''The Broken Strings Tour'' is the first live album from Australian alternative/rock group,

Birds of Tokyo Birds of Tokyo are an Australian alternative rock band from Perth, Western Australia. Their debut album, ''Day One,'' gained them domestic success, reaching number three on the AIR Independent Album charts and spending a total of 36 consecuti ...

. The album was released as a double CD/DVD on 5 February 2010 and it debuted and peaked at number 11 on the Australian

ARIA Charts The ARIA Charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling songs and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA became the offic ...

. At the

ARIA Music Awards of 2010 The 24th Annual Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards (generally known as ARIA Music Awards or simply The ARIAs) are a series of award ceremonies which included the 2010 ARIA Artisan Awards, ARIA Hall of Fame Awards, ARIA Fine ...

, the DVD was nominated for Best Music DVD but lost to ''Sound Relief'' by Various Artists.

Background and Recording

In 2009

came up with an idea to show Australian audiences a very different and unexpected side to the band. They stripped their music back to the barest framework then rebuilt it with acoustic based sounds and delicate orchestration. It was with this sound that Birds Of Tokyo took their ''Broken Strings'' show on the road performing to sold out venues across Australia. The band working closely with renowned producer, composer and long-time collaborator, Anthony Cormican. Wanting the experience to be more daring and involved than merely picking up acoustic guitars and brushes instead of running with amplifiers and drum sticks; the band performed with a host of instruments - from ukuleles to 12-string guitars specifically incorporating them into an ensemble of string quartet and grand pianist. The album was recorded at The Enmore Theatre on 14 November 2009 and the

Melbourne Town Hall Melbourne Town Hall is the central city town hall of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and is a historic building in the state of Victoria since 1867. Located in the central business district on the northeast corner of the intersection between ...

on 15 November 2009. The album was announced on 4 January 2010.

Reception

Jenny Meagher from Music Feeds gave the album 4 out of 5 saying: "I am certain had I been sitting there watching this show live at the Enmore Theatre, I would have shed a tear. "

Track listing

;CD1 # "Overture" - 2:58 # "Armour For Liars" - 4:36 # "Like Rain" - 4:35 # "Russian Roulette" - 3:56 # "Black Sheets" - 3:56 # "Rose" - 3:35 # "Wild Eyed Boy" - 3:03 # "The Bakers Son" - 7:19 ;CD2 # "

I Heard it Through the Grapevine "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" is a song written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong for Motown Records in 1966. The first recording of the song to be released was produced by Whitfield for Gladys Knight & the Pips and released as a ...

" - 4:27 # "Head In My Hands" - 5:11 # "Train Wrecks" - 4:58 # "Violet" - 4:16 # "Rest Here My Brother" - 4:19 # " Off Kilter" - 3:48 # "Wayside" - 4:56 # "Broken Bones" - 5:05 # "Medicine" - 4:25 # " Silhouettic" - 4:10 ;DVD The DVD features footage of all songs listed above (excluding Heard it Through the Grapevine) as well as interviews with the band members and string composer/arranger Anthony Cormican.

Charts

Release history

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Broken Strings Tour MGM Records albums Self-released albums 2010 live albums Live albums by Australian artists