...
At first, the album didn't strike me particularly - only the two songs I knew stood out ('The Distance' and 'Sun'). I'd bought the album on the strength of these two, but my first impression was they were the only two decent songs. How wrong I was! Like many of the best albums, this one ... Read review
Advantages: A great up-lifting and commercial rock record Disadvantages: None really
...a message - "Oh the distance is not do-able… Oh are we locked into these bodies? …Let's hold out for something sweeter Spread your wings and fly" - and 'Sparkle' returns to the theme of "love will overcome". I wouldn't normally quote so many lyrics, but here I think they really show what the album's all about.
As you see, it's generally a positive, life-celebrating album, although it occasionally deals with loss ... ...rock. 'Voodoo Lady' stands out for a slightly different mood (and the only swear word on the album) - "Light up a cigarette she said And calm the f*ck down… I was thirsty for everything But water wasn't my style". Even that's a nicely relaxed song though.
Those towards the end of the album perhaps don't stand out as much. Listen to the album a lot though, and you'll probably find special moments that touch you, even though ... more
It's a common start to my music opinions, but, I doubt many of you have heard of Live… I hadn't, until this, their fourth album. Second album Throwing Copper (featuring hits 'I Alone' and 'Lightening Crashes') sold 10 million copies though, and follow up Secret Samadhi wasn't bad either. With their low-key image, they're probably the biggest rock band no one's ever heard of!
In terms of sound, I've heard them called REM-meets-Pearl Jam. That's pretty accurate, but here at least verging more to the REM side. It's rock, but not in any loud/fast/heavy sense. Indeed, Live have been called 'Christian rock' - a mistaken tag singer Ed Kowalczyk attributes to a misunderstanding of their first single (which was actually questioning Christianity). Nevertheless, there's definitely a deeper, spiritual side to Live's music though, and I think this album best shows it.
At first, the album didn't strike me particularly - only the two songs I knew stood out ('The Distance' and 'Sun'). I'd bought the album on the strength of these two, but my first impression was they were the only two decent songs. How wrong I was! Like many of the best albums, this one definitely rewards repeated listens, and soon many (if not all) the songs become familiar.
Opening song 'The Dolphin's Cry' is a tale of love, and its repeated mantra "love will lead us" typifies the affirming energy of the whole album. It's hard to describe track by track, without saying the same about each one. 'The Distance' again preaches a message - "Oh the distance is not do-able… Oh are we locked into these bodies? …Let's hold out for something sweeter Spread your wings and fly" - and 'Sparkle' returns to the theme of "love will overcome". I wouldn't normally quote so many lyrics, but here I think they really show what the album's all about.
As you see, it's generally a positive, life-celebrating album, although it occasionally deals with loss or regret, it doesn't dwell on it like much modern rock. 'Voodoo Lady' stands out for a slightly different mood (and the only swear word on the album) - "Light up a cigarette she said And calm the f*ck down… I was thirsty for everything But water wasn't my style". Even that's a nicely relaxed song though.
Those towards the end of the album perhaps don't stand out as much. Listen to the album a lot though, and you'll probably find special moments that touch you, even though you may not be able to instantly identify the songs (e.g. "Yeah I found god And he was absolutely nothing like me" from 'Where Fishes Go'). The quality stands up impressively though, and every single track could probably be picked out as a favourite.
'Face And Ghost (The Children's Song)' is a Van Morrison-style masterclass in writing class songs around a simple "sha la la la la" chorus (thankfully it's nothing like the Vengaboys song of that name!). 'They Stood Up For Love' and 'We Walk In The Dream' are back to catchy, memorable and anthemic choruses, and the last song 'Dance With You' slows the tempo even more for another spiritual declaration of love.
If you like beautiful, up-lifting, intelligent and well-crafted commercial rock, then I can't recommend this album enough. It's positivity doesn't grate (like, say, delirious?'s constant preaching), and makes a refreshing change from too much angst-rock. Since buying this, I've bought three other Live albums (Mental Jewellery, Throwing Copper and V) and have to say, though all are good, this is still my favourite. The only problem is their band name being so hard to find on Amazon!
UPDATE (22/10/06): Currently available for just £4.97 new on Amazon, a real bargain.
Advantages: maybe their best album yet Disadvantages: the artwork on the front of cd
...their past albums.
"the distance to here" is lives' fourth album. The other three being: Secret Samadhi,Mental Jewelry and Throwing Copper.
The album starts with the best single,"the dolphins cry" This starts of as a slow ballad then all of a sudden they speed things up and launch into a rock song."The dolphins cry" is one of the best songs i have heard in a long time. This song itself is worth buying the album for.
After the first song, things ... ...a few times you might start to tire of hearing the songs over and over again.
It seems to be one of those albums that hits you first time you hear it, then you loose interest in it, but come back to it after a few weeks.
Track listings:
1: The Dolphins Cry
2: The Distance
3: Sparkle
4: Run to the Water
5: Sun
6: Vodoo Lady
7: Where fishes go
8: Face And Ghost
9: Feel The Quiet River Rage
10: Meltdown
11: They Stood up for love.
All ...
happyhibee 04.06.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Distance To Here, The - Live
Advantages: More aggressive, back to the "Throwing Copper" style Disadvantages: Not as good as "Throwing Copper"
...delivering there forth album "The Distance to Here" (October 1999). After a poor reception from there third album "Secret Samadhi" (February 1997) which did no favors for Live's fan base, they had to reunite with producer Jerry Harrison to bring back there lost sound which was so popular with Mental Jewelry and especially Throwing Copper. The "Secret Samadhi" album was heavier which I feel many "main-stream" fans had rejected the concept, although ... ...the album. "The Distance to Here" comes at you faster and reignites their sound from the "Throwing Copper" days, while Chad Taylor's (lead guitar) background vocals is much crisper which achieves more fluent and well balanced sounding songs. The album also has an angrier sound with more guitar riffs throughout. The songs that were released- "The Dolphin's Cry", "Run to the Water" and "They Stood Up for Love" all received great credits, which propelled ...
damo1980 02.06.2006 (03.06.2006)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Distance To Here, The - Live
Advantages: Good lyrics, a couple of great songs Disadvantages: Not as good as previous albums from them
...Live's fourth album, 1999's "The Distance To Here", having heard them preview some of the material from it at a gig earlier in the year, and having loved their previous albums "Mental Jewelry", "Throwing Copper" and "Secret Samadhi". Overall, "The Distance To Here" was a bit of a disappointment, and I don't listen to it as much as the others. Certainly, the singles, "The Dolphin's Cry" and "Run To The Water" are very strong, and every bit as good ...
MykReeve 03.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Distance To Here, The - Live
Product Information for "Distance To Here, The - Live" »
Product details
Title
Distance To Here, The
Performer
Live
Genre
Rock & Pop
Sub Genre
Alternative
Release Date
04/10/1999
Recomended Retail Price
8.99 GBP
Original Release Year
1999
Label / Distributor
Radioactive / Universal Music
Engineer
Karl Derfler
Producer
Jerry Harrison; Live
Pieces in Set
1
Studio / Live
Studio
Stereo
Stereo
Format
Performer
EAN
8811196622
Additional notes
Album Notes
Live: Edward Kowalczyk (vocals, guitar); Chad Taylor (guitar); Patrick Dahlheimer (bass); Chad Gracey (drums). Additional personnel: Christopher Thorn (guitar, slide guitar); Adam Kowalczyk (guitar); Michael Railton, Jerry Harrison (keyboards). Throughout much of the '90s, Live has been tabbed to inherit the serious rock mantle from R.E.M. and U2. On their fourth album, the four childhood friends continue down this path as they once again don their hair-shirts of tortured introspection and inquisitiveness. Former Talking Head Jerry Harrison returns behind the board after previous production stints on MENTAL JEWELERY and THROWING COPPER. As was the case on these previous Live albums, Harrison harnesses the band's chemistry in a way that reinforces frontman Ed Kowalczyk's weighty lyrics. Kowalczyk howls with controlled ferocity as he sings about various spiritual quests that occur via Western ("The Distance") and Eastern ("Meltdown") doctrines of religion. Guitarist Chad Taylor fuels this fervor with unbridled fury on the tempestuous "We Walk in the Dream" and the roiling "Sun." Live even updates its meat-and-potatoes instrumental setup by adding a dollop of loops to the already enticing "Voodoo Lady." For as much unchecked passion that this Pennsylvania quartet can muster, the band also demonstrates an uncanny mastery of dynamics, whether it's on the tortured gusto of "When Dolphins Cry" or the gorgeous ethereality of "We Walk in the Dream."
Album Reviews
Rolling Stone (10/28/99, pp.99-100) - 3.5 stars out of 5 - "...[Live] finds enough peace to make some very pretty music....THE DISTANCE TO HERE...offers drama to fans still craving it..." Q (12/99, p.138) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...Everything here has a hyper earnest, end-of-the-world quality...driven by [Ed] Kowalczyk's anxious vocals and Chad Taylor's and Patrick Dahlheimer's spiraling guitars....buzzes with inspiration..."
Titles on disc 1
1.
Dolphin's Cry
2.
Distance
3.
Sparkle
4.
Run To The Water
5.
Sun
6.
Vodoo Lady
7.
Where Fishes Go
8.
Face And Ghost
9.
Feel The Quiet River Rage
10.
Meltdown
11.
They Stood Up For Love
12.
We Walk In The Dream
13.
Dance With You
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Listed on Ciao since
03/07/2000
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