Customer Reviews

Live From Mars

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

 

 

There isn't very many artists out there who can record a live album accompanied only by an acoustic guitar, and expect to hold my attention for very long. But Mcguinn pulls it off effortlessly with his combination of great Byrds classics, great singing, and of course the unique sound of that Rickenbacker guitar. Mcguinn is like a one man band when he gets his 12 string cranked up. You really get a nice full sound here. Except for the opening cut "Heartbreak Hotel", where you can tell the soundboard man was still tweeking the sound of Mcguinn's vocals, this is a beautifully recorded live album. Some of my favorite tracks here is "Daddy Roll Em", I love this one, and it rocks. A great electric version of Mr. Tambourine Man". "Eight Miles High", which I didn't think would sound that good coming from just an acoustic guitar. Boy was I wrong! Some amazing fretwork on this one. And there are 2 very nice bonus tracks, "Fireworks", and "May The Road Rise" that were recorded in the studio with a full band backing. In between all the music, Mcguinn has plenty of great Byrds stories to offer, that adds to the lustre of this whole live package. Live From Mars" is a classy and entertaining cd that only a musician like Mcguinn, with 35 years of playing experience can pull off this well.

This is not a CD for the casual listener, but is essential to the collections of all long-term fans of Roger McGuinn. The CD is, essentially, an up-close and personal musical seminar from the renowned folk-rock, Rickenbacker 12-string artist. Roger's roots are squarely in the folk tradition, and those roots have sustained his music for 4 decades. The CD largely contains live solo performances (there are two excellent studio "bonus" tracks with a fine backing band). The format for most of the CD has Roger introducing each song with personal stories relating to them. In his recent career, Roger has been returning to his fans a lot of the warmth and openness that they provided him during his earlier years, and this CD is reflective of that effort. Thanks, Roger.

Roger McGuinn was, and is, the very best of folk rock singers. On this record he tells, with his very personal sence of humour and self-distance, about his musical history. But even greater are the musical parts where McGuinn performs some of his many hits on an acoustic twelve-string. Especially in Daddy roll'em and the acoustic version of Chestnut mare (which i'd actually never heard before) he shows that his wonderful voice sounds best when there are no drums or electric guitars to destroy it. As a bonus, there are two new studio tracks in the end. The better of the two, May the road rise, is also in the live part of the album.

This is exactly what McGuinn is like live. He talks about the songs, preaches a little, connects with his audience and gives you a greatest hits show.

If you are a fan of him (not the Byrds), this is a very good live album.

Roger McGuinn's place in rock history is already secure via his membership and often leadership of my favourite band The Byrds.
On this 1996 album he retraces his steps from Heartbreak Hotel all the way to May The Road Rise.
The former is a rarity, as are Daddy Roll 'Em, Beach Ball and a studio track, Fireworks.
While the concept is good somehow Roger's heart does not always seem to be in it.
I know that sounds very negative, however some songs including Mr Tambourine Man (acoustic) and Mr Spaceman, are poor efforts, although Gate Of Horn and King Of The Hill are very good.
Both studio tracks, Fireworks and May The Road Rise, are superior to just about everything that went before.
In 1997 I saw Roger in London, an excellent concert well recieved, it's the CD which disappoints.

Never having lived up to his potential, real or imagined, on record once the Byrds broke up, he finally does so on this CD. His between-song chatter gives a welcome historical perspective and his renditions of the tunes that defined his oeuvre are very well-executed. I'm going to explore his Folk Den stuff next. I have a feeling that will be good, too.

Sort of plays like a story of his career. Excellent music and even better with his insight behind the scenes. Definitely a Roger McGuinn must-have!