Live Lounge

I have always been a fan of the Radio 1 Live Lounge, sometimes it can be a bit hit and miss but I enjoy listening to bands doing a more acoustic version of their hits and some of the cover versions they do are really good. The basic format is that each band does one of their own songs and one cover song live in the studio. This album is a double album with 20 tracks on each CD and features selection of songs, some of them covers and some the bands originals and it is quite an eclectic mix with some quite unusual songs. Perhaps my favourite has to be the Arctic Monkeys cover of the Girls Aloud hit Lovemachine which with the frenetic guitar riffs and ...  Read the complete review

Tuning into the Jo Whiley slot on BBC Radio One (weekdays from 10:00am until 12:45pm) I eagerly await the Live Lounge session where popular singers/groups are invited along to present a live version of one of their songs and an unrehearsed cover of something else, adding their own twist. It sounds like a recipe for disaster but does in fact lead to some genuinely excellent surprises and great musical moments. This has resulted in the Live Lounge becoming quite famous and an integral part of the Jo Whiley show. Many tracks have prompted a barrage of texts and emails from listeners asking ‘When will that tune be released?’ so after much popular demand, Radio One ...  Read the complete review

I have just revisted this album after buying the third version. I had forgotten a lot of the tracks on here so it was nice to come back to it. A bit like sitting down and having a coffee with an old friend. It contains a good mix of artists doing their own tracks in an acoustic version and some artists carrying out a cover version. These coverversion are usually very unique and I must say that this is the part of the album I really enjoy. There is always something special about hearing a track that you like (or even one you don't) sung in a totally different way. I wasn't sure if I would like the Kooks version of Crazy as it is one track that I ...  Read the complete review

One of the most popular radio stations in England - Radio 1 feature many new bands each week, speak to some of the biggest bands around at the moment and are generally notorious for providing excellent music, presenters, new music and interesting features such as the live lounge. The concept behind the live lounge is to provide listeners with especially recorded live versions of their favourite bands tracks. This was a huge success and what became even more popular was recording of artists covering other artists, some of similar style other of something completely different and unexpected. The album is highly successful in taking familiar and ...  Read the complete review

Radio 1 live in your lounge I have to admit I have been waiting in anticipation for the release of a live lounge CD for a number of years. My mornings are often much happier after hearing the Jo Whiley show, partly for her sexy voice (unfortunatly not featured on the CD) and for the amazing live lounge sessions. For those of you that dont listen to radio 1 mid-morning during the week, Jo Whiley often invites artists into the studio for a chat and to perform a few tracks. These are often stripped down accoustic versions of thier most famous songs and an inpromptu cover which can range from the sublimly beautiful to the hilariously funny. ...  Read the complete review