Billy Joel - 2000 Years: Millennium Concert
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Free Music Notes for 2000 Years: Millennium Concert
Free Music Review: Songs in the Attic,Volumes 3 & 4
Hit: 5 Stars
I entitled this review "Songs in the Attic,Volumes 3 & 4" because Billy Joel's first live album,SONGS IN THE ATTIC,is a single CD,and his second live album KOHUEPT,is a single CD also. This 2 CD set constitutes volumes 3 and 4. On May 9,1999,Joel's 50th birthday,he announced his plan to retire from rock 'n roll. Many fans have connived him into not doing it. He's not completely retired from rock 'n roll,just concentrating more on classical pieces which he composes for classical artists to record. Every seat at New York City's Madison Square Garden was occupied on the night of December 31,1999 and the first hour of January 1,2000 when this album was recorded. This album opens with a classical piece,Ludwig von Beethoven's 9th Symphony. From 1973's PIANO MAN is THE BALLAD OF BILLY THE KID,also heard on 1981's SONGS IN THE ATTIC. From 1976's TURNSTILES are PRELUDE/ANGRY YOUNG MAN,SUMMER HIGHLAND FALLS,NEW YORK STATE OF MIND and I'VE LOVED THESE DAYS. From 1977's THE STRANGER,Joel's first multi-platinum album are MOVIN' OUT(ANTHONY'S SONG),ONLY THE GOOD DIE YOUNG and SCENES FROM AN ITALIAN RESTAURANT. From 1978's 52ND STREET,Joel's second multi-platinum album are BIG SHOT and MY LIFE. From 1980's GLASS HOUSES are YOU MAY BE RIGHT,DON'T ASK ME WHY and IT'S STILL ROCK AND ROLL TO ME. From 1982's THE NYLON CURTAIN are ALLENTOWN and GOODNIGHT SAIGON. From 1983's AN INNOCENT MAN is THIS NIGHT. From 1986's THE BRIDGE is BIG MAN ON MULBERRY STREET,also on 1987's KOHUEPT. From 1989's STORM FRONT are WE DIDN'T START THE FIRE and I GO TO EXTREMES. From 1993's RIVER OF DREAMS are the title track and TWO THOUSAND YEARS. It was perfect timing when Joel performed TWO THOUSAND YEARS during the last few minutes of 12/31/99,then performed AULD LANG SYNE just after the illuminated ball hit rock bottom thus 2000 being born. HONKY TONK WOMAN is a Mick Jagger-Keith Richards classic and was a big hit for The Rolling Stones. DANCE TO THE MUSIC was a hit in the 60's for Sly & The Family Stone. Joel continued to rock 'n roll with Elton John during their second Face To Face tour in 2002. Joel taped several concerts for video as well. A few of them being LIVE FROM LONG ISLAND,while promoting THE NYLON CURTAIN and LIVE AT YANKEE STADIUM while promoting STORM FRONT. I suggest that Joel keep rocking and rolling until his death. Many of his fans will appreciate that. This concert,according to Joel,was the last of a tour that began in early 1998. He was promoting 1997's GREATEST HITS VOLUME 3. He told his fans at the concert,like he has for years,"Don't take any s--t from anybody!" He said that after performing YOU MAY BE RIGHT and before performing THIS NIGHT. By the way,Beethoven composed the chorus music for THIS NIGHT. Beethoven must have been a major influence on Joel's life and career. I would have loved to attend this performance,but I had friends over my house in Florida that night. This is one of the very best live albums I've ever heard!Free Music Review: It's Still Rock And Roll To Me....
Hit: 5 Stars
Billy Joel may have switched musical gears from pop/rock to classical a few years ago (when he recorded Fantasies and Delusions), but the man sure knows how to put on a show. For almost 30 years, the singer/composer/songwriter has gained fame and a loyal fan base that has kept faith with this rockin' piano man.I have been fortunate enough to have attended one of his live concerts, and while (as many reviewers have pointed out) 2000 Years: The Millennium Concert has its weaknesses, I honestly like this 2-disc set. I don't listen to this very often, so all the banter doesn't grate on my nerves. On the contrary, it gives the album the "feel" of a live performance, flaws and all.
With 24 tracks spread over two CDs, it's hard for me to choose which songs I like the best or think are worth mentioning. I really enjoy the songs I wasn't familiar with already, such as "The Ballad of Billy the Kid," "Summer Highland Falls" and "I've Loved These Days." Many of Joel's standards ("Goodnight Saigon," "New York State of Mind," "My Life," "We Didn't Start the Fire" and "Don't Ask Me Why") are in this set, as well as covers of "Dance to the Music" and "Honky Tonk Women." And although "Piano Man," my favorite Joel, ballad is not included, there are moving renditions of "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant" and "2000 Years."
On the whole, this is an enjoyable album. Maybe it's not as polished as the "Greatest Hits" collections or as well-crafted as other live recordings (such as "Kohuept"), but it does capture the essence and energy of a live Billy Joel concert. Warts and all, it's a nice addition to a Joel fan's audio library and a very good introductory CD for new listeners.
Free Music Review: Fantastic and Bombastic
Hit: 5 Stars
This is an excellent live recording with high energy performances and top notch sound engineering. Backed by a brass section and a slew of harmony singers, (not to mention his own band who aren't exactly the worst in the business), Billy whirls through a creative setlist of some of his vintage work, some more popular pieces, and of course some mega hits. "I go to extremes", "Big shot", "Moving out", and "Don't ask me why" are especially stand-out, and I have never heard a better recording of "My Life", and "Goodnight Saigon", (even though it was tuned down a half step). I noticed that Billy played about seven or eight of his songs here in a slightly lower key, only a half or whole step down, and it actually allows him to sing it differently, giving the song a new kind of life. In the case of Goodnight Saigon, it allowed him to sing out of the back of his throat, making the hero/narrator of the song sound like a real man, gathering courage to face the horrors of Vietnam, rather than singing with that high, wispy "sting/lennon" voice that was used on the studio recording. This applies to other songs as well where he lowered the key, (he probably did it to preserve his voice, as I understand that he was up there for four and a half hours), but the one song where it doesn't work, it really doesn't work. That would Be my favorite song, "New York State of mind" where we have him performing it in the key of B flat. His voice adjusts in the middle, but his vocals in the beginning and end of the song are embarressing. But that would be the only bad performance on the album. Other than that, this is definitely the best live album he has ever done, and possibly the best live album I have ever heard.Free Music Review: So Far, The Definitive Joel Live Collection
Hit: 5 Stars
For those who wanted more than haust the oldies but goodies from "Songs In The Attic" and something more cohesive than "Kohuept", than "2000 Years: The Millenium Concert" is the essential Billy Joel live release. Okay, so it cuts several songs from the actual show's setlist, including "Piano Man". But still, they picked the best performances and you can't argue with what's here.
Disc 1 is my personal favorite. Billy comes alive right from those first opening chords of "Big Shot". Despite hitting the age of 50 by this point, the youthful energy that made songs like "Movin' Out", "My Life" and "Only The Good Die Young" such favorites is still highly evident. I actually enjoyed some of Billy's monologues, but was even happier that he dusted off such rarities as "Summer, Highland Falls", "The Ballad Of Billy The Kid" and one of my all - time favorites, "Don't Ask Me Why". The crowd enjoyed every minute of it, and rightfully so.
Disc 2 falters only slightly. Billy's version of "I Go To Extremes" was relatively weak, and since this is one of my all - time favorites, I was really disappointed. However, I developed a new appreciation for "Goodnight Saigon", which I never really liked before, while "River Of Dreams", "It's Still Rock 'N' Roll To Me", "We Didn't Start The Fire" and a raucous "You May Be Right" as well as the others are excellent. However, the real highlight is "Scenes From An Italian Restaraunt". This versions blows all other versions away. It's flawlessly performed. Joel's youth can still be heard as loud and clear as in 1978.
I highly recommend this album to everybody. Please, do yourself a huge favor and fork over 20 bucks for this masterpiece of 2 - disc live album. You won't be sorry.
Free Music Review: Billy Joel Better Than Ever
Hit: 5 Stars
2000 YEARS: THE MILLENNIUM CONCERT brings out the best of the legendary Long Island-born rocker and balladeer. Billy Joel has always been at his finest in live performance, and his shows have gotten even better over the years. This double-CD set captures the vitality and broad musical mastery that characterizes Joel's shows, as well as a very special moment in time, the turn of the millennium. (The crowd's countdown to the year 2000 immediately follows the performance of the song "2000 Years.") Highlights include some choices in set selection that veer from the norm: "2000 Years," "Don't Ask Me Why," "Big Man on Mulberry Street," "This Night," and "I Go to Extremes," and also rollicking covers of "Dance to the Music" and "Honky Tonk Woman." What's missing? Well, "Piano Man," Joel's signature song, is a big omission. (It's not on the KOHUEPT recording either; the only live performance of "Piano Man" officially released by Columbia House is on the bonus fourth CD of THE COMPLETE HITS COLLECTION set.) Still, Joel provides a set of brilliant performances on 2000 YEARS: THE MILLENNIUM CONCERT. The performances are energetic and crisp, and the recording's sound and Joel's voice are both in excellent form. This is an absolutely essential set for Joel's fans, a magnificent final release (if it indeed turns out to be that) of Joel's rock 'n' roll career, and a outstanding way for new fans to start a Billy Joel collection.