ROADWORK VOL. 1 - HEAVY METALL IZ A POZE, HARDT ROCK IZ A LAIFSCHTEIL - LIVE IN EUROPE 1998

Live Motorpsycho albums are quite a different beast compared to their studio works, especially in their 90s output of records. However, unlike their studio works, their first live album is a very great masterclass of live music.

While I may disagree a bit on this being their best live album, I do agree that this album is great. At this stage in the band's career, they were slightly exploring more proggy territories, but still they were more of a psych rock/alt rock band that takes cues of the grunge and stoner scene, and the jam bands of the 60s and 70s. This album shows off their more jammy side very well, for example, A K9 Suite, which is this large 30 minute epic that utilizes the styles of tribulations of groups like The Allman Brothers Band and Earthless, with some slight post rock textures in conjunction in a very nice and big song. I really like this suite, being this fun and winding jam session that, despite its 30 minute timer, never feels too long.

I also really like the reinterpretation of The Wheel, now called Super / Wheel, now as this amazing stoner rock jam that takes me through the same road as what The Wheel gave me on Timothy's Monster, but in a totally new twist in this more dark and rambunctious environment. This also goes with The Other Fool, which is a 10 minute rendition of their soon to be song of the same name off their Let Them Eat Cake album. I really like this album for its jams, and I think the best part of Motorpsycho in the aspect of their live records.

Though I will say, only the first three songs ever really interested me, as You Lied through Vortex Surfer never quite left a big impression, unlike A K9 Suite or Super / Wheel. It is not like these songs are bad, in fact I do like them, but I never felt a strong connection to them as opposed to the giant songs on here, but Vortex Surfer is a strong closer for this record, so I cannot complain too much.

For a quality band like Motorpsycho, it is no surprise their live records are also of high quality. I guess it is destiny. Check this out, especially if you like the more stoner and jam band side of Motorpsycho.