I don't know what's what anymore. Can David Coverdale sing live or not? I'm confused. The reports you get from reviews here and there say that he can't.
If I'm to trust what I hear on the new live release from Whitesnake (2CD and DVD - I've only received the CD's for review), he certainly still rocks big time. Yes, the recording from Japan is from 2011, but still, the reports of Coverdale's failing ability to sing go even further back. I've decided I can only relate to what I'm hearing, alright?
Thinking back, for me as a budding thrash and death metal fan, Whitesnake oddly enough struck a chord with me. I thought 'Slip of the Tongue' was a killer album when my other primary references were Pestilence, Death, Bathory, Metallica, Sodom, Slayer, Anthrax, Death Angel, Testament and what have you. Coverdale's voice had a lot to do with it, but also the warm sound and the sheer quality of the music which Steve Vai was very much involved in. I checked out '1987' and liked that one too.
The first of the two CD's included in the 'Made in Japan' package consists of a live recording from Tokyo. There are too few tracks from 'Slip of the Tongue' (none to be exact), whereas '1987' is aptly represented - which is good!
The joy of recognition and thoughts of good old times should not be underestimated, but it's actually one of the tunes which I'm not too
familiar with which has blown me away the most with it's power and swinging blues rock energy: Steal Your Heart Away. Right on!
That shouldn't take away the force of the last three classic tracks Fool for your Loving (here in a more rocking version than the one I remember), Here I Go Again (the Japanese love it too!) and Still of the Night (hip-moving riff from hair-metal hell). Yes, it's probably cheesy as fuck, but I really don't care. I'll never tire from those three tunes, they're timeless classics in the Nielsen residence.
The second CD is supposedly a sound check or something. I have a feeling that it's just about as live as Priest's 'Unleashed in the East', but let's give that a rest for now leave Whitesnake with the benefit of the doubt. It's a nice and raw insight into a band who actually play together, chat about the songs they play, have fun. And again, Coverdale sounds perfectly fine. I can only say that this is an excellent release by an excellent band with an excellent singer. 'nuff said.
