DVD Roundup: U2, Queen, Owl City, Adele

Artist: U2

Title: 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 20^th Anniversary of Achtung.

Get U2 from the Sky down here

--- George A. Paul

Artist: Queen

Title: Days of our Lives

Worth buying: Yes

For fans of: Mott the Hoople, Aerosmith, Styx

Tell Me More: Last year marked the 40^th 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 City

Title: 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: Adele

Title: 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

Jet - Shaka Rock Music Worth Buying 09/17/09

Album: Shaka Rock

Artist: Jet

Worth buying: Every track rocks

You will be interested in this album if you a fan of:  Jet, U2 at their more rocking, Classic rock, and rock that is fun to listen to.

Tell Me More: When their first album “Get Born” was released, everyone was pretty excited about it. Everyone but me that is……A friend told me that I had to listen to the album and I did (several times as is my custom)…….But I just didn’t get it.  I didn’t think they where bad mind you. I just wasn’t getting excited like everyone else was….But I let the songs sit in my ipod….and they started to creep into random rotation…..then a year later, I suddenly got it.

The lesson being that sometimes new music can hit you one way at one point in your life and then suddenly hit you differently at another point in your life. Never assume because you didn’t get into it now, that you won’t get into it later.

This brings us to Jet’s latest album Shaka Rock. I enjoyed every track on this CD. The opening track K.I.A (Killed in Action) opens with the band seeming to channel U2 as Nic Cester sings: I live in the middle of a combat zone. / And I’m too scared to pick up the phone. And while there is a strong U2 influence on songs like this one and on songs like Hollywood (check out the songs big sky opening chorus with it’s unexpected “Don’t let life kick you down” message  and you’ll see what I mean) this in no way implies that the band doesn’t maintain their own identity and sound (which they do well). If anything I think the band (like all bands worth their salt) has spent a lot of time listening to other stuff and has allowed it to mix and meld into their own groove (and maybe done a little maturing in the process as songwriters).  U2 isn’t the only new influence I hear on this album, She’s A Genius opens with a fun Zeppelin meets the Knack opening guitar line that is fun to listen to. Upon reflection, I think that fun is the operative word here. This is not music that is going to change the world (And I don’t think it was ever intended to be) This is Rock’n’Roll to bounce to while you are driving in the car.  This is fun Rock’n’Roll.  And we could all use a little fun.

What about the packaging: This is the only place where they lose points. Standard Jewel Case, Metallic disc with black printing. There is a three way fold out insert with liner notes on one side and photo of the band on the other. No lyrics. The album still rocks though.

TJR 09/17/09

Listen to samples and buy in mp3 format here

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Fooling Bono

 

 

 

It's been a while since I had a music related dream that featured a famous co-star

I had this dream on monday night on 05/11/09. 

 

I dreamed I was at a party. U2 was there and so was Comedian Robin Williams.

Robin Williams walks up to me and asks me how good my Irish accent is. I tell him I am terrible at it. He says that that is better than him, and he tells me that he wants me to take part in a harmless prank.

He wants me to dress up as Bono (he has an outfit, a hat and some glasses). He tells me that Bono is outside, and he will be walking up to the house and that it will be very dark out (which is why I guess he feels the disguise will work). The joke is that I will go to Bono and tell him that I am Bono from the future. I am going to warn him of the music industries imminent collapse and advise him that the only way to keep his band on the charts is to switch to heavy metal music.

I think it's a good gag too, So I go along with it. Once disguised I go out and confront Bono. Bono smiles in amusement and thinks the gag is pretty funny too.

Suddenly, I am holding a press conference as the fake Bono. I am telling the press about U2's plans to switch to Heavy Metal. The press is totally buying into it.

Bono is there too and he is astounded that none of the press see through my disguise. At one point he asks them "Haven't you noticed how fake is accent is"?

The press is clueless to what he is implying and completely ignores him.

Robert Kinsler’s St. Patrick’s Day Wrap Up

When it comes to modern rock, count me as a true believer in the “Luck of the Irish.” The parade of fantastic Irish artists who have issued groundbreaking and memorable albums over the past couple of months includes U2, Van Morrison, The Saw Doctors, the Young Dubliners and new musical heroes Bell X1.

Here is a rundown of some of my favorite Celtic-styled albums definitely in tune with St. Patrick’s Day, but guaranteed to sound great no matter when you give them a spin.



Although U2 had planned to release its 12th studio album “No Line On The Horizon” (Interscope) in late 2008, a flurry of new songs and other delays pushed the disc’s release back to March 3. No worries, since U2 still issued this epic release before St. Patrick’s Day. From the rocking “Breathe” to the shimmering “Magnificent,” this album reveals more surprises and scope with every listen.

 Get the U2 CD for 9.99 Here

 

Bell X1 is one of the greatest bands to arrive on the modern rock scene in recent memory, as revealed on 2008’s “Flock” and confirmed with the release of “Blue Lights On The Runway” (Yep Roc Records) on March 3. Although the release of Bell X1’s new album came on the same day as its better-known Irish countrymen in U2, “Blue Lights On The Runway” is already generating plenty of well-deserved buzz. From the beautifully experimental “How Your Heart Is Wired” with its cascading finish to the Talking Heads-minded “The Great Defector,” this 10-song album will likely finish in my top 10 list of 2009 albums.

Blues Lights on the Runway CD

MP3 version for 7.99



It’s that good. Van Morrison’s “Astral Weeks: Live At The Hollywood Bowl” (released Feb. 10, 2009 on the EMI-distributed Lion Records) is a lasting reminder of the first-ever complete performance of the Belfast-bred soul singer’s 1968 seminal “Astral Weeks” album. Recorded over two nights at the Hollywood Bowl on Nov. 7 and 8, 2008, the historic shows were staged in connection with the 40th anniversary of Morrison’s gold-certified “Astral Weeks.” At the concerts, Morrison was accompanied by an orchestral string section and a band composed of top-notch players, several of whom played with Morrison on the original “Astral Weeks” sessions in the late 1960s. Released Feb. 3,

Get Astral Weeks Live here



The Young Dubliners’ aptly-titled “Saints and Sinners” (429 Records) is a one of the Los Angeles-based outfit’s best-ever albums. There are rousing pub rockers (“Howaya Girls”), propulsive Celtic punk (“Rosie”) and tender ballads (“In the End”) showcasing singer-songwriter Keith Roberts’ emotive vocals. The Young Dubs are truly one of the best proponents of Celtic rock (a movement that includes Orange County’s own Fenians and American Wake), and the band’s singular sound is showcased across the 12 tracks on “Saints and Sinners.”



Saints and Sinners CD

mp3 version for 7.99



Although The Saw Doctors have scored several well-deserved number one hits in their native Ireland, the Galway rockers have not achieved anything approaching that kind of success on this side of the Atlantic. But make no mistake, the group’s rollicking sound and powerful live shows have made them a favorite among American lovers of Celtic rock. The good news for fans of The Saw Doctors is the group is celebrating the release of St. Patrick’s Day with a tour of the U.S., as well as the release of a new documentary DVD, “Clare Island to Cape Cod: The Saw Doctors in Concert” and its companion live CD, “Live at the Melody Tent” (Shamtown Records). The CD boasts a number of audio tracks from the Steven Lock-directed concert, including The Saw Doctors’ best-known hits (“N17,” “Hay Wrap,” “Green and Red of Mayo”). Raise your glass and drink a pint to 2008 because several Irish CDs were released last year that I didn’t hear until more recently.

Saw Doctors on CD



Fans of traditional Irish music should definitely invest a listen in the self-titled release from The High Kings. Fans of groups such as Solas, The Clancy Brothers and Orange County’s own Gypsy’s Kiss will love “The High Kings” (Manhattan Records), featuring the talents of Finbarr Clancy, Martin Furey, Brian Dunphy and Darren Holden. The album revisits some of the best-known folk and ballads in Irish music, with a tender “The Black Velvet Band,” an a cappella “The Parting Glass,” lively “The Rocky Road to Dublin” and sing-along version of “The Wild Rover” among the standouts on the album. The beauty of the human voice and timeless emotion of classic Celtic songcraft shine on “The High Kings.”

Get the High Kings Here



Limerick-based indie quartet Seneca released a wonderful debut in June 2008, “Sweeter Than Bourbon” and it’s worth seeking out. A blend of modern-styled guitars, haunting melodies and winning songs, “Good For What Ails You” recalls “Final Straw”-era Snow Patrol and the title track mixes up acoustic guitar, fiddle and hushed male vocals in a completely original way sure to please listeners looking for something new. “Smile” is beautiful and dreamy, with Lindsay Buckingham-styled guitar work courtesy of Seneca lead guitarist Brendan O Gorman. The rest of the talented outfit includes Robert Hope (principal songwriter, vocals, guitars, keyboards), Yvonne Conaty (bass, vocals, keyboards) and Daragh O’Loughlin (drums, percussion).

Get Sweeter Than Bourbon on CD Baby 

TJR Reviews U2 No Line On The Horizon Box Set / Music Worth Buying 03/02/09

 

It's all about the packaging. I've always said that that's one of the things that has helped kill the record industry. When we went to CDs we should have never lost the album packaging. All those great gate fold covers, Poster inserts and extras......you can't download that stuff.  Oh well, what's done is done and I guess there is no going back. 

This brings us to U2 who has released their latest album "No Line On The Horizon" in 4 different versions: 

The Standard Jewell Case Edition will include a 24 page booklet along with the CD. 

The Deluxe Digi-Pack edition will include a 32 page booklet, Fold out poster, and the film "Linear" as a digital download. 

The LP version features 2 vinyl discs in a folding sleeve with 16-page over-sized booklet

Then there is the Limited Edition Box Set this features the aforementioned  digi-pack edition minus the download of the movie "Linear" because the movie has been included as a DVD. Also included is an additional poster and a hard cover book.

I will talk about the music later, but this review is about the tactile experience of this limited Box Set Edition......In other words, the packaging.

First of the all this Digi-pack edition bears at least one difference from it's stand alone counter part. It features a cool clear plastic sleeve with a simple opalescent graphic that improves the albums cover art. Speaking of which, let's talk about the cover.

I love U2, but this is the weakest album cover art that they have ever featured. Getting past that, the rest of this digi-pack is a handsome package. It's a 4 way gatefold. The booklet includes lyrics and plenty of images to keep your eyes busy while you listen with headphones.   The insert fold out poster is two sided. It is very nice, but I know that you will never detach it (it is attached with an adheasive) and hang it on your wall. You will keep it in the case and look at it from time to time. One side of the poster features a beautiful full color picture that (in my opinion) would have made a better cover. 

If I had to choose between the standard CD and this version, I would choose the Digi-pack edition. 

The Second (exclusive stand alone) poster is a poster of album cover art, since I didn't care for this cover, you can guess how much I liked this poster. But it is two sided and the other side features U2 in a classic band against the wall picture. 

The hard cover book is quite beautiful. It features exclusive (to this book) one on one interviews with each member of the band. It also features tons of beautifully reproduced high quality photos. Some of which features Bono's hand written lyric sheets. 

The DVD is an original film entitled "Linear" by Anton Corbin (U2's photographer). The DVD liner notes describes the film as a silent movie set to the album's music. The idea was to give listeners some moving visual images while they listen to the album. 

The films story follows a journey of a disillusioned motorcycle officer in Paris France who burn his motorcycle and then starts on a trek across Europe. 

Now what's interesting about this DVD is that this DVD features 11 tracks, just like the CD. BUT - two of the tracks are not on the CD, so you get two bonus U2 tracks on this DVD. 

This film is not going to win any film festival awards (but that's not the intent of course) it's a long form music video and you can play the movies soundtrack or turn the sound down and play your CD version which will feature the songs in a different order (plus the 2 tracks not on the DVD). 

One thing I want to add is how the box is designed. It's brilliant in it's simplicity to the point where you would think that the folks at Apple Computers designed it. When you open the box, & instead of everything being stuffed into at the same level, the box's lower half is layered and compartmentalized so that everything is staggered upwards. This makes it easy to pull out the item that you want to look at. I think that it will also help protect each individual item. 

It is probably the most handsome of any deluxe package that u2 has put out for one of their albums. 

Here is what I don't like about it: I wish they included the downloadable version of the film that came with the stand alone digi-pack edition. It would have been nice to put it on your ipod and would have cost nothing extra since it just means including a little coupon with an access code. 

Whether you choose this version or one of the less expensive version depends on the level of fan you are. What you get that is different from the stand alone digi pack version is the film "Linear" on DVD, an extra poster, the hard cover book, and of course the fancy package.

If you are going to get the this deluxe box set version I would recommend you do it while online resources like Amazon have it for 32 % off. It won't be around forever and it will go up in price once it's sold out and starts popping up on ebay. But like I said, it all depends on the level of fan you are. 

Get the limited edition Box set of no Line On The Horizon here

OK, I need to listen to the album a few times so I can write my review (hey I only just got it today).  But for now read Robert's Review of the album. 

Robert Kinsler reviews U2 No Line On The Horizon / Music Worth Buying 02/03/09

Robert's Kinsler's Reviews U2's No Line On The Horizon

Artist: U2

Album: "No Line On The Horizon"

Worth Buying: Yes

You will be interested in this album if you are a fan of: U2's "All That You Can't Leave Behind" and "Achtung Baby."

Tell Me More: For the U2 faithful who had long hoped for a return of the experimental quest that characterized the band in the early 1990s (think "Achtung Baby" and "Zooropa"), "No Line On The Horizon" marks somewhat of a return to that musical mindset.

Indeed, the hard-rocking muscular approach taken on "All That You Can't Leave Behind" (notably "Beautiful Day" and "Elevation") and, in part, on "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" (that album's first single, "Vertigo," comes to mind) is mostly absent across the more experimental "No Line On The Horizon." Even the initial single, "Get On Your Boots," challenges the listener with its mix of distorted guitar and bass, The Edge's inventive and minimalist lead guitar solo, and edgy overdubs. 

Infectious riffs on the 60s-minded "Stand Up Comedy" and "Breathe" provide some rock 'n' roll red meat for fans, but on tracks such as the cascading "Fez: Being Born" and the sparse "White As Snow" it is the singular style and sound of Ireland's best and best-known musical export that will please fans for the first couple of listens until they are familiar enough with the songs to call them their own.  

However, for lovers of U2's first couple of '00s albums, the beautiful gem "Magnificent" boasts the intoxicating mix of Bono's emotive vocals and The Edge's shimmering guitar layered against the in-the-pocket bass playing of Adam Clayton and drumming of Larry Mullen Jr. 

There is no question that U2 remains the rare veteran rock act that challenges listeners with every new record. "No Line On The Horizon" is an album that will provide new secrets for discerning listeners in the days - and years - ahead.

What about the packaging? "No Line On The Horizon" has been released in a standard format with a 24-page booklet and in digipak format. The digipak includes an extended booklet and the album's companion film "Linear" by Anton Corbijn (As a digital download). I have the standard format and this will please most fans, with the digipak recommended for those who want to get their hands on more.

What if I am not ready to download the whole album? "Magnificent

Moment of Surrender or White As Snow

Listen to samples and buy No Line On The Horizon in MP3 Format

Standard Jewell Case CD Edition

Limited Edition Digi-pack Edition (Includes CD / Booklet / Fold out Poster / and Film download

Music Worth Buying 11/16/08 - Glen Campbell

Guest Writer: Robert Kinsler

Artist: Glen Campbell

Album: Meet Glen Campbell

Worth Buying: Surprisingly yes. 

You might be interested in this album if you are a fan of: Gram Parsons, Neil Diamond, Jerry Reed.

Tell Me More: Meet Glen Campbell is surely one of the more unusual surprises of 2008. In a year that has seen an abundance of strong albums, the latest studio release from singer-guitarist Glen Campbell will immediately draw unfair comparisons with several early-‘00s releases from Johnny Cash that boasted reworked covers of modern day material. Whatever individual listeners think of the overall approach, Campbell has built a long and successful career out of reinterpreting others and it works magically on his latest disc. At 72, the Delight, Arkansas native’s voice and guitar player continue to shine. And the emotive, real world-styled vocals he brought to classics such as “Gentle On My Mind” and “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” is just as pleasing when singing Travis’ “Sing,” U2’s “All I Want Is You” and the Velvet Underground’s “Jesus.” Although it might come as a shock to fans of modern rock, Campbell’s strong vocals bring some added emotional weight to the Foo Fighters’ “Times Like These” that I didn’t hear in the original 2003 recording. It’s no wonder that guests such as Jason Faulkner from Jellyfish and Cheap Trick’s Robin Zander and Rick Nielsen joined Campbell in the studio earlier this year to work on this wonderful project. This is a rare effort that truly juggles traditional country-western and modern folk-rock together perfectly.

This is an album that sounds as stunning listening to it with headphones and eyes closed, or cranking it up while driving on a lonesome freeway 100 miles east of L.A. Great stuff and one of the best albums of 2008.

What about the packaging?  The CD comes in a digipak that includes several new photos and there is a nice color booklet inside that includes lyrics for all the songs

What if I am not ready to buy the whole album: Sing or Times Like These

Sample and purchase in mp3 format

CD Format