You want to know what really launched the 1990’s craze over female artists? Their live performances. Long before Lilith Fair, the Indigo Girls were tearing it up wherever and whenever they could laying the foundation for what would become one of the most essential moments in music history. Without the Indigo Girls proving that they could bring it better than anyone else their may not have been a Paula Cole or a Jewel or a KT Tunstall.
Flashforward to 2010 and the Indigo Girls are still here and they are still the best, if not most important, of their generation of musicians. The proof has always been the live show and Amy Ray and Emily Saliers make no bones about it on Staring Down the Brilliant Dream. This double live album compiles performance footage recorded over the last few years and includes a number of guest appearances by artists such as Michelle Malone, Brandi Carlisle, Jill Hennessey, and A Fragile Tomorrow (the latter two guest on a superb version of the band’s massive hit “Closer to Fine”).
Live albums are always hard to measure and this one is even harder. The set includes hits, obscure, favorites, new songs, and covers of Bob Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright” (which is a highlight to be certain) and the Rolling Stones’ “Wild Horses.” To make matters even more complicated, some songs include the full band and others are exercises in acoustic awesomeness featuring just the duo.
For what it’s worth, I think disc one is the strongest as it features “Closer to Fine,” “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright,” the emotional “Moment of Forgiveness,” and the rockin’ “Go” – a song which reminds you that “Folk” is far to narrow a description for the Indigo Girls. Disc Two is solid but not as over the top good as the first disc. Of course, “Get Out the Map” is even more impressive than the original version and the declarative “I Believe in Love” is great as well.
Overall, if you have never heard the Indigo Girls before, I can’t imagine a better or more comprehensive place to start. If you are already a fan than this is a rare treat- a great sounding, non-bootleg, live album that fires on all cylinders throughout 31 tracks, How could you possibly go wrong with that?
Reviewed by Mark Fisher
