Search - Curved Air :: Live

In pine effect

JOHN SPOKUS | 03/29/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This album features songs from Curved Air's first three albums, including classic songs like "Vivaldi" and "Back street luv". Curved Air offered a harder rocking sound on stage, and all in all, this album is more satisfying than their often very slick studio efforts. However, there's also an album available called "Live at the BBC". This is probably a better purchase because there are much more songs on this disc, even some pieces from Curved Air's later-era albums "Midnight wire" and "Airborne"."

Smokin' Live Album

JOHN SPOKUS | BALTIMORE, MARYLAND United States | 04/19/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Despite what anyone says, this is the one Curved Air album to buy. In the studio they always sounded more than just a little timid and underproduced, but live they cut loose. Sonja Kristina's vocals are like an unleashed screamin' demon(well maybe like a more British Ann Wilson crossed with the arti-ness of Peter Hammill)especially on my favorite cuts "It Happened Today" and "Marie Antoinette".Daryl Way is one of the greatests violinists you will hear. If you are a fan of 70's progressive you'll be amazed by this record."

Interesting, but studio versions are better

JOHN SPOKUS | 07/04/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This is a good representation of how the band sounded live back in the mid 70's. There is a decent balance of songs off their first three albums, but it would have been good to have expanded it to a double-album.The songs are generally heavier than the studio versions. On the good side, the songs are somewhat rearranged, so the listener gets something new. On the down side, the recording quality is a bit raw, loosing the polish that makes the studio versions sound much better in contrast. Sonja Kristina, though a great singer, tends to over-exaggerate the vocals in this live setting, for added emphasis. Although this might have seemed like a good idea at the time, it unfortunately makes her singing a bit annoying. She does a much better job on the studio albums.This is still a must for Curved Air fans. For those new to the band, I'd recommend their first two albums instead (Air Conditioning and Second Album)."