Common Criticisms of Okonokos

[marino13]

From most of the reviews I've read so far, some common criticisms/complaints seem to be:

1.  No crowd banter and not much crowd noise.
2.  No cover songs.

Why do you think they left out the crowd interaction?  Is it the Okonokos concept and is this a direct soundtrack to the film, vs. a regular live album with crowd banter?

For what it's worth, I picked this up a day early at my local indie store and I think it's fabulous.  However, I can see why critics might deduct a point or two for the lack of crowd banter and free-flowing live show feel.

[realdeal]

Thats dissapointing. I haven't picked up a copy yet but always enjoy the crowd conversing and applauding after a song.

[Angry Ewok]

That's funny, I was glad I couldn't hear much of the crowd... I have enough "crowd interaction" in all of my taper copies - sometimes it's nice to have the Live without the Jive, if ya know what I'm saying.

[marino13]

Thats dissapointing. I haven't picked up a copy yet but always enjoy the crowd conversing and applauding after a song.

It's probably not as bad as you think.  You can definitely hear the crowd cheering after each song and during quiet  parts following a great jam.  It's just not pronounced, and you can tell that this wasn't an actual setlist and the crowd noise is mixed together between songs.  That being said, you will love this album.  The band's sound is so clear and amazing!!

[sweatboard]

No crowd banter and not much crowd noise, I think is a pretty legitimate complaint.  I think the dvd will have plenty of both though.  Personaly I have plenty of really good audience recordings and soundboard stuff with crowd noise mixed in so it's actually not that big a deal to me, it's actually nice to just have the songs crystal clear.  I could see how it would let many people down however.  I much prefer live recordings taken from one single show with crowd noise and banter all mixed in evenly, not spiked by a guy in a recording studio at times that he thinks sound good.  On a brighter note, this just gives one more TERIFFIC reason to release the Bonnaroo show in it's entirety with crowd noise at an even level throughout..........Then everyone will have the VERY BEST of both worlds.............and covers to!    

[MyLifeISought]

The lack of crowd interaction definitely irked me. Is it still the only thing occupying my CD player? Oh yeah.

[primushead]

That's funny, I was glad I couldn't hear much of the crowd... I have enough "crowd interaction" in all of my taper copies - sometimes it's nice to have the Live without the Jive, if ya know what I'm saying.

Agreed.  

What about 'Get your Ya Ya's out"?

That barely had any crowd noise, just the low murmur of the stadium/arena they were playing to.

And that definitely stands as one of my favorite live albums ever.

I definitely prefer low crowd noise to high crowd noise.

[sweatboard]

Let's face it, to the hardcore MMJ fan Jim's banter is part of what makes the shows special, you never know what he's going to say but you know it's going to be really fucked up and hillarious.  It's so good they should consider a 4 disc set of just stage banter............let the titles fly.

[mcarroll]

I don't think a bunch of stage banter should be included in their official double live album.  I'm sure they would rather have the whole thing focused on the music.  That is for the hard core fans, who already have plenty of it on their bootlegs, bonnaroo releases, etc...And do you really want a bunch of loud screaming drowning out the music, like a live John Mayer disc or something?  I think they did it just right.

[ali]

i was really glad that there was no (or at least minimum) crowd noise on the cd... i've listened to the albums a lot on headphones, and i find crowd screaming irritating, and distracting.

a cover or two would have been good, but hey, it is an MMJ record after all!

i'm a bit biased, but i think o is the best official live recording i've heard - in terms of performance (naturally), recording, everything.  it actually added something to my mmj experience, rather than just listening to the as-usual slightly less than perfect live recorded performances i've heard from other bands. it made me appreciate how good the band is, how well Z was recorded to capture the spirit of mmj. its always interesting to see a band live to compare/contrast the live vs recorded music, but i think O improves my feelings about Z

plus, back to crowd noise - that's what you get when you GO to a gig, the crowd, the banter, the arm-waving etc. the live recording for me is ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC.

[sweatboard]

I've never heard a live John Mayer disc but NO, I obviously wouldn't want screaming drowning out the music.  I would however prefer if when I was listening to a Live album It had a Live feeling to it.  

It just draws my attention to the fact that a studio was invlolved everytime I hear the crowd noise cut in and out and get spiked etc. it sounds a little awkward.  I like to feel like I'm actually at one of the shows when I listen to a live recording.  That's just me and I was just trying to make that point not requesting a John Mayer disc or anything.    

[Meddle]

Tommy's Bass was horrible in the mix.

[ManNamedTruth]

I would've liked at least one cover, maybe on the next live album hm??I have no complaints about the crowd noise, maybe one Jim comment to the crowd would've been nice though. Overall I'm very happy with it, aren't we spoiled to death with there great music anyway who are we to complain.

[ycartrob]

I'm 42.

[EAZYE]

I'm 42.

Ich bin sechsundzwanzig

[tomEisenbraun]

I thought the bass was just fine? Now I can't listen to it without wanting it to feel wrong?

[ycartrob]

Thats dissapointing. I haven't picked up a copy yet but always enjoy the crowd conversing and applauding after a song.

actually, that's the only reson I get live albums, for the, you know, crowd conversations...

[tomEisenbraun]

"Jim! It's my birthdaaaay! It's my birthday Jim! Play Anytime! Anytiiiiime!!!!"

[Jacket Fanatic]

That's funny, I was glad I couldn't hear much of the crowd... I have enough "crowd interaction" in all of my taper copies - sometimes it's nice to have the Live without the Jive, if ya know what I'm saying.

I have to agree with brad on this one. First of all Okonokos is a wonderful album, the music sounds so good it doesnt matter to me what "crowd noises" I hear. I get so carried away with the music itself and it just hasnt mattered much to me. Second I download so many shows from tapers that it is good for a change. Many times in the taper versions the crowd gets to be a distraction to me, I have one MMJ show were I can here an entire conversation between people during an acoustic set.

[tomEisenbraun]

Or the drunken discussion about Into the Woods being a new song during the Taste of Randolph festival from June 2005, as Jim played it alone on his acoustic.

Weird how you can remember these things, ya know?