Reviews of "Alive" from media, Post reviews here Options

[SJN1279]

Alternative Addiction:

http://www.alternativeaddiction.com/newmus...iews.asp?id=966

Ed Kowalczyk’s debut solo record isn’t the acoustic album that many of us anticipated after he went out on the acoustic solo tour. It is very much a rock record, with some huge instrumentation and the Live sound that Ed helped make famous. If you’re judging this from the standpoint of a Live record, it’s different from what we’re used to hearing from Ed. It’s even more spiritual, and although it does rock... it just doesn’t hit as hard. This album does not have what made Live great in its early stages. There was a lot of maniacal passion in that stuff that’s never been duplicated. The band couldn’t even match it later in their careers. That’s the only knock that you can give this album. For being a new project, it doesn’t always present that type of energy. What’s always made Kowalczyk special is his ability to write songs. It sloped off slightly at the tail end of Live, but it was still very special. This is some of the best material that he’s written in years. Making a solo record has brought out some of his best stuff and the song writing makes this record a good record. It’s a shame that all good things have to come to an end, though it can be productive if it happens at the proper time. Live is no different. Yes relationships between Ed and his former band mates have been damaged. But who knows what the future will hold. For now, Ed has a great solo debut he can stake claim in.

This post has been edited by SJN1279: Jul 28 2010, 9:51 am

[livefan1999]

Review on AltSounds.com - Wales, UK

July 20, 2010, 08:12 PM
Views: 364 Comments: 2
by danreviewer [More from this Author]

Buy Ed Kowalczyk - Alive [Album] From Amazon.com

When a man such as Ed Kowalczyk, with such history and iconic status returns with a solo album instead of fronting a band, it is very easy to be dubious of what to expect. I can promise that "Alive" is definitely worth a listen and you’d be mistaken for thinking it’s just a ‘safe’ release with no real substantial content. Starting with the ooo’s and aaaa’s which are so rock and roll, it’s always going to be expected from this legend! The track goes under the name ‘Drive’ and twists the softest of ballads with the darkest of bassy and powerful arrangements, which makes for a cohesive and accessible start to this album.

Track two carries the title ‘The Great Beyond’ and it represents a ‘big sound’ for Ed and his musicians. This is the type of sound you might expect from a larger line-up. There is a careful blend of distant and airy effects, which compliment the more edgy foreground vocal and guitar work. Lead single ‘Grace’ is still a stunning track, amongst others on this fine album. I won’t go into too much depth about this song here, because I’ve done a more detailed review here. Make sure you take the time to give this track a number of listens, because it has real potential.

Taking this album as both a first time listener and as a fan of Ed Kowalczyk’s previous work, it stands to reason why he has had so much success in the past. His song writing ability appears so effortless and track after track you can immediately locate the all important hook. One fine example would be ‘In your light’ which took me one airing to be able to recite the chorus with ease. I am very impressed by the high quality and level of consistency on show throughout this CD. A soft and emotional vocal by Ed Kowalczyk captures your inner thoughts and allows you the opportunity to experience a musical journey.

Overall, this is a beautiful and sweet album. The type you might play on a sunny afternoon whilst you and a couple of mates gather around the BBQ. A great album in time for the summer! Get yourself a copy, because it is a sure-fire success. You heard it here first.

http://hangout.altsounds.com/reviews/12028...live-album.html

His review of Grace: http://hangout.altsounds.com/reviews/12007...ace-single.html

[SJN1279]

From Lazyrocker.com

BAND/ARTIST: ED KOWALCZYK
ALBUM: ALIVE
LABEL: V2 RECORDS (EUROPE), SOUL WHISPER RECORDS
RELEASE DATE: 25-JUN-10 RATING 81 /100
GENRE: ALTERNATIVE ROCK, POST-GRUNGE
PRODUCER: CJ EIRIKSSON & GREGG WATTENBERG
WEBSITE: http://www.edkowalczyk.com/
MYSPACE: http://www.myspace.com/edkowalczyk
REVIEWER: RAYMOND "EVERYBODY LOVES RAY" COONEN


Well, this is the first Monday with a normal temperature after weeks filled with a lot of heat waves and the day after (and this is even much harder to swallow) the Netherlands losing the World Cup Soccer Final. But now it’s it's to to go back to the real world and report you about an album that’s already available in your record store. That’s what happens if you watch too much soccer on TV… great albums are released and pass you by without a warning. One of these releases is the new album of ex-Live front man Ed Kowalczyk. Ex-Live? Yes, the band split up in 2009. Ed Kowalczyk went solo and the other band members started a band called The Gracious Few.

The first thing that strikes me is the title of the album. “Alive”… the link to the past is quickly made. This choice of the album title didn’t need to be that obvious if you ask me. Everybody knows that Live was Ed Kowalczyk. So how does the new album sound? Will it sound completely different than Live?? No, don’t worry. Kowalczyk does on “Alive” where he’s best in. Writing energetic, melodic alternative rock songs about faith, love, children and the elements of nature…. It could have been a Live album I think, although the songs on “Alive” sound more melodic than during the Live-era. The tracks are from high quality and remind me to the “Distance To Here” period (which I think is the best Live album together with Throwing Copper). If you take a listen to the third album track and also the first single “Grace” you know what I mean. Soft acoustic beginning followed by a powerful energetic chorus. The typical Live… No, the typical Ed Kowalczyk sound is also on great songs like the opener “Drive”, “Stand”, the brilliant “In Your Light”, “Just In Time” and the best track on the album “Fire On The Mountain”. Usually I try to tell you something about every track on the album, but doing this for “Alive” would be boring.
Kowalczyk wrote all the tracks himself except for “Drink (everlasting love)” that was co-written with Chris Daughtry and for “Grace” and “Stand” co-written with Gregg Wattenberg.

On the deluxe edition you will find a bonus dvd with a video of “Grace” and acoustic versions of “Just In Time”, “Zion”, “The Great Beyond” and “Drink (everlasting love)”.

All I can say is that Ed Kowalczyk made a damn good first solo record… full with new classic rock songs. Also compliments to producer CJ Eiriksson (U2 and Matchbox 20) and Gregg Wattenberg (Train, Eve 6 and Five For Fighting) who made “Alive” one smooth ride. If you are one of the 22 million people that bought a Live album in the past you can order this album without listening first. You won’t be disappointed.


TRACKLISTING:
01. Drive*
02. The Great Beyond
03. Grace*
04. Stand*
05. Drink (everlasting love)
06. Zion
07. In Your Light*
08. Just In Time*
09. Rome
10. Soul Whispers
11. Fire On The Mountain*

Bonus DVD
01. Just In Time (acoustic)
02. Zion (acoustic)
03. The Great Beyond (acoustic)
04. Drink (everlasting love) (acoustic)
05. Grace (video clip)

* Everybody Loves Ray’s favourite tracks

PERSONNEL:
Ed Kowalczyk: vocals, rhythm guitar
James Gabbie: guitars
Chris Heerlein : bass
Ramy Antoun: drums
Andy Dollerson : additional keyboards
Gregg Wattenberg : guitars and bass on “Grace”

PRODUCERS:
CJ Eiriksson – tracks 1,2 & 5-11
Gregg Wattenberg – track 3 & 4

[Hoodstock]

The Great Beyond is actually my favorite track on this album. Glad to see a few reviewers enjoying it cause I think it's sweet.

Bonus DVD
01. Just In Time (acoustic)
02. Zion (acoustic)
03. The Great Beyond (acoustic)
04. Drink (everlasting love) (acoustic)
05. Grace (video clip)

If anybody could just rip the audio from this to share that would be fantastic!

This post has been edited by Hoodstock: Jul 31 2010, 1:32 pm

[SJN1279]

The Great Beyond is actually my favorite track on this album. Glad to see a few reviewers enjoying it cause I think it's sweet.
If anybody could just rip the audio from this to share that would be fantastic!

You can download the DVD from Ed's site, Hoodie.

I love the Great Beyond too!

[Hoodstock]

You can download the DVD from Ed's site, Hoodie.

I love the Great Beyond too!

I don't want the DVD, just the audio for my IPod.

[Pokey]

I don't want the DVD, just the audio for my IPod.

Nick doesn't want you hearing it without Ed getting money.

[livefan1999]

Nick doesn't want you hearing it without Ed getting money.

No offense, but is that a bad thing? Granted, Ed likely isn't hurting for money, but the reason for putting out cd's is to make money and, hopefully, continued success in the music world, right? Satisfaction in being able to continue sharing one's music/talents/ideals should be a priority, but without continued success, the opportunity to share one's craft dries up. The more sales/downloads, the likelihood that future cd backings by labels, etc.

[Hoodstock]

the reason for putting out cd's is to make money and, hopefully, continued success in the music world, right?

He didn't put it out on CD. These songs aren't even availible in his acoustic show downloads. I just want to hear the songs. Don't care to watch the DVD or get the interviews. Would just like to hear the music, which I'd probably only listen to once anyway.

This post has been edited by Hoodstock: Aug 1 2010, 12:21 pm

[livefan1999]

This review is a bit negative:

About.com: Rock Music

Ed Kowalczyk - 'Alive' Review
Former Live Frontman Ed Kowalczyk Drowns in Cliches

Live frontman Ed Kowalczyk steps out with his first solo album, Alive, a record that features most of the hallmarks of his old band without the undeniable hooks that helped propel that post-grunge group in the 1990s. Filled with lumbering, spiritual-themed songs, Alive is so unremittingly bombastic that it’s almost charming, but anyone who isn’t already a sucker for Live’s pseudo-uplifting songs will easily resist Kowalczyk’s barrel-chested fervor.

Is It Live or Is It Ed Kowalczyk?

Live came to prominence in the mid-‘90s thanks to albums like Throwing Copper and Secret Samadhi, which were chock full of anthem-ready tunes that merged the earnestness of Pearl Jam with the plaintive vocals of U2 or R.E.M. Though heavily formulaic, Live had their moments, but the group’s commercial standing soon tumbled once the wave of post-Nirvana bands began to lose their novelty. Live effectively broke up at the end of last year, prompting Kowalczyk to strike out on his own. Judging from Alive, Kowalczyk was Live’s heart and soul, although that’s meant as a bit of a backhanded compliment. Indeed, Alive very much sounds like a Live album, but that doesn’t mean it’s a particularly good album.

Spiritually Lacking

Kowalczyk has often featured spiritual messages in his songs, drawing on Buddhism and Christianity when singing about the need for some sort of faith in an uncertain world. But Alive is so relentless in its metaphorical content that it feels like a crutch. Whether it’s allusions to “water and wine” in “Just in Time,” the search for personal salvation in “Zion,” or the salute to a higher power in “Grace,” Alive bristles with sanctimony. Great artists from Johnny Cash to Bono have made great music about their spiritual struggles, but Kowalczyk can’t seem to express himself without resorting to cliches that fail to dramatize his personal journey of faith.

Post-Post-Grunge

On a musical level, Alive has a deadening familiarity for anyone who remembers Live hits like “Lightning Crashes.” Surging choruses, revved-up guitars, bellowed vocals – Kowalczyk milked this style for years with his old band, but what’s ironic is that now it’s been adopted by current bands like Daughtry that have given it more juice. By comparison, Alive feels perfunctory, which is especially deadly when your stock in trade is inspirational songs that are meant to lift the spirit.

A Few Bright Spots

Only two Alive tracks break free of the album’s dull stupor. “Drive” follows the Live formula to perfection, offering slowly building verses and arena-sized choruses. And “Drink (Everlasting Love)” is a ballad with a pretty melody, although it has a typically inane lyric about a wonderful woman who “makes the Mona Lisa smile.” But on the whole, if you’re really craving some Live, skip Alive and just go to their greatest-hits collection, which is called Awake. The titles are pretty similar, but in terms of sheer listenability, the two albums couldn’t be more different.

'Alive' – Best Tracks:
“Drive”
“Drink - Everlasting Love"
“Grace”
“Stand”

http://rock.about.com/od/reviews/fr/EdKowa...AliveReview.htm

This post has been edited by livefan1999: Aug 7 2010, 3:12 am

[SecretInsomnia]

'Alive' – Best Tracks:
“Drive”
“Drink - Everlasting Love"
“Grace”
“Stand”

http://rock.about.com/od/reviews/fr/EdKowa...AliveReview.htm

he forgot to call Zion?

[SJN1279]

http://music.is-amazing.com/2010/07/8/ed-k...czyk-alive-2010

It’s certainly possible that the title of Ed Kowalczyk’s first solo album is a pun on his status as an former member of Live — he’s “A Live” on his own now — but given his fondness for sincerity, it’s unlikely. Kowalczyk doesn’t like to obscure his point, he likes to emphasize it, a sensibility that extends to his arrangements, which never rely on one guitar when five could do…which is all the better when he’s writing about big themes, which he does throughout 'Alive'. This isn’t a new wrinkle since Live always was one of U2’s most earnest disciples, making big music out of big issues, to the extent of treating the personal as a cataclysmic event. They lost a bit of that rock & roll messiah complex toward the end of their run, but Kowalczyk brings it back big time here and he’s the better for it, sounding reinvigorated, or at least louder, throughout the bulk of 'Alive'. This is the biggest, boldest music he’s made since 'Throwing Copper', lacking the overheated hard rock poses of Live’s albums immediately following that blockbuster, and feeling simpler than their otherwise admirable Live finale 'Songs from Black Mountain'. The big difference is, there aren’t skyscraping hooks here, only unfettered passion and sincerity, the eternal Kowalczyk trademarks that now get to burn brighter now that he’s on his own.

[SecretInsomnia]

http://music.is-amazing.com/2010/07/8/ed-k...czyk-alive-2010

It’s certainly possible that the title of Ed Kowalczyk’s first solo album is a pun on his status as an former member of Live — he’s “A Live” on his own now — but given his fondness for sincerity, it’s unlikely. Kowalczyk doesn’t like to obscure his point, he likes to emphasize it, a sensibility that extends to his arrangements, which never rely on one guitar when five could do…which is all the better when he’s writing about big themes, which he does throughout 'Alive'. This isn’t a new wrinkle since Live always was one of U2’s most earnest disciples, making big music out of big issues, to the extent of treating the personal as a cataclysmic event. They lost a bit of that rock & roll messiah complex toward the end of their run, but Kowalczyk brings it back big time here and he’s the better for it, sounding reinvigorated, or at least louder, throughout the bulk of 'Alive'. This is the biggest, boldest music he’s made since 'Throwing Copper', lacking the overheated hard rock poses of Live’s albums immediately following that blockbuster, and feeling simpler than their otherwise admirable Live finale 'Songs from Black Mountain'. The big difference is, there aren’t skyscraping hooks here, only unfettered passion and sincerity, the eternal Kowalczyk trademarks that now get to burn brighter now that he’s on his own.

That reviewer must not know there was music after TC. Ha.


Everyone who says that Alive by Eddie K is better then anything after TC, has very, very clearly never listened a second of SS, TDTH, or even V and BoP. Period.