Editorial Review

There seem to be two major camps of U2 fans now: Those who dig the early albums (good and sensible people), and those who only like the ones from the '90s, putting everything previous down as "classic rock." But U2 only became a classic rock sort of band in 1984, with Read more

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Reviews (73)

U2 - 'Under A Blood Red Sky' (Island)
Review no. 73. Another classic '80's alternative CD reissue. Unless I'm wrong,I believe this very show took place literally a few days after their 'War' tour hit my hometown.Liked the way that Mtv,VH1 Classic and Nightline used to run music videos for this album endlessly.I seem to remember a one-time 2am TV special that aired songs from this very show that WASN'T on the lp.Would love to have a complete recording of this 1983 concert.Tracks that more than hold their own here are "Gloria",their first ever hit "I Will Follow",the political "Sunday Bloody Sunday","New Years Day" and "40".By today's standards,this album might be considered to be more of a live EP than an lp.Recommended.

Jersey Girl Says......
I suppose I fall into the "Good and Sensible" category, since I prefer U2's Old stuff. This is the first album I bought from them. Loved it then, Love it even more now.

Even back then they Rocked !!!
This is a great little 'Live' Album. Fresh, energetic and classic U2. The interaction with the crowd and the 'live' sound is retained and you do get a feeling of what it is like at a U2 concert. Highlights are 'Sunday Bloody Sunday', 'Party Girl' and '40'. Even back then, you can taste the magic. If you like U2, you will love this album...For the casual fan, buy it, and see what all the fuss was about... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. College Rock    4. Pop    5. Pop/Rock    6. Post-Punk    7. Rock    8. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

It may have taken until 1991 for punk to break as a commercial form, but the genre was hardly new. In that story, even Jane's Addiction were latecomers to the revolution. But it was the frenzied trailblazing rock of this quirky Los Angeles quartet that made the later successes of Nirvana, etc. somehow inevitable. In this recording of a hometown club gig, Jane's offer raw versions of songs that would appear in a more refined form on their debut album, along with a dubious cover of "Sympathy for the Devil." Hear a noticeably younger and shriller Perry Farrell while guitarist Dave Navarro plays out his Jimmy Page dreams across a punk canvas the rest of the world would soon discover. Read more

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• Original recording reissued

Reviews (37)

This Album tells you more than the "Editorial Review"
Jane's Addiction had the gall and attitude to release their very first EP as a live album. That alone should tell you where this disc is coming from. Unlike what the Editorial would make you think, theres nothing punk about Janes, they've always been the red, raw underbelly of a bizarre experiment with Glam Rock and Psychedelia, and there is no better way to hear them than this live, no coverups or touch ups gem.
A Classic Album But Not A Masterpiece
I discovered Jane's with their album Nothing's Shocking and it changed my life. I was a devout metalhead at that time and was a huge fan of Metallica( that was the glory days of Metallica). Jane's slowly but surely became my favorite band. I bought this album somtime around 1989 I believe. I love this album it is a really raw sounding record and it shows how powerful the band was at that time. The song that became my favorite and was the main reason I bought the album was the cover of Sympathy for the Devil. Jane's made that song seem very eerie more so than The Stones ever did. Jane's made me realize that music should make you experience the feelings and emotions in the songs. They turned me from a metalhead to an alternative fan for life. Maybe I am being too sentimental or just reacting like most people as they get older but I miss the way the bands were during the years of 1988 till about 1997. Music was fun to me then and I was always discovering new bands to listen to. I find myself going back to listen to my older cd's now and rediscovering all this great music now because I just don't see that many amazing new bands anymore.

Loved ItBefore Nothings Shocking.......
FIrst came across JA on a comp called "Scream" or something of that nature.Went out and bought this record and thought it was pretty fantastic to say the least and at the time it was.It sounded signifigantly different than anything else at the time and Farrell had one of those voices (like Robert Plant) that would forever mark the band.Then something happened--"Nothings Shocking" was released.SO my point it this after honing their skills and and releasing two classic records this sounds rather novice by comparsion and in actuality it is. The covers (Stones, Velvet Underground)are throw aways (read as: set fillers) however there are hints of the greatness to come, Pigs In Zen, My Time and Trip Away, I only wish they had reworked "My Time" on "Nothings Shocking". ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Metal    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. College Rock    4. Heavy Metal    5. Pop    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop   

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Reviews (63)

Way better than I expected
I have been to quite a few CS concerts and I always leave happy. I was a little hesitant to buy this cd because I couldn't be at the actual concert and I normally am not a fan of live recordings. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoy this cd and love to play it in my car. For some reason I like the feeling of remembering seeing them in concert. The symphony was a great addition minus a couple songs that didn't really fit. A few of CS songs are made to be played with a symphony like Run, Shine, She Said, Compliment and Home and they delivered well above expectations. If you are a big fan of CS and can visualize them in concert, this cd is a great addition to your collection.

An incredible live performance by a great band
It's not very often that I get totally blown away by a music album these days.I don't even like much music these days, and even the stuff I find mildly appealing doesn't make much of an impression on me.Collective Soul, on the other hand, has been one of my favorite "new" (I loosely use that term for anything from the last 15 or so years) bands since their first album, but I haven't followed them much for the last few years.When I saw this album, however, and saw that it was live (I've seen some of the biggest bands in history live, and none of them had ANYTHING on CS in terms of pure energy) I decided to pick it up.The result was one of the best listening experiences I've had in a very long time-I listened to it over and over and over again, and still wasn't satisfied.
Nothing that good since the 70s
I am 50 years old and no decade will ever be as good as the 70s (forgetting disco and ABBA). The 80s and early 90s were boring until Collective Soul came along in the late 90s. Their unique style and melodies (good melodies have been rare since the 70s) caught my attention and I thought that good rock and roll was back after nearly 15 plus years of boredom.
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Subjects:  1. American Trad Rock    2. Hard Rock    3. Pop    4. Post-Grunge    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop    7. United States of America   

Editorial Review

Too much too soon is the m.o. of so many bands who, thanks to the fleeting fame that accompanies music-video breakthroughs, are famous before their time and has-beens five minutes later. You could be excused for thinking that's the case with Counting Crows, darlings of both MTV and VH1, who here release a double concert CD after only two studio albums. But you'd be wrong. The set, an acoustic disc recorded for VH1's Read more

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Reviews (142)

Best album of CC besides August and Everything After
Live music from Counting Crows! I somehow only just found this CD after being a CC fan since 1994.The energy of this performance is exhilarating. Adam Duritz is still raw, a trait I love and miss, since I think the rawness of his performing and writing has evaporated over the last five years or so.
I was at this show
I actually went to live at the 10 spot. I remember them announcing they were recording this live. It was a great show, though I had wished it was longer. Seems like the Counting Crows are lazy. I was a little disappointed they didn't play Mr. Jones. Overall great show though.

Some of the details from each show
"Chelsea" is a previously unreleased track and is not part of the VH1 setlist.
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Subjects:  1. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. American Trad Rock    4. Pop    5. Popular Music    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop   

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Reviews (47)

Best Live PJ album!
Simply put...buy this album. There is no better live Pearl Jam album.

Diverse and sometimes powerful acoustic live CD
Disclaimer: I give the sound quality and musicianship FIVE stars on this album. The set list and the way some of the non-pj songs seem disconnected from the overall feel of the album is what brings it to an overall of three stars, though still recommended.
Now that's a ass whooping...
Ohh dear this album is simply so great that I find it difficult to understand that I first got my hands on it in 2006. It contains everything good about Pearl Jam, great lyrics, talented music, high energy and powerfull rock ballads. This album is mostly unplugged and the depth of the band really shows on songs like: "Fatal", "Immortality", and "Off He Goes". The semi electric songs are arguably even better. The versions of "Daughter", "Black", "Crazy Mary", "Nothing As It Seems" and "All Or None" are each easily worth the prize of the album by them self.
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Grunge    3. Hard Rock    4. Pop    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

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• Explicit Lyrics

Reviews (114)

Good renditions of old favorites.
I appreciate this album because has new renditions of old favorites and introduced me to some songs from earlier albums that I did not have. I especially like this rendition of Emiline.
Amazing Live Recording
This album is just simply Ben Folds at the top of his game.Great recording, great performance... a must have for any Ben Folds fan.

Well, I happen to like it, anyway...
Ben Folds Live is just what it says, Ben Folds Live...A lot of songs from his days with Ben Folds Five, but without Robert Sledge or Darren Jessee and some stuff from his album "Rockin' the Suburbs"...If you want you can think of it as a "Best Of Ben Folds" type album...The sound quality is overall pretty good, meaning the music isn't occasionally drowned out by the screaming of fans (which sometimes happens with Live albums)...I happen to like it, anyway... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock    3. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

Recorded live in 1973, Read more

Features

• Extra tracks
• Live
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (66)

Heavy Metal Machine Music
The intricate, extensive and sublimely rocking introduction to "Sweet Jane" which opens ROCK & ROLL ANIMAL must have made many of this album's earliest buyers think they'd fallen victim to a record company foul-up. Surely the soaring guitars, thundering bass and tight, swirling drums with which they were confronted couldn't have had anything to do with Lou Reed, legendarily laconic purveyor of atonal drones and decadent, rambling anecdotes. But sure enough, after three and a half minutes all that virtuosic showboating somehow morphed into the beloved Velvet Underground classic, with Reed tossing off his lines in a voice by turns sardonic, indifferent and haunted. The result was, and still is, an album both the hardcore Reed fan and the Reed-hating hard rocker can dig, an eminently successful experiment in classic seventies metal from a man whose prior recordings had firmly established him at the opposite pole of the sonic spectrum.
atrocious and soulless
I don't know what you people are talking about. This album is horrendous. Terrible, Peter-Frampton-cum-Boston arrangements of Velvets songs. The guitar tones alone are enough to make me want to scream.
Blistering guitar work!
This sounds just as good today as it did in 1973. This was one of the first CD's I bought to replace my worn out LP. Definitely one of the all time greatest rock albums, not just live albums. With out a doubt, if Steve Hunter and Dick Wagner were not playing guitar on this one, it would be just another ho hum Lou Reed album. They raise it to the zenith with their blistering guitar work, both rhythm and leads. From Intro/Sweet Jane to the unreal guitar solo in Heroin that just keeps going, to the classic, Rock N' Roll, this whole CD it great, I would love to see it on DVD! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. Hard Rock    3. Pop    4. Proto-Punk    5. Rock    6. Rock & Roll    7. Rock/Pop    8. Singer/Songwriter   

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Reviews (14)

A good preview
These guys are amazing musicians; perfect together - a modern Simon and Garfunkel.This album is pretty good on it's own, basically the best modern rock out there, if you'll call it that.It's hard to call it anything because these guys are totally unique; it's a sound I've been lookin for but haven't found in other artists.Even better are there next two albums, and more diverse.

BOMB!
If you like the guitar and some chill mellow music, you gotta have this CD.

Best of Slighly Stoopid
This album in my opinion is by far slightly stoopid's best.I don't really care for most of their other music just because they sound so "white". This is pure reggae. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Contemporary Reggae    2. Pop    3. Punk Revival    4. Punk-Pop    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop    7. Ska Revival    8. Ska-Punk   

Editorial Review

Usually, groups wait until they've released at least three or four records before putting out a live album, but Read more

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Reviews (84)

Terrific concert!!
This disc was the first one I heard from Portishead. After a couple of listenings I was kind of confused about the rhythms, voice tones, samplers and musical instruments. At the end you would love all this stuff and how they have conceptualized the idea of music without barriers, without all that common rhythms that have appeared in music history. I would strongly recommend this disc for every one who has never listened to Portishead, it is the starting point to enjoy all their creations.

Not the first to say it...this release is amazing.
I love electronica, I like orchestral music. In this release they have the perfect union. Even my friends who have a hard time listening to electronic/ambient music really, really like this release. If you are a serious music aficionado you must own this. This is a stunning piece of work that will spin on and on in all types of players and in all kinds of places.

Truly amazed
This has to be one of the best live CDs I've ever had the pleasure of owning.Typically I wouldn't recommend a live CD to a new fan, but this is different.I listen to this disc much more than the studio albums.Something about working with a live orchestra brings out the nuances and subtleties of the music.The DVD is exceptional too and contains additional songs and some different versions of the songs on the CD.
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Subjects:  1. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. Electronica    4. Pop    5. Popular Music    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop    8. Trip-Hop   

Editorial Review

For many pop-music cynics, excess can be neatly summed up in three things: live albums, double-CD's, and Tori Amos records. Damned ifRead more

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Reviews (418)

The Freak Flag Still Flies on Planet Tori
To Venus and Back is, even in the Tori canon, a unique record.Originally planned as a live album, it unexpectedly grew a full-length studio record in the process; as far as I know, it's the only example of such a division in the history of (relatively) mainstream rock music (well, my roommate just informed me that Neil Young did a similar thing called Journey Through the Past, but that was a single album that was a side of each, and I think it's out of print).Aside from the bracketed example, bands often record a few new studio cuts to sweeten up their live offerings, but this one is truly different.The difference is Tori herself, of course; she never does anything by any method but her own, and surely that counts for something.
"I'm stepping in to your space oddity..."
To Venus and Back is Tori Amos's most daring and complexed work to date. I got this album because i was crazy for the songs Bliss and 1000 Oceans. I quickly began to love every song on the record, and the live record is lovely as well. The songs I love live is the gorgeous Cooling, Bells for her, Cloud on my tongue, Space Dog, and Sugar. The studio album has 11 songs, Bliss is the opening track:"Is that what i taste, your supernova juice? you know it's true I'm part of you." Juarez has great music and interesting lyrics:"And the desert she must be blessed and no angel came..." Concertina is subtle and flows great:"I run into your thought from across the room..." The most uptempo song is Glory of the '80s:"Silicone party barbies to the left and Joan of Arcs to the right, no one feeling insecure, we were all gorge and famous in our last lives." Lust has the best piano music I have ever heard:"Is he real or a ghost lie, she feels she isn't heard, and a veil tears and rages til her voices are remembered and his secrets can be told." Suede has a fabulous chorus:"Call me evil, call me tide is on your side anything that you want..." Josephine is just too short because it's the best song on the record:"From here you're haunting me, by the siene so beautiful only not to be of use, impossible..." Riot Poof took me awhile to warm up to this song but now i love it:"It will all find it's way, it's way in time, blossom riot poof..." Dautra is the most weirdest song but has a gentle chorus:"And not need more blood from the tip of your star?" Spring Haze is about learning to stand on your own in a doomed relationship:"And my only way out is to go so far in." And the last song 1000 Oceans is her best song since Silent all these years, great love song:"I can't believe that i would keep, keep you from flying, so i will cry a 1000 more if that's what it takes to sail you home." To Venus and Back is Tori's most under-rated album so don't not keep this record on the shelf for one more day.

Datura
There is something serendipitous sifting through the air and it's all captured in Tori Amos' "Datura". An explosive song with double and triple layers (both production wise and in terms of its philosophical and spiritual meanings), "Datura" captures the lifting, haunting and suspended quality of everything from being high to discovering one's true self ("Is there room in my heart for you to follow your heart.")
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Subjects:  1. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. Keyboards    4. Piano    5. Pop    6. Popular Music    7. Rock    8. Rock/Pop    9. Singer/Songwriter    10. Vocals   

Features

• Enhanced
• Live
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (45)

This blows
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.

Indescribable.
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.
soul boy
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.
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Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock    3. Rock/Pop   

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• Live
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (1)

World's Best Live Band (Re-released)
This is the only live album (until tomorrow when whiskey on a sunday comes out) from the world's best live band. It is not very polished, which gives it a rough and raw sound. This is Flogging Molly's first album and features the band's original guitar player Tedd Hutt. It was recorded in a single night at Molly Malone's in L.A. (hence the title).
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Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock    3. Rock/Pop   

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Reviews (46)

The Ultimate Goo Goo Dolls CD! **********
I really love this Cd/Dvd. It really is a kind of greatest hits cd for the Goo Goo Dolls. It contains many great songs such as "Slide", "Black Balloon", and "Iris", just to name a few. The songs range from slow tempo to mid tempo to fast, and the band sounds great live...Johnny Rzeznik's deep and soothing voice along with everyone's fine playing to great lyrics and melodies make this a very enjoyable listen/watch. If you own only one Goo Goo Dolls cd, this should be the one. You really do get a wide variety of songs that span many albums and years. Why don't you give a listen to the song sampler on this site and decide for yourself...

Goo Goo Dolls : "Live In Buffalo"

Great Show
This was a really great show, they performed great despite the rain. The bonus features/band footage kind of sucked. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. Pop    4. Pop/Rock    5. Post-Grunge    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop   

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• Live
• Soundtrack

Reviews (44)

Well integrated influences from a vast range of musical sources
Sometimes they sound like cloistered monks, at other times like Druid nature worshipers, and at others like North African nomadic tribes. Their range is amazing as you hear the sounds of Palestine, Ireland, and Libya combined with a very contemporary existential presentation of dark brooding, mournful loss.
Enchanting Vocals w/ a fusion of world music
About the Band:
One word....WOW!!
I wish so much I could have been there when they were touring America...It sounds so much like your right there listening to them.
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Dream Pop    3. Ethnic Fusion    4. Pop    5. Popular Music    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop    8. World Fusion   

Editorial Review

A live album and a greatest-hits album all in one, Read more

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Reviews (56)

In the classroom with Depeche Mode
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!

Love It After All These Years
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!!

Greatest hits collection plus a marvellous "live" performance
Depeche Mode are the masters of synthesizers and electric music, no doubt about that. But in fact, they are much more than that and this live album proves it to the world. Songs are skillfully played and the load of emotion is very high; Dave Gahan sings really well and keeps the party at the boiling point all the time. I have never seen DM live; a week ago I saw my favourites Bon Jovi on a concert in Germany, and they were great, but I can imagine DM is also one of the top-bands to perform live on stage. They were in Poland last year and the tickets were impossible to get; the next time I will definately try to get some. Though I'm definately not a die-hard fan, I have much regard for their music. Yes, some of the very early albums sound like a cheap OMD, and are rather hilarious without much merit but overall DM is really a great band. Especially their 1985-on records prove how good they can be.
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Dance    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. Club/Dance    4. New Wave    5. Pop    6. Pop/Rock    7. Popular Music    8. Post-Punk    9. Rock    10. Rock/Pop    11. Synth Pop   

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Reviews (10)

how fun this cd is you must discover for yourself
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!

BSO-LIVE
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.

The Ultimate Collection
I'd like to say I've listened to this, but it was a gift for someone else. However, since my son is a fan, I'm sure he loves it! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Big Band    2. Jump Blues    3. Pop    4. R&B    5. Retro Swing    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop    8. Rockabilly Revival    9. Roots Rock   

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Reviews (3)

Remarkable for early versions of "Serpentine" and "Self Evident"
Ani DiFranco, famously independent within the music industry, continues to self-release all of her output on her own "Righteous Babe" label. Ani has released a couple of live albums over her 17 year career to date, including the definitive and all-encompassing 2002 release "So Much Shouting, So Much Laughing", which is basically a "greatest hits live" release.
Recommended for all.
Well, I was in FYE, with thier little scanny-headphone "preview your cd' things.
A Must-Have for any Avid Ani Fan...
I just recently received the entire lot of ani's 'official bootleg' series (yes, there are seven others that you gave purchase via her site), and I have to say that Carnegie Hall is, by far, one of the best.