Live - Mental Jewelry

[joshthevegan]

The debut album from York, PA's own Live is an album about peace, equality, and finding one's place in a hateful, often confusing world. Ed Kowalczyk (the band's singer/lyricist) was just becoming interested in eastern philosophy, which explains a lot about the searching feel that permeates the album.

Musically, the performances are spirited and soulful, powerful and intimate. All the instrumentalists prove themselves to be incredibly competent, (especially bass player Patrick Dalheimer) but restrained and tasteful. It is the strength of the band as a whole that make Ed Kowalczyk's lyrics not come off as preachy and didactic. Songs like "10,000 Years (Peace Is Now)" could easily slip into being annoying if not for the great support of the band.

I personally was introduced to this album at a time in my life when I was beginning to question the conservative, Christian upbringing my parents gave me, and this album was a comforting place to go while pondering these things. Lyrics like "I've heard a lot of talk about this Jesus. A man of love and a man of strength. But when a man walks 2,000 years ago, it means nothing at all to me today," perfectly summed up many of the things that were blossoming in my adolescent mind.

The songs here were not strong enough to break into the mainstream, but "Operation Spirit" did garner a small following for the band on alternative radio. It would not be until their next album that Live fully came into their own. For this listener, however, they never got more powerful and pertinent then they did on their debut.

Mental Jewelry - 8 out of 10

Here is the first video that Live recorded, "Operation Spirit". Sorry about the quality, it is the only one I could find.

Here is a great live performance of the song the album got it's title from, "Mirror Song".

And, lastly I offer a live performance of the album's opener, "Pain Lies On The Riverside". Some of you may have already seen this, and I apologize for repeating myself.