Customer Reviews

Pet Shop Boys - Montage (The "Nightlife" Tour)

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Heres' what you don't get with Pet Shop Boys "Montage-The Nightlife Tour": * no preening, posturing, and star tripping * no self promotion of recent album, stage play, back catalog, merchandise or website * no endless, moronic banter between songs * no tubthumbing or strident sexual politicking.
Here's what you do get: * 111 minutes of soaring, melodic pop music, some of the best made in the past 20 years * innovative stage design and overlapping film imagery that enhances each of the 22 songs * engaging lyrics and charming stage persona of Neil Tennant * a "must have" for fans and a fine introduction to the band for anyone else with an ear for pop music. If all you know about PSB is "West End Girls," their only U.S. #1 from 1986, you may be pleasantly surprised.
Sound and video quality themselves are quite good. Videotape does not merit the Explicit Lyrics Advisory that it's tagged with-there's no objectionable language that I could discern.

This DVD is very well put together.
The sound is excellent: there is a surround sound mix included and it is all very clear. The video comprises a montage (hence the name) of the live gigs, webcasts, swirly computer graphics and the projections that were originally displayed in the gig.

For once a pop artist has been innovative in their DVD: if you're a Pet Shop Boys fan then you *must* own this DVD! Very highly recommended.

Pet Shop Boys release their first DVD package, "Nightlife," based on the duo's 1999/2000 tour. I absolutely adore Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, but the concert overall falls a bit short of its previous tour, "Performance." First off, the live recordings of their hits are top-notch. But the visual presentation leaves a lot to be desired. Neil and Chris's stage presence is almost washed out by the dull clips that accompany their performances. I guess this was supposed to enhance the show, but it was actually distracting. On the plus side, the standouts are the live renditions of "Can You Forgive Her?," the acoustic "Was it Worth it?," and the album track "Only the Wind." Also, the DVD has 3 music videos: "I Don't Know What You Want...," "New York City Boy," and "You Only Tell Me..." All of them are very good and, frankly, more interesting than the concert itself. If you watch all three videos consecutively, you'll have access to a fourth, "For Your Own Good." Alas, I'm sorry to report that that clip is a bit of a snooze, so it's hardly worth the effort. (For all you sound geeks, the concert is in 5.1 surround while the music videos are in Stereo).

So, all in all, the package is a mixed bag. The DVD is well-presented; the music videos are nice, but the concert was rather uneven. I'd have first-time viewers search for the hard-to-get video to "Performance," which is the superior concert and better represents PSB's work. Leave this one to the diehard fans like myself.

Stunning, simply breathtaking in every way. Visually very exciting, a real treat for fans like me who can't travel long distances to see shows like this. Musically quite adventurous. Many of the songs are performed using different arrangements than the original versions, so it's not like just sitting down and watching promotional videos. I especially like the acoustic portion, and the performance of Young Offender ( I never liked the version on VERY and never listened to the words, which are incredible, so this version is something of a revelation.) This DVD is in stark contrast to PSB's other concert "Somewhere", so if you're expecting lots of backstage footage and a straightforward visual experience, you won't find it here.

Just finished watching Montage'The Nightlife Tour and it was, Absolutely Fabulous. Exciting, colourful and so enjoyable. All the image overlays do is add to the excitement of what must of been a fabulous tour. Wish I could have seen them but I'm so glad to have this"Montage: The Nightlife Tour" Yes!!!!!!!!!

Being a huge fan of PSP, I recently attended their latest show, "Release". I was disappointed in the show, in that there was no "show", unlike previous tours (the music was still fabulous, as always). Still being on a PSP high though, I bought "Montage", and when viewing it, was reminded of their earlier shows and how I missed that aspect. "Montage" is simply a great PSP concert video, and hopefully not the last of their stage productions. Getting Dolby Digital sound with it on the DVD is a huge plus. I have to say that I enjoyed "Montage" more than the real show I just saw! If you are a PSP fan - get it, crank up the audio, play it on a big screen, and enjoy!

The Pet Shop Boys Montage Tour is a 2001 DVD with live songs played by the group in their 1999/2000 world tour, but almost all songs come from their US and UK venues. The DVD is as good as it could be and portrays the duo from England as one of the most important musicians from Europe.
In fact, both Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, when wigless, look like any chief executive officer from some multinational company; but they are much more than that. They are professional performers who aptly convey to their loyal audience rather simple songs in the very same way they were recorded in the studio, alternating dramatic and profound melodies and lyrics (e.g., "Young Offender"), with joyful ones overflowing with the exhilarating pleasure of living (e.g., "That is the way life is"), and some even which combines joyfulness with seemingly harmless martial overtones (e.g., "Go West").
The backstage projections of slides, and images from films are a show in itself, specially the ones that stupendously backs the song "Young Offender", inquisitive to any one in the audience and at home.
The Pet Shop Boys are backed by the vocals of the so-called "New York City boys", a group of very competent and energetic black singers (and dancers), and by the stunningly beautiful voice of the black female singer Sylvia Hason-James.
The enthusiasm of the whole group radiates to the public and the outcome is sheer ecstasy almost from beginning to end. This DVD is a must both for fans of the band as for any one who, like myself, listened in the radio the songs from the group but never dared to buy anything from them for home audition. I don't feel disappointed in any way. I got what I wanted.
As a minor flip-side, some of the visual effects are sometimes outdated, as if produced some 20 years ago. But in the end, despite not being a fan of the band, I got totally overwhelmed by the sheer intensity and enthusiasm conveyed by the band.

What I like about this concert was that PSB chose to perform many a song on old albums that weren't released as singles. I found myself singing to old jams throughout the performance. This DVD will remind you that PSB has survived the years and developed a large body of work, just like a Madonna or a U2. While their Performance tour of a decade ago is much more elaborate and pleasurable, "Montage" proves that the boys can still put on a good show. This disproves the idea that "electronic bands" are only good in the studio.

I just got this yesterday and it is the finest concert DVD I've seen to date.

For those of you who went to the Nighlife concert a couple of years back, it will bring back lost of great memories. Remember those projections playing as the Boys performed? On most of the songs on this DVD, you actually have a choice of watching either the actual concert footage/projections or just the projected video. It's awesome!

Many of the Boys' hits are included, including an acoustic version of their 1991 single "Was It Worth It?" (my favorite part of this concert).

Quality-wise, you will not be disappointed.... :-)

Wow what a great concert DVD. Those familiar with PSB songs will find little to complain about. Those who love dance music will be entertained as well.

For all those who expected a PSB concert to be a "real-time" jam or something, you will be disappointed. PSB are creatures of the studio, and so their live performances compensate to prevent the danger of a prerecorded feel by exploiting the wonderful live singing of Neil and their sextet of singers. But it also captivates with visual montages (some no doubt tongue-in-cheek cheesy), a more lushly layered mix to familiar songs, and with visual conceptualism overall. But we are treated to a couple of unexpected acoustical jams of familiar songs that fits great as a counterpoint to the rest of the heavily technofied concert. This DVD, I think, does a good job of representing the paradox that is PSB. They sing with emotion and honesty about the most personal things, but they drape it in a "faux-futuristic" spectacle of sometimes android-like delivery. Neil and Chris may look like two unfeeling clones on stage, but the lyrics Neil sings betrays that immediately. The contrast between subject matter and technique is never lost. It's just great.

More extras like interviews or a documentary on the making of such a concert would have earned it another star. But in the end, it's a raucious, beautiful, uplifting aural experience that I would not hesitate recommending.