|
 "Life
is like a shooting star / If you only run for cover / It's just
a waste of time," Edward
Kowalczyk sings on "The Dolphin's Cry," the first single from
Live's fourth album, "The Distance to Here." The message is indicative
of the upbeat
vibe the band has been trying to recapture from its earlier
days, the frontman tells Wall of Sound, noting, "In the very beginning,
I wanted Live to be a band that essentially gives people a positive
message, a message of love, a message of hope. When I was 8 years
old, I heard John Lennon's 'Imagine'
for the first time, and became completely convinced of the power
of pop music."
 The
band's trip back to its roots might defuse some of the criticism
that Live is something of a musical
opportunist. As the L.A. Times put it, the band "started in
Pennsylvania in the late '80s as a spiritually inspired anthem-rock
band, [but] they later transformed into moody pop just in time for
the early '90s alternative music movement." And in fact, some reviewers
are welcoming the new-old Live back into the fold, saying that the
album's "14 songs all rock convincingly,"
and that the "airier, more dynamic production suits the surprising
slant of new songs." Other rock scribes still find the band
sounding too self-important,
with Addicted to Noise noting, "U2 used to have this same complex
until they went the other direction and became so self-deprecating
you actually wished Bono would just shut
up or start preaching about human rights again."
You'll likely be hearing Live's cry for a while. Not only is the
single all over radio, but the band has just embarked on a tour
that will keep it on the road through 2000. If you can't get to
a show, but want to catch Live's live
act, tune into HBO's "Reverb" November 2. You can also view
a video interview of the band here
and check out the new disc and videos here.
Frank
Sennett
Newcity.com
affiliates sound off about Live and "The Distance to Here":
TAKE
WHAT YOU WILL
"The Distance" offers plenty of lessons in life. Then again, you
can just as easily ignore all of the serious stuff and simply rock
with it.
LIVE
GOES THE DISTANCE
It's refreshing to stumble upon a new release from a relatively
young rock band and walk away inspired, happy to be a rock fan,
and basking in the warmth of temporary peace
|
