Alive |  | Artist: Ed Kowalczyk
Label: Megaforce
Category: Music
List Price: $14.98
Buy New: $9.55
as of 9/9/2010 03:49 CDT details
You Save: $5.43 (36%)
New (29) Used (12) from $5.24
Seller: musicfiendz
Rating:  22 reviews
Sales Rank: 1597
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.5 x 4.9 x 0.4
UPC: 020286154211
EAN: 0020286154211
ASIN: B003JIFZXM
Release Date: July 6, 2010
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Drive | | • | The Great Beyond | | • | Grace | | • | Stand | | • | Drink (Everlasting Love) | | • | Zion | | • | In Your Light | | • | Just In Time | | • | Rome | | • | Soul Whispers | | • | Fire on the Mountain |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Ed Kowalczyk, widely known as the Lead singer/frontman/guitarist of the band Live, has built an impressive résumé that includes eight full-length albums, total CD sales exceeding 20 million, a huge international fan base and extensive touring all over the world. Live has been one of the most successful and enduring alternative rock bands of the 1990s and 2000s. 'Alive,' is Ed's first solo album that immediately ignites with his instantly recognizable vocals and trademark lyrics taking the listener to the place where they discovered the power of Live's music and urgency in Ed's voice.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 22
 Alive August 23, 2010
Michael T. Yearwood Jr. (Landrum, S.C. USA)
I loved this CD. I've listened to it a few times. but not completely all the way through. It's just great, faith-inspired, uplifiting soulful music.
 It's not Live, it's Ed - and isn't that who Live were?? August 16, 2010
Juz Man (Hobart, Australia)
Like most interested in this album, I was hoping that the writing and creative force behind Live (Ed of course) would release a solo effort along the same lines as the band that he helmed. And for the most part, he has.
The latter day Live sound is all over this album. It sits somewhere between Bird of Pray and Black Mountain. In my opinion, Black Mountain was, for the most part, a creative flop so ranking it similar to that album isn't necessarily a good thing.
As for the songs on this album, many (as expected) fall into the standard rock format of the day - verse/chorus/verse/chorus/quiet chorus/chorus/end
Ed makes good use of this over used format (everyone's doing it) and adds his own touch by making the verses quiet, choruses loud - as he's done his whole career. And hey, I love Live (and have done since Throwing Copper) and it's my only quarrel with a great band. That and the growing references to religion, water and soldiers that were ever present (and not at all subtely) on the latter albums.
Here, Ed keeps those themes going. There lots and lots and lots and lots of God. There's water, there's soldiers on the front line and it's all there on full display.
Bascially what we have here is a christian album. Listening to the songs and reading the lyrics one feels preached to and it's all a bit much for me - especially in the middle songs. All the religion stuff was a put off for me. Add that to a weak middle section and what we're left with is a great set up (pure Live), a preachy middle and a decent soulful end.
I'm not bagging christianity, it's just not what I want out of my rock music.
The songs:
Drive is a great opener. Sounds as though it was lifted from Secret Samadhi.
The Great Beyond picks up the pace in a track that would maybe be similar to the V/Birds Of Pray era.
Grace is a great song and the perfect lead single. Similar lines to Dolphin's Cry.
Stand is another great rocker. Distance / Birds of Pray sound here. Four great tracks to open with, but then:
Drink slows things down a bit and has a nice verse but the cliche chorus lets it down severly. One of the worst tracks on the album.
Zion follows and things only improve slightly. It's a slower number till half way then starts to rock. I'd class it as poor filler.
In Your Light picks up the pace (in the chorus only of course) but it's like a sermon and full of cliches. The most christiany of the songs. Once again, I'm not bagging christianity, it's just not what I want out of my rock music.
Just In Time is a better effort and is in the better half of the songs. Ed's gonna bring us water, wine and shelter. Thanks, Ed.
Rome is in contention for worst track.
Soul Whispers get's things going again, though not in the rock sense. It sticks to the standard Ed format, just all on a mellower line. Good track.
Fire On The Mountain finishes things off and while it's more standard format fare, it's a good track.
So, go for Drive, Great Beyond, Grace, Stand, Just In Time, Soul Whispers and Fire On The Mountain and forget the rest. 7/11 tracks meet the grade. Not a bad effort but generally below what Live produced on each album excluding their first and last efforts.
For his next effort, Ed should collaborate with another (or many) writers who will offer something different to the verse/chorus/verse/chorus format.
Just keep rocking Ed. Rock Rock, not God Rock (I'm not bible bashing - seriously!! my kids go to a Catholic school!) Rock like on V and Throwing Copper (yes I'm sure you're sick of people wanting you to repeat Throwing Copper but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try!!) Get back to singing about Waitresses, Horses, Hero's of Love, the Crackheads down the street, Gas Hed's and Pillars. Try swearing again!!
I have loved your music for many years and I thank you for that and hope to continue enjoying it for many years.
SUPERB !! August 10, 2010
WintryKiss (Wappingers Falls, NY)
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
I saw Ed in concert the night before ... he was amazinggggggggggggg ordered the CD the next morning ! Every track is super good ... rock on Ed .. your fans adore you !!! i ordered the CD the next morning !
OUTSTANDING August 10, 2010
B. B. Trammell (Baton Rouge, LA)
More of the vocal and lyrical excellence you'd expect from someone like Kowalczyk except this time he's doing it without Live.
Great Solo Effort! August 10, 2010
sweetpea (new york)
I have always loved Live so when the lead singer decided to make this album I was sooooo hoping it still had the same vibe that I loved in Live. Well he exceeded my expectations. It is a great cd!! His voice is still exceptional as are his lyrics, Its very upbeat and positive, Just a great Listen.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 22
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