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

[Hoodstock]

you see, jesus is love. when you take the eucharist you are in communion with the lord jesus christ, who is love.

When I first started listing to this band, if somebody would have told me that this sentence would be used in a conversation about Live I would have laughed my ass off!

Now you might actually hear somebody tell you this at one of Ed's shows. I've got no interest in this shit Eddie K!

[livefan1999]

While I don't agree with this blogger/critic's view, all sides should be represented.....

BMF - Bill's Music Forum
Melodic rock and pop CD reviews; new, old, rare

Kneejerk is a new feature here on BMF - we preview some new releases and give our short, "kneejerk" reaction...this edition features three guys who decided to fly solo…

Ed Kowalczyk “Alive”

Ed Kowalczyk, best known as the man who made a hit song using the word “placenta” in his lyrics, has given birth to another recording in the form of a solo album called “Alive”. His Pennsylvania-based band, Live, was huge in the 90s thanks to a strong debut followed by their blockbuster “Throwing Copper” record. But after the uneven “Secret Samadhi” the band lost traction and alienated fans as they catered to trends. Failing to draw back the music buying public, I can’t blame Kowalczyk for trying a solo effort. Kowalczyk was a driving force behind the songs and sounds of Live, so it comes as no surprise that “Alive” sounds so much like, uh, “Live”. While most fans will welcome his characteristic vocals, the fact that he’s done little here to distance himself from Live is disappointing and just sounds tiresome. And his lyrics are overly saturated with spiritual references – even more than usual – he comes across like the Deepak Chopra of the musical world. So for me, I’m afraid “Alive” is D.O.A. Let’s hope his other bandmates, some of whom went on to form The Gracious Few with Kevin Martin of Candlebox, can produce something with more life.

http://billsmusicforum.blogspot.com/

This post has been edited by livefan1999: Aug 24 2010, 12:05 pm

[SinfulEyes]

While I don't agree with this blogger/critic's view, all sides should be represented.....

BMF - Bill's Music Forum
Melodic rock and pop CD reviews; new, old, rare

Kneejerk is a new feature here on BMF - we preview some new releases and give our short, "kneejerk" reaction...this edition features three guys who decided to fly solo…

Ed Kowalczyk “Alive”

Ed Kowalczyk, best known as the man who made a hit song using the word “placenta” in his lyrics, has given birth to another recording in the form of a solo album called “Alive”. His Pennsylvania-based band, Live, was huge in the 90s thanks to a strong debut followed by their blockbuster “Throwing Copper” record. But after the uneven “Secret Samadhi” the band lost traction and alienated fans as they catered to trends. Failing to draw back the music buying public, I can’t blame Kowalczyk for trying a solo effort. Kowalczyk was a driving force behind the songs and sounds of Live, so it comes as no surprise that “Alive” sounds so much like, uh, “Live”. While most fans will welcome his characteristic vocals, the fact that he’s done little here to distance himself from Live is disappointing and just sounds tiresome. And his lyrics are overly saturated with spiritual references – even more than usual – he comes across like the Deepak Chopra of the musical world. So for me, I’m afraid “Alive” is D.O.A. Let’s hope his other bandmates, some of whom went on to form The Gracious Few with Kevin Martin of Candlebox, can produce something with more life.

http://billsmusicforum.blogspot.com/

Holy crap.. I don't think a review could be so spot on in so few words. +1 for Livefan1999 for posting this.

Alive is beyond a yawn-fest.

[Pokey]

Good review

I understand people that like Alive obviously not agreeing with a review like that for example, but besides the obvious drop in musicianship, i don't really get how people could not at least still agree with the fact that it's not really a big departure from Live's later stuff. Whether you think that's a good thing or a bad thing is irrelevant, surely no one really see's it as something brand new like Ed is spruiking?

[Nobody Knows]

I don't really get how people could not at least still agree with the fact that it's not really a big departure from Live's later stuff.

It is, man! Alive is back to the roots, back to the TC sound. Even Ed said so! How can you not hear that!

[livefan1999]

And yet another take on Alive, Ed and the band Live from another part of the world, South Africa.

A little information on the website posting this review:

"Welcome to www.tonight.co.za, your entertainment guide from the Independent group's newspapers in South Africa. The site is updated on a daily basis with entertainment news and reviews from The Star Tonight and Pretoria News in Gauteng, Daily News in KwaZulu-Natal, and Cape Times, Cape Argus and Top of the Times in the Western Cape.

This website is produced for Independent News and Media by Independent Online (IOL). To send feedback, post an events listing or contact one of the newspaper editors, please go to our Contact Us page."

Here's the review:

CD review: Alive
August 25, 2010

Ed Kowalczyk

Alive

***

Baldy frontman of Live goes solo.

Even when I was 15 and scrawling the lyrics of Selling the Drama on my backpack, I knew that Live was going to split up at some point.

Ed Kowalczyk has, from their earliest days, been the voice, the lyricist and the soul in front of what was, effectively, a backing band.

The release of Alive confirms that he really was Live, both the good and the bad. Alive comes not too far on the heels of the band's acrimonious split after almost 20 years of earnest, melodic rock.

Fans will be glad to hear that it marks a return to the energy, passion and melodic nous last heard on Distance to Here.

The theme is there in the not too subtle pun of the title. The album is a declaration of intent and affirming anthems that don't stray too far from the Live template.

There's nothing as immediate and enduring as Lightning Crashes, but there are a couple of gems to be found. Stand is the strongest song, sporting a chorus that crashes in with a rush of anger and assurance. Kowalczyk sings so hard you can imagine a vein popping on that shiny dome of his. His lyrics are still dodgy and his propensity for spiritual bluster is firmly intact.

Soul Whispers is probably the worst song to have troubled my car stereo in many years.

The Live faithful will love this. - Zane Henry

http://tonight.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=...=432&fSetId=251

[+Ed+]

The Live faithful will love this. - Zane Henry

Fuck off, Zane Henry

[SinfulEyes]

The Live faithful will love this. - Zane Henry

Are you KIDDING ME?

Have they heard from the Live faithful? This is blasphemy. BLASPHEMY I TELL YOU!

[OutToDry]

Pass the charmin

[TheBeacon]

This guy is an idiot! He picks one of the best songs on Alive as the worst. I guess All I Need from SBFM is is all time fav!

[jclive]

This guy is an idiot! He picks one of the best songs on Alive as the worst. I guess All I Need from SBFM is is all time fav!

And he hits the nail on the head with this quote: "Ed Kowalczyk has, from their earliest days, been the voice, the lyricist and the soul in front of what was, effectively, a backing band."

[SinfulEyes]

And he hits the nail on the head with this quote: "Ed Kowalczyk has, from their earliest days, been the voice, the lyricist and the soul in front of what was, effectively, a backing band."

Good point but Ed is also the sole reason for Live's demise. This is indisputable and irrefutable.

He lifted them up and also single-handedly broke them down. How you like them apples ED lovers?

This post has been edited by SinfulEyes: Aug 25 2010, 1:52 pm

[Pokey]

And he hits the nail on the head with this quote: "Ed Kowalczyk has, from their earliest days, been the voice, the lyricist and the soul in front of what was, effectively, a backing band."

Please tell me you don't believe that..

[thefunkyredcaboose]

And he hits the nail on the head with this quote: "Ed Kowalczyk has, from their earliest days, been the voice, the lyricist and the soul in front of what was, effectively, a backing band."

It is clear that is what Ed thinks too... and why the band ended up tanking and splitting up.

[Pokey]

How anyone can call themselves a fan of this band and believe a statement like that is beyond me. Regardless of whether you think Ed's solo stuff is great or not, if you believe this you're just wrong.

This post has been edited by Pokey: Aug 25 2010, 2:09 pm