Stark Naked and Absolutely Live

by Aaron BadgleyThere is absolutely no reason for this CD to exist. Alphaville are not a band known for their live shows, and, to make matters worse, there is only one original member present (vocalist Marian Gold). This CD is a document of their European tour of 2000, and, judging from this CD, it was not much of a show. Sure, the hits are there, but are altered in such a way that the original beauty is gone. This is very evident in the cover of the beautiful "Forever Young," which just does not play well live. Songs from all of their albums (save the astounding The Breathtaking Blue)are here, providing an overview of their catalog, but, honestly, their greatest-hits collection does a better job. And, yes, new songs are present (the truly awful "Cosmopolitician"), but it is the hits that the crowds and the listener want to hear. The problem is they are not played that well. The recording is somewhat poor and the overall packaging is disappointing given their past releases and the apparent care that went into them. This is a disappointing release, and really only collectors would enjoy it.