Live - Songs from Black Mountain

Live is continuing to grow into their ambitions, as "Love Shines (A Song for My Daughters About God)" indicates, but they remain invigorated on their seventh studio recording. They deserve some credit for that as they've been at this rock thing for awhile now, forming in 1988 and releasing debut Mental Jewelry in 1991. Although there's nothing as epic here as 1994's fist-pumping anthem "I Alone," Songs from the Black Mountain still reaches for the skies--or at least the back row of the arena. Frequently taken to task for their idealism and "preachiness," the Pennsylvania quartet isn't likely to convert any non-believers this time around. Then again, the very qualities that some find precious and silly, like brow-crinkling seriousness, strike others as passionate and spiritual. Live aren't taking any risks on this outing, unless the pro-soldier "Home" is considered a risk, but nor are they phoning it in. Well, not exactly. As always, Ed Kowalczyk sings it like he means it, but his songwriting relies too heavily on clichés and the occasional space-filling "Ooo baby" ("the River") and "Oh, yeah" ("Where Do We Go from Here?"). Rather, Live has produced a solid, respectable effort, which neither advances nor jeopardizes their cause. Can you say "holding pattern"? --Kathleen C. Fennessy Amazon.com

Songs from Black Mountain

I LOVE this CD, it is one of the BEST from LIVE. If you are a LIVE fan then you have got to get this cd. It is different then the rest, but every Live cd is different. Trully an awesome band. August 10, 2008

Beautiful, Brilliant, Edgey, Soulful

Songs from Black Mountain continues LIVE's quality of music, albeit with a more gentle aspect. I beg to differ from critics who say that LIVE's songs are preachy. They simply reflect the songwriter's and the band's passions and convictions. Like they said, "They Stood Up For Love". I appreciate this and congratulate them for it. They have proven that good rock, alternative or however you want to call it, doesn't have to be eardrum-busting music and that good, no correction, excellent songs can make sense and in fact move people and touch them to the core.
I thank them for their songs and hope that they continue on. April 7, 2008

black indeed

how can one band go from Throwing Copper, one of the greatest albums ever, to this, the massive decline in quality is of epic proportions. so what if you have found a god to call your own, he's bringing you down. April 3, 2008

songs from black mountain

the problem in the world of music is ,the people live in the past. always remember the past albums of the groups.here with songs from black mountain we have a good cd. with songs that are direct to the positive way. simple as that . the fans talk about past albums but in the past albums like throwing cooper the song that was a hit all over you is repetitive.pardon my english i'm from puerto rico.but nobody cares cause the song was a hit . stop whinin and enyoy the cd. if you people don't like it so don't hear it .and stop livin in the past and enjoy new music that is good. by the way birds of pray is a good cd.you people don't know anything about positive lirycs. March 22, 2008

Strong, consistent effort

Despite the mediocre reviews I've read here, I have to say I believe this to be their most consistent album to date - not a single weak tune here, which is not the case with any of their other albums. No, not all of the songs are as strong as some of Live's older stuff. However, the boys in Live are showing their maturity with a very toned down but powerful record. It took me a while to purchase this album based on my dislike of "Birds of Prey". Fortunately, I grabbed the opportunity to download the album and absolutely love it. Thanks Live. October 4, 2007

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