99x's Live X8

Inside March 11, 2003's Issue

-Entertainment-

'Old School'

99x's Live X 8, ten tracks of acoustic bliss

By Jesse Bishop
Staff Writer

With all of the advances in mixing technology and sound editing, it is rare that songs today can withstand the acoustic test. The "New Rock" station 99X, Atlanta, has compiled an album that provides some of the best in acoustic music.

99X Live X 8: Hidden features 10 songs from the best acoustic sets by artists like Coldplay, Jack Johnson, Butch Walker and Remy Zero.

The best track on the album is "Flake" by Jack Johnson. Johnson, a surfer/snowboarder turned folk singer/rocker has very strong grassroots following. He recorded the Live X version of "Flake" on a recent trip to Atlanta. The song, from the album Brushfire Fairytales, is quite possibly the best acoustic track ever recorded at the 99X studios.

The up-tempo folky sound works well with Johnson's soft voice. The way Johnson's vocals mix with his amazing instrumental abilities makes "Flake" the top song on an album of great music.

Johnson is currently on tour in Australia and New Zealand.

Another outstanding recording is "Yellow" by Coldplay. The boys of Coldplay go all out in this sultry song about love. "Yellow" is a very popular song on 99X and is from the album Parachutes.

Coldplay recently won a Grammy for best "Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal" for their song "In My Place," and the band also won the award for best "Alternative Music Album" for the album Rush of Blood to the Head.

Listening to the acoustic version of "Yellow," it is clear why the band fared so well in New York. Frontman Chris Martin's range on vocals is thrilling. The smooth guitar strumming and enchanting vocals of Martin make this track another one of the best acoustic songs ever recorded.

Other songs on the album include "Losing My Religion" by local talent R.E.M (from Athens), "Fine Again" by Seether and "Control" by Puddle of Mudd.

The songs all pass the acoustic test with flying colors. Anyone that is a fan of music, not mixing boards and sound editing, should buy this album. Live X 8 can be purchased at any Atlanta area Best Buy stores or on the 99X Web site, www.99x.com. Proceeds from the album go to the I Am 99X Foundation.

The album, 99X Live X 8: Hidden, was compiled by Sunday School host Jay Herron. Radiohead band member Thom Yorke designed the album cover.