Live: Omaha to Osaka [Import]

For all potential buyers who may be wondering about some of the criticism concerning this record, let me fill you in. After HUNGRY FOR STINK and THE BEAUTY PROCESS failed to generate the sales of BRICKS ARE HEAVY, L7 was quickly dropped by their label, Slash Records. This led to a period of uncertainity for the band, who were wondering about what label they would end up signing with, or if the band would even survive at all.

While they were considering their options, the band came across two bootleg shows from Omaha and Osaka and decided to release them on CD to keep the band's name alive until their future was certain. This explains the inferior sound. Once you get past that, this is an enjoyable record. The ladies were a hard-rocking outfit and this comes through despite the poor quality.

Since the band was using bootleg tapes, there's no overdubbing or removing any mistakes, such as the out-of-tune guitar parts on "Bitter Wine", which makes this one of the most genuine and realistic live albums ever released.

Aside from being loud, furious,and energetic, L7 was a lot of fun. Part of the fun of any L7 show was the banter between the band members and the crowd, and, occasionally, each other. Midway through the album, Donita Sparks and new bassist Gail Greenwood turn the concert into a comedy act, tossing jokes and wisecracks back and forth until Sparks says "We're a rock band, not a Vegas act. I guess we have to play some songs now."

The album features such classics as "Deathwish", "S---list", several tracks from THE BEAUTY PROCESS(their newest album at the time), including "Drama" and "Off The Wagon", and three new songs, "Pattylean", a swing version of "Non-Existent Patricia", "El Whatusi", a surf-inspired number, and the cowpunk/polka tune "Little One", which also appeared on L7's next studio record, SLAP HAPPY.

As another poster commented, "Pretend We're Dead", the band's hit single and a concert staple, doesn't appear on the record. Ordinarily, it would be unthinkable to put out a live album without your biggest hit, but I've always thought that one possible reason had to do with comments Donita Sparks has made about how it's not their strongest song live and how difficult it is to sing live. No reason was ever given in any interview that I ever read.

I was always hoping that L7 would release a proper live album someday, but that will never happen because they broke up in 2001. It's unfortunate that one of rock's best live acts will never have a proper showcase for what they did best.

1.-I'm a L7 fan. Let's make that clear

2.-It's a shame such great songs are featured with such poor, terrible sound. Imagine going to a Rock show with the flu, seeing the band in the back of a low-budget club. This is it

3.-Some reviewer wrote "I have heard worse ones". Yeah, me too, but they were not OFFICIAL releases!!! ANY BOOTLEG nowadays sounds light years better!

4.-Such cool intro with the marching band...again, down the drain it goes

5.-Great poster designer Frank Kozik did the design for this one... And he did not do very well either! The photoshop tricking is obvious on the cover

6.-L7 RULES...BUT NOT LIKE THIS!!

Never was THAT huge of an L7 fan,but I did get to see them once as support band for Marilyn Manson,as I thought they were decent.'Live:Omaha...' documents two(2)live concerts of the group when they played,of course in Omaha,NE and Osaka,Japan.The live CD isn't perfect but the sound is acceptable.Some may call L7's music 'Feminist Punk' or even 'Riot Grrrl'(is that second one even a genre?).Some of the tunes that I liked best were "Bad Things",the punk/metal goodies "Death Wish","Non-Existent Patricia","Slide" and "Fast And Fightening".Line-up:Suzi Gardner&Donita Sparks-guitar&vocals,Dee Plakas-drums and Jennifer Finch-bass.Probably will be most appreciated by fans of Seven Year (...),Babes In Toyland,Hole,Pandoras and Lunachicks.

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 8 reviews  3.1 out of 5 stars