Customer Reviews

Live Extreme 2

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

 

 

Before this,I didn't know that much about the band except they were much of a club favorite in the Los Angeles area from 1986-88.The group apparently featured guitarist Paul Gilbert before he had joined Mr.Big.They released three worthy lp's in the timespan I just mentioned.After that,several compilation and live discs happened to surface,like this one.Personally,I know people that really might enjoy 'Live...' more than I did.It's a decent live recording,but then I ALWAYS enjoy a live CD.A couple of the tunes that I thought carried their own are "On The Loose","Heart Of A Lion","Give It To Me" and their Kiss cover of "Detroit Rock City".Simply an under appreciated hard rock band that never got a big break.Might appeal to fans of Joe Satriani,Alcatrazz and possibly Yngwie.Come on,take a chance.

If you were stranded on a desert island this is what you want. Poison Eyes is blistering. These boys are tighter than a drum. Paul,Scott,Bruce,John and Jeff just simply get it done. Hard Hitting and slicing rock is what it's all about. A definite must. Proves that this is the all time best collection of musicians imagineable. Scott Travis is no doubt the best rock drummer walking the planet. Can't wait till the new RacerX comes out in Jan/Feb. it's called Technical Difficulties. Stay tuned.

The studio albums by Racer X are amazing but these guys prove that they can shred just as good when playing live. Paul Gilbert gets a bad rap from his days in Mr. Big but he tears it up with the best of them.

I've been a big fan of Racer X since the 80's, love the band. Both albums are a must have for the Racer X fan. If you're a guitarist and have never heard Racer X, you have to check them out. Paul Gilbert and Bruce Bouliet are awesome guitarists. How do you describe Racer X? The best way is guitar rock, solos are technical and fast. I wouldn't consider them "heavy" just rock. Racer X live is as good as in the studio.

Although the show is from the same night as volume one,it just doesnt floor you as the chops-fest that Vol.one is.You get the feeling that these were leftover songs that werent good enough for the first volume.Dont get me wrong Paul and Bruce still put most guitar players in other bands to shame,but it just didnt do it for me in terms of what I always listened to Racer X for!!!Long Live Shred Guitar

Having read all of the previous reviews, I'm somewhat perplexed. Both of the Live Extreme Volume albums were recorded on the same night, same band, same sound crew. The only differences between them is that Volume 2 was mixed and mastered better.

Volume 1 is excellent, but the overall tone has too much treble and not enough mid range and bass. This was fixed for Volume 2.

As for track selection, remember Vol 2 came out 4 years later, so what wasn't already released was used. Actually if you listen close you can hear Jeff say, "Mr. Paul Gilbert on the guitar, let's have a hand" on both albums during separate songs.

Overall one of the best live albums ever released. Highlight tracks: Hammer Away, Heart Of A Lion, Poison Eyes, Sunlit Nights, On The Loose & Detroit Rock City.

I've loved this band since I first descovered them back in the mid 80's. While while "Extreme Volume II Live" show the band in top form, the transfer to cd is not the best... good enough though. The playing is imaculate and all of the beand's members went on to other things... Paul Gilbert of course went on to form Mr. Big and also have a successful solo career, Scott Travis went on the become Judas Priest's Drummer, Jeff Martin became the drummer for Badlands, (Voodoo Highway and Dusk), and more recently the drummer w/ The Plot, (feat. Micheal Schenker-gtrs. and Pete Way- bass), John Alderete and Bruce Bouillet formed The Scream w/ John Corabi, (one time Motley Crue singer0, and remain active in the music biz. Of course, all but Bruce continue to write, record, and perform as Racer X to this day. I recomend this to anyone who love the over the top speed of light virtuosity of the late 80's and (very) early 90's when people really bothered to learn to play their instuments intstead of just using them as props. This should really get 5 stars but the transfer cuts one star off... and it really isn't that bad... buy iy and play it often... loud!!!

Contrary to the first review, Extreme Volume II is no less than Extreme Volume. What's strange is Mr. Munoz says this CD is lacking energy. How could one CD have Energy and another CD Lack energy when the recording is the same and the show was the same? It's impossible. Extreme Volume II is simply the "other songs" not on Extreme Volume. Granted, EV has all the indivdual solos, but frankly, EVII has the better songs with Heart Of Lion, Moonage Daydream, Hammer Away and the best non-KISS version of Detroit Rock City. The classic Ace Frehley solo is played in harmony by Paul and Bruce with their TEETH!! How much more energy do you want?

This album doesn't reach the high flies of their first live volume. Less energetic, it still may captivate you with the virtuosity of Racer X members and their incredible musicianship, but you'll probably feel that something was lost on the way.

First of all, I find the compositions included in this CD rather simplistic, commercialist and poorly elaborated. The intro of "Heart Of A Lion", taken from Led Zeppelin's "Dazed and Confused", perhaps is the best moment of this release. All the other tracks lack a lot of playing from the heart, and of that aggressive sound that Racer X deployed in "Extreme Volume Live". Guitars keep being impeccable and VERY fast along the entire tour, but this time Racer X's level of adrenaline didn't get to the top. Even Travis' drums sound more sportive than musically serious! I think this CD is some kind of leftover of the first "Extreme Volume Live", and I would say that it is flat and boring. Where is the energy and the power of the first live album? Where are those explosive musicians?

If you are a Racer X fan, a neoclassical rock unconditional or a collector of Paul Gilbert's items, buy it. But if you love good heavy metal this one is not for you: save your bucks for something better! 2 stars and a half, and no more than that!