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Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Monday, February 20, 2012
Classic Rock Shines Across Wide Range of Recent DVD/Blu-ray Releases
There have been a wealth of recent titles issued on DVD and Blu-ray that really celebrate some of classic rock's greatest names. Here is a roundup of some of great releases worth checking out.
Artist: Paul McCartney
Title: The Love We Make
Worth buying: Yes
You might be interested in this DVD if you like: Paul McCartney, The Beatles, history relating to 9/11
Tell Me More: Although it has been more than a decade since 9/11 and the subsequent staging of The Concert For New York City featuring Paul McCartney, The Who, Billy Joel and a number of other celebrated artists, it truly feels like only yesterday thanks to the release of the recently-issued documentary The Love We Make.
Originally aired on the Showtime Cable Network, The Love We Make has been issued by Eagle Rock Entertainment on both DVD and Blu-ray. This 94-minute documentary showcases the planning of the benefit concert that was staged at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 20, 2011. Whether getting a rare look at McCartney and his band rehearsing "I'm Down," watching the former Beatle walk through the streets of New York City as he does his part to help residents heal in the wake of the horrific attacks that brought down the twin towers or his interactions with Eric Clapton, Harrison Ford and New York City firefighters, this is a unique and powerful film.
Filmed in 16mm black and white (except color footage from The Concert For New York City concert), The Love We Make showcases not only an unforgettable moment in history but how the contributions of one of the world's most gifted artists can help provide light in the darkest of times.
Recorded in DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby Digital 5.1 and LPCM Stereo, The Love We Make packaging also includes a wonderful essay penned by William Flanagan.
Information: www.eaglerockent.com
Artist: The Doors
Title: Mr. Mojo Risin': The Story of L.A. Woman
Worth buying: Yes
You might be interested in this DVD if you like: The Doors
Tell Me More: Few bands to emerge in the 1960s crafted music as powerful, enduring and influential as The Doors.
Over the course of the Los Angeles-based quartet's brief career in the late 1960s and dawn of the '70s, singer Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robby Krieger and drummer John Densmore ignited the era with a mix of blistering blues, psychedelic rock, spoken poetry and even jazz.
The Doors' final studio album featuring Morrison was L.A. Woman, recorded over the course of a mere four days in the fall of 1970s and released in 1971. Now, more than four decades after its release, that epic masterwork is celebrated via the new documentary Mr. Mojo Risin': The Story of L.A. Woman. The perfect companion to the Rhino Records' 40th anniversary deluxe edition of "L.A. Woman" that was also released this year, Mr. Mojo Risin' features a wealth of historic archival photographs, rare footage of the band in the studio and recent interviews with Manzarek, Krieger and Densmore discussing the tracks and even performing iconic sections of some of the selections as they discuss how classics such as "Riders On The Storm," "Love Her Madly" and "L.A. Woman" were born.
Among the bonus features on the DVD/Blu-ray is the audio track for the previously-unheard "She Smells So Nice" accompanied by a fascinating photo montage. Filmed in high definition, the 103-minute documentary features DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby Digital Stereo
Information: www.thedoors.com or www.eaglerockent.com
Artist: Queen
Title: Days Of Our Lives
Worth buying: Yes
You might be interested in this DVD if you like: Queen, classic rock,
Tell Me More: While 1971 essentially marked the end of The Doors (Morrison died on July 3, 1971), that year also saw four college students in London, England get together to form a band that would soon to known to the world as Queen.
Over the past 40+ years, Queen has gone on to release more than 25 albums and sell more than 300 million records. Now comes Days Of Our Lives, a fascinating documentary that tells the story of singer Freddie Mercury (who died in 1991), guitarist Brian May, drummer Roger Taylor and bassist John Deacon. Directed by Matt O' Casey, the DVD/Blu-ray version features the complete special originally broadcast on Biography as well as seven brand new videos for classic songs such as "We Are the Champions," "Under Pressure" and "Killer Queen."
Filled with early footage, insightful interviews and great music (of course), Days Of Our Lives is essential viewing for fans of Queen.
Information: www.queenonline.com
Artist: Styx
Title: The Grand Illusion/Pieces of Eight Live
Worth buying: Yes
You might be interested in this DVD if you like: Styx, Damn Yankees, Kansas
Tell Me More: Two of the best known and successful albums in the Styx discography are revisited by the band on the 20-song The Grand Illusion/Pieces of Eight Live (available on DVD or Blu-ray).
One of the most popular progressive rock outfits to emerge in the 1970s, Styx shines throughout a concert stretching more than two hours that was captured at the legendary Orpheum Theater in Memphis on Nov. 9, 2010. With high def visuals and excellent audio to match, gems such as the spirited "Come Sail Away," haunting "Castle Walls" and flat-out rocking "Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)" allow singer-guitarist Tommy Shaw and company to really shine.
Information: www.eaglerockent.com
Monday, February 13, 2012
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Monday, February 6, 2012
DVD Roundup: U2, Queen, Owl City, Adele
Artist: U2Title: From the Sky Down
Worth buying: Yes
For fans of: Coldplay, Snow Patrol
Tell Me More: First shown at the Toronto International Film Festival last September and then for a brief run on Showtime, From the Sky Down(UMe/Mercury/Interscope) was directed by Davis Guggenheim, best known for the Oscar-winning expose An Inconvenient Truth. Available on both DVD and Blu-ray, the 95-minute documentary is a fascinating glimpse of the difficult genesis behind 1991’s Achtung Baby, one of the superstar Irish rock band’s strongest, most experimental and successful albums.
The initial shot finds U2 about to take the stage for their 2011 headlining slot at England’s Glastonbury Festival. The musicians – primarily Bono and The Edge - are interviewed and shown during rehearsals earlier that year amid a return trip to Berlin’s Hansa Studios (where much Achtung work was done).
A history of the band leading up to ’91 includes rare footage, plus archival and latter-day interviews with manager Paul McGuinness, studio personnel Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois, Flood, longtime art director Anton Corbijn and tour designer Willie Williams. Guggenheim was given free reign without interference and dug up some unseen Rattle and Hum footage.
One section showing how the hits “Mysterious Ways” and “One” were put together will have diehard fans riveted to the screen. Bonus material comprises excellent ’11 acoustic in-the-studio performances of “So Cruel,” “Love is Blindness” and “The Fly” by Bono and Edge, the Toronto press conference and a photo gallery.
What about the packaging? The DVD is housed in a non-standard, rectangular jewel box case. The 14-page booklet and front/back cover has a recent large color and several archival B&W photos – primarily by Corbijn, from the Achtung Baby period. Note: the film was included in the Uber Deluxe box set for the 20th Anniversary of Achtung.
Get U2 from the Sky down here
--- George A. Paul
Artist: QueenTitle: Days of our Lives
Worth buying: Yes
For fans of: Mott the Hoople, Aerosmith, Styx
Tell Me More: Last year marked the 40th anniversary of Queen’s inception. Among the commemoration activity was Hollywood Records’ back catalog reissue campaign and this superb new documentary. The band tells its own story here - reportedly for the first time - via fresh, candid interviews with guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor, plus marvelously sequenced archival clips from singer Freddie Mercury and bassist John Deacon.
Divided into two hour-long segments, Days of our Lives (Eagle Vision) is available on DVD and Blu-ray. Originally broadcast as a BBC2 special in the U.K. to high ratings, it opens with the British group’s triumphant 1986 Wembley gig and goes all the way back to pre-Queen group Smile. Producers Rhys Thomas, Simon Lupton and director Matt Casey do an expert job at showing what a unique performer Mercury was and distilling the Queen legacy without missing much.
May and ex-manager John Reid return to old haunts, details are provided about those influential ‘70s multi-tracking studio techniques, how “Under Pressure” actually was recorded with David Bowie, Live Aid, Sun City and more. Rare TV, live performance, studio and video shoot footage is interspersed throughout; much of it is fashioned into seven new music videos. Other bonus material includes 20 minutes of extra documentary footage (the Blu-ray edition encompasses an hour). Highly recommended.
What about the packaging? A regular DVD case and minimal 2-page booklet consisting of two small band photo collages.
Get Queen The Days of Our Lives Here
--- George A. Paul
Artist: Owl CityTitle: Live from Los Angeles
Worth buying: Yes
For fans of: Postal Service, Hellogoodbye, Death Cab for Cutie
Tell Me More: Adam Young - the shy, 25-year-old Minnesota keyboardist who records under the name Owl City - made a couple independent albums in the mid-2000s, before becoming a viral phenomenon and attaining a large MySpace following. His ’09 major label bow Ocean Eyes was a major success, going platinum and spawning the international No. 1 single “Fireflies.” Last year’s follow up All Things Bright and Beautiful featured more of his endearing synth-pop.
Filmed at Club Nokia for that album’s tour, the Live from Los Angeles (Eagle Vision) DVD and Blu-ray includes a 95-minute show that displays why the warm alt-pop sounds garnered so many high school and college enthusiasts. Although Young basically does everything in his home studio, onstage he comes out of his shell. The music is fleshed out live by a full band consisting of two string players and prominent contributions from keyboardist/backing vocalist Breanne Duren.
Standout moments among the 22-track set are Young’s vulnerable vocals on “Angels,” regal cello/violin and percolating synths through “Jan. 28, 1986,” an upbeat and infectious “Deer in the Headlights,” crowd sing-along “Fireflies” and the high-flying “Umbrella Beach” (where Young makes prodigious use of vocoder). Bonus material is 15-minute of behind-the-scenes tour footage and a short Q&A session with fans. In a rare move, Young mixed the concert audio, so it sounds great. Additionally, the show can be downloaded from iTunes.
What about the packaging? The cardboard casing folds out to include a couple concert photos and brief biography.
Get Owl City Live From Los Angeles Here
--- George A. Paul
Artist: AdeleTitle: Live at the Royal Albert Hall
Worth buying: Yes
For fans of: Duffy, Beth Orton, Lisa Stansfield, Etta James
Tell Me More: With the Grammy Awards slated for Feb. 12 and Adele scheduled to make a much heralded live re-emergence at the ceremony following throat surgery (not to mention an expected sweep of several categories), it’s a good time to revisit Adele’s recent Blu-ray and DVD+CD,Live at the Royal Albert Hall (Columbia).
The English retro soul/pop sensation had the biggest album of 2011 in America with “21” (6 million copies and counting). This concert collection topped the Billboard home video chart over the holidays and was the best-selling DVD in four years. Adele’s beautifully shot, 102-minute concert at the prestigious London venue includes 17 songs geared heavily toward “21” selections.
Performing with a full band in various configurations, the robust singer is quite jovial between selections (note to parents of young children: plenty of swearing ensues) and talks to the crowd like they’re right in her living room while she’s seated and sipping tea. It proves quite a contrast to the heart-wrenching lyrics about broken relationships. In addition to belting out her own soulful “Rolling in the Deep,” “Rumour Has It,” “Chasing Pavements” and “Someone Like You,” Adele ably tackles covers of Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” obscure Nashville folk band The Steel Drivers’ “If It Hadn’t Been For Love,” Dylan’s “Make You Feel My Love” and smolders during an elegant version of The Cure’s “Lovesong.” An eight-minute bonus segment, “You, Me and Albert,” has interviews with Adele and her fans.
Get Adele Live At The Royal Albert Hall Here
--- George A. Paul
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