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                          Live - Awake (the Best of)
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                              General Information
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Type.................: Music
More Info............: http://www.amazon.com/Awake-Best-Live/dp/B00064AF6O/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1196540132&sr=1-2
File Validation......: SFV
Image type...........: CD Rip
Special CDR..........: Requires 700 MB / 80 Min CDR

Title................: Live - Awake (the Best of)
Artist...............: Live 
Album................: Awake (the Best of)
Year.................: (November 16, 2004) 
Genre................: Rock
Comment..............: A SmurfCo Joint
Type.................: Studio
Duration.............: 85
Number of Songs......: 19
Cover(s) Included....: Yes

Audio Format.........: MP3
Ripper...............: dbpowerAMP Music Converter
Encoder..............: LAME
Bitrate..............: 256 (CBR)
Hz...................: 44,100
Channels.............: Stereo
Reader...............: HP 640 v
Source...............: CD


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                               Post Information
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Posted by............: gc1966
Posted on............: 12/1/2007
Fills Policy.........: Ask for them nicely
Repost Policy........: 7 days after original post

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                                 Release Notes
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The four members of LIVE met in their York, PA high school before forming a band 
to compete in a school talent show. They mixed in the angst of being trapped in 
a nowhere city, the crisis of spiritual identity and a love of rebellious noise 
and came out with "Mental Jewelry." The three songs from that CD here lay out 
the blueprint for the next couple decades of LIVE material. Earnest vocals with 
lyrics that reflect a quest for spiritual ascendance. 

Under the hand of Talking Head Jerry Harrison, who kept the band's recorded 
sound dense and textured, LIVE got better fast. They cut a masterpiece on the 
second try. "Throwing Copper" opened with the shouts of "Lightning Crashes" and 
"Selling The Drama," contained the fighting "I Alone," and the moral diatribe of 
"White, Discussion." This was a powerful, passionate album and it made them 
stars. The follow up, "Secret Samadhi," was darker in tone but more direct. 
"Turn My Head" was the closest thing to an actual love song, and "Lakini's 
Juice" mirrored Led Zepplin more than U2. 

It was right about now that LIVE began to lose their footing. "The Distance To 
Here" began a shift towards a maturity that took away from the band's edge. 
While Ed Kowlaczyk may claim that this is his favorite of the LIVE albums, it is 
the point where LIVE began to experiment with their basic sound. On "Distance's" 
best song, "The Dolphin's Cry," it works, but for most of the album, it just 
seemed uncharacteristic. "V" suffered from the same hodgepodge (Tricky rapping 
with Ed, too much electronic noodling, etc), but it also contained the 
transcendent "Overcome," which seemed to appear from nowhere after the horror of 
9/11, giving voice to the feelings of a national anguish. "Birds Of Pray" tries 
to return to form, but comes off as over baked. While the duet with Shelby 
Lynne, "Run Away," is terrific, the cheesy religious ballad "Heaven" is entirely 
forgettable. Fortunately, "Awake!" closes with a fine cover of Johnny Cash's "I 
Walk The Line." 

PS: The bonus DVD with the deluxe version is definitely worth picking up. In 
addition to a few of the songs left of the CD, ("Freaks," "They Stood Up For 
Love" and a couple live tracks), you get "Simple Creed," probably one of the two 
decent tracks from "V." The other "V" video for "Overcome" may be a tougher 
watch, as it is made from 9/11 footage. It's also worth getting to see the 
youthful exuberance of LIVE's first video, "Operation Spirit." 

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Smile And Enjoy!!!!!