A-ha's first live album ever, ahh...And its a damn fine piece of work!
I don't know why, but I was especially excited when I bought this, finally I was gonna hear "Swing Of Things" live again, add another version of "The Living Daylights" to my 50 live list. Anyway, what stands out on this album in the start is the sound quality of the recordings. Very good indeed. But the best thing is that a-ha has chosen a perfect song list, the most necessary songs are there. I just want to remind you, that this is a live album with old songs, so I won't review the songs again, just compare with the album versions.
9 p
Turns out to be a great opening song on this album, the intro is really suggestive and cool. This live version is very similar to the album one (at least for me), and I find the differences very few. It gets the same grade as the album version, but it gets a plus for the cool intro. 8+p
Minor Earth Major Sky
Hmm, a lot better than the album version. Very rocky, very a-ha. A bit too long though... 7 p
Manhattan Skyline
I have gotten a lot of angry mails during the years about my grade on Manhattan Skyline in the album. I gave it a 6 only because I had heard the live version, which is soooo much better. It feels like Morten really knows what he's singing. Oh and Magne & P�ls interludes are really cool. Its time to give Manhattan Skyline its true grade: 10 p
I've Been Losing You
I have never been a fan of this song live... It feels more rocky and solid on the album. 7 p
Crying In The Rain
Well well, it seems that a-ha are still sticking with the duet version on conerts, tsk tsk... For heavens sake, Its a song about lonliness, let Morten sing it himself! 6 p
The Sun Always Shines On Tv
What can go wrong with a song like this? 10 p
Did Anyone Approach You
One of the better songs from the latest album. Good live performance act. Probably contains some of the coolest guitar riffs in a-ha history. 8 p
The Swing Of Things
A very slow and deep version of one of "Scoundrel Days" biggest highlights. The song really carries itself here, and thanks to suberp lyrics this one raises one point compared to the album version. 9 p
Lifelines
Now this is strange, this is the strongest song on the whole "Lifelines" yet I remained unthouched by this live version. It kinda feels a bit anonymous in this big company of hits. 7 p
Stay On These Roads
A big favourite on concerts, it feels very naked compared to the inflated album version. 10 p
Hunting High And Low
Great song, great live version. 10 p
Take On Me
A-ha's biggest hit of all time AND A-ha's biggest concert favourite of all time. Very good version and a really cool ending of the song, where (after several tries) Morten takes the famous high note that gave a-ha world fame... 10 p
The Living Daylights
My favourite a-ha song of all times, all catagories. I have like 55 versions of this song live and I think of myself as the worlds biggest expert on this Bond theme. Anyway, this live version is a bit different from before, they have speeded it up a little bit and have cutted down on the refrains aaahhhing. Very cool interlude in the middle and I really enjoy the reagge rythms in the singalong. Thank you a-ha for this excellent song! 10 p
Summer Moved On
"Minor Earth Major Skys" best song (very good here too) concludes disc on this wonderful live album. 9 p
Scoundrel Days
Cool version, as always when this track is performed live; powerful singing. The guitar riffs rocks! 9 p
Oranges On Appletrees
A favourite on the "Lifelines" album and a favourite on this record. Smooth intro and the chorus (Magne, Paul and Annelie) does a great job backing up the lyriclosing Harket. Finally I would like to say that this song is better live than on the album! 9 p
Cry Wolf
What else can be said about this lame song, other than it doesn`t age good. 1 p
Dragonfly
Magne sings this beutiful song in concerts, and he performs quite well I must say. But seriously he can never beat the famous Mortern Harket...or can he? 7 p
Time and again
This is the song that sounds most similar to the album version of all. That isn't bad only a bit boring. Good song anyway. 8 p
Sycamore leaves
Powerful singing again by the guys! They raises this rock track to new heights with the new vocals. This song has by the way grown on me these last couple of years, so I am raising the point quite much: 8 p