The Dissident
Ancient Mariner
Time to start reviewing a live album or two. Here is my live album criteria
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135/365; Live Album #1
Strangers In The Night - UFO
Format: Vinyl
Setlist Thoughts [Prelisten]: The album looks like a strong set, 13 tracks only 2 of which I personally wouldn't include but overall the set has an ebb and flow to it along with a killer opening track and a strong ending. - 8.5/10
Natural Thing - Kicking into high gear from the start the band launches into Natural Thing from the No Heavy Petting Album, Schenker delivers the opening riff and Phil comes in singing in great form. This song sounds better in a live setting than studio - 9/10
Out In The Streets - Transitioning from the previous track seamlessly, Paul begins the piano and Phil comes in singing beautifully over the mini epic. Schenker's guitar tone is beautiful and heavy. The band delivers a killer performance - 10/10
Only You Can Rock Me - Continuing on the strong track onslaught the band brings new life to the opening track of obsession, both Phil and Michael sound stronger here than on the actual album. - 9.5/10
Doctor Doctor - The piano and slow building guitar solo intro of the classic track begins the final song of side 1. The band comes in soon afterwords and the band remains tight as ever throughout - 10/10
Mother Mary - Keeping with the momentum side 2 kicks off with the majestic Mother Mary, a killer track throughout - 10/10
This Kids - Kicking off strongly, one of the two tracks before the listen that I would have omitted. Overall not quite on par with what has come before but the song is heavier live than on the album - 8/10
Love To Love - The ultimate UFO ballad closes off side 2, an absolutely brilliant performance, the late Paul Raymond delivers some beautiful keyboard work, Schenker unleashes a heavy solo at the end whilst playing elegantly throughout the track Andy and Pete hold the bottom end steady and Phil sings one of the best ballads in Hard Rock/Heavy Metal. Unbelievable performance - 10/10
Lights Out - Bringing the band back into high gear they launch into Lights Out, the opening riff/vocal deliver is a little less clear than the record but the heaviness of the song is brilliant. The call-out to Chicago is great. Thus far this is the only song which isn't quite on par with the studio version, having heard lights out live in person I can say it is a massive live track. Oh and the added lyrics from Mogg are a nice addition. - 9/10
Rock Bottom - Fan requests for the classic show closer open the recording, Michael does a short solo bit before going into the main riff and the band. The main portion of the song is solid but the solo... is absolutely monstrous, i'm going to balance out between the 8/10 for the song itself and the 10/10 for the solo - 9/10
Too Hot To Handle - Side 4 opens with a heavy track, the better production of sorts comes back for this side of the album. A super strong mid tempo track with Phil singing strongly over the band - 9/10
I'm A Loser - The second track that I will consider one to be a poorer choice for the album, although it isn't a bad track, dynamic and a nice change to the setlist's rock onslaught. - 8/10
Let It Roll - The album begins to close with the incredibly fast paced Let It Roll, Phil sings aggressively and Schenker lets loose some killer guitar work. Andy's drumming is really strong on this track. - 9.5/10
Shoot Shoot - The album and show closer is a brilliant rendition of Shoot Shoot, featuring a nice cowbell intro, the increased pace does wonders to the track. Absolutely amazing way to end the album - 10/10
Flow Of Album - The overall flow is really good throughout the set, fast rocking with 3 tracks which are slower being This Kids, Love To Love and I'm A Loser. But they all feel perfectly placed throughout the album. From a flow standpoint the album does an outright amazing job - 10/10
Final Setlist Thoughts - Though This Kids and I'm a Loser are lower portions of the setlist for me the set as a whole is absolutely amazing although not quite perfect - 9/10
Overall 93%
Amazing live album by a super underrated band.
- Setlist Choice /30
- Pre-album listen setlist thoughts [If Applicable, if not score is split between the lower two] /10
- Flow Of Record /10
- Following album listen thoughts /10
- Individual Performance /10x number of songs
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135/365; Live Album #1
![UFOStrangersInTheNightAlbumCover.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/ce/UFOStrangersInTheNightAlbumCover.jpg)
Strangers In The Night - UFO
Format: Vinyl
Setlist Thoughts [Prelisten]: The album looks like a strong set, 13 tracks only 2 of which I personally wouldn't include but overall the set has an ebb and flow to it along with a killer opening track and a strong ending. - 8.5/10
Natural Thing - Kicking into high gear from the start the band launches into Natural Thing from the No Heavy Petting Album, Schenker delivers the opening riff and Phil comes in singing in great form. This song sounds better in a live setting than studio - 9/10
Out In The Streets - Transitioning from the previous track seamlessly, Paul begins the piano and Phil comes in singing beautifully over the mini epic. Schenker's guitar tone is beautiful and heavy. The band delivers a killer performance - 10/10
Only You Can Rock Me - Continuing on the strong track onslaught the band brings new life to the opening track of obsession, both Phil and Michael sound stronger here than on the actual album. - 9.5/10
Doctor Doctor - The piano and slow building guitar solo intro of the classic track begins the final song of side 1. The band comes in soon afterwords and the band remains tight as ever throughout - 10/10
Mother Mary - Keeping with the momentum side 2 kicks off with the majestic Mother Mary, a killer track throughout - 10/10
This Kids - Kicking off strongly, one of the two tracks before the listen that I would have omitted. Overall not quite on par with what has come before but the song is heavier live than on the album - 8/10
Love To Love - The ultimate UFO ballad closes off side 2, an absolutely brilliant performance, the late Paul Raymond delivers some beautiful keyboard work, Schenker unleashes a heavy solo at the end whilst playing elegantly throughout the track Andy and Pete hold the bottom end steady and Phil sings one of the best ballads in Hard Rock/Heavy Metal. Unbelievable performance - 10/10
Lights Out - Bringing the band back into high gear they launch into Lights Out, the opening riff/vocal deliver is a little less clear than the record but the heaviness of the song is brilliant. The call-out to Chicago is great. Thus far this is the only song which isn't quite on par with the studio version, having heard lights out live in person I can say it is a massive live track. Oh and the added lyrics from Mogg are a nice addition. - 9/10
Rock Bottom - Fan requests for the classic show closer open the recording, Michael does a short solo bit before going into the main riff and the band. The main portion of the song is solid but the solo... is absolutely monstrous, i'm going to balance out between the 8/10 for the song itself and the 10/10 for the solo - 9/10
Too Hot To Handle - Side 4 opens with a heavy track, the better production of sorts comes back for this side of the album. A super strong mid tempo track with Phil singing strongly over the band - 9/10
I'm A Loser - The second track that I will consider one to be a poorer choice for the album, although it isn't a bad track, dynamic and a nice change to the setlist's rock onslaught. - 8/10
Let It Roll - The album begins to close with the incredibly fast paced Let It Roll, Phil sings aggressively and Schenker lets loose some killer guitar work. Andy's drumming is really strong on this track. - 9.5/10
Shoot Shoot - The album and show closer is a brilliant rendition of Shoot Shoot, featuring a nice cowbell intro, the increased pace does wonders to the track. Absolutely amazing way to end the album - 10/10
Flow Of Album - The overall flow is really good throughout the set, fast rocking with 3 tracks which are slower being This Kids, Love To Love and I'm A Loser. But they all feel perfectly placed throughout the album. From a flow standpoint the album does an outright amazing job - 10/10
Final Setlist Thoughts - Though This Kids and I'm a Loser are lower portions of the setlist for me the set as a whole is absolutely amazing although not quite perfect - 9/10
Overall 93%
Amazing live album by a super underrated band.
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