Philharmonic or die is Quruli’s (くるり) “live best album” (ライブベストアルバム) and it’s pretty amazing.

The 2-disc live album is the popular rock duo’s first live release and 12th since their 1997 debut. Philharmonic or die features Quruli’s live performances at Kyoto TakuTaku and Pacifico Yokohama with the Ambassade Orchester from Vienna, Austria.

The orchestral/European/Vienna thing follows the theme of their 2007 album, Tanz Walzer which was inspired by and recorded in Vienna.

The Kyoto natives have released an album every year since 1997 (almost each with a different musical theme). While Philharmonic or die is the band’s first live best album, their first best album was 2006’s 3-disc Tower of Music Lover .

Then, Quruli was a trio. But since late 2006, it’s been the duo of lead singer/guitarist Shigeru Kishida (岸田繁) and bassist Masashi Sato (佐藤征史).

The tracklist of Philharmonic or die is impressive. It’s pretty heavy on the Tanz Walzer tracks but includes some great classics like “東京” (Tokyo), “モノノケ姫” (Mononoke Hime), “青い空” (Aoi Sora), and “惑星づくり” (Wakusei Zukuri).

Tracklisting:
Disc One
01. ハイリゲンシュタッド (Heiligenstadt)
02. ブレーメン (Bremen)
03. GUILTY
04. 恋人の時計 (Koibito no Tokei)
05. コンチネンタル (Continental)
06. 春風 (Harukaze)
07. さよなら春の日 (Sayonara Haru no Nichi)
08. 惑星づくり (Wakusei Zukuri)
09. ARMY 　
10. アナーキー・イン・ザ・ムジーク (Anarchy In The Musik)
11. WORLD’S END SUPERNOVA 　
12. ジュビリー (Jubilee)

Disc Two
01. 夜行列車と烏瓜 (Yakouresshya to Karasuuri)
02. 青い空 (Aoi Sora)
03. すけべな女の子 (Sukebe na Onnanoko)
04. 帰り道 (Kaeri Michi)
05. ハイウェイ (HIGHWAY)
06. アナーキー・イン・ザ・ムジーク (Anarchy In The Musik 2)
07. ばらの花 (Bara no Hana)
08. 宿はなし (Yado Hanashi)
09. 東京 (Tokyo)
10. モノノケ姫 (Mononoke Hime)

Buy Philharmonic or die by Quruli