5 comments about Live at Benaroya Hall.

1. There are some great, full reviews of this cd already so I'll keep my comments brief.
   I'm sure every Pearl Jam fan is aware that they have released many concert cds. What makes this one special for me is the intimacy of the setting. Benaroya Hall is a small venue and the acoustics are outstanding. Eddie's vocals are just terrific, full of warmth and expression. Many of the songs are acoustic and most of the selections showcase Pearl Jam's softer, more introspective side. Even so, the songs cover a wide range of moods, moving from the lovely and wistful "Thumbing my way" to the powerful, angry cover version of Dylan's "Masters of War." Although a lot of my favorite PJ songs are not on this cd, in a way that is even a plus as it got me listening to some lesser known (but still great) songs. This performance was actually a benefit concert for an organization that helps at-risk kids in the Seattle area. I don't know if any of the money from sales of this cd go to that organization or not, but if it does, that would be just one more reason to buy this great, highly enjoyable cd.



2. This is the first Pearl Jam CD that I have purchased, having only listed to them on the radio for the past years. It is primarily an acoustic CD recorded live and it is amazing how this band rocks even when they are non-electric. It also sounds much better than one would expect a live recording to sound. I have a new appreciation for just how talented this band is and highly recommend this CD.



3. After reading some of the reviews, I wonder if I listened to the same CD as the reviewers. Live at Benaroya Hall had some good songs on it like like Immortality, Nothing As It Seems and Black. However, I didn't hear anything great and Pearl Jam's unplugged CD pales in comparison to Eric Clapton, Nirvana and Korn's Unplugged CDs.
   
   I enjoyed Man of the Hour.
   
   My issue with the CD is Pearl Jam played their soft (downsides) songs acoustically - big deal! Daughter's soft anyway. I would have been more impressed to hear an unplugged version of Go, Alive, Dissident, Once. Mix it up. That's what makes a great unplugged CD.
   
   This is not their best CD. Nothing Pearl Jam will ever do will compare to Ten. Pearl Jam peaked on their first CD.
   
   I have a question. How many live / acoustic CD's does Pearl Jam need to make??? Live on Two Legs was very good. Do we need 30 more live CDs? I saw them once, and I was kind of disappointed, but that's unrelated to a review of this CD.



4. I've been listening to Pearl Jam ever since their first album. In the past few years, however, I didn't own any new Pearl Jam record, until I've decided to buy this live performance. What an amazing treat. Not only the new songs are as good as the original, but the live performance ads a whole new feeling to the music and the lyrics. One of the reasons I love Pearl Jam (yes, I used the word Love), is because of their originality and most of all, their stand above the commercial vice. Where too many groups had fallen victim of commercialism, spitting out meaningless records and videos, Peal Jam took a strong stand in the beginning and refused to be audited by the likes of MTV. Their music is powerful, meaningful and most of all, human. So here, more than a decade after "Ten" I am able to listen to a live show and enjoy it more than any group currently on the market, singing while I drive the favorites from past albums as well as some of the newer songs I haven't heard before. I highly recommend this CD to any Peral Jam fan or anyone who is just starting to feel their beautiful music.



5. Well, this live album is very good and it shows that Pearl Jam is still the No. 1 rock band in the world.

5 comments about Kick Out the Jams.

1. 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.



2. 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!!!



3. 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 them 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.



4. If not, quit wasting time and get it NOW.
   
   If you already have it, check out Mighty High...In Drug City.



5. MC5. Punk rock heroes. This live performance is the perfect view on them and their times.

5 comments about Home.

1. CS is one of those groups who sound better live, in many ways, than they do in the studio. They have a much fuller, stronger sound, which is enhanced by the orchestra. Ed's voice wobbles a bit at times, but he is a great showman. Love the dvd of this, love the cd. This is a MUST HAVE for any CS fan.



2. I became a huge fan of this band when Youth was released, today I own every album they've ever made. I love this band, their sound is awesome, the lyrics are great, and unlike most bands where you only like one or two songs on a cd, I love all their songs. Their each addictive in their own nature. I know some people dislike their new sound and prefer their older sound, but I disagree this band has evolved and has only gotten better over the years. Each of their albums can stand on their own merits. For new comers to CS I recommend you start out with Seven year Itch and Youth, this will give you a great selection of past, present, and future. For die hards like myself, Home is a must have for your CS collection. This is the best live album I've heard in a long time. I love how they incorporated the symphony into their songs, it really added to their depth as artists. The additional song Burn, ROCKS!! I love this song, it really kicks, the vocals and riffs are awesome! Keep it up Collective Soul!!!!



3. Love the album if I could listen to it completely. there is a nice scratch in the middle of the cd. I love Collective Soul and have seen them several times in concert just a shame I got a crappy cd.



4. There are way better live bands out there but this is cool because it features orchestra music from the youth orchestra. Collective Soul's "Blender" album is much better, as well as some other recorded albums.



5. I have all CS's records and this is the only one in my car. A solid record. Sound is great! The usage of the youth orchestra is really cool - and they're good! The only downfall I thought was the "flow" of the set. I thought some songs should follow others and a bigger "bang" at the end of the concert. It ended kinda weak. But the beginning made up for it. Keep rocking Roland!

5 comments about 101.

1. What a challenge it must have been to the recording engineers when they were asked to capture a defining moment in the rise of Depeche Mode stateside.The culmination of a gruelling tour of the United States at the 60,000 seat Pasadena Rose Bowl.Even those of us with just a cursory knowledge of audio technology would do well to avoid making a recording in an open air stadium.Your environment is against you from the word go.Not only do you have the problem of sound bouncing off the seating stands,you also lose a large amount of audio signal to the very air around you.Also add to that the problem of recording a band that at this point in their career were very technology/electronic reliant.A format that does not lend its self to ambiance or atmosphere!
   
   So it was no mean feat that this document of what must have been a fantastic nights entertainment exists and what a treat to our ears to have it remastered and released in 5.1 SACD surround sound.If you close your eyes,turn the volume up nice and loud,you almost feel like you're there.
   
   Which leads me to what this recording sounds like.Unlike other SACD 5.1 mixes that are out there,this one is purely been mixed to give you the concert experience rather that bury you in the instrumentation.So the band is front and centre,and the crowd is left and right surround.
   
   As far as quality goes you could not ask for a better mix and the stereo mixes also benefit from the remaster.So if you want to feel what it was like to see Depeche Mode live in the 80's.Then "101" is what you need.I can also recommend the DVD version of this release which contains a great doco and part of the show as well as the other more recent DVD releases(eg."Touring The Angel") by the Mode.
   
   "Good Evening Pasadena!"



2. I'm not a big Depeche Mode fan, electronica fan, and I never buy the "live"CD. That said this is an amazing collection and showcase of there best! I have never owned any of the music except a 45 of People are People and thought I should fill the gap in my library. I reviewed all of their albums to see what I wanted and this CD set has more than the singles and best of CD's combined! paired w/ Violator only Walking in My Shoes is missing. Since it arrived I have not been disappointed. If not for the fan noise they are as "on" as any studio session. BUY IT!!!!



3. This was an awesome concert and a great live cd. It brings back great memories! If you didn't attend the concert it will still be a great CD to listen to. You can feel the energy of the audience, and if you were at the concert like I was it takes you back in an instant to one of the best concerts I've ever been to.



4. I can still remember when I first heard this album. I had it on cassette tape. I had an immediate positive reaction to the music. I was very glad when the cd version was released. this is a wonderfully documented account of a truly original band.As I listen to it, this many years later, the magic still remains. Some live albums fail in the attempt to keep the music fresh. This album succeeds in not only keeping the material fresh it also keeps it exciting!



5. Originally I had 101 on tape, years ago. I had to get it on CD, and I still love it. Nothing has changed, I just remember being in high school and loving Depeche Mode, they helped me through my angst,and the music has really stood up to the test of time!!

5 comments about Another 700 Miles.

1. I usually avoid 'live' albums whenever possible. The fans screaming and yelling much too long and entirely too loudly usually clouds my thoughts on the lyrics themselves. I could do without the added aggravation of the windy verbal intros on a couple of the tracks, too. Let's face it, once you've heard the witty remarks, they don't change any.
   'Kryptonite', in my opinion, saves this ones back side. It creates a magnetic force field that pulls everyone in to the same space and has everyone feeling it, just like it probably does at all 3DD's live performances. It's a simply written but great song, and this is an energetic version of it.
   The 'hits' are what you would expect. But I have to stick to my original thoughts on the screaming and yelling of the audience. I most often much prefer the purer form of any song, without all the added racket of the crowd mixed in. It's all about personal preference with this one.



2. three doors down is awesome! everysong on here are awesome and the rendition of lynard skynards "that smell" is worth buying the cd for just that song, there all vey good songs. highly recommend to anyone. and its only 10 dollars, even more of a reason to buy it!



3. This is a great sampling of 3 Doors Down. If you are a fan of the band then you will be impressed with this CD mainly because they take on some of the great songs from their first 2 releases "The Better Life" and "Away from the Sun." 3 Doors Down is an excellent live band, so it was great to see them finally produce a live disc.

   The songs that are on the CD are some of their hits, like "Kryptonite", "Duck and Run", "Here without You", and "When I'm Gone.". "Kryptonite" really comes alive, and the band really rocks out on the chorus. (The only negative of the song is that the band does one of those hokey "let's get the crowd involved" moments towards the end of the song, having the fans chant off key lyrics for part of the song. Still it doesn't mess up a good song). The other songs sound pretty good as well, "Here Without You" being a great slow ballad and "When I'm Gone" being dedicated to the U.S troops with an intro before the song.

   My favorite on this CD was the "new" song "It's Not Me", which is track 6. The song has a real hard rockish edge to it, kind of which makes it very effective live and loud. This song seems to personify Three Doors Down and their style of music as well; the "live" effect of this song is good to hear, and the song exemplifies why live rock is often better than studio rock (as one reviewer noted).

   If you are a fan of Lynard Skynard, the last song is a pretty good rendition of "That Smell."

   For the price, this is an excellent buy. My only issue is that I wish there were more original "non radio released" songs on the CD.Also, I wish there were more songs. Still, a great CD that I would recommend to the average rock fan, or anyone else.




4. I went to the store after hearing "Here Without You" on the radio & bought "Another 700 Miles". When I found out it was "live", (It didn't say on the cover) I was not happy, as I don't like most "live" performances. But after buying "Away From The Sun" & comparing the two renditions, I personally like the "live" version alot better. The guitar picking is crystal clear, where as on the studio version it is almost completely lost. (To me, this adds greatly to the song) There is also a another instument (a mandolin?) that is also unheard on the "studio" version, that makes the "live" version that much better. The other songs also have good sound without the crowd noise being obtrusive. As a Skynyrd fan I have to say that their "That Smell" version was excellent! A great CD for ten bucks!



5. I really love their two first albums, but I was not pleased with the song selection on this live album.

5 comments about Live Seeds.

1. I wrote the same thing about the live CD of Nick Cave's early band, the punk act The Birthday Party. With the release of this album, "The birthday Party live 81-81", as with the live dvd "Pleasure heads must burn", Nick Cave showed he was much more than just a singer; he was a performer, shocking, arresting, preaching, screaming, howling, even menacing... but always moving.
   
   After the early demise of TBP Nick came back in the early eighties with his ensemble The Bad Seeds. First with some experimental albums like "From her to eternity" and the more than wonderful "The Firstborn is dead", then some crossovers between the experimental and the more pop music orientated songs ("Your funeral... my trial" and "Tender prey") and then the real polished, mainly matured LP's like "The Good son" and "Henry's dream".
   But even the polished, pop orientated albums are always full of surprises, off beat musical structures, dark, oppressing moods and filled with Oldtestament-like preachings.
   
   Now there is the first official live cd "Live Seeds" and it's a smasher. It takes guts to open with the song "The mercy seat", (for theatrical performance a little abridged - the original lasts about seven abrasive minutes) because you have to be a real artist to top such a sheer musical rumpunch of genius.
   But Nick Cave just proceeds like a howling blind man, with such rock songs as "Deanna", "Papa won't leave you, Henry", the apocalyptic "Tupelo", "Brother my cup is empty", "Jack the Ripper", that other Biblical thunder: "The Good son" and of course "From her to eternity".
   
   In between are some moments of contemplation with ballads like "The Ship song", "Plain gold ring" and "New morning".
   With the exception of some truely great songs, Nick Cave's weak point is the ballad - like I said, he can be great but most of the time, his slower songs don't really stick, they don't eat away our memories, they don't devour us, not like the stage-smashing rock pieces do.
   
   But this album rocks, it stuns. It devours.
   And when it leaves you gasping for more, try the two live dvd's "The Road to God knows where / Live at the Paradiso" and "God is in the house" - and you'll come to the same conclusion as me, graphicly mentioned above: put The Nick and his topnotch musical ensemble of the Bad Seeds on a stage, where they belong.



2. Like your traditional "live" album, this is a collection of some highlights from several albums, rendered IMO perhaps better than the original versions. One of Nick's many mighty virtues is his flair for performance, and this album showcases him and the Bad Seeds clearly at the height of their powers -- not to say those powers have diminished.
   
   I can go on and on about Nick and his abilities as a singer, a performer, or slightly less known, as a scholar of English-Lauguage folk music, but this album really demonstrates that wonderfully. OK, just one remark: I believe "Papa Won't Leave You, Henry," originally from "Henry's Dream," is in great part inspired from a much older English song, "Tom of Bedlam." For any Nick enthusisast who isn't aware of his bardic side, it might gladden your heart to study the original and to discover more of the history that Nick is so well-versed (literally) in. I was originally thrilled to see a pal of mine, a massive scholar of English music, play this song at a coffee house one evening. To my mind, Nick is a great scholar of folk music, and a genuine great performer of our time. It is the darkness he dwells upon that has obscured him from broader acceptance, of course.
   
   So let me just give wholehearted approval and not go on for too long. Five stars.



3. I have enjoyed all of Nick Cave's work with his penchant for acting , drama, and the doggerel lives of the backwaters, the crooked, the low life characters that convince us of the rawness of life and the band's story telling ability. This CD is more convincing though because you can feel the band is really engaged and you feel that you are being sung to directly as a person. There are few instances in life, even in a live set, where we the audience become we the experience. The songs connect and take you into the rhapsodic balladic stories. This is grand rock and roll, people, it's just wailing and bringing the hammer down.

   Matthew Hahn, www.movingtracks.com




4. This is a terrific album, with a lot of great songs played passionately and with conviction. I had the opportunity to see Nick Cave in San Francisco recently, and I came away somewhat disappointed. Perhaps Nick is the sort of musician who's determined to never repeat himself, and therefore makes an effort to make each and every show different from the last. Unfortunately, he played very little of the material presented here. Most notably, he passed up "Papa Won't Leave You, Henry", and "The Ship Song", which are my favorites on this album. "Deanna", and "The Mercy Seat" also contribute nicely to this riveting live album.



5. Yes, the previous reviews say it all. This CD is, to put it simply, essential to the CD collection of any serious listener of rock music or any sort of music for that matter. I will only add that the all the songs are excellently recorded and that Mr. Nick Cave has never sounded better or more charismatic. It's Epiphany Time!

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 1969: Velvet Underground Live, Vol. 2.

1. Originally the second record in a 2-LP set, this is now the companion volume to Live 1969, Volume 1, and it's every bit as good as (perhaps even better than) its predecessor. Lou Reed's songs (and the entire band's playing) sounds absolutely stunning in a live context. The music shimmers with life and humor and emotion, bursting with creativity and grace. It's beautiful and rollicking and harrowing all it once- listen to the lush, epic, and utterly beautiful "Ocean," that goes on for about ten minutes without wasting a note. Listen to the smirking high-speed rockabilly of "Sweet Bonnie Brown/ It's Just Too Much," and the raw, pained beauty of "Pale Blue Eyes." "Some Kind Of Love" is jazzy and playful, and "White Light/White Heat" is a a killer extended noise-driven jam. The true hidden gem of this record is "Over You," which is the epitome of short, sweet, and utterly wistful pop. Everything about the song, from the melancholy riff and hypnotic guitar solo to the resigned, self-deprecating vocal, is simply ideal. The whole album is nothing short of a rock 'n' roll masterpiece.



2. This LP in it's original Double-album form was one my favorites of the era (the early seventies being a little sparse and sometimes unoriginal), but when the CD's came out, they split the thing into 2 separate discs. So this one has lots of dreamy, drug induced pop ("pale blue eyes', "I'll be your Mirror') , and some atmospherics ('Ocean')as well as the classics ("Heroin, White Light/White Heat').
   Good for fans, good for people who liked their studio stuff, also.



3. Basically, if you're into the vu, you'll be into them live. There's almost no other way of looking at it. Their live performances are the most innate I've ever heard. So, if you're having some sort of dilemma regarding which live albums to spend your hard earned currency on, here's a suggestion: 1969: The Velvet Underground Live Vol.'s 1 & 2, Live at MKC, and the Quine Tapes. Those are the best live performances I've heard from the band. My personal favorite is the 1969: The VU Live Volume 1, but it's all personal preference.
   I suppose I've gone off on a bit of a tangent - forgetting this was a review for 1969 Vol. 2. Well, the album is amazing. You're really doing yourself an injustice by not buying it. Trust me, the technicalities don't need to be described: just buy it, listen to it, and be inspired by it.



4. The version of "Ocean" on this album is mind-blowing. You have to buy the CDs just for that. The rest of the Vol. 2 CD is excellent, as is Vol. 1, but that recording of "Ocean"...oh, it's impossible to do any justice to it here.



5. This is one of the rare cases when volume 2 is better than the first. Of course, it would be best to buy both but if you have to pick one, pick this volume.

   This is the album that made me really appreciate the Velvets. I love live music and this album really captures the band as they were meant to be heard -- Jamming, Moody, Rock and Roll. The first 3 songs especially (Ocean, Pale Blue Eyes, and Heroin) have reverberated in my musical memory for a very long time.

   A GREAT FIRST VU ALBUM! If you know the Velvets or even just think you might like them, you can't go wrong with these live concerts.

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 Live at Sin-é.

1. 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.



2. 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.



3. 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.



4. 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. I could write something similar to this about any Jeff Buckley album, but instead of going through them all and repeating myself, I'll just say a lot here.
   
   Jeff Buckley, for me, has always been one of those draw-a-line-in-the-sand artists. A sort of test, like; love Buckley (and we can be friends) or hate him (and you will be buried in the back garden with the others).
   
   I first saw him when I was 15, at Glastonbury festival. At the time, all I can remember thinking was "wow, he can sing high". Since then, of course, JB has gone on to be one of the biggest and most sorely missed 'cult' artists of our time.
   
   I was faintly worried about this whole 'Legacy Edition' thing, it seemed at first another way of wringing some more $$$ out of the tiny body of Buckley's work.
   
   Do I really need another SLIGHTLY different version of Hallelujah? I asked myself.
   
   The answer is, of course, yes, yes, yes, buy it, for God's sake. There are 21 tracks here, as well as between-song chatter (although these are called 'monologues' on the CD track listing- one 'monologue' entitled Good Night Bill goes like this-
   
   JB- "Good night, Bill"
   ... and then the next song starts.)
   
   However, most of them are often really funny- a sufi interpretation of Smells Like Teen Spirit, and a one man impression of Miles Davis'[...]Brew being particular highlights.
   
   And, of course, THAT voice, THAT electric guitar, THOSE songs.
   This is the man on his own, browsing through his own tunes and covers he loves, twisting, bending and whipping them into a frenzy. Strange Fruit as hard, stabbing blues. Just Like A Woman becomes a whispered lament over soft slide guitar. Calling You, from the film Baghdad Cafe, is as powerful and otherworldly as what has almost become his signature piece, Hallelujah (also featured here; a majestic, rage-against-the-dying-of-the-light version).
   
   SO! The point is, there are SO FEW truly original, talented and affecting artists available in the mainstream... and Jeff Buckley is one of them. You owe it to yourself. You owe it to your children, and your children's children's children to have something like this in the house. Buy his album. Buy all his albums.
   
   ...Actually, I'm definitely not sure whether to get the Grace Legacy Edition. But thats more because I already own Forget Her- The Song Jeff Didn't Want You To Hear....