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CD
Typically I find live albums to be as worthwhile as a
corporate created holiday. Although we're all led to believe
that they have something to offer to the consumer, in
actuality its sole purpose is to make money off of the
unsuspecting (or like me, stupid) consumer. Every once
and a while though, a record label will do something right,
and release a quality live album, one in which the songs
are played with the feeling and intensity that the studio
cannot capture, but can only be witnessed in a live setting.
"Live In L.A." finds itself along side other
great live albums, but it does have one flaw. The best
part of this disc is the fact that, as the title indicates,
it's raw. Apparently not a single note was changed from
the original live recording, and there's nothing on this
disc that would indicate otherwise. The sound itself is
crisp and clear, leaving enough room to hear all the instruments
properly. The performance is, of course, fantastic, and
it's great to hear Chuck talking to the crowd between
songs. Not just for the fact that it adds to the live
feeling of the disc, but just to hear his voice. It's
obvious just from the few words that you hear that he
was close to his fans, that he really loved what he did,
and that he was a genuinely kind person.
The only real problem with this is, as good as it is,
it's still an above average 'best-of' compilation. Something
like this needs a little spice in the packaging and booklet
to make it really worthwhile to the casual fan, and this
is where they fail. A blurry picture of each band member,
a group shot, tour dates and a track list, that's it.
Something like this needs a whole group of pictures, group
shots with fans, liner notes, stuff like that. Without
them, the CD seems rushed.
As a final testament
in DEATH's history, a live album is ideal. It shows Chuck
in the environment he loved, doing what he did best.
Mark McKenna
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DVD
Maybe at one point in time I would not have the same opinion,
but this DVD should have had some sort of packaging, that's
all.
DEATH had been cranking out quality fucking metal for
a long time and when they get their DVD out, the record
label slaps it together in a lame black and white box
with zero extra features. That's right, nothing - no packaging,
no features for a band who has been going the extra mile
for how long? DEATH deserves more.
I bet Nuclear Blast felt like a piece of shit after Chuck
passed, but we do have the show, chock full of great songs.
It was recorded at he world famous Whisky A Go-Go in L.A.,
a small yet suitable club for the legendary death metal-outfit
to slay.
Playing pieces all the way from the classic "Scream
Bloody Gore" to the last piece of magic we got from
Chuck "The Sound Of Perseverance", they throw
in some killers, even Chuck’s fave, "Pull The
Plug". The final lineup had some big shoes to fill
with the previous lineups including Andy LaRoque, Steve
DiGiorgio and Gene Hoglan, to name a few, but they handled
it with grace and class.
A first-class performance
but unfortunately not a single stretch toward the miles
that Chuck deserved. Will the metal world miss this genius?
One watch and you will understand.
Wes Jacques
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