Post by wrappedinsky on Jul 22, 2014 3:30:27 GMT 1
A friend once told me that he doesn't like live concert CDs. Other than recent Eddie Money live recordings (Youtube it. It's bad.), I can't imagine not enjoying live renditions of my favorite songs. Maybe this friend of mine had heard too many 30-minute "Whole Lotta Love" recordings? 25-minute "Dazed and Confused?" Yeah, live Zeppelin can be very tiresome!
I love live boots. As I said in my introduction when I first joined this board, what got me back into The Cure was the show I heard of them playing in Paris in 2008. The opening track, "Plainsong," is absolutely stunning, and I find it even more delicious than the studio version.
What say you? Are there any Cure songs that are good in the studio, but even better when played live?
That's actually quite a hard question to answer, as live arrangements (along with personnel changes) have evolved quite a bit. I would have to say that all of the Bloodflowers album is better in concert. The studio versions seem slightly "missing something" (although I still maintain this is some of Roger's best keyboard work).
Since 2012, Doing the Unstuck has exploded with unbridled joy & with Reeves tearing up that guitar break it just leaves me breathless.
Want is another. The one redeeming factor on WMS (apart from the run-out grooves) is a powerhouse in concert.
There are more, but only from certain eras. A Forest comes to mind, but only 1984-96 versions with the bonkers guitar solos. These days I still enjoy it, but I miss the extended endings & improvised licks a lot.
& another shout out to the axe man supreme, Reeves Gabrels, FTEOTDGS & Wrong Number. He knocks both of those clean out of the park every time.
Post by wrappedinsky on Jul 22, 2014 12:13:02 GMT 1
Another couple of songs that I much prefer live are "Boys Don't Cry" and "Killing an Arab" (or "Another"). When I heard the originals all those years ago, they always sounded so thin to me. I enjoyed them well enough, but sonically, they left much to be said. I now always very much look forward to these songs in any of the boots that I have of the band. This probably says more about the recording quality 35 years ago than to the quality of the songs themselves. Still, in my little piece of the world,they qualify as songs that sound better live than the studio versions.
Another couple of songs that I much prefer live are "Boys Don't Cry" and "Killing an Arab" (or "Another"). When I heard the originals all those years ago, they always sounded so thin to me. I enjoyed them well enough, but sonically, they left much to be said. I now always very much look forward to these songs in any of the boots that I have of the band. This probably says more about the recording quality 35 years ago than to the quality of the songs themselves. Still, in my little piece of the world,they qualify as songs that sound better live than the studio versions.
Robert's always been quite vocal about how much he didn't like the way those tracks were produced. Parry sort of took over even to the extent of the artwork used at the time.
Disintegration - any Boris & Porl version, the whole thing just keeps building and building. And its fast. I even like the cheesy samples of things getting smashed
Play For Today - any version where the crowd are singing their part properly.
Actually Plainsong is another one. I love this on the album as well as live, but when you hear those chimes come in at the beginning of a gig, you get goosebumps and I get a bit fan girly and hysterical The song sounds 1000 feet tall live! It's my absolute favourite live track.
I don't really care for the recorded version, like not at all. But live it's quite enjoyable! Just like Wendy Time, the "Play Out" version is actually amazing - wheras the album version is extremely skippable.
Post by imaginarygirl on Jul 22, 2014 17:01:36 GMT 1
How come no one mentioned Faith yet? Or did I miss it? Those 20 minutes long versions... A Forest, of course. From The Edge of the Deep Green Sea - I love, love, love the version from 'Show', and I love what Reeves does with this song now. If Only Tonight We Could Sleep - I mean that one performance with Placebo And when Robert goes "prayers for raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaain...", I really catch myself missing that on the studio version!
Last Edit: Jul 22, 2014 17:03:56 GMT 1 by imaginarygirl
The dream had to end
The wish never came true
And the girl starts to sing
Disintegration - any Boris & Porl version, the whole thing just keeps building and building. And its fast. I even like the cheesy samples of things getting smashed
Play For Today - any version where the crowd are singing their part properly.
Anything from 4.13 is better live.
Big YES on "Play for Today" when the audience sings along to the keyboard part. That is INTENSE! And quite frankly, I can't listen as intently to the studio version anymore. The live cuts with the crowd singing blow it out of the water.