Audio CD review:
Over the Rhine - Besides

Over the Rhine - Besides

Band: Over the Rhine Title: Besides Rating: Release Date: 01 June, 1999 Media: Audio CD Tracks:

Customer Reviews Decent-some great-leftovers. A supremely talented band who insist on doing things their way. I love OTR. BESIDES includes numerous b-sides (ha ha, get it?). Some are ok, some are better, and some are outstanding, in the following order: The OK's: An American DJ Polish DJ Hej (I Do) The Better's: My Love Is a Fever The People Here Are Not Shy Within Without (nice 'rusty' sounding guitars!) Last Night Lucy And the Outstanding's: Murder Dead Weight (what a song!) Bothered (frighteningly fragile and beautiful-best song on the cd) All I Need Is Everything Miles If I'm Drowning (fourteen minutes!!) Not bad as far as leftover albums go. The great stuff is quintessential OTR-not to be missed. A good companion to the full OTR collection. Odds & Ends Compilation Shines "The People Here Are Not Shy" is a remix of the "Till We Have Faces" album. In 1997, at a time when Over The Rhine was in between labels, the band decided to issue this compilation for its "Rhinelander" fan club, consisting of live tracks, remixes, demos, and throwaways (the album thankfully is now available to not just fan club members). "Hey (I Do)" is a quickie ("written in 15 minutes on Sunday afternoon") that didn't make the final track list of "Patience", the second album. "My Love Is a Fever" is a 1995 live version of the track on "Eve", the third album. "Within Without" is an early, bluesier version of what would end up on "Eve". The real nuggets are tracks 6 and 7, both outtakes from the "Eve" sessions that didn't make the album: "Last Night", an outright country tune, and even better, "Murder", a pulsating song with Karen's voice sythesized. Wow! Then there are a couple of "Good Dog Bad Dog" session songs in a different mix, including a great demo of "Lucy". "Miles" is the only true "new" songs, an accoustic guitar driven, uptempo track. Finally, last but certainly not least, is what is perhaps the best song ever of Over The Rhine, the 13 min. live version (recorded in 1995) of "If I'm Drowing", a concert staple of the original line-up for years, where the band members leave the stage one after another (with Ric Hordinski's blistering guitar solo as a highlight), until only the drums remain and pound away. It must be heard to be believed and appreciated! This song alone is worth the price of this album. This compilation concentrates on songs of the first three albums, and in a strange and compelling way it supersedes each of those. BUY IT! you will not be disappointed!. Rhinelanders Rock Karin Berquist is her usual quirky self, the songs are fresh and spunky. This one is a must buy for anyone who claims to be a Rhinelander. "Besides" is definitely less haunting than some of the older and more recent stuff, but it's a whole lot of fun. "Last Night" takes a wander into the world of country, and "Lucy" is proof that Linford Detweiler isn't the only great song-writer in the band. You'll keep wondering how this band that's been around so long never made it big on the Top 40 charts. . You can see a complete list of all Over the Rhine discography, or go back to the Over the Rhine tabs