Customer Reviews

Show and Tell

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

 

 

The Birthday Massacre is a great act and they have produced some really great songs. Their two releases (and their songs like Shiver) have been a breath of fresh air in a genre that needed it, with many of their songs speaking on some things good, some things bad, and some things sadistic. I personally loved Violet and the songs on it, with Blue and Happy birthday telling tales that had a really terrifc feel to them (and had a dark side to them as well). I'm not sure about their following, however, because they have had to build it from the ground up because of their Canadian origins and their inability to get a fair shake from the video tree (simply watch Blue and Shiver and you'll see what i mean).

Taking this further, the band decided to put together a live album from their almost constant touring and Show and Tell turned out great. Normally I don't go for live acts in any shape or quise, but I've seen TBM three times now and have to say that they showed me a beautiful side to live acts. Instead of their sound changing or the vocals not matching up, they managed to take their opening slot and turn it into one that was purely electric. That meant that they had what it took to be an opening act, and you can see that on the live album. you can also tell something aobut the band from seeing them live as well: unlike many of the bands that are aroudn now, this is a cohesive unit that moves from one place to another. They share themselves with their fans, too, and you can tell that simply by listening to the support they receive when they take the stage and sound off. Hopefully this album will show people something more aobut them, and will make them pick up Nothing and Nowhere and Violet.

If you are a fan of live albums and like the sound of a female lead singer with sadistic undertones, then this would be something you should consider. i would say that you should buy the real deal first simply because they are what it is all about, but fans of the band should also pick this up because of the little things that happen live. Unlike studio recordings, you can hear the energy and taste the small things that happen here and there, making you love a band that you alreayd love that much more. It is something I profess to have a fondness for, and that is because the band is good at what they should be good at - making fans out of people that might otherwise find this era of music a waste. I have been one of those people in some ways unless something special walks by, and this is one of those special things. Buy it after getting the albums and you'll see what I mean.

I have been a fan of this band since last year & I was immediately blown away by the type of & quality music that they play. It's an amazing blend of alternative, metal, & industrial rolled into one & it's very easy to follow & get pumped while listening to it! Now I don't understand why the reviewer before me is down on this CD because the CD does sound almost as perfect as a studio recording but everything (other than the keyboards/programming) still does have a raw feel to it. Some of the songs on here sound even better than their studio versions such as "Blue" & "Happy Birthday." I am VERY PLEASED with this release & if you are a big fan of this band or even new to them DON'T HESITATE to buy this CD...quality live production & excellent set list from Birthday Massacre..need I say more?!

I actually bought this before I knew it was a concert album, but I'm not unhappy at all. I love it so much, and it's the best "live" album I've heard, ever. Chibi's vocal are for the most part in tune, and her technique is different than on The Birthday Massacre's main albums. For those interested in the music for the first time, though, I recommend "Walking With Strangers" as a first purchase. The awesome, creepy song "Blue" is done very well on this album, as well as their mascot song "Happy Birthday". You can hear the music very well under the vocals, as it seems to have been recorded at a small venue, where the music didn't have to be deafening to be heard. Chibi makes little comments here and there to the audience, which is cool, and they chose their best songs to play. I recommend this album for sure!

In filler land I much prefer the live album to a best of, and this is a fine example of a best of disguised as a live album. All of your favorites are here.

I happened to catch these guy's in Baltimore MD the week before this album came out and I noticed they like many industrial, groups play to backing tracks, all the keyboard intros were performed by a tape (or an iPod, like the two opening acts), it sounded like triggers on the drums, and their may or may not be guitar tracks to "thicken" the sound. I have no problem with this practice, it just figures into my complaint about the album, which is that it seems like a sterile reproduction of the studio recordings with rougher vocals. That said there's plenty energy to the performances and a nice mix material.

Check it out for your self, and buy the DVD when it come out.