Finally, a respectable album in my collection! After too many pop singles, ska records and even a comedian with stupid hair, I hope to gain some kind of credibility with the next few CDs...
Throwing Copper is the album which saw Live develop from a Christian folk/rock band to a successful mainstream rock band. It was released in 1994, three years after Mental Jewelry.
Time to take your serious pills, folks, because this is a serious album. Although free from any Christian preaching, the lyrics are very heavy on protest, suffering and sorrow. Even Shit Towne, which could have been delivered with a tongue-in-cheek attitude, is very serious business. In a way, Lightening Crashes is the most positive song on the album, with the birth scene offering some hope. For the rest of the album, I sometimes find myself merely tolerating the gloomy lyrics, in order to enjoy some great instrumental rock action.
The Dam at Otter Creek is the perfect introduction song for this album. Its buildup gently brings you into the required mood, and sets the scene brilliantly. Most of the songs follow the structure of a gentle acoustic opening which slowly builds up to maximum-attack-distortion-guitars. But they do it well, so I'm not complaining about the cookie-cutter structure. The choruses are catchy, everything is delivered with passion and the guitars and drums are cleverly used to give good variety while maintaining a consistent style.
And the epic songs are truly epic. Lightening Crashes still gives me goosebumps, even after all these years. With brilliantly illustrative lyrics and instrumentals which are fantastic all the way from whispered introduction to soaring climax, its status as a modern classic is well deserved. The recording quality has held up very well over the years: the guitars are warm and powerful as required, and the musicianship is very tight. I Alone, T.B.D and Pillar of Davidson also portray a grand sense of drama. The vocal counter-melody in the final chorus of Pillar of Davidson is a highlight for me.
The album works very well, with a clever track order to maintain the mood, but avoid fatigue. And it gently brings the listener back to reality with the (otherwise out of place) softer Bonus Track.
Listening to this album is hard work, but the reward is a great rock experience.
Throwing Copper is the album which saw Live develop from a Christian folk/rock band to a successful mainstream rock band. It was released in 1994, three years after Mental Jewelry.
Time to take your serious pills, folks, because this is a serious album. Although free from any Christian preaching, the lyrics are very heavy on protest, suffering and sorrow. Even Shit Towne, which could have been delivered with a tongue-in-cheek attitude, is very serious business. In a way, Lightening Crashes is the most positive song on the album, with the birth scene offering some hope. For the rest of the album, I sometimes find myself merely tolerating the gloomy lyrics, in order to enjoy some great instrumental rock action.
The Dam at Otter Creek is the perfect introduction song for this album. Its buildup gently brings you into the required mood, and sets the scene brilliantly. Most of the songs follow the structure of a gentle acoustic opening which slowly builds up to maximum-attack-distortion-guitars. But they do it well, so I'm not complaining about the cookie-cutter structure. The choruses are catchy, everything is delivered with passion and the guitars and drums are cleverly used to give good variety while maintaining a consistent style.
And the epic songs are truly epic. Lightening Crashes still gives me goosebumps, even after all these years. With brilliantly illustrative lyrics and instrumentals which are fantastic all the way from whispered introduction to soaring climax, its status as a modern classic is well deserved. The recording quality has held up very well over the years: the guitars are warm and powerful as required, and the musicianship is very tight. I Alone, T.B.D and Pillar of Davidson also portray a grand sense of drama. The vocal counter-melody in the final chorus of Pillar of Davidson is a highlight for me.
The album works very well, with a clever track order to maintain the mood, but avoid fatigue. And it gently brings the listener back to reality with the (otherwise out of place) softer Bonus Track.
Listening to this album is hard work, but the reward is a great rock experience.
Favourite songs
Selling the Drama, I Alone, Iris, Lightening Crashes, Top, All Over You, T.B.D, Stage, Waitress, Pillar of Davidson
Would I buy it again?
Absolutely.
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