TLOS DVD

[Andrew G. Doe]

Can't recall if it was here or A. N. other MB, but someone asked who was they guy sitting next to Brian in the control room (who wasn't the engineer): that's Ray Lawlor.

[variable2]

That would be me that asked.. thanks for the info.  I assume he is one of Brian's manager-type-guys?

[Andrew G. Doe]

No, long time friend, and a thoroughly nice guy to boot. Check the credits of recent releases.

[The Shift]

Anyone else have issues with the clarity of the menus on their copy of this release?

Picture quality of the documentary, the extras, and the concert is great but the menu looks shot.

Mine's a standard European release in a plastic case with no "backstage pass".  Is this what I get for opting for cheap?

[STE]

Same here. Ordered from Amazon.uk and got the plastic case with no backstage pass. Was not any cheap btw...

And yes, I agree that the menu looks somehow muddy or lower resolution.

[Andrew G. Doe]

The UK packaging is, frankly, shoddy.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

How is the DVD? Is it worth a purchase?

[Don't Back Down]

Yes. The sessions are worth the price alone, but they packed the DVD with a lot of goodies. The performance (including the visuals from the show)/Going Home doc./Yahoo! Nissan performance/Brian & Deschannel interview from MySpace Artist on Artist/The commentary videos from Brian's website with Brian and Scott/photo gallery (although not as well put together as on the BWPS DVD). I might be forgetting something, but yes, I think it's worth it. 

[STE]

And the booklet is full of cool photos and informative. 


Oh wait, there's no booklet!

[pixletwin]

Yes. The sessions are worth the price alone, but they packed the DVD with a lot of goodies. The performance (including the visuals from the show)/Going Home doc./Yahoo! Nissan performance/Brian & Deschannel interview from MySpace Artist on Artist/The commentary videos from Brian's website with Brian and Scott/photo gallery (although not as well put together as on the BWPS DVD). I might be forgetting something, but yes, I think it's worth it. 

Thats the word I have been waiting for. Thanks for the insight!

Cheers

[Don't Back Down]

No problem!

[Shady]

I'm still not sure about getting the DVD, I can't imagine finding out anything new, and I'm still angry that once again were denied viewing the real performance like we were with the SMiLE dvd.

[variable2]

I think the documentary and the behind the scenes footage in the studio is all excellent

[the captain]

I think the DVD is worth purchasing, if you're a fan (which presumably people here are). It isn't perfect, but not much is.

[shelter]

Excellent DVD. Great live performance, good documentary and a whole lot of extras. It must be pretty close to the maximum playing time for a single DVD, it's really stuffed to the max. And Brian really looks much more relaxed than I've seen him on any other DVD.

[Amy B.]

I watched the documentary last night and was impressed (except the misspelling of Hawthorne). I started watching the behind the scenes stuff, but it's very long (which is good!). Lots of fly on the wall stuff, like you're sitting in the studio watching them record. It shows band members contributing ideas but clearly looking to Brian for his approval/rejection-- and he has definite opinions. ("Which chord is better here, Brian?" "Should I play it this way or this way, Brian?") If he had his ups and downs, there were certainly a lot of ups during the making of this. I recommend it.

[Bicyclerider]

What about the actual concert - is it all quick cuts (and multiple edits of different performances) the way the Smile DVD was?  I can't even watch that, it's so forced and unnatural, every few seconds cutting to Brian's fake smile.  Just set up two cameras and shoot a performance of the whole band, with occasional closeups.  Shouldn't the music speak for itself, and not need all that editing/fake smiling and reactions?

[Andrew G. Doe]

What about the actual concert - is it all quick cuts (and multiple edits of different performances) the way the Smile DVD was?  I can't even watch that, it's so forced and unnatural, every few seconds cutting to Brian's fake smile.  Just set up two cameras and shoot a performance of the whole band, with occasional closeups.  Shouldn't the music speak for itself, and not need all that editing/fake smiling and reactions?

The live run-through is comped from the five full performances they did that day... and yes, there are some abrupt cut-aways from Brian, I suspect when they couldn't get the audio to match the visuals (almost all of his vocals on this DVD are post-dubbed, and in some cases double-tracked). It's a good performance from the band.

[Sam_BFC]

The live run-through is comped from the five full performances they did that day... and yes, there are some abrupt cut-aways from Brian, I suspect when they couldn't get the audio to match the visuals (almost all of his vocals on this DVD are post-dubbed, and in some cases double-tracked).

As I posted in another thread, given the fantastic sounding live performance of TLOS that is streaming from the NPR website I find it a slight shame that it was necessary to release such a heavily edited performance on the DVD when Brian has performed the piece so well at actual live shows in theaters.

Comparing to SMiLE, if there were overdubs on that DVD I find these far less obvious with no noticeable audio matching visuals / lip sync. issues that occus in TLOS.

I do however enjoy both DVDs very much.

[Amy B.]

What about the actual concert - is it all quick cuts (and multiple edits of different performances) the way the Smile DVD was?  I can't even watch that, it's so forced and unnatural, every few seconds cutting to Brian's fake smile.  Just set up two cameras and shoot a performance of the whole band, with occasional closeups.  Shouldn't the music speak for itself, and not need all that editing/fake smiling and reactions?

I haven't watched the actual concert. I agree that it would have been better to just film a real concert, but I think the DVD is worth it anyway. The documentary alone is worth having. Favorite part of the behind the scenes: Jeff is passing around a plate of cookies. Brian takes one, and then the rest of the band take theirs. Scott jokingly says something like, "Everyone take one so Jeff doesn't get one," and Jeff says, "I don't even care." Child-like Brian, with his mouth full of cookie, says, "Jeff, you care." 

[Wirestone]

And you think the NPR performance wasn't post-dubbed and fixed up?

Come on.

[Amy B.]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure nearly every concert DVD or live album is post-dubbed and fixed up, even the ones by the very best live artists-- pop, rock, classical, etc. Gotta expect that. As for the format, I suppose you could look at it this way: It's clearly not a concert, and it's clearly post-dubbed, so it's actually more honest than most. Huh? Maybe?

[the captain]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure nearly every concert DVD or live album is post-dubbed and fixed up...

Yep--and they have been since the dawn of live pop/rock records. Anyone who feels betrayed probably better just get used to it, because that's how it is, was and ever shall be. Every now and again you'll see one that makes a point of saying "No overdubs" or something, but those are the exception rather than the rule.

[JimC1702]

On a John Fogerty "live" DVD, he flubbed a line and said, "Oh that's ok, they'll fix that in the studio."

Jim

[Andrew G. Doe]

One of Queen's live albums - I think the first one - has no overdubs whatsoever.

And it sucks.