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25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Comprehensive Collection--A Real Collector's Item!, March 29, 2004
This review is from: Erasure - Hits! The Videos (DVD)
This outstanding two-disc DVD set released in 2003 is really a must-have for Erasure fans. Disc one contains thirty-five videos presented in chronological order (though one can of course "play all" or pick and choose which videos to watch). It commences with Who Needs Love Like That from 1985's debut album, Wonderland, and includes all twenty videos that were on 1992's Pop! VHS (for those unfamiliar with the VHS, it's the same track listing that's on the Pop! CD). It includes all four videos from Abba-esque and twleve videos from the albums Erasure has done since Pop!. For those interested, the final twelve videos are: Always, Run To The Sun, and I Love Saturday (from I Say I Say I Say); Stay With Me, Fingers & Thumbs, and Rock Me Gently (from Erasure); In My Arms, Don't Say Your Love Is Killing Me, and Rain (from Rain); Freedom (from Loveboat); and Solsbury Hill and Make Me Smile (from Other People's Songs). Disc two is loaded with extra features, and is every bit as enjoyable disc one. There are six promo "documentaries" made at the time of release of six of Erasure's albums. The "documentaries" are actually interviews with Vince Clarke and Andy Bell with clips of videos or live performances interspersed. The oldest interview is from 1991 (ostensibly to promote Chorus and clocking in at 24 minutes), and it is the only one not to include Andy. The next are from 1992 (Pop! at 30 minutes), 1994 (I Say I Say I Say at 26 minutes), 1995 (Erasure at 15 minutes), 1997 (Cowboy at 4 minutes), and 2003 (Hits! at 27 minutes). The 2003 interview is the only one not to include any video/performance clips. In the interviews, Vince and Andy talk about everything from their song writing, to their views on making videos and touring, to how they teamed up, to their personalities and their relationship with each other, and so on. Personally, I really enjoyed the interviews and am grateful to have them on this set. Disc two also includes their debut performance of Sometimes on the UK's Top of the Pops from 1986; two alternate videos (an acoustic version of Solo Luminous, and a US version of In My Arms); a video from 1990 promoting Aids awareness; and live performances of five songs from five tours (Leave me to Bleed from 1987, A Little Respect from 1988, Supernature from 1989, Waiting for the Day from 1992, and Fingers & Thumbs from 1996). I've never seen Erasure live, and so really appreciated the inclusion of a few clips from their live tours. They've obviously put on some spectacular shows, and Andy has some wild costumes (Vince has his moments too!). It's an aspect of Erasure that one really doesn't get to see much of in the videos, and I think a lot of fans (myself included!) would love to see one of their concerts filmed for DVD release. Finally, there are two bonus "hidden" clips on disc two. In the "Interview" section, press the left arrow and one of the background silhouettes becomes highlighted. Click enter and it plays a live performance Wooden Heart (the old Elvis song). In the "Rare Videos" section, press the right arrow and click enter for an alternate version of Oh L'Amour. Lastly, if you press the up arrow (and enter) whilst on the main menu, it plays the standard version of Who Needs Love Like That. In conclusion, I highly, highly recommend this DVD set to anyone who enjoys the gorgeous, feel-good music of this outstanding, enormously talented British pop duo. It's definitely a collection to be watched and rewatched. I hope these guys will continue to make music for a long time yet--and that they will continue to release DVDs of videos, interviews and live performances in the future for those of us in North America who would otherwise never have a chance to see any of this material!
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ultimate Erasure, November 16, 2003
This review is from: Erasure - Hits! The Videos (DVD)
"Hits! The Videos" is the definitive Erasure DVD, giving you music videos and MUCH more. Fans of this synth duo will find lots to enjoy on both these discs. On the first DVD, we get the duo's ENTIRE (and I mean "entire") video history, from their debut "Who Needs Love Like That" right up to 2003's "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)." In all, 35 videos are featured on this disc in 2-channel surround stereo. While they're not big budget extravaganzas, the videos of Erasure are pure exercises in maximum level camp. The one video that had me howling is their cover of ABBA's "Take a Chance on Me" with the duo prancing around in front of the camera in drag. That clip is so flaming, it will melt your screen. Other favorites include "Blue Savannah," "Fingers and Thumbs," and "Love to Hate You." But the real treat for fans is on disc 2, which has live performances, rare videos, and documentaries promoting their last six albums. It's a real treat watching Vince and Andy bring down their guard as they discuss touring, making videos, music, and their songwriting. These clips, ranging from 5 minutes to half an hour, bring additional value to an already great DVD. It would have been nice if these videos were in 5.1 surround sound and had petter picture quality, but "Hits! The Videos" is still a must-buy for any Erasure fan. While "Hits!" the CD was a halfhearted collection that left out many of the duo's singles, "Hits!" the DVD features every video they made right up to 2003's "Other People's Songs." It's the perfect replacement for your worn-out VHS copy of "Pop!"
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
the perfect collection...maybe!, November 11, 2003
This review is from: Erasure - Hits! The Videos (DVD)
If you have the VHS version of POP and watched it as much as I have, you will be relieved to know that the days of "rww" and "ff" are over! All those videos are included on this 2-DVD set. In addition, every video released since has also been included - what at treat! Pop in the 2nd DVD and you will see alternative videos, live performances and interviews, plus every menu will 'somehow' give you access to hidden videos including "oh l'amour" and "who needs love like that (hamburg mix)", play around with your up, down, left and right arrow keys. The collection is missing the newest video released to promote the Hits Collection - "Oh L'amour 2003" which is really nicely done but you can only view it at http://www.erasureinfo.com - their official site. Highlights on this DVD collection: "In My Arms (US Video Version)", "Sono Luminus (Accoustic Version)", "Rock Me Gently" and a very funny "Don't Say Your Love Is Killing Me", plus all the classics "A Little Respect", "Victim of Love", "Chains of Love", Oh L'amour".
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