U2 Go Home - Live From Slane Castle (Limited Edition Packaging) (2002) Review

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(More customer reviews)The Packaging
The first surprise is that the DVD is available in two different kinds of packaging. One version comes in the usual digipack-cover as we know it from the Boston DVD. Inside you find the booklet in the usual DVD upsize format. The second version, in contrast, comes in a suprising format: its a standard cd jewel case with a booklet in the same format. A pretty unusual format for a DVD and day-to-day customers might easily mix up this version with a normal audio CD.

The Content
The DVD contains the entire slane castle concert from September 1st. 'Mysterious Ways' is not part of the concert, but listed as a 'bonus track'. The reasons for this are still unknown. The concert without Mysterious Ways lasts 1:38h, the bonus track is 6:26 min long. Furthermore the DVD contains a remastered version of the 'Unforgettable Fire' Documentary, which has been available before on the 'The Unforgettable Fire Collection' VHS from 1985. Bonus-Features include the already mentioned Mysterious Ways track, a DVD-ROM section with screensavers, desktop wallpapers, an elevation tour calendar and weblinks, plus - for the the first time ever - the possibility to view 3 songs from the show in a 360° perspective.

The Concert
The most noticeable fact about this concert is the perfect mood the band was in on this evening. What seemed somewhat artificial and nervous in the Boston show, you can see much better here - the band enjoyed playing a second time in front of such a crowd at Slane Castle. Maybe it's the fact that it was not planned to release this concert for sale. Some incidents before the shows made both Slane concerts very emotional. The huge crowd brings a terrific spirit to the homes of all U2 fans, and the interaction with fans is much better here than in Boston.

Between songs Bono tells stories, plays games with fans and makes other kinds of jokes, all this makes the recording and U2 on this evening so likable. We pass on a song by song review, as we think that each viewer has to make up his own mind about this concert. We just want to point out that U2's mood and musical performance is outstanding. In comparision with all the other live videos this is the one which transports the feeling of a live concert best. All other videos tend to be stiff in some way or too well prepared. U2 at Slane Castle 2001 is the band U2 we want to see, they act with their hearts and have fun.
The Picture
The concert was recorded with many camera perspectives although Ned O'Hanlon said in an @U2.com interview that the expenses on that show were just a small fraction compared to the expenses for recording the Boston show. The spirit of the entire show is captured very well, shots from and of the audience are used very often and reflect its enthusiasm. The video format is 16:9, the pictures are sometimes very coarse, sometimes due to special effects, but this may have to do something with the light conditions during the shooting.
The Sound
This is the first time a U2 DVD is released with DTS sound, in addition to the PCM stereo format and DolbyDigital 5.1. But we think that for a normal user there is no relevant notable difference. Bonos voice is transferred very clearly via the centre speaker. The instruments are mixed to the front speakers, from the rear speakers you can notice quiet echoes, which are sometimes irritating. The audience is well mixed into the rear-speakers. There is no crystal clear mixing as can be found on DVDs like 'Eagles - Hell Freezes Over', where each instrument can be heard on a different channel. But maybe it's not comparable, because the Eagles show was a club-gig especially prepared for this, U2 in Slane was an open-air show which was, at the time of recording, not scheduled for a release.
The Extras
'The Unforgettable Fire' documentary
As mentioned before this is a remastered version of the 'Unforgettable Fire' documentary which follows the recordings of the album of the same name at Slane Castle in 1984. The video format is 4:3 and the documentary is 28 min long. The Documentary also includes the "Pride (In The Name of Love)" video. The picture quality is not the best, it's far away from DVD-quality.
Bonus-Track 'Mysterious Ways'
Once the track list of the DVD became public, many fans were shocked as the same song which was already missing on the Boston DVD was once again cut out. For still unknown reasons the song was taken out of the usual running order of the DVD and instead placed as a bonus track. It is not as was rumoured (and feared) a so called "easter egg", but a normal track which can easily be accessed via the main menu. (Remark: Producer Ned O'Hanlon said in a recent interview that the song just didn`t really fit into the show).
DVD-Rom Bonus Tracks
The most anticipated special, the 360° view of the concert, ends up being a Quicktime video of the three songs Elevation, Beautiful Day and Where The Streets Have No Name. Users have the possibility to spin around 360° degrees in real time at the touch of their mouse. A real high-end-special-feature feeling unfortunately doesn't come across due to the lack of quality which reminds one of a cheap webcam.
The second special feature is the 'Elevation tour diary calendar and clock'.
Furthermore two screensavers in red and blue are available - their style matching the artwork of the DVD. Nice, but not really exciting.
Four desktop motives are available to polish up your Windows system. They are available in 1024x768 and 800x600 resolution.
Finally the obligatory links to U2.com and NGOs that are supported by U2 are featured. Exclusive weblinks are unfortunately missing.
You can read the entire review with screenshots also in english at .....,..

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U2 GO HOME:LIVE FROM SLANE CASTLE - DVD Movie

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Ben Folds Live Review

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(More customer reviews)Besides Nirvana's notorious Unplugged In New York, this is the best live CD I own. After Ben Folds left Ben Folds Five, I don't think there was a lot of faith in him as a solo artist. But after hearing Rockin' The Suburbs and after this recording, I almost enjoy him more on his own. I realize that many people would strongly disagree; and that's understandable. But even if you don't like Ben as a soloist, you'll still be able to appreciate this album.
The CD includes 17 songs. I believe 11 of them are from the Ben Folds Five era. Only four of the songs came from Rockin' The Suburbs. The other two are "Tiny Dancer"; which is a cover of the classic Elton John song, and "Rock This Bxtch"; which is only 1:18 long but the most original, impromptu song to seemingly `spark' from being on stage. Of those four songs from his solo CD, the best are "Fred Jones Part 2" and "Not The Same". "Fred Jones", if you may remember, is a sort-of-sequel to Whatever & Ever Amen song "Cigarette". The song was brilliant when I heard it on the album, but is better here. Cake singer John McCrea appears on both versions, and really adds to its excellence; especially live. The chant of the crowd lets you know when he walks out. It may be my favorite song on this CD. "Not The Same" is a good song, one I've enjoyed more thanks to its appearance on Ben Folds Live. As far as "Zak And Sara" and "The Luckiest", live they're pretty average. "The Luckiest" was better in studio, yet still decent. I don't know much about "One Down" or "Emaline"; but both are good tracks.
As I've hinted to, I cannot say enough good things about "Rock This Bxtch" and "Tiny Dancer". Without those two songs the CD would not have gotten 5 stars. It would've only been four. You have to hear "Rock This Bxtch" to believe it. Although my girlfriend has said time and time again that Ben's piano-driven "Tiny Dancer" is not as good as Elton John's piano-driven original, it's still awesome--and in my opinion, much better than the first patented version.
As you look at the 11 songs from the Ben Folds Five generation, you'll find some of their unprecedented greats as well as some of their more underrated songs. Fittingly, the CD starts with "One Angry Dwarf And 200 Solemn Faces", one of their all-time classics. "Best Imitation Of Myself", "The Last Polka", and "Philosophy" are three of, if not THE best off their infamous self-titled debut. "Philosophy" is particularly good, as Ben dubs it `(inc misirlou)' in good fun. Along with Whatever & Ever Amen's "One Angry Dwarf...", Ben Folds Live embraces "Brick". What makes it so special live (here), is that Ben comments on what the song is actually about (at the very end of "Fred Jones Part 2"). Which, if you didn't know, is an abortion he and his girlfriend had once suffered through while their parents were out of town. If you were unaware of this fact; and you like "Brick", you'll soon love it even more. From The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner you'll hear "Jane", "Narcolepsy" and "Army"--my personal favorite Ben Folds/Five song. Ben ends "Army" by rewriting his original lyrics to read: 'I thought about... your mommy', instead of '...the army'. Funny, nonetheless.
All things considered, Ben Folds Live is a remarkable live CD. Whether you liked Ben Folds as a member of his three-member group or prefer him solo, you will find yourself enjoying this album thoroughly. However, if you liked one BBF record more than the rest or only know the widely held "Brick", you'll be a bit lost within the music. And although most of the songs are copyrighted to Ben Folds Five, all the songs were recorded solo (except "Fred Jones Part 2" of course). Ben Folds is one of those rare, comical geniuses in a music world filled with flaunty pop singers and endless nameless rap artists. Yet he falls victim to those same persons' fashions and styles. Sadly, I missed a chance to see Ben Folds with his piano at Summerfest (in Milwaukee) this past summer, and it`s the one thing I deeply regret about my life. Honestly. This CD will never be able to make up for that. Yet every song on this CD is excellent. Buy Ben Folds' Ben Folds Live and I assure you it will rank among your favorite Ben Folds/Five and live albums ever; as it will be playing in your CD player over and over again.

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If you drew a straight line from Randy Newman through Todd Rundgren it would probably hit Ben Folds right in the middle of his irony-laced, pop-loving heart. Folds, the singer/songwriter/keyboard whiz behind the Ben Folds Five (a trio, natch) is on his own these days, selling out venues from Memphis to St. Joe, wherever the four winds blow. And here's smoking-gun evidence: a career-spanning, 17-track live smorgasbord, groaning with Five classics, solo gems and startling covers -- all on high-definition vinyl to catch every sparkling nuance from this crafty North Carolinian. It's Ben Folds, the way he goes down best -- LIVE!--This text refers to the Vinyl edition.

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Tell All Your Friends Review

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(More customer reviews)I was very impressed when I heard this CD in a friend's car, so I went out and bought it!
I was not disappointed in the least.
This really does satisfy my punk/emo needs. Full of emotion, young adult problems, they really do make it bleed realistically.
Favorite tracks, "Cute without the "E"!
*grins*
Go out and buy some good music, but I can't guarantee you'll like it, because this stuff IS a bit different. Loud, and a bit confusing. But emotional and at times, eye opening.
A favorite lyric from this album "...and you can slit my throat, and with my last gasping breath, I'll apologize for bleeding on your shirt."
Stuff like that is just like...WOW.....

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Taking Back Sunday draws forth images of what would be born of a marriage between Thursday and Saves The Day. The songs feature passionate,heartfelt lyrics that any listener easily identifies with. In December 2001,Victory Records signed Taking Back Sunday and put them in the skillful hands of producer Sal Villanueva and engineer Tim Gilles (Thursday's 'Full Collapse'). The result is a beautiful blend of passion, emotion and sincerity that is unrivaled in the budding emo-rock scene today. "Tell All Your Friends" is truly destined to be one of the breakout albums of 2002.

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Up Review

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(More customer reviews)It's clear that sales of Shania Twain's 2002 "Up!" will not exceed the figures of the 1990's best-selling album -- her previous offering "Come On Over" sold 33 million copies worldwide. One of the reasons is that we have entered the age of internet, cd-burners and pirate copies.
Musically, though, "Up!" is at least "up" to par with "Come On Over" and "The Woman In Me", if not better. The superstar has released a double album, on the two discs of which are the same 19 songs, but in different arrangements -- one of them has been inspired by various influences of world music.
Shania and her husband/producer Mutt Lange wrote and produced a collection of 19 brand new songs so catchy and "singable" that it is almost incredible nowadays -- in the era of recycled pop music.
Lyrics often contain sweet nothings but sometimes touch on weightier matters, "Ka-ching!" pointedly hits off the current consuming society, and "She's Not Just A Pretty Face" updates 'girl-power' theme. Romance dominates the lyrics, though.
Unlike on "The Woman In Me", where uptempo songs and ballads were represented equally, "Up!" follows the formula of "Come On Over", built on faster songs. Yet, when Shania ventures into ballad territory ("It Only Hurts When I'm Breathing", "When You Kiss Me"), she sounds at once vulnerable and irresistible. Jealousy ("Waiter! Bring Me Water!") and self-confidence ("In My Car") also suit her fine. Among the cream of the crop is also "Forever And For Always", "Nah!" and "C'est la vie".
The album contains so many crisp melodies that it's almost impossible to swallow them all at once and only after several listens you'll be able to relish them completely. A guarantee: if you own this album, whether at home or 'in your car', "Up!" is on the way to become one of your favourites. This is great pop music.

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Japanese Version featuring a Bonus CD with Remix Version of the Album Tracks.--This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

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