Blue Man Group
The Complex on DVD Audio
If you can get past what may be the worst DVD menu ever designed, youll
find a strangely compelling disc that offers a few memorable tunes and some
really nice surround sound mixing.
I first saw Blue Man Group when they initially appeared on the Tonight Show
many years ago. The only thing I remember from that performance, other than
the blue men themselves, was them injesting and regurgitating what looked like
Play Doh. I have no idea what their act was like other than that.
But apparently theyre a music act, otherwise why would there be a first
album, let alone this second one?
Anyway, this obviously doesnt qualify me as a BMG aficionado, but as
a music fan and audiophile, what can you do when a disc such as this shows up
other than review it?
BMG seems to be mostly about percussion, not that theres anything wrong
with that. And their music is well suited to the 5.1 surround mix made possible
by the DVD Audio and dts tracks on this disc.
Some of the tracks feature guest vocalists. In fact, my favorite track from
the Complex is Sing Along, which features Dave Matthews. Its
a tad repetitive, but its also catchy and hummable and features some nifty
audio tricks from the Groups dudes.
Tracy Bonham, Esthero, Josh Haden, Gavin Rossdate, Arone Dyer and Peter Moore
also appear on the album.
On the other hand, I never thought Id pine for Jefferson Airplane but
I did after hearing the BMG/Esthero version of the classic White Rabbit. Still,
to each his own.
The audio quality is excellent, and they arrange instruments (or whatever they
happen to be using at the time) around the room very well, surrounding and immersing
you in the sound.
But that menu! It works fine when you play the disc on a PC, where you can
just use your mouse to point and click, but on both of our reference DVD players
the disc seemed programmed to make the cursor control keys on the remote seem
practically random. I found it extremely frustrating, almost enough to not play
the disc!
The are plenty of extras on this disc, including a pretty sophisticated audio/speaker
setup routine.
You also get music videos, for the abovementioned Sing Along as
well as Exhibit 13 and theres a making of track that offers
some interesting insight into the Blue Man Group itself as well as the album,
and you also get a drum breakdown and listing of lyrics.
Not really my cup of tea, but an interesting disc nonetheless and a good introduction
to the quality and features of the DVD Audio format (except for that horrible
menu!).
Heres dts listing of the discs features:
DVD-Audio title includes Surround Re-mixes of all 14 tracks
DVD-A surround & stereo, plus dts for DVD-Video players
Behind the scenes interviews and tour footage
Music video of Sing Along featuring Dave Matthews
Music video of Exhibit 13 a powerful 9/11 tribute song
Special Mix Breakdown track- Your Attention
On-screen biography and photo gallery
Audio Options: 5.1 MLP for DVD-Audio Players; 5.1 dts for dts-Capable systems;
2.0 PCM for all DVD-Video players
Track listing:
1. Above
2. Time To Start
3. Sing Along
4. Up To The Roof
5. Your Attention
6. Persona
7. Piano Smasher
8. White Rabbit
9. The Current
10. Shadows
11. What Is Rock
12. The Complex
13. I Feel Love
14. Exhibit 13
The Polyphonic
Spree Together Were Heavy - on DVD Audio
I had never heard of the Polyphonic Spree before dts sent us this disc, but
Im glad Ive had a chance to experience them. Remember Up With
People? Though there isnt a lot of similarities between the music
of that upbeat youth choir of old, this album gives that same happy, positive
feel I used to get when UWP visited my high school periodically when I was a
nipper.
This Dallas group contains two dozen members and their sound reminds me of
a blend between the 1960s and 70s art rock bands and pop bands
from the same era. Together We're Heavy simply oozes fun and creativity and
over the course of the album youll hear influences of a wide range of
bands who came before. I was reminded of old Beatles and psychedelic Beatles,
ELO, Beach Boys and a lot of other stuff I just couldnt put my finger
on, but which left this child of 60s and 70 rock feeling as
if I were in somehow familiar territory.
Yet their sound is their own, which is as it should be. Even though I found
parts quite repetitive and even somewhat pretentious, something about this album
grabbed me and kept my toes tapping and a smile on my face. Id consider
that a success
.
I found some of the music quite inspirational as well, almost in the manner
of some of Garth Brooks older stuff. Section 14 (Two Thousand Places),
for example, includes the interesting observation that "you gotta be good, you
gotta be strong, you gotta be two thousand places at once," which certainly
sounds like my life (except for being good and strong!). Other good tracks include
Section 12 (Hold Me Now), which is quite Klaatu-ish,
Several of the songs contain longish instrumental sections that include vocals
that appear periodically repeating the chorus almost ad nauseam. The music is
really good, but sometimes it does get a tad repetitious.
The whole album ebbs and flows in a manner that comes across as a kind of
unified rock symphony, with themes and musical cues that repeat throughout it.
The writing isnt in the league of the giants mentioned above, but since
(I think) this is still early in the bands history so who knows whats
in store in the future?
In the end, this is a very interesting album and an interesting concept. And
I defy you to listen to it without it making you feel good. We need more of
that today!
Im intrigued. Lets see what these folks do next. I have a feeling
were witnessing what could become a great band that currently is learning
to flex its musical muscles. I look forward to their next offering.
The production is lush and the recording quality is very good, though I was
a tad disappointed that it didnt positively leap out of the home theater
speakers. The surround mix is very nice, however, spreading instruments around
the room very nicely and with few gimmicky effects.
Audio Options: 5.1 MLP for DVD-Audio Players; 5.1 DTS for DTS-Capable systems;
2.0 PCM for all DVD-Video players
Heres the track listing:
1. Section 11 (A Long Day Continues/We Sound...)
2. Section 12 (Hold Me Now)
3. Section 13 (Diamonds/Mild Devotion To...)
4. Section 14 (Two Thousand Places)
5. Section 15 (Ensure Your Continues/We Sound...)
6. Section 16 (One Man Show)
7. Section 17 (Suitcase Calling)
8. Section 18 (Everything Starts At The Seam)
9. Section 19 (When The Fool Becomes A King)
10. Section 20 (Together We're Heavy)
Extras include videos (one live action and one animated) for Light and Day
(which is a song not on this album otherwise, but which is actually a pretty
decent introduction to the band and its music), as well as a text bio and photo
gallery. You also get mix breakdowns of two songs.
I have a feeling that the Polyphonic Spree may not be for everyone in this
jaded world in which we live, but its certainly worth a listen.
Frank Zappa
QuAUDIOPHILIAC on DVD Audio
Okay, Ill admit it up front: I was never a Zappa fan. While FZ was pioneering
his style I was immersed in Townshend, Floyd, ELP and the like. I enjoyed his
sense of humor as evidenced by his album titles and covers (Sheik Yerbouti was
my fave) and I fondly remember Dancing Fool from his appearance on Saturday
Night Live.
The previous dts Zappa release of his Halloween concert was pretty good, but
until QuAUDIOPHILIAC I had never really experienced Zappa in the studio and
now that I have it has given me a grudging respect for the mans music.
This is symphonic rock. Not Rock Opera such as Tommy or Quadrophenia, but more
classically-based in its instruments and its tone, but with a rock beat and
rock instruments augmenting the more conventional orchestral stuff.
The disc also shows just what an innovator Zappa was. It features four channel
quadraphonic mixes back from the age where quad was trying to gain a foothold.
I loved quad and had a good quad setup back then, but the format died out until
recent advances in digital technology made it possible to offer true four channel
audio (with the center channel and subwoofer of todays 5.1 digital surround
added to the mix) the way it could never have been experienced back then.
Apparently, this album was conceived when Zappas son Dweezil came across
a bunch of these old four channel tapes, and todays digital surround sound
technology disc means these old cuts can now be listened to in their original
glory.
And it is glorious. Despite the age of the material, the recording quality
is excellent and the surround mix is outstanding as well. It isnt as if
Zappa throws a bunch of surround effects at you, but rather that he uses the
multi-channel platform to capture a liveness of the performances that translates
very well to the home theater.
QuAUDIOPHILIAc includes previously unreleased songs, some live and some recorded
in the studio, including Rollo and Venusian Time Bandits,
and Dweezil has also thrown in some experimental multi-channel tracks from Zappas
basement.
Heres a listing of the tracks:
1. Naval Aviation in Art?
2. Lumpy Gravy
3. Rollo
4. Drooling Midrange Accountants on Easter Hay
5. Wild Love
6. Ship Ahoy
7. Chunga Basement
8. Venusian Time Bandits
9. Waka/Jawaka
10. Basement Music #2
The disc also includes an abundance of extras, including:
- Special "Surround Pioneer" presentation from the 2003 SurroundPro Awards ceremony,
including video of Frank Zappa discussing advanced surround playback
- On-screen notes by Dweezil Zappa
- Complete visual discography and special photo gallery
- Frank Zappa's 1983 Music Industry Proposal for downloadable music (hows
that for being ahead of the curve?)
Audio Options: 5.1 MLP for DVD-Audio Players; 5.1 dts for dts-Capable systems;
2.0 PCM for all DVD-Video players
Tell us at TechnoFile what YOU think