The passionate college rock of O.A.R. gets its first live showcase on Any Time Now, the two-CD album recorded in Washington, D.C., during the promotion of 2001's Risen. The band sounds great on the 17 tracks found here, playing their high-energy rock with a power that only young bands can really manage to muster. The only problem with the album is that it is truly for dedicated fans, as the lengthy songs tend to blur together and the live approach simply does not complement some of these tracks. Without their strong energy level, this album would be pretty dull, but they manage to squeeze as much out of the songs as they can. O.A.R. continues to develop, but at this point in their career there isn't much of a need for a live album. They have the power, but they still don't quite have the variety of songs to make a big project like this work. Still, fans should eat this right up as everything is done to the hilt, from the extended versions of the tracks to the visceral performance style of the band. But those unfamiliar with the music should be warned that this is definitely not the album to start a collection with. ~ Bradley Torreano, All Music Guide
The review is utterly wrong. This was the album I started my O.A.R. collection with and it was a great choice. Few live albums are better than the studio recordings, and this is one of the few. Possibly their best.
I don't agree with the review; Any Time Now blows away any of their other stuff. They are absolutely amazing in a live format. They just cannot seem to duplicate the energy and emotion in studio. For someone looking to get into OAR (and I recommend that you do)go with Any Time Now first. It will get you hooked.
thank you joe g, this is the album that made me fall in love with this band. Jerry Depizzo is the man and i haave never heard the sax being made love to like that. City On Down is currently my favorite song because of the insane sax solo by jerry. i don't believe this review is fair. editor should go back to his Rikki Lake and Hagen Daaz fatty
I don't agree with Torreano about a starting point for any fan. My interest with O.A.R. started with the Any Time Now two-disc album and I eventually bought many of their studio cds and other live cds. I found that the studio cds are exactly what Torreano describes in his review, "pretty dull." To me, interest in O.A.R. comes directly from their energy and musical uniqueness. Not many bands use so many instruments so well. When I recommend O.A.R. to friends, I recommend this album exclusively.
I entirely disagree with this review. This album is a great starting point for anyone looking to catch up on the "old" OAR sound. I wish they still sounded like this.
I saw OAR recently and they just looked like they were bored with the scene. None of the excitement and energy like there is on this recording. It made me really sad actually, and a little PO'd...if you're bored with the music scene, get out and make space for people that WANT to be out there.
I think the review is a crock of s**t! This is my favorite by them and Mark's voice just seems to hit that next level that he cannot do in the studio. I too told myself the desert island thing about this album as with dbx222. This is my favorite album of all time...
I agree with Alison, this is the first OAR album I ever heard, and if I had to pick one OAR album for the desert island, this is it. Great connection with the audience.
The review says it was recorded in D.C. And I don't agree with the critic either. I think if you are trying to decide whether or not to get on the OAR bandwagon and buy some albums, this live set should be the deciding factor.
I completely disagree with the critic. This was the first OAR album I was exposed to is the first and only one I own. OAR is not by any means my favorite band, but their live shows are a ton of fun and I think this album embodies a level of energy that they have failed to capture on any of their studio albums.