published: 27 /
9 /
2009
Label:
Blue Wrasse
Format: CD
Eclectic double CD collection of live recordings from hardworking Australian band, the Cat Empire, who, thowing elements of jazz, rock, easy listening and pop into the mix, are difficult to put into a category
Review
I have it on good authority that watching the Cat Empire live with a bunch of mates and few tinnies is a great experience. Indeed, believe it or not, the Cat Empire have played live to more people than any other Australian band in the last 10 years, which means they are certainly doing something right.
Despite this release being a live album collecting together 22 tracks across 2 CDs from various shows between the 2006 and 2008, it doesn’t quite match the giddy excitement of the real thing when the stage is awash with numerous band members and various instruments. The Cat Empire really are a band that must be seen as well as heard for the full effect to take hold.
Musically, the band are difficult to pigeon-hole with jazz, rock, easy listening and pop elements all thrown into the mix to provide the ultimate eclectic collection of songs.
'Fishes@ and 'The Rhythm' offer a Latino feel to the jazz staple, while 'Car Song' could be a Blues Brothers’ standard and 'So Many Nights' could be from 'The Commitments' film soundtrack.
Their best known tracks, 'Sly' and 'Hello' are included in the set and both even veer into rap territory. The band also cover 'Dumb Things' by fellow Australian Paul Kelly and give it the full crooner swing touch and pay homage to the Eagles with an intriguing version of 'Hotel California'.
The final track, 'Sunny Moon', even encompasses a classical intro as the band’s open minded approach to music shows no bounds.
A welcome addition to any fan’s collection, but maybe not the best introduction for a newcomer.
Track Listing:-
1
Fishies
2
The Car Song
3
So Many Nights
4
Lonely Moon
5
How To Explain?
6
Days Like These
7
Dumb Things
8
The Lost Song
9
The Rhythm
10
The Wine Song
11
All That Talking
12
The Chariot
13
'Til The Ocean Takes Us All
14
Sly
15
Hello
16
Hotel California
17
Rhyme And Reason
18
Two Shoes
19
In My Pocket
20
No Longer There
21
The Darkness
22
Sunny Moon
Band Links:-
https://www.youtube.com/user/thecatemp
https://www.facebook.com/thecatempire
https://instagram.com/thecatempire/
https://twitter.com/thecatempire
http://thecatempire.com/
http://store.thecatempire.com/collecti