When it comes to rock bands, if I'm going to check them out of want a good body of work by a band that usually will feature both hits and songs for "diehards" I go with live albums. The songs are usually more raw and extended; gives you a better representation of the band's talent.
Some Favorite Live albums:
KISS ALIVE II
AEROSMITH: SOUTH OF SANITY
ALICE COOPER: A FIST FULL OF ALICE
IRON MAIDEN: A REAL LIVE DEAD ONE
METALLICA: LIVE SH*T: BINGE & PURGE
SLAYER: DECADE OF AGGRESSION
AC\DC: IF YOU WANT BLOOD LIVE
W.A.S.P.: DOUBLE LIVE ASSASSINS
BLACK SABBATH: REUNION
OZZY OSBOURNE: TRIBUTE
DIO: LAST IN LIVE
MINISTRY: IN CASE YOU DIDN'T FEEL LIKE SHOWING UP
ACCEPT: THE FINAL CHAPTER
U.D.O.: LIVE IN RUSSIA
POP/DANCE ALBUMS? DEFINITELY the studio albums since 99% of them lip sync in concert!
How about you?
I've been listening to Opeth's 'Garden of the Titans - Live at Red Rock Amphitheater' and I still can't believe how good they are live, and I've seen them twice. The musicianship is SO TIGHT. They're damn near fawless. The Royal Albert Hall performance is also incredible.
Live music definitely has more energy! You can't beat the sound of a studio recorded album though when you're listening on headphones.
Depends on the studio albums that have quality engineering and they take advantage of two channel separation & effects. I enjoy a studio album best when the drums are mic'ed properly and recorded well. Last studio album I really enjoyed listening to thru headphones because of this was Lamb of God's Ashes of the Wake.