New Live album provides
recollection of old Live sound
 By
Jeff Cantwell
Staff Writer
With Live's fifth album, the band is taking its
sound in a new, but still rockin', direction.
In the same way that "The Distance to Here" was
a departure from Live's typical emotionally and sonically heavy sound,
"V" is a step in a more funky direction for the Philadelphia-born rock
band.
"V" is a mix of the old, heavy guitar riffs of
"Secret Samadhi" and the slower, more spiritual tracks of "The Distance
to Here" with some hip-hop tendencies.
The first song, "Simple Creed," has heavy guitar
riffs, and even sports a guest spot by British rapper Tricky. It could
easily be a song off of "Mental Jewelry" or "Secret Samadhi," but this
isn't the crazy, bordering on evil, Live of past albums.
It's a less-serious, more playful Live, one able
to step away from the moralizing and into the mosh pit.
"Simple Creed," described by the band as one of
their most aggressive tracks, has a message of helping and loving each
other, while still being strong.
Other tracks like "Deep Enough" and "People Like
You" also feature the heavy electric guitar that was the mark of Live's
earlier albums.
While the slow songs on "The Distance to Here"
worked in context, this album's slower songs like "Call Me A Fool" are
less effective in the midst of the louder, faster-paced tracks.
The exception comes with "Overcome," an excellent,
piano-based track that has become one of the anthems of America's rise
above the tragedy of Sept. 11. Almost immediately after the attacks,
a video composed of stills and videos of the aftermath of the terrorist
attack began airing on MTV and VH1.
Another slow track "The Ride" may not be as universally
embraced as "Overcome" in that it declares the West (read: America)
only loves money, but the East (read: Tibet) meditates and lives as
one. However, the song's true message is not anti-capitalist but more
anti-possession.
But luckily, it's not the slow tracks that make
this Live album stand out. Live is having fun with this album, playing
the majority and has better songs that are aggressive and passionate.
With "V," Live has also shown the desire to play
with more of its music. Band members don't limit themselves to the traditions
of the rock band.
The Tricky remix of "Deep Enough" is more hip-hop
than rock and is a definite change for the band. While the original
version is better, this track, a call-out to a rival lover, is worth
a listen just to see Live showing off a different side.
|
