Circus Live (Bonus Dvd) (Pal) (Chi) [Import]

John Cale | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 12, 2007)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import
• Label: Emd Int'l
• ASIN: B000LMQ164
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #228,304 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Venus in Furs

2. Save Us

3. Helen of Troy

4. Woman

5. Buffalo Ballet

6. Femme Fatale/Rosegarden Funeral of Sores

7. Hush

8. Outtathebag

9. Set Me Free

10. The Ballad of Cable Hogue

See all 13 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Walking the Dog

2. Gun

3. Hanky Panky Nohow

4. Pablo Picasso/Mary Lou

5. Drone-Intro Amsterdam Suite

6. Zen

7. Style It Takes

8. Heartbreak Hotel

9. Mercenaries (Ready for War)

10. Outro Drone

Editorial Reviews

2007 three disc live set (two CD + PAL/Region 0 DVD) by former Velvet Underground member and the ringmaster of the avant-garde, Mr. John Cale. The album is virtually a career retrospective, recorded live on John's 2006 European tour. Cale felt like he'd finally found the personnel to interpret his songs with new twists, new dimensions and new emotions. None more so evident than the track 'Gun', originally appearing on 1974's Eno & Manzanera produced Fear but now sounding akin to a heavy arsenal of crunching weaponry. Inspired, Cale recorded the dates and the band began to tear up a 40 year musical history book, challenging and breathing new life into Cale's work. In full, confident stride they take in everything from 'Femme Fatale', the Warhol tribute 'Style It Takes', a capricious 'Pablo Picasso', the sweet groove of 'Hanky Panky Nohow' from 'Paris 1919', 'Look Horizon' & 'Zen' from 2003's 'Hobosapiens', the Neptunes inspired funk of 'Outta The Bag' and 'Hush' from 'black:Acetate', an impassioned take of Presley's 'Heartbreak Hotel' and the viola swathed VU masterpiece 'Venus In Furs'. This two CD + DVD comes beautifully packaged in a three disc box with 48 page color booklet. The DVD contains previously unreleased live rehearsal footage of John and the band shot in LA, plus the new animated promo video for Jumbo In Tha Modernworld. Also included are a new mix of GrevelDrive from the blackAcetate album, plus a 2007 rerecording of Big White Cloud, originally from the Vintage Violence album. EMI.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Radically new arrangements!, March 19, 2007

By 

Charles Miller "objective clarity" (Baltimore, Maryland U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Circus Live (W/Dvd) (Audio CD)

What a great live album. Not the usual run-through of your old favorites, which is mainly the case with these affairs, but rather, complete reinvention. At first I was a little disappointed reading the titles as there was little in the way of John Cale's recent (and in my opinion, best) works, but listening dispelled that. All of these mostly older tunes have been rewritten with, in some cases, radically different arrangements. Actually to the point where they are different... almost like an album of new material. Imagine a slow, almost gentle, albeit sinister Mercenaries!

There are also extensive droning effects throughout (the beginning, between the "end" of the concert and the encore, and the actual coda), harkening back to John Cale's early experimental roots.

All of this is supported by the technically perfect musicianship of players. Take away the applause between many of the tracks and it sounds like a studio album, only better because of the high-energy that comes with live music territory.

The presentation is excellent as well. Nice "slippery" slip-case with excellent and clever art, graphics and documentation throughout.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 stars, but beware the PAL format DVD, March 17, 2007

By 

Charles Miller "objective clarity" (Baltimore, Maryland U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Circus Live (Bonus Dvd) (Pal) (Chi) (Audio CD)

What a great live album. Not the usual run-through of your old favorites, which is mainly the case with these affairs, but rather, complete reinvention. At first I was a little disappointed reading the titles as there was little in the way of John Cale's recent (and in my opinion, best) works, but listening dispelled that. All of these mostly older tunes have been rewritten with, in some cases, radically different arrangements. Actually to the point where they are different... almost like an album of new material. Imagine a slow, almost gentle, albeit sinister Mercenaries!

There are also extensive droning effects throughout (the beginning, between the "end" of the concert and the encore, and the actual coda), harkening back to John Cale's early experimental roots.

All of this is supported by the technically perfect musicianship of players. Take away the applause between many of the tracks and it sounds like a studio album, only better because of the high-energy that comes with live music territory.

The presentation is excellent as well. Nice "slippery" slip-case with excellent and clever art, graphics and documentation throughout.

But there is a drawback... the DVD, which is PAL format. Many in the U.S. will not be able to play it. Why is that NTSC owners are cheated out of this? Why could there not have been two versions, one for Europe and one for the United States? As is often the case, an American version will probably see the light of day a year or so from now, but that's a long wait for such an excellent album. One can only assume that the DVD is as good as the CDs.

I suppose, technically, I should have given this release 4 stars due to the PAL DVD, but didn't want to drag down what is otherwise one of the best live albums of all time.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ah john cale, March 5, 2007

By 

B. Cox "cale maniac" (woodstock ga usa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Circus Live (W/Dvd) (Audio CD)

The first john cale album I bought in the early seventies, vintage violence was followed with those words at the check out counter by a smiling clerk. My expectations were high and I was not dissapointed. Circus Live is pure john cale as good as it ever was! rock and roll is dead but thanks to cale long live rock! For anyone who loves cale,lou reed, patti smith or punk music this album is a masterpiece.