Customer Reviews

Alive Before the Iceberg

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

 

 

It seems some of you out there have been jaded by those shimmering, "just like the record only with clapping and more reverb" live albums that are more overdubs than live. A real live rock band who is jumping off amps and running across the stage with reckless abandon will sound like this record - Raw and Balls Out - especially when playing at the venues described in the liner notes (one had a stage made of sheets of plywood and oil drums). If you are a fan of The Posies beyond Failure and Dear 23, BUY THIS CD! It's loud, it rocks, and it's The Posies, what more could you want? It even sounds like they're having fun! Imagine that, a rock band actually enjoying themselves! I gave it four stars instead of five only because I can't stand the song "Broken Record", but the cover of "Surrender" is hilarious; one unabashed rock show cliche after another, and the live version of "Please Return It" is much better than the album version. Enough said. Except that you should make sure to get the acoustic live album which is excellent (although not as good as they were in NYC near the end of the tour) and also the amazing Jon Auer solo record. Pray to your God that these guys keep putting out records.

This live album recorded in Barcelona (with extensive liner notes by Ken Stringfellow) captures the band the way I always wished their studio albums had: all is rawness and passion regardless of perfect pitch and time.

The Posies have a very nice and long relationship with Barcelona. This "Alive before the iceberg" is recorded there and the record company that released the record (Houston Party) was founded there, but the connection goes further: Jon Auer (Co-leader of the band)has lived for a while in this spanish city, he has produced a CD from a local band there (Gallygows) and they (The Posies) have recorded some new material in a studio located on the city. In the "Alive before..." CD liner notes Ken Stringfellow explains a little bit more about the relationship between the band and the spanish character. The recording is not great but it's honest and real and... I really love this guys.

Happy endings are always nice. It's a good thing that Jon and Ken decided to perform as the Posies again and that we have the Not Lame box set to look forward to, 'cause this here live album really wasn't much of a going-away present.

Maybe it's the fact that it's taken straight from one show instead of compliled from a bunch of performances. Whatever it is, this album does not do justice to the Posies as a live band. The mix sounds sloppy, the harmonies are off more than they're on, and the song selection leaves a lot to be desired. It seems as if most of the effort was spent on Ken's incredibly detailed (and interesting) liner notes. Even the Cheap Trick cover is uninspiring.

As a Posies live album, this was better than nothing, I suppose, but not much.

Check out the far superior acoustic live album, "In Case You Didn't Feel Like Plugging In". It's a *much* better release than this.

For those of us who never got to see The Posies live this album brings a true sense of melancholy knowing we never will. Their driving beats and pure pop sound come through as they do things you never thought they could do live. As in most live cd's the quality leaves a little to be desired but the bands amazing musicianship is more then evident. Check out what they do on "Grant Heart" it will leave you breathless.