifying, but it is also silly. "Kraftwerk" means "cheese plant" in German and they are very cheesy.
   
   The CD is probably one of the most horrible things I've listened to. If you can get to the end of it, you'll find all sorts of unwanted electronic noise, Krautbot voice dubs, electro fuzz, beeps, computer konks, repugnant computer-generated vocals, static, repulsive synthesizers, and extremely unpleasant clamor that goes on forever, that you'll soon be reaching for a hammer to crush the CD. In my estimation, all crap. A few American bands at the time tried the stale trend with deadly results, Gary Numan The Pleasure Principle (1979), Styx Kilroy Was Here (1983) , both tossed their careers away because of it.
   
   You'll be reminded of foolish telephone companies, lumbering computer screens, electronic wires, gay 70's discos, and moronic techno cabarets in smelly, dark German cellars. This is the 2nd album by these Krautbots in 28 years, so be glad their production output has ceased. So, unless you're a nerd or have little taste in music, forget this stuff ever existed.



2. After all these years, the live Minimum-Maximum might be the best way to listen to Kraftwerk's Music... If not the fact that the German accent of Ralf Hütter in Enclish lyrics got polished out, taking away some character. Too smooth operators.



3. How to sum it up in a few words? Well here's a short attempt:
   
   1) The sound is amazing. If you listen to this through a decent system, you will be blown away at the production quality.
   
   2) I assume you have heard these songs and this group before, so I won't go into detail on the song-writing. If you don't know this group, then you are in for a treat!
   
   3) One of the big points of mystery is "who does what?" Meaning, what things are actually being played versus what things are sequenced or taped. Well, I don't think this matters much more than a curiosity. It is them, their songs, and their product. Sit back and enjoy the show.
   
   4) Speaking of the show. . . In case you don't know, KW are not known for their dynamic performances, especially lately. You would never know by just listening that Ralf und Florian are in their 60s. . . but, you can certainly tell by the stoic body language and virtually NO interaction with the crowd. I don't feel this detracts from the performance in any way. But, I think it is fair to tell you not to expect a dancefest by them onstage.
   
   That's all for now. I LOVE both the CD and DVD of this and have watched/listened repeatedly since I bought it. I recommend it for all lovers of Kraftwerk, and for anyone interested in learning more about them.
   
   Hint: 1st time listener? I recommend "The Model" "Numbers" and "Computerworld" as well as "Pocket Calculator." Don't get me wrong, they are all great. . . one of my other favorites is "Elektrocardiogramm." Ok, enough of my yakking. Get to it!



4. Punchy live recordings of Kraftwerk's best known songs.
   
   The CDs are programed wisely and the songs flow from one to the other quite nicely. This makes the CDs easy to listen to.
   
   Some fans have doubts if Kraftwerk are still the leaders in electronic music, this set will ease those fears. They still have what it takes to create compelling music.
   
   They have given us vital sounding new arrangements of aging material on this set. In doing this, Kraftwerk is giving long time fans value. And showing newer fans how a legendary band is able to adapt without losing their vision. And finaly they are showing everyone how a teacher learns from the student. To be a good teacher, one must be able to adapt and progress with the changing times. This is what Kraftwerk has done on this release.



5. A pivotal, amazing, extraordinary, pioneering electronic group such as Kraftwerk does not have a "greatest hits" collection. However, this really is not that saddening since it forces the interested buyer into purchasing their brilliant classic albums (Trans-Europe Express, Autobahn, etc.) like they should. However, for the timid person this CD is out there. The live versions of the song are studio-quality and since Kraftwerk plays everything post-Autobahn live then this functions as a "best-of". For longtime fans, this is great because it includes newer tracks from the Tour de France Soundtracks and great renditions of their older tunes.

5 comments about Squeezing Out Sparks.

1. A sublime album when initially issued, it was raised to an even higher degree of perfection by the inclusion of a complete concert. By doing this, we learned that - while the original disc delivered on the promise that had been dashed by the debacle with `Stick to Me' - the performance expertise of GPR was exposed to an even wider audience. It is amazing how close the studio and live versions of these songs are to each other.
   
   And, the song themselves are exemplary! Ranging from anti-establishment angry and alienation through wisdom derived from the knowledge that love is all that really matters to the most emotional and succinct statement against abortion, there is not a bad one included. Even the encores from the live shows pop off the disc; the Jackson Five's `I Want You Back' forces you to your feet to dance. But, `Mercury Poisoning' makes you rise in anger at the incompetence of Mercury Records, one of the least capable labels to support rock. We'll never know how much that label was responsible for the commercial failure of GPR.
   
   But, Parker survived. Leaving Mercury and Rumour, he went on to a later - in some ways more interesting - career as a grand old man of rock.



2. When I first heard this album back in 1979, I was a senior in high school who knew a little about Parker and the Rumour. I was a convert right after I heard the whole album for the first time! The addition of the "Live Sparks" albums makes this one of the best collections.Well worth purchasing.



3. This is both Graham Parker's best album and a high point of the late seventies. After three exceptional albums of pub-rock and northern R'n'B inflected rock that failed to detonate commercially, Parker took the Rumour and his new work to Arista Records and set out on what he knew was make or break. He'd already seen Elvis Costello make commercial inroads with some of the same concepts he'd been exploring back on Heat Treatment and Howlin' Wind, yet - according to the revealing liner notes - The Rumour was failing to catch fire on the new material until producer Jack Nitzsche told them to get serious and play the songs for what they were.
   
   The result was an album of such brute force that Parker has yet to best it, and it became his breakthrough in the year of Armed Forces and Look Sharp!. Fed by genuine anger and the energy of the ascending New Wave, the songs on "Squeezing Out Sparks" burn everything from Hiroshima ("Discovering Japan"), the drug-infested bar scene and the wanna-be hipsters crawling through it ("Saturday Night Is Dead") to abortion in all its contradictory facets ("You Can't Be Too Strong").
   
   Parker also courses with anger on this album. His disdain for his lack of perceived deserved success doubles as the fuel for such wounded love songs as "Passion Is No Ordinary Word" and "Nobody Hurts You." At one point, he gets so fed up that he longs for the aliens to just get him the heck offa this planet ("Waiting for The UFO's," or as Parker pronounced them "You-foes"). He and the Rumour coated all of these songs with spiky hooks and inventive playing (the twisted riffing on "Japan" in particular), making all of these songs sing-along ready. "Local Girls" even became something of a radio hit, one of the rare moments that radio embraced Parker's music.
   
   The bonus delight comes with another of those moments. Adding the rare "Live Sparks" concert shows Parker and The Rumour on fire, barely venturing from the album arrangements. The extra two songs were live versions of his single "I Want You back/Mercury Poisoning" (which was available as a bonus 45 with the original LP). Remember about that anger? In "Mercury Poisoning," Parker takes an unsheathed shot at his former label, sneering "I've got a dinosaur for a representative; it's got a small brain and refuses to learn." It's a classic punk rock moment, on a par with the Pistol's "EMI."
   
   Great stuff all around. While Graham Parker has made several more albums in the years following "Sparks" (recommended are The Real Macaw, Steady Nerves and the recent Don't Tell Columbus), he began to slowly mellow his music into an almost folk-rock articulacy. As a document of the kind of sea-change that occurred as the 80's kicked in, "Squeezing Out Sparks" is indispensable.



4. This is an album that came close to changing my life! In 1978 I first heard this while browsing for vinyl at the local college record store. Parker and the Rumour were playing, introducing me to what we called "new wave" at the time. Trouser Press used to debate whether Elvis Costello or Graham Parker was the best band of this new era of rock and roll, giving the edge to Parker because of the back-up band! History may have chosen differently, but this is an album that can still bring a tingle to your spine! If you have not heard it, you owe it to yourself to give it a listen. If you like it, then you need to find a copy of "Live--Alone in America" to hear the most stripped down, soulful version of someone who completely "gets it" even if his talent is not singing, but interpreting.



5. I am very happy with this CD. It sounds as good as it did when I first heard it. I especially love to listen to the songs Protection and Local Girls (which played on my first date with my husband). This is a classic "new wave" CD.