Damn it! Options

[FishOutaWater]

I listened to a random shuffle of Live music today in the car for a while. All I could think was: "Damn it!"

I know I shouldn't cling or be attached. I know I should be satisfied and not feel craving for more. But Damn it! Damn those guys did something special.

Can we make this thread a place for people to post their reactions when they listen to Live music or hear a Live song on the radio and the same reaction that I did today? Can we make this thread a catharsis?

Let's identify our feelings when you listen to Live music now.

Here are the highlights of my thoughts this morning:

1. There is no part of any song ever made that is better than the following:

he said, he said, he said,
"there was nothing to fear, boy"
and he said, he said, he said,
"worthless are your tears boy"

"just realize your senses
and realize your earth
just realize your essence first"

well, don't you know, now I
I'll never be the same again
I want to walk in the sun
I am alive and well again
no more bittersweet
no more good pain
no more



And it reminds me that Mental Jewelry is the greatest, most ambitious and perfect album ever made. Gracey's drumming is total Gracey. The bass it total Pat. The guitars are total Taylor. And the lyrics and vocals are pure, unadulterated Ed Kowalczyk staring down from the top of the mountain of every other singer who has ever tried the craft.

2. I had one moment in one song where I listened and heard something specific and special. I know we have all had this experience. For me it was this: At the 2:49 mark in Feel The Quiet River Rage, there are these little, perfectly spaced chords that Taylor threw in there. The perfect note, with the perfect timing in the perfect place in the song. That's what Chad does best. It is quintissential Live and it can't come from anywhere else.

3. Damn it. Why did it have to die?

[Heather]

I feel exactly the same way that you do and have for years! Lately when I hear a random Live song, usually on Sirius, it always has a huge affect on me. I think Pain Lies and Operation Spirit do it the most for me. There is just something about hearing those songs out of the blue that just floors me every time. Everthing about Mental Jewelry is perfect to me. Raw, real and passionate! Everything that I used to love about Live!

[BoDoctor]

I just look at it as it was good while it lasted. Not many people feel the connection to music that we shared with Live, and whether it was for 10 years or their entire run thats pretty cool.

[Existentialist]

I agree that MJ is some of LIVE's best work. Throwing Copper is such a fucking classic that it's hard to say anything is truly better than that, but MJ would be my choice if I had to pick one better. Everything you said is true. It's the boys being the boys. Purely unadultered. It's awesome music, and considering their age at the time, it is really outstanding work. If you had played them SFBM right after they released MJ, and told them that'd be their album in 2006, if they were able to even take you seriously they probably would have broken up right then and there.

This post has been edited by Existentialist: Jun 4 2010, 1:04 pm

[FishOutaWater]

MJ is great, no doubt. But beyond MJ, my random playlist played things like Overcome, Flow, Run To The Water, Feel The Quiet River Rage, etc. And I was just like damn! Is it just my idiosyncratic love of this band, or were these guys objectively that good? The music just speaks on so many levels. To me, every song is like Picaso, Michelangelo, Rembrandt and Monet getting together and painting a collage that fits together like a puzzle.

[LivesMeltdown]

The music just speaks on so many levels. To me, every song is like Picaso, Michelangelo, Rembrandt and Monet getting together and painting a collage that fits together like a puzzle.

I don't think I could have said it any better. Whether or not you like Live's music the last 10 years, I think everyone can agree that they had a great 10 year run with 4 unbelievable albums and that can never be taken away. Most bands wish they could have created the music Live has, in my opinion.

For me, The Distance to Here is the greatest album of all time. It's like the soundtrack to my life. I remember getting the album when I was in college and listening to it almost every day for a year. For a while, I haven't been listening to full albums (I mostly just put my ipod on shuffle) but a few weeks ago I decided to listen TDTH in its entirety and I got the same feeling I did in 1999. It was amazing!

IF Ed, Chad, Chad, or Pat ever read this thread, I just want to say thank you for the great music and memories! As a collective unit, NO ONE does it any better.

Thank you also, FishOutaWater for starting this thread. It's a good one

[zmanpga]

I listened to a random shuffle of Live music today in the car for a while. All I could think was: "Damn it!"

I know I shouldn't cling or be attached. I know I should be satisfied and not feel craving for more. But Damn it! Damn those guys did something special.

Can we make this thread a place for people to post their reactions when they listen to Live music or hear a Live song on the radio and the same reaction that I did today? Can we make this thread a catharsis?

Let's identify our feelings when you listen to Live music now.

Here are the highlights of my thoughts this morning:

1. There is no part of any song ever made that is better than the following:

he said, he said, he said,
"there was nothing to fear, boy"
and he said, he said, he said,
"worthless are your tears boy"

"just realize your senses
and realize your earth
just realize your essence first"

well, don't you know, now I
I'll never be the same again
I want to walk in the sun
I am alive and well again
no more bittersweet
no more good pain
no more
And it reminds me that Mental Jewelry is the greatest, most ambitious and perfect album ever made. Gracey's drumming is total Gracey. The bass it total Pat. The guitars are total Taylor. And the lyrics and vocals are pure, unadulterated Ed Kowalczyk staring down from the top of the mountain of every other singer who has ever tried the craft.

2. I had one moment in one song where I listened and heard something specific and special. I know we have all had this experience. For me it was this: At the 2:49 mark in Feel The Quiet River Rage, there are these little, perfectly spaced chords that Taylor threw in there. The perfect note, with the perfect timing in the perfect place in the song. That's what Chad does best. It is quintissential Live and it can't come from anywhere else.

3. Damn it. Why did it have to die?

[Liveoneut]

Good post Fish! Like the others, I too feel exactly the same way you do. I posted not too long ago about how while listening to I Alone, I got this HUGE wave of goosebumps over my whole body when it got to around 1:10 I think. Nothing like ever before, very cool after listening hundreds of times.

Also, on my favorites 'why did it have to end list' is the acoustic version of Run To The Water on the European version of TDTH. Jesus that was such good stuff. It will always be good stuff, so to address number 3, it will live on forever. Very cliche' but it's also true. How could something that's dead effect you in such a way? It will always be there for you, whenever you need it most.......

I'm really digging the vibe we've got going here. It's been a while since I've read anything like this. Damn we owe the +boys+ so much, for all of their great music. I think posts like yours, are a greater thank you than even buying a record or a ticket to a show. I just hope that they pop in from time to time to see what their fans are up to. If they do, then they will know just how thankful we are for their music and the memories.

[Sakhmet2]

I feel exactly the same way that you do and have for years! Lately when I hear a random Live song, usually on Sirius, it always has a huge affect on me. I think Pain Lies and Operation Spirit do it the most for me. There is just something about hearing those songs out of the blue that just floors me every time. Everthing about Mental Jewelry is perfect to me. Raw, real and passionate! Everything that I used to love about Live!

I Alone was my favourite Live song for years.
Selling the Drama was possibly no. 2 - the opening still gives me chills

[tiger]

I listened to a random shuffle of Live music today in the car for a while. All I could think was: "Damn it!"

I know I shouldn't cling or be attached. I know I should be satisfied and not feel craving for more. But Damn it! Damn those guys did something special.

Can we make this thread a place for people to post their reactions when they listen to Live music or hear a Live song on the radio and the same reaction that I did today? Can we make this thread a catharsis?

Let's identify our feelings when you listen to Live music now.

Here are the highlights of my thoughts this morning:

1. There is no part of any song ever made that is better than the following:

he said, he said, he said,
"there was nothing to fear, boy"
and he said, he said, he said,
"worthless are your tears boy"

"just realize your senses
and realize your earth
just realize your essence first"

well, don't you know, now I
I'll never be the same again
I want to walk in the sun
I am alive and well again
no more bittersweet
no more good pain
no more
And it reminds me that Mental Jewelry is the greatest, most ambitious and perfect album ever made. Gracey's drumming is total Gracey. The bass it total Pat. The guitars are total Taylor. And the lyrics and vocals are pure, unadulterated Ed Kowalczyk staring down from the top of the mountain of every other singer who has ever tried the craft.

2. I had one moment in one song where I listened and heard something specific and special. I know we have all had this experience. For me it was this: At the 2:49 mark in Feel The Quiet River Rage, there are these little, perfectly spaced chords that Taylor threw in there. The perfect note, with the perfect timing in the perfect place in the song. That's what Chad does best. It is quintissential Live and it can't come from anywhere else.

3. Damn it. Why did it have to die?

I hear ya. MJ is excellent. I still get chills when I hear the opening to Take My Anthem. For me it's hard to top the TC tour. When I hear something like Iris or Pillar of Davidson it takes me back to that tour and the excitement that was going on. The big outdoor arenas, the stage show, lighting, etc. It was all magical. And that's the cool thing. I'll always have those memories. I'm pretty sure anytime I pop in TC, I'll instantly get transplanted to that place. So they really never die.

[Heather]

I Alone was my favourite Live song for years.
Selling the Drama was possibly no. 2 - the opening still gives me chills

I Alone is one of my favorites too! So powerful! It's the song that got me hooked, hit me like a ton of bricks the day I heard it for the first time. I still remember where I was when I heard it! Crazy!

[Good_Pain]

I listened to a random shuffle of Live music today in the car for a while. All I could think was: "Damn it!"

I know I shouldn't cling or be attached. I know I should be satisfied and not feel craving for more. But Damn it! Damn those guys did something special.

Can we make this thread a place for people to post their reactions when they listen to Live music or hear a Live song on the radio and the same reaction that I did today? Can we make this thread a catharsis?

Let's identify our feelings when you listen to Live music now.

Here are the highlights of my thoughts this morning:

1. There is no part of any song ever made that is better than the following:

he said, he said, he said,
"there was nothing to fear, boy"
and he said, he said, he said,
"worthless are your tears boy"

"just realize your senses
and realize your earth
just realize your essence first"

well, don't you know, now I
I'll never be the same again
I want to walk in the sun
I am alive and well again
no more bittersweet
no more good pain
no more
And it reminds me that Mental Jewelry is the greatest, most ambitious and perfect album ever made. Gracey's drumming is total Gracey. The bass it total Pat. The guitars are total Taylor. And the lyrics and vocals are pure, unadulterated Ed Kowalczyk staring down from the top of the mountain of every other singer who has ever tried the craft.

2. I had one moment in one song where I listened and heard something specific and special. I know we have all had this experience. For me it was this: At the 2:49 mark in Feel The Quiet River Rage, there are these little, perfectly spaced chords that Taylor threw in there. The perfect note, with the perfect timing in the perfect place in the song. That's what Chad does best. It is quintissential Live and it can't come from anywhere else.

3. Damn it. Why did it have to die?

I feel the same about this....It actually pains me to listen to certain songs. I've not listened to DOAD at all and have had a harder time listening to the song you quoted. That song means so much to me and is why I chose it for my screen name. I know everything happens for a reason, but damn it hurts knowing I spent the better part of my life traveling the country following this band and its no more. Of course it pains even more knowing how bad it hurt CT,PD, and GG when it all fell apart. I really believe they would have stayed together for the longevity of the band for the fans alone.
In my experiences with these three guys, they gave so much to the fans on every opportunity. I know people have spoken ill of Ed on many opportunities and I can understand their feelings, but I've decided quietly to just let it be. I'll miss spending my summers on the road following the boys from York, but all good things must come to an end as it has been said so many times. I think all of us old school fans were very lucky to see them at their best and personally I wouldn't want to see them stay together for the sake of the band if their was no inspiration. I feel for those fans who were not as lucky as I was to follow them pretty much from the beginning, but we were all blessed to have them for 20+ years.

LONG LIVE THE MUSIC OF +LIVE+

[+Ed+]

Well as some of you may be aware, me and my beloved one have a tiny online shop creating some errr creative stuff on tshirts, mugs, posters etc which is pretty popular in runet...

Lately we have been wondering what kind of memorabilia we will make for ourselves, that would be bareing sence and become a favourite clothing,,...

I have been breaking my head for weeks and now I know only one thing,,,...

I will make a zip-up hoodie with a Live emblem (some creative, that my beloved will design) and have all four names of the band members across the back.

Maybe a bit offtopic, but that is what Live is to me. The band that fits like a fave piece of clothing. Closest to the body, going down to soul.

I will for sure flash it aboard in a month or two when I get it.

[Wambangalang]

final chorus of lightning crashes does it to me on occasion, depending on my mood. transports me back to the time and place i first heard it. i even remember the smell of rain during that particular winter.

[Jennyfoo]

One day, Alternative Addiction radio played Selling the Drama and Heaven back to back. I kid you not, I almost cried. One minute I was loving the good old days and then next I was slapped upside the head back to reality.