Customer Reviews

Then and Now: Making of Pull and Winger IV

5 star:		(3)
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Winger was one of the most musically-underrated groups of the late '80s and early '90s. Former Alice Cooper bassist Kip Winger on lead vocals and bass. Reb Beach, one of the best rock guitar virtuosos out there on lead (in addition to Winger, Reb Beach is currently touring with Whitesnake after a long stint with Dokken and a tour with Night Ranger). Rod Morgenstein of the Dixie Dregs on drums. And, former Alice Cooper guitar/keyboardist Paul Taylor.

While their more commercial releases were on heavy rotation on MTV - "Miles Away", "Can't Get Enough","Seventeen", "Madelaine", "Headed For A Heartbreak", "Hungry", etc. - more progressive cuts like "Rainbow In The Rose" and "In The Heart of The Young" featured incredible arrangements and further showcased the group's musicianship. Their career was tainted by - of all things - Beavis & Butthead. When a nerdy character began to appear on the show regularly wearing a "Winger" T-shirt, it negatively affected the band's image with the fickle MTV audience. Granted, some of Kip's ballet-style stage moves and teen magazine photo sessions gave extra ammo to the group's haters, but hey, at least Kip Winger never did 'Rock of Love'. Regardless, the group's music, videos and live shows were exceptional. Then MTV destroyed itself, turning on a dime to no longer air videos by bands like Winger, Bon Jovi and Def Leppard, instead changing all its programming to rap and whiny, depressed grunge bands.

This has always been one of my favorite bands, and I've always enjoyed the interraction between Kip and Reb. Their interviews together are always fun, and they seem to be two talented guys who greatly respect each other's musical ablities, work well together creatively, and seem to genuinely have a good time creating Winger music together. This DVD chronicles the making of "Pull" (the group's third album, recorded during the group's heyday in the early '90s), as well as the recording of "Winger IV" in recent years (featuring one of the best Winger songs of all time, "Your Great Escape"). It's a very funny, enjoyable DVD, but also great on a documentary level, allowing viewers into the entire creative process for both albums, and allowing you to contrast the group then and now. Unlike the recently-released "Anvil" documentary, which is centered around the failings of an aging band from the era, ala Spinal Tap, Winger is still touring and recording, the members of the band are still making their livings in music, and are still having a good time doing it.

I highly recommend it. If you weren't a Winger fan before this DVD, you probably will be after viewing it.

I'll begin by stating that this is a definite five-star purchase and a disk you'll continue to play in order to enjoy time and again. And now, for the well-deserved praise and necessary censure - starting with the latter:

Do not be deceived or otherwise misled by the title of Program I - this program is anything but the "making of Pull" - It's better described as simply a collection of footage from what appears to be (one) band practice, sound check, a portion of a live show, and four (professionally recorded and edited) music videos: Down Incognito, In My Veins, Spell I'm Under, and Who's the One.

The concert footage, sound check, and practice look to be to shot in the video format of high-8 (it is, after all, 1993!) - Subsequently, the audio track and visuals reflect this - so, do not expect much in the way of quality footage in Part I.

Note: This is not to indicate that the footage is not interesting and enjoyable to watch, for it is! And seeing the music videos again, is a real treat for Winger fans who remember their videos from MTV. I just want to be clear for the perspective buyer, and to reiterate, program I is not the "making" of the album Pull as advertised.

However, Program II, The Making of Winger IV is just that, and a whole lot more! For me, the footage in this program surpasses the type of clips included on such behind-the-scenes documentaries that we're all familiar with ("Behind the Music" and the "Classic Album" series). Because as opposed to the narration and the interviews, reflecting on the processes of recording, being brought together through the process of editing, the spectator is literally thrust directly into the context of the creative process itself as it happens in both "real-time" and "reel-time," i. e., we get to experience the song writing of Winger and Beach as it unfolds...it's a highly personalized experience.

These segments, especially the ones filmed in what looks like Winger's house, or least his personal studio (where Winger and Beach are seated in front of the computer recording), will silence any critics disputing the musical talent (I'll refrain from using `genius,' here) of Winger. The complexity of the album's compositions is evident as we watch the musicians constructing the songs (under Winger's meticulous direction). I especially liked the acoustic version of Blue Suede Shoes, where we see Winger penning some nice, melodic cello lines on staff paper for a studio musician who accompanies Winger as he plays the guitar - this segment is done up artfully through the deft use of the slip-screen - really nice!

In truth, those owning Winger IV might testify that what's being recorded is more likely the songs in the final stages of their completion - tightening up areas, searching out of alternative chords, riffs, to aptly compete the sound - and I agree with that assessment. But there are legitimate moments herein when creative magic occurs. For example, when the chord changes - riff - that bridges the songs Your Great Escape and Disappear are composed literally before our eyes, is quite a sublime moment - we step back and say, "Damn, so that's how that `riff' happened!"

The second program along with the videos in Program I make this a must-have purchase for Winger fans. I have been critical of Winger in the past for releasing certain albums that I deemed "superfluous," in that they were redundant, and not essential to the so-called Winger catalog (or, at least the catalog that I envision). As stated above, I have high praise for this video and the two albums whose music comprises the content of this DVD.

Buy it, own it, and watch it often - musicians will eat this up. This disk will inspire the flow of any songwriter's creative juices. I guarantee it!

I love how this video shows pretty much step by step of "the recording a new album" process. They all seem so close and tight like family, and this video shows just how well they all work well together. And play well, shown by the funnier moments that you will see in this video. Some joking around,and some more serious moments, all go hand in hand in this video. A must see for any Winger fan.