Mental Jewelry

Mental Jewelry
Studio album by
Live
ReleasedDecember 31, 1991 (1991-12-31)
Recorded1991 at D.V. Perversion Room, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
GenreAlternative rock, funk rock
Length51:36
LabelRadioactive
ProducerJerry Harrison
Live chronology
Four Songs
(1991) 		Mental Jewelry
(1991) 		Throwing Copper
(1994)
Singles from Mental Jewelry
  1. "Operation Spirit (The Tyranny of Tradition)"
    Released: 1992
  2. "Pain Lies on the Riverside"
    Released: 1992
  3. "The Beauty of Gray"
    Released: 1992
  4. "Mirror Song"
    Released: 1992
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[2]
Spin Alternative Record Guide6/10[3]

Mental Jewelry is the second studio album by the band Live—but their first under this name; they had previously released the album The Death of a Dictionary under the name Public Affection, under which they also released the EP Divided Mind, Divided Planet. Released on December 31, 1991, it is also the band's major label debut.

Many of the songs on Mental Jewelry are based on the writings of Indian philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti.[4] It also showcases their early funk rock leanings, particularly through Patrick Dahlheimer's slap bass playing on songs like "Pain Lies on the Riverside", "Operation Spirit (The Tyranny of Tradition)", and "Waterboy". The album's title comes from a lyric in the track "Mirror Song".

A music video was filmed for "Operation Spirit". The video was filmed when the band were still calling themselves Public Affection.

On June 30, 2017, Live announced a reissue of Mental Jewelry as a two-CD set, with the first CD containing the original album and the three outtakes and the second CD containing a full concert. Cassette and vinyl reissues were also announced.[5]

  1. ^ AllMusic Review
  2. ^ Brackett, Nathan; Christian Hoard (2004). The Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York City, New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 490. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8. rolling stone live album guide.
  3. ^ Gardner, Elysa (1995). "Live". In Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig (eds.). Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. pp. 224–225. ISBN 0-679-75574-8.
  4. ^ Jason Ankeny, "Live's allmusic biography". AllMusic.
  5. ^ "Live's Debut Album, 'Mental Jewelry', Celebrates 25th Anniversary with Deluxe Reissue". 30 June 2017.