Skillet's "Comatose Comes Alive": A Review
Posted October 14, 2008
By ChristianManifesto,
by C.E. Moore
Skillet’s “Comatose Comes Alive” is quite possibly the best live Christian album I’ve heard in years. Come to think of it, it may be the best live rock album I’ve heard in years, sacred or secular. All I know is the DVD portion of this CD/DVD combo is the best Christian rock concert video I’ve ever seen. From the band’s stage presence to the camera shots to the digital effects inserted on the back end of things, “Comatose Comes Alive” is simply astonishing.
The album features 15 tracks (with 4 more acoustic tracks available online) with a majority of the tracks coming from the band’s last two studio efforts, “Comatose” and “Collide.” There are one or two tracks from earlier albums, but the bulk of it comes from the bands return to their rock sound. I won’t belabor things by talking about the songs individually. If you’ve heard either of the aforementioned albums, then you’ve heard what is presented here. This album isn’t about delivering new songs. This album is about harnessing the electric energy of Skillet’s live show.
And capture that energy is exactly what they did.
Generally speaking, something is always lost in translation between a canned experience and a live experience. One might even argue that a recorded live experience is essentially part of a larger canning process. But, vocalist John Cooper opens that can and releases a torrent of power that Skillet shows have become known for. In a way, I feel like the DVD experience is even better than actually having been there. Almost. While nothing will ever truly replace having “been there,” “Comatose Comes Alive” makes you feel as if you actually are part of the audience…closer even.
An added bonus to the show is the band’s inclusion of a cellist and violinist on the tour, as both “Collide” and “Comatose” featured a fair bit of strings to back their rock sound. It helped keep their sound authentic and definitely lent itself to the more ominous side of some of their songs.
“Comatose Comes Alive” is definitely something you need to add to your collection. If live CD/DVD combos are going to continue to be the way the record industry adjusts to the digital age, then Skillet has definitely set the bar high for anyone coming after them.
This review has been reprinted on NRT with permission from The Christian Manifesto. Click here to visit TheChristianManifesto.com today!
View All Music And Book Reviews By ChristianManifesto | View ChristianManifesto's Profile
|
