Recorded or live songs?

[PeachPitt321]

Let me know if someone has already made a simular post like this!

Having spent the entire day moving furniture- my back is on fire- I had FJ and kalafina albums running on my cd player ! During the day I actually got bored listening to Red Moon and Consolation ( After Eden no longer works as it has signatures and Seventh Heaven is on its way)

I immediately played Kalafina 5th live CDs for the rest of the day and really did go to heaven

So my question is : what do you normally listen to- the live or CD recording of your favourite artists/songs etc?

For FJ and Kalafina I go all live recordings because their songs sound ten times more epic in vocals, harmonies, instruments etc. Red Moon live for example is like an atomic bomb, while the recording sounds meek in comparison.

The only exceptions I have is with magia and heavenly blue live,though it's getting better!magia live... well I still prefer the CD recording!

what do you think?

 

[Seasonreaper]

I don't really know. Looking at my music library I have a VERY limited selection of live recordings for any artists. However, I do generally prefer hearing live performances over studio recordings if I'm actually at an event, having seen numerous bands perform live. Some sound better live than others, of course, seeing the melancholy trip-hop tunes of Portishead live was phenomenal, as was the crushing post-metal force of Cult of Luna, whilst others come across disappointing.

As far as Kajiura goes, I've only heard Kalafina and that one performance of Numquam Vincar from the Madoka soundtrack in regards to live releases (I really should get on the Kajiura live releases) but it depends on the song, still. The 5th Live performances of Utsukushisa and Serenato for example are far beyond the studio releases, even though I love the originals a whole lot. Red Moon is already one of my favourite songs of all time across all genres, but the live performances of it are somehow even more incredible, whilst the recording of Sandpiper on the After Eden Special Live is what made me really fall in love with it. Hearing Hikari Furu at Japan Expo has changed my opinion of it, too. However, I think the live performances of Eden have actually made me like it less, whilst I generally don't think that To The Beginning or Storia came across that well there and much prefer the studio recordings.

 

[a-chan]

For other artists that I listen to, I generally don't care about their live recordings, but for FJ I love their lives better than studio, except for a few songs such as Kaze no Machi e, Mizu no Akashi, and Michiyuki, of which I love both versions because they just sound different to me. I've not listened to Kalafina lives (I only have their studio CDs), but I have the 5th LIVE CDs on order together with YK vol. #11 elemental Tour BD, so I'm really looking forward to listening to it when I get the CDs next month

 

[ritardando]

lol idk but my opinion contrasted almost all your opinion. I like some songs better on live and the other I like the recording better. Better live :
-almost everything by FJ, and yeah that includes Kaze no Machi e because Keiko's singing in recording is way too awkward and she doesn't have a good grasp on the notes there. I love almost everything by FJ obviously because of the 4-person harmony that sometimes lack in recording or the original singers' voice isn't my cup of tea (Kasahara-she's too bombastic for me lol, and almost every english songs original singer with Clara Kennedy for exception). Perfect example of songs I like better live: a song of storm and fire, godsibb, canta per me, salva nos, Kaze no Machi e, all live 4 songs, almost all live 9 songs, FJ Yuuka live 4 songs (especially circus, aikoi, and silly go round).

Better recording : stone cold, Toki no Mukou (I don't like Keiko's cutesy voice in live 9, but she nails it in live 7), not so sure with distance because I can hear the harmonies better in live.

Kalafina :
Maybe I'm the only one who thinks that Red Moon live is almost always fail. Keiko didn't do a great job in Red Moon DVD with her final kajiurago, Sato messed up in After Eden live, the girls lack energy in Consolation live.

Better live : all disc 1 songs from Kalafina 5th anniversary live selection (they're heavenly) - serenato, oblivious, and lirica make my love for Nozaki's drumming increased tenfold Door, fairytale from Red Moon live, Alleluia to some extent, Kugatsu for the violin.

Better recording : signal (the live is blah, it doesn't have anything I like from the recording - the fierceness, the energy, the clarity), Red Moon, Mune no Yukue, obbligato, in your eyes (though I don't like the song to begin with but the live is cancerous lol), Magia, snow falling, adore (I like the live but I love the recording arrangement more). The rests are about the same live and recording.

 

[Daiima]

About recordings, I don't really have a preference, it's according to the taste of the time. Generally, I'll say that live records sound way better, but actually, sometimes I'll find studio recordings more "clean", sometimes I'll find live recordings more "epic", depends of my mood. But when it's time to personnally attend to a live concert, I just can't compare: live is OVER 9000 better.

 

[aki]

99% of the time live over studio. There's usually more energy in the lives or just a different feel than to the studio recordings. Whenever I show YK songs to others I show them the live versions if I can.

 

[Kugayama]

@Daiima Agreed there, but being way back in a theatre without large projection screens doesn't quite feel like being there.

 

[Martin]

I've listened to the Kala 5th anniversary and I HAVE to get my own copy. I prefer some of the songs over the studio versions actually.

Normally live albums don't click with me because of the sound quality (even if it sounds great on the day, the venue isn't the same as a recording studio) so that's an issue sometimes. A few artists I listen to are better live than on record - I saw MONO once with a full orchestra and it was breathtaking. There were one or two bum notes during the show, but I *felt* the music as well as hearing it...mainly because they were so loud! It was like listening to Joe Hisaishi in a hurricane!

Back on-topic with YK's songs live: there's the 'live recording' issue and the problem with not being able to do another take if it doesn't sound quite how they want it to. But still. I love the 'immediacy' that seems to give live performances more energy. Playing live is playing without the 'safety net' I guess, so it has this unpredictable aspect to it. I really like it when they shake up the arrangements a bit - it's a pleasant surprise.

I prefer he FJ Live recording of 'Houseki' from 2008 for instance...not because I prefer Keiko's voice over Marina's, but because Korenaga's guitar part sounds better to my ears. Then there's *that* live version of Yuuka's 'Aikoi'. I want to find out which live album it's on, because it's amazing. Yuuka is on top form and has Yuriko and Hikaru doing backing vocals...plus Mr Konno does a jaw-dropping violin solo that leaves me in awe every time I hear it.

There's one of the Kala songs - Love Come Down iirc - where you can hear the backing vocals more clearly towards the end. That think sounds better than how it's mixed on the album (and I absolutely adore that song!).