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15 Best Live Albums of All Time

I admittedly listen to few live albums compared to studio recordings. The reason for this is that production and precision are important to me...nevertheless, there are some really fantastic live albums that I thought I'd share here. A few of these are not for the weak of heart...read the descriptors and genres when deciding which of these to try.

Format is: Artist - Album Name  ||  Genres  ||  Release Year  ||  Country  ||  two descriptors  ||  Rating

15. Radiohead -  I Might Be Wrong: Live Recordings  ||  Alternative Rock, Electronic, Experimental Rock  ||  2001  ||  UK  ||  cryptic, cold  ||  9/10

14. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Distant Sky: Live in Copenhagen  ||  Art Rock, Post-Punk  ||  2018  ||  Australia  ||  energetic, melancholic  ||  9.5/10 

13. Miles Davis - Dark Magus  ||  Jazz Fusion, Jazz Funk  ||  1977  ||  USA  ||  chaotic, heavy  ||  9.5/10

12. Talking Heads - The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads  ||  New Wave, Post-Punk, Art Punk  ||  1982  ||  USA  ||  energetic, anxious  ||  9.5/10

11. Swans - Swans Are Dead  ||  Experimental Rock, Post-Rock  ||  1998  ||  USA  ||  aggressive, funereal  ||  9.5/10

10. Anna von Hausswolff - Live at Montreux Jazz Festival  ||  Neoclassical Darkwave, Experimental Rock  ||  2022  ||  Sweden  ||  mysterious, complex  ||  10/10

9. Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense  ||  New Wave, Post-Punk, Film Soundtrack, Art Rock  ||  1984  ||  USA  ||  playful, existential  ||  10/10

8. Björk - Homogenic Live  ||  Art Pop, Electronic  ||  2004  ||  Iceland  ||  uplifting, lush  ||  10/10

7. Miles Davis - Live-Evil  ||  Jazz Fusion  ||  1971  ||  USA  ||  psychedelic, avant-garde  ||  10/10

6. Coil - ...And the Ambulance Died in His Arms  ||  Post-Industrial, Electronic, Experimental  ||  2005  ||  UK  ||  depressive, disturbing  ||  10/10

5. Fishmans - 98.12.28 男達の別れ (98.12.28 Otokotachi no Wakare)  ||  Dream Pop, Neo-Psychedelia  ||  1998  ||  Japan  ||  epic, happy  ||  10/10

4. Portishead - Roseland NYC Live  ||  Trip Hop  ||  1998  ||  UK  ||  somber, atmospheric  ||  10/10

3. Chelsea Wolfe - Live at Roadburn 2012  ||  Noise Rock, Post-Rock, Darkwave, Experimental Rock  ||  2012  ||  USA  ||  dark, surreal  ||  10/10

2. Sufjan Stevens - Carrie & Lowell Live  ||  Art Pop, Indie Folk, Singer/Songwriter  ||  2017  ||  USA  ||  lush, sad  ||  10/10

1. LCD Soundsystem - The Long Goodbye: LCD Soundsystem Live at Madison Square Garden  ||  Dance-Punk, Indietronica, Alternative Dance  ||  2014  ||  USA  ||  energetic, passionate  ||  10/10



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