Post by B.E. on Oct 23, 2020 0:04:50 GMT
We have a thread for the DVD in the DVD section, but here's one for the CD. I had been wanting to revisit this concert for a while, but I thought it best to listen to the CD first, just the music, to avoid being influenced by the footage, and overrating it.
This is an enjoyable listen. There's great energy. Dennis' drumming, and the lead guitar playing, is no small part of that. As Al comments during the show, the band "smokes". Having all the guys there is special. Even Mike's banter is kept in check. There's a lot to like. It's pretty much on par with In Concert, IMO (each with there own separate strengths and weaknesses). My one main complaint, and it's a pretty big one, is that Mike is in fairly poor voice throughout, and the autotune used to address this is a travesty. What makes it even more jarring (as if autotune alone isn't bad enough) is that we know this is a 1980 concert, so sending autotune back in time just further messes with my mind. Thankfully, it doesn't mar every Mike lead, but I'd estimate that 40% of his lead vocals are noticeably, and distractingly, autotuned. I've not heard the bootleg of the show, so I don't know if this presentation is an improvement or not. "Little Deuce Coupe" is the worst offender. "Be True To Your School" and "Do It Again" are also problematic (but the effect isn't uniform, some parts of the song are worse than others). It's really too bad, because these are otherwise very good performances! For "Sloop John B", Mike's voice is obscenely nasal and possibly off-key (I can't tell if autotune is also mucking things up, but it's pretty terrible). The rest of his leads are serviceable, but could have been improved. His performance really surprised me a little bit. Brian was honestly in better voice, but obviously he was only given a few opportunities. The bridge of "Surfer Girl" is actually better here than many other live versions, by numerous members. His response vocals on "Good Timin'", which was not included on the album, are pretty good, too. As for Carl and Al, they were in good voice. A few hiccups here and there, but for a live performance, very solid. Now, the background vocals were quite strong throughout by all members, but I know about 75% of the songs, according to Mark Linett, were overdubbed with background vocals. Why they didn't have Mike re-do a few leads (even if just a few sections here or there), I don't understand. Maybe, by then, they had already cancelled the project? Which is strange to me, this would have been a solid early '80s LP. It's not like they had anything else ready to go. And, that brings me to my other complaint, it's a loooooong listen at 70 minutes. A 45 minute LP with a little more sweetening would have been a VERY good album! (Then, later on, they could have released the entire concert.) Also, the sequencing is a little strained. There's no good solution, but jumping around from the early stuff, to the mid period stuff, to the new stuff, is pretty jarring. Would I have liked a little more Brian and Dennis (and Bruce)? Sure, but I'm grateful for what we got. The highlights for me are "Darlin'", "Keepin' The Summer Alive", "Cotton Fields/Heroes & Villains" (though, this is an awkward pairing), "Lady Lynda", "Fun Fun Fun", and "You Are So Beautiful". "Surfer Girl", "God Only Knows", "Surfin' USA", and "School Days" aren't too far behind. Oh, and the crowd singing "Happy Birthday" to Brian is great!
You know, it occurred to me that "Heroes & Villains" sounded a little out of place. Maybe better sequencing would have helped, but I think it stands out because it's Smile material. It's just so different. "Good Vibrations" kinda does as well, even though it's been a concert staple all these years. I guess if you surround those songs with Pet Sounds material and some of the late 60s/early 70s stuff, it's not so bad. But, this album is sequenced - "Surfin' USA"/"You Are So Beautiful"/"Good Vibrations"/"Barbara Ann". WTF? All in all, a very minor complaint, and one that applies to most live albums. Just something I thought about.
7/10
This is an enjoyable listen. There's great energy. Dennis' drumming, and the lead guitar playing, is no small part of that. As Al comments during the show, the band "smokes". Having all the guys there is special. Even Mike's banter is kept in check. There's a lot to like. It's pretty much on par with In Concert, IMO (each with there own separate strengths and weaknesses). My one main complaint, and it's a pretty big one, is that Mike is in fairly poor voice throughout, and the autotune used to address this is a travesty. What makes it even more jarring (as if autotune alone isn't bad enough) is that we know this is a 1980 concert, so sending autotune back in time just further messes with my mind. Thankfully, it doesn't mar every Mike lead, but I'd estimate that 40% of his lead vocals are noticeably, and distractingly, autotuned. I've not heard the bootleg of the show, so I don't know if this presentation is an improvement or not. "Little Deuce Coupe" is the worst offender. "Be True To Your School" and "Do It Again" are also problematic (but the effect isn't uniform, some parts of the song are worse than others). It's really too bad, because these are otherwise very good performances! For "Sloop John B", Mike's voice is obscenely nasal and possibly off-key (I can't tell if autotune is also mucking things up, but it's pretty terrible). The rest of his leads are serviceable, but could have been improved. His performance really surprised me a little bit. Brian was honestly in better voice, but obviously he was only given a few opportunities. The bridge of "Surfer Girl" is actually better here than many other live versions, by numerous members. His response vocals on "Good Timin'", which was not included on the album, are pretty good, too. As for Carl and Al, they were in good voice. A few hiccups here and there, but for a live performance, very solid. Now, the background vocals were quite strong throughout by all members, but I know about 75% of the songs, according to Mark Linett, were overdubbed with background vocals. Why they didn't have Mike re-do a few leads (even if just a few sections here or there), I don't understand. Maybe, by then, they had already cancelled the project? Which is strange to me, this would have been a solid early '80s LP. It's not like they had anything else ready to go. And, that brings me to my other complaint, it's a loooooong listen at 70 minutes. A 45 minute LP with a little more sweetening would have been a VERY good album! (Then, later on, they could have released the entire concert.) Also, the sequencing is a little strained. There's no good solution, but jumping around from the early stuff, to the mid period stuff, to the new stuff, is pretty jarring. Would I have liked a little more Brian and Dennis (and Bruce)? Sure, but I'm grateful for what we got. The highlights for me are "Darlin'", "Keepin' The Summer Alive", "Cotton Fields/Heroes & Villains" (though, this is an awkward pairing), "Lady Lynda", "Fun Fun Fun", and "You Are So Beautiful". "Surfer Girl", "God Only Knows", "Surfin' USA", and "School Days" aren't too far behind. Oh, and the crowd singing "Happy Birthday" to Brian is great!
You know, it occurred to me that "Heroes & Villains" sounded a little out of place. Maybe better sequencing would have helped, but I think it stands out because it's Smile material. It's just so different. "Good Vibrations" kinda does as well, even though it's been a concert staple all these years. I guess if you surround those songs with Pet Sounds material and some of the late 60s/early 70s stuff, it's not so bad. But, this album is sequenced - "Surfin' USA"/"You Are So Beautiful"/"Good Vibrations"/"Barbara Ann". WTF? All in all, a very minor complaint, and one that applies to most live albums. Just something I thought about.
7/10