You make me feel like the one (Live From Dakota - Stereophonics)

Member Name: promotions_lass

Product:	Live From Dakota - Stereophonics
Date:	21/10/06 (1741 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: You get 2 Cd's for the price of one

Disadvantages: Have stereophonics lost the edge they once had

Following the success of Stereophonics fifth album "Language Sex Violence, Other" and their 2005 World tour, Live from Dakota was born.

~Why bring out a live album now?~

Many fans on the Stereophonics official forum website requested for a live album for years, to include tunes that showed their progression as a band from the days when they signed up to V2 right through to how we know them today. Due to personal circumstances, following the departure of one of Kelly Jone's best mates, the original Stereophonics drummer Stuart Cable, this had to be postponed until Kelly Jones and Richard Jones had found a suitable drummer Javier. Javier wasn't to replace or considered as a replacement to Stuart but Kelly (singer) and Richard (guitarist) couldn't survive alone. They had borrowed Steve from the Black Crowes to support them on their 2003 UK/European tours, whom unfortunately couldn't stay with them forever.

Although the album itself comprises tracks from all 5 albums along with a long lost b-side "Carrot Cake and Wine" and new song "Jayne", all tracks were recorded from their last album Language Sex Violence other? 2005 tour.

~The length~

The album itself comes on 2 CD's. Each CD contains 10 songs and is approximately 50 minutes long. So overall the album is roughly 100 minutes in length which is the length of a whole gig.

*CD 1*

Superman - A great gig opener with beat and a good attitude. Not quite the same as the original album version. Starts off with crowd cheers that are soon dubbed as soon as Kelly Jones begins singing. Halfway through the song there is a slight tech hitch that maybe not all will notice. The drumming within it is quite heavy too and in some ways spoils the actual song. There's abit at the end of the song where it just sounds like Kelly Jones is screaming with alot of swearing added to the bit (that he seems to do in alot of gigs).

Doorman - I like the way that Stereophonics have just cued the track to sound like it's linked to Superman. The words are very clear and crisp but it seems to be lacking something that they perhaps used in the original gig. Can hardly hear Richards backing vocals that definitely were used in the live versions. You can hear strings of guitars that have been used to seal up the intervals that may deafen your ears.

A Thousand Trees - This is definitely one of the crowds favourites taken off the first album "Word Gets Around". It shows through the record as I can hear more of the crowd in the background, indicating that it is live and not a studio edited version. Kelly Jones puts abit more effort into this track as opposed to the first 2 but still doesn't sound quite as good as it once was. This version sounds very drowsy and more of a chant and moan than how it was played 7/8 years ago.

Devil - Oh dear. This is definitely the worst track I've heard so far. Kelly Jones's voice is very crocky and he definitely needs a drink to help him along or soothe his throat. There are sections of the chorus where he just sounds like he's struggling to hit the right notes and adds special effects with voice overs in attempt to hide this. I have seen them play live a few times but don't ever remembering it sounding this bad. Somehow at the end he manages to squeeze a "thank you" to the fans. Don't know how he did it because it really feels like his voice is about to die. This track was played at the beginning of the gig so how he'll get to the end of it is beyond me.

Mr Writer - A good attempt at re-making history. If anyone remembers, this was the track that broke Stereophonics from their reign at being at the top of the charts. They lost many true fans when this song was released way back in 2001. Back to the live version, at last I can hear Richard's vocals in the chorus "Why don't you tell it like it really is." This was quite bad the first time around and not much improvement this time either.

Pedalpusher - This was my favourite track off the 5th album and the live version is just as good. Kelly's voice doesn't sound as bad as the pervious track. Surprisingly his words are very clear considering the continuous beat of the track in the background and endless guitar riffs.

Deadhead - Another fan's favourite that contains riffs and snippets within the track that were taken off B side Royal Flush. Not as heavy going as the pervious tracks. The drumming and guitar riffs are lighter. Kelly Jones is still struggling grasp his lines again. It didn't live up to my expectations thou.


Maybe Tomorrow - One of my all time favourite tracks off the 4th album "You Gotta be there to come back". The producers have allowed fans to feature more in this track as you can hear them well in the background sing along. I'm surprised because this has been dubbed loads upto this point in the album. In the live performances, Kelly went solo for this song. This comes out in the track as there are no meaningless guitar riffs or backing singers which inevitably have spoilt the song in the past.

"Maybe Tomorrow I'll find my way home......mama"

The Bartender and the Thief - One of Stereophonics best tracks. Don't know about this performance, as there is constant ringing in the background and Kelly's voice is alot more gentle than how's he's played it in the past. In a way I like the gentleness of his voice as it does prove that he still has it in him to shine.

Local Boy in the Photograph - It starts off as it does on the album version "Word Gets Around". Fans voices have once again been dubbed but the voice of Kelly's compensates for it. In the live gigs, he had a break just before they played this song and it definitely shows. I said Maybe Tomorrow was the best track of the night but this one just about surpasses it. It's nice to see him back to his original form. Great song to end CD 1 on.


*CD2*

Hurry Up and Wait - The fans cheer as Kelly introduces it as being off their 2nd album "Performance and Cocktails." Original album version is very mellow and usually played as an acoustic. This version is still very mellow with added guitar and keyboard riffs to make it abit more commercialised and upbeat. I will confess I do actually like this version of the final single off P & C. No screeching and Kelly is paying more attention to detail. I remember when he played this track in 2005 and he was actually smiling. It's very rare to see him to that live these days. We even hear a few cheers and applauds from the audience once again.

Madame Helga - More screeching and groaning. What a pity as I've enjoyed the last few tracks off this album. It is strange not to hear backing singers in the chorus which is a plus sign as they spoilt it for me in the original album version. Can't hear Richard or Javier, despite them singing along in the background. This track is played quieter than other screechy ones. The contrast works well for me.

Vegas two times - Every time I listen to this one reminds me of Day at the Races 2001 (the last major one off gig the phonics have done). This version is just as good if not better. Less stringless guitars and more beat. Less screaming from lead singer Kelly Jones too.

Carrot Cake And Wine - What a nice surprise to hear this track being played after 8 or so years but does it live up to its b side on the thousand trees record. Whenever I listen to this it reminds me of Local Boy especially the chorus. The live version is lighter going than I expected and sounds like they are going back to the basics again. Sounds less commercialised, more raw and once again I can hear Kelly Jones clear crisp voice. It's won my vote.

I'm Alright - It's not one of their strongest tracks. Personally I wouldn't have chosen this to be on the live album. It has been voted as the least favourite track by Stereophonics fans on their website. I can see why as the lyrics don't do anything for me and just sounds like Kelly is trying his best to pretend he's okay from a failed relationship. Still it's on here. This version starts off a little more up tempo to what I have been used to. More keyboard riffs less guitars but it'll never appeal to me. Richard does his best to sway the audience or listeners in the chorus by putting more effort into his vocals. It was at this point in the gig when people began leaving, perhaps it's time they scraped it from the setlists?

Jayne - At last we get the opportunity to hear a new track at a live show. At pervious gigs they have concentrated purely on what's on the records. Does this song work thou? It starts off and it sounds very different to their pervious stuff. There are snippets of riffs that reminds me of Nirvana. Starts quite mellow but when it gets to the chorus yes you can hear Kelly screeching again. Why he screeches in songs is beyond me. He has a good voice but spoils it by making this contrast. Don't think they'll ever be like the next Nirvana but a good effort.

Too Many Sandwiches - If anyone remembers this was a well loved track off Word Gets Around that never made it big as a single. They have tried to bring it from the 90's into a modernised commercialised version of the 2000's. The fact that it does still have the raw edge as on the original record appeals to me.

Traffic - Most popular single off "Word Gets Around." You can hear the applauds from the fans and yes the producers have let them have a chance to sing on this track. It would be a disappointment if they didn't as this song became another well loved anthem of 1998 and probably the single that actually made Stereophonics whom they are today. The acoustic live version is spoiled with unnecessary keyboard riffs. I liked this raw but the keyboard organs in the background as made it a little too commercialised for my liking.

Just Looking - The best song of P & C album by far. Well in my opinion anyway. It starts with claps and cheers from the fans. You can listen to this song over and over again and never get bored. Still got the beats, and Kelly's solo bits as it did in the original album version. A good choice to put on the live album and yes I'm pleased with this version of the song. Still added the guitar riffs but they don't sound too off from how it once was.

And finally........

Dakota - They have chosen this track to end the live album, just as in the shows. He starts the song by chatting to the audience thanking them for coming. This track has definitely been edited as doesn't sound as good or has lost some of the guitar bits that made it to be what it was. There are stages in it where it sounds like Kelly Jones is singing to thin air.

~The Price~

I paid £10.45 (including postage and packaging) via Amazon website and bought this as a pre-sale item in March 2006. It came with a 5 track CD sampler featuring B sides off Stereophonics 5th album Language, Sex, Violence and Other? Considering I got 25 songs for just under £11 isn't bad.

The album itself has gone down in price since then. It is currently retailed at £6.97 (without the 5 track sampler which can no longer be obtained as was a one time promotional offer).

~Extras~

There are none. This album was produced as a dedication to old and new fans. They could have added more to it but this would have upped up the price, which they didn't want to do as this was to be a non-profitable album affordable for their true fans.

There are rumours of news of a documentary DVD showing their progression as a band over the 10 year span to celebrate their 10th anniversary this year as being known as the Stereophonics. If you would like to know more information on that front, why not log into their website at www.stereophonics.com

~Cover~

I was abit disappointed that it only shows a picture of Kelly Jones on the front cover and not as a threesome band. I know he is the lead singer and frontman for the Stereophonics who writes majority of the songs but the other band members need to be given the credit they deserve.

If you open out the Inlay cover, you will see photographs that were taken during the 2005 tour which this album is based on. Most of them are in black and white. Possibly done to give it that raw old style movie image theme.


~Conclusion~

Throughout this review I have compared the tracks on this live album with the versions featured off the albums. The reason why I have done this was because I do or did enjoy their backlog and it is interesting to know how the live versions work to the original versions. I was disappointed by the fact that alot of the fans voices and cheers were dubbed out. This creates the atmosphere and the whole idea of producing a live version is for the fans to relive the gigs. Or if they were unlucky not to make it to any of them, at least they have the opportunity to at imagine it.

Personally I would have liked to have had more tracks from the previous 4 albums rather than just concentrating on stuff from "Language Sex Violence Other?". If you look at the contents, virtually an entire CD is made up off tracks from this album. If it was me picking what to put on I would have swapped "I'm alright" to "Last of the big time drinkers." A classic track that is sadly missed by many fans.

On listening to this album I think they are trying to recapture the success they once had yet trying to keep up with the modern commercialised music industry. Whilst this works on some tunes, it spoils it on others. Kelly Jones and co are being brave and trying out different styles. They try their best to move away from JEEP and You've got to be there to come back days but they are losing the edge and quality on what were once classic tracks such as Bartender and the Thief.

It is a real shame for the music industry as when I bought Word Gets Around and Performance and Cocktails, it left me wanting more. Now we got more but somehow somewhere they have lost their way. Will they ever find their way home is beyond me.

Whilst some live tracks impressed me, others left me feeling bitter. Still only time will tell.......

Thanks for reading!!

Summary: 20 Live tracks of their best tunes on 2 Cd's spanning over a decade