2 out of 5

Label: self-released

Produced by: Mike Lust (recorded by, mixed by)

Live recordings of the album Present Tense.

I actually listened to this before the source album; the rating isn’t really representative of the content – which is almost exactly on par with that album, and so is just as good in that sense – but is moreso a question of Why?

I got confused on the album titles and thought this was the studio version, and when I switched over to that one, that’s the question I had to ask. Because while I can say this makes “sense,” given that part of Present Tense’s purpose, to me, was to create a more live sound, if the performed versions are almost exact replicas, is there a point to having that recorded, except to prove the 1:1ness?

The sound quality is (for the most part) so good on this that I was able to mix up live vs. studio, and excepting a couple timing flubs, and probably some nuances I’m not catching, you can pair the matching tracks up and pick your poison. Some subjective differences, though: the more visceral tracks – XOUT and General Public – sound a bit heavier live, but I think the “restraint” on the album versions maybe makes them stronger. And the tracks that have a bit more notable production gimmickry – Strawberry Cough and Mirrored – are much more impressive with that gimmickry mixed and presented as desired; Mirrored is the one track where the recording doesn’t quite hold up, as they go with a super reverbed effect on Case’s voice that’s suddenly a mismatch with the rest of the song.

What’s still subjective but maybe less-so, and one of the reasons I’d knock this down a peg (besides questioning the need for it – though, fair enough, this was sold at shows and not an “official” release), is that the sequencing does not do the album any favors. Mirrored deserves to be a closing track; Alone Together is an odd, underwhelming choice on which to end. And though those two heavy tracks (XOUT, General Public) could arguably be swapped, I think featuring Case at his most yelly right up front is a good way to set the tone, though General Public is a more solid song overall.

It’s a release that, unfortunately, leaves me realizing I probably won’t have need to listen to it again, as the studio version bests it in various ways.