34th & 8th

• Artist: O.A.R.
• Rating:
• Release Date: July 27, 2004
• Type: Live
• Genre: Rock

Review

34th & 8th is O.A.R.'s second official live album. It's a two-disc affair like 2002's Any Time Now, but in a move befitting the band's jump to Lava/Atlantic, the tri-folding package includes a full-length DVD of the show and some snappy artwork. Recorded on the 28th and 29th of November during the '03 tour for In Between Now and Then, 34th favors the band's jammy side. To that end, oldies like "Black Rock" and "About Mr. Brown" dawdle past the six- and seven- minute mark, and disc one ends with a medley of "City on Down" and "Delicate Few." While fans of the more straightforward In Between Now and Then might balk at this approach, dilly-dallyers should know that what O.A.R. lack in brevity they make up for with boundless, addictive energy. Led by the relentlessly hopeful, invitingly grainy vocals of Marc Roberge and featuring the sax of Jerry DePizzo (not to mention a rhythm section capable of transforming reggae shuffle into plaintive pop in the slap of a bass string), O.A.R. spread the good-time vibes all over their jams. The result? Even for the wary or uncaring, this stuff is more inviting than a bus full of gypsy dress-wearing supermodels. "Let's bring this energy up a bunch," Roberge says at the beginning of 34th & 8th's second half, and launches promptly into In Between's urgent "Right on Time." That leads into a few more upbeat tracks ("King of the Thing" is a highlight) before the extended intro of "Toy Store" moves toward a meander again. As usual, fan fave "That Was a Crazy Game of Poker" ends the set. This time around it's over ten-minutes long, with solos galore and a dub-inflected breakdown with some heartfelt crowd participation. Those who know O.A.R. from their AAA blip "Hey Girl" probably won't understand this set. But there's a reason why the Hammerstein Ballroom was filled that Thanksgiving weekend, and it's got nothing to do with O.A.R.'s major label ROI. ~ Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide

Tracks

CD 1

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Dareh Meyod	O.A.R., Marc Roberge	O.A.R.	(6:08)
About Mr. Brown	O.A.R., Marc Roberge	O.A.R.	(6:45)
Wonderful Day		O.A.R.	(4:30)
So Moved On		O.A.R.	(8:54)
Black Rock		O.A.R.	(7:46)
Missing Pieces		O.A.R.	(5:10)
Ran Away to the Top of the World Today		O.A.R.	(6:38)
Old Man Time	O.A.R., Marc Roberge	O.A.R.	(4:43)
City on Down...Delicate Few		O.A.R.	(10:26)

CD 2

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Right on Time	John Alagía, Andy Harrison, O.A.R., Marc Roberge	O.A.R.	(5:34)
Someone in the Road	O.A.R., Marc Roberge	O.A.R.	(3:25)
King of the Thing	O.A.R., Marc Roberge	O.A.R.	(4:09)
Here's to You	O.A.R., Marc Roberge	O.A.R.	(6:42)
Toy Store		O.A.R.	(7:55)
Whose Chariot?	O.A.R., Marc Roberge	O.A.R.	(9:12)
Patiently		O.A.R.	(6:50)
I Feel Home		O.A.R.	(6:49)
That Was a Crazy Game of Poker		O.A.R.	(17:57)

Credits

Greg Hartman (Engineer), Scott Hull (Mastering), Victor Dawahare (Art Direction), Victor Dawahare (Design), Greg Kessler (Photography), Jeff Juliano (Mixing), O.A.R. (Producer), O.A.R. (Art Direction), O.A.R. (Design), Chris Culos (Drums), Benj Gershman (Bass), Richard On (Guitar (Electric)), Richard On (Vocals (Background)), Marc Roberge (Guitar (Acoustic)), Marc Roberge (Guitar (Electric)), Marc Roberge (Vocals), Jerry DePizzo (Saxophone), Chris Weal (Engineer), Dave Roberge (Executive Producer), Brad Darby (Engineer), Brad Darby (Digital Editing), Pete Hanlon (Engineer), Pete Hanlon (Digital Editing), Ben Hordell (Art Direction), Ben Hordell (Design), Ben Hordell (Photography)