Friday, December 30, 2005
KISS: ROCK THE NATION LIVE! on DVD
Before you say it, ok I will...ho-hum...let me clue you in. For those in the USA, Paul Stanley does a very patriotic monologue before "God Gave Rock and Roll to You," and it is compelling. It put the entire decadence, all the whiz-bang, all the make-up, and even self-aggrandizing, in perspective. I hope you get a chance to see this DVD (borrow it, the 2 remaining original KISS-ers don't need the cash), and you will be struck, as I was.
It's a 2 DVD set, which is entirely unnecessary, unless you like the "powervision" feature. I thought this feature, which allows you to focus on just one of the 4 band members (and THEIR memebers? ... sorry could not resist), during any of 7 songs, was dumpy... Nobody needs to see THAT much of Gene's tongue (as waggy as ever).
I'm not in the loop for much of what KISS has been up to the last decade, but bought this since it had been so long since I saw a KISS show. Glad I did. They cloned one show of only 2 performances, seamlessly, and it's great. Yup, all the excess is there, but there is also a featurette of 2 songs from a small theater show or 2 they did just to prove they didn't "need" the pyro.
I prefer it with the pyro!
Also, I know now the "Spaceman" lead guitar is being played by Tommy Thayer, and he's a step up from good old Ace. In fact Thayer is the executive producer of the DVD set (check the final credits). No wonder why; it's a quality production.
The (relatively) new drummer is Eric Singer, so there is no "Beth" ... but Eric can indeed sing. I remarked to a pro-musician friend that the harmonies on "Christine Sixteen" and other tunes rival the live version of Crosby Stills and Nash (note I mean live harmony vrs live harmony). That's not easy in a megavolume concert, with all the technical stuff overwhelming the show.
And yes, the show ends in an orgy of confetti and explosions, and then an orgasm of smoke (which makes all but Paul Stanley invisble...yes Simmons' tongue did hide for a moment), and then more pyro...but it's a great exhibition of a great excess.
Rock on, fellows...I will hold you to your promise to be there for the kids of the Kiss Army!
Bottom Line: 4.5/5 stars
Zeph, out
Oh, wait just a second...
A BIG PS:
HAPPY NEW YEAR PEOPLE!
Here are my resolutions for you...
I resolve to continue waiting for a legitimate DVD of CSNY (or any permutation thereof), ideally of the Y2K tour, as long as it takes. And I'll wait even longer for any new CSN or CSNY music on CD; it will be worth it.
I resolve to continue actually buying my music CDs and DVDs with my own money, and writing about them, gratis, on my blog, for anyone who wants to read a non-magazine review by a normal person with a job...sort of.
Long may you ROCK!
Zeph, out
Before you say it, ok I will...ho-hum...let me clue you in. For those in the USA, Paul Stanley does a very patriotic monologue before "God Gave Rock and Roll to You," and it is compelling. It put the entire decadence, all the whiz-bang, all the make-up, and even self-aggrandizing, in perspective. I hope you get a chance to see this DVD (borrow it, the 2 remaining original KISS-ers don't need the cash), and you will be struck, as I was.
It's a 2 DVD set, which is entirely unnecessary, unless you like the "powervision" feature. I thought this feature, which allows you to focus on just one of the 4 band members (and THEIR memebers? ... sorry could not resist), during any of 7 songs, was dumpy... Nobody needs to see THAT much of Gene's tongue (as waggy as ever).
I'm not in the loop for much of what KISS has been up to the last decade, but bought this since it had been so long since I saw a KISS show. Glad I did. They cloned one show of only 2 performances, seamlessly, and it's great. Yup, all the excess is there, but there is also a featurette of 2 songs from a small theater show or 2 they did just to prove they didn't "need" the pyro.
I prefer it with the pyro!
Also, I know now the "Spaceman" lead guitar is being played by Tommy Thayer, and he's a step up from good old Ace. In fact Thayer is the executive producer of the DVD set (check the final credits). No wonder why; it's a quality production.
The (relatively) new drummer is Eric Singer, so there is no "Beth" ... but Eric can indeed sing. I remarked to a pro-musician friend that the harmonies on "Christine Sixteen" and other tunes rival the live version of Crosby Stills and Nash (note I mean live harmony vrs live harmony). That's not easy in a megavolume concert, with all the technical stuff overwhelming the show.
And yes, the show ends in an orgy of confetti and explosions, and then an orgasm of smoke (which makes all but Paul Stanley invisble...yes Simmons' tongue did hide for a moment), and then more pyro...but it's a great exhibition of a great excess.
Rock on, fellows...I will hold you to your promise to be there for the kids of the Kiss Army!
Bottom Line: 4.5/5 stars
Zeph, out
Oh, wait just a second...
A BIG PS:
HAPPY NEW YEAR PEOPLE!
Here are my resolutions for you...
I resolve to continue waiting for a legitimate DVD of CSNY (or any permutation thereof), ideally of the Y2K tour, as long as it takes. And I'll wait even longer for any new CSN or CSNY music on CD; it will be worth it.
I resolve to continue actually buying my music CDs and DVDs with my own money, and writing about them, gratis, on my blog, for anyone who wants to read a non-magazine review by a normal person with a job...sort of.
Long may you ROCK!
Zeph, out
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
NEIL YOUNG in ESQUIRE
Check out page 89 of the January 2006 issue of the print version of ESQUIRE magazine in the USA.
Neil Young gives many words of wisdom, and mentions how he had a rare complication sometime after he underwent brain aneurysm surgery, and needed a quick ambulance ride to the hospital.
Howard Stern is on the cover of this issue. It is a particularly good issue overall, so worth the money even if you are only interested in the one page of Neil's musings.
Merry Christmas people!
Zeph, out
Check out page 89 of the January 2006 issue of the print version of ESQUIRE magazine in the USA.
Neil Young gives many words of wisdom, and mentions how he had a rare complication sometime after he underwent brain aneurysm surgery, and needed a quick ambulance ride to the hospital.
Howard Stern is on the cover of this issue. It is a particularly good issue overall, so worth the money even if you are only interested in the one page of Neil's musings.
Merry Christmas people!
Zeph, out
Sunday, December 11, 2005
DAVID CROSBY gives a great quote!
"It can't happen here' is No. 1 on the list of famous last words."
Found in THE WEEK (25 November 2005), as quoted in the Associated Press.
Rock on Croz!
Zeph, out
"It can't happen here' is No. 1 on the list of famous last words."
Found in THE WEEK (25 November 2005), as quoted in the Associated Press.
Rock on Croz!
Zeph, out
Saturday, December 10, 2005
THE WHO Vrs. SANTANA on DVD ... just in time for Christmas!
The Who “Tommy and Quadrophenia Live” with special guests is so so so much more than that. It’s a lovely and compelling tour of some of the best performances on tape of the (at the time) three remaining members of the Who, plus a whole host of special guests including Steve Winwood among others. And you get a third disc of “greatest hits” done live at various venues. You have loads of backstage and interview material to persue, and you can indeed enjoy this on your tiny TV or you jumbo home theatre with 90 extra speakers. If you like the Who’s music, you must get this set and even for a fair-weather-fan, it’s a set to cherish. Bottom line: 5/5 stars; wish I could give it more.
Santana “Live By Request” is a whole ‘nother story…the songs, all hits more or less and from a 2002 A&E TV performance I gather are good to great. You get the real Rob Thomas and Michelle Branch doing “Smooth” and “The Game of Love” respectively. Thomas comes off much better and less of a “walk-on” singer than Branch. In fact Michelle Branch’s backup/harmony during the wonderful hook in that song, sound a bit flat, and I usually just love her singing.
The Santana production however in as few words as possible, almost sucks. The video opens up with the announcer in mid word saying “welcome Santana.” He must have been saying “will you welcome,” or something similar. Cheesy, at best. Also there is only one audio choice, plain stereo, so sorry you jumbo TV/audio freaks. And you’d think at least Branch and Thomas would be mentioned verbally by the band or announcer…nope…just a quick flash of their names under their faces for a few seconds of each song…more cheese. And the final song, well they show the credits to the video over it…yuk…couldn’t you have waited until the song was over and shown them, even over silence??? Class, yes, all third!
But the stereo sound and the performances are otherwise top notch. This is a short video, hardly (I hope for what tickets cost) a whole show. For 11 songs, however, it rocks with musica latina!
Bottom line: 3/5 stars, and don’t pay much more than $10 U.S. or you will wonder why you did.
Zeph, out
The Who “Tommy and Quadrophenia Live” with special guests is so so so much more than that. It’s a lovely and compelling tour of some of the best performances on tape of the (at the time) three remaining members of the Who, plus a whole host of special guests including Steve Winwood among others. And you get a third disc of “greatest hits” done live at various venues. You have loads of backstage and interview material to persue, and you can indeed enjoy this on your tiny TV or you jumbo home theatre with 90 extra speakers. If you like the Who’s music, you must get this set and even for a fair-weather-fan, it’s a set to cherish. Bottom line: 5/5 stars; wish I could give it more.
Santana “Live By Request” is a whole ‘nother story…the songs, all hits more or less and from a 2002 A&E TV performance I gather are good to great. You get the real Rob Thomas and Michelle Branch doing “Smooth” and “The Game of Love” respectively. Thomas comes off much better and less of a “walk-on” singer than Branch. In fact Michelle Branch’s backup/harmony during the wonderful hook in that song, sound a bit flat, and I usually just love her singing.
The Santana production however in as few words as possible, almost sucks. The video opens up with the announcer in mid word saying “welcome Santana.” He must have been saying “will you welcome,” or something similar. Cheesy, at best. Also there is only one audio choice, plain stereo, so sorry you jumbo TV/audio freaks. And you’d think at least Branch and Thomas would be mentioned verbally by the band or announcer…nope…just a quick flash of their names under their faces for a few seconds of each song…more cheese. And the final song, well they show the credits to the video over it…yuk…couldn’t you have waited until the song was over and shown them, even over silence??? Class, yes, all third!
But the stereo sound and the performances are otherwise top notch. This is a short video, hardly (I hope for what tickets cost) a whole show. For 11 songs, however, it rocks with musica latina!
Bottom line: 3/5 stars, and don’t pay much more than $10 U.S. or you will wonder why you did.
Zeph, out
