After years of whining about a lack of a KINGS X live CD and/or DVD they finally put one out (and a double disc at that).
Pros:
1. Sound is excellent, if inconsistent (It's taken from many years and shows).
2. "Acoustic" set (first half of disc 2). Not really full acoustic. Ty Tabor just switches to an acoustic guitar. This is my favorite part of the set (although "Everybody Knows A Little Bit Of Something" sounds out of place in this context). It gives a very nice sonic change to a band who's sound is, although excellent, rather one dimensional.
3. Guitar is NOT overly loud in the mix (as it is on many of their studio recordings).
Cons:
1. Would have liked to have heard better known songs like "It's Love" and "Lost In Germany" included.
2. Although sound clarity is excellent overall, on some songs the mix (mostly vocals) is too dry, especially in relationship to others.
3. Doug doesn't seem to play the 12 string anymore.
4. Doug's Bass tone: First, there is almost too much Ultra-Low End. It makes the speakers in my truck rattle at settings no other CD does. Second, although I've always loved Doug's tone I've never liked the way he's mixed. Like most of their studio recordings, you don't hear enough of the Highs in his tone to make him CLEAR in the overall mix (a MUST in a Trio).
Too many KINGS X recordings sound like the beef drops out when there is no rhythm guitar under the solos because the Bass isn't present enough.
A problem RUSH never has (even without keys/sequencers).
A little less Ultra-Low, a little more Volume and Presence/Highs would have been a big improvement in Dougs overall weight in the mix.
Not really a "Con":
1. No DVD
Overall I'm really enjoying this set though.
