The reasons for Live's album disparity? Options

[AgentK7]

Instead of providing opinions for why Live's last couple of albums haven't met with the best success, I'm going to give you a breakdown of the album credits (verbatim from the cd booklet when practical):

Mental Jewelry (1991)

• Produced by Jerry Harrison for Construct Music, Inc.
• All Songs written by Edward Kowalczyk, Chad Taylor, Patrick Dahlheimer and Chad Gracey

Throwing Copper (1994)

• Produced by Jerry Harrison
• Lyrics: Kowalczyk Music: Live

Secret Samadhi (1997)

• Produced by Jay Healy and Live
• Written and Performed by Live (Lyrics by Ed Kowalczyk)

The Distance To Here (1999)

• Produced by Jerry Harrison and Live
• Lyrics by Ed Kowalczyk. Music by Ed Kowalczyk (except "Run To The Water" Kowalczyk, Dahlheimer "Voodoo Lady" Kowalczyk, Taylor "Where Fishes Go" Kowalczyk, Taylor and "They Stood Up For Love" Kowalczyk, Taylor,Dahlheimer)

V (2001)

• Produced by Live, Railo and Alain Johannes*
• Lyrics and Music by Ed Kowalczyk*
• *Forever May Not be long enough has writing and production credits to Ed Kowalczyk AND Glen Ballard

Birds Of Pray (2003)

• Produced by Jim Wirt
• Lyrics by Ed Kowalczyk. Music by Ed Kowalczyk (except "Like I Do" Ed Kowalczyk, Patrick Dahlheimer, Chad Taylor and "Lighthouse" Ed Kowalczyk, Chad Taylor)

Songs From Black Mountain (2006)

• Produced by Jim Wirt
• Songs by Ed Kowalczyk

I know my interpretation of this information, I'm curious what others think....

This post has been edited by AgentK7: Sep 13 2007, 3:48 pm

[AgentK7]

Misfortunes probably wasn't the right word to use, I was having a hard time coming up with a subject for this topic. I guess perhaps "waning sales" or "disparity" would have been a better term to use.


Anyway, the point I was trying to make was that when the band is credited with the music, the results tend to be good. They tend to be even better when Jerry Harrison is involved.

Mental Jewelry, Throwing Copper and The Distance to Here is arguably Live's fanbases favorite albums. These were the albums that were produced by Jerry Harrison and the entire band had a lot of input musically. The Distance To Here had a lot of entirely Ed composed songs, but some of the best/most memorable ones were collaborations with other band members (They Stood Up For Love, Run To The Water, etc). (They Stood up for love is probably my favorite Live song, mainly because it works as a rock song, acoustic song and a ballad, and I love all three versions)

V was primarily produced by the band and friends and was credited musically soul-ly to Ed (with the exception of the Mummy Returns tune). I believe most Live fans agree this is their least favorite album. When it initially came out, I'll admit I liked it but it grew stale fast. In retrospect it comes off as candy.....really tasty but no nutritional value (Overcome of course being an exception, but that was essentially a holdover from ADTH was it not?)

Birds of Pray is better received by the fans and a new producer was involved. Additional bandmembers contributed to some of fans' favorite tune on the album (Like I do and Lighthouse).

Songs From Black Mountain had its moments and used the same producer as Birds Of Pray, but the fact that Ed handled all the music may have contributed to its low key sameness.

Secret Samadhi is the exception for me that proves how much involvement Jerry Harrison seems to bring to the albums. The music was very good and it was a solid band collaboration with all the music credited to the band. However, I didn't care for the production of the album. I really think Freaks would have been served better as a b-side (do producers make those kind of recommendations/decisions?). To me the album sounded more brittle and overall darker then Throwing Copper. I think this is another reason ADTH was so well received.

Ed always writes the lyrics, and does a good job, but when the band collaborates together on the music, the album is better for it. The songs are more varied and provide a more complete listening experience. When a strong producer is involved (Jerry) the albums are that much better for it.

Was there a falling out with Jerry? Do you think there's a chance the band could ever work together with him again?

[ponzu]

...V was primarily produced by the band and friends and was credited musically soul-ly to Ed (with the exception of the Mummy Returns tune). I believe most Live fans agree this is their least favorite album. When it initially came out, I'll admit I liked it but it grew stale fast. In retrospect it comes off as candy.....really tasty but no nutritional value (Overcome of course being an exception, but that was essentially a holdover from ADTH was it not?)...



How can you can that V comes off as candy? The Ride, Simple Creed, OK?, these songs promote mind expansion and the awakening of universal consciousness. To me I see the guys going through transitions in life and finding a balance between serving self and others.

This post has been edited by ponzu: Sep 13 2007, 8:22 pm

[Gunner Scott]

...V was primarily produced by the band and friends and was credited musically soul-ly to Ed (with the exception of the Mummy Returns tune). I believe most Live fans agree this is their least favorite album. When it initially came out, I'll admit I liked it but it grew stale fast. In retrospect it comes off as candy.....really tasty but no nutritional value (Overcome of course being an exception, but that was essentially a holdover from ADTH was it not?)...
How can you can that V comes off as candy? The Ride, Simple Creed, OK?, these songs promote mind expansion and the awakening of universal consciousness. To me I see the guys going through transitions in life and finding a balance between serving self and others.

I heard in a recent interview that the next studio album was going to be a team effort both musically and lyrically and a lot more rocked up. can't remember where I heard it though!