Customer Reviews

26/5/00 - Velodromo Anoeta, San Sebastian, Spain

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is what a rock 'n' roll live album should be: authentic, raw, energetic, something to get up and dance to if that's your thing or kick back and enjoy a beer to if it isn't. All with an ebb and flow that makes it unique--THE show that was played THAT night. Real music, warts and all. "Live on Two Legs" is good, but this record is Pearl Jam live, the real thing, no Frankenstein created from the best moments of an entire tour, just A SHOW, beginning to end. And that's the only way to fairly represent Pearl Jam "live."

Hey, and in case you didn't notice, this thing costs 12 bucks!!! For two CDs, mind you--over two hours of digitally recorded live music. Take a chance. You won't be sorry.

Disclaimer: Owner of all 72 official PJ bootlegs. This third gig in the bootleg series is a pretty difficult one to review, because it gives you two extremes. Most of the tracks are brilliant, and are among some of the finest performances of the tour. But then there are a few disasters that are just so bad they're good! After a rusty tour opener in Lisbon, and a more competent show in Barcelona, the band really hit their stride for this third show, but not without proving in a few songs that it's still early in the tour. The good numbers in this show include a majestic "Release" as the opener, and scorching takes on the rockers "Last Exit," "Hail Hail" and "Whipping." There are a few surprises like "Faithful" and "Smile," and even a pretty enjoyable blues jam that the band improvised to kill some time in the encore. Plus, you get the strongest "Even Flow" of the early part of the tour.

But this is a special show because of the errors, which are such disasters that they're really hysterical, and you just love the band even more because of them. Stone Gossard screws up the intro to "Light Years" by playing in the wrong key, Eddie Vedder forgets at least half of the lyrics to "Immortality," and "Last Kiss" gets off to such a disjointed start that they have to stop and start over again. By that point the band was really flustered, because of their catastrophic attempt at "Alive." First, Eddie forgets the first verse, then the entire song breaks down during the solo, with everybody except Jeff Ament having to stop playing and figure out a way to get going again. The fault is apparently Eddie's, as before the solo he sings the "yeahyeahyeah yeah yeah yeah" that really belongs after the final chorus, and half the band goes into the solo while the other half goes into the outro! What a disaster, but like I said, it's so bad it's good. Of course Eddie apologizes profusely for the rest of the show. One of the great things about this bootleg series is that Pearl Jam have left their mistakes in plain view, while any other "official" live album would have the glitches edited out. This is a real treat for the fans, and show the band's humanity. So San Sebastian is indeed a "very special" performance, 90% slamming, 10% horrendous, and all enjoyable.

I have written one previous review for one of the Pearl Jam live series, which was the live from Wembley on the 29/05. I thought having been there live and buying the superb recording that it couldn't be topped, but not for the first time, I have been proved wrong by Eddie Vedder and co. His Spanish outing in San Sebastian is so far, the finest of all of the series (remember I have only 11, so I may be proved wrong, if so let me know any better shows!)

I had no idea Pearl Jam were so big in Spain, but they tear the city apart with this blistering set. Even when the band aren't firing on all cylinders, as in 'Alive', they make light of it, by offering the croud the oppotunity to choose the next number, and by admiting there shortcoming, and in doing so, endure themsleves to the croud even more than previously.

Stand out tracks on this album are 'Last Kiss', Jeremy, Release which has never been so haunting, Immortality and the all too absent 'Whipping'.

In conclusion, if you only by one or two of this series, buy this one, if you buy all of them, buy this one first as it is sure to sell out early!!!

This is the third of Pearl Jam's 72 official bootlegs.

And it also happens to be one of the most frustrating. About half of the show is a mess, while the other half is really brilliant. Mistakes abound, but in between those mistakes are some wonderful performances.

To start off with what went wrong, ten of the songs on the bootleg contain flaws whether they be major or minor. Eddie Veddr flubs minor lyrics on "Do The Evolution," "Even Flow," "Last Kiss," "Yellow Ledbetter," and "Whipping." That isn't so bad, however. The major mistakes happen mostly toward the end, and it slows the pace of the show down terribly. Eddie messes up "Immortality," and the band has a tough time getting "Last Kiss" and "Smile" off the ground. "Light Years" is played in the wrong key, and "Daughter" is a mess for the first minute or so. Then there's "Alive." Pearl Jam messes up one of their best tunes so badly that it's actually funny to listen to. the mistakes are so numerous that Eddie jokes, "So much for being a professional rock band."

That's the bad stuff. The good stuff is also there, but the listener has to dig for it. The opener, "Release," is excellent. "Corduroy" features a fabulous guitar solo, "Of The Girl" is great, and "Even Flow," even with the minor flub, is the best it's been out of the first three shows. "Daughter" is very good once it gets off the ground; "Rearviewmirror," "Betterman," and "Hail, Hail" are the strongest they've been so far. "State Of Love And Trust" is good, and so is "Last Kiss" once the kinks are worked out.

Pearl Jam has played much better live. The unfortunate part about the San Sebastian concert is that the mistakes overshadow the bright spots by far.

San Sebastian contains a smooth version of 'Release' much like the studio version, except for the crowd in the background. During 'Alive' they kind of mess up and Eddy explains it's because of all the hash they've been smoking. However, they come back to finish the song with a good guitar solo. The guitar solo for Yellow Ledbetter is the best I've heard. It's kind of different than the studio version and right before it begins Eddy says, "This is my favorite part." The whole concert when he talks you can tell he's pretty high. I recommend this especially for the price.

Easily one of the worst shows of the tour. While the first disc starts strongly, with Release(which was only played a handful of times, and always as a show opener), Given to Fly and Evolution kicking things off nicely everything falls apart on the second disc. After Go, the band seems to diminish in energy despite the audience's enthusiasim. Stone and Mike's performances on Hail, Hail are sloppy, Ed still can't remember Immortality's lyrics(wasn't there enough money in the touring budget for a teleprompter or at the very least a lyric sheet?) Mr Vedder forgets the turnaround in alive and as a result ruins the song. Ed is so embarrassed by this error that he takes requests from the crowd, which results in an obviously underrehearsed version of Whipping. Last Kiss picks things up somewhat but Smile is plagued with glitches from the amplifiers or PA (I was not at the show so I'm just going by what I hear. An understandibly tired sounding version of Yellow Ledbetter concludes this erratic show. Pick this one up only if you want all seventy-two shows.

If you're not a PJ fanatic, I can see how the lyrical flubs in Alive, Whipping, and Immortality could make this annoying. However, if you are, the absolutely perfect takes of Release, Given to Fly, Corduroy, Smile, and Yellow Ledbetter more than make up for it. Warts and all, this is up there with Seattle and Chicago as my favorite bootlegs to date.

This CD is incredibly good and like all the CD's in the series is of excellent sound quality. The reason this CD was my choice out of all the live shows was the superb track selection. It starts of slow with "Release" with the crowd singing along well to the opener and it is not long before it really livens up. By the time we reach "Jeremy" which is rarely played on the tour Pearl Jam are in full flow. "Even Flow" and "Daughter" are also played to the crowds delight on the first disc. The second CD starts off with an incredible version of "Better Man". "State Of Love And Trust", "Alive" and "Last Kiss" are performed like all tracks on the 2 discs brilliantly. The final song "Yellow Ledbetter" completes a great nights entertainment for the lucky Spanish crowd. I will definately be buying more discs from the series but if you are only going to buy 1 or 2 I would strongly reccomend this one. To sum up an essential purchase.

I would suggest this CD to any pj fan. I would say do what I am doing and buy this whole series of their European tour and listen to it as background music like I do. but you dont have to. This one, and even the first three out of the 25, in my opinion really stand out. The audience is a real part of the show and the band plays exceptionally overall. I highly suggest this particular title.

Ive never seen a PJ gig although I have all their studio recordings and a few boots...I got this one and the one from Salzburg Square, which I heard first and thought was great, but this gig is SO MUCH BETTER...the opening with "Release" is just amazing...all the arrangements are outstanding, but the best thing is the "nuts and bolts" mix...they completely botch "Alive" and that is one of the highlights of the album...that such a major flaw was included. I have been a collector of bootlegs from a lot of groups for many years, and this series of CDs is one of the greatest gifts a band has ever presented to its fans. Buy several! They're cheap!