The Juliana Theory

Item: Live 10.13.2001
Author: Trae Cadenhead

Live 10.13.2001

(2003)

Reviewed by Trae Cadenhead

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Label Tooth & Nail RecordsThe Phantom TollboothAugust 2003

alternative rock emo indie rock pop punk

This is a CD that really takes me back. During the last two years of high school, The Juliana Theory became a favorite of mine with their albums Understand This Is a Dream and Emotion is Dead. However, everything the band accomplished in their first two releases was effectively undone with the spring release of Love, a disgustingly self-inflated, over-pretentious album that even long-time listeners such as myself didn't have enough grace to accept. Thankfully, Live 10-13-2001 was recorded before Love saw the light of day and includes only songs from the band's first two albums. In other words, this is an album that should be easier to stomach.

As far as live albums go, the sound quality of this release is top-notch. It maintains the live sound in a professional way that shows no sign of sloppiness. The night of the recording, the band was sounding tight and the crowd was fired up. These facts are well reflected in the recording.

On the other hand, the set list for the evening was pretty skimpy. Ten songs are included on the CD, including a short instrumental. After the final song "If I Told You This Was Killing Me, Would You Stop," the crowd chants for another song. Whether or not they got the encore they requested, we really don't know--that's where the CD ends. Odds are, given the band members' tendency to try to be rock stars, they probably came out and played an encore of "You Always Say Goodnight, Goodnight." We'll never know, though, which is sad {because} that is one of the band's best songs. Another of its best songs "Constellation" is left off the recording as well. Every live show I've seen the band play has included these songs, so why they aren't found here is anyone's guess.

Enough of what we don't hear. What we do hear are the rest of the band's staple songs. Four of the tracks are from Understand This is a Dream, with the highlights being "Duane Joseph" and "August in Bethany." The other six are from Emotion is Dead. The album opener "To the Tune of 5,000 Screaming Children" is one of the strongest tracks on the live CD, providing an energy that gave the rest of the songs something difficult to follow.

All said, this is an all right release. It certainly could have been better. But it could have been a lot worse too. It's worth putting in the CD player once in awhile for purposes of nostalgia if nothing else.

2.5 tocks