Bands who actually sound better in their live concert recordings

There are two in my book.

KISS and U2 (through the Unforgettable Fire, that is)

The production values on those albums made the songs always sound slightly muffled to me (though someone got to the Irish lads before The Joshua Tree).

But KISS Alive II and Under a Blood Red Sky jump off the record player/computer.

Anyone else have groups that fall this way?

 

Re: Bands who actually sound better live

I know I'll probably get killed for this, but a Dave Matthews Band live show blows away anything off their studio albums. It's a live band and the energy, talent and atmosphere of a show presents the band at its best.

 

Re: Bands who actually sound better live

If the band members are truly spectacular musicians, they're almost always better live... If they rely on computers or drum machines or something else to make them sound better, they're not going to be as good live...

Dave Matthews Band is amazing live...

Pearl Jam is amazing. Rush, GNR, U2, RHCP...

 

Re: Bands who actually sound better live

I'm talking about live recordings.

See, to me, Pearl Jam's live stuff on iTunes doesn't match up at all.

Rearviewmirror is almost painful to listen to for me compared with the studio version.

 

Re: Bands who actually sound better live

To me, any truly great band is always better live than on record. As great as The Who's albums were, the songs always sounded so much more explosive live. Same thing with Zeppelin.

KISS' early albums are almost unlistenable due to the horrific production and even their live album doesn't sound good.

 

Re: Bands who actually sound better live

I agree about Alive I, but think II is incredible.

 

Re: Bands who actually sound better live

The first one is the one I'm thinking of.

 

Re: Bands who actually sound better live

I've said it before, and I'll continue to say it; this is the finest hard rock live album of all time:




(UFO - Strangers in the Night)

 

Re: Bands who actually sound better live

Can't forget Cheap Trick ... great sounding live band.

 

Re: Bands who actually sound better live

Great White

 

Re: Bands who actually sound better live

That's a good call.

 

Re: Bands who actually sound better live

Pearl Jam. No question. Listen to Two Legs.

And Dave is better live, though still vastly overrated whether live or studio.