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Songs Without Question That Are Better Live

jp307677jp307677 Boston Posts: 417
in The Porch
I think almost everyone would agree that 90% or more of the entire catalog sounds better when performed live vs. the studio versions. I was just thinking of a few that are some of my favorite songs, but almost never listen to the studio cuts:

Nothingman
Off He Goes
I Got Shit
The entire Ten album
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Comments

  • djklambakedjklambake PHX, AZ Posts: 2,524
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  • elvistheking44elvistheking44 Posts: 4,536
    jp307677 said:

    I think almost everyone would agree that 90% or more of the entire catalog sounds better when performed live vs. the studio versions. I was just thinking of a few that are some of my favorite songs, but almost never listen to the studio cuts:

    Nothingman
    Off He Goes
    I Got Shit
    The entire Ten album

    I actually disagree. I think 90% of the catalogue sounds better in the studio. Songs are played entirely too fast live.
    I can't remember the last time I listened to a boot. The entire album Ten is a thing of beauty from the studio.
  • bootlegger10bootlegger10 Posts: 16,225
    jp307677 said:

    I think almost everyone would agree that 90% or more of the entire catalog sounds better when performed live vs. the studio versions. I was just thinking of a few that are some of my favorite songs, but almost never listen to the studio cuts:

    Nothingman
    Off He Goes
    I Got Shit
    The entire Ten album

    Interesting, those three songs would be on my list for songs sounding better on studio albums.

  • EnterThanmanEnterThanman London, ON Posts: 1,057
    Disagree, I prefer studio. However, Unthought Known is an exception. Think it's way stronger live.
    The member formerly known as Scratched Vinyl
  • jp307677jp307677 Boston Posts: 417
    elvistheking44 said:

    jp307677 said:

    I think almost everyone would agree that 90% or more of the entire catalog sounds better when performed live vs. the studio versions. I was just thinking of a few that are some of my favorite songs, but almost never listen to the studio cuts:

    Nothingman
    Off He Goes
    I Got Shit
    The entire Ten album

    I actually disagree. I think 90% of the catalogue sounds better in the studio. Songs are played entirely too fast live.
    I can't remember the last time I listened to a boot. The entire album Ten is a thing of beauty from the studio.
    I am one of few, but Ten is my least favorite studio album by far. I never listen to it. I love just about every song on it when performed live, but the album sounds awful to me. Maybe it's the production or Ed's voice at the time, I just never liked it.

  • DS80666DS80666 Posts: 44
    IMO: I prefer to listen to everything live. I don't feel or hear the same passion in studio versions like I do in concert versions.
  • BezzaBezza Posts: 203
    Breakerfall is way better live
  • pj8pj8 Posts: 408
    Definitely I Got Shit and Unthought Known.
  • northerndragonnortherndragon Posts: 9,851
    Lightning Bolt - wasn't the biggest fan of this song until I heard it in Vancouver, it sounds great live.
    Anything you lose from being honest
    You never really had to begin with.


    Sometimes it's not the song that makes you emotional it's the people and things that come to your mind when you hear it.
  • PorchsitterPorchsitter Loganville, GA Posts: 1,091
    Help, Help immediately comes to mind.
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  • 23scidoo23scidoo Thessaloniki,Greece Posts: 19,867
    It's been a long time for me since i heard a studio album..i think live you can feel the passion and the energy..and for me,this is more pure.. even on the bad nights of the bad..
    Athens 2006. Dusseldorf 2007. Berlin 2009. Venice 2010. Amsterdam 1 2012. Amsterdam 1+2 2014. Buenos Aires 2015.
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    EV, Taormina 1+2 2017.

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  • BinFrogBinFrog MA Posts: 7,314
    bootlegger10 said:

    jp307677 said:

    I think almost everyone would agree that 90% or more of the entire catalog sounds better when performed live vs. the studio versions. I was just thinking of a few that are some of my favorite songs, but almost never listen to the studio cuts:

    Nothingman
    Off He Goes
    I Got Shit
    The entire Ten album

    Interesting, those three songs would be on my list for songs sounding better on studio albums.



    +1. Those are 3 songs I definitely would not add to this discussion.
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  • PJForceofNaturePJForceofNature Posts: 3,087
    I like RVM and Corduroy better live.
    "A beacon on dry land"
  • acr1acr1 Posts: 83
    Severed Hand
    In Hiding

    Two of my absolute favorite live songs. Studio versions are way weaker, IMO
  • dfishbergdfishberg Posts: 403
    RVM and although not a studio cut RITFW is just insane live.
  • TheGhostTheGhost Posts: 536
    It's almost like a philosophical difference among PJ fans. Saying a song si "too fast" live implies that you believe the studio version to be the definitive one. I consider the studio versions the blueprint, and whatever they are playing in the moment to be definitive. To me PJ is somethiing that exists in real time, not as a time capsule. I love the albums, but the studio version of say, DTE, is really different from how it actually plays out live. Does that mean they play it "wrong"? I don't think so.
    KORITFW
  • Indifference71Indifference71 Chicago Posts: 14,903
    Unthought Known
    Present Tense
    In Hiding
  • karmadefectkarmadefect Posts: 806
    TheGhost said:

    It's almost like a philosophical difference among PJ fans. Saying a song si "too fast" live implies that you believe the studio version to be the definitive one. I consider the studio versions the blueprint, and whatever they are playing in the moment to be definitive. To me PJ is somethiing that exists in real time, not as a time capsule. I love the albums, but the studio version of say, DTE, is really different from how it actually plays out live. Does that mean they play it "wrong"? I don't think so.

    I agree with you to a certain extent. Do they play Do the evolution wrong no. I like even flow in the faster version.
    Still I can't help but feel Tremor Christ looses it's magic when played too fast.
    jp307677 said:


    I think almost everyone would agree that 90% or more of the entire catalog sounds better when performed live vs. the studio versions.

    It's a nice thread idea, thanks.

    I wouldn't agree on 90% sounding better, but there are a few that do. Apart from that I like most songs on the studio album as I do on the bootlegs.

    As for sounding better live I'd say the entire Yield and Backspacer albums and Lightning bolt and Sirens.

    I really like Rearviewmirror, Porch and Even flow because they are usually extended with a jam
    It's not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me.

    2006 Arnhem 2007 Werchter 2009 Rotterdam 2010 Nijmegen 2010 Werchter
    2012 Amsterdam 1 2012 Amsterdam 2 2014 Amsterdam 1 2014 Amsterdam 2
    2014 Berlijn
  • Abe FromanAbe Froman Posts: 5,373
    edited March 2014
    NAIS
    All Night
    Alive
    Even Flow
    Corduroy
    Lightning Bolt
    Unthought Known
    Given to Fly
    World Wide Suicide
    Small Town
    Rearviewmirror
    Lukin
    Not For You

    That's several off the top of my head that for me are on another level live. That doesn't mean I don't love the studio of some (GTF) of em but live...man they just bring something extra. Either energy (NFY), a singalong (small town), or just a fucking jam (LB)!

    I rarely if ever listen to studio versions of most of Ten. For example I will listen to Even Flow almost every time when a live version comes on (mikes solos are just fucking ridiculously good) but never the studio. I don't think I need to here the studio of Jeremy ever again but will listen live once in awhile. So yeah, gimme live PJ most of the time.
    Post edited by Abe Froman on
  • chainchain Montreal Posts: 336
    For me live versions of those songs are better live:

    Even Flow
    Blood
    Whipping
    Faithfull
    Do the Evolution
    Pilate
    Love boat Captain
    Unthought Known
    My father's son... WAY better live
    Lightning Bolt
    Swallowed Hole
    Toronto 96-09-21 / Montreal 98-08-20
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  • RP112579RP112579 Tinley Park, IL Posts: 3,388
    Present Tense
    Off He Goes
    Porch
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  • Amongst the AniAmongst the Ani @Wobbie Posts: 7,790
    NAIS and Immortality.

    I love the studio versions but live is just so much better
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  • mrussel1mrussel1 Posts: 30,803
    Faithfull & Long Road are my top 2 live. They have more energy and community live.
  • F Me In The BrainF Me In The Brain this knows everybody from other commets Posts: 31,759
    Indifference71 said:

    Unthought Known
    Present Tense
    In Hiding

    I like these, although I would temper that by saying a 'strong' version of Present Tense. One of my favorite songs by the band but they have chopped it up pretty badly before live. When they are clicking the last part of it is just a perfect bow to wrap things up with.

    RVM as well.

    The love he receives is the love that is saved
  • jimbojones1138jimbojones1138 Posts: 3,640
    sleight of hand

    i try not to pass judgement on album tracks that may be "questionable" until i hear how it translates live. Sleight of hand really didnt do it for me on the album, but its amazing live. Once the live boots drop of the album tour, i rarely listen to the studio albums...
    it's largely due to eddie that i liked to jump off of things as a child...
  • Wma31394Wma31394 Posts: 3,045
    All Night
    "Going where the water tastes like wine!"
  • pjhawkspjhawks Posts: 12,899
    Do the Evolution - I think the studio version is unlistenable

    all of the No Code album
  • red mosred mos Posts: 4,953
    Most Binaural songs came off better live I think
    PJ: 10/14/00 06/09/03 10/4/09 11/15/13 11/16/13 10/08/14
    EV Solo: 7/11/11 11/12/12 11/13/12
  • Abe FromanAbe Froman Posts: 5,373
    Some great choices! I definitely forgot NAIS and All Night. So great live!
  • ponce deleonponce deleon Posts: 39
    Alone, is much better live.
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