|
|
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not like being there...., January 10, 2002
No, this DVD is not like being there. I say this because it's physically impossible to sit in the dead center of an arena to get perfect sound and walk around on stage getting the fantastic filming shots this achieves at the same time.What a spectacular DVD: in short, this is the best concert DVD I own. I was slightly disappointed with the somewhat muddy sound quality of the "In the Flesh" audio CD release, but this one blows all of that away. The Dolby digital is great, reproducing as well as can be expected the complexities that went into the sound production of each live show. For instance, during the keyboard/synth solo of the glorious 17-minute performance of "Dogs," the dog barking effects are coming from all different directions. It's as if you're in section 5, dead-center of the floor, with the house sound system coming at you in all directions. Jon Carin's masterful work on keyboards and synth swirl it all into a psychadelic masterpiece. Meanwhile, at stage-center, Roger and his three guitarists (Andy Fairweather-Low, Doyle Bramhall II, and Snowy White) play a game of cards, all of which you can witness from an up-close perspective - so much so that you can hear them ribbing each other. That incredible sound quality I mentioned hits you right from the opening number, "In the Flesh," impeccably reproduced here to mimic the effect those opening chords had on you as you sat in anticipation to Graham Broad's drum cadence, Roger looming in the darkness on the catwalk behind him. It'll have you in awe throughout the performance, from the beautiful voice of Katie Kissoon during "Mother" to the overwhelming arena sing-along of "Perfect Sense Part Two." If that one doesn't give you shivers down the spine, nothing will. Roger pleads with the audience as he marches across the stage, arms out wide, "Can't you see, it all makes perfect sense, expressed in dollars and cents, pounds, shillings, and pence?" To answer any questions you might have about the filming, I couldn't imagine a better job. There aren't too many shots from the crowd's vantage point, there aren't so many close-ups that you forget it's a live performance, there aren't just two or three camera angles as there seem to be in Neil Young's "Red Rocks" disc, there isn't any of the quick-cut editing you'll see in Cream's Farewell Concert. This is a beautiful production that matches up with the music very, very, very well. Cameras sway in between them at the right times, give you enough of an audience perspective to take it all in, and blend mixed shots and fades flawlessly. It's perfect! Now for less technical thoughts: *any* Pink Floyd fan from the curious newbie to the fanatical completist will enjoy this disc. Roger's vocals aren't what they were in 1977, but they're much stronger here than they sounded in 1992's "Amused to Death" album. What you get is an intensely moving sequence of his works from 1968 (Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun, complete with an all-out psychadelic guitar attack courtesy of Mr. Snowy White), through the highlights of Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, and of course, The Wall. Roger's solo material isn't covered in a lot of depth (there is one track from 1984's Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking, none from 1987's Radio KAOS), but what's there is superb. The tracks from Amused to Death have never sounded so fresh, so vital, and oh so good. The title track of that album comes alive here, evidenced by the grin shared between White and Bramhall as they begin the wave of guitars that close out the latter half of the song. Roger's new tune, "Each Small Candle," provides much hope for his next album, which will probably come out in less than 20 years. Those who worry they'll miss David Gilmour will grow to appreciate both the new touch Doyle puts on Gilmour's guitar licks (he hits all the right notes and then some, and his interpretation of the solo in Time makes me want to listen to nothing but this version) as well as his bluesy, silk-voiced vocals. And what's to be said of Snowy White, who does a marvelous job throughout the disc of covering many of the tracks he played with the Floyd in 1977 and 1980, including "Shine On You Crazy Diamond," "Another Brick in the Wall Part 2," and a virtuoso duel on the aforementioned "Dogs" and the show's closer, "Comfortably Numb," which ends with the young gun and the seasoned veteran transcending generations to battle each other and share a few smiles of respect on the catwalk as everyone else looks on. Andy Fairweather-Low is a genius out of the limelight, substituting in on bass for Roger at certain times and nailing the rhythm guitar job. His lead highlight comes during the three-pronged guitar attack in "Money." A look at the faces of Jon Carin, who sits back, folds his hands together and watches with a big smile; and the rest of the bandmembers says enough. I'm rambling too much - now for a quick word on the extras. The lyrics are a nice touch for new fans but for those of us who've known all the words for years, they can be turned off. The still images are all quite nice for the occasional glance, but won't be something I return to as much as I do the rehearsal footage. Now, this isn't the half hour it promises (more like 18 minutes), but what you get is an insightful view from within the band. You share the stage with them as they get their act together in a high school auditorium in New York. You're in the dressing room with them before the show, as Andy defiantly proclaims that he won't go on without socks, Roger sarcastically compliments him on his suit while strumming an old 40s-ish tune, Graham Broad amazes us with his juggling and scooter talents, and Doyle does his best Elvis imitation while wife and backup vocalist Susannah Melvoin tells him he's got "a wig thing going on." Priceless. BUY IT!!!!!!
|
Interact With Your Music: Discover, listen to, and buy new music, all from the pages of SPIN's digital edition, free to Amazon customers.
DVD ~ David Gilmour
DVD ~ Michael Kamen
DVD ~ David Gilmour
DVD ~ Bob Geldof
