Live - V

When Live debuted in the mainstream in 1991, the band's earnest alt-rock effort Mental Jewelry balanced high-strung emotions with aggressive guitar work. On the band's fifth album, V, the earnestness has completely disappeared. Everything about this record feels forced and overproduced. Electronic beeps and loops swirl through songs like a U2 record gone bad. Guitar solos squeal in overarching metal-band style, and front man Ed Kowalczyk's vocals are so overdramatically pained, you can almost feel the veins popping off his neck for the most mundane subject matter. Even the band's use of Eastern influences feels slapped on, as in the intro to the nu-metal disaster "Like a Soldier." The guest appearance by Tricky--a partnership that only Kowalczyk's appearance on the last Tricky album can match in oddity--feels like nothing but a gimmick. What started out as a college rock act has sadly become just another attempt at grandiose sound with invisible substance. --Jennifer Maerz Amazon.com

The Best Ever!

Simply put, I'm quite a huge fan of Live and quite frankly this is my favorite CD from these guys! They don't get any better than this! I rate this CD as one of my all time favorites!

Don't hesitate, just buy it and enjoy it! May 15, 2008

best Live cd to date

this cd from Live i feel is some of their best work! they broke out of their mould of "Live" as we all knew them! and did something bold and different with this cd! and that is a huge thumbs up from me! a band willing to change a sound for the love of their music not keeping the same old trends to keep selling records! (which they revert back to with Birds of prey, which is still a great cd)
There is no "selling the drama" or "lightning crashes" on this cd but songs like "simple creed" and "forever may not be long enough" which give us a new taste of how amazing this band is! and im staggered they have dropped off so much in the publics eyes! at least in the US in AUS they are still popular thankfully!
Jennifer Maerz shocking review from amazon is nothing more then a point to me that 99% of woman dont know what the hell they are talking about when it comes to music! if you like this cd and Live then take no offence XD it just annoys me to see a great band get slagged for trying somethng different and miss Maerz has no idea when it comes to that!
if you like Like you will LOVE this cd! thats all there is to it! if you like cardboard cut out music then go listen to music from bands who only write to make cash.. not for the love of music! November 14, 2007

Another one to throw in the trash

These guys are the biggest joke in rock music. All of these 5 star reviews are an even bigger joke. Ed Kowizsychik(SP) or however you want to spell it sounds as pathetic as he looks. This is garbage, plain & simple. Im glad radio is no longer saturated with their music. 20 years from now, no one will remember this group.
September 9, 2006

Horrific, terrible, a complete disappointment... what happened to a once great band?

Normally, I do not see the point of writing negative reviews. Check out my profile, I've very rarely written a negative review. "V" by Live deserves a negative review. This CD is horrific, terrible, and a complete and utter disappointment.

I consider myself one of the earliest fans of Live. I remember hearing "Mental Jewelry" back in early 1992 during my senior year of high school. "Mental Jewelry" is, in my opinion, as significant as Nirvana's "Nevermind" and Pearl Jam's "Ten". I believe it helped define that early-to-mid `90s grunge/alternative sound. It deserves five stars, easily. Too bad Live has slipped with every subsequent release. "Throwing Copper" was a terrific sophomore follow-up. However, I wouldn't give it five stars, maybe 4 or 4.5. "Secret Samadhi" and "The Distance to Here", Live's third and forth releases, were mediocre. There are some terrific songs, but some disappointing ones as well on each of these CDs. Each deserves three stars. Spot the trend?

Live hit the bottom with this one. In all honestly, I don't think there is a redeemable song on this entire CD. If I wanted to hear bad white-rap, I'd pick up a Vanilla Ice CD. Sure, "Overcome" seemed poignant right after September 11, but a few years later, even that song seems a bit contrived.

I can confidently say this will be the last Live CD that I will purchase. If you are new to Live, pick up their first release here on Amazon, "Mental Jewelry".
May 20, 2006

Underated Gem

I know this isn't a favourite among Live fans but it's my pick for their best.
I went through the whole Pre-Ordering thing when I heard about this ones release. Was very excited about it.

Bad points first:
At first listen there isn't much that stands out. I find with all their albums (Songs From Black Mountain most of all) that it takes several listens for the melodies to sink in. That said though, if you know how to take it, you'll give it time. Once you do, you'll be thankful.
I would also recommend ignoring the tracks OK? and People Like You which are two of the worst songs they've recorded. The rest though, is amazing.
1. The Intro is Ok if you let it be what is is - an intro. Perhaps not needed but they were trying something different.
2. Simple Creed is the lead off track and like all of their later albums, also the first single. Perhaps not a great choice as the single as it didn't perform that well and didn't give the album the needed airplay. Perhaps they were trying for something rocky knowing the two best radio songs (and actually the next two singles) on the album were ballards.
3. Deep Enough rocks nicely and like alot of the album has a different feel about it.
4. Like A Soldier is a favourite of mine. It was a single in Australia.
5. People Like You is terrible. Saved only by the fact they mention Queen.
6. Transmit You Love is a good ballard though perhaps filler material.
7. Forever May Not Be Long Enough is a great song. Lots of changes throughout and perhaps the catchiest song on first listen.
8. Call Me A Fool is beautiful.
9. Flow is a favourite. Simple really and rocks hard and is similar to their Throwing Copper style of repeating the same verse over and over.
10. The Ride is a lesser track and has them back to the Verse/Chorus Verse/Chorus stlye of Throwing Copper and Secret Samadhi. Feels like it been done before. Still good though...
11. Nobody Knows is the best track from the album. I wanted it as my Wedding Waltz song but my wife didn't like the 'kiss my brains' line. I guess that kind of stands out a bit. Bit Wierd but I'm sure Ed knows what he's on about.
12. OK? is terrible. Should be a B side track, not amongst this greatness.
13. Overcome is wonderful. Perhaps hangs around too long at the end but is perhaps their best ballard after Nobody Knows and Turn My Head.
14. Hero Of Love wasn't a favourite to start with. I din't like how the chorus came in too heavy. Now though, it's one of my favourites. I love it and fell bad for thinking bad thoughts about it early on.

All in all this has a bit of everything. Though Throwing Copper has all the big singles and the hype, this album has the quality and variety the TC lacked. May 1, 2006

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