Live Album: “Songs from Black Mountain”

The most apt way to summarize this album -- and it bemoans me to say this -- is that I have absolutely no inclination to play it.

I didn't expect a great deal after 'Birds of Pray', which I thought was hands down their weakest release. For what it's worth, I do find 'Black Mountain' to be one small notch above that album, but really that doesn't mean a thing if you got in my head and magnified the word associations I have with 'Birds'. I think I repressed all the Amazon-appropriate words for that review, so I'm pretty sure a clouded rage lingers around it.

Basically this is light, relatively asinine and completely disposable pop-rock. If it does one thing right, it's the regression to a more flowing pop-natured album than the rigid, static 'Birds'. In this sense I find the album's songs constructed quite a bit like the pop-ballads of 'V', which I never minded in the first place. Sorry to say, however, even the highlights on this album can't much compare to the highlights on that album. Very few of the songs on here are unlistenable -- and a few are really quite enjoyable -- but virtually all of them are pretty lifeless. It's the kinda stuff I except to hear when I'm at a grocery store, which isn't ALL that surprising because I heard 'Birds'' "Run Away" at the local corporate grocery store more times than I'm comfortable with. I mean, this is the band that I cherished with 'Mental Jewelry' and 'Throwing Copper'... raw, biting albums of energy and thought. For shame.

Again... there are some nice songs here. When I first saw the video for the album's single, 'The River', I'm sure my face mutated into a vile, disgusting alien of awkwardness for a split second. The song and video shot through my brain like a nasty tab of LSD. GOD DAMNIT -- why can't Live just write a mother f8)#@;ng rock album again? The video was a disgrace in itself, but the tone of the music was quite literally softer and more timid than I'd heard. And not like, in a sensitive, precious light; more like a weak, lame light. Whatever. This song ultimately is an accurate sign of what the rest of the album comes to be -- breezy, well-natured songs that sound like they could have come from a benign Christian Rock group. I.E. mostly utter sh*#.

Yeah so "Sofia" is a pretty rockin' piece. Ditto with "Where Do We Go From Here". I actually like "Get Ready", which I've already read some people lambast with satanic-fueled anger. The harmony between guitar, drums, and strings near the end of "Mystery" is one of the highlights of the disc... good stuff. But you know what? They're mearly good. The best song on here isn't as good as the worst song on any of Live's releases pre-'V'. Every song on the arena-rock oriented 'The Distance to Here' rapes 'Black Mountain' in a way that I'd turn my head if I had to bear witness to it. I mean, defiles. And sure, "it's a pop album", but you know what? I am a freakin' pop freak. LOVE good pop. ADORE great pop. This isn't good pop. 'V' in my opinion wasn't good pop either, but it was admirable enough for a band trying something new. This isn't pop music worth touching.

Whew. Basically, don't get it. Still love Live for their first four albums, and yet again, don't mind the maligned fifth, 'V'. So despite two bombs, 'Birds of Pray' and now 'Black Mountain', I still really do consider myself a Live fan. I just hope that, if they even do make another album, it gets........ better.

If you own Birds of Pray, you probably don't NEED to own Songs From Black Mountain.

Whilst Ed writes some unquestionably sweet uplifting tunes, the album is a bit of a let down in the sense that Live have failed to redefine or progress themselves musically or lyrically. So many of the tunes sound like rehashes of previous Live songs, whilst none feature the obscure, yet deep lyrical messages from the Throwing Copper/Secret Samadhi era. Whilst it is nice to know that Ed is content in life and for this very reason the album does indeed leave a warm feeling inside, you can't help but yearn for something more challenging. Or at least something that resmembles the clever angsy-ridden lyrical imagery of years gone by.

Musically, the album does hint at progression in songs such as Sofia, All I Need and Night of Nights, but such an approach never seems to come to the fore.

Where Do We Go From Here, Show and first single The River are inoffensive yet bland.

Mystery meanwhile, is backed by some gorgeous orchestration, whilst Sofia harks back to the comparatively left-field V album. Night of Nights is a sweet album closer featuring a mesmerisingly seductive change of beat. Get Ready will go off live and is perfect sing-a-long material for a packed arena.

Check Out: Home, Sofia, Night of Nights, Get Ready

Avoid: Show, Where Do We Go From Here

I picked up this album three weeks ago and haven't stopped playing it. It is extremely uplifting and the lyrics are amazing to listen too. The negative reviews must have to do with the album not being as "heavy" as previous work by LIVE. Just because all the songs aren't "heavy" doesn't make the songs not good. I can listen all the way through from song 1-12 and enjoy the journey every step of the way. If your a Live fan or if you aren't, this album is definitely worth a purchase!

Favorite songs thus far: Mystery, Night of Nights, Sophia, Wings

It took me a couple days for this album to grow on me, but I have to admit, so did Throwing Copper. I stuck with it, gave it more listens, and now I'm addicted to it. Every time I get in the car, I have to play it. I think it flows better than any of their previous albums, and it's a great album to listen to from start to finish without skipping any tracks. That's how this album should be listened to.

The thing I love about Live is their ability to completely change their sound from album to album. Every new album is like a 180 from their previous, so you don't know what to expect. This one is more of a pop record, with more emphasis on songwriting, melodies, and flows. That was not a disappointment to me because I enjoy pop, and I know that Live will eventually release a heavy dark album in the future.

"Songs From Black Mountain" captures the acoustic sound, turning down Chad and Pat's guitars to bring out Ed's vocals and especially Chad's incredible drumming. The drums are all over the place in this album.. and you also notice new sounds with every listen. I've listened to this album every day since I bought it, and I'm still hearing new things I had never noticed before. Highlights of this album are the great music and melody in "Where Do We Go From Here?", the dramatic acoustic sounds of "Get Ready", and the haunting vibes of "Night of Nights".

All the songs are great, and just get better with each listen. Out of all 7 Live albums, this is currently my favorite.

Live's latest album, Songs from Black Mountain, continues to amaze me the more that I listen. Ed Kowalczyk's songwriting is in top form on this album. I suggest listening to the whole thing from start to finish because it's clearly meant to be enjoyed that way. Each song flows into the next and there's not a weak link among these tracks. However, I do have a few favorites: Mystery, Sofia, Love Shines, and Night of Nights.

I will be seeing Live next month and I'm looking forward to singing along to this great collection of Songs from Black Mountain. Ed's voice is amazing and clear on this album. The whole thing has a "Throwing Copper" feel to it that should make Live fans extremely pleased.

Eddie Vedder once commented that Ed Kowalczyk was one of the best songwriters around and he was right. Kowalczyk proves it here.