Beautiful Chaos: Greatest Hits Live [Live]

The Psychedelic Furs | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 20, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00005RGPZ
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #145,519 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Give Richard Butler and his re-formed Psychedelic Furs credit for knowing what's expected of them. This energetic, note-perfect, live greatest-hits collection (recorded in the cozy confines of Hollywood's House of Blues on the band's 2001 reunion tour) trades on the same tastefully retro, Velvet Underground-meets-Roxy Music sensibility that the Furs displayed in their first 1980 to '91 incarnation--no trip-hop beats, samples, or techno loops for these guys. And if this is a band out of time, it's one whose hazy sense of the dramatic remains surprisingly robust. Though their later, more pop-oriented American radio staples "Pretty in Pink" and "President Gas" still pulse with '80s rock energy--as does the single new studio track, "Alive (For Once in My Lifetime)," included here--the band still seems to have a special place in its heart for the dark and dreamy songs that initially defined them, as represented by "India," the hypnotic "Sister Europe," and the chaotic splendor of "Dumb Waiters." --Jerry McCulley

Product Description

Beautiful Chaos: Greatest Hits Live

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I wish the remastered original albums sounded this good..., September 20, 2003

By 

Bighairydoofus "-" (Brooklyn Park, MN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beautiful Chaos: Greatest Hits Live (Audio CD)

I saw these guys in '84 for the Mirror Moves tour, and was lucky enough to catch them this time. The sound quality is excellent and does a great job at catching the dynamic of the live show. The only thing missing from this tour were the horns present on the original albums. The new ensemble relies more on guitars, which in itself isn't a bad thing, but it was part of what made the furs so unique back in the day.

The new track is beautiful. If this is indicative of what they can do now, I wish they'd release a new album. If you missed the tour, this may be the closest you'll get to seeing them live. Definitely worthwhile.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Way Better Mix than the DVD, October 24, 2002

By 

E. Callaway (Grand Rapids, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beautiful Chaos: Greatest Hits Live (Audio CD)

The Psychedelic furs were introduced to me in the late 90's. I know, a bit late. But hey! Better late than never! I love this disk, I am not crazy about the fact that the CD is shorter than the DVD, but how would you sell the DVD if it there wasn't some additional material?

The DVD and this CD are from the same show, but the mix is much better on the CD. Songs like "Heaven" are much easier to listen to. I love Richard Butler's voice, but there are times, when untamed, it can be a bit much.

The new song "Alive," on the album, is absolutely wonderful, and I am looking forward to a new record from this reformed version of the Furs. It is also nice that they included the studio version of the song. They did recently lose guitarist Richard Fortus to, I wish I was kidding, Guns and Roses. Fortus was a member of Butler's 90's band "Love Spit Love," as is much of the band now, even though the original members are back.

The hits are all here. Pretty in Pink, Love My Way, President Gas, Heaven, Heartbreak Beat, and several other good songs are on the record. I am only sorry to see that "Angels Don't Cry" is never played live. But, I can't have everything. This record is a must have for any Psychedelic Furs fan. The DVD is very nice too, but this is the superior sound.

Another very nice thing is the little bit of evolution the songs have made. . . They songs have taken on a little more "rock n roll" and lost a little of the "new wave." They are true to their roots, but also have better sounding gear today. There is no one playing a "wall of sound." Great record, 5 stars. . .

epc

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Time and tide..., January 23, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Beautiful Chaos: Greatest Hits Live (Audio CD)

This ranks as one of the finest discs in the entire Furs catalogue. Richard, John and Tim, with help from Earl and Fortus, deliver a live disc that made the 20+-year wait well worth it. For those of us lucky enough to have caught a show or two on this tour, it truly captures the event as it happened. Well mostly. If there is ANYTHING wrong with this disc, it is that it doesn't contain enough of the new material. For some reason, only one of the four strong new tracks made it onto this disc, while all four made the DVD version. As for the one that did make it, both the live and the studio version of "Alive" reaffirm the fact that this band has no reason to only look back. While it is true that they will never outrun their classic songs, this tour proved they have a lot more songs up their sleeves destined to become Furs classics. Yes, I too would look fondly on a live Furs disc from the "classic" period, but to be honest, I would much prefer a disc of all new material to get my ears around. Let's hope!