OFFICIAL LIVE BOOTLEG: JERSEY TOMATO

This live album is available for download for free from Echolyn's website, and as it contains a broad spectrum of the band's works, it's a really great place to start. I delight in this live album so much for several reasons. For one, it definitely sounds like the band is playing in a small venue (honestly, it sounds like someone's living room), and yet the sound quality during the music doesn't suffer much at all for it. Secondly, the band and audience bantering between songs is just plain fun- one can tell these gentlemen are just having a swell time, both playing the music and interacting with the gathering. And they are so considerate- asking if anyone in the crowd needs to use the restroom before playing their final song- the fifty minute epic masterpiece of progressive rock music that is "Mei." "Sweet Thing" seems to be a long medley (kicked off by a twelve-tone technique, as explained), containing several sections of "A Suite for Everyman." Admittedly there are several songs I would have rather heard live than some here (mainly replacements from Cowboy Poems Free), but the set list is just fine the way it is. This is a perfect place to start for those new to Echolyn. Not only is it a energetic performance of songs spanning multiple albums, but it's 100% free- a definite plus in these economic times. This is highly recommended for the fans and the curious.

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Posted Thursday, September 3, 2009 | Review this album | Report (Review #237008)

Now out of print, this "Official Live Bootleg" can still be downloaded at Echolyn's website.

As a live album, this is not bad. It does cover just about every stage of the band's career up until Mei. The sound quality is very good, but not spectacular, but at least the crowd has the good sense to keep quiet during the music. The banter on the album provides some interesting insights into the meaning and creation of some of the songs, but at times it goes on a bit too long and becomes tedious.

The highlight of this disk is actually the entire second CD. The performance of the fifty minute epic, Mei is great.

While this is a nice set to own, I believe that this band is deserving of a better produced live recording.

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Posted Wednesday, September 9, 2009 | Review this album | Report (Review #238231)

You can download this album in MP3 format from the Echolyn web site. When I discovered this, I thought: why not? and downloaded it. I wasn't sure what I was getting as I had not heard much by them before and I had mixed feelings about what I had heard. So, on the whole, this album was a pleasa ... (read more)

Report this review (#114904) | Posted by scarista | Monday, March 12, 2007 | Review Permanlink

The first Echolyn album i have purchased. At first i did not really dig them but after a few listens it grew on me, they definatly have a creative style. There chorus style vocals are cool but to be honest none of them are very good singers, at least on this album which takes away form my enjo ... (read more)

Report this review (#54172) | Posted by walrus333 | Monday, October 31, 2005 | Review Permanlink

This is the first "official-unofficial" live album that echolyn has produced. Only 60 copies (CD-R's) were made - 30 of which went to each of the lucky people who bought a ticket to the show at the Metlar Bodine Museum in Piscataway, NJ (I was one of the lucky 30) This was part of the first year of ... (read more)

Report this review (#19936) | Posted by echolynfan | Monday, November 10, 2003 | Review Permanlink

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