FOREIGNER – Can’t Slow Down …When It’s Live!

There are many who prefer studio albums over live recordings for various reasons. It’s safe to say with a studio recording the band can hire the best technical people available to fine tune any atrocity and make it come out smelling like roses (that’s if the music is decent enough to stand on its own). Now take those same bands that use all the technical wizardry and modern age electronics to produce their albums and put them out on the road to perform live. In most instances, these same bands just can’t cut it during a live performance.

As far as live recordings go, Can’t Slow Down … When It’s Live! is really, really up there. Foreigner has gone above and beyond the call of duty with this one. This is just one fine live performance and recording, to put it mildly. The band has never sounded better. The band members sound tighter than ever and play with an enthusiasm that just overflows onto the stage. There is an exuberance of enjoyment, passion, and showmanship second to none that just comes through on this album from beginning to end. Some of the original members are not with the band anymore, but it sounds like Foreigner of old. The material chosen to be on this album is more or less from their older, more recognizable albums, mainly their first five albums- Foreigner (4 tracks), Double Vision (3 tracks), Head Games (2 tracks), 4 (3 tracks), and Agent Provacateur (1 track). There are three songs also included from their latest release Can’t Slow Down that came out in 2009.:  “In Pieces,” “When It Comes To Love,” and a Bonus Track “Can’t Slow Down” even though the last track is from another live performance altogether. The more recent tunes are just as welcomed by the crowd as their more popular material.

Kelly Hansen who took over vocal duties in 2005 has a certain flare for the stage. It becomes quite obvious while listening through the tracks. His voice is perfect for this band without doubt. He could be Lou Gramm II if one didn’t know any better — Gramm being the first and longtime singer in the band. Mick Jones is the only original member still with the band and his guitar sound has never left. His playing is flawless and impeccable — maybe better than ever. Jeff Pilson, who took over on bass since 2004, is strong and powerful on his instrument; his bottom end is an extremely important part of the Foreigner sound and he comes through with flying colors. Jason Sutter has become the latest permanent figure in the band, taking on drum duties for Brian Tichy and Jason Bonham who was there for a while, but left for other endeavors. Michael Bluestein handles the keyboard duties and Tom Gimbel tackles the difficult saxophone and flute assignment, which Foreigner wouldn’t sound the same without.

The band does a killer version of “Double Vision” that turns out to be the perfect opening track. Throughout this live performance they try to change things up a bit, however subtle some of those changes might appear. Then there is the obvious where not only do they change a song from its original arrangement and sound, they employ some originality and cleverness as well. Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love” gets incorporated into the “Jukebox Hero” mix somehow and turns the tune into something magical. The band does a nice job on this track and it is a definite highlight.

The one song that really moves the crowd is the only track from Agent Provacateur that made it on this live recording, “I Wanna Know What Love Is.” Kelly has the crowd eating out of his hands, and they return the favor by belting out the tune as loud as they possibly can. This is a home run in any ballpark and something that any music fan will certainly enjoy listening to.