Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very well-done DVD-A, June 19, 2003
This is the classic Foreigner release that so many of us 30-somethings remember. If you are planning to buy this DVD Audio disk, then chances are good that you listened to the original vinyl release when you were younger. Well, you're in for a treat. This release reveals vocal and instrumental details that you've never heard. Lou Gramm has an excellent voice...I never knew this before listening to the 96-24 version. If you were a fan of the original album, then buy this (After upgrading your system to fully appreciate the DVD Audio experience). This disk has an abundance of extras: You can listen to the disk as Mick Jones and Lou Gramm talk along. They convey their experiences with each song as it plays on your stereo. The best bonus, however, is the four demo versions included:
"Feels Like The First Time," "Woman oh Woman," At War With The World," and "Take Me To Your Leader," are included here. If you buy this DVD-A disk (and you should), do yourself a favor...listen to the demo version of "Feels Like The First Time" before you listen to the regular version of the song. The demo is absolutely horrible! It's fun and interesting to compare the two. My hat is off to Foreigner and the producers for having the guts to release their demos. Many bands will not do this. I did not give this release 5 stars because I reserve such a rating for sensational, life-altering products. This is a very good addition to any DVD-A collection. Highly recommended.
|
|
|
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Sounds Better Than The First Time !!!, May 2, 2001
I didn't expect much from the two music videos and I wasn't disappointed. The videos are almost 25 years old and look it. The film stock had obviously deteriorated over the years and the video production techniques pre-date MTV. So there wasn't much imagination having the band setup their equipment in front of a railroad car and lip-synching to "Feels Like The First Time" and "Cold As Ice." As for the demos, they pale in comparison to the originals. But there are some nice touches. For example, the sound of marching soldiers at the end of "At War With The World." A nice sound effect that makes you wish they had utilized it for the original. The previously-unreleased "Take Me To Your Leader" is a pleasant surprise. Probably the best of the demos. A nice, raucous, raunchy tune that reminded me of "Lovemaker," from their live CD. But the best was yet to come. After I heard the entire album, I was just awed and floored by the sound quality of the new mixes. It was like listening to the album for the first time. I assume either the songs were new mixes or the improved sound quality allowed the listener to hear things they were unable to hear before. Subsequent listenings made me very nostalgic for those early years of Foreigner and what GREAT music Mick Jones and Ian McDonald made together. I wish the two would just bury the hatchet, get over their clashing egos/lingering bitterness, and reunite for the music. With Lou Gramm as intermediary and referee, of course. Can't wait for the DVD-Audio of the "Double Vision" album. Hopefully, that will be the next planned Foreigner release by Rhino Records.
|
|
|
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Greatness of debut album made clear on DVD-Audio version, December 2, 2005
On my two channel (stereo) system the default high-resolution surround tracks of Rhino's remastered DVD-Audio of Foreigner's debut album have disappointing sound. But the also included high-resolution stereo version of the same tracks sound excellent. The lesson seems to be that, when playing DVD-Audio discs which often have multiple different versions of the same tracks, trying different versions may yield distinctly better sound on your particular system.
Most DVD-Audio discs include Dolby Digital (AC-3) tracks which are quite compressed and often don't offer the best sound. Dolby Digital versions of the tracks included for backwards compatiblity with ordinary DVD-Video players. But the reason for being of DVD-Audio are the Advanced Resolution tracks, included either in surround, stereo or both. As the name suggests, the Advanced Resolution tracks have the most resolution so they should sound best. If you have a surround system, try that version of the Advanced Resolution tracks, but be aware that you may need to configure your DVD-Audio player to match your particular surround setup (e.g., 5.1, 4, 4.1, 6.1 channel, etc.). The Stereo version should work well on any system, but of course won't have the ambience of the surround tracks.
On to the music, this album and it's songs are mostly very well-known, but Rhino Record's DVD-Audio version definitely adds interest via some added tracks, new versions, and most importantly excellent sound. The remastering job is excellent and I must agree with other reviewers that it reveals some outstanding musicianship. Vocals and playing are much better than I expected. Some of that quality, apparently lost in earlier lower-resolution versions, has been rediscovered. Harmonies and fine details of instrumentals are faithfully and very clearly rendered, perhaps for the first time publically outside of the original sessions. The results are outstanding and better than I expected.
Musically Foreigner forged a unique niche, melding straight ahead rock, some progressive, with tinges of R&B, gospel, folk, and a bit of synth pop and space. As others have noted, this is an amazing debut album, and its artistic and performance value is made much more apparent in this fine DVD-Audio version. This is a significant, beautiful and painstakingly crafted rock album, and the DVD-Audio version really lets it shine through in a new way.
I greatly look forward to checking out Rhino's DVD-Audio of Foreigner 4 too.
|
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
is Foreigner's 
