Live albums are always an interesting proposition. They rarely expand the audience of a group as they usually aren't a good introduction to a band. For the group's hard-core audience, however, they are usually a welcome release.
Such is the case with Audio Adrenaline's Live Bootleg. The project is compiled from recordings made in Seattle, WA; Salem, OR; Reno, NV; Burlington, NJ and Lancaster, PA. It is a completely live album-there are no overdubs. At times, it almost seems as if the band forgot there was tape rolling (maybe it is a real bootleg...) Will McGinnis' nervous "uh"-laden and voice-cracking sharing time and the several small miscues that were unchanged add to the impression that the listener is actually at the concert. It is totally raw and the band is very free to ad-lib and interact with the audience. I think it does an admirable job of capturing the experience of seeing Audio Adrenaline in concert.
After a one-minute introduction, they include the songs "We're A Band," "What You Need," "Can't Take God Away," "Soulmate," "Scum Sweetheart," "Rest Easy," "Don't Censor Me," "Big House," "Happy And You Know It," and a medley of "My God" and "DC 10." The songs aren't the same arrangements as the studio releases, but they are similar (except for the medley).
Just like a "normal" bootleg, the packaging on the project is sparse. There's a grainy cover and a few credits on the back of the case-that's it. No photos, no band thank-you's.
If you are an Audio Adrenaline nut, then you will most likely want to add this to your collection. If you haven't heard the band before, their studio releases would be a better introduction.
Similar sounding releases
1993The Prayer ChainShawl
1997DC TalkWelcome to the Freak Show
1995The Walter EugenesBeautiful
2000FringeFor the Vagabond Believer
1992RansomSoul Asylum
1994Phil KeaggyBlueMore from Audio Adrenaline
1997Some Kind Of Zombie
1994Don't Censor Me Extended Play Remixes
1999Underdog
1996Bloom
2005Until My Heart Caves In
1995Big House (Video)
