100 DVD Reviews in 100 Days

[gamrrpol]

Artist: Gorillaz
DVD: Demon Days Live
Year: 2006

Visuals: 5
Editing: 5
Audio: 4
Performance: 4
Set-List: 3
Overall: 4

A great challenge for "virtual band" Gorillaz is how to pull off a live presentation. The giant 3-D animatronic approach was used and while some people seemed to like it I found it horrible. Watching clumsy machine-screens is not my idea of a "live" presentation.

For their Demon Days release, Damon and the gang came up with a much different and highly effective approach: place the "primary" band members behind screens, creating shadow-silhouettes, and have every range of singer / dancer / instrumentalist perform in front. Sounds kind of goofy in words but in practice it proved a unique and compelling show.

The sheer number of performers on this disc is overwhelming. In addition to the primary band is a 10+ piece orchestra, a small group of backup singers, a larger children's choir, a adult choir, and numerous special-guest singers and rappers. Amazingly it all comes together and works, with every song at least matching the CD versions in terms of performance (with one exception I'll get to later).

All is caught in beautiful, high-def glory and presented with excellent, subtle editing and effects. As per most modern live DVDs, the visual presentation is gorgeous and the sound is equally well-done. The Demon Days songs themselves provide the foundation of the show while the high quality front-of-screen performers provide the structure; almost all are excellent. Highlights are numerous including Nenah Cherry's psycho-rap on Kids With Guns, 25 children joyously singing and gyrating on-stage while Bootie Brown raps out Dirty Harry; De la Soul's spot delivery of the Feel Good, Inc. rap, to name a few. Even the night's sole low-light has its charm as during Dare, an obviously completely drunk Shaun Ryder has trouble shouting out his sole contribution "It's Dare"....it's horrible...but also funny as fellow singer Rosie Wilson earnestly sings her part to perfection while Ryder stumbles around the stage, barely able to stand up. Wilson, btw, performs superbly and is gorgeous as well; worth the price of admission alone.

The only drawback to this DVD is the relative shortness of it. Clocking in at exactly one hour, it pales compared to something like Coheed & Cambria's five hour extravaganza Neverender. The absence of any extras makes it a relatively thin product. It is, however, the best visual document of Gorillaz and a brilliantly captures a superb concert in its entirety.

Dare

[Cubecubed]

Artist: Coheed & Cambria
DVD: Neverender
Year: 2009

Visuals: 4
Editing: 4
Audio: 5
Performance: 5
Set-list: 5
Overall: 4.5

It's hard to imagine a better-value than this DVD set. Recorded during the band's legendary Neverender-series of concerts, the 2 DVD set includes the first four of the band's releases in their entirety, over 5 hours of music in total.

The band is absolutely amazing from beginning to end, with Claudio Sanchez being the obvious star and center of attention. It is the fans, however, who steal the show. From the first notes of night one opener Time Consumer to the final echoes of night 4 closer Welcome Home the entire audience seems to joyously sing every note while swaying, jumping, moshing and generally going crazy. The obviously loyalty and deep connection between band and audience is undeniable and gives the entire proceedings a potent shot of adrenaline. The DVD was recorded in NYC's Terminal 5 club and it is the absolute perfect venue for this event.

The band itself seems to feed off the audience. Carlos is a better guitarist than I had realized and despite his awkwardness when not playing on stage is a stellar front man. The tight musicianship among the sea of insanity that is the audience must be seen to be believed.

The video and audio are spectacular. While the stage production is relatively low-budget the images and sound seemed to have been captured with stunning clarity. The only negative is a bit of ADD-type fast editing; not horrible but at times I really wish I could just watch Carlos rip off a solo without having to re-adjust to a new angle every 4 seconds.

In summary, you really couldn't ask for more of a live DVD: four entire albums presented in their entirety (plus some encores), an outstanding performance by the band, a maniacal, thoroughly engrossed audience, top-notch video and audio quality. If you're a fan of C&C, you probably already own this. If you're not, it is the perfect (and very affordable - only $16.49 from Amazon) way to familiarize yourself with this high quality band.

Welcome Home

You called Claudio Carlos a couple times,other than that,spot on.
Also i feel like In Keeping Secrets is better to represent the DVD,but thats just me.

[gamrrpol]

Artist: Deep Purple
DVD: Live in Concert 72/73
Year: 1972/1973

Visuals: 3.5
Editing: 5
Audio: 4
Performance: 4.5 (72) / 3.5 (73)
Set-list: 4
Overall: 4

This is a tremendously interesting and valuable historical document in that it captures the MKII version of Deep Purple (which most fans consider the best) in their "Made in Japan" heyday. If you are a fan of the seminal live album (as I am) then this is a mandatory purchase.

The bulk of the disc contains a show filmed in Copenhagen. It's just amazing to me to see the SUPERSTAR band Deep Purple playing in what seems to be a high school gymnasium, on a tiny stage, in front of what appears to be an audience made up, primarily, of adolescent children. It's just weird and yet very compelling.

The set-list is virtually identical to the Made in Japan release except for the baffling omission of Smoke on the Water; not sure if it wasn't played at the show or somehow didn't make the final cut. Regardless, what you get are stunning renditions of some of rock's all-time great stoner-spacey-heavy metal. You get a lot of Jon Lord's spacey noodlings on the keyboard, Ian Paice's manic drumming (a truly underrated skins man) and Ritchie Blackmore's egotistical posturing and mindless showmanship. Ian Gillan is as strong in voice and stage-presence as I imagined when listening to his wails on Live in Japan as a child.

Seriously, it's like a trip back in time when rock was very pretentious and the musicians aspired to somehow be DIFFERENT even if it meant rubbing your guitar across your butt. Does Space Truckin' last about 10 minutes too long? Yes. Could the endless number of extended solos be shortened? Sure. Does Ritchie Blackmore come across as an absolute idiot? Absolutely. Yet it all somehow works because the songs are great and, despite the absurd showmanship, these guys were astoundingly good musicians.

It's also interesting to see the interplay between the members, and how it changed from the '72 show and the '73 show. By the time '73 rolls around, the band is about to break-up and you can see the disdain on stage. Blackmore and Ian Gillan barely acknowledge each other or the others and both seem to be just going through the motions. The energy is almost non-existant compared to the Copenhagen show. The fact the audience is made up of a bunch of '70's hippies who can't seem to clap in time just adds to the negative energy. Clearly a band on its last legs.

Amazingly, the quality of both sound and picture is high for something recorded almost 40 years ago. Oh how I wish modern live music editors would take a cue from some of these aged films and use simple, straight-forward editing where the viewer can actually watch the musician play his instrument.

A must for any fan of the MKII version of Deep Purple and a compelling historical document for fans of heavy metal or 70's hard rock.

Highway Star

[gamrrpol]

Artist: Roger Waters
DVD: In The Flesh
Year: 2000

Visuals: 4
Editing: 5
Audio: 5
Performance: 4
Set-list: 5
overall: 4.5

You can basically break Pink Floyd fans into two groups: the Roger Waters devotees and the Pink Floyd devotees. Count me squarely in the Roger Waters contingent. In my opinion, nothing produced without him should even bear the Pink Floyd name.

Knowing that, you'll know I'm more likely to embrace this DVD than dismiss it. However, if the songs weren't good and their performance high quality I wouldn't care for In The Flesh. In both respects, however, Waters got it right.

First, the set-list is impeccable. Waters did a number of things I didn't expect:

1. included rare gems such as Southampton Dock, Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun and Every Stranger's Eyes
2. Included, in their entirety, both Dogs and Shine on You Crazy Diamond
3. Included robust performances of concert staples Welcome to the Machine, Wish You Were Here, Time and Money

Really, the only negative is the inclusion of a handful of lackluster songs from Water's Amused To Death release. Otherwise, every song hits its mark.

The comprehensive nature and perfect pacing makes the concert as a whole better than the individual parts. While Water's utilizes a complete group (two guitarists, second bassist, keyboardist, drummer, trio of backup singers) the show is short of the usual pyrotechnics associated with a traditional Pink Floyd show. Here, the songs are the focus, not the visual displays.

This is a direct contrast to Pink Floyd's Pulse, which is visually stunning but lacks any emotional chemistry between the people making the music on-stage with each other or the audience members.

Not that Water's show is throbbing mass...it's a mature audience happy to sit and hear their favorites along with some other highlights. The visuals are captivating, as good as any I've seen and the sound is, without question, the best-sounding live DVD I've come across.

This perfectly captures the group of high-quality musicians Water's assembled. Texan Doyle Bramhall and Snowy White combine to fill in David Gilmour's guitar parts. Otherwise, the musicians aren't much different than what you would have gotten at a standard PF show.

If you're looking for the "Pink Floyd experience" in your live DVD, go with Pulse. If you're looking for the best presentation of Pink Floyd (and Roger Waters) music, In The Flesh is your best bet.

In The Flesh

[gamrrpol]

You called Claudio Carlos a couple times,other than that,spot on.
Also i feel like In Keeping Secrets is better to represent the DVD,but thats just me.

Sorry about the Carlos thing....just typing too fast. And yeah, IKS is an outstanding choice. There's so many on that DVD to choose from.

[GNFfhqwhgads]

Coldplay - Live 2003

Easily better live than studio.

[gamrrpol]

Artist: Rush
DVD: R30
Year: 2005
Visuals: 5
Audio: 5
Performance: 4.5
Setlist: 4
Overall: 5

I thought it a little odd that Rush would release a second live concert DVD so shortly after Rush in Rio. Upon viewing, however, I understand the decision. In essence they have capture two concerts from complete different end of the spectrum.

Where Rush in Rio was all emotion and sweat (outdoors, poor sound, crazily enthusiastic crowd) R30 was clinical, controlled and polished. Also, the setlists are substantially different, so it's not a case of plundering the same material.

R30 is designed to take viewers through the entire Rush history and it does just that. My favorite song is the opening medley, combining instrumental bits from each of the band's first 6 albums (although it is a little depressing that this period of the band's history is captured in less than 8 minutes). The band is spot-on throughout the show, with Lifeson improving dramatically on his sub-par Rush in Rio performance. The visuals are simply jaw-dropping, capturing the spectacular stage-show and giving everything a larger-than-life feel to the show. An outstanding set-list is marred only by the energy-zapping series of covers (I would simply prefer to hear Rush play Rush songs as opposed to someone else's songs).

The second disc is also entertaining. The best moments are early mpegs of Finding My Way and In the Mood. In both cases the band is playing on a tiny studio stage and doing their best to make themselves look like ROCK STARS. Geddy, in particular, acts much differently than in later years, trying hard to be a frontman. Interviews and late-70's live on stage clips round out a complete package that any Rush fan will revel in.

My one wish would be slightly more energized crowd. The Germans act is if their at church, rarely making noise and basically invisible throughout. If we could somehow capture the R30 performance and combine it with the Rush in Rio audience we'd have the best concert DVD ever.

Still....5 stars...one of the best concert DVDs available.

Der Trommler

[gamrrpol]

Artist: Styx
DVD: Return To Paradise
Year: 1996
Visuals: 4
Audio: 4
Performance: 4
Setlist: 5
Overall: 4

Wow...Styx...what a guilty pleasure. I know I shouldn't like them.....grade A cheese and, during the late 70's a complete sell-out. Nevertheless....they have a lot of songs I like. So I bought the DVD and have to admit it's pretty good. Pretty predictable list of hits songs but a few surprises. A very competent performance, with all players contributing. The audience just eats it up and that seems to inspire the band even more.

The thing that surprised me most about this disc is just how talented these guys are. Both guitarists are better than I gave them credit for. They have three singers who are outstanding (DeYoung), very good (Shaw) and good (JYoung) and harmonize exceptionally well. Their skills shame many the vast majority of today's mainstream rock bands (though, they obviously fail compared to some of the extreme musicianship in many metal bands).

The one funny thing is watching front-man Dennis De Young. You can see in his performance all the tension and anxiety that existed / exists in the band. He' no rock-n-roller....and looks like he'd be much more comfortable in a Broadway play (where he has spend a lot of his post-Styx career). You can just see the other guys kinda laughing at his feminine stage presence and overall goofiness. But it is also his exceptional voice, bombastic arrangements and over-the-top musical approach that made Styx whatever they are (to me, without him Styx is a pedestrian, uninteresting rock band).

An honest performance, great songs, enthusiastic audience, solid video production and great sound.....all in all a 4-star DVD. If you're a Styx fan, a must-have. If you're kinda interested, it'd be a good purchase. If you hate all things Styx, why are you reading?

Come Sail Away

[gamrrpol]

Artist: Queensryche
DVD: The Art of Live
Year: 2004
Visuals: 1
Audio: 4
Performance: 4
Setlist: 3
Overall: 2

This DVD has the smell of a band cashing-in. It was obviously made on the cheap, with few camera angles and lousy production values all around. This is compounded by the fact they decided to render everything is this weird, sepia tone that makes it look almost like a film negative.

Which is too bad b/c there are some good songs here. The closing piece featuring the band with Dream Theater on Comfortably Numb and Won't Get Fooled Again is outstanding. As is the middle acoustic setion featuring My Global Mind and Roads to Madness. Add solid versions of Della Brown, Tribe and Open and you have the potential for a solid DVD. Too bad it's so underdone. For collectors only.

Roads to Madness

[gamrrpol]

Artist: Queensryche
DVD: Operation: LiveCrime
Year: 1991
Visuals: 5
Audio: 5
Performance: 5
Setlist: 5
Overall: 5

While I have not watched this in a long time, it is one of the very first musid DVDs I ever purchased (in fact, I had the VHS version released way back in 1991). My live music DVD collection has grown to over 100....so now that I have a significant library for comparison, I decided to go back and look at it again.

And boy was I impressed. This brings together eveything good that a live music DVD offers. You have outstanding production both visually and aurally. The band both looks and sounds great. The editing is also first-rate, though it does suffer from quick-edit MTV video stylings. The mixing in of the video images helps flesh out the story. Geoff Tate never sounded as good as here. In fact, for something that's 20 years old the production here is ahead of its time.

More importantly, this DVD captures QR at the absolute top of their game. Even though OM is what's presented here this was presented during thier EMPIRE tour. So you have outstanding stage presentation, with video screens, lasers and all the usual heavy metal 90's props. But you can also see the band is extremely passionate about what they're doing and also having a hell of a time. You also can't overlook their youth at the time. Most of the QR video library consists of them in their 40's....it's kind of eye- opening to see them when they were young, vibrant and full of energy.

For those who might wonder about the appeal of QR and why they have lasted 20+ years....this shows what they once were and what heights they once achieved.

My Empty Room / Eyes of a Stranger