Whitesnake is back with another compilation. After the recent live DVD and the "Silver Anniversary Collection" you tend to think; yet another live/compilation from
Whitesnake!
"Live..In the Shadow of the Blues" is a quite interesting product though. It's a fresh double live album with 20 tracks, but more appealing it contains 4 brand new studio tracks. These songs are the first new songs from
Whitesnake in ages and all new tracks are written in collaboration with the splendid guitarist Doug Aldrich.
3 of the new studio tracks are solid rockers, which focus on the hard rocking side of the band. Coverdale also uses some of the old tricks in the book to adapt fans to the new material, since
Dog opens with Coverdale's classic howl
The up-tempo
Ready to rock has a wall of
Led Zeppelin like guitars and a killer solo. A chunky riff and yet another killer solo from Aldrich makes
If you Want Me a potential live favorite The best rocker is
If you want me, since it has the best melody line. The song is a hybrid of classic melodic
Whitesnake and a fresh powerful modern edge.
All I want is you is a brilliant power ballad, which sound like a clone of
Looking for Love,
Now You're Gone and
Is this love. The thick bluesy guitar sound gives me goose pimples and clearly states WELCOME BACK
Whitesnake
Most of the live recordings are from the recent world tours.
Whitesnake's line up is; guitarists Reb Beach plus Dough Aldrich, drummer Tommy Aldridge and Timothy Drury on keys. Marco Mendoza played bass on the two 2003-2004 World Tours, but for the last two years Uriah Duffy has been handling the 4 string for
Whitesnake.
All 20 songs are amazing and I truly appreciate the legacy of
Whitesnake. These songs are so well crafted and timeless. Hearing those astonishing songs performed by an amazing band and Mr.
Whitesnake himself David Coverdale makes "Live..In the Shadow of the Blues" the best live album of 2006. The songs off "
Whitesnake 1987" never get worn out and they still sound fabulous - in fact they sound very similar to the record and the solos are note for note. The reincarnation of
Whitesnake probably sounds better than the
Whitesnake that toured around 1987-1992. The 2 songs off "Slip of the Tongue"
Judgement Day and
The Deeper the Love works really well live. Dough Aldrich and Reb Beach are a dangerous guitar duo
The band is damn consistent and the songs are timeless. On top is Coverdale's expressive and unique voice, which has suffered a bit from the many years in Rock N' Roll.
Whitesnake delivered one of the best shows ever, when they headlined Sweden Rock festival in 2003. Everything I stated in that Live review cam be transferred to this live album review -
Read Whitesnake Sweden Rock 2003 live review - I especially stand by my appreciation of Doug Aldrich, since he is such a soulful player and I look forward to new Aldrich/Coverdale compositions.
"Live.In the shadow of the Blues" is the perfect Christmas present for the aged rock fan who loves quality rock.
Written by
Michael Thursday, December 7, 2006
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