Customer Reviews

Bootleg Detroit

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Recorded live by an audience member during Morphine's 1994 tour, Bootleg Detroit is a fitting live album for a band that personified lo-fi indie rock. What's more lo-fi than two-string slide bass, baritone sax, and drums, and what more fitting method to make a live album than have someone in the crowd taping it?

At about forty minutes in length, the performance is much too short, but that's partly why Bootleg Detroit succeeds. Morphine's performance is taut, intense, and laid-back smooth all at once, and it's so enjoyable you can't believe it when it's over. Billy Conway's drumming propels the band at a better, quicker pace than the studio versions of the songs, Dana Colley's sax playing is brilliant as usual, but the real star, of course, is the late Mark Sandman. His delivery of his Beat-inspired poetic lyrics and especially his dry, cool between-song banter sets the mood, from the opening strains of 'Come Along', through the band's intense reworkings of 'Thursday' and 'Buena'. As an added treat, there are two high-quality cd-rom video tracks from 1995 that are great as well, 'Cure For Pain', and 'The Saddest Song'.

Don't let the descriptions of the live cd's 'murky' sound fool you. Although it was recorded from among the crowd, it's excellently remastered, eliminating excess noise, toning down audience "whoo!'s" (a problem for every bootlegger), and sharpening the band's sound. Yeah, the sound is muddier than most other 'polished' live albums, but this is Morphine...what did you expect? Bootleg Detroit is good live music at its purest. Complete, with no studio overdubs, it's a snapshot of a great band, and along with 2000's studio release The Night, a great tribute to the great Mark Sandman. It's all good good good.

I was a bit hesitant to pick this one up, expecting it to have the lo-fi sound quality I have come to expect on anything labled "bootleg." If anyone out there shares this concern, let me put it to rest. Bootleg Detroit sounds as good as any live album Ive heard, and sounds almost as good as a soundboard recording.

The song selection is pretty decent too. Included are Candy, YOu Look Like Rain, Buena, Cure For Pain... most of the classics. I wish they had played In Spite Of Me too, but alas, you cant change history.

So, if you like Morphine, I would definately pick this one up. It's everything fans had come to expect from Morphine. A great live record.

The sound quality of this recording is surprisingly good. Hearing it was recorded "by a fan in the audience" might mislead you... The fact is, the recording is good, and does not reflect "bootleg" quality at all. I hope Morphine will release more live recordings as time goes on. I encourage you to buy this CD if you enjoy Morphine. If you are familiar with both "Good" and "A Cure For Pain," you will find it especially pleasing.

Don't miss this album's version of the song "Sheila." It's amazing, like all of the other songs on this disc. I only got to see them live once, for their Yes album... they were amazing on stage. Also, the additional quicktime movie of the band playing "Saddest Song" is truly special. You should regret it if you don't get to here this recording.

A huge morphine fan I raced out to get this one as soon as I heard about it. The album is strong in that it portrays exactly what made morphine a great live act, their tightness as a trio and wonderfull simplicity. The album is great at giving the listener a glimpse of what made them unique. On the other hand it's set list is limited to songs mainly drawn from Cure For Pain with only one new number. Plus there are the questionable Banter tracks which only last for a few seconds and are basically just short song intro's. A good album just because it's morphine, but I hoped for more from their final release.

If you're considering this album, you're probably already familiar with Morphine and have some of their stuff. "Bootleg Detroit" provides a glimpse into their live show, and yeah, the sound quality isn't the greatest, that's why "bootleg" is in the title. Apparently some people (see rorscach12's review below) are too slow to get that. and the fact that stage "banter" is included is part of what makes this release cool, some people don't get that either (see same simpleminded review below). for those who never got to see them live, it's interesting to hear that part of a live show. plus there's material (Come Along) you won't hear on any other releases. if you're a Morphine fan, should probably get it, if you're just getting into them, pick up another studio album first.

This is Morphine at their raw best! This recording is a snapshot of one of Morphine's best live performances ever! Mark stated the following year that "the last time we played here at St. Andrews was one of the best shows we've ever had". The band was touring in support of their hit album "Cure For Pain" when they rolled into Detroit on this Monday night to play to one thousand lucky fans at this packed, intimate Detroit club. I remember leaving the show that night with the master tape in my bag -- that is now memorialized on the this disc -- feeling completely energized and transformed. I was repeating the phrase "that was the best show I have ever seen" over and over to any one who would listen. I thank God I was rolling tape that night, recording the "Morphine experience". Unfortunately, when Mark edited it he left out 20 minutes of great music. However, the 40 minutes that is there is exceptional. I am grateful Mark had the opportunity to again enjoy this stellar performance and found it worthy to share with all of you. He is greatly missed. If you never had the chance to see Morphine live, or want to relive the experience, buy this cd, turn the lights down low, close your eyes, crank up the volume and experience the power and magic that was Morphine! Cheers, Alan

This is a LOW FI recording of a great band and a killer night at St.Andrews hall in the early 90's. It is raw and you feel the crowds energy. love it.

Incredible! Hard to believe that this was recorded by a fan in the audience. I saw Morphine Live twice, once in Athens and once in Atlanta, and this CD is a good representation of what they delivered during their shows. Mark Sandman was the most amazing showman I ever saw without coming across as being a pompous superstar. Plus he's a great songwriter. Dana Colley's sax(es) and Billy Conway's drums shine along side Sandman's haunting bass playing and singing.
Additionally, the ECD features on this disc are pretty great. The two video clips from the Montreux Jazz Festival offer a good look at the show for those of you who never saw Morphine live, and are a great video memory for those of us who did. The video of "The Saddest Song" in particular is great, for it gives us a rare glimpse of Colley on triangle.
I'm taking away one star only because of the timing of the recording. The show is from 1994, forcing us to miss out on live recordings of the past 6 years of music, and eliminating some of the great parts shows that I have seen, such as Sandman's poetry time.
Overall, though, quite a deal for Morphine fans who want to remember what it was like when they played for an audience.

Sound quality aside, it is good to see an official release of one of our generations most prolific and unique bands. This is Morphine captured at it's sultriest moment. Live.

Mark Sandman gave us one last triumph with "the Night". This is a fitting sense of closure. Many of the songs have become entrenched in our heads but we just want to hear them one more time.

There is an energy posessed by Sandman and crew that most of todays bands cannot touch. Reaching back 15 years to Treat Her Right. Mark was at the forefront of the Lo-Fi Movement. I do not think he would want a live recording to sound anything different than in its purest form.

"Cure for Pain", "Head with Wings", "Thursday", "Buena", heard again for the umteenth time, never wears out or irritates but brings a satisfying smile to those of us who had seen them live. The music now has an ageless quality with Mark Sandman's genious etched in time not to be forgotten.

Bootleg Detroit is a postcard from a friend saying, "Thank You, Good Night". From all of us down here we miss ya brotha.