Reviews for some recent purchases
(on a scale of 4 stars, 1 bad, 2 average, 3 excellent, 4 superior)
CDs
Dir En Grey - Withering to Death (2005/2006)
The good: Dir En Grey's unique heavy metal sound trasnscends language barriers. Inserting pauses here and there whilst discussing suicide, murder and Jesus Christ in their songs, they manage to be fresh in a music industry post-Marilyn Manson.
The bad: Would it kill for Dir En Grey's members to get some better coaching on the English lyrics they sing? When they shout in horrible broken English "FUCK OFF" you will barely know it. Because it is a CD+DVD combo, the manufacturer decided to release it in a horrible CD case where the CD/dvd holder falls out of the case. And let's face it, this is the first Dir En Grey album to go worldwide, but their sound was more relevent a long time ago.
Rating: ***
Imogen Heap - Speak For Yourself (2006)
The good: Imogen has a distinctive style, with touching lyrics and a winning, sensual voice.
The bad: Imogen does not stray too far from her style in any song, ending up with an album that is overall "even".
Rating: ** 1/2
Liza Minnelli - Liza With a Z soundtrack CD (2006)
The good: Overall a masterful restoration of the Liza With a Z television special.
The bad: The omission of "Mein Herr" from the soundtrack CD is unforgivable. The CD is not restrained to an hour! Also, layering applause from the end of one song with the applause from another removes one from the performance.
Rating: ***
DVDs
Liza With a Z - Collector's Edition DVD (Fullscreen because it's a TV special from 1973) (2006)
The good: Restoration. Includes the soundtrack CD, a BILLION features (some seem almost too long). The commentary with Liza is like having her in the room with you the thing she lets you know about the people... And the GLAAD performance is easily the showstealer. Did I mention the restoration? The colors are immaculate for a television special thought to be 'lost.' The concert and dancing itself also is really quite amazing from beginning to end. It's shot like a movie and there's something coming through that they really believe in the production, like the same passion behind a broadway play.
The bad: No subtitles to sing along to (minor whine). "Mein Herr" musical number performed that night not restored, nor included in the collector's edition presentation, but just as a "bonus feature." The pro-gay advertisement included after the GLAAD performance. OK. Let's get this straight. You think anyone who watches Liza With a Z's Collector's Edition DVD's bonus feature on Liza performing at a Gay awards show a cabaret song about being a GLBT person is NOT going to be pro-gay? I think someone got duped, and COLLECTOR DVDs shouldn't have advertisements like this on there. Also, the GLAAD performance had trouble transfering video for some reason. It's a shame as it is the best performance on the disc.
Rating: *** (note: I didn't review this on a 16:9 TV television, which might have changed the score. The box sys "Widescreen presentation enhanced for 16:9)
Office Space - Special Edition with Flair (Widescreen) (2005)
The good: The new special features that are there, brilliant looking widescreen. Besides, it's Office Space.
The bad: Few special features. If you have the movie already, it's only rental worthy to see them.
Rating: **
CDs
Dir En Grey - Withering to Death (2005/2006)
The good: Dir En Grey's unique heavy metal sound trasnscends language barriers. Inserting pauses here and there whilst discussing suicide, murder and Jesus Christ in their songs, they manage to be fresh in a music industry post-Marilyn Manson.
The bad: Would it kill for Dir En Grey's members to get some better coaching on the English lyrics they sing? When they shout in horrible broken English "FUCK OFF" you will barely know it. Because it is a CD+DVD combo, the manufacturer decided to release it in a horrible CD case where the CD/dvd holder falls out of the case. And let's face it, this is the first Dir En Grey album to go worldwide, but their sound was more relevent a long time ago.
Rating: ***
Imogen Heap - Speak For Yourself (2006)
The good: Imogen has a distinctive style, with touching lyrics and a winning, sensual voice.
The bad: Imogen does not stray too far from her style in any song, ending up with an album that is overall "even".
Rating: ** 1/2
Liza Minnelli - Liza With a Z soundtrack CD (2006)
The good: Overall a masterful restoration of the Liza With a Z television special.
The bad: The omission of "Mein Herr" from the soundtrack CD is unforgivable. The CD is not restrained to an hour! Also, layering applause from the end of one song with the applause from another removes one from the performance.
Rating: ***
DVDs
Liza With a Z - Collector's Edition DVD (Fullscreen because it's a TV special from 1973) (2006)
The good: Restoration. Includes the soundtrack CD, a BILLION features (some seem almost too long). The commentary with Liza is like having her in the room with you the thing she lets you know about the people... And the GLAAD performance is easily the showstealer. Did I mention the restoration? The colors are immaculate for a television special thought to be 'lost.' The concert and dancing itself also is really quite amazing from beginning to end. It's shot like a movie and there's something coming through that they really believe in the production, like the same passion behind a broadway play.
The bad: No subtitles to sing along to (minor whine). "Mein Herr" musical number performed that night not restored, nor included in the collector's edition presentation, but just as a "bonus feature." The pro-gay advertisement included after the GLAAD performance. OK. Let's get this straight. You think anyone who watches Liza With a Z's Collector's Edition DVD's bonus feature on Liza performing at a Gay awards show a cabaret song about being a GLBT person is NOT going to be pro-gay? I think someone got duped, and COLLECTOR DVDs shouldn't have advertisements like this on there. Also, the GLAAD performance had trouble transfering video for some reason. It's a shame as it is the best performance on the disc.
Rating: *** (note: I didn't review this on a 16:9 TV television, which might have changed the score. The box sys "Widescreen presentation enhanced for 16:9)
Office Space - Special Edition with Flair (Widescreen) (2005)
The good: The new special features that are there, brilliant looking widescreen. Besides, it's Office Space.
The bad: Few special features. If you have the movie already, it's only rental worthy to see them.
Rating: **