The Best of Sessions at West 54th,
vol. 1 Columbia/Legacy
www.legacyrecordings.com
Trying to find live music on television can be a depressing experience, and trying to find any good live music is generally an exercise in futility. Try asking your local cable company, “Let me get this straight: my choices are a Britney Spears pay-per-view concert or Paul Anka on the Food Network?” Sigh.
Sessions at West 54th is an oasis. For some time now, the PBS series has captured some of today's finest songwriters and performers live. The Best of Sessions at West 54th, vol. 1, documents some of the series' many highlights. From Lou Reed's visceral “Set the Twilight Reeling” to Ani DiFranco's taut rendering of “32 Flavors,” this snapshot of television's finest live-music program never falters. With so many great artists to choose from (Joe Henry, Wilco, and Whiskeytown are a few who didn't make the first release), you can't help but wonder what jewels the next volume will bring.
█ Rating (out of 5): 4.5
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Live in Boston 1976
Sony/Legacy
www.legacyrecordings.com
Peter Tosh never attained the prophetlike status of his Wailers bandmate Bob Marley, but his ferocity and passion cut a swath through the world of reggae that's yet to be matched. Live in Boston 1976 finds Tosh (who died at the hands of assassins in 1987) in complete control. Recorded shortly after the release of Tosh's classic album Legalize It, Live in Boston 1976 cooks all the way through. From the simmering unnamed instrumental that opens the album to his trademark song, “Steppin' Razor,” Tosh works the audience masterfully. On “400 Years,” he rails against imperialism with a voice angry enough to start a revolution. Tosh's indignant lyrics sound like the prototype of one of Zack de la Rocha's rants against colonialism.
Perhaps the album's only weak point is an occasional glitch from the master tapes. On the other hand, such imperfections serve only to embellish Tosh's brilliant rough-and-tumble performance.
█ Rating (out of 5): 4
(Audio examples from these CDs available on the Online Extras page.)
