Billy Joel - 2000 Years: Millennium Concert
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CD Details
Artist: Billy JoelEdition: Music CD
Format: Live
CD Release Date: 2000-05-02
Music Label: Sony
Soundtracks:
Music CD 1
- Beethoven's Ninth Symphony
- Big Shot
- Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)
- Summer Highland Falls
- The Ballad Of Billy The Kid
- Don't Ask Me Why
- New York State Of Mind
- I've Loved These Days
- My Life
- Allentown
- Prelude/Angry Young Men
- Only The Good Die Young
- I Go To Extremes
- Goodnight Saigon
- We Didn't Start The Fire
- Big Man On Mulberry Street
- 2000 Years
- Auld Lang Syne
- River Of Dreams
- Scenes From An Italian Restaurant
- Dance To The Music
- Honky Tonk Women
- It's Still Rock And Roll To Me
- You May Be Right
- This Night
Music reviews of 2000 Years: Millennium Concert
Music Review: Columbia needs to put some time and effort into Joel's live CD and DVD repertoire.
Rating: 4 Stars
My excitement is building into overflow territory for the June 13th release of "12 Gardens," Billy's new live album of performances culled from his recent record-breaking run of 12 sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden.
Bruce Springsteen held the previous record of 11 sell-outs. To these ears, if anyone had to beat Bruce out for any title, Billy is the only other guy I'd want the title to go to. They are my two favorite writers, performers and singers - not just "singers," but emoters. They write passionate lyrics and sing them with all the emotion of that passion. Just as Springsteen uses the stage and crowd as his own personal church of rock 'n roll, Billy Joel hammers out his rock 'n roll gospel from his own pulpit of rock, blues, doo-wop and Broadway flare.
Both are better live than in the studio, and if you disagree based on the evidence in the market place, you are simply a victim of the fact that many of the examples entered in as evidence over the years by their record company have not translated accurately from the actual concert to the album or DVD. Springsteen's most recent work ("Live in New York" CD and DVD and the Barcelona DVD), however, came staggeringly close. Meanwhile, Billy has 3 live albums and one live DVD, all of which, while they vary in degree, fail to get the ultimate job done.
There are plenty of worthy tracks and worthy individual performances spread throughout all the live Joel releases to be sure, but each, as a whole, is nowhere near being indicative of just how great a Billy Joel live show is. The fact that Columbia records has gotten as close as ever recently in getting the gist of Springsteen across (giving us a full concert in the Barcelona package and fat 2-Disc compilation in the New York DVDs; and putting a cherry on top by releasing the audio on CD as well; not to mention the same treatment to the recent DVD/CD release of his '75 Hammersmith concert) it is surprising, since Joel shares the same record label, that amping up his live catalog has gone ignored.
Here's to my hope that this recent Joel tour will finally be the excuse Columbia needs to give Joel the same treatment they have bestowed upon the Boss. If any major classic-rock legend's fan base has been left wanting in this department, it's Joel's. And why not now, Columbia? New tour, new live album, renewed interest; go head, take advantage. For once we won't accuse you of doing so. We want this stuff. It's not taking advantage if you're giving us something we really want for our money.
Which brings me to this Millennium album (finally, eh?). I was saying all this same stuff back in the late 90's before this album was released. I saw Joel on this tour and it made me immediately renew my decade long tirade on the complete insanity and insult that was the fact that Billy Joel does not have a definitive live CD and/or video (we didn't say DVD at the time). So imagine the sound my jaw made when it hit the floor at the news that Billy Joel would release his New Year's Eve concert on CD - his first new release in 7 years (not counting "Greatest Hits 3"), his first live album since '87 and his first-ever 2-Disc live show from one actual concert. My hopes were high and right off the bat, this album did not disappoint. For the longest time (years, actually) I preferred to listen to the versions of "Movin' Out," "Summer, Highland Falls," "Angry Young Man," "Allentown," "Only the Good Die Young," "We Didn't Start the Fire" and "River of Dreams" from this album than their studio cuts.
I was, however, a bit turned off by "You May Be Right" with some chintzy-sounding horns thrown in for no good reason , a less-than-audible "It's Still Rock 'n Roll...," a cheesy synthesizer on "I Go to Extremes" and a "Goodnight Saigon" that isn't as tight or emotive as the one on "Khouept."
In fact, these few examples point out an underlying problem on this release: There is too much going on.
I was not at THIS show so I can't say if a lot of this is due to tinkering with the production for effect or if Joel just wanted to spice things up at the show for the New Year's event he must have felt obligated to turn the concert into. After all, as Billy states on the album, people paid "ridiculous" ticket prices - but he's sorry :). Either way, as the songs are presented here, there is simply too much added to many of them, from the horns and synthesizers I mentioned, to whatever is going on during "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" (I think both instruments decided to duke it out and both ended up throwing up all over the song).
Part of MY problem is, being a big fan, I have managed to seek out many a rare live Billy Joel recordings. I know how great some live versions of songs like "You May Be Right" and "We Didn't Start the Fire" can sound when Joel and the band just rock 'em out like a bunch of 19 year olds in a garage. When I saw this setlist I was so excited that I would finally have that captured in a professionally recorded live album. I thought this album would be Joel's definitive live album, and these songs would be their definitive versions. Perhaps my expectations were too high. But that doesn't mean that the things I complained about on said tracks aren't there. If you don't like a lot of extra production, those songs will no doubt rub you the wrong way too.
None of this is to say these songs are bad. Not by any means, but there is no point in replacing the classic versions with them, and as such, I don't listen to them much on this album.
That's not to say I don't listen to the album. Some of the tracks DO capture that giddy straight-ahead rock I mentioned and are better for being slightly beefed up. "Movin' Out" and "Only the Good Die Young" are enough all by themselves to make you wish you were there and to recommend this CD, and next to maybe only "Movin' Out," a Mexican fiesta version of "Don't Ask Me Why" is this set's highlight. "My Life," friskier and more rebellious sounding than ever, is also a top contender. A cover of the Stones' "Honkey Tonk Woman" is fun and "New York State of Mind" benefits as well from its New York, New Year's Eve setting (and this is pre-9/11 mind you... imagine if it were after; it probably would have been put out as a single). Also, you get to hear the New Year's countdown which will bring back Millennium memories.
But as far as "Scenes From an Italian Restaurant," we already had a great live version in the Greatest Hits boxset and it is light years beyond the overbaked one here (better sound quality too), the versions of "I've Loved These Days," "... Billy the Kid," and the afore mentioned "Saigon" are not as good as previous live releases on "Songs in the Attic" and Kohupet," respectively, and were the hell is "Piano Man?!" I know, I know; we've all heard the song a bazillion times, it's his signature song so its too obvious, yada yada. I may have been disappointed by it had they did put it on. Like "Scenes..." I feel the best live version has already been released on the Greatest Hits boxset, but this show would feel so much more complete with it. In its place is "This Night," which at first glance I was happy to see - I love that song - but this version, fine as it is, doesn't make me miss the all-time concert-ender that is "Piano Man." There is a bonus track on the import version of this CD after "This Night." "Piano Man?" Nope. "Just the Way You Are." I haven't heard it so I can't comment on its worth, but c'mon; they had a second chance to give anyone who felt it was sacrilege to leave off "Piano Man." Here's a tip: On the G.H. boxset version - it is so good - Billy ironically ends the song by saying happy new year and the usual, "Don't take any sh*t from anybody;" as well as wishing us, "lots of love, lots of sex, lots of happiness." If you ever burn a compilation of songs from this release, you could include that version of "Piano Man" and, with the New Year's comment, no one would be any the wiser.
This album is a worthy buy on any level, but die hard fans and those expecting something definitive may be left wanting. It is however worth it just for the versions of "Movin' Out," "Summer, Highland Falls," Don't Ask Me Why," "My Life," "Only the Good Die Young," and "River of Dreams" included here, not to mention it is an interesting time marker. And these versions of "Big Shot," "Big Man on Mulberry Street," "Allentown" and "Angry Young Man" are no slouches. I just think they, "like "Scenes..." "...Billy the Kid," "I've Loved These Days," and "... Saigon," have already had better versions released in the past. And "You May Be Right," "It's Still Rock...," and "We Didn't Start the Fire" - though never on a live album yet - are capable of much better renderings. I've heard them. So sad, but so true. So this 2/3 of a great album.
Let's hope what we've been waiting for is "12 Gardens." The setlist already looks better and more definitive of Joel's HITS AND FAN/ARTIST FAVORITES. It's the best selection and sectioning of the two types I've seen for any artist on a live album. Lets hope the sound and the performances of those tracks lives up to it. If the reviews of those Garden shows are any indication, they do.
So if you are thinking about purchasing this, wait a month, check out "12 Gardens" first. If that doesn't do the trick for you then try this. And let's hope that, unlike this release, Columbia finally learns from their Springsteen successes with accompanying CD and DVD releases, and gives us a "12 Gardens" DVD as well.
Fingers crossed, people. Fingers crossed.
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