"This next song is the first song off our new album!" Thus begins Cheap Trick's legendary foray into the wonders of live performance, a medium in which studio suffocation is often redeemed in a blaze of searing sounds and awe- inspiring intensity. The greatest live albums, however disparate from one another, seem to share this quality. After a notable introduction-- think Kiss ("You wanted the best, and you got it!"), Iron Maiden ("We shall never surrender!") and, greatest of all, the Descendents ("All!")-- the live band attacks with infernal ferocity, freeing itself from the constraints of recording, and reveling in the moment, the immediate, the adrenalized Now.

Ironically, the Bouncing Souls begin their live opus with nary a word and a rendition of "Say Anything" that lags miles behind its studio predecessor. Where is the live spirit, the uncontainable burst of inspiration that invariably leads to a quicker- than- normal tempo rather than the opposite? It's lacking, and the loss is apparent throughout most of the recording. The band seems helplessly self- conscious of the fact they are recording the show-- they even feel the need to mention it on more than one occasion. The in- between- song banter also betrays a feeling of discomfort-- their stabs at humor and wit seem contrived, spoken only for the sake of the rolling tape.

The song selection samples wisely from the band's self- titled Epitaph release and the BYO Records offering, Maniacal Laughter. But missing are classics from The Good, the Bad, and the Argyle, the album that established the Bouncing Souls as masterly purveyors of innovative and entertaining punk rock. Here, the guitar levels are low, and the performance is often sloppy. As a person who's seen the band live on a several occasions, I can't help but feel that the boys captured themselves in the least flattering of circumstances. This recording doesn't come close to capturing the fun and positive sensations typical of a Bouncing Souls show, which is unfortunate for both band and listener.

Luckily, the album ends with a glimmer of hope-- a new track, "Kid," from the band's upcoming release. It has all the hallmarks of a classic Bouncing Souls song-- the sing- along vocals, the upbeat rhythm, the bittersweet delivery. I'm glad they left this one for the studio.

-Kevin Ruggeri