Live Albums (Your Opinions?)

thegame370 · 10-01-04, 02:39 AM

I'd like to know how people here generally feel about live albums. Do you enjoy hearing the songs as much through all the crown noise and such? I for one dont really like them and wouldnt even buy them even if it was from my favorite artist or band.
I walked into CC the other day, saw a new Wu-Tang CD, checked the track listing a noticed all thier hits, about 27 of them. I immediatly bought it, got home and listened to it and noticed it was a live CD. Each song was like no more than 2 mins, what a waste!

icondude · 10-01-04, 08:24 AM

I also have live CD's and to an extent some concert DVD's.

cdollaz · 10-01-04, 08:56 AM

I like them only if they do it correctly: Full concert, double cd. I hate anything that is excerpts from different tours or shows and it not the full concert.

Buford T Pusser · 10-01-04, 09:09 AM

I like them but most don't tend to grab me as much as the studio version.

I got into the Kinks after hearing "One From The Road" and Cheap Trick with the obvious "Live at Budokan".

reverie · 10-01-04, 09:40 AM

I love live albums. I'm not totally sure why, maybe because you know (well, for the most part minus some studio tweaking) that it's how they really sound. It's also neat to hear slightly different renditions of old songs.

I think with the sound too, it's less processed and just all around more strong, and you also have the performer playing to a crowd, which'll also sound different in the way of energy sometimes.

I feel like I'm just rambling...! Okay: Live = Great!

charlie bucket · 10-01-04, 09:46 AM

I think that in general live albums are good because the band usually has a different energy when they play in front of a crowd as opposed to playing in a studio. On the other hand, the band could just totally suck because they don't really have the use of studio equipement that alters their sound.

Some bands sound good live and some flat out suck.

Josh H · 10-01-04, 10:34 AM

I love them if they are full shows. But I do prefer to have them on DVD rather than CD.

Cornholio · 10-01-04, 10:35 AM

i dont like live cds much but i do like the live nirvana ones.

johnbook · 10-01-04, 11:17 AM

Iron Maiden - Live After Death

Judas Priest - Priest...Live

Scorpions - World Wide Live

Rush - Live In Rio

These are my favorite live albums by bands that i like i'm not much for the live cd's either, i prefer the studio work by far.

das Monkey · 10-01-04, 11:23 AM

For me, a great live CD will always be better than a great studio recording; however, too many live CDs suck, so it just depends on the group and the recording.

das

Gdrlv · 10-01-04, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by thegame370
I walked into CC the other day, saw a new Wu-Tang CD, checked the track listing a noticed all thier hits, about 27 of them. I immediatly bought it, got home and listened to it and noticed it was a live CD. Each song was like no more than 2 mins, what a waste!

They did a terrible job marketing this CD. I looked at it at Best Buy this week, and I didn't see any indication that it was live. Probably would've been more likely to buy if I knew that...

thegame370 · 10-01-04, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gdrlv
They did a terrible job marketing this CD. I looked at it at Best Buy this week, and I didn't see any indication that it was live. Probably would've been more likely to buy if I knew that...

On the back of the CD, all the way in the bottom, very small, its say Recorded Live in California, July 17, 2004. Very Small!

ChiTownAbs, Inc · 10-01-04, 12:59 PM

I'd probably try to return it saying that you didn't see that small font at the back of the CD

nodeerforamonth · 10-01-04, 01:05 PM

I love live CDs. Official or not. I love the rawness. I love the different versions of the studio songs. And I love how the energy level is higher on live releases.

Provided it's done right (i.e. full concert, good mix, etc...)

Tscott · 10-01-04, 01:08 PM

I'm fairly indifferent to Live CDs. If it's an artist I really love I'll get any live CDs they release and enjoy them, but if it's an artist I only sort of enjoy I may or may not. It depends on content, cost, my mood, my perceptions of them as a live band, etc.

However, two live CDs that I couldn't do without are Johnny Cash - Live at San Quentin and Ani DiFranco - Living In Clip. Also, Allison Moorer - Show is fantastic and includes a bonus DVD of the concert, at the price of a normal CD.

Since we're talking about live tracks I want to add that, one thing I usually don't like is the rereleasing of albums with bonus tracks which usually are only live versions of a couple of their greatest hits. Sacrificing a great album's flow by tacking on a couple live tracks at the end is a big no-no for me. I'd like to tell record companies to leave the original album alone and work on releasing a fully realized live/rarity disc instead if they want me to buy more CDs of their prized artists.

conscience · 10-01-04, 01:55 PM

Sometimes I like them, sometimes I don't.

I absoutely hate when you hear a live song and you hear the crowd singing with the singer.

There is one exception to the sing-a-long of what I have heard, though.

I Might Be Wrong Live Recordings - Radiohead - Idioteque

10-01-04, 02:39 AM	#1
thegame370 DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Bronx, NY Posts: 1,958	Live Albums (Your Opinions?) I'd like to know how people here generally feel about live albums. Do you enjoy hearing the songs as much through all the crown noise and such? I for one dont really like them and wouldnt even buy them even if it was from my favorite artist or band. I walked into CC the other day, saw a new Wu-Tang CD, checked the track listing a noticed all thier hits, about 27 of them. I immediatly bought it, got home and listened to it and noticed it was a live CD. Each song was like no more than 2 mins, what a waste! __________________ whoa My DVD Collection My Game Collection http://live.xbox.com/member/Chaos31

10-01-04, 09:09 AM	#4
Buford T Pusser DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Lighten up, Francis! (Funland) Posts: 26,766	I like them but most don't tend to grab me as much as the studio version. I got into the Kinks after hearing "One From The Road" and Cheap Trick with the obvious "Live at Budokan". __________________ it really bufords my pusser. (wow, that sounds dirty!) - cultshock Nothing wrong with pounding a little teacher pussy after school. - Sonic most of my weight is in my tits. - Mrs. Danger

10-01-04, 09:40 AM	#5
reverie DVD Talk Gold Edition Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,424	I love live albums. I'm not totally sure why, maybe because you know (well, for the most part minus some studio tweaking) that it's how they really sound. It's also neat to hear slightly different renditions of old songs. I think with the sound too, it's less processed and just all around more strong, and you also have the performer playing to a crowd, which'll also sound different in the way of energy sometimes. I feel like I'm just rambling...! Okay: Live = Great! __________________ "I'm thinking we'll rise again." -Malcolm Reynolds SERENITY You Can't Stop The Signal

10-01-04, 09:46 AM	#6
charlie bucket Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 593	I think that in general live albums are good because the band usually has a different energy when they play in front of a crowd as opposed to playing in a studio. On the other hand, the band could just totally suck because they don't really have the use of studio equipement that alters their sound. Some bands sound good live and some flat out suck. __________________ GO JOE!

10-01-04, 11:17 AM	#9
johnbook DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Home of the Maize & Blue (Ann Arbor, Michigan) Posts: 1,118	Iron Maiden - Live After Death Judas Priest - Priest...Live Scorpions - World Wide Live Rush - Live In Rio These are my favorite live albums by bands that i like i'm not much for the live cd's either, i prefer the studio work by far. __________________ I WANNA ROCK! (TWISTED SISTER)

10-01-04, 08:24 AM	#2
icondude Banned Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: USA Posts: 6,733	I also have live CD's and to an extent some concert DVD's.

10-01-04, 08:56 AM	#3
cdollaz DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Sugar Land, TX Posts: 12,910	I like them only if they do it correctly: Full concert, double cd. I hate anything that is excerpts from different tours or shows and it not the full concert.

10-01-04, 10:34 AM	#7
Josh H Retired Join Date: May 1999 Posts: 27,389	I love them if they are full shows. But I do prefer to have them on DVD rather than CD.

10-01-04, 10:35 AM	#8
Cornholio Banned Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: New Jersey Posts: 914	i dont like live cds much but i do like the live nirvana ones.

10-01-04, 11:23 AM	#10
das Monkey DVD Talk Hero Join Date: May 1999 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 35,881	For me, a great live CD will always be better than a great studio recording; however, too many live CDs suck, so it just depends on the group and the recording. das __________________ DragonCon 2004 - 2005 - Lost in Hawaii - DVD Reviews You are not* entitled to your own opinion. You are only entitled to your own informed opinion.** -- Harlan Ellison quoting Gustave Flaubert

10-01-04, 12:59 PM	#13
ChiTownAbs, Inc DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Aug 1999 Posts: 17,196	I'd probably try to return it saying that you didn't see that small font at the back of the CD __________________ Follow me on Twitter.

10-01-04, 01:05 PM	#14
nodeerforamonth DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 7,315	I love live CDs. Official or not. I love the rawness. I love the different versions of the studio songs. And I love how the energy level is higher on live releases. Provided it's done right (i.e. full concert, good mix, etc...) __________________ "Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad." -nodeerforamonth

10-01-04, 01:08 PM	#15
Tscott DVD Talk Platinum Edition Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 3,193	I'm fairly indifferent to Live CDs. If it's an artist I really love I'll get any live CDs they release and enjoy them, but if it's an artist I only sort of enjoy I may or may not. It depends on content, cost, my mood, my perceptions of them as a live band, etc. However, two live CDs that I couldn't do without are Johnny Cash - Live at San Quentin and Ani DiFranco - Living In Clip. Also, Allison Moorer - Show is fantastic and includes a bonus DVD of the concert, at the price of a normal CD. Since we're talking about live tracks I want to add that, one thing I usually don't like is the rereleasing of albums with bonus tracks which usually are only live versions of a couple of their greatest hits. Sacrificing a great album's flow by tacking on a couple live tracks at the end is a big no-no for me. I'd like to tell record companies to leave the original album alone and work on releasing a fully realized live/rarity disc instead if they want me to buy more CDs of their prized artists. __________________ I won't say anything because no one ever listens to me anyway. I might as well be a Leonard Cohen record. -Neil, The Young Ones

10-01-04, 01:55 PM	#16
conscience DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Jul 1999 Posts: 8,262	Sometimes I like them, sometimes I don't. I absoutely hate when you hear a live song and you hear the crowd singing with the singer. There is one exception to the sing-a-long of what I have heard, though. I Might Be Wrong Live Recordings - Radiohead - Idioteque __________________ You can't take a picture of this. It's already gone. - Nate Fisher, Six Feet Under