Various- Cold Live at the Chapel

Back in 1999-2000, there was a series of intimate concerts at a converted chapel in Melbourne, Australia. Local and international rock artists played the series of televised concerts, and a "best of" CD was put together at the end of it. The formula for so successful it was run for three series. This CD is from the first series.
While the songs are stripped back compared to their album versions, it isn't strictly "acoustic" since some bands brought their electric guitars along. The recording quality of the vocals and acoustic guitars is very crisp, however the bigger rock songs are missing the enveloping Hollywood production effects of their album counterparts.

That I like only a few of the 18 songs on this album is more due to not really liking many of the bands involved more than a failing of the album. Having said that, Everlong by the Foo Fighters is a letdown by somehow sounding "rushed". And Lightening Crashes by Live (live Live? sorry, terrible pun!) has a folk feel by the use of bongo drums and acoustic guitars, which is not my cup of tea since it sorely lacks the power (especially for the ending) that makes the album version so wonderful.

On the plus side, the crisp live atmosphere of Fastball's The Way brings out a wonderful version of this pop song. The band Fuel also sound great in this acoustic setting. In Killing Heidi's Mascara, the ragged edge of the live electric guitar contrasts works well with the youthful anger of the song. Similarly, the messy guitars on Deeper Water by Deadstar gives this version of the pop-rock song a great honesty.

Favourite songs

The Way (Fastball), Bittersweet (Fuel), Shimmer (Fuel), To Her Door (Paul Kelly), Mascara (Killing Heidi), Deeper Water (Deadstar)

Would I buy it again?

It's a mixed bag, but a few treasured semi-acoustic interpretations make it worthwhile.