Let's Talk Live Albums

(Photo from rollingstone.com)

Hey y'all, I've been thinking recently. What makes a live album so great? Is it the raw sound that you get from the musicians or maybe the roar from the crowd? So many of my favorite albums are live rather than the studio version. Live albums come in all different shapes and sizes, though. Some live albums come from a single show and feature songs from different albums. I tend to like these live album versions because, if done properly, the band can really get a crowd roaring. Choosing the right songs for the right times and finishing with a bang. Some live albums choose to go straight through the studio album, song by song, as the artist intended. Some live albums may not be from a concert at all. Some magazines, like Australia's Triple J, host artists to play live versions of their albums in the studio, which I'll talk about later. Overall, each live album is unique, and that's what makes them so great, so let's talk about some of my favorite live albums.

On March 13th of 2026, Austin-based Sarah and the Sundays released their live album, Live on Tour. This is one of my albums for 2 different reasons. This album takes songs from multiple shows across their most recent North American tour. This album also features songs from across the band's entire catalog. Sarah and the Sundays released their first studio album in 2019, So You're Mad About the Cups, after dropping out of college. Their most recent tour supported their 2025 album, Like A Damn Dog. Live on Tour features 19 songs spanning 11 shows. Chicago is featured 4 times on the album and holds my favorite track, Casanova. Casanova, from Like A Damn Dog, opens with muted guitar strumming that builds the song. The last minute of the track is one of my favorite guitar solos from the band. The live version only amplifies this solo, and that is why I love it so much. Although the album hasn't even been out for a month, it's already one of my favorites. This album is criminally underrated, so please go give it a listen.

(Photo from atwoodmagazine.com)

Bad Nerves, a self-described Powerpop-RocknRoll band, released their only live album, Alive in London, in 2023. Although the album was released in 2023, the show was played in 2022. Alive in London features 8 loud tracks. At the time, the band only had 1 studio album, Bad Nerves, and a handful of singles. Alive in London is a must-listen punk live album, and I recommend listening straight through. The band did a great job of maintaining the flow between songs during the show, so it doesn't seem awkward on the album. Since the release of Alive in London, Bad Nerves has released a new studio album, Still Nervous, which follows a very similar formula to their self-titled album. Although I've never had the opportunity to see Bad Nerves live (even though they've been in Chicago multiple times the past few years), they are set to play at Lollapalooza. The band is definitely an acquired taste, but if you're looking for something new, check out Bad Nerves.

(Photo from badnerves.ochre.store)

Although not technically an album, Clairo's Live at Electric Lady EP is arguably better than the studio versions of the songs featured. Released in 2023, Live at Electric Lady features 5 of Clairo's best songs. Her most popular song Bags is the EP's headline and steals the show. Spacey guitar tones and rhythmic lyrics really make this song the cherry on top. I had the opportunity to see Clairo at Lollapalooza last year, and this EP does a great job of capturing her sound in person. Live at Electric Lady doesn't miss and is perfect for that late-night study session

(Photo from rollingstone.com)

Previously, I mentioned articles and platforms for live music. Triple J is a magazine that specializes in Australian artists. Their Like A version where artists come on and often play covers. Audiotree, a Chicago-based music discovery platform, also works on bringing in artists to release Audiotree Live versions on YouTube. I've discovered some of my favorite covers through these platforms, like Ax and the Hatchmen's cover of Everybody Talks.

There's definitely an argument to be made for live albums over studio albums. At the end of the day, it's a matter of personal preference. For me, it really depends on the type of music or vibe I'm feeling at the time.