Search - Megadeth :: That One Night: Live In Buenos Aires

Kenneth W. (Eyesore) from TAUNTON, MA
Reviewed on 12/4/2007...

Megadeth mainman Dave Mustaine has been pretty busy with his band as of late. This year alone they've released this, That One Night: Live In Buenos Aires, a double live album recorded in 2005, a new studio album in the form of United Abominations, and the career-spanning box set Warchest. Live albums are always a tough lot to sell -- at least to me. Very few live albums capture the power and energy of a live show, that magic found while seeing a band play just an arm's length away. Sometimes it works; Queensryche's Operation: LIVEcrime and Life Of Agony's River Runs Again are both outstanding live releases, two that manage to harness the intensity of the concert like you were actually there in the front row. There are also epic failures, like Helstar's completely worthless and unlistenable Twas The Night Of A Hellish X-Mas. Most live releases, however, seem to mingle around the middle of the road, not being terrible, but also not being all that memorable. That One Night: Live In Buenos Aires is one of those releases.

With the evolution of technology, bands are opting to bring live recordings into a studio and do all manner of studios tweeks, from completely re-recording parts to adding effects that weren't heard live, and generally sucking the life right out of an otherwise great performance. With too much life-draining studio "magic" applied after the fact, That One Night comes off more like a collection of studio takes with crowd noise dubbed in than a true live recording. Though I admit that when the crowd starts chanting along in unison, it does sound very cool, especially when they're chanting the riffs or singing along to a guitar solo! I can understand why Dave finds these fans so special. That One Night, for the most part, plays like a greatest hits album; and at this point we surely don't need another hits collection from Megadeth (not that we needed another live album, either). The selection of material stretches back to 1986s Peace Sells…But Who's Buying" album with "Wake Up Dead" to their latest release at the time, The System Has Failed. Sadly, Killing Is My Business…And Business Is Good is not represented here. The inclusion of "Angry Again" and the heavier version of "A Tout Le Monde" (sans female vocals) are both great additions.

Mustaine may not be the greatest vocalist in the world, but he sure is stronger than he was in Megadeth's early days. The problem is when singing the older, more aggressive material, Dave doesn't sound nearly as convincing; he's lost his signature metal snarl and is opting for a cleaner vocal style. This doesn't work all the time, as Dave sounds horrible singing in a higher register on "Reckoning Day," and the a cappella "Coming Home To Argentina" is largely worthless to most fans. While I feel like this album fails at being a powerful and engaging live album, it is enjoyable. Maybe having been there would make this more enjoyable; possibly seeing this show on DVD instead of just the audio portion would lend a stronger feeling to the recordings. Or maybe it's just a bland recording of a concert that meant more to Dave Mustaine and those there that night. That One Night: Live In Buenos Aires is far from bad, but if you already own Rude Awakening, there's really not a whole lot you haven't heard here (just the tracks from The System Has Failed). Good, but not essential.

Website: http://www.megadeth.com
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/megadeth

Guitars That Grab Your Ears By The Throat

Michael Costa | Chicago,, IL USA | 09/04/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"No disrespect to any of the previous Megadeth lineups, but this is the heaviest sound I've ever heard from them, and possibly, on any live album by any band. Listening to "That One Night" is like sitting in front of two blazing guitar amps, and seems to be mixed hotter than the audio on the DVD of this show. If you love twenty-ton guitar riffs, this is your record.



Instead of going through the motions of a typical "greatest hits live" CD, these Megadeth classics sound fresh and fierce, making the studio versions, which I love, seem anemic by comparison.



Listen to the opening blitzkrieg of "Blackmail the Universe" and you'll know what I mean. This is full-volume guitar ferocity that goes way beyond previous versions, and it only lets up once, for the acoustic "Coming Home To Argentina." The legendary intro to "Holy Wars" sounds like a knife fight here, and "Reckoning Day" sounds like a construction crew smashing the side of a building.



If you've seen the DVD of this show, then you know Dave and Co. are really inspired by the gonzo Argentine crowd. The fans are so into it that they sing along to the guitar riffs, like a giant collective Beavis. It's an energy that feeds the entire performance.



There is a focus and intensity onstage that you can see in the DVD, and it transfers perfectly to this CD. Dave in particular sounds like someone who has mastered what he does, showing why he's one of the pillars of thrash. He has not mellowed with age, and he sounds as vital as ever.



If you were suspicious of the Megadeth re-mastered (re-recorded?) CDs, this is one you can buy with confidence. It's a musical chainsaw."

The "Deth" Machine is Stonger than ever!

E. Rossman | Colorado USA | 09/14/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you asked me years ago, would I be listening to the best metal live album, in 2007, I would have said no. heck,at one point it looked like we would never see a Megadeth album again. yet Dave has put the best line-up together in Meg History, put out one of the best studio albums from Megadeth "United Aboinations", and now one of the best Metal live albums ever. This band is so tight. They bring so much to the band. They nail the old stuff and kill with the new. The Drover brothers are unbelievable and James is a great addition to the rhythm section. Songs sound heavier than ever. If you are looking for a cd of great riffs and leads, then get this album... and defenitly check them out on Tour..

Sarge"