Stereophonics strike me as the Matchbox 20 of Welsh rock - well-written melodic pop-rock marketed as "alternative," earnest and genuine, hugely successful on their home country's radio charts, but barely making a dent overseas. No Matchbox 20 song has never reached past #38 in the UK, and Stereophonics have never charted in the US. In the UK, mimicking Matchbox 20's success here in the States, Stereophonics have scored four successive number one albums, numerous top five singles, and finally hit number one on the UK singles chart with "Dakota."
Live from Dakota is a solid, if not flashy, snapshot of Stereophonics on tour supporting their 2005 studio album Language. Sex. Violence. Other? The band is in fine form, with Kelly Jones' raspy vocals highlighting energetic performances of "Maybe Tomorrow" and recent hit "Dakota." The band is tight, and their material is generally well represented. The sound is mixing board quality, but still a little distant; in some spots, the vocals are hard to distinguish as they blend with the frequencies of the crunchy guitar work.
The song selection is a bit heavy on Language selections, and with only 20 tracks over 90 minutes is a bit short for a two-disc collection; in that respect, this collection passes on the opportunity to showcase some of the band's better known songs, such as the Beatlesque UK top five "Have a Nice Day." With one or two more of the band's previous top fives from the UK, it would be a stellar introduction and recap of the band's output so far. Sadly, it's just a bit below that mark.
As a companion piece, the band is preparing to release a DVD also titled Language. Sex. Violence. Other? The DVD will document the making of L.S.V.O?, and is slated to include videos and live performances of some of the songs from the band's 2005 tour. It is unclear whether the live performances on the DVD are the same ones from which the audio on Live from Dakota is taken.
Live from Dakota is a solid but not stellar live compilation, and a reasonably good (though not great) choice for someone seeking a single Stereophonics title for their collection. If a comprehensive single-title collection is desired, a possible future "Greatest Hits" might be worth waiting for. For fans, it's a likeable live release that makes a good addition to the Stereophonics catalog.
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