Road to You: Live in Europe [Live]

Pat Metheny | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 20, 1993)
• Original Release Date: July 20, 1993
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Geffen Records
• ASIN: B000000OTE
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #54,589 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Have You Heard

2. First Circle

3. The Road To You

4. Half Life Of Absolution

5. Last Train Home

6. Better Days Ahead

7. Naked Moon

8. Beat 70

9. Letter From Home

10. Third Wind

11. Solo From 'More Travels'

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Let "Half LIfe of Absolution" Reign!, June 19, 2002

By 

Cedric's Mom (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Road to You: Live in Europe (Audio CD)

I am blown away by the lackluster reviews here for PMG's Road To You (Live) [1993] European CD. Perhaps there isn't enough improvisation or simply disappointment that "they sound like just what they sound like" live. If it isn't PMG you want to hear, then listen to something else. Admittedly, I have been a sold-out Metheniac for 25 years now, and for me, all of Pat's music improves with repeated listenings. "Half Life of Absolution" alone is worth far more than the purchase price of the CD. If you can't feel the heat coming off of *this* jam, then there is something seriously wrong with YOU.

In a live performance, a lot can go wrong: feedback, noise, mistakes. But there are no mistakes in "Half Life of Absolution" (HLOA). Take note, guitar fiends. There is much to learn here. Pat has taken feedback and integrated it into the whole of the piece. His timing perfectly dovetails the distortion of his chosen electronic effect into the phrasing to create a continuous, complete piece of music with nothing thrown away. Pat does the real work; he doesn't rely on tricks. He makes it sound easy, but I doubt that it is. He hears and plays the tune (and plays with the tune) simultaneously. It smolders and builds to the scorching mid-section in a controlled burn that excites but never flames out of control. You think it's peaked, but hold on as Lyle takes us into the next flaming section, dipping and rolling, building and picking up percussive speed. To the very end, HLOA uses electronic guitar effect as the central instrument, and yet, it is never ever chaotic or overdone. Elegance and perfection, people. Your money's worth is right here.

Other highlights: A beautiful rendition of "Naked Moon." Pat has taken romantic and given it sound in this 5-minute piece. I haven't found "Naked Moon" on any other recordings. The title track "The Road To You" is also tenderly performed. "First Circle," a perennial PMG favorite, is excellently presented as always. "First Circle" has a life of its own. It's as if it were always there, just waiting to be plucked from the ether, captured solely for our endless pleasure. The muse deemed Pat worthy to present this gem to the world, and we are richer for it.

The European audience cannot be surpassed for their respect and etiquette during a music performance. Even when the music has ascended to frenzy for listener and player alike, this audience remains cool and holds its applause until the last note has fallen still. And like all PMG audiences, they heap generous applause on the band at the end of each tune. Road To You Live is performance at its best and definitely not to be missed for fusion jazz enthusiasts, PMG lovers, guitar fiends, and generally anyone who knows a hot performance when they hear one.

Line-up: Pat on guitar, Lyle Mays on keys, Steve Rodby on bass, Paul Wertico on drums, Armando Marcal on percussion and voice, and Pedro Aznar on pretty much everything else (as well as the above-mentioned instruments).

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You can't be serious, November 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Road to You: Live in Europe (Audio CD)

To steal a line from John McEnroe..you can't be serious! I may not have the music background of others. All I know is what sounds good to my ears. By far, this is the cd that every kid in every jazz band in every high school should be required to listen to. If I had just one cd in my collection, this is the one I would want. You can listen to it over and over again and still get something new out of it. Maybe I go a little overboard for PMG, I can thank my brother for that, but clearly to call this "bland" is like calling the sun a 60 watt bulb! There's no reason to dis Pat's fans for liking his music. If you don't like it, don't buy it! There's plenty of fans out there that will make up for your loss. "Bland, devoid of wit...please! Genuis is in the ear of the beholder!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A magnificent souvenir of a great concert tour, November 20, 2000

By 

Gavin Wilson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Road to You: Live in Europe (Audio CD)

I am surprised at how few and how mixed the reviews are for this album -- on amazon.com there are only six reviews and a 4-star average for this outstanding CD, whereas the less certain 'We Live Here' attracts sixteen reviews, all 5-star.

This 1993 live album wonderfully wraps up the era that began in the studio with 'First Circle' and ended with 'Letter From Home'.

It also marks the end of Metheny's fascination with Transportation and Real Estate, when it comes to album titles. I think there's a potential PhD thesis waiting to be written here, but it started with 'American Garage', and went on through 'Offramp', 'Travels', 'Letter From Home', 'The Road to You' and ended with 'We Live Here'. Maybe they are clues to the location of buried treasure -- don't read to much into the map sections on the cover of 'We Live Here'.

More seriously, this album is a greatest hits collection from the era, and there are some great versions too. Even the audience is nicely recorded.

I went to see Metheny in concert in London several years before this album, and I was mystified by the long track in a heavy rock instrumental idiom that the band played. It wasn't on any album, and I don't think Metheny explained what it was at the concert. Well, it turned up on this album, the magnificent 'Half Life of Absolution'.

It's very unusual for an artist to be known for TWO great live albums, but Metheny should be. 'Travels' and this record are both wonderful.