The Summary Judgment Review:
Title: Unplugged at the Lowlands Festival '97
Artist: Life of Agony
Label: Roadrunner
Release Date: 8/22/00

Rating: 5 Skulls
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    • Death's Review:
    I'm a huge Life of Agony fan. May they rest in peace. With Alan Robert off doing Among Theives (www.amongthievesmusic.com), Joey Z and Dan Richardson doing StereoMud (www.stereomud.com), and Keith Caputo having issued his solo album Died Laughing on Roadrunner Records earlier this year (www.keithcaputo.com), this band is done. How could I not indulge in the band's "final posthumous LOA record"? Moreover, L.O.A. is the kind of band which is perfect for an unplugged gig. If they had been popular enough, MTV would have been all over it. So, what the heck, buying this was my own little indulgent no-brainer.

    The cover and packaging look cool, like rolling papers or something. A total ode to the leaf, so to speak (shout outs abound on the record, recorded in Holland), with the old-school logo on the front. A fantastic letter to the fans is inside, explaining the mindset and vibe of what, in hindsight, proved to be one of the band's landmark gigs, right before Keith Caputo left the band. It even includes updates on each member's current projects. Very cool.

    The gig is presented in its entirety, including extended between song pauses and banter. We get to hear "How it Would Be" first, a great song which is perfect for unplugged treatment. Of course, as the release of Soul Searching Sun was imminent, the short, 40 minute set was extraordinarily heavy on that material ("Angry Tree," "Weeds," "Desire" and "My Mind is Dangerous" all are presented right in a row and sound great). But we also get "Let's Pretend," just before the band says, fuck it, goes electric, and dishes "River Runs Red" to end the set. Outstanding. Wish I was there.

    But that's not all folks. LOA add on some other very cool material - seven more tracks at that. A "never before released" remix of "Other Side of the River" kicks things off. "Seasons" live from the night after the unplugged gig is next, followed by "Plexiglass Gate," "Respect," "This Time," "Method of Groove, and "My Eyes" (apparently one of the only times this one was played live) all taken from a 1994 gig in Asbury Park, NJ, to round out the set.

    So how do I score it? These are songs that I love, presented in a new format. I love this band and lament their demise. It has to be five skulls. Anyway, I ask LOA fans everywhere to do their part and support the members' new endeavors. I know I will. Robert, if you're out there, send in the Among Thieves demo for review! Until then, consider the book on LOA, unfortunately, preamturely closed.
    5 out of 5
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