If the point behind releasing first an acoustic and then a live album is to redirect people away from asking where the real album is, Jeff Elbel and Ping are doing an excellent job of keeping their public satisfied and their questions to the minimum.
The second official Ping release, this time an album with proceeds going to Habitat For Humanity (and if you have no other reason to buy this album, that's a good enough one!) is a recording of bits of their two live shows at Cornerstone 2002, released just in time for Cornerstone 2003.
The repertoire covered on this album includes a large part of the Meet Your Maker album (a little more than half this album is a preview of Meet Your Maker), the concept album that Elbel and company have been promising for some time now. The more-electric treatment serves the songs well and certainly whets the appetite of the listener to hear what this album will be like in its final form.
The sound mix is excellent for a live album; there are no cutouts or inconsistencies in sound levels or anything like that. Elbel's lead vocals are clear and distinct, although this time around the new lead singer of Ping, Tim Brooks, also gets a couple songs on the album. As much as Brooks' vocals are solid, Elbel's voice has become such a part of the Ping sound that I certainly can't help but hope the arrangement becomes one of shared lead vocals. Elbel's lyrics are often quite clever, as well. One of my favorite tracks, "Going My Way" is an ode to a camel, and plays off the "Joe Camel" image joyfully, as in the closing lines: "One camel turns to the other/Hey man, you got a light?" Another of my favorite tracks, "Bedouin Girl," has a funky edge to it which is more fully expressed than on the No Outlet album. "Dig" is a very emotionally deep song, with its cry of "I'm sorry/I'm helpless/Compassion is a precious thing/And I've nothing to spend."
Not only does the live set draw from Ping's own repertoire, but Elbel's other bands, Farewell to Juliet and Sunny Day Roses are also represented. There's a King Crimson cover, "Dinosaur," as Ping proves their art-rock credentials, and even a Spinal Tap cover, "All The Way Home." Where many live albums become dull or tedious on repeated listening, this album still hasn't for me, after many, many spins.
The best way of describing this album is as a bunch of talented, artsy-minded musicians who have a love for their music playing their hearts out live, and someone having the forethought to actually capture it on tape. It simply hit me like a breath of fresh air on a hot summer's day. And for that, art-rock fans and anyone who likes a little more thought and complexity to their rock music should be glad.
4.5 tocks
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth October 2003Reviewed by Shari LloydHard to believe this band only plays together once a year. They sound so competent and comfortable with the music, They are definitely more than a solo band of Jeff Elbel. The guitar sounds are masterfully played with funky riffs. Elbel is in fine voice. This is as fresh and exciting as anything Elbel may dream up in the studio. It's a shame we don't hear more from this band. It does may I wish…The Phantom Tollbooth August 2003Reviewed by Chris MacIntoshThis is a live album that was recorded at the Cornerstone Music Festival during the summer of 2002. The tunes performed during the set were a mixture of Ping numbers and tunes from Jeff's former {bands Farewell to Juliet and Sunny Day Roses. For those not familiar with Jeff's material, the best way that I can describe it is to say that it is spunky. Now, I'm not being facetious, this is a good…Similar sounding releases
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