Search - Front 242 :: Re-Boot: Live '98

Front 242 find themselves in a unique position regarding live performances. Since they are one of the founders of a past-its-prime genre, they must make a choice: provide their audience with a history lesson by performing their songs in their original studio format or revamp their otherwise dated material? With :Re:Boot: Live '98, the band decided on the latter, and the results are phenomenal. :Re:Boot is an "alive" live album. The vocal production is outstanding. Many of the sampled vocal tracks are performed live, creating an intensely engaging human energy. They change the lyrics for several of the songs, lending an ad-libbed feel--a pretty tough feat in electronic music. The song choices span across most of Front 242's career up to the release of this album. The club hits "Headhunter," "First in, First Out," and "Welcome to Paradise" are here. The only flaw is that "Tragedy for You" and "Rhythm of Time," both from 1991's Tyranny for You, are absent. It would have been interesting to hear these songs with a fresh buff and polish. Otherwise, this album deserves a heavy-gauge bravo. --Beth Bessmer