Search - Steve Earle & Dukes :: Shut Up & Die Like an Aviator

One of my favorite live-recordings ever.

Bill Allison | Southwest Missouri, United States | 12/14/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is THE essential Steve Earle recording. The set is stellar and the Dukes just flat-out rock live. Steve may have been a strung-out addict at the time but he sure does deliver. In fact, there isn't a trace of half-assing here. He does it all with heart and the gruffness in his voice gives tunes like "Billy Austin" an even bigger impact. I really loved the live version of "the Rain Came Down" and "Fearless Heart" has never sounded better. This is one of the first cds I ever bought (I was eleven) and after a decade, it has yet to lose it's charm. The only difference, is now, I'm quite a bit older and the songs have much more meaning."

Near-dead man rocking

David Kinney | San Francisco, Ca. United States | 04/28/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If Steve Earle was down and out due to substance abuse and personal problems that even he admits to, you can't tell it from this CD. The man rocks, the man moves you to tears on the ballads and the man provides an entertaning 90 minutes doing so. "Copperhead Road", "Billy Austin","Someday" and "Guitar Town" sound fresh and exciting in the concert context.There's not a dud on the CD. The Dukes just wail all the way through too. IF Steve was this good back then, at his lowest point, just imagine what his shows are like now, since his triumphant return to form. Say, let's have another live one Steve.Your fans deserve it and more importantly, so do you."

Truly great live albums are a rarity, and always have been..

David Kinney | 07/31/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Truly great live albums have always been a rarity. "Shut Up And Die Like An Aviator" ranks among the best. Having read some of the other (decidedly negative) reviews of this album posted on this site, I can't help but wonder WHY the "critic" didn't like it. What are they...on DOPE? To wit, what's with this hoo-hah about "poor choice of songs?" I've always thought that this album was one helluva generous intro to the uninitiated. What is there to pick nits over? The live version of "Billy Austin" (with that unbelievable opening guitar that gives ya the willies...BRRR!) is all by itself worth buying the album for! The version of "Dead Flowers" will even make you forget it's a Stones song for a while, and brother, that's no easy feat! I haven't even mentioned the truly rockin' parts 'cause they speak for themselves. As far as foregoing this beaut in favor of the studio albums, get those too! However, if you enjoy your favorite bands' live albums because they aren't a verbatim recital of their studio recordings, then "Shut Up..." is right up your alley. This is a "dangerous" album; a real, honest-to-pete rock n' roll record. It sounds as if it could blow apart at any second, and just maybe take you, the listener, right along with it."