 "4.5 stars near classic" | 2008-08-27 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1EW3LJMNRGZVA |
| I'm going to take a different approach to reviewing albums on Amazon. Instead of going in depth on each album and describe each album in detail, i'm going to simply rate each album with how many stars I feel each album is worth based on the below criteria. I hope this helps you make a better decision on purchasing this album with a simple individual rating. If it doesn't help read another review. br /5 stars- Classic, Album goes beyond description, Perfect in every way, Could remind you of a certain time or place, Lifetime replay value. br /4.5 stars- Near Classic, Incredible album, Maybe only one song that is skippable or just overall doesn't quite deserve classic status. High replay value. br /4.0 stars- Awesome album. Very solid album from start to finish. Met every expectation and more. Maybe only one song or two that is skippable or just doesnt' quite deserve a classic or near classic rating. High replay value. br /3.5 stars- Above average album. Solid from start to finish but there are a few songs worth skipping. Met expectations, minimal replay value. br /3.0 stars- Average album. Nothing bad but nothing great either. After the initial appeal will collect dust. br /2.5 stars- Major disappointment. You had high expectations that were ruined as this album is not good at all. There might be only one or two songs worth listening to. No replay value. br /2.0 stars- Below average album. This album doesnt bother you to hear as background music but you would rather not listen to it if you didnt have to. No songs really appeal. No replay value. br /1.5 stars- Terrible album. Makes one sick to hear it. No songs really appeal but there might be one song that you could stand to hear. Would rather throw in garbage than even waste space in your collection. br /1.0 stars- Makes one cringe and the ears bleed! br /*keep in mind, each album review might not be based on opinion of the band but the album itself in the bands discography |
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 "Awake: The Best of Live" | 2008-08-10 |
| - Reviewed By User: A32Z4EBKJ8GFK6 |
| Being my favorite band I really love everything Live has to offer in music. This is a really good best of CD because it has songs from every album. It has all the songs I have enjoyed for the longest time and know all my favorites are on this one CD. It is an awesome CD from the greatest band LIVE. |
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| "AWESOME COMPILATION !!!" | 2008-01-24 |
| - Reviewed By charliedemar |
| I'm having a hard time removing this CD from my player after 8 months....really, really, good stuff. I don't think the Johnny Cash cover was necessary though. |
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 "Just ain't what they used to be" | 2008-01-05 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3HDRY79E8YYHR |
| While I don't actually own this particular CD, I do own most of Live's work, up to "V", where I finally gave up in exasperation. I'm so glad another reviewer mentioned two of my favorite songs, "Ghost" (which is actually entitled "Face and Ghost"), and "Voodoo Lady", which are unfortunately missing from this album. My favorite of all Live's albums was Secret Samadhi, then with "The Distance to Here", in my opinion, the downhill roll began, owing partially to the shift in the lyric-writing style, becoming more literal and nauseatingly earnest instead of being so chock-full of the poetic imagery that made Live so original and, well, deep. (I mean, does ANYONE else have lyrics like those in "Lakini's Juice": "I rushed the lady's room, took the water from the toilet, washed her feet and blessed her name"?) It's all but gone in Live's stinker, "Birds of Pray", which made me very sad, with lousy, school-kid lyrics such as those in that vapid song "Heaven": "I don't need nobody to tell me about god and truth, I look at my daughter, and I believe". (Well, good for you, junior, I thought when I first heard this tune, you went ahead and "found god and he was absolutely nothing like me".) All I have to say is, it's too bad they had to change. At one time, they were my favorite band. Now they stand among the ranks of those who coulda been contenders. Let's all shed a tear for Live and their wasted potential. |
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| "Great" | 2007-05-21 |
| - Reviewed By luismaluis |
| Live is one of the best band out there! Great music that you can hear anywhere and anytime.... |
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| "Great track selection for this best of LIVE mix" | 2007-03-10 |
| - Reviewed By rcg2 |
THE BAND: Ed Kowalczyk (vocals, guitar), Chad Taylor (lead guitar), Patrick Dahlheimer (bass), Chad Gracey (drums & percussion). Hometown: York, PA.
THE DISC: (2004) 19 tracks clocking in at approximately 77 minutes. Included with the disc is a 7-page foldout containing song titles/credits (no lyrics), band photos, what songs came from which albums, a quick paragraph on each album from Kowalczyk, and thank you's. This compilation follows the band from their 1991 debut through "Birds Of Pray" in 2003. There is an additional 2-disc release (the CD with music, and a DVD with interview and videos) also available. Label - Radioactive Records.
ALBUM REPRESENTATION: Mental Jewelry (3 songs), Throwing Copper (5), Secret Samadhi (2), The Distance To Here (3), V (2), Birds Of Pray (2), Unreleased (2).
COMMENTS: Outside of "Throwing Copper" (1994), this "Best Of" compilation might be all the Live you need. It absolutely hits on all the highlights of each album. Tracks 1-3 find the band in raw form from "Mental Jewelry"... singing and playing like they had something to prove. "Operation Spirit" and "Pain Lies On The Riverside" were the standout songs and worthy of inclusion here. Tracks 4-8 are from "Throwing Copper" - easily their biggest and most recognized tunes. "Copper" had so many great songs - and Kowalczyk never sang with such conviction. The melodies were most importantly... memorable. And then Kowalczyk shaved his head and went Zen on everyone. For me, "Secret Samadhi" (1997) was the start of the decline for Live. "Lakini's Juice" was my favorite track from this one because of the weird guitar chords. "Turn My Head" was the other good tune from "Samadhi", but the rest of the album was a mixed bag at best. Kowalczyk singing about spirit, his Holiness, angel wings, birds and dolphins crying in the near future was losing audiences. Not to mention the music just not being that strong - outside of a few tracks on each album - all of which are here on "Awake - Best Of Live". The Distance To Here" made some waves but quickly lost steam and fell from the charts. Their fifth album "V" (labeled as "experimental") was trashed by most major music mags. "Birds Of Pray" was a semi return to form, but once again garnered mixed reviews and almost no FM-airplay. The unreleased "We Deal With Dreams" was an extra song from the "Throwing Copper" sessions and is a nice inclusion here. Live's remake of Johnny Cash's "I Walk The Line" is nothing out of the ordinary, but still respectable. Missing are a few personal favorites (but by no means essential) - "Iris", "Top", "White, Discussion", "Ghost", "Voodoo Lady", and "Graze". This is a fantastic disc because it has the band's best songs over their 1st dozen years ALL in one place. Despite Live's 2nd half fall from the charts, this is a stellar introduction to the band (5 stars).
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| "Best of the best" | 2006-12-24 |
| - Reviewed By mhall8 |
| Of all the hundreds of CD's I own, this is my absolute favorite. I love the passion of "Selling the Drama" and "Pillar of Davidson". This CD hasn't been out of my CD player since I bought it. Just brilliant! |
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| "LIVE" | 2006-07-10 |
| - Reviewed By drday15 |
| I saw the Band on American Idol and became interested in more of their music. |
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| "Awesome!!!" | 2005-04-26 |
| - Reviewed By kholladay1 |
| I absolutely LOVE this CD!! It hardly ever leaves my CD player. All of the songs are great, but some of my favorites are "All Over You", "Lightning Crashes", "Turn My Head", "Dance With You", "Run to the Water", and "Dolphin's Cry". "Overcome" is also really good. Actually, I might as well just name every single song on the album! Buy this and you will not be let down! |
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| "LOVE IT!" | 2005-04-07 |
| - Reviewed By User: AIW5KNFD2114D |
| I was SO suprised when I was CD shopping and stumbled upon this CD. I had no idea they even had a greatest hits CD out. I have always liked Live so, I snatched it up immediately. I couldn't be happier. There is SO much on here beyond just their hits. There is unreleased songs & early, early stuff plus it is all remastered....gotta love that. A deffinite must! |
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International Available
