When you think of Live in the music industry, you probably start thinking of concerts and music events where artists and bands play in front of people. And you’re right, that is live but not the live I speak of today. I’m talking about the alternative band, Live, who you may know by such songs as “Lightning Crashes” and “Overcome”.
Their 1999 release, The Distance To Here, provides a distinctive sound for the Pennsylvania group. Unlike many of their alternative counterparts, Live has progressed as a band with each album, producing the recognizable Live sound yet adding different instruments and styles to the scene. The strong, unique voice of Ed Kowalczyk leads the music in many songs and ultimately, he makes the difference for the group. A Dolphin’s Cry (a lovely balance between hard and soft tones) would not sound the same without Kowalczyk’s passionate voice.
However, Kowalczyk’s voice is an acquired taste amidst the solid guitars and drums of the other band members. Softer songs like Where Fishes Go and Dance With You leave Kowalczyk vulnerable and at times, hard to listen to, but don’t worry; there are some real gems on this album. Run to the Water is definitely the greatest song, if not solely because of the wonderful melodies. The lyrics are inspirational and the mood of the song is enough to get the blood rushing through your body. Other Top 40 worthy songs are The Distance, Feel The Quiet River Rage and A Dolphin’s Cry.
It’s a wonder that this group isn’t played more on all radio stations. The album is very diverse in the fact that there are hard songs, soft songs and then songs with both elements involved. Live has made some tunes that are good for top 40, rock, and alternative stations. Aside from the songs I’ve already mentioned, some notable filler spots take up the space until the next highlight. Be that as it may, kudos to Live for their desire to grow as musical artists and their willingness to experiment with new sounds (They Stood Up For Love- a 70’s funk and rock/pop tune comes to mind). If you’re into listening to some melodic, lyric-grabbing, progressive music, Live is exactly that.
By: Cousy
