Search - Various Artists :: Woodstock 99 Vol. 2 - Blue Album

Sure as hell better than the red album...

11/12/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"While the first half of the Woodstock 99 recording flopped more than inspired, the Blue Album is full of musicians with an actual message to get across and trying to accomplish something musical, unlike imbecile acts such as Kid Rock, Limp Bizkit, and DMX, who seem to have nothing to say and are only there as drunken entertainment. The Red Album did have its shining moments, as Rage Against The Machine, Sevendust, Megadeth, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Live, and even Creed performed wonderfully, and thankfully the blue disc saves the entire Woodstock recording experience. Although there are several artists who I am not a fan of on this disc, all the musicians featured here have undeniable ambition that I can appreciate either way, such as Jewel, Sheryl Crow, Elvis Costello, Alanis Morissette, and Bruce Hornsby, all of which deliver more musically than most of the horrible alt-metal acts at Woodstock.The rest of the CD shines even moreso, with Dave Matthews Band churning out an awesome version of "Tripping Billies", The Roots performing "Adrenaline" flawlessly, and Our Lady Peace delivering intensely with "Superman's Dead". The utter funkiness of G. Love & Special Sauce combined with Jamiroquai and with the folkish rocking of Rusted Root make the whole recording a winner in some form or another, not to mention the amazing Everlast delivering "Ends" on a silver platter and the Chemical Brothers serving up "Block Rockin' Beats" in their usual mind-bending electronic soundscape. Guster and Everclear also dazzle the stage.If you're going to get one of the Woodstock 1999 recordings, get this one instead of the Red Album, the other disc will only disappoint save for a few tracks, where as with this half the listener can appreciate all the music and energy, regardless of whether they're fans of each individual artist. Hopefully the potential Woodstock 2004 won't be such a calamity as '99."