NEWS

The Breakdown: Genesis, Led Zeppelin, Nine Inch Nails, Opeth, U2

Written by Tom Johnson
Published November 20, 2007
page 1 | 2 | 3

Now we finally get the CDs the way they should have been - all 15 songs represented in the setlist played on the nights at Madison Square Garden in 1973, remastered for sound quality and reflecting the actual concert represented in the film. The DVD, unfortunately, does not represent the concert alone - it is still the movie as it was back then, due to legal reasons that I don't understand that prevented Page and engineer Kevin Shirley from re-editing it back to just the music, but now it's in Dolby 5.1, and includes a second disc with the four missing songs, some interviews, coverage by Tampa news crews of the band's arrival there, and a few other small things.

The DVD set can also be had in a special edition with a shirt bearing the album cover, lobby cards, tour schedule, and other stuff.

Nine Inch Nails - Y34RZ3R0R3MIX3D: 133t!11!! H4x0rd! w00t! LOL WTF?! OK! Pandering title aside, the concept is pretty cool - the usual NIN remix album that follows in the footsteps of a regular album, but this time it's accompanied by a DVD containing all of the multitracks for the songs so you can do whatever you feel like with them, then upload them to nin.com for Trent Reznor's amusement (and, presumably, other fans, too). This is not entirely as unique as Trent and Interscope want you to think it is - Duncan Sheik's 2006 album, White Limousine, also came with a DVD with audio tracks, but I believe the NIN DVD has them broken completely down where Sheik's had them broken down into simple categories - one track of already multitracked vocals, another of multitracked guitars, etc. Regardless, it's a cool idea, and for $11.99, it's kind of hard to pass up the opportunity to play (The disc also includes a demo of Ableton Live so you can get playing immediately, but they will work in other audio programs).

Opeth - The Roundhouse Tapes (Live): While the Lamentations DVD represented Opeth following the low-key, but amazing Damnation (that is to say, quiet and contemplative - not to mention all singing, no growling), this live set is more representative of a normal Opeth concert, which presents the band in all their glory, touring for Ghost Reveries. Speed, heaviness, and those vocals are in full effect, mixed in, as usual, with Mikael Åkerfeldt's surprisingly beautiful singing voice. Be forewarned: a DVD is likely coming sometime early next year, so if you crave watching and not just listening, you might want to wait.

page 1 | 2 | 3
Keep reading for information and comments on this article, and add some feedback of your own!
The Breakdown: Genesis, Led Zeppelin, Nine Inch Nails, Opeth, U2
Published: November 20, 2007
Type: News
Section: Music
Filed Under: Music: Alternative Rock, Music: Hard Rock, Music: Metal, Music: News, Music: Rock, Music: Video
Part of a feature: The Breakdown
Writer: Tom Johnson
Tom Johnson's BC Writer page
Tom Johnson's personal site
Spread the Word
Like this article?
Email this
Submit to del.icio.us Save to del.icio.us
RSS Feeds
All RSS Feeds (240+)
Comments on this article
Articles in this series
BC articles by Tom Johnson
Music: Alternative Rock
Music: Hard Rock
Music: Metal
Music: News
Music: Rock
Music: Video
All Music Articles
All News articles
All BC articles
All BC Comments

Comments

#1 — November 21, 2007 @ 00:55AM — Brian aka Guppusmaximus

Opeth may have started Lamentations by running through the whole Damnation album but they still do songs from Deliverance as well as Blackwater Park which offer some killer growling from Mr.Åkerfeldt. Honestly,did you watch the entire DVD?

I personally feel that if you missed Still Life & Blackwater Park live then you really haven't seen Opeth in all of its "Glory". Ghost Reveries really doesn't hold up very well against that material,though, seeing Opeth in concert is always a treat.

#2 — November 21, 2007 @ 07:59AM — Tom Johnson [URL]

Yes, Brian, I did. I think you missed the point - it wasn't a normal concert. It gave us Damnation and a small representation of a regular concert after that.

I like Ghost Reveries, but it definitely does not stand up to the earlier material. For them stretching out into, I guess, "proggier" territory, it's a good album, but something's missing. Blackwater Park, on the other hand, is an amazing piece of work. I hope someday they'll dig out some archival live material to release from that tour.

#3 — November 21, 2007 @ 09:51AM — Brian aka Guppusmaximus

Ahha...I guess I just don't feel that Lamentations isn't a "normal" Opeth show just because they cover alot more of their melodic material.

I can understand that if you[in general] missed their earlier work live that could be a little upsetting when watching Lamentations. But, like you said its an amazing release and I was wondering how they would reproduce it in a live setting.Obviously, they came through as usual.

I think Ghost Reveries is missing the passion that they once had for creating real Dark & Gloomy Death Metal. Plus, the production was heading more towards capturing what they sound like in the raw. Not necessarily live but without all the effects. It's possible that Mr. Akerfeldt is getting tired of playing Death Metal. Martin Lopez has some health issues & left the band along with Peter Lindgren,so, I don't forsee an album of Blackwater capacity being released again... BUT, I'm not knocking them.

Want comments emailed to you? No spam, promise! Address:

Add your comment, speak your mind

(Or ping: http://blogcritics.org/mt/tb/71154)

Personal attacks are not allowed. Please read our comment policy.





Remember Name/URL?

Please preview your comment!

Fresh
Articles
Fresh
Comments