Favourite Live Albums 2008
The first overview of the past year starts with a look at some of my favourite live recordings. This may have been headed by the Henry Cow box set, but that looks like it won’t be out till beginning of January.
10. Porcupine Tree ~ We Lost the Skyline
Basically an in-store duo performance with Steven Wilson and John Wesley, re-working some PT material. Pity its only 30-odd minutes long, but nice to hear these songs in a non-standard almost acoustic setting.
9. UK ~ Live In Boston
A Japan only release for this long available bootleg recording. Though the sound here knocks the socks off anything that came before.
8. Spock’s Beard ~Live
Strangely, released barely two years since their last live set, this nevertheless emphatically shows the band at their exciting best. A nice mixture of older and newer material on show.
7. Kansas ~ Two for the Show
Remastered and expanded, this shows the band at their live best. Sony have done a great job here, right down to the packaging.
6. Rush ~ Snakes and Arrows Live
On the back of their best studio album for years, Rush rip through lots of their best material. Soundwise this is much, much better than the noise that was “Rush in Rio”.
5. Magenta ~ Live at the Point
A superbly recorded live album from the brilliant Magenta. Been a really good year for the band.
4. Trettioraga Kriget ~ War Years
This is a fantastic 2CD anthology of live TK through the years. The sound is first class and the performances from this legendary Swedish outfit top notch.
3. Henry Cow ~ Stockholm & Göteberg
A taster for the 9 disc box set which is soon to be with us. This disc shows HC at their formidable best, mixing composed and improvised material. If this is just a small example of what to expect, the full set will be monumental.
2. Pure Reason Revolution ~ Live at Nearfest 2007
With a new studio album at last being released next March, this live recording is a suitable stop gap. “The Dark Third” sounded a bit thin, but on this excellent live recording, the band sound emphatically powerful.
1. David Gilmour ~ Live In Gdansk
Beautifully recorded performance of the “On an Island” album (which is better here than the studio version) plus some great Pink Floyd covers, especially the mighty ‘Echoes’. A more than fitting epitaph for the sadly missed Richard Wright.
10. Porcupine Tree ~ We Lost the Skyline
Basically an in-store duo performance with Steven Wilson and John Wesley, re-working some PT material. Pity its only 30-odd minutes long, but nice to hear these songs in a non-standard almost acoustic setting.
9. UK ~ Live In Boston
A Japan only release for this long available bootleg recording. Though the sound here knocks the socks off anything that came before.
8. Spock’s Beard ~Live
Strangely, released barely two years since their last live set, this nevertheless emphatically shows the band at their exciting best. A nice mixture of older and newer material on show.
7. Kansas ~ Two for the Show
Remastered and expanded, this shows the band at their live best. Sony have done a great job here, right down to the packaging.
6. Rush ~ Snakes and Arrows Live
On the back of their best studio album for years, Rush rip through lots of their best material. Soundwise this is much, much better than the noise that was “Rush in Rio”.
5. Magenta ~ Live at the Point
A superbly recorded live album from the brilliant Magenta. Been a really good year for the band.
4. Trettioraga Kriget ~ War Years
This is a fantastic 2CD anthology of live TK through the years. The sound is first class and the performances from this legendary Swedish outfit top notch.
3. Henry Cow ~ Stockholm & Göteberg
A taster for the 9 disc box set which is soon to be with us. This disc shows HC at their formidable best, mixing composed and improvised material. If this is just a small example of what to expect, the full set will be monumental.
2. Pure Reason Revolution ~ Live at Nearfest 2007
With a new studio album at last being released next March, this live recording is a suitable stop gap. “The Dark Third” sounded a bit thin, but on this excellent live recording, the band sound emphatically powerful.
1. David Gilmour ~ Live In Gdansk
Beautifully recorded performance of the “On an Island” album (which is better here than the studio version) plus some great Pink Floyd covers, especially the mighty ‘Echoes’. A more than fitting epitaph for the sadly missed Richard Wright.
posted by Barrie Sillars at
2:49 PM
3 Comments:
This comment has been removed by the author.
My favourite live album of this year is The Cinematic Orchestra's live at the Royal Albert Hall. It's more of a nu jazz album than prog but it's also a bit psychedelic. Quality music certainly.
Looks like something to check out. Thanks Rob.
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