An excellent capture of an excellent live band
mt-biker | 09/28/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"If you've ever heard much of the Cat Empire, you've probably wanted to see them live. Ranging across many genres from ska and reggae to jazz and latin styles, most of their tracks are either up-beat and danceable, or slow and beautiful. I grew up in Australia, and the Cat Empire do a great job of capturing aussie values and attitudes in their music. I went to my first concert unable to think of a single song of theirs that I _didn't_ want to hear them play.
The Cat Empire are even better live than on their studio recordings. All songs are extended, and "enhanced" - packed with fantastic solos. Sure, there's the odd off-key note, but what really comes across is the band's love for making music. And that's what I think makes the Cat Empire stand out from other bands - it's impossible to miss this band's passion for what they're doing.
Live on Earth takes me back to the last time I saw them live - I have goose-bumps right now, and can't keep my feet still. If you are a fan of this band, you cannot miss this CD. It captures perfectly, what the band is like to see live.
That said, this should probably not be your first Cat Empire CD. The raw, unpolished live sound makes the songs somewhat less accessible than the studio recordings, and all the added harmonies and musical digressions are much more enjoyable if you already know the songs well.
Thanks Harry, thanks Felix, thanks guys! Long live living, if living can be like this."
Fantastic Live Album
O. Stickler | Portland | 04/24/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Live On Earth showcases The Cat Empire in a way never before captured on audio. Sure, nearly all the songs on both discs can be found on their studio albums, but that is to be expected in a live album like this. The Cat Empire is a fantastic live band, tenacious, innovative, and entertaining- all of which is evident in Live On Earth. Many bands will release live tracks (or even whole albums) where their songs are performed in exactly the way they recorded them, in hopes that if they can beat the dead corpse of their previous work enough, it'll pump out a few extra nickels courtesy of their mindless hardcore fanbase. The Cat Empire avoids this trap by leaps and bounds, further proving their mastery over the art of music. Not only do Felix and Harry sound top notch when singing, the band never misses a beat in all 22 songs this double disc album has to offer. Many of the songs have been enhanced by the band crafting extended arrangements, adding instrumentals and solos which were made specifically for the live audiences. The songs were taken from different concerts all over the world (hence the name of the album), but have been produced in such a way that there is no break in between tracks, a nice aesthetic element. The album is beautifully mastered and the sound quality is excellent throughout.
All in all, Live On Earth is fine addition to The Cat Empire's discography. Fans will enjoy the new arrangements immensely and first time listeners will immediately fall in love with the band's charm, musical excellence, and originality. A good buy to be sure."
Track Listings (22) - Disc #1