Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
captures the experience of a live RHCP show, August 9, 2004
I've seen the Chili Peppers live twice, own all of their studio recordings, own both of their live concert DVDs, and several of their CD singles/imports.
I think it's useful to compare Live in Hyde Park with Live at Slane Castle (even though Slane is a DVD), as both are from the same tour and have similar (though not identical) setlists.
Slane is more polished, with more post-production. I strongly suspect that Anthony Kiedis redid some of the vocals, because his singing is in tune far more on Slane than on Off the Map, Hyde Park, or in concert in person. Some of the musical instruments may have been re-recorded, re-processed, or otherwise touched up. All of this gives Slane the polished sound of a studio recording. On top of this, I would say that the band plays more conservatively on Slane than they normally do, probably because they know a concert DVD is being filmed.
In sharp contrast, Hyde Park seems less polished, more raw, and better captures the experience of seeing the Chili Peppers live. Anthony's voice is not always perfectly in tune. The mix is not always perfect. But so what? The energy just oozes out of your speakers, through your ears, and into your brain and your heart. Also, the playing is less conservative and more adventurous, like when you see them live.
I still think Slane is a worthwhile purchase. I describe it as half-way between a live concert and a studio CD. But if you want the next best thing to seeing the Chili Peppers live, get Hyde Park.
My other comment about Hyde Park is that it overwhelmingly focuses on Californication and later work, with only two tunes from Blood Sugar Sex Magik and nothing earlier. This shouldn't be surprising, because they just didn't play much of the old stuff at all during the entire tour. If you strongly prefer the older stuff, you'll be disappointed with Hyde Park. But if you like the newer stuff pretty well, I think you'll be very happy with Hyde Park, and recommend it strongly.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic Live Album, August 10, 2004
You have to hand it the Chili Peppers, they have been staying busy enough to keep their fans happy. They usually wait a few years in between each album cycle, but since By The Way was released in 2002 they have released a Greatest hits album with a DVD and two new songs, a concert dvd, a live show CD and John Frusciante will have released seven solo albums this year alone (yes, seven!). Hopefully their next CD out will be a new album, but I'm happy for now.
As for the actual CD, its awesome. Ever since I watched Live at Slane I have been dying for a live CD. I have no qualms about the setlist. Some people prefer early Chilis work, others prefer the later stuff (but I guess no one prefers their evil middle child CD One Hot Minute). I like the Chilis from beginning to end and appreciate that they are one of the few bands left today that keeps on evolving and changing, a sign of only true musicians who actually write their own music.
Does anyone know what is the Live in Hyde Park listing on Amazon that is going to be released on August 23rd and costs 53 dollars? I might feel a little cheated if its a longer and better set than the already released version, but I think I'll eventually pay for it anyway.
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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An amazing live album, August 8, 2004
but first to the guy who said this album was a disgrace...You obviously don't know that the red hot chili peppers have stopped playing anything pre-Blood Sugar Sex Magik besides me and my friends (when joh wasnt even in the band) because of john's hatred of himself during that stage of his life. For you to say by the way is a disgrace is just disturbing. how can you call yourself a red hot chili peppers fan? by the way is a great album and is just different from all their other albums. But come to think of it, have the red hot chili peppers ever had 2 albums that were really similar at all from mother's milk to by the way? NO. each album they do is completely different and has its own new style. that's what makes them such a great band.
NOW FOR THE REVIEW PARTt: I know its long, but i think it's well worth ur time if ur considering buying this album.
I think this is one great live album. The introduction is really funky and sounds great. "Brandy" sounds very good and is far better than the origional. when i first saw teh setlist i was particularly excited to see "Get on Top" was on it. and this song does not dissapoint. My only complaint during this song is that anthony tries to rap too loudly and finds himself almsot shouting during the verses, but noetheless it is a great song.
With great jams after by the way, before right on time, with fleas great bass introduction to around the world, with the half jam. half song after throw away your television that they have been palying all tour, the long jam after give it away (about 9 minutes), the absolutely amazing introduction fro californication, and their flat out amazing live work, this album is definitly one any music fan needs.
My oppinions on the 2 NEW songs:
"Rolling Sly Stone" has a bassline that can be described very well by will ferrell. the bass is :"taken for a walk" in this song and the guitar during the verses is a relatively similar more in depth version of the guitar during the verses in around the world with the same guitar sound. The bridge is my one complaint of this song. It seems to slow the song down a lot. The song is goin really well and sounds like a great funky tune up until the bridge, but then gets right back into it after the bridge wit ha very short solo from john that gives an important efect on the song nonetheless. anthony does his sort of "rapping" thing he made famous in blood sugar sex magik and perfected in "aroud the world" off californication during the verses and does more "singing" in the chorus...nothnig too fancy from chad...he jsut does what needs to be done and gives his naturally good effect to the song.
then a very different second new song:
"Leverage of Space" has a beautiful introduction with john and flea leading into the verse, and anthony's singing is very very good. Flea's pre-chrous bass riff's are a perfect way to lead into the more full sound of the chrous which is a step up in intesity and volume from the more mellow verses. The ending of this song is amazing and features just flat out awesome guitar work with heavy effects by john. this song has softer verses with louder, more intense choruses. chad uses the crash a lot in the chorus and limits himself to light high-hat use, snare, and bass drum in the verse to keep the verses softer...2 great songs
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