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.

[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.

[River Boy]

Originally Posted by Littlesue

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

I'd say if you're actually at a gig, with the depth of the sound all around you, pretty much most songs sounds better live. Most significantly when they've played stuff from GT and THB though, and also when they did Sleepflower in Leicester.

In terms of a recorded live version on CD or wherever I'd tend to agree with you though. The sound of being in a venue isn't replicated by a recording of it. There are some I prefer the live recording of though - Crucifix Kiss and Motown Junk definitely.

[Littlesue]

I was actually on about recorded live versions, been at a gig and thought they sounded good but when its put up on Youtube or anywhere else on internet it sounds awful to me.

[River Boy]

Originally Posted by Littlesue

I was actually on about recorded live versions, been at a gig and thought they sounded good but when its put up on Youtube or anywhere else on internet it sounds awful to me.

Agreed, I don't check that stuff out much unless I hear that something is tried much differently. Like the acoustic Methodone Pretty, which I wasn't actually that keen on but I quite enjoy bands restyling stuff.

[Dancing Kirby]

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

[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

[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.

[darkanddivine]

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

[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...