i contributed to the original debate, so i'll just say that i pretty much agree - my point was that if i dislike an album, then there's very little chance that the live show will have any effect.

a live show can definitely make me like a band much more. it's been rare that i liked an album but was so disappointed with the live show that i stopped listening to a band. if it's a band i like, i'm much more willing to chalk it up to a bad night & give them another chance. i'll part ways with joe slightly in that i've heard wilco definitely alter the arrangements to their songs (something i love about the mountain goats), but agree that interpol is less appealing due to their inability to play beyond the defined material.