Songs that sound better live

[Routine Builder]

The main one that comes to mind is Lets Go To War just because the guitar is turned up to 11 and roars like a wild beast whereas in the studio version it sounds like a pixie fairy walking over egg shells.

Can't think of any other songs at moment that benefit from their live arrangements...

[Scarecrow]

Motorcycle Emptiness
Some Kind of Nothingness
A Design for Life
Let's Go to War
Walk Me to the Bridge

[gallafield]

Agree with Let's Go To War and Motorcycle Emptiness.
would also suggest Roses In The Hospital, No Surface All Feeling, and Tsunami.

[Suicide Aldi]

Anything off GT

[Littlesue]

Neverheard a song sound better live than on record, I would say that for anyone I have seen.

[Dancing Kirby]

Miss Europa Disco Dancer especially but quite a few others off KYE as well, including the dreaded Ocean Spray.

[Nature's Discontent]

Originally Posted by Littlesue

Neverheard a song sound better live than on record, I would say that for anyone I have seen.

With the exception of a small number of songs, such as EGDM and others I can't think of off the top of my head right now, this is my take on the Manics.

[centralscrutiniser]

All of them. Live sound always more punchy, drums more powerful even if keyboards intrude

[Glyn]

Tsunami is probably the only song I skip on record but like live with the beefed up chorus. Probably another thread but easier for me to think of songs that are far worse live, masses and yes stick out as ones that don't get close

[darkanddivine]

You Stole The Sun is way way way way way better live. The recording stinks.

[roi]

Originally Posted by Glyn

Tsunami is probably the only song I skip on record but like live with the beefed up chorus. Probably another thread but easier for me to think of songs that are far worse live, masses and yes stick out as ones that don't get close

Definitely Tsunami. And Empty Souls.

Similarly I reckon some of the Futurology album tracks (Black Square and The Next Jet to Leave Moscow especially) would work well live with beefier guitars.

[three_days]

Definitely all or most GT-era songs fall into this, especially Motorcycle Emptiness.

I'd agree with Let's Go to War and EGDM, but I love Tsunami recorded.

Probably the song that most differs in terms of performance between live and recorded is Roses, early live versions have this strange funkiness that I used to dig (didn't like the original), but now I feel the opposite...

[LA ex]

Have to agree with You Stole the Sun - I have no real love for the recorded version but at least in recent days it has sounded pretty good live.

Is it cheating to say I prefer the live acoustic verion of This is Yesterday to the album electric version?

Also Revol recently with the extended break down before the solo.

[darkanddivine]

Originally Posted by LA ex

Have to agree with You Stole the Sun - I have no real love for the recorded version but at least in recent days it has sounded pretty good live.

When YSTS came out, the first few years of the live performances were shit hot and full of aggression. It's not quite as in your face now, but I always skip the recorded version. Live it's much better.

[roi]

I still like Tsunami a lot on record, although the guitar is a bit low in the mix. It doesn't get better than this version: http://youtu.be/zNYAZX5WDYc