God bless Antony Hegarty because I don’t think there’s another artist alive today who bares his soul quite like he does, laying himself entirely vulnerable during his songs to a point that you almost fear he’s going to have a breakdown on stage as you listen to this new live album. Of course, you know that’s not going to happen, but he’s just so emotive that you feel like you can hear the blood pumping through his very heart. And while live albums are usually weak imitations of artists’ studio recordings, many of the songs here are actually improved upon in various ways. Take “For Today I Am A Boy,” for example. Here, his voice expands over the studio track, reaching higher and nailing said high notes, but it isn’t merely more technically advanced, the emotion is considerably more raw. Even the piano manages to somehow, as if miraculously, be more beautiful. If you’re a fan of his studio albums, you’re sure to cherish this. And if you’ve never experienced his music, this would be an excellent place to start. Just be prepared to have your heart pierced.
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