The Distance to Here

1	The Dolphin's Cry 4:24
2	The Distance 3:51
3	Sparkle 4:33
4	Run to the Water 4:28
5	Sun 3:32
6	Voodoo Lady 4:19
7	Where Fishes Go 4:22
8	Face and Ghost (The Children's Song) 4:30
9	Feel the Quiet River Rage 4:36
10	Meltdown 3:55
11	They Stood up for Love 4:35
12	We Walk in the Dream 4:22
13	Dance with You 4:37

Barnes & Noble

With their 1994 hit THROWING COPPER, Live crystalized the "modern rock" aesthetic -- R.E.M. jangle, Pearl Jam power anthems, and U2 socio-righteousness. With modern rock's market share now dwindling, one would think Live might consider something a little more, er, postmodern, this time out. Not a chance. The idealism of these prodigal Pennsylvanians isn't just modern, it's premodern. Hell, it's practically Amish -- which isn't such a bad thing in a world stricken with a serious case of the premillennial homesick blues. Yes, frontman Ed Kowalczyk wears his heart on his sleeve, but that only makes it easier to read the genuine passion that courses through his songs. And on THE DISTANCE TO HERE, Kowalczyk and his bandmates have learned to temper their intensity with a little musical restraint. Admittedly, a few numbers implore you to throw your Bic lighter in the air and wave it like you just don't care -- "They Stood Up for Love" and the MTV staple "The Dolphin's Cry" among them -- but the subdued bits are equally compelling. Scaled-down songs like "Sparkle" and the bucolic "Face and Ghost (The Children's Song)," focus on a delicate instrumental interplay that all but washes away the image of Live as ham-fisted breast-beaters. And even if the quartet isn't bound for many Boogie Down Mix Tapes, there are plenty of good-time riffs kicked out during the rousing album-ender "Dance with You," making a perfect mix for your barn raising. David Sprague

All Music Guide

After the tepid reaction to the subdued, over-produced Secret Samadhi, Live took some time off to rethink their direction. For their fourth full-length studio album The Distance to Here, the band called on producer Jerry Harrison to recapture the raw energy and emotion that fueled Mental Jewelry and Throwing Copper. A self-conscious response to Secret Samadhi with plenty of guitar riffs, thunderous tempos and a mystical aura, The Distance to Here emerges from their last album's swirling, numbing stupor and regains some of Throwing Copper's aggressive intensity. But Live doesn't just meld their last two albums for this release; it's a livelier, lighter collection. Though the group is slowly evolving their sound -- Ed Kowalczyk's vulnerable-turned-angry vocals have become freer, more confident and more expressive, while Chad Taylor's background vocals add needed depth and harmony - they're retracing their steps before making any major changes. Live made its name by combining brutally honest, searching lyrics with equally intense and emotive music, but the fine line between genuine soul-searching and heavy-handed preaching is in the eye of the beholder. With The Distance, this line sways on individual songs: "Feel the Quiet River Rage," "Sparkle," "Meltdown," "Sun," and the title track -- reflect Live's evolution, but the lumbering "Face and Ghost (The Children's Song)" and the gushy "Dance With Me," aim too high for their own good. This doesn't make for a failed or bad album, just an uneven one. Overall, Live continues to plunge into dramatic, emotional, and spiritual realms, but the band needs to be more adventurous musically to complement its ongoing spiritual journey. Gina Boldman