Hard Vision |
November / December 2007Keith Richards | Cro-Mags | U2 | Phil Varone | Onslaught | Darzamat | DOA | Music with Impact Keith Richards "(Keith Richards was) the first pirate captain of rock...a robber, a bandit, a Robin Hood figure...the last standing such figure of a world that at this point has all but disappeared". Is there a better way to describe Keith Richards? I think not. He was one of the first true "bad boys" of rock music (if not the first), and helped shape rock music as we know it today with his very unique, innovative style of guitar playing and musical attitude. His life, his music, and his legacy are profiled in this two hour long documentary. Writers, musicians (including some ex-Stones), and other industry professionals all talk about all things Keith Richards. There's plenty of wild stories, and also many rare photos and clips of concert and interview footage. They dug deep into the archives for some of this stuff. How Keith created his guitar style is one of the main things focused upon. Keith loved both blues and rock and roll, and fused these styles together to create his own sound, which became a trademark for the Stones, and a blueprint for future generations of rock guitarists, right to this day. Keith's roots are deeply explored, and his guitar techniques are demonstrated by guitar coach Wolf Marshall. The famous riffs Keith created (ie "Satisfaction", "Brown Sugar", "Jumping Jack Flash", "Tumbling Dice", etc.) are discussed in detail. Keith's guitar style was revolutionary, and took rock music in a whole new direction. The people featured in this docmentary all comment on the creation of Keith's style, how it progressed over the years, the rise of the Stones' popularity and their importance to rock music. This, as well as the life and times of Keith and his realtionship with Mick Jagger, which certainly had its ups and downs. There were times when Mick was more interested in other things besides the band, and this would certainly affect his relationship with Keith, not to mention the Stones and their music. This DVD is a very fascinating introspective/retrospective look at the life, times, and music of Keith Richards. He is one of the founding fathers of rock music has not only made some of the genre's greatest music, but has helped make it what it is today. He is still with us today and is still making music so his legacy is not over yet. Cro-Mags Okay, well, this release was kind of painful to watch. The sound quality wasn't exactly the best and the camera work could've been a lot better. Well, maybe that's not fair to say because it was actually the lighting that really bothered me. One minute you could get a good look at the band and the next minute, you could hardly see anything. Might have been cool if you were at the show. But, it didn't seem to work too well on film. However, the one thing that this release did capture was the high energy performance of the band and the wild and crazy audience that was lovin' every minute of it. Then again, maybe that's what bein' hardcore is all about. It does have a somewhat raw feel to it and, with this style of music, that's usually something the fans admire. Me, I'm a little more picky. The bonus features added a little more punch to this release. There's a full performance set from Harley's War. Most single DVD releases will give you a clip or two from another live show or what have you. You get a full set here, man...and it's actually a little better than the main performance. Harley also gives you a brief tour of CBGB's while he shares his thoughts/opinions on what the club has meant to him. There's also a bit of footage of him jammin' with his young son, which is cool. You can't go wrong when you raise your kids on rock or, in this case, hardcore. Some people might view that as a sign that their favorite band is gettin' older. Not me. The way I see it, they're keeping the music they made...and the spirit of it...alive. That thought was a little longer than the footage itself. But, it was still a nice addition. This is a good release for the hardcore Cro-Mags fan...and that pretty much sums it all up. http://www.cromags.com U2 U2's legendary "Achtung Baby" album is discussed in detail in this (unauthorized) profile. Several well known journalists, writers, and producers talk about the album's history, significance (to U2 and music in general), and creation, as well as its impact on music and the world in general. The album was a deliberate departure, even a metamorphasis, for the band, both musically and ideologically. U2 rose to popularity in the 80s, and became a very important band of that era, not only for their music but also for their social awareness, and bringing that awareness to the music fans. After their "Rattle And Hum" album, the band had reached a crossroads in their career and needed to re-invent themselves for the future. This was a major challenge for the band, but they managed to make this change very successfully with "Achtung Baby". The album was a smash, and helped bring the band into a new era. U2 took on a new direction while still maintaining their indentity. How they pulled this off is discussed by the interviewees, in this DVD. The examine the album track by track, talking about about what went into it all-the influences and inspirations for the songs, and how what was happening in the world and the band members' personal lives shape the music. Also, how U2 re-invented their musical style, and what helped them do this. Contemporary music of the time was a big influence on the album, which was recorded in Berlin just after the wall's collapse, so of course that was a big influence, among many other things. Also discussed is the emotional atmosphere of the album, and the feelings that inspired the music, as well as ones that are invoked by it. They even talk about the humorous irony of the title. The story of how this album was created, and the changes the band had to go through in order to make it, is quite interesting. This is the album that helped U2 stay relevant in music and the social world. It could be considered their "saving grace". Included as bonus material are a U2 quiz, profiles of the interviewees, and and extended interviews. Phil Varone I had the pleasure of meeting Phil Varone at two different shows. I was impressed with him as a person. The first time I met him, I had the Prunella Scales CD that I wanted to get autographed. Phil was backstage at the time. But, Rachel was there. So, I asked him to sign the disc and when he saw what I had, he was like, "Oh, wow, this is great." A bit of suprise, I guess. They don't pop up too often. Anyway, he signed it for me and he said, "Wait here...I'll go get Phil to sign it for you." When he came back, Phil was with him and he seemed excited to talk about the album. Asked what I thought about the album, which songs did I like the best. After we were done talkin'...and since he was there...he talked to some of the other fans who wanted to meet him, anyone who asked for an autograph, he gave it to them. You could tell he was tired. But, he seemed to enjoy talkin' to people. There wasn't even a hint of rock star ego about him that night. Not that I saw. It was a real good experience for me. Like everyone else who was there, I was a fan and I was grateful to be able to meet someone that I admired. It was a good night...one that I'll remember for the rest of my life, that's for sure. But, there's another side of fame and fortune. It's a dark side that we don't see all that much. Most people are aware of it, they have a pretty good idea of what it's all about. It's the rock 'n' roll lifestyle, man. Sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll. That's what it's supposed to be all about and, for a lot of musicians, that's what it is all about. However, the price some people have to pay...doesn't really seem worth it. "Waking Up Dead" is an honest, up close and personal look at the price Phil Varone had to pay to live that rock 'n' roll lifestyle. Failed relationships, drug addiction, financial ruin, health problems. The beauty of this release is the honesty in which Phil discusses his life, his rise to fame and the demons that he had to face. Okay, sure, it's not an original idea. Musicians who have been to hell and back have done interviews where they discuss their rise and fall and how they managed to get on the road to recovery. There's a difference between talking about it and showing it to you. There's a scene in this film where Phil, in a drug daze, is sitting on the couch in front of the tv and he's pretty well gone. You go from being on stage, performing in front of a million screaming fans to sitting alone in your hotel room, wasted to the point where life just seems to stop. It's not a pretty picture. This was a very emotional viewing experience. When it was over, I had to take a moment to let it all sink in. It just blew my mind knowing that this was the same guy I talked with about a record he did. He seemed so full of life and he talked about music with a passion and, it's like, this is what that passion has done for him. In the end, you've gotta ask yourself...is it really worth it? I'm sure Phil has asked himself that same question over and over again. Anyone who's in a rock band should watch "Waking Up Dead" before they even consider getting on that road to fame and forture. It might make you think twice about your career choice. What are you willing to do in order to make it and, if you do make it, do you think you're strong enough to survive? Phil was one of the lucky ones. He came to understand what this business does to a person and he's making an effort to turn his life around. Unfortunately, there's a lot of other people who didn't get to the point where they were able to make that choice. Count your rock 'n' roll dead...the list is damn near endless. This release will give you a good idea of why that happens. http://www.myspace.com/philvarone ONSLAUGHT Holy fuckin thrash metal. This is one DVD that simply crushes all. 14 tunes of prime thrash metal that this band delivers on this. The camera work and sound are top notch and the band sound tight as fuck. The band mix in some old tunes such as 'Power From Hell" and "Metal Forces". There is also some bonus live footage from Japan from 2006 and an interview with the band too. Info: http://www.mvdb2b.com DARZAMAT The great DVD's from this company just keep on coming. As with the Vital Remains and many others, the camera work is so damn good it feels like you are right there as this plays. The production is top notch and the audience is into it as is the band. The band rip through 11 tracks, but that is just the start. You get bonus videos from another festival and 2 studio tracks as well. Almost 2 1/2 hours of footage on this baby. Once again this label blows me away with their product. Info: http://www.mvdb2b.com DOA This is some excellent old school hardcore music the way it was and should be played. You get concert footage from 5 different shows as well as TV stuff and a news report on the state of punk rock from 1979. The quality of the videos isn't bad and I have seen this band back in the day and watching some of this footage brought back memories of City Gardens in Trenton, NJ. This is a perfect example of the way hardcore should be and not that Good Charlotte crap that people claim if punk. This is the real deal and is punk rock at it's finest. Info: http://www.mvdvisual.com MUSIC WITH IMPACT by Chris Forbes I love comps as you get a variety of bands, some good and some bad, but that is just a personal taste of each listener. On this, which is a comp DVD, you get over 20 bands from this labels' roster. Behemoth, Arch Enemy, Deranged, Vader ( 2 tracks), Dismember, Necrophobic, Marduk and many others. This is music with impact and if these bands don't knock to the floor, nothing well. Awesome DVD. Info: http://www.regainrecords.com |