GLUTTONS FOR PUNISHMENT - LIVE 05

Gluttons for Punishment is the first live Spock's Beard album from the D'Virgilio era. And unlike the studio albums from this period in the band's history, this one is a keeper. I credit that mostly for the selection as it isn't filled with AOR rubbish from those aforementioned studio albums. Instead, the Beard selected mostly their "proggiest" from this period and a few good ones from the Morse era. Included is the Flash Before My Eyes suite, Harm's Way, NWC, At the End of the Day, and The Light. The selection isn't entirely perfect, as a couple shorter insignificant numbers are on disc 2.

The production on this album is far superior from any prior Beard album and as usual, the energy is ever present in each song. Since Spock's Beard followed in the footsteps of Genesis by having their drummer be their lead singer, the Beard needed another drummer for their tour and that's Jimmy Keegan (who has played with Santana). Keegan does a very nice job, as similar in quality as Chester Thompson's skills at filling Phil Collins' shoes.

I haven't been very impressed with the post-Morse Spock's Beard, but I have to say they did a remarkable job on this live album. Not quite a masterpiece, but clearly and excellent live album. Four stars.