LIVE - MAGNETIC AIR

After four very good studio albums MAX WEBSTER released this live record featuring eleven tracks including a short improv. So we get 2 to 3 songs off of each of those four studio recordings. The sound quality is excellent but I must admit this album has it's ups and downs which surprised me since i'm a big fan of this band. Yes this could have been so much better.

"America's Veins" opens to the sound of applause as the music kicks in with vocals not far behind. I'm not a big fan of this one especially the chorus. It's not great when the opening track is my least favourite on the album. "Paradise Skies" is such an awesome tune but this version comes across as being a little flat for some reason. "In The Context Of The Moon" opens with Kim speaking to the audience for the first time. Again I prefer the studio version to this one. A good section though after 3 minutes as it turns lighter. "Night Flights" is where we finally hear the MAX WEBSTER I know and love. A top three and this one is from "A Million Vacations". Such a feel-good tune for me. "Lip Service" is catchy and fun which is what this band was all about. Check out the guitar solo 3 minutes in.

"Sarniatown Reggae" is a reggae flavoured track with spoken lyrics from the song "The Party". An improv I assume and the title comers from the fact they were from the city of Sarnia, Ontario. "Here Among The Cats" is from the debut and one of my favourites. The guitar is impressive. "Gravity" is humerous with pulsating keys that come and go. I like the lyrics a lot, and also the calm after 2 minutes. When the song ends Kim says "Magnetic air, thankyou!". "Waterline" is another top three song for me on here. A killer groove to this one and check out the fuzz 2 1/2 minutes in. Fantastic! "Charmonium" is an uplifting track with swirling keys and guitar. Watkinson sings lead on this one. "Hangover" is the closer and the perfect encore track. My final top three tune as well. This is raw and dirty as he sings about getting drunk. "Double vision when the bar is closed down". Yeah I experienced that once and it was one too many. Kick-ass all the way.

I agree with my buddy Queen By-Tor and her rating of 3.5 stars. We're both huge fans of this long broken up band but i'll stick with the first four studio albums thankyou. For noobs i'd suggest "The Best Of Max Webster" where you'll also get "Battle Scar" which MAX WEBSTER did with RUSH. An amazing track, but just one of many from this awesome group.