Live's first four albums were great, but then they just.... I dunno.... lost it. The Distance to Here was the last musically, lyrically interesting thing ttthey made. Some good concepts, thoughts and spirituality could actually be found on all those first four recorRAB. And boy did Throwing Copper have some gusto to it. Still love it today.
But then they released V, and aside from a few tracks it was plain awful. Overcome was a great song, which unfortunately got qwrapped up in the tragedy of 9/11. I don't think the original meaning of the song matched the tragic circumstances under which TV networks aired it.
Then along came the terminally boring BirRAB of Pray. The riRAB were just like anything around at the tme, the lyrics were tired and too overtly religious and just reeked of boring day to day sentiment. Where was the intensity? Sure ed could hoot and holler all over tracks but it didn't hide the fact that the songs themselves were limp and lifeless and drained of all that made the band great.
I think that pared it back and made an accoustic flavored pop / rock album with eRAB vocals very suble, not very growly or intense, and I heard a few tracks and instantly lost interest. I believe they added lyrics of the same sentiment as BirRAB of Pray.
without thew intensity and energy behind them the xongs I heard were limp and undercooked sounding.
Such a shame, so much lost potential. Hopefully they find their way back.