I personally think that live albums get sort of a bad rep. To provide a work analogy, studio albums are really presentations to the public as to what an artist is about. A debut album is like a resume, an introduction that allows the artist to give a brief overview of training, influences and experiences. Subsequent albums are more like powerpoints that give a bi-annual overview as to what the artist is up to at the time. Live albums are different. A live album allows the listener to tag along to see the artist at work. This is why Johnny Cash at Folsum Prison and Elvis at Madison Square Garden are so timeless. This is why I am recommending The Tigers Have Spoken by Neko Case. Essentially a live compliation album, it is a good showcase for all of Ms. Case's talents namely her songwriting and her choice of covers and that smoky twangy voice that is her trademark. Recorded over three shows, Neko uses her backup band The Sadies to full effect on such tracks as "Train from Kansas City" and "The Tigers have Spoken". She does Loretta Lynn proud with her cover of "Rated X" and does a haunting "Wayfaring Stranger". But what makes that album is how she plays off the crowd to step it up a notch on nearly every song.
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