View Larger Image |
Pat Metheny Group - Speaking of Now Live Actors: Lyle Mays, Steve Rodby, Pat Metheny Number of Items: 1 Format: Color, DTS Surround Sound, Dolby, Widescreen Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated) Running Time: 100 minutes Studio: Red Distribution, In Product Group: DVD Release Date: 2003-11-18 Buy from Amazon |
 "A Disappointed Long Time Fan...AYGWM? IS incomplete"Like the Speaking of Now album, this DVD is a mediocre effort by a heretofore outstanding unit. With regards to the listing of track 12 as Are You Going With Me?: What masquerades as Are You Going With Me?, on the DVD, is only the three and a half minute intro of the 12 minute plus composition of AYGWM? played on the North American and European Tours. The DVD offering is a combination of Into the Dream with Metheny on Pikasso guitar and the melody of AYGWM? performed by Cuong Vu on trumpet. A full blown and majestic presentation of AYGWM? was the highlight of a bland tour of the States and Europe. It deserved a far better presentation than the one offered on this DVD.  "Rather boring"I love Pat Metheny, but this DVD is very disappointing. While the audio and video are good, the performance, song selection and passive audience make for a dull viewing experience. I saw the Toronto show of this tour and it was way better then what you'll see here. "Poor Attempt at a Pat Concert DVD"Beware - this is NOT the best Pat recording ever, as some of the reviewers here seem to indicate. Pull out the VHS of More Travels, or a bootleg DVD of Secret Story Live and you'll never play this again (just compare How Insensitive off SSL for one). The performances are nothing like those of earlier Group recordings, audio and/or video. How can one compare these performances to the Imaginary Day tour? The new band has nowhere near the range of the previous line up, and Last Train Home and AYGWM? are NOT what you expect. Steer clear of this, unless you saw the show and for some strange reason like this lineup and set list. I don't. This is major disappointment considering the last 20 years of Pat's music, both with and without Group. And before anyone writes to complain about THIS review, I have every Pat CD, VHS concert recording, and DVD that has been released (including some international bootlegs as mentioned above), and have seen Pat and/or Group over 20 times in three different countries. It seems to me from the attention that this last recording has received (and many of those attending the Speaking of Now tour) comes from recently-converted fans who suddenly think Group is the latest thing since sliced bread, and don't have the frame of reference of his and Group's earlier works. I challenge you to consider the Group recordings in chronological order, then seriously think of where Speaking Of Now fits in musically - it seems to follow First Circle or earlier, rather than something to be expected to follow We Live Here, or Imaginary Day. It isn't that I don't like this change of direction; rather the opposite - there *is* no change of direction; Pat's been here before. It has none of the freshness of Travels, First Circle, or Imaginary Day that one expects from a new Group recording.  "A Surround Sound Spectacular: A Great DVD Recording"One morning at my work, I inserted this DVD into a surround system. The concert began and my boss, my coworkers, and customers loved the performance alike. The audio was recorded really well on this DVD (DTS Surround Out), and what is amazing is as the video pans in and out on the I have used this DVD to demonstrate Audio and Video Equipment for customers, and they ask "Who is that artist? Is that Pat Metheny? That sounds great." This is a great DVD to have for yourself, for a party in your home or as background music at home. This was recorded much better than "We Live Here" DVD Live. This DVD demonstrates the "height" of what an AUDIO/VIDEO surround system can do for you at home, great discrete sound and entertaining video, a must have. My boss wanted me to "pirate" this DVD and distribute amongst my coworkers but I told him no, you can't pirate the genius of Pat Metheny and his crew (management, band members, technicians, etc.). Mr. Metheny earns every penny and this should be owned by any Pat Metheny fan or anyone who enjoys "smooth" music. "Outstanding Performamce--A Must Have"Re: Brian Carroll's review--He has to be kidding and no I'm not a "recently-converted fans who suddenly think htis Group is the latest thing since sliced bread, and don't have the frame of reference of his and Group's earlier works"--Did he watch the same DVD I own??--I've been following Pat's music since I first saw him play in Gary Burton's band in 1976 and this is great.The new players bring new sounds and their own unique abilities to the band.Just thought I'd weigh in again with a differing opinion. |
