by Spoon » Wed Jun 10, 2015 2:01 am
Mazzy Star - Ghost Highway is a fantastic live album! The setting gives new life to the songs.
Track listing is as follows:
1 Flowers In December 5:10
2 Ride It On 3:18
3 Into Dust 6:12
4 Give You My Lovin' 4:02
5 Fade Into You 4:39
6 Halah 3:25
7 Ghost Highway 3:30
8 Blue Flower 4:42
9 Flowers In December 5:26
10 Bells Ring 4:21
11 Blue Flower 4:12
12 Halah 3:45
13 So Tonight That I Might See 7:39
Songs 1-8 were recorded at a live show at The Metro in Chicago on November 12, 1994. (Ironically, my first live Mazzy Star show was November 15, 2013, exactly 19 years and 3 days after this show.) Songs 9-13 were recorded at Los Angeles radio station KROQ on December 10, 1994.
Opener Flowers In December sounds phenomenal, the rhythm section amply backing Hope's wonderful vocals. This version gives me an entirely new appreciation of the song, although I've always enjoyed it. Following is Ride It On, featuring a prominent bass line perhaps not quite as noticeable on the studio recording of She Hangs Brightly. Into Dust cools things off a bit, a beautiful version that you can just feel would have been incredible to hear and witness live. Also notable are the subtle musical variations in the guitar work. Solid versions of Give You My Lovin', Fade Into You and Halah lead into the title track, Ghost Highway. This version makes one realize the power and soul of Mazzy Star as a live band, and that they can really rock! Closing the Chicago set is Blue Flower, the Slapp Happy cover we all know and love.
The radio performance features a few songs that are also played at the Metro show (Flowers In December, Blue Flower, Halah) and again the versions here are remarkably good. I'm not sure if this set was performed outdoors at the radio station or in the radio booth, but they are introduced to what sounds like an excited, appreciative crowd. This particular version of Flowers has some beautiful violin work that is not necessarily present on other recordings of the song. I believe it is (now deceased) violinist William Cooper. A nice little Bells Ring leads into another Blue Flower. Personally, I prefer this version to the one from the Chicago show. Also, I would like to ask anyone who has heard it if it is just me or does the end of the track sound like it's skipping? I was playing the album on my stereo earlier and from 3:33 to 3:39 it doesn't sound quite right. It could just be the way they played it, though. I am not sure, which is why I welcome the opinions of others regarding this. After a stunning version of Halah we are treated to the closer, So Tonight That I Might See. This has always been one of my favorites, studio or live, and this is no exception. Simply marvelous.
That about does it for my review. I can't compare the CD to the tracks from Deezer, flac files or anything else like that as I have not listened on those formats. I have only really listened to live Mazzy Star on YouTube, which sounds decent as well. My computer's speakers are not the best, which is why I prefer listening to music through my stereo. I can say, however, that the audio quality of this live CD is excellent and should not be missed! My only qualm is that there aren't any live versions of songs from Seasons of Your Day, but to be fair, the recordings are from 1994, well before SOYD was released and we should be happy that there are songs spanning the first three studio albums. Oh, and it could be longer as well. You can never have too much Mazzy Star! Highly recommended. 4.5/5.
Still falling
Breathless and on again