Customer Reviews

Across A Wire: Live In New York City

5 star:		(93)
4 star:		(26)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

What you get here is two cds from completely different takes on the Counting Crows music. Both recorded during the tour for the bands second album "Recovering the Satellites"

Disc 1 is from their VH1 StoryTellers performance, it's an excellent CD, with great acoustic versions of the some of the Counting Crows best songs. Only problem is they edited out all the stories (big mistake!)

Disc 2 - This is most of the concert Counting Crows plays on MTV Live at the 10 Spot, completely unlike the other CD, this CD contains all "electric" music, and is ment to portray the Counting Crows ability to play heavy, only problem is the recording quality isn't so great, they purposely didn't mix it to give it that "bootleg" feel, but in truth it needs something. Some of the songs come out good, "Angels of the Silences" for example sounds great when performed with this level of distortion and energy, but a lot of the songs are missing the empty space emotional element that makes them great.

The concept here was to show the diversity of the counting Crows style, unfortunately this is more of marketing ploy than anything else. Since this albums release Adam Druitz has said he wasn't very happy with this album and has since released two limited edition live CDs on the bands web site:

"By The Time We Got to WoodStock" "Face the Promised Land"

If you can find either of these you'll be in for a real treat, and you'll hear just how good this band is live.

Adam Duritz and the rest of the CC's are simply amazing as live performers. If you have not seen or heard them live, I highly recommend doing so, as it will make the rest of their recordings come alive. The Crows are able to produce an entirely new sound for each of their songs so that, while they are still playing the same old songs, they almost sound "new." If you like the passion with which Adam sings on their regular CD's, you'll LOVE him live. He causes the listener to vicariously experience the music, so that they walk away with a completely new interpretation for every verse, chorus, and overall song (perhaps maybe only an appreciation for their music, that formerly could not be established by listening only to their records). Personally, I was sort of so-so about the Crows before I saw or heard them live. When I went to their concert they instantly became my favorite band; every song became more real to me, and I can now better interpret the rest of their music. I highly recommend this live CD because it makes the rest of their music SO much better.

An interesting twist the Crows have taken on this double CD. Including many of the same songs on both discs all but insures that many of the more passive music fans will decide against purchasing this collection. Alas, that is not the focus of the musicians behind this moving production. In what is essentially a gift to fans, the Counting Crows have created an album that captures the full range of their capabilities. Adam Duritz never abandons the trust he seems to have established with his listeners on the many modified versions of the band's most popular songs. Although the music on the tracks changes significantly on the acoustic first CD, the spirit behind the songs doesn't. "Mr. Jones" still possesses the emotion packed into the electric version, and "Have You Seen Me Lately" is suddenly altered from its pointed tone to an introspective ballad. Needless to say, the first CD is truly memorable. On disc 2, if you have never been to a Count! ing Crows concert, you are given a taste of the energy which the Crows bring with them to the stage. The rapport between musician and fan is obvious on this CD. The adrenaline and emotion expended on "Murder of One" and "The Rain King" are testaments to the dedication this band puts into their work. Allow yourself to listen to the alterations in the songs with an open mind, and realize that only honest musicians with a vested interest in providing their absolute best for their followers would make such changes.

As you anticipate their 3rd studio album, enjoy the growth and evolution of the Counting Crows illustrated on this project.

what a live album should be. Do you see the number of songs and the price they are asking? What a deal!

This is the reward for supporting a band for years - being able to get such a nicely produced, packaged and delivered live version of so many songs.

This band goes all out in their live shows and this collection is the next best thing to being there (and better in some ways - such as when you've seen them live and someone else is inexplicably sharing top billing with them, affording them not much more than an hour of playing time!)

Counting Crows prove their worth in a live venue, so this one's definitely worth it.

I'll admit that I bought this live album and maybe listened to it once or twice in the first year I had it. Not sure why but I just wasn't interested. How thing's change.

The first disc, from VH1 Storyteller's is an excellent introduction to the band's more acoustic side. There are a few really good performances on this disc but I find it to almost be too mellow...not really in a bad way though.

The second disc, from MTV's live at the ten spot is more upbeat and rocking. Really not a bad performance on this disc. My favorite would have to be A Murder Of One. The only complaint I can find on this disc is that the sound quality isn't quite perfect although it's far from bad.

I own alot of live music and this is really quite good. I would definitely reccomend this disc to anyone getting into the crows or fans of band's such as dave matthews band, matchbox twenty, etc.

I remember when I first heard Counting crows about two years ago. I was relieved that out there in the vast, sometimes gloomy world of music there is a vey bright light. The 3rd album of theres that i bought was the box live set. From the first word I was hooked, I don't think my C.D player heard any other C.D's for at least a month. Ive always been a fan of acoustic music so, as you can imagine I was blown away. I think it's so great that Counting Crows play the music they want to play-"just how it feels"- from the sleeve notes-the fact that their music reaches out and touches pepole from every walk of life is a wonderful acheivement which they should be proud of-yeah! So the C.D., I can't say a bad word about it I only wish I could have been there. The emotion created by the performance for VH1 matched the pure/raw power of the MTV set. All I can say is I hope Counting Crows will play England one day soon, they would certainly recieve a warm welcome. WELL DONE.

I became a fan of Counting Crows about a year ago. Well, I heard Mr. Jones in 93/94 and liked it but could never remember the bands name. Then in 96/97 Long December came out, and again I forgot the band's name, but finally remember (somehow) and found my friend had this CD, and I borrowed several times before I could buy the CD. Anyway I t! en to like LIVE versions of songs better than the album versions. The only complaint I have is that one the first disk, which is their VH1 Story Tellers show, I wish they would have kept Adam's monlogues, I mean it would interest fans, at least it would me. Oh well. Here is a complete list of the tracks, since the one here is incomplete. I decided to put * by my favorite songs.

DISK 1 1. Round Here 2. Have You Seen Me Lately? 3. Angels of the Silences * 4. Catapult 5. Mr. Jones * 6. Rain King 7. Mercury 8. Ghost Train 9. Anna Begins 10. ---"Secret Track"--haven't figured out which song it is, though, sorry :( ! "Maybe Things Are Differnt These Days" is what I figure from listening to it.

DISK 2 1. Recovering the Satalites 2. Angels of the Silences * 3. Rain King 4. Sullivan Street 5. Children in Bloom 6. Have You Seen Me Lately? 7. Raining In Baltimore 8. Round Here 9. I'm Not Sleeping ! * 10. Murder of One 11. Long December * 12. Wa! lkways

Ok, well I have to admit that I am as much a fan of the guitar sounds as I am Adam Duritz's voice. I would have rated this as a five star album, yet every once in a while (on maybe two or the songs total) Adam will get caught up in some moment singing and the dud gets kind of whiny. This guy is one of the best singers on the planet, though and this cd is still one of the best that the Counting Crows have ever produced.
Okay, well, the guitar sounds are much more raw, very retro and vintage sounding, I wouldn't be suprised if every guitar, amp, and effects pedal are 30+ years old.
My favorite songs are definitely Raining in Baltimore (amazing quiet version), Long December, Have You Seen me Lately?, Recovering the Satelites, and Round Here. If you like retro music with strong raw vocals you should love this stuff. I've heard Adam's voice coompared with Rob Thomas of Matchbox 20. Although I would say that they are very unique I admit that for comparison they are simalar in style (Adam's better though). I hope you like the album. Enjoy!

And you thought you knew everything there was to know about Counting Crows. Well, you were wrong. This album displays the bands diversity, providing COMPLETELY different arrangements of familiar songs. It is a beautifully tasteful blend of acoustic sounds and electric rock. Counting Crows really did it this time.

This is an absolutely AMAZING collection of Counting Crows songs! It was the first CD of theirs I owned and it is simply inspiring. The renditions of their classic favorites is inspiring to me. I attribute much sentimentality to this music, and it always transports me to a different time and place and changes my mood. This is a CD you should DEFINITELY buy! It is worth the money a thousand times over!