Canadian AOR bods Harem Scarem have been noodling around quite a lot with their back catalogue recently. Last year they re-recorded their Mood Swings album as Mood Swings II – an album about which I noted, "To be honest classy AOR doesn't get any classier than this." Closely thereafter they released the Thirteen album ("I just have a nagging feeling that in places the band has veered a little far too close to the middle of the road," said I,)went on a tour which produced this, Live at the Phoenix recorded the band's hometown of Toronto, Ontario on July 11th, 2015.
The press blurb suggests that this album presents, "an honest and raw performance showcasing the repertoire of a band which is at the top of their game." I would certainly quibble with the adjective "raw" as that is a word which can seldom if ever be applied to Harem Scarem – raw just isn't their thing. That said, the album does exactly what it needs to. Firstly, it provides an update of what the band currently does in the live setting as it's been about seven years since their live offering and secondly, it acts as a good introduction to the band. They really do have some top quality songs which probably deserve much wider recognition ("No Justice", "Slowly Slipping Away", and "Sentimental Blvd." are all essential listening.) This is isn't the livest of live records you will ever hear although the slightly manic introduction is quite funny but it is a great place to introduce yourself to a band who have consistently produce high quality melodic rock.
Track Listing:
CD1
Garden Of Eden
Hard To Love
Saviors Never Cry
Dagger
Distant Memory
The Midnight Hours
Mandy
Killing Me
Slowly Slipping Away
Troubled Times
CD2
Sentimental Blvd.
Turn Around
Stranger Than Love
All I Need
Saints And Sinners
So Blind
Human Nature
Voice Of Reason
Change Comes Around
No Justice.
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