Another Scathing Review, 'A-Live' Options

[OutToDry]

The press is starting to come around to Ed's fake ways and tell it like it really is!!!

http://www.citybeat.com/cincinnati/article...t-and-more.html

As break-ups go, the end of Live couldn’t have been much uglier. Frontman Ed Kowalczyk reportedly signed a new publishing deal without the rest of the band’s knowledge, demanded a “lead singer bonus” for Live’s Pinkpop Festival appearance last year and allegedly withheld royalties from his bandmates. The remainder of the band announced that Live’s hiatus had become a dissolution and that they would never play another show with Kowalczyk, ostensibly making their side project, The Gracious Few, their new permanent gig. Kowalczyk went on an acoustic tour with Art Alexakis and Leigh Nash, recorded his solo debut and remained relatively quiet about the end of Live as we know it.

What Kowalczyk has said is that he was looking for fresh inspiration and that his new solo direction is more experimental than his work with Live. Perhaps that inspiration and experimentalism will be reflected in his sophomore effort, because Alive merely seems like evidence that Kowalczyk can make a Live album on his own. And not the viscerally slashing, anthemic Rock of the band’s earliest successes, like “I Alone” and “Lightning Crashes,” but the subdued and rather pedestrian output of Live’s later years. Even the title seems to allude to both Kowalczyk’s past and his album’s generic nature (A Live).

There are moments where Kowalczyk exhibits flashes of moving beyond his band accomplishments (the dramatic “Grace,” the Middle Eastern Blues buzz of “Zion”), but too often Alive seems rooted in songs, arrangements and performances that are simply average. Faithful Live fans will likely be pleased with Alive (as long as they’re not taking sides in the band’s messy divorce), but hardcore followers may be disappointed that Kowalczyk has taken such a safe and uneventful first step in his solo career.

[OutToDry]

For what it's worth....more truth than smoke & mirrors. Ed's gig's up as far as being a major league frontman.



http://www.citybeat.com/cincinnati/article...t-and-more.html

As break-ups go, the end of Live couldn’t have been much uglier. Frontman Ed Kowalczyk reportedly signed a new publishing deal without the rest of the band’s knowledge, demanded a “lead singer bonus” for Live’s Pinkpop Festival appearance last year and allegedly withheld royalties from his bandmates. The remainder of the band announced that Live’s hiatus had become a dissolution and that they would never play another show with Kowalczyk, ostensibly making their side project, The Gracious Few, their new permanent gig. Kowalczyk went on an acoustic tour with Art Alexakis and Leigh Nash, recorded his solo debut and remained relatively quiet about the end of Live as we know it.

What Kowalczyk has said is that he was looking for fresh inspiration and that his new solo direction is more experimental than his work with Live. Perhaps that inspiration and experimentalism will be reflected in his sophomore effort, because Alive merely seems like evidence that Kowalczyk can make a Live album on his own. And not the viscerally slashing, anthemic Rock of the band’s earliest successes, like “I Alone” and “Lightning Crashes,” but the subdued and rather pedestrian output of Live’s later years. Even the title seems to allude to both Kowalczyk’s past and his album’s generic nature (A Live).

There are moments where Kowalczyk exhibits flashes of moving beyond his band accomplishments (the dramatic “Grace,” the Middle Eastern Blues buzz of “Zion”), but too often Alive seems rooted in songs, arrangements and performances that are simply average. Faithful Live fans will likely be pleased with Alive (as long as they’re not taking sides in the band’s messy divorce), but hardcore followers may be disappointed that Kowalczyk has taken such a safe and uneventful first step in his solo career.

This post has been edited by OutToDry: Jul 27 2010, 3:37 pm

[Nobody Knows]

Ye, I'm hardcore, baby!

[Merica]

Pretty much on the money.

[SinfulEyes]

Pretty much on the money.

It really is. Anyone who thinks album is any more than what that reviewer said it is, ought to take a hard look in the mirror. They are either blind Ed fans, or completely delusional.

[mattyeagles]

def wasnt a great review but it was also far from scathing

[VoodooLady]

def wasnt a great review but it was also far from scathing

its speaks volumes without getting nasty..

definition of scathing: adj.
1. Bitterly denunciatory; harshly critical:
2. Harmful or painful; injurious.

i bet if Ed reads the review, he'd find it "painful"
and i'd argue that terms like "generic" "pedestrian" and "uneventful," while perhaps subtle are harshly critical..

[deepenoughtodive]

Yep, when the city beat is exposing you, you're as good as done.

You seem like a good guy from the little I've talked to you, OTD, but you are really hung up on this.

[OutToDry]

Nah, not really hung up on it.......simply selling the drama. The article doesn't mean much but the tone it was written was kind of interesting.

[Sakhmet2]

def wasnt a great review but it was also far from scathing

No it wasn't was it?

its speaks volumes without getting nasty..

definition of scathing: adj.
1. Bitterly denunciatory; harshly critical:
2. Harmful or painful; injurious.

i bet if Ed reads the review, he'd find it "painful"
and i'd argue that terms like "generic" "pedestrian" and "uneventful," while perhaps subtle are harshly critical..

This is a joke, right?

Nah, not really hung up on it.

Yeah ya are.

The article doesn't mean much but the tone it was written was kind of interesting.

Tone? Unenthusiastic & critical =/= scathing.

This post has been edited by Sakhmet2: Jul 27 2010, 9:07 pm

[Pokey]

It wasn't scathing in the sense that an Aitkins didn't write it. But it certainly wasn't favorable.

[sh4rpz]

It wasn't scathing in the sense that an Aitkins didn't write it. But it certainly wasn't favorable.

The good news is that for most of us, we don't need a negative review to tell that 'Alive' is crap.

[Aitkens]

It wasn't scathing in the sense that an Aitkins didn't write it. But it certainly wasn't favorable.

Aitkens. If you're going to use my name, I ask that you at least spell it correctly.

[Aitkens]

I've said before, likely in this very thread, that I wanted to like the album. I wanted to listen to it and be blown away because "good Ed" was finally back. After listening to this album, I don't think we'll ever get him back.

[Wambangalang]

I wanted to like the album.

there is an expression where i come from: Dont bullshit a bullshitter