The 100 best live albums in the ultimate ME list – these records are for eternity.
Long a thing for dusty second-hand record shops, the live album is making a much-needed comeback in times of empty concert halls. Arctic Monkeys, Nick Cave, Metallica, Vonwegen Lisbeth, Nils Frahm, The War On Drugs and many more released recordings of their gigs in 2020. So it’s high time to turn the spotlight back on this sector. Because: The show must go on – and it will. Until then, we’ll help you train your patience. And this much can already be revealed: the following pages are coming – shock! – without FRAMPTON COMES ALIVE! out of.
100. The Libertines – LIVE AT O2 ACADEMY GLASGOW, 2015
The madness of the early years is no longer achieved here. This gig by the reunited band is definitely fun. – Martin Pfnür
The moment: towards the end of “What Katie Did”, when the audience joins the song with a fervor that only Scots have in their blood.
99. Stephen Malkmus And Friends – CAN’S EGE BAMYASI
The neo-Krautists Von Spar and Pavement head Stephen Malkmus as Damo Suzuki bring a genre classic to the stage and shine with wonderfully original interpretations. – Martin Pfnür
The moment: when Malkmus starts hissing like a madman to the groove of “One More Night” – great reenactment!
98. FSK – A HEAP OF SHIT AND A SHATTERED PIANO
FSK explores the origins of noise in their homage to the Italian futurist Luigi Russolo, who wanted to compose with the sound of industry and war. – Steffen Greiner
The moment: A piano is actually smashed. However, that just sounds like scraping ice off the window.
97. Future Of The Left – LAST NIGHT I SAVED HER FROM VAMPIRES
Energetic compilation of two concerts by the supergroup Mclusky and Jarcrew that will make the living room walls sweat. Pop-hardcore with a serious purpose that never takes itself too seriously. – Stephan Rehm Rozanes
The moment: The improv story “The Best Laid Plans”, after the technique fails right after the first riff.
96. Elvis Presley – ELVIS
The soundtrack to the famous comeback television special from 1968. Black leather, raw R’n’B, gospel, the big tearjerkers. The King at the top one last time. – David Numberger
The moment: For the finale, Elvis slips into the white suit and throws himself into “If I Can Dream” with everything he has. One of the greatest pop star moments ever.
95. The Stooges – METALLIC KO
Desert chaos, pure energy: compilation of the last two performances in Detroit in 1974. Iggy Pop is beside himself, and so are the fans. On the re-release from 1998 there are some tracks in full, destructive length. – Sebastian Zabel
The moment: a beer bottle from the audience crashes onto the guitar strings.
94. The Sound – IN THE HOTHOUSE
Adrian Borland was a better guitarist than The Edge, a better singer than Bono. What he lacked was a willingness to compromise. This is his legacy: the perfect wave rock live record. – Andre Boße
The moment: “Who the hell makes those missiles?” The real Cold War is happening within.
93. Rod Stewart – ABSOLUTELY LIVE
At the beginning of the 80s, the roaring Rod toured the largest halls in the world with a large cast. He had released many weak studio albums in advance, but on stage he raced from the disco to the tight dance party to wild rock’n’roll. – Sven Niechziol
The moment: Tina Turner joins us for the final “Stay With Me”.
92. The Fuzztones – LIVE IN EUROPE
Garage rock from New Yorkers, as timeless as an extended middle finger. Recorded in 1985, it’s so refreshingly uncouth that you’ll have to pull splinters out of your ears afterwards. – Uwe Schleifenbaum
The moment: the sardonic remake of Bill Haley’s apocalyptic foxtrot “13 Women”. Apocalypse now!
91. The Fall – TOTAL’S TURNS
First live album by the great Grantler Mark E. Smith and his stoic band, who perform aggressively in front of a rather indifferent audience. Cheap recordings, scribbled cover, fantastic songs. – Sebastian Zabel
The moment: Smith opens the gig with the announcement “The difference between you and us is that we have brains.”
90. Eels – EELS WITH STRINGS. LIVE AT TOWN HALL
Lavish document from the Eels’ heartbreak phase. The force of the catastrophe has passed, what remains is consolation, strings, and the beautiful cover of The Left Banke’s “Pretty Ballerina”. – Andre Boße
The moment: in “Flyswatter” the string ensemble sets the life of a mayfly to music.