Favorite Song of Each Album Options

[tbone2004]

This is a personal opinion of mine, but when it comes to almost every album Live's put out, I have a personal favorite that I always fall back on now and forever. And I'd like to share mine, and wonder what yours is. And yes, I'm including Public Affection and Chris Shinn's run as well, and I'm putting Four Songs and Mental Jewelry together as one album as of 2017.

The Death of a Dictionary - Raising a Man

When I first heard this back in 2008, I was driving to a convention, and thought "Damn, man, this could've worked on Mental Jewelry!" Sure, Good Pain was on this album, but I prefer Raising a Man for it's slow and mellow groove.

Mental Jewelry - Operation Spirit (The Tyranny of Tradition)

I had bought MJ in early 2001, and thought it was weak at first. But once I heard Operation Spirit, I knew I had a favorite off the album. Sure I fell in love with You Are the World and Mother Earth is a Vicious Crowd, but Operation Spirit sticks out the most, with just one lyric.

Heard a lot of talk about this Jesus,
A man of love and a man of strength,
But what a man was 2,000 years ago
Means nothing at all to me today.
He could've been telling me about my higher self,
But he only lives inside a prayer.
So what he wants may have been (so damn) beautiful,
But the pain is right now and right here.

Throwing Copper - I Alone

I heard this as early as 1994. I was in 3rd grade when this was new, and I fell in love with it. It must've been the exposure on MTV or the airtime it got on the radio, but ever since, when I got Throwing Copper on CD, no matter what time of day, I Alone has to be the first song I listen to. Say what you will about TDAOC, Drama, All Over You, Shit Towne, and LC, but I Alone is the crowning jewel of TC as far as I'm concerned. And I live by one particular part of the chorus, which is my life quote...

"FEAR IS NOT THE END OF THIS!"

Secret Samadhi - Freaks

As kickass of a song Lakini's Juice is, I gotta give it to Freaks. I think Ed described it best, saying it's like an episode of Seinfeld, the song is about absolutely nothing! And for some reason, a nonsensical song is usually a banger, and this one definitely bangs. I love how Chad Taylor just shreds the hell out of the chorus and bridge, and Patrick just playing the bass so slick like. Oh, and don't get me started about the music video. Someone had mentioned on Youtube it seemed like something out of a Stanley Kubrick movie. They aren't wrong, it feels like a scene out of A Clockwork Orange...

The Distance to Here - The Dolphins Cry

When I heard this song on Dallas/Fort Worth's rock station (RIP 94.5 KDGE, The Edge), I knew then and there I had to go buy TDTH. That was one of the best purchases I made back in 1999. I played that album so many times, and the scratches prove it. But the song itself, I can never stop playing it, much like with TC and I Alone. After that, I try to find the best possible concert version, and so far, the best I've heard was a Radio SFX show from 2000 that featured Adam Duritz. If anyone knows of a better version, let me know.

V - Forever May Not Be Long Enough

This one is a sleeper hit to me, as far as I'm concerned, and that's very sad. V was not a great album, but not a bad one either. Simple Creed, Like a Soldier, and Deep Enough were awesome, but the main drive for me was FMNBLE. Say what you will, but when I heard for the first time, I was hooked. You can keep Call Me a Fool, Hero of Love, and Flow, I ain't letting go of that jam.

Birds of Pray - Every Time I See Your Face

I say this only for the fact there's an extended version with a longer second chorus. That version felt like that should've been on the album, not saying the album version is bad. No, far from it. Sure, Heaven and Run Away steal the show, but ETISYF is a hidden gem from a lackluster and disappointing album.

Awake - We Deal in Dreams

I know this song is on TC25, but I first heard on Awake, so it counts. When I first heard it, I immediately began asking "Why wasn't this on TC back in 1994?!" That's when I discovered this forum and all the lost songs. So in a sense, had it not been for WDID, I wouldn't have found Fans of Live.

Songs From Black Mountain - The River

I will say that I hate this album. It was a terrible way to end Live's first run, but if I had to pick a cop out song, I'd go with The River. It at least shows that they still had it, despite the heated feelings the band members had for each other at the time, and it also showed Ed's desire to go solo for a while. Had they split in 2004 on good terms and vowed a reunion 10 years down the road, this would've been a great start to Ed's solo career. But, that's just me...

Radiant Sea - (Same as album name)

Like The River, this is totally a cop out, because being that the "two new songs" sounded like they could've been outtakes from V, I have to go with Radiant Sea for this one. It's a slow groove, and that ending just shreds! Though Ed could've done something better vocally, and not go into a rap at the end. He's no Tricky, to say the least...

Live at the Paradiso - Forever

I have to choose Forever for one reason, because I feel like this was Live's swan song. Like, they knew they were breaking up and this was their way of saying goodbye to their fans, but then Ed's last words in the chorus stick out, telling everyone to keep the faith.

"I'll stay here with you until the end of the storm." And he kept true to his word into his solo career.

The Turn - The Way Around is Through

I will say this. I actually enjoyed The Turn! I mean, yes, Chris Shinn is no Ed Kowalczyk. But you have to admit it, his songs breathed new life into Live in Ed's absence. When I first heard TWAIT in early 2014, I couldn't stop playing it. I was like "This is actually good! I just wish Chris would take his concert performances seriously, oh, and stop forgetting the lyrics." Aside from that, it is worth a few plays, and Chad's style shines through again. Though, like a few people said here, it would be interesting to hear Ed's vocals here...

Local 717 - Love Lounge

Much like SFBM, I liked it at first, but it soured after a while. Though Love Lounge still stuck out to me. I said "This would've worked as a single for a new album, not an EP." Once again, Ed and Chad play off each other like peanut butter and jelly, but the song is nothing more than a piece of bronze covered in cat shit, apologies for the crude observation. A great song, but stuck on a poor album.

And there we go, my favorite songs off of every Live album, including a few wild cards. How about you guys? What are your favorites and why?

This post has been edited by tbone2004: Feb 17 2021, 12:25 am

[SJN1279]

This is a personal opinion of mine, but when it comes to almost every album Live's put out, I have a personal favorite that I always fall back on now and forever. And I'd like to share mine, and wonder what yours is. And yes, I'm including Public Affection and Chris Shinn's run as well, and I'm putting Four Songs and Mental Jewelry together as one album as of 2017.

The Death of a Dictionary - Raising a Man

When I first heard this back in 2008, I was driving to a convention, and thought "Damn, man, this could've worked on Mental Jewelry!" Sure, Good Pain was on this album, but I prefer Raising a Man for it's slow and mellow groove.

Mental Jewelry - Operation Spirit (The Tyranny of Tradition)

I had bought MJ in early 2001, and thought it was weak at first. But once I heard Operation Spirit, I knew I had a favorite off the album. Sure I fell in love with You Are the World and Mother Earth is a Vicious Crowd, but Operation Spirit sticks out the most, with just one lyric.

Heard a lot of talk about this Jesus,
A man of love and a man of strength,
But what a man was 2,000 years ago
Means nothing at all to me today.
He could've been telling me about my higher self,
But he only lives inside a prayer.
So what he wants may have been (so damn) beautiful,
But the pain is right now and right here.

Throwing Copper - I Alone

I heard this as early as 1994. I was in 3rd grade when this was new, and I fell in love with it. It must've been the exposure on MTV or the airtime it got on the radio, but ever since, when I got Throwing Copper on CD, no matter what time of day, I Alone has to be the first song I listen to. Say what you will about TDAOC, Drama, All Over You, Shit Towne, and LC, but I Alone is the crowning jewel of TC as far as I'm concerned. And I live by one particular part of the chorus, which is my life quote...

"FEAR IS NOT THE END OF THIS!"

Secret Samadhi - Freaks

As kickass of a song Lakini's Juice is, I gotta give it to Freaks. I think Ed described it best, saying it's like an episode of Seinfeld, the song is about absolutely nothing! And for some reason, a nonsensical song is usually a banger, and this one definitely bangs. I love how Chad Taylor just shreds the hell out of the chorus and bridge, and Patrick just playing the bass so slick like. Oh, and don't get me started about the music video. Someone had mentioned on Youtube it seemed like something out of a Stanley Kubrick movie. They aren't wrong, it feels like a scene out of A Clockwork Orange...

The Distance to Here - The Dolphins Cry

When I heard this song on Dallas/Fort Worth's rock station (RIP 94.5 KDGE, The Edge), I knew then and there I had to go buy TDTH. That was one of the best purchases I made back in 1999. I played that album so many times, and the scratches prove it. But the song itself, I can never stop playing it, much like with TC and I Alone. After that, I try to find the best possible concert version, and so far, the best I've heard was a Radio SFX show from 2000 that featured Adam Duritz. If anyone knows of a better version, let me know.

V - Forever May Not Be Long Enough

This one is a sleeper hit to me, as far as I'm concerned, and that's very sad. V was not a great album, but not a bad one either. Simple Creed, Like a Soldier, and Deep Enough were awesome, but the main drive for me was FMNBLE. Say what you will, but when I heard for the first time, I was hooked. You can keep Call Me a Fool, Hero of Love, and Flow, I ain't letting go of that jam.

Birds of Pray - Every Time I See Your Face

I say this only for the fact there's an extended version with a longer second chorus. That version felt like that should've been on the album, not saying the album version is bad. No, far from it. Sure, Heaven and Run Away steal the show, but ETISYF is a hidden gem from a lackluster and disappointing album.

Awake - We Deal in Dreams

I know this song is on TC25, but I first heard on Awake, so it counts. When I first heard it, I immediately began asking "Why wasn't this on TC back in 1994?!" That's when I discovered this forum and all the lost songs. So in a sense, had it not been for WDID, I wouldn't have found Fans of Live.

Songs From Black Mountain - The River

I will say that I hate this album. It was a terrible way to end Live's first run, but if I had to pick a cop out song, I'd go with The River. It at least shows that they still had it, despite the heated feelings the band members had for each other at the time, and it also showed Ed's desire to go solo for a while. Had they split in 2004 on good terms and vowed a reunion 10 years down the road, this would've been a great start to Ed's solo career. But, that's just me...

Radiant Sea - (Same as album name)

Like The River, this is totally a cop out, because being that the "two new songs" sounded like they could've been outtakes from V, I have to go with Radiant Sea for this one. It's a slow groove, and that ending just shreds! Though Ed could've done something better vocally, and not go into a rap at the end. He's no Tricky, to say the least...

Live at the Paradiso - Forever

I have to choose Forever for one reason, because I feel like this was Live's swan song. Like, they knew they were breaking up and this was their way of saying goodbye to their fans, but then Ed's last words in the chorus stick out, telling everyone to keep the faith.

"I'll stay here with you until the end of the storm." And he kept true to his word into his solo career.

The Turn - The Way Around is Through

I will say this. I actually enjoyed The Turn! I mean, yes, Chris Shinn is no Ed Kowalczyk. But you have to admit it, his songs breathed new life into Live in Ed's absence. When I first heard TWAIT in early 2014, I couldn't stop playing it. I was like "This is actually good! I just wish Chris would take his concert performances seriously, oh, and stop forgetting the lyrics." Aside from that, it is worth a few plays, and Chad's style shines through again. Though, like a few people said here, it would be interesting to hear Ed's vocals here...

Local 717 - Love Lounge

Much like SFBM, I liked it at first, but it soured after a while. Though Love Lounge still stuck out to me. I said "This would've worked as a single for a new album, not an EP." Once again, Ed and Chad play off each other like peanut butter and jelly, but the song is nothing more than a piece of bronze covered in cat shit, apologies for the crude observation. A great song, but stuck on a poor album.

And there we go, my favorite songs off of every Live album, including a few wild cards. How about you guys? What are your favorites and why?

Get ready for Fans of Live FB very soon.

[tbone2004]

Get ready for Fans of Live FB very soon.

What makes you say that?

[SJN1279]

What makes you say that?

Preliminary rounds of our 2nd Fans of Live Song Tournament are coming in March.

This post has been edited by SJN1279: Feb 17 2021, 6:08 pm

[Voodoo Lady]

Preliminary rounds of our 2nd Fans of Live Song Tournament are coming in March.

Can you please post the match ups here again too? The first tournament was really fun.

I’ll be back soon with my favorite song from each album.