Customer Reviews

Amsterdam

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I first heard Luka Bloom open for the Pogues at the Fillmore in San Francisco in the late 80's. I came away with ringing ears (3 days!), one broken rib and a new musician to love! I would go see him whenever he played in less strenuous venues around town, and he was always astonishing. The power and beauty he can pull out of his guitar is sublime, his singing haunting, and his stage performance charming. I never felt like his studio albums did justice to his live performances, until this one. While no CD can simulate the wonder of Mr Bloom singing 40 feet in front of you, this is a fine substitute until he comes to town again!

Leaving the Carre Theatre in Amsterdam after Luka Bloom's magical performance that night in February 2002 the only sad thing I felt was that I could not replay the evening again at home. As the sleeve notes to the album say, the audience had no clue the evening was recorded. 'Amsterdam' contains a wonderful live selection of songs from his earlier albums, and the intimacy of the evening can be felt throughout the entire record. Definitely a 'must have'.

Since Mr. Bloom's early NY days in the late 80's, there's been one thing that music aficionados agree on; he's AMAZING live. More than 15 years later he's still proving this to be true (and long may it be soo!!). And after all this time, the only thing aside from his clear vocal and instrumental prowess that makes his shows so unforgetable that I can figure, is how much FUN he's having while he's up there. How much passion he honestly delivers in his music. And how well he can connect with an audience. He makes an audience feel as if they are part of the performance, and indeed on that night in Amsterdam, a magical connection with the audience provided us all with the opportunity to hear Luka recorded live. Throughout he is performing at his very best, an excellent crossection of songs which starts with the dream-like
'exploring the blue', has the audience singing their hearts out on 'Sunny Sailor Boy' and 'Fertile Rock'...and the audience is still singing as he takes delirious to new heights..while 'hating this bit'...(the difficult guitar solo)...in it. (: And wraps it all up beautifully and quietly with Gabriel. This is a DEFINITE DON'T MISS!!!! It's well worth the every penny!

Bloom has made finely crafted songs since the early 1990s. This is another example of consistency and dedication.

I have been a total fan of Luka Bloom since he played in my Fathers pub in a small town in Ireland in the 80's before his first album. He is a pure genius! Words, voice, music, performer and this album proves all of the above and more....He is brill live and this ablum makes you feel right there at the show..its the only thing i treasure of Luka to remind me of the good old days watching and listening to him perform.

Luka Bloom is an incredible singer whose deeply emotional and convincing vocals are fully intact, and even more animated live.
Buy this CD.

This man is a consummate singer/songwriter/performer and this CD just highlights what a talent Luka Bloom is. I just saw him play last night in Boston as one of about 200 people and it is an amazing experience, it was one of the best live show I have ever seen. Listening to this CD is about as close as you can get to the stage without catching one of Luka's infrequent US shows. If you have never seen Luka Live, than buy this CD it is well worth it!

Tracks 8 to 12 are alone worth the price of the album. It's pure magic. His energy, vocals and pounding guitar make it all worth it. I only wish he selected different songs for the first half of the album. Quite frankly, I'm tired of "Sunny Sailor Boy" and "Pablo." Such a slow start, why not Blackberry Time or Accoustic Motorbike? Oh well, it's still a keeper.