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List Price: $21.98 | | Label: RCA
Salesrank: 49179
Released: October 23, 2001 |
| Our Price: $13.83 |
| Used Price: $1.55 |
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| Media: Audio CD |
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Editorial Review:
This collection marks the fifth live Matthews collection in eight years. But while previous surveys have chronicled the band's nascent ambitions (Remember Two Things), initial fame (Live at Red Rocks), solo pretensions (Live at Luther College) and PBS-ready charms (Listener Supported), this double-disc set, recorded at the final show of their '98 tour, seems bent on formally crowning Matthews and company as arena-filling superstars--warts and all.
With a set listing culled largely from the pop-oriented Crash and more internationally experimental Before These Crowded Streets, the proceedings held some promise. But, like most arena bands before them, the DMB generally amps the nuances right out of the mix here. "The Last Stop" recalls where Led Zep's own world-music pretensions led them, while "Pantala Naga Pampa" skirts dangerously close to Kenny G. territory before finding its jazz-funk stride. Though they groove mightily and consistently throughout, the DMB's oft-criticized jam-band ethos often seems strangely burnished and studio-overdubbed to homogenous extremes here. And while legend Maceo Parker's sax further ignites the crowd-pleaser "What Would You Say," as guitarist and frequent Matthews collaborator Tim Reynolds plays guest guitar god throughout, it's Matthews's own shamanic, oft-trancelike vocal excursions that barely keep this one from lapsing into DMB's McLive album. Try Budokan next time? --Jerry McCulley
Live in Chicago at the United Center 12.19.98 Reviews:
amazing!!!!!!!!1 
2008-06-17 - This is a great live album. I highly recommend it!! #41 is such a great song!!!
Not their best, but still a great live album
2007-04-12 - Live in Chicago is a great, tight live performance that displays how great DMB is live. The guests are fantastic; which includes Victor Wooten, Maceo Parker, and Tim Reynolds. I don't know why Amazon.com reviewer Jerry McCulley thinks that Pantala sounds anything close to Kenny G, it goes nowhere close. LeRoi Moore's soprano tone is much warmer and nicer than Kenny G's, that was an uncalled for comment.
Though this isn't as good a performance as say "The Gorge" or "Central Park", it still is a great one to have in your library. It is a great set and is well performed. The solo work done by Moore and Tinsley is fantastic as is the tight backings by Beauford and Lessard. Dave sings and plays great as usual. Though whenever I listen back to these older concerts, I do start to miss the great addition of Butch Taylor on keys, he certainly adds a nice new dimension and texture to the sound of the band. Still a great performance though, get it!
Brillant live album, DMB at their height.
2006-11-24 - This album is so good, from beginning to start, it has that energy that is so lacking in today's DMB. This is why I would stand in line for tickets and anticipate each album release. This DMB exists no more, they have become so watered down and lifeless. If you have never listened to Dave, this is THE definitive album for them. Shortly after this album, the shows became stagnant and the albums released become more paint by numbers that the next. I remember seeing a show after this where Dave was doing solo's...unreal!
I just wish they could recapture this energy, get back with Lillywhite, and quit making elevator music.
BUY THIS NOW!
Best Live Recording Ever
2005-12-03 - Even if, they had to re-record Boyd Tinsley's Violin parts.
I love this live CD, it is only for hardcore fans though, with a lot of BTCS.
Disc 1
1. Intro
*2. Last Stop 5/5
*3. Don't Drink the Water 5/5
*4. #41 5/5
*5. #40> 5/5
*6. Lie in our Graves 5/5
7. What Would You Say 5/5
8. Pantala Intro 4/5
9. Pantala Naga Pampa> 5/5
10. Rapunzel 5/5
11. Stay(Wasting Time) 5/5
Disc 2
1. The Maker 5/5
*2. Crash Into Me 5/5
*3. Jimi Thing 5/5
*4. So Much to Say 5/5
*5. Too Much 5/5
6. Christmas Song 5/5
7. Watchtower Intro 4.5/5
8. All Along the Watchtower 5/5
>= Segue to....
*= Reccomended Track
1= terrible 2= poor 3= decent 4= good 5= great
Best live album..... maybe
2005-09-08 - This is the first album that I bought. Well, second. I bought Everyday and my younger brother bought live Chicago at the same time on the way back from Myrtle Beach (traveling back to Ohio). We listened to Everyday maybe once and listened to this album almost nonstop. This was the first time that I heard DMB besides Space Between (the song that got me into the band is now one of my least favorite songs).
Last Stop is really good on this album, great energy. Don't drink the water is great, but I still think that Folsom Field has the best version of it (Folsom Field also has the best version of All Along the Watchtower - the ending is absolutly stunning, you've gotta hear it!) The song that stands out is #41. This song is my favorite upbeat DMB song, it's so smooth, and Victor Wooten guest stars and rips some phat solos on the bass. If you play bass, buy this album! This version of #41 far surpases all other version, just read the reviews. It's hot! Chrah is great, too. It's one of the better versions. Tim Reynolds play on most, if not all of the cd. So, if you play electric guitar, buy this album. It's hot!
All Along the Watchtower is a very good version, one of the best, and Too Much has so much energy. This is also the only cd where you can find the Maker.
Conclusion: This cd highlights the first 3 releases. It has less of a pop sound and more of a jazzy, bluesy, and rock sound.
If you want a cd that has a great collection of songs that include the more poppy stuff (digging a ditch, space between, big eyed fish, when the world ends, I did it, if I had it all) as well as some of the most energetic upbeat stuff (Don't Drink, Warehous, AATW, etc.) - buy the Folsom Field cd (one of the best -maybe better the Chicago, it has more catchy songs, but the good songs of Chicago outshine most every other album).
If you want the most expansive collection minus two staples (#41 and Crash) get the Central Park Concert. 20 songs, hours of music, possibly the best version of Don't Drink the Water, and the only cd with Cortez the Killer, a bluesy song that is one of the best guitar solo songs of all time (wicked 11 minute song that does't get old - Warren Haynes stars as one of the best blues guitarists of all time). This cd is in my opinion the best place for a newcomer to start, and an essential album for anyone that considers themselves even a casual fan.
