AR Redux: Live Up!

Giant Panda Guerrilla Dub Squad - Live Up! (2009)

This album, or at least a demo version of it, is already reviewed here, so this may be a little superfluous. But it'll get down the official take on the official release, and it'll give this review its own page (the original was a double review with Chinese Democracy). Better than all of that, the number of Album Review tags will now match the number of "Reviewed Albums" in that iTunes Playlist, which let me tell you what has caused all kinds of strife to date. Eesh.

Actually, all of that is bosh, as there have been some pretty substantial changes to the track selection. Here's a playlist comparison:

Live Up! Demo		Live Up! Release
Seasons Change	********	Black Toke
Paranoia	********	International Mother
Work Very Hard	********	Seasons Change
Easy Way Out	********	Easy Way Out
International Mother	********	Pollen Song
Pockets	********	Redrico
Walk Right Through	********	Pockets
Black Toke	********	In These Times
Live Up Dub	********	Times Reprise
Melodica Dub	********	Work Very Hard
Dylan's Times (Times Reprise)	********	Dub One
The Body Song	********

So the dropped songs include "Paranoia," "Walk Right Through," "Live Up Dub," "Melodica Dub," and "The Body Song;" the new ones include "Pollen Song," "Redrico," "In These Times" and "Dub One."Some good moves here - I like the more sinister "Dub One" over "Live Up Dub," and I prefer "Redrico" as a second melodica-based dub. The other three dropped are some of GPGDS's pop-sensibility numbers, which is a shame, but probably best to balance out the album. And it's a good idea to include the dub-inspring "In These Times" since the reprise is on there, and "Pollen Song" is a killer riff, even if the lyrics count among Beck's least favorite. :)

I don't want to rehash the other review completely, so I'll just give the salient changes. One, this disc is mixed fantastically, and gives off the impression of simultaneously being in the dance hall with the guys but also having everything come through crystal clear. Many props to the mixer, as this is not an easy trick to pull off, and even more props t the musicians, who sound studio-precise even in the live setting. Hot damn. The disc now opens with the energetic "Black Toke" and Dylan's sick guitar slaps you upside the head before immediately letting you settle into the "International Mother" melodica slowdown groove. "Seasons Change" is about a minute extended with even more spaced out jamming; this version smokes and gives a great idea of the band's live range. "Easy Way Out" has some added reverb that gives the song an interesting feel; I think I might still like the demo version better, but the variety is nice. "Pollen Song" is now on here, and this is one of the most brain-swaying takes I've heard from the band; really sick dirty guitar work here. Great mid-disc trancer.

I really like the "Redrico" - "Pockets" combo - it's not the case, but the two are rhythmically similar enough the the former ends up sounding like an extended instrumental intro for the latter. Nice juxtaposition, and again, this "Pockets" is even richer than before. It also features a perfectly toned / placed trombone solo from a guest musician; great touch. "In These Times" has some sunshiney harmonies and chills things out before the racing jam-out that is "Times Reprise." A *seriously* worked out, 12 minute "Work Very Hard" follows, giving not just another full-band jam but also a chance to hear some individual soloing (most notably some bass riffage from Sir James himself). The album now closes with "Dub One" which is a nearly-bursting-at-the-seams quick spazz-out jam; cool close to the album.

In Live Up!, GPGDS has put together an excellent representation of their live show that puts all their talent in all its many forms on display. Bang up job, band - the only rec I would make is that "Paranoia," "Walk Right Through" and "The Body Song" be included as bonus tracks. Other than that, all I'm doing is salivating for the next show and Live Up! 2.0. Congrats on a great album; I can't wait to see what the new band structure will bring to my ears.

Status: Recommended
Nyet's Fave: "Seasons Change" (You'll recall that "Easy Way Out" is my fave from the demo, and that's still the case here, but as long as I have two separate albums now, I'll put two separate awesome tracks in my Nyet's Fave collection. Now you are caught up).