Live In Liverpool
A two-night return to their hometown on their 2001 tour forFlowersyielded this 17-cut concert document of the once and future Bunnymen.Liverpoolbegins as more of a stroll than the storming rush of the '80s concert recordings exhumed for theCrystal Daysbox set. But by its fourth track, "Never Stop," frontman Ian McCulloch's slight cig-induced rasp and lowered register seem less signs of diminished capacity than drivers for emotional vitality. From there, the balance between intense hits like "Back of Love" and "The Cutter" and moodier pieces such as "Eternity Turns" makes a case for the group as something more than a nostalgia act. As do convincing recent compositions such as their (latest)Doorshomage, "King of Kings," and the stately "Nothing Lasts Forever." This disc is probably a must only for fans, but those who haven't heard Echo & the Bunnymen in a while might be struck by its cohesiveness.--Rickey Wright