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[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

[Sonic Tonic]

Check LazyRocker.com for the complete review!
12-Jul-10 - 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 time 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.

Cocaine's a hell of a drug