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Sigur Rós
Heima (EMI)

If ever a bands music reflected their homeland it’s Sigur Rós, coming from a land with the most stark, uncompromising and glacially beautiful landscape imaginable. A land to which they returned triumphant after touring the world and, having decided to do a series of free gigs, set about touring Iceland in their own inimitably peculiar way. So local brass bands parp their way into songs and then wander offstage, local choirs and singers are invited to perform, children wander around recording sessions, and people stroll into a lush green natural amphitheatres, small wooden community centres and closed down fish factories to watch the band play. Needless to say, this being four of the most unlikely rock stars in the world (with equally grounded, un-rock star attitudes, Guns N' Roses this certainly ain’t), the film is both down-to-earth but also delightfully quirky, flitting between the astounding surroundings, the band and their audience (a wonderful mixture of fans, extended families and, as so few bands actually play these out of the way locations, the merely curious). Heima really is a beautiful document of a remarkable band in astonishing form and shows up most DVD releases for the shoddy ‘this’ll do’ efforts they really are, if you only buy one music DVD this year make it this one.

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Slade
In Flame
(Union Square Pictures)

Damned by many at the time but lauded later, the question still remains is it actually any good? Well it’s no Citizen Kane (sorry Mojo) but given the budgetary limitations, the fact that the four main players aren’t actually actors and boasting a script which, whilst a brave stab at highlighting the seedier side of the UK’s music biz machinations during the late ‘60s early ‘70s, has all of the narrative thrust of a mudslide going uphill, then yes, alongside That’ll Be The Day this was a creditable attempt to make something other than a bog standard pop-star movie, and if it looks dated so does the Sweeny and people still consider that classic TV. The additional documentary feature is also well worth a watch with all the main players having their two’pennorth and proving to be just as you might imagine, Noddy is affable, Don likeably daft, Jim deadly serious and Dave, well a bit of a berk frankly, so no surprises there. This film did Slade no good whatsoever at the time, leaving most fans bemused, but taking the longer view it does stand as a worthwhile, if flawed, effort and in ‘Far Far Away’ and ‘How Does It Feel’ (also included here on the CD soundtrack) contains a couple of stone cold Slade classics.

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****************************************************************** Stereophonics
Rewind
(Liberation)

Regardless of whether you feel Kelly and Co. are a dour, leaden trio fronted by a whingeing bore or the most exciting thing to issue forth from Cwmaman since war poet Alun Lewis – the office is split down the middle on this – Rewind is a huge walloping great monster of a double disc DVD featuring home-movies of their very first gigs, behind the scenes interviews, backstage footage, promo videos, on-tour diaries and multi-camera stadium performances all of which adds up to over 2½ hours of live performances from 1997 to 2006. So no complaints in the VFM stakes then. There is also a 32 page colour booklet featuring exclusive photos and memorabilia from Jones personal photo album, interviews with Ronnie Wood, Paul Weller, Noel Gallagher, Bono, Jimmy Page, Jools Holland, Roger Daltrey, the Black Crows and Tom Jones. Disc one contains a documentary, charting their early days as the Tragic Love Company (a name inspired by their favourite bands Tragically Hip, Mother Love Bone and Bad Company fact fans) up to the sacking of drummer Stuart Cable, disc two the live material, in short of you are a fan of the ‘Phonics you will definitely want this DVD.

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Santana & Shorter
Live At The 1988 Montreux Jazz Festival (Liberation Entertainment)

Initially nothing more than an in-joke between Carlos Santana and Wayne Shorter, the joke however soon took on a life of it’s own and became reality, and in 1988 the pair toured throughout the US and Europe to enormous critical acclaim. Santana fans of old will be delighted to see the likes of the mighty Armando Peraza (congas), José Chepito Areas (timbales) and Leon ‘Ndugu’ Chancler (drums) manning the bateria of Latin percussion, as these guys are the rhythm section that underpins the vast majority of Santana’s finest album releases, and whilst most people will be picking this up to check out the soloing abilities of the two lead players (both in fine form) it’s the astonishing quality of the rhythm section, and bass player Alphonso Johnson, which will keep you coming back for more. If there is a complaint it’s that occasionally the ‘80s keyboard sounds (due to the, then emergent, new keyboard technologies) are, like Linn drums, now a touch dated, but this is a small irritant when surrounded by so much quality playing. Extras include interviews with Shorter, Santana and festival organiser Claude Nobs and you can also pick up an excellent two disc live CD companion set or indeed get the whole shebang on a 1DVD/2CD set.

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Santana
Viva Santana
(Columbia/Legacy)

For many fans the story of possibly the finest guitarist of his generation and the various incarnations of his band can be split into many chapters but also two very specific books, the consistently excellent music up to Borboletta and the hit-and-miss music after Festival, and it’s that first volume we were keen to dip into. Sadly this is a long-form Carlos Santana interview underpinned by various live performances, which means acres of seriously hippy dippy spiritual cobblers to wade through, and what is particularly galling is the decision to layer the interview segments directly over the top of the instrumental passages (even on occasion over the guitar solos) so not only do we have to endure some truly mind numbingly trite ‘insights’ but at the expense of some truly beautiful music, and if there’s a way to turn the voice-over off and enjoy the sounds we couldn’t find it. Judging by the amount of material cut together for the ‘Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen’ medley there’s acres of early concert footage out there so why hasn’t someone put it together without all the blether? There is a fantastic DVD to be made about the early Santana years, sadly this ain’t it.

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Stereophonics

Made up of concert footage from the 2005 world tour and film shot during the making of the bands fifth studio album of the same name – including the breaking in of new drummer Javier Weyler who replaced founding member Stuart Cable - and promo videos for single releases 'Dakota', 'Superman', 'Devil' and 'Rewind' this DVD is something of a mish-mash but, being presented and produced by Stereophonics themselves, it's exactly the sort of item fans will welcome with open arms. Containing personal footage from the band and producer Jim Lowe the film picks up the story as they return from touring in 2004 and start recording at The Stone Rooms and Sahara Sound, sessions which would go on to become Language. Sex. Violence. Other? Following the process from original demos to the finished article recorded at Hook End studios, Graham Rounthwaite then talks about the concepts behind the artwork, Charles Mehling talks about the concepts behind the four videos and the whole shebang concludes with their world tour and release of the Live From Dakota album. So pretty dry viewing for the casual onlooker maybe, but it's a wet dream for fans.

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****************************************************************** Stuart Sutcliffe
The Lost Beatle
(Digital Classics)

A necessarily short film due to the subjects truncated life, and a story lent even more fascination by the fact that, unlike Pete Best, Stuart Sutcliffe was not pushed from the ranks of the Beatles – although it seems McCartney would not have been averse to applying a well placed shoulder had Sutcliffe not been so close to Lennon (the film touching briefly on the ‘did they, didn’t they’ sexual aspect of their relationship). In fact Sutcliffe’s decision to follow his real passion, painting, might have proved to be far less of a disaster than first appears as he was clearly well on the way to becoming an Abstract Expressionist of no little talent. All that talent sadly would shudder to an almighty halt on April 10, 1962, in Hamburg when he died from a cerebral haemorrhage aged just 22. The old chestnut that he died as a result of a beating sustained while still a member of the group is once again aired (both Lennon and McCartney indulged in bouts of fisticuffs with Sutcliffe), but that seems highly unlikely and this enjoyable, if understandably rather sad, film rightly ends by celebrating the work of a lost artist rather than engaging in tabloid friendly dubious hypothesising.

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Slade
The Very Best Of
(Universal)

Twenty five years, 38 UK hit singles (six of ‘em number one’s) and the lairiest trousers this side of an am-dram Christmas panto. Slade may have clod-hopped their way into pop history as a slightly clunky glam act but in truth if you can negotiate your way past Dave Hill’s platform boots, appalling ‘cut-yer-own’ pudding bowl haircut and the bands tiresome obsession with dyslexic song titles you discover possibly the greatest sing-a-long-a-terrace rock outfit of their, or any other, era - and in Noddy Holder were possessed of a vocalist who’s resounding bellow was as distinctive as it was a danger to passing wildlife. Oddly enough given their pre-eminence in the UK charts during the ‘70s there is actually very little visual Slade material worth owning (aside from feature film Slade In Flame) so The Very Best Of Slade is a welcome release featuring videos, live television performances and rare interview footage - including some entertaining audio commentary. Also currently available is The Very Best Of Slade CD – get in quick and you can bag a limited edition bonus CD – which collects all their hits together for the first time.

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Barbra Streisand
The Television Specials
(Warner Music Vision)

Having proved herself to be something of a monumental grump over the last few years (rivalling Lou Reed and Van Morrison in the humourless git stakes), and rather wasted her talents working with hirsute falsetto-ed oaf Barry Gibb it’s high time Bab’s (as she doubtless would hate to be called), re-acquainted the world with what she does well, something this five DVD box-set addresses admirably - the five DVDs in question are four TV specials from the ‘60s My Name is Barbra, Color Me Barbra, Belle of 14th Street, Barbra Streisand: Happening in Central Park, and one from 1973 Barbra Streisand...And Other Musical Instruments. Given the age of some of these ‘Specials’ (the first My Name... dates from 1965 and is, kof, black and white) it’s no surprise to find the set pieces and costumes a bit on the, erm, dated side but you wouldn’t be buying this to marvel at Bab’s dressed as Nefertiti or singing to an elephant (or indeed coyly acting out ‘Alice Blue Gown’ as a stripper), nope it’s that voice we’re after and it’s here in spades, especially on A Happening in Central Park which bins the TV sets for an orchestra and a live New York audience.

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****************************************************************** Status Quo
The Party Ain’t Over Yet
(Warner Music Vision)

Forty years since they first met Francis Rossi and Rock Parfitt are still doing their damnedest to ensure that the Status Quo bandwagon keeps rolling along despite the fact that many a long term fan feels it has been lacking the prerequisite amount of wheels for some time now. This parting of the ways can be easily pinpointed to a period in the early ‘80s when Rossi wanted to start recording songs like 'Marguerita Time' and original rhythm section Alan Lancaster and John Coghlan didn’t – well that and all manner of inter-band drug induced rucking. Since that time Status Quo have edged away from their legs-akimbo, head-bangers image and into rather more sedate popular entertainer mode (recent live shows have been cabaret in all but name), and this DVD, which coincides with their 27th studio album, offers a documentary, a half hour feature on the bands recent Coronation Street star turn, which in truth was a lot of fun, a collection of 'hilarious' bloopers (which sadly aren’t) and a wander down memory lane via some splendidly wobbly early promos and rare live footage.

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Sex Pistols
The Great Rock'n'Roll Swindle
(Shout! Factory/CMV)

Hard to believe but it’s true, it’s been twenty five years since The Great Rock And Roll Swindle first hit our cinema screens. Written and directed by Julien Temple – and hijacked by the bands manager Malcom McLaren who at one point tried to fire Temple – the film, initially at least, veers wildly from McLaren’s expansive myth making claims, like the band couldn’t actually play, to great clips of the Pistols themselves proving this to be untrue and onto, generally pretty factual, animated sequences filling in the gaps. Ultimately things degenerate into a sort of Great British seaside farce with guest appearances by sex starlet Mary Millington, Train Robber Ronnie Biggs and loads of aimless wandering around with Steve Jones and film of Sid Vicious being, well vicious really. Despite this the film is still well worth picking up if only for the great live/studio clips of the band in full flow, although if you want the full story then you will also need to pick up Temple’s superior documentary The Filth And The Fury, with input from John Lydon who still expresses nothing but contempt for Swindle, which remains crude, chaotic, anarchic, obnoxious and vile, everything in fact punk was supposed to be.

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16 Horsepower
16-HP
(Glitterhouse)

Those of you yet to encounter the bug eyed live fire and brimstone alt-country sturm und drang of 16 Horsepower – the fiery pulpit from which god fearing southern gothic preacher David Eugene Edwards testified – have now missed the boat as the band have sadly called it a day (Edwards forming Woven Hand and Pascal Humbert and Jean-Yves Tola creating Lilium), leaving behind a fine body of work, and now this career spanning DVD. Given Edwards lyrical concerns here, and this reviewers staunchly atheistic worldview, you might imagine there would be little common ground on offer but in fact, viewed as one might view any well constructed fiction – the same theory holds true for U2, Nick Cave and Bob Dylan – then the passion and fury with which the songs are delivered transcend the subject matter and simply become one thrilling whole. Although newcomers would do well to pick up a copy of the magnificent Secret South, this collection of videos, live tracks and extended interviews are as good a place as any to dip your toe in the water and for the faithful offer a fascinating keepsake of the band in all their goose-bump inducing glory and a glimpse into Edwards recidivist theology.

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Simon And Garfunkel
Old Friends
(Columbia)

Released to coincide with the 25th anniversary re-release of the bands 40 one minute track The Commercial Album, The Commercial DVD includes the four original films made to accompany the 1980 release - films that are now part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York – and a further 52 videos created by both the band themselves and 42 visual artists from around the world. As you might expect there are numerous big eyeball related shenanigans and several frankly bloody scary moments. Of course in these days of Chris Cunningham directed Aphex Twin shockers many of these 60 second vignettes fail to shock/disturb/head bugger the listener as much as they would have say ten years ago, but when the visual ideas match up successfully with the bands mentalist squonking (like on Andrew Koehler’s bonkers take on Medicine Man, Doug Carney’s bald lunatic dancing to Amber or indeed Geert Vandenbroele’s wonderfully deranged animation for LaLa) the end results are mini joys to behold. Add a typical Resident-esque non-linear maze interface that has you chasing your tail and you have both an hours synapse frazzling eye candy and a perfect introduction to the worlds most anonymous band

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Bruce Springsteen
In Concert: (Un)Plugged
(Columbia)

Having parted company with the E-Street Band and released a brace of albums - Human Touch and Lucky Town - The Boss decided to showcase his new band in November 1992 on MTV Unplugged of all places, especially given that the vast majority of the set is about as unplugged as the national grid. Originally released with sixteen songs this new release features the full nineteen song set including what was then the first ever official recorded version of Light Of Day. Many fans were unsure of an E-Street-Less Springsteen and some simply never warmed to this line-up, however the band are clearly very impressive and although the audience reaction is a little lack-lustre in places it’s a good document of this stage in Springsteen’s career. Those of you looking for a single Boss defining live DVD may be better served by the double disc Live In Barcelona or Live In New York City shows which find Springsteen reunited with his old E-Street muckers, but fans will find much to love here and if you missed it the first time around the extra tracks may just be the incentive you need to pick it up now.

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Gene Simmons
Speaking In Tongues
(Sanctuary)

If there is a more ludicrous human being on the planet then big tongued sex-pest and Kiss bass player Gene Simmons then it’s hard to imagine who that might be (politicians aside). So convinced is he of his own massive self-importance that he recently took to the stage for a Henry Rollins-esque spoken work tour, and of course to back up his recently released book - Simmons is nothing if not the master of merchandising. Sadly he comes across as more of a pyramid salesman than a raconteur as he entertains his Aussie audience with tales of how much money he has (and how much more he wants), how many women he’s shagged (and how many more he wants to), and how he has not only bought into the ‘American dream’ wholesale, but he IS the American dream. If your idea of entertainment is listening to a cash obsessed, sexist oaf – and of course helping him add another wing to his mansion by stumping up to pay for the privilege - then hop right in, the water is lovely. You also get Gene’s rubbish version of Firestarter for your hard earned dosh and positive acres of barely covered female flesh. VFM or what?

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