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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Live Shows Brilliance On ‘Secret Samadhi’

Neil Pierson Rogers High

“Secret Samadhi,” the third album from the hard rock/alternative group Live, is truly a monument to the band’s past and continued success.

Live’s debut album, “Mental Jewelry,” and their second release, “Throwing Copper,” helped them to build a reputation for outstanding guitar work, along with the various lyrical styles of lead singer Edward Kowalczyk.

Kowalczyk can, and does, create the mood for each track, displaying subdued melodies on ballads such as “Graze,” and “Ghost,” or bellowing out on heavy rock tunes such as “Rattlesnake,” and the album’s debut hit single, “Lakini’s Juice.”

The video for “Likini’s Juice” is a work of art in itself, featuring numerous scantily-clad bodies, while the song’s powerful backbeat and screaming guitars wail away.

Joining Kowalczyk to form an impressive quartet of talented musicians are bassist Patrick Dahleimer, drummer Chad Gracey and guitarist Chad Taylor. Live is one of those good groups that makes any type of rock sound good, because they know how and when to grab the listener’s attention, either with a hard-charging piece, or a laid-back, acoustical set. Most of their songs combine the two styles equally well.

“Secret Samadhi” is an album that can best be described as masterful. The band did a superb job in keeping their tradition as one of the upper-echelon groups in rock today. the best part is, Live also has two other albums, mentioned above, filled with the same kind of rhythmic artistry. Check out all three of their CDs at the music store immediately. You won’t regret it.

Grade: A