Staring Down the Brilliant Dream [Live]

Indigo Girls | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 29, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 2010
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Live
• Label: Vanguard Records
• ASIN: B003LWLG9S
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,905 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Indigo Girls Amy Ray and Emily Saliers celebrate their long-standing passion for live performance on their upcoming release, Staring Down the Brilliant Dream. The 2-disc CD features 31 songs, each hand-selected by the GRAMMY®-winning duo to capture the most memorable moments of their 2006-2009 shows. The CD reflects the spontaneity of a typical Indigo's concert and includes a mix of solo performances and other numbers backed by their full band, plus vocal collaborations with such guests artists as Brandi Carlile and Jill Hennessey. Staring Down the Brilliant Dream encapsulates the wide range of emotions that fill their shows with fire and wonder, from the warm, sing-a-long spirit of Saliers' "Closer to Fine" to the political combustion of Ray's "Go."

With two decades and countless concerts behind them, it would be understandable if the duo now found it hard to distinguish one concert from the next. Instead, as this CD proves, they remain as engaged and present onstage as ever. For each track, Saliers and Ray have penned personal notes on how they wrote the song, what they remember about that specific show, and why--among the thousands to chose from--they value this performance so much. This 2-disc set is a brilliant reminder of all those concerts we were lucky to catch--and consolation for the ones we hated to miss.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Brilliant Evening with the Girls, June 30, 2010

By 

M. Casarino (Wilmington, DE United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Staring Down the Brilliant Dream (Audio CD)

How do they do it? After a few live albums and DVDs (including the amazing "1200 Curfews"), the Indigo Girls deliver another gift to their fans.

"Staring Down the Brilliant Dream," like "1200 Curfews," isn't a coherent concert, nor is it meant to be. Instead, it's a collection of live recordings, each chosen for its particular energy, and man, does it connect. We get the passionate arena rock of "Go" and "Tether," two tracks that really need a stage to come alive; we get the plaintive melodies of "Come on Home" and "Moment of Forgiveness" (which really shimmers as a ballad); we get the inspired country folk of "Ozilline" and "Watershed"; we even get some choice covers and great guest appearances.

The Girls have been playing together for 25 years; we could forgive them if they went through the motions now and then. In fact, some of their recent studio cuts have been missing that spirit that made the Girls gel; while their harmonies and interplay remained strong, they have at times sounded less like a band and more like professionals backing each other's solo material. But "Brilliant Dream" is the work of a band who loves to sing and play together. Listen, for example, to Amy and Emily spiral around each other in "Fill it Up Again" - this is the most joyfully coherent the Girls have sounded in years. And while they've each grown technically proficient, both as writers and performers, there's never a sense of slick professionalism. These songs were chosen for obviously personal reasons, and both Amy and Emily sing like they're genuinely trying to communicate, which gives true resonance to songs you may have glossed over.

Listening to the artistic and emotional growth of the Indigo Girls over the years has been a true pleasure. "Staring Down the Brilliant Dream" is nothing less than a gift, a reward for being a fan. Those of us who never miss their shows understand how deeply they connect in concert, even when they're not at their happiest; it's a wonder that a recording can capture that feeling so perfectly. Well done, girls.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars These songs grow each time, June 29, 2010

By 

David (Miami Lakes, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Staring Down the Brilliant Dream (Audio CD)

Amy and Emily interact with their band and guest musicians to create more depth and complexity to each of these songs. Nearly all of these live songs eclipse their studio versions. The addition of Julie Wolf's keyboard and vocals on many of these tunes creates a softness that allows for a lot greater musical experimentation than you might see if only Amy and Emily were on stage.

Even the dedicated Indigo Girls fan will likely be surprised by the beauty of "Salty South," the foot-stomping meditation of "Devotion," the musicianship on "Closer to Fine," and the new twists in "Shame on You." It's awesome to see that this duo has been making music together now for 25 years and are still able to keep it fresh while crafting new material that, in special moments, far eclipses much of their earlier work.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars More than a concert, July 25, 2010

By 

Means Johnston III "Means" (York, Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Staring Down the Brilliant Dream (Audio CD)

I was fortunate enough to see both ends of this tour. The Harrisburg concert (which is represented in this collection)and the Tower theater in Philadelphia. I knew that there would be a recording of this tour because of the vibe that was given at the shows. The Indigo Girls were at the top of their game and they were having fun. The audience picked up on this and really gave it their all. This is a very loyal fan base. They sing on tempo and on pitch! This recording is a wonderful collection from a great tour. The packaging is very nice and reflects the care Ms Sailors and Ray put into their music.