1 comments about Jellyfish Reflector.

1. Jellyfish Reflector is a live disk that captures GBV in concert on 2/17/96, very near the release of their studio album, Under the Bushes, Under the Stars. For sheer quantity, this disk is a wonder, containing thirty-two tracks (!) on one disk. It's also a pretty good show, but I'm rather certain that most people would have some difficulty with its aural quality. Not that the disk sounds bad - by GBV standards, it's pretty darn good - but the tapes are completely untreated, and so the occasional flat note or strained vocal remains untouched. In terms of recording quality, it reminds me of live recordings I've made of my own band at one time or another, so I'm more inclined to forgive the lack in aural perfection than most. Thirty-two songs in their raw, live form are an awful lot for anyone to swallow, though, and I think that the `studio' recordings (I use the term loosely) would reel more people in.
   That being said, it's a heck of a show, with the band bashing out songs the way some people eat french fries. The song selection is great, too, including the best bits of Under the Bushes, Under the Stars, as well as great versions of older stuff like "Melted Pat", "Game of Pricks" and "Motor Away". (Note: although they are listed on the sleeve, "I Am a Scientist" and "Matter Eater Lad" do not appear on my version of this disk). The first twelve songs were culled from their upcoming studio release, and you can hear singer/songwriter Robert Pollard's concern when he asks the unfamiliar audience to not leave. The new songs are at least as good as the older stuff, though, and all are performed admirably, although it would be nice if these guys gave poor Robert some vocal support.
   A- -Tom Ryan

5 comments about Pixies at the BBC.

1. If you gonna listen to white guys and gals bitchin & moaning this is disc is it. 'Black Francis' wails like no other and I never tire of several cuts: wild honey pie, there goes my gun, dead, caribou, and heaven - you can skip the rest and not miss it.
   The only 'rock' I listen to.



2. I am a huge Pixies fan and after purchasing their 5 studio albums I decided to give this live cd a try. I was sorely disappointed at how incredibly short all the songs are. the longest is caribou which clocks in at just over 3 minutes. Not only that but the material is just bad! The only songs that are worth listening to are Wave of mutilation, Caribou, Monkey gone to heaven, and Hey. In every other song what you hear on the clips here at Amazon is ALL there is in every song. They are repetitive, directionless, sloppy, and flat out unmelodical(for lack of a real word). I was most disapointed with In Heaven because it's supposed to be this awesome song. Black just yells the same damn thing over and over for 2 minutes and then- SUPRISE!!! The cd's over and you just wasted your money! I would not reccomend this cd for anybody who isn't just trying to get all of the Pixies' cds. It really isn't worth 15 bucks (or 22 bucks if you buy it at Sam Goody). Get Death to the Pixies if you want good live Pixies music.



3. I neglected getting this disk for quite some time. I figured I already had the original recordings of every song on here... When I finally got it, I was blown away. There are superb versions of many of the Pixies' classic songs. The haunting renditions of 'Caribou' and 'Is She Weird' are among my favorites. 'Wave of Mutilation' and 'Monkey Gone to Heaven' surpass the album versions. I'd like to have seen 'Gigantic' and 'Here Comes Your Man' on here, but now I'm quibbling... Very highly reccommended.



4. The Pixies were and will always be remembered as a formidable live act. When they hit the stage, Frank Black and Co. belted out their tunes like a band possessed and BBC Sessions, a document of the Pixies numerous live radio appearances, finally does justice to the group's unrivaled stage presence. The tempos are sped up, the instruments are amped up, and the vocals sound like the devil himself is at the mic making for a collection of live takes that will leave a lasting impression, to say the least. Overflowing with passion and oozing with energy, every cut brings new life to the Pixies impressive back catalogue, piecing together memorable tracks from each incredibly diverse studio album to finally give a sense of totality to the Pixies career. Unfortunately, while BBC sessions proves to be a wonderful summation musically, finally tying together the seemingly unrelated aspects of the Pixes sound into a cohesive package, its actual layout leaves much to be desired. Although a date is placed next to each song, the tracks seem to be organized without any attention to these dates or without even any sort of vague chronological plot in mind. Therefore, despite the brilliant revelations of the music contained within, the experience is tainted by poor planning on Elektra's part and BBC sessions is reduced to simply being a good live compilation as opposed to the definitive live Pixies document it could have become.



5. This is a fantastic live album. Anyone who enjoys "true" independent music with soul and emotion, i urge you to pick up this album. It will blow you away. They perform 15 flawless classics LIVE!!!

5 comments about MTV Unplugged in New York.

1. The clarity of this "soundtrack" is simply amazing. MTV did a superb job with the setup of this event. I was blown away when I heard the cd version, but hearing it with my cheap Yamaha equipment in DTS took it to another level. It is a shame he is still not around; what an amazing talent this guy had. RIP KC.



2. It's amazing, but not unexpected, to see such a lack of pretense throughout these acoustic translations of much heavier material. The entire concert was bathed in Cobain's tragic warmth and frazzled soul, injecting a tremendous amount of integrity into nearly every strum and vocalization, while the band backs up at their restrained best, revealing a side seldom seen, and one fans were most fortunate to have seen before the end.



3. In my opinion, the greatest MTV Unplugged album ever. They proved that they were more than just a grunge band, and Cobain brought his pain briefly to the surface.



4. When I first got this album I simply could not stop listening to it not only one of the best live albums but one of the best albums ever and that says a lot since before i got this cd I wasnt into acoustic cds i liked my music load and heavy and now because of this cd I now love acoustic songs , which I think its a good change of pace.even thou I hate Mtv ,its nirvana so what the hell here are my favourite songs
   1 jesus dont want me for a sumbeam
   2 come as you are
   3 polly
   4 lake of fire
   5 were did you sleep last night
   be sure to pick up the dvd of this classic album



5. Nirvana was a rock band. Their style was loud, raw, aggressive. Kurt Cobain abused his guitars. Dave Grohl pounded the living daylights out of his drums. Krist Novoselic jumped around on stage like a madman.
   
   So what happens when you hand Cobain an acoustic guitar, tell Grohl to play his drums with brushes, and force Krist to sit still?
   
   Well, you get a very interesting album. I will agree with many of the glowing reviews on here, this performance has alot of emotional punch - in places. But I wonder if perhaps too much of this emotional stuff is read into these performances in light of Cobain's death. Yes, he screams and plunks his guitar with great vigor, but he was also high on herion.
   
   It's somewhat interesting to hear Nirvana play "Come As You Are" unplugged - but it's much better played full-force with electric guitars. And it's okay hearing Cobain play "Pennyroyal Tea" solo, messing up the lyrics and hitting the wrong chords - but it doesn't hold a candle to the full electric arrangement.
   
   The best parts of this album are the cover songs. "The Man Who Sold the World" is a fun song, as are the three Meat Puppet covers; and most folks are in agreement that "Where Did You Sleep Last Night?" is spine tingling. If you get this album for no other reason, get it for the cover songs.
   
   So while this is an interesting foray into "what happens when you strip a rock band of what made them famous" - it's not a masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination. It's the point of "Unplugged" to put a band in unfamiliar waters, but that doesn't mean it always turns out well.
   
   Nirvana made music that was intended to be plugged in. That's what Nirvana was - loud, kick-your-teeth-in rock. "Unplugged" does not do them justice.

5 comments about Live.

1. Why did they make this album? Severe Tire Damage, their other live album, is much better. This is basically Severe Tire Damage with 14 of the songs missing! This doesn't have the new recordings, About Me, and the new Meet James Esnor. (The new version is funny because they imitate the guitar.) Anyway, for only about 7 dollars more, you can get the whole thing! Don't get this, get Severe Tire Damage.
   
   OK, now for my review for the music. TMBG is a great band, and listening to their live music is fun because it's so different than their album stuff. Istanbul (Which I'm not sure is on this, just on Severe Tire Damage) Has a new jazzy blues begginning and Another First Kiss is very different in the lyrics and is a lot faster and up-beat. 'Til My Head Falls Off and XTC VS. Adam Ant are more rocking. (I'm not sure if any of those are on this either.) But all of these are available on Severe Tire Damage.



2. This is (as other reviewer's note) a bargain-basement 1-disc compilation drawn from the double live album "Severe Tire Damage." What most fail to note is that "Severe Tire Damage"--like many double live albums--is bloated with filler (do we really need variations on every theme from "Planet of the Apes"?) This one disc preserves all the best performances--including the studio single "Doctor Worm" (unavailable elsewhere). A much better buy.



3. This was my first they might be giants CD I got, even though I had better choices(Lincoln,Factory Showroom, and more),only because this had that awesome song(Dr.worm) that I saw a video for on Kablam.I (being a fan of most of they might be giants alternative songs, not much of thier others, not to say that they're bad, they're just not my kinds of music)enjoyed Birdhouse in your soul, Dr.worm, They got Lost,Ana NG, and Till my head falls off.It me got me to like some of thier first song(ex.Ana NG) and new ones(ex.Till my head falls off) anyways, as other reviews have said severe tire damage is better, but this CD to me gets most of its real highlights.The only songs that this cd is missing in my opinion are:She's an Angel,Meet James Ensor,and Why does the sun shine.I know that I'm gonna listen to this birdhouse in your soul instead of the one on dial a song.

   Conclusion:If your a beginers looking for something cheaper and less rare than severe tire damage, buy this.




4. If you are unaware of They Might Be Giants then this album is a fantastic introduction. The music is unbelievably catchy and songs like "Dr. Worm" will be irremovable from your brain for long periods of time. This, coupled with the subtly hilarious and memorable lyrics, make for a fantastic album.
   In terms of quality this is by far the best live album I have heard, being completely without the crackly, dulled or jittery effects heard on many live CD's, thanks to the bands superb live performances.
   However, if you are already a fan of the band then you might be better off with a different album as many great songs are missed. And it is also true to say that all of the tracks on this album are also on "Severe Tire Damage" along with some extra ones not on this album. But, for what is likely to be half the price of "Severe Tire Damage" all you are really missing out on is "Why does the sun shine?" and "Meet James Ensor". It's a great album, and if you're not a collector then this is also a great bargain.



5. I have just about the same thing to say about this album as I do for The Best of the Early Years (Not "Then:"). BMG is just releasing half-a**ed discs to wring out some more money from the Giants. This album gets its second star simply for the fact that it's a collection of good songs. Severe Tire Damage is the way to go. Listen to the other reviewers.

1 comments about Tuned to Drop Dead.

1. awesomely, these guys bring the awesome to so many awesome levels that it doesn't seem awesomely possible. the album is full of fast and furious (not like the movie but more like an angry kangaroo with a chainsaw strapped to it's back) blazing hardcore songs that will leave you pumping for fist and moshing it up where ever you are listening to them. i can't stress the essentialness of owning this album. check it out folks, seriously. sepultura cover from when they were good too! AWESOME!

5 comments about Suicide Sessions/Anti-Social Personality Disorder: Live.

1. Unless you are striveing to collect the complete GG canon, I would skip this one. It goes beyone raw into the realm of unlistenable. This is my least favorite of my pretty extensive GG collection.



2. i got this cd along time ago am alot older now and still blast this beautyfilled music.a must 4 young and old.i got 1 4 my mom on mothers day.she liked it so much she wet her pantys.yea good times. thanks G.G.



3. First of all ignore the live tracks. GG was in prison and some dude released the live tracks as a cassette only release just to make money, they are utter crap. Now SUICIDE SESSIONS is an album recorded in 1988 that was one of GG's personal favorite albums. To most people it sounds like noise and garbage. BUT if you seriously delve into the album, it's brilliant! The opening track "(Thinkin' Of You Is Like A) Dagger In My Heart" is full of emotion, GG must've been thinking of his ex-wife who many say he never got over losing. The studio version of the concert-favorite "I Live To Be Hated" can be found here. One of my personal favorite GG songs, "Liquor Slicked Highway" is a killer as well. Only downside to SUICIDE SESSIONS is that it contains the worst song GG ever recorded, the too-long instrumental (GG on drums, Mark Sheehan on guitar) "Pain & Suffering". The track listing is wrong as well..."Kiss Me In The Gutter" is actually a song called "Jailed Again", you have to get the "No Room" single to get "Kiss Me In The Gutter". There are also two songs from these sessions only available on bootleg cassettes, they are "Fire & Fury" and "Isolation" one of which I've heard is another instrumental.
   SUICIDE SESSIONS is not for the weak or people new to GG Allin. But once you delve into the way he sang from his black-heart the way a blues singer does you'll find the majic in this album...even if it does sound like a kitten stuck in a blender.



4. This is GG's least successful recording (Suicide Sessions). He must have been on a bigger drunk than usual (other substances also involved, I assume) when this was taped. Not sure if GG had a hand in its release. The CD consists of a bunch of extremely rawly recorded numbers, more noise than music. Sounds like it was recorded in a cement mixer. Not that that's necessarily a bad thing: it is here. Skip this (unless you're a GG completist). For GG's best material get hold of: CARNIVAL OF EXCESS (country-style material); FREAKS, FAGGOTS.. (extremely raw, & shocking: but great tunes: at its best, astounding); BRUTALITY & BLOODSHED FOR ALL (last studio recording, with his last - and best - backing band, the MURDER JUNKIES: super shocking, yet amusing & highly curious, with some of GG's best ever songs). Also check the MURDER JUNKIES post-GG releases : the group is not cashing in on GG's fame, they're doing their own thing, in a similar, but definitely distinctly different style to the music of their time with GG: particularly good are some of the songs on the FEED MY SLEAZE CD (or 10" record). The Murder Junkies features GG's brother Merle on bass: definitely an amusing & entertaining figure. People miss the fact that GG was a genuine musical talent. The Murder Junkies are definitely worth checking: really one of the only combinations I can think of that are doing any material of any interest here in 1999. GG we miss you.



5. Anything G.G. does is better than99 % of the sh*t in your music collection. It is not for the weak in mind or spirit. If you got the balls and the ability to understand what pure hatred is all about, BUY IT!

2 comments about Touch Sensitive: Bootleg.

1. Well, I went through all the incarnations of this very prolific band/singer songwriter (the imitible Mark E. Smith).
   For me, being a tad older, the original FALL (whatever that might mean!) in the mid to late seventies (had already gone through a few line-up changes) had a foundation of Scanlon , Burns, and Hanley which lasted through damned near two decades - in the late 90s Smith (a notorious drunkard, as well as a wild and outrageously bombastic rant/poet) fought with and fired the long time collaborators.
   Since then, i'm not sure his band has been altogether one thing.
   I caught them in London in 98 and it was more or less (as a friend quipped) looking like a band of his daughters.
   
   But the current incarnations of the Fall are tight and musically adept. And these live concerts all around the end of 2001 - attest to an ingenuity and enjoyable noisiness that can only be the fall. Smith is on, mostly, he doesn't do the stuff he did in the early days - chatting amicably with the audience, or teasing them - he's more the lost in the lyrics type now (looking a bit like a cross between a ravaged Lou Reed and a starving owl). The thing that has always made the Fall so a different experience is MES's lyrics, and delivery. He has almost always been a strange rapper he talk drones his poetry - timing it with the guitars and drums. He rarely sings, and even this has been the joke of some older songs.
   
   So, what is this Set of Cds? 5 shows of the fall, showcasing MOSTLY material honed from the period recent to 2001.
   Cropduster is a stand-out of this period - the impressive studio version of which is on the ARE YOU ARE MISSING WINNER album.
   Purposely misspelled and almost the most perfect fall thing to do -
   
   the other thing to know about this band is that they have always championed LOW production value. They are a garage band first and foremost and damned-near always have been. They have been pretty - especially in the era of the early to mid 80s with Brix Smith - (who was as cute as a monkey) but they aren't pretty anymore.
   They are gritty, original, and captivating.
   
   Someone once said that there's more on just the liner notes from a fall album than there is most other band's entire records!
   
   and that is probably still true.



2. The perfection, the brilliance of this band DOES come across to me on this 5-CD collection, moreso than on recent studio albums. Those albums had some great stuff on them. But they also had lesser material on them.

   It has to be said also that some of the group's material, especially songs from the quickly-recorded "Are You Our Missing Winner" sounds better on here from these gigs than it did on the album. Much of this material is meant to be played live, and sounds perfect live. "Crop Dust", "Beourgeousie Town", "Kick the Can", and "Way Round" to pick three sound here like they should. "Ketamine Sun" is another.

   The Fall continue to promulgate a garage-rock aesthetic unlike anyone else on the planet. Smith and his cohorts continue to mine a rich vein of minimalist noise crossed with rhythmic complexity. They continue to journey into the heart of rock and roll darkness, emerging time and time again with gems that connect 50's rock to 60's garage to 70's punk to 90's grunge to new millenium dance. This band will be understood by future generations as something that was really great, and really undervalued by undiscerning consumers.

   I don't like everything that Fall produces, but I like this a lot. I recommend this to anyone who thinks they might be interested in it.

1 comments about Live Slayer.

1. This album is pretty much a live version of Dawn Of The Undead, well worth the $15, it also includes The Undead's version of Bullet.

No comments about Smoke & Mirrors.

3 comments about Debut Live.

1. I've listened to all the live albums, and as a hard core bjork fan i like them all. But i have to say that this one is quite memorable. I have seen her live and heard songs from all albums, but there's something about this debut live album. I love the exotic yet simple instrumentation and her voice is chilling. The simplicity in the arrangements gives the beautiful timbre and harmonics of her voice a chance to truly be heard. Performing live is a chance to explore old songs with a new creativity, and although some may be very close to the originals, i think it's nice to have the "human behaviour" harpsichord version. And the talbas are seriously rockin the house.



2. I received Bjork's "Live Box" as a Christmas present for 2004 and was so excited to finally have my hands on it. I had, after all, wanted to own this box set a few months prior to actually owning it. The four CD's contained within it are live version of Bjork's first four solo studio albums "Debut," "Post," Homogenic" and "Vespertine." It's taken me quite a while to truly appreciate them all as individual sets, but it's been worth it because it is truly an exceptional piece of music to add to any Bjork fan's collection.
   
   The first album is "Debut Live," and is probably my least favourite of the four. There's some good moments and some not so good moments on offer, resulting in a hit-and-miss collection of 10 songs. The songs on offer here are all from the "Debut" album and all but one were recorded for MTV Unplugged in 1994. The sound of the album is very intimate which is, I guess, what is always intended for Unplugged sessions. The instruments used in these live recordings are very sweet and tinny which in some cases is rather bland, but in others is just downright gorgeous.
   
   The album opens with a strange version of "Human Behaviour." At this point in her career, this was far and away Bjork's most famous song. I'm not quite sure what instruments are used here for the beat of the song, but it's rather surreal. I'm pretty sure it's a harpsichord. It really annoyed me to begin with, but after a few listens it grows on you in that cute, coy way - like Bjork herself, I suppose. My personal favourite song from this album is next, "One Day." At just over six minutes long, this live version is a very tranquil and serene version of the original. The original version had that calming effect in the way the ambient instruments took hold of your senses, like in this version where a variety of woodwind instruments are used, sounding like water gently babbling over the rocks in a stream. Everything is very subdued and still on this live version which I just love. "Venus As A Boy" is the only song not taken from the Unplugged session. Instead this live version is from the "Later" sessions of "Later With Jools Holland," a very popular British music show. The harpsichord is again present here, sounding rather French in its sound.
   
   The next song is "Come To Me" which is a great live version. This was always one of my favourite songs from the album originally, and this live version expresses Bjork's vocals perfectly, especially on the sections where she sighs with gentle euphoria. The live version of "Big Time Sensuality" doesn't really work in my opinion, because it was a dance song pure and simple and the attempt to change it here doesn't really work. However, I respect the decision to experiment. "Aeroplane" was never really one of my favourite Bjork songs, so the live version hasn't changed this much. The harshness of the brass instruments used here is a bit too unusual for me, which I suppose is ironic in itself due to the fact that I adore the unique winder that is Bjork. "Like Someone In Love" was always a beautiful song which relaxed me. Bjork's voice was intentionally 'off' in this song which I found amusing at times. The live version is different, however. She sounds a bit too perfect here which takes away a charm which infected the original. However, the harp used here is extremely harmonious and serene.
   
   "Crying" was probably my favourite unreleased song from the original album because it was just so incredibly catchy. The beats in that song just made my body jump with excitement, producing an energy in me that not many songs have the ability to do. This live version, however, let me down. The instruments sound a little bit muted and not loud enough. Things seem a little held down when things are just dying to bursts into colour and life. "Anchor Song" is probably the song which I dislike the most out of all Bjork's songs from her entire career! I really don't like the way Bjork sings a line, then the crappy brass instruments play a little tune. I find it rather annoying and this live version is now exception though. I've always liked the lyrical content though. The final song on this album is a live version of "Violently Happy." I once heard Bjork say that she never really liked this song, but yet somehow she still sings it live here. This could be because she didn't have much solo material to sing at this point in her career. Whatever the reason, this version is good but not amazing like a few songs at the start of the album.
   
   OVERALL GRADE: 7/10
   
   Debut Live is a must-have for all hardcore Bjork fans, but I wouldn't recommend it for people who are looking for one of those good live albums. It is good, yes, in parts, but in others it can be rather bland and forgettable. The real genius lies in the live albums for "Homogenic" and "Vespertine." I suggest you check those out as soon as possible. The live music on there is the kind that will take your breath away. This album will just make you hum gently.



3. so i wanted to buy one of Bjork's live albums the other day. I was leaning towards Post Live or Homogenic Live but when I got to the store, all they had was 1 copy of Debut Live so I got it, even though Debut is not my favorite Bjork album. This CD is about half and half, half is good, the other not so much. not because it's bad, but either a) the performance sounds too much like the original (anchor song, crying, Like Someone I Love..) or because I don't like the new way Bjork rearranged the song(Big Time Sensuality. It should stay a DANCE song). Also, I already had this version of Venus As A Boy on the Isobel single so that was pretty useless to me too. The highlights on here are Human Behaviour, Violently Happy, and Come To Me, which I hadn't really paid attention to before (the DEBUT album version) and wasn't one of my favorites but it sounds REALLY good here. It's probably my favorite track on here.