SFBM Press Reviews Options

[livefan86]

Allmusic.com has just posted a review of SFBM. The review was one of the best Live has ever recieved and the album got 4 out of 5 stars. Here is the review:

Fifteen years after their debut and ten years after the peak of their popularity, Live finally settle down into a comfortable groove with Songs from Black Mountain, their seventh album and first for Epic/Red Ink. The quartet embrace the change in labels as a fresh start, moving away from the faintly desperate attempts at hard rock and grand statements that plagued their work since Throwing Copper and easing into quieter sounds and modest ambitions. Not that Live's leader Ed Kowalczyk has abandoned his signature spiritual pursuits, nor has the band departed from their U2-fueled anthems, but neither are they nearly as heavy-handed in their attack as they have been in the past. There is a gentleness and genuine sweetness here, a warm mellowing of their signature sound that's appropriate for a veteran band now in their thirties. It also happens to suit Kowalczyk's 12 new songs well. Unlike the tortured tunes that comprised the unsettled 2003 album Birds of Pray, the songs here are warm declarations of love, faith, and family; sometimes they're filled with angst, sometimes they're sweet (and sometimes they still bear his typically overly earnest lyrics), but they're tied together by a soft, understated touch in both his writing and his singing -- never once does he approach the vocal histrionics that could make some Live albums a little hard to bear -- that constitutes a genuine new wrinkle in their music. It's the sound of the band maturing, and while it's certainly more laid-back than any of their previous records, that low-key approach feels right for the music on Songs from Black Mountain and helps make it one of their most consistent and successful records.

[SJN1279]

Awesome review! Here is another very positive review from Alternativeaddiction.com: the album scored 4.5 out of 5 stars.

While Live’s sound has changed from album to album, they’ve always drawn on spiritual inspirations, and “Songs From Black Mountain” is no exception. Over the years, there’s been a call for Live to turn to the harder, edgier sound that was showcased on their earlier albums like “Throwing Copper” and “Secret Samadhi”, and while Live shows glimpses of that on tracks like “Show” and “You Are Not Alone”, the majority of tracks on this album will remind fans more of recent albums like “Birds of Pray” and “Distance To Here”. The melodies of tracks like “The River” and “Get Ready” as well as the spiritually motivated lyrics of “Mystery” clearly are reminiscent of Live’s later work. Ed Kowalczyk’s unique vocals and his uncompromising style will please long time Live fans, as will “Home” - a war protest song that has become a staple on recent Live albums, and this time it might be the strongest protest songs they’ve written to date. All in all, “Songs From Black Mountain” is another impressive collection of tracks from a band that is still one of the most spiritually driven bands in music today.

[Mr. Bunnyrabbit]

A few entertaining reviews from around the world:

http://www.metalexpressradio.com/menu.php?...reviews&id=1625

http://entertainment.iafrica.com/music/latest/422316.htm

http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/L/Live/A...575166-sun.html



'Songs from a diamond mine where the sun shines' ...eternally

[Lively Chick]

The quartet embrace the change in labels as a fresh start, moving away from the faintly desperate attempts at hard rock and grand statements that plagued their work since Throwing Copperand easing into quieter sounds and modest ambitions.

never once does he approach the vocal histrionics that could make some Live albums a little hard to bear --

Am I the only one who caught these insults?

This post has been edited by Lively Chick: Jun 4 2006, 1:27 pm

[beau99]

Those were honest opinions, which is what you're supposed to give an a review of a CD.

[Lively Chick]

The positive is that they were given 4 out of 5. The negative it that it was given after insulting their earlier work. That gets the reviewer, I should think, no credibility from the old fans.

This post has been edited by Lively Chick: Jun 4 2006, 1:33 pm

[beau99]

The positive is that they were given 4 out of 5. The negative it that it was given after insulting their earlier work. That gets the reviewer, I should think, no credibility from the old fans.

I personally stay away from reviews on that website (because most of them are poorly-written tripe), but believe it or not, there are some old fans who think Live's older work would be flawless, if it weren't utterly pretentious. This is what the reviewer here was trying to point out.

This post has been edited by beau99: Jun 4 2006, 1:50 pm

[ADAD]

Ummm, why? Cause every reviewer must agree with you. If Siskel and Ebert lost credibility everytime someone disagreed with them on a movie, they'd have no more viewers/readers.

The positive is that they were given 4 out of 5. The negative it that it was given after insulting their earlier work. That gets the reviewer, I should think, no credibility from the old fans.

[NectarDan]

It's good to finally hear a positive review. Too bad allmusic.com rates SFBM, Mental Jewelry, and V higher than TDTH though - that's a crock.

[edstipe]

It's good to finally hear a positive review. Too bad allmusic.com rates SFBM, Mental Jewelry, and V higher than TDTH though - that's a crock.

Mental Jewelry is better than TDTH, though.

[Elise]

It's good to finally hear a positive review. Too bad allmusic.com rates SFBM, Mental Jewelry, and V higher than TDTH though - that's a crock.

I agree with you

[Pokey]

Those were honest opinions, which is what you're supposed to give an a review of a CD.

And yet people get upset when they diss the new stuff and praise the old.

[jaybb]

From Rhapsody:

The venerable sensitive-rock four-piece from Pennsylvania continues along the intelligent, introspective path they mapped out back in the early '90s. The voice of singer Ed Kowalczyk has only refined over the years, and lead single "Mystery" almost measures up to the uplifting, emotional wallop delivered by alt rock radio staples like "I Alone" and "Lightning Crashes." Fans of the band -- which still sells out major venues across the country -- won't be disappointed in their seventh release.

[jaybb]

From RockReviews.org:

rtist:
Live
Album:
Songs from Black Mountain
Year: 2006
Format: CD
Label: EPIC/SonyBMG
Genre: [Pop/Rock]
Overall Rating: 8.0
Music: 7.5
Production: 9.0


It's been quite a while since Live released a new studio album (3 years already). Surprisingly their new record has already been released in Europe, but the USA release isn't until June 13th. The reason for this may be the group's overwhelming popularity in some European countries.

Musically this album isn't one of Live's strongest works... some of the songs just aren't that great. For the most part, Live has stressed pop influences more than rock voicings on this album. However, there are also some rather good songs every so often, and naturally all the songs have wonderful vocal melodies. Actually Kowalczyk. the vocalist, is the main reason why I've always liked this group - he has a really good voice, and his vocal melodies are quite inspiring. If I was to name a highlight of this album, I'd end up naming "Show" as my listening recommendation (this song just has certain intoxicating appeal to it).

Songs from Black Mountain has been produced really well, which isn't that surprising if one checks the credits... the album was mastered at Sterling Sound, New York by Ted Jensen. Overall, it's a fairly good record, though it doesn't quite represent Live at its best. Regardless, I'm sure most Live fans will find it worth listening - I, for one, did as I gave it numerous spins throughout the last week.

[seriakiLLa]

[/color]
Am I the only one who caught these insults?

Obviously, this reviewer is a recent fan. Articulate review though. I think it very well lays out the arguments of the 'new school' fans.

Personally though, I'd wait for the next album to see if Live has really settled to this type of music.