This came out in 2003 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
Ah, the summer concert season. Is there any more exciting time for a fan?
After all, how often do you get the chance to blow most of your paycheque for the privilege of being crammed into the back row of a stadium’s upper deck, staring for two hours at the butt of the biker in front of you while he dances on his seat, screams “Whooo!” at the top of his lungs every 30 seconds and spills beer on your head? If you’re ready for a less stressful (and less expensive) concert experience, perhaps it’s time to check out this new live album. If you still don’t feel like you’re at a gig, try parking your car two miles away and charging yourself $5 for a bottle of water.
THE TICKET: A solid, well-paced 77-minute show, taped last winter during tour stops in Edmonton, Calgary and Montreal.
SOUND CHECK: Impressively vibrant, with far more immediacy and power than these guys usually display on their overproduced studio efforts.
GOLDEN OLDIES: Not surprisingly, the 14-song set is heavily weighted toward their 2002 Gravity album. But Raine Maida and co. include enough classics like Starseed, Clumsy and Superman’s Dead to satisfy the faithful.
BIC LIGHTER BALLAD: Several of these cuts have their quiet points, but with its acoustic-guitar opening, gentle vibe and deliberate pacing, Bring Back The Sun is the sort of song glitter balls were made for.
ROCK-STAR CLICHE: “You guys ready to sing?” asks Maida before the first of several trite audience-participation moments. OK, Raine, it’s nice that they know the words. But really, we paid to hear you.
LAST WORDS: Say what you will — and I have — about Our Lady Peace’s studio albums. But with this highly listenable outing, they show they haven’t forgotten how to rock out convincingly.
