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Personal opinion of this band aside, this is just a shameful excuse for a live album. 10 songs? Barely 40 minutes? No encore? From a band who [at the time] had over 30 songs recorded/released, this is just a poor, poor showing, especially considering the band knew they were recording this for a live CD.

The tracklisting breaks down like this - 4 off of Understand This Is A Dream and 6 off of Emotion Is Dead [with one of those being the instrumental "Emotion Is Dead Pt. 1," which doesn't even count]. That's it. No rarities off split CDs or comps. No cover songs. No new material. No surprises. Even if I was a diehard fan, I'd be pissed off at this release. And this was a hometown performance? You have to wonder how much the band skimps on out-of-town crowds.

The worst part is, the music - what little of it there is - doesn't even hold up. While I don't own Emotion Is Dead, I do still have a copy of their first disc, and the 4 songs they play off of it don't even come close to how they were recorded. Notes were missed, guitar effects were super sloppy - even the crowd seems pretty lackluster in the few moments you hear them cheering.

"But Scott," some of you are saying, "it's a live album! It's supposed to have blemishes!" This is true, but the point is this band's live show is mediocre at best - why even bother documenting it? There's plenty more bands out there that are more deserving of live albums that actually put on *exciting* live shows, with surprises on their setlist and all - not just the same ten songs night in and night out.

The CD does have one saving grace, though - it's packaging. The photos are nice and the liner notes written by singer Brett also add a personal touch to a live album that is sorely lacking just that - any human presence.

MP3s
Duane Joseph
Understand The Dream Is Over


Stream 5 songs here






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    Posted by dignin on 2003-09-12 01:01:42
    My Score:

    Why do girls wear so much perfume and make-up? Because they smell and their ugly.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, September 11, 2003 at 2:31 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    i want to eat your first born child!

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, September 11, 2003 at 1:18 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    i love you guys.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, September 11, 2003 at 12:39 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    this site sux

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, September 11, 2003 at 1:55 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    the 10 is for that joke, it might not be sensitive, but damn that is funny.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 10, 2003 at 9:19 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    yeah well im the guy who started all the jokes with the how many emo kids does it take to change a lightbulb joke. so there.

    On a transatlantic flight, a plane passes through a severe storm. The turbulence is awful, and things go from bad to worse when one wing is struck by lightning.
    One woman in particular loses it. Screaming, she stands up in front of the plane. "I'm too young to die!" she wails. "Well, if I'm going to die, I want my last minutes on Earth to be memorable! I've had plenty of sex in my life, but no one has ever made me really feel like a woman! Well I've had it! Is there ANYONE on this plane who can make me feel like a WOMAN??"
    For a moment, there is silence. Everyone has forgotten their own peril, and they all stare, riveted, at the desperate woman in the front of the plane.
    Then, a man stands up in the rear of the plane. "I can make you feel like a woman," he says.
    He's gorgeous. Tall, built, with long, flowing black hair and jet black eyes, he starts to walk slowly up the aisle, unbuttoning his shirt one button at a time. No one moves.
    The woman is breathing heavily in anticipation as the stranger approaches. He removes his shirt. Muscles ripple across his chest as he reaches her, and extends the arm holding his shirt to the trembling woman, and whispers:
    "Iron this."

    Posted by GreenVandal on 2003-09-10 20:23:23
    My Score:

    hahahaha, oh those crazy fats.

    I have started a pie revolution!

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 10, 2003 at 12:31 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Why'd the fat chick cross the road?

    Who cares, she's fat.

    ...evildeadalive

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 10, 2003 at 7:51 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    scott.

    if you havn't interviewed them already, ask them why they won't make me some fucking pie!

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, September 9, 2003 at 8:42 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    mmmm... pie

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, September 9, 2003 at 8:31 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    free dutch apple pie would get me through the doors for a lot of shitty bands. If they had milk for me, id see pretty much any band out there.

    well, maybe not JT. Ive seen them before it was like getting kicked in the balls and paying 12 bucks for it.

    Posted by dignin on 2003-09-09 15:35:01
    My Score:

    I fucking hate pie...just joking, I like it.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, September 9, 2003 at 3:12 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I would definetly sit through this band's show if I were given unlimited quantities of free dutch apple pie.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, September 9, 2003 at 1:59 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Q: why does nobody like the juliana theory?
    A: cause they wont make me some fucking pie!

    Posted by GreenVandal on 2003-09-09 08:19:51
    My Score:

    Q: Why did Ani Difranco decide to never come back to punknews.org?

    A: (insert some sort of reference to Ani Difranco making me pie)

    Its to early for me to be funny....you do better.

    Posted by dignin on 2003-09-09 01:11:47
    My Score:

    fuck this shit, Im never coming back to this site

    ani difranco

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 8, 2003 at 8:04 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    this is too fucking funny!

    Posted by GreenVandal on 2003-09-08 18:09:44
    My Score:

    HAHAHA

    Q: Why did the woman cross the road?
    A: To get to the grocery store to get the ingredients to make my pie...bitch

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 8, 2003 at 2:28 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    this score is for the sexist jokes. fucking hysterical.

    heres one but tis not sexist:

    Q: why did the chicken cross the road?
    Earnest Hemingway: to die... alone... in the rain.

    Posted by GreenVandal on 2003-09-08 08:06:37
    My Score:

    I thought the muffin girl joke was hilarious.

    Your jokes do write themselves :)

    Q: Why did the woman not go to work?
    A: Cuz I wanted a pie

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 8, 2003 at 3:09 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    10/13 is my birthday

    bummer

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 7, 2003 at 11:26 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Those are good. How about these?

    Q. Why did the woman cross the road?
    A. More to the point, why was she out of the kitchen!

    Q. Why can't Helen Keller drive?
    A. Because she's a woman!

    oh and Hellen Keller jokes are a completely different category altogether

    Posted by themuffingirl on 2003-09-07 21:36:43
    My Score:

    "hahaha, the only comment supporting this band is posted by someone w/ the name 'muffingirl'. the jokes just write themselves don't they.
    -cawknocker"

    your sense of humour sucks

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 7, 2003 at 4:55 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    at the dirve in that was stupid

    Posted by at_the_drive_in_21 on 2003-09-07 15:54:59
    My Score:

    Its not that weird that they release live material 2 years after it was recorded - tons of bands release live albums long after they are recorded - Led Zeppelin for example.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 7, 2003 at 3:20 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    OK, we have established that this band sucks more than an asain prostitute, but they are NOT a christian band....Their lead singer was at one time but has obviously fallen from grace with his leather pants and headset mics...No christian would ever subject another person to that...Long live scott stapp!!

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 7, 2003 at 12:51 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    sexist jokes of the decade:

    Q: why don't women wear watches?
    A: because there's a clock on the stove!

    Q: why do women have small feet?
    A: so they can stand closer to the stove!

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 7, 2003 at 10:51 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    hmmm.....ive seen juliana four times and each time i have seen them they were actually pretty good, with the exception of the last time i saw them with piebald which was mediocre at best. however, this is a sorry excuse for a large album. as scott mentioned, 10 songs and one being the instrumental before the song that generally finsishes up the encore. i just keep repeating to myself, "10 songs?". i dont care if you have a contractual obligation or not. 10 songs??

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 7, 2003 at 9:03 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Although I am a big fan of earlier Juliana Theory, everyone I have ever talked to has said that their live shows are a complete disappointment. I think this album is just proof of that. Despite signing to a major label and releasing a total piece of crap, I think Emotion Is Dead is a superbly crafted album.
    And for whoever said they are sneaking in Christian messages, TJT has never hidden the fact that they are Christians. I think your close-minded ideals about a band's personal beliefs affecting their music is pretty damn archaic. It is time to grow up and realize other people have different beliefs then you and that is OK.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 7, 2003 at 2:08 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    they must know theyre awful live, so they get choreographed moves to distract the little kids. *sigh*

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 6, 2003 at 7:11 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Two eggs are cooking in a frying pan.
    One egg says to the other egg
    "It's getting hot in here!"
    Other egg says
    "Holy shit, it's a talking egg!"

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 6, 2003 at 7:08 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    i just checked the mp3s out

    havn't heard the band before, but the live version of that song duane joseph sounds a shitload better than a static lullaby, my chemical romance and 80% of all the long island bands.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 6, 2003 at 7:06 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    HAHAHAHA

    their former label didn't even have time to close the deal (releasing this cd) before the band got dropped from their new label.

    HAHAHAHAHAHA.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 6, 2003 at 6:30 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    this band just blows..this christian kid I know once tricked me to go see them.. they played with some opening band that told everyone in the audience to "vote for george bush"... fuck this shit... this isn't punk rock. its cheezy overprodouced music with some sort of secretive christian message. eff that

    Posted by dignin on 2003-09-06 17:19:59
    My Score:

    alkaline trio is the worst live band, well actually just the worse out of bands I like.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 6, 2003 at 5:02 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I've saw ash live and they were amazing. I've also seen TJT live and although they were horrible, at least they acted like rockstars. Leather pants and acting like douchebags is key to any great live band. Despite all this, Elliot is the worst live band. Ever.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 6, 2003 at 3:33 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    i saw them live, they were like an even worse our lady peace, and the shittest live show i'd ever seen, i also saw hopesfall and snapcase at this show...
    worst show of my life... and i hate the juliana theory for it

    Posted by Ted_The_Bellhop on 2003-09-06 15:07:07
    My Score:

    I was a fan of The Juliana Theory when I went to see them but I left the venue with a hatred of them. Their live show was one of the worst things I have ever seen. Luckly, Piebald opened and saved the evening but still....avoid Juilana's live show like the plague.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 6, 2003 at 12:59 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    hahaha, the only comment supporting this band is posted by someone w/ the name 'muffingirl'. the jokes just write themselves don't they.
    -cawknocker

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 6, 2003 at 12:56 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I'M FROM PITTSBURGH oops caps lock. juliana theory are so lame. man they got dropped from that major they released 'love' on so fast. fuck them. great album title though. love. hahaha. what a joke. yea this looks like a piss poor live album for any band. fuck strung out live in a dive is fucking 21 songs, including lots of variety and rarities.
    ps. i'm from pittsburgh, live 3 blocks from laga, and i would never ever consider going to a juliana theory show
    cawknocker-

    Posted by maverick on 2003-09-06 10:58:58
    My Score:

    I doubt Laga's bathrooms come close to the Fireside. No way.

    -Scott

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 6, 2003 at 10:16 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    "club laga has fucked up bathrooms."

    Fuck yeah they do -- That shit is rank.

    - Scott
    http://www.local-felons.com/
    (Shit everywhere)

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 6, 2003 at 3:48 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Lame. Ass. Suck. These are just the first few words that come to mind. This band does indeed perform live with their drummer in a headset and their singer convinced he is Jesus. Hey Juliana Theory: If I told you your shitty music was killing me, would you stop?

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 6, 2003 at 2:49 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    club laga has fucked up bathrooms

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 6, 2003 at 2:16 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    to all the people who say the juliana theory is the worst band they've ever seen live:

    i was wondering if i could agree with that statement...and then i remembered the night i saw ash. have you ever seen ash?

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 6, 2003 at 2:06 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    dont be THAT GUY

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 6, 2003 at 1:00 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Iiiiiiii'mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm soooooooooooooo pppppppppppuuuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnnnnkkkkkkkkkkk!!!!! !

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 5, 2003 at 11:14 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    they had to fulfill a contract with Tooth and Nail for another CD before they could sign to epic, so we have a live cd

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 5, 2003 at 11:13 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Im obviously the punkest guy around. I like what everyone else hates. These guys are good song writers and that's why they got signed to a major. Very good indie rock/emo. They are pretty good live too

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 5, 2003 at 10:37 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I know nothing about this band............but why release a live album 2 years after it was recorded?

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 5, 2003 at 10:20 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I think the fact that the CD has only ten songs and clocks in at under 40 minutes is one of the Cd's strong points. Who would want to waste an hour listening to this shit?

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 5, 2003 at 9:58 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    21st!!!!

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 5, 2003 at 9:56 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Me - "How do you get an elephant out of a shopping cart in Safeway?"

    You - "I don't know."

    Me - "Take the S out of Safe and the F out of Way."

    You - "The S out of Safe? Okay, Afe. And the F out of Way? There is no F in way. Oh, i get it. There is no f'ing way. Ha. Ha."

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 5, 2003 at 9:47 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Q: how many emo kids does it take to change a lightbulb?
    A: none. they just sit alone in the dark and cry.

    my bad

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 5, 2003 at 9:46 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Q: how many emo kids does it take to change a lightbulb?
    A: none. they just sit alone in the dark

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 5, 2003 at 9:17 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Scott, you have to tell this band how bad they blow during your interview...

    Posted by themuffingirl on 2003-09-05 21:02:22
    My Score:

    i looked at the track list for this album, that sounds awesome.

    Posted by FortyMinutesWest on 2003-09-05 20:16:39
    My Score:

    The Berlin Project is everything that is wrong with the Pittsburgh scene rolled into one band.

    Posted by 501 on 2003-09-05 20:09:56
    My Score:

    p.s. kids dont buy the berlin project cd... they blow.

    Posted by 501 on 2003-09-05 20:08:32
    My Score:

    scott you suck... why did you review this. You should have let a fan do it. I know plenty of ablums under 40 mins, and you used youre own name in the review. Dude.... you need to respect somethings. Horrible review. I dont even like this band but you suck for doing that.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 5, 2003 at 7:37 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    These guys are just terrible live. They wear little headsets and stuff.

    I don't know. Emotion is Dead is an OK record, very pop-emo shit or whatever label you wanna smack on it.

    Just don't buy this or pay for their show.

    Maybe this is why no one will tour Pittsburgh? Because we have these guys and the Berlin Project.

    - Scott
    http://www.local-felons.com/
    (Yum)

    Posted by themuffingirl on 2003-09-05 19:07:11
    My Score:

    i'm more looking forward to a new album

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 5, 2003 at 6:48 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    it's weird that this was recorded about 2 years ago and it was just released.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 5, 2003 at 6:29 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    What do you mean by: "sorely lacking any human presence"?? Didn't you hear the crowd scream "One more song! One more song! One more song!" at the end??

    They all love this band, or maybe the crowd was added in digitally??? Either way, this is the worst album put out by TJT.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 5, 2003 at 6:25 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    It's missing "Constellation". Crap.

    WORST_BAND_EVAR!

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 5, 2003 at 5:52 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    i too, feel this was band is the worst band i have EVER seen.

    Posted by THAT_GUY on 2003-09-05 16:52:24
    My Score:

    I'm not a big fan of theirs, I own Emotion is Dead, and that's their only CD I own. I've also seen them 3 times, but always because they play before a band I wanted to see, and not once have I ever seen them use headsets. Maybe they do in other places, but I personally have NEVER seen a headset in their live performance.

    Posted by chad on 2003-09-05 16:36:28
    My Score:

    this is just the band screwing tooth and nail and putting out a horrible live cd for their last release.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 5, 2003 at 3:52 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    a live cd of theirs could never do the tight leather pants and headsets that is their live show!

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 5, 2003 at 3:28 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    good review. shit band.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 5, 2003 at 3:11 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    this is by far the worst band i've ever seen. if you think this band is ever slightly good, your taste in music is shit. the end.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 5, 2003 at 3:08 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    But, Scott, why did you even listen to this piece of garbage? You knew it was going to be terrible from the start.

    -Justin