Customer Reviews

Amateur Shortwave Radio

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4 star:		(1)
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For anyone who is looking to discover something new, try "Amateur Shortwave Radio." This album serves as a ten-year retrospective for Over The Rhine, complete with live versions of some of their favorites, cover songs, and three new songs. As a whole the album succintly spans the varied career of this band. Two of the new songs, "Moth" and "I Will Remember" rank among their best all time songs, while a nine minute live rendering of "Like A Radio," one of their earliest hits, is hypnotic and unforgettable. See why thousands of fans have already fallen in love with Over the Rhine.

What to say about a CD that just gets better with each listen. Over the Rhine is one of those bands who have continued to make music with integrity, rather quietly, for over ten years. This collection of live version of OtR favorites is more than a "greatest hits" package, however; songs are given new arrangements rather than being mere rehashes of what appears on earlier CD's. Vocalist Karin Bergquist could not sound more sultry if she tried on a track like "My Love is a Fever." The haunting "Anyway" will make any listener wonder about past relationships, especially those that may be strained and need a little mending. "Circle of Quiet" is sheer brilliance; its series of sort of false endings is hypnotic and shows off Linford Detweiler's brilliance as a musician. And, of course, anyone who knows OtR knows that "Like a Radio" is a classic. When compared to the drivel on most radio stations today, Over the Rhine is a thinking person's band. Buy this CD; give them a listen. When they are in your area in concert, go see them. Over the Rhine never disappoint, just as this CD does not disappoint the discriminating music lover.

In 1999, while still in between labels, Over The Rhine issued this sequel of sorts to "Besides", their 1997 collection of odds and sodds. "Amateur Shortwave Radio" is a collection of live tracks of the band's first ten years. It is a superb collection.

"Like A Radio" starts things of beautifully, with a haunting solo from Ric and crystal clear vocals from Karen. There are 2 covers, both from 1990: a faithful take on the Stones' "Ruby Tuesday", and more interestingly the Beatles' "Blackbird", which OTR makes totally its own. The album includes the long-time concert staple "Jack's Valentine", here in a 1999 recording. Linford brings it with just the right amount of wit and sarcasm.

There are also 3 new songs on here: "Moth", a truly soaring "Anyway", and "I Will Remember", with newest OTR member Jack Henderson's ripping guitar solo. It is an appropriate ending for this exquisite collection of songs. In many ways, this album is better than many of the band's "regular" albums.

Aside from one track I don't care for, this is a solid mix of live and studio recordings from Cinncinatti's Over The Rhine. The live power of "Like a radio" (including a gorgeous guitar solo) and the beauty of the simple "Mary's waltz" shine brightly here as does the great slow-burner "I will remember". "Moth" and "Anyway" are also great tracks, the latter being my favorite on the disc because of the wonderful guitar solo in the middle. Check it out. Highly recommended.

I love all the music by Over the Rhine. Moth is my personal favorite on this release. I just wish the lyrics were included because it would help me to better appreciate the entire experience.

This ten year retrospective of Over the Rhine is fabulous. As someone who has been seeing OtR live several times a year for the past seven or eight years, I am very thankful for the release of this album. Instead of simply rehashing local radio favorites, OtR has crafted a CD of live tracks, rare gems and a couple of new songs that live up to the OtR tradition.

I've been a fan of Over the Rhine for many many years, and i'm just soo glad that they're getting out there and that more people are hearing them. I'd have to say that my favorite Over the Rhine album is a toss up between this and Good Dog Bad Dog. No matter what though, over the rhine rocks in concert!!!