The Rolling Stones Live Licks 2003

Live Licks is a live album by The Rolling Stones from their 2002/3 and features Sheryl Crow and Solomon Burke as guest stars.

I had to buy this album when I saw that finally they’d played Can’t You Hear Me Knocking from Sticky Fingers.

The Rolling Stones Live Licks

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Van Morrison Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl 2008

Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl is the controversial reworking of the classic album Astral Weeks in concert in November 2008 by Van Morrison.

Morrison took a big risk.

How do you improve perfection?

Astral Weeks is a magical record that lives up to Van’s promise…

“We are goin’ to heaven. In another time. In another place.” He sings and he delivers.

So why mess with it?

He told Rolling Stone contributing editor, David Wild…

“It received no promotion, from Warner Bros.—that’s why I never got to play the songs live. I had always wanted to play the record live and fully orchestrated—that is what this is all about. I always like live recording and I like listening to live records too. I’m not too fond of being in a studio—it’s too contrived and too confining. I like the freedom of live, in-the-moment sound.”

OK. I can see his point and I totally agree with his point about live albums versus those recorded in the studio.

But what do you want from Astral Weeks played live?

A note for note impersonation of the studio album… even though Van Morrison is forty years older and more experienced?

Or do you want him to play with the Astral Weeks songs so that you can hear different sounds, interpretations and inflexions?

You need to answer that question before buying Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl.

If you want the studio album… stick to the studio album. You won’t like Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl.

Van Morrison Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl – Overall Rating 28/30

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The Pixies Coachella 2004 Free Download EP

The Pixies have released a 4 track downloadable live EP from their Coachella 2004 which marked the return of The Pixies as a live act.

The tracks are

1) U – Mass
2) Monkey Gone To Heaven
3) Hey
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Roxy Music Live 2001

Roxy Music Live is a record of how this great group sounded on the 2001 world tour after being apart from 1983.

Until this album, Roxy Music have been relatively poorly served by the quality of their live albums – Viva, Concerto / Ladytron and Heart Still Beating. I think plenty of people have been burnt by the confusing releases from the 1979/80 tours.

Roxy Music Live

Roxy Music Live Album 2001

My Rating – 24 out of 30 (that feels stingy but it’s what the three individual ratings add up to).

Average Amazon Customer Rating – %%AVERAGERATING%% Stars

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Bruce Springsteen Live In New York City 2000

Live In New York City captures Bruce Springsteen reunited with the E Street Band in 2000. Their first concert together for 11 years.

For me Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band belong together like strawberries and cream. One without the other doesn’t feel right and it’s going to be tough hearing them play again with a replacement for the Big Man (Clarence Clemons).

Bruce Springsteen Live In New York City Overall Rating – 25/30

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