| Boomer Media Review |
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TODD RUNDGREN
Liars Live
Sanctuary
DD 5.1 DVD
If you are a Todd fan-and maybe even if
you are not, quite-this live set from
Albany NY recorded in excellent
surround sound could be your ticket to
a much under appreciated music
format.
Rundgren has always been ahead of
the curve, mating technology to music,
and this nearly 2 hour show has been
mixed into a 5.1 extravaganza that
should make anyone with even a basic
home theater system sit up and say,
"wow!"
Trust me, this is the "best" way to
listen to music.
Not corralled by just two channels, this
DVD makes efficient use of the
available 5 tracks, plus a dedicated
bass thumper.
What does that mean to the average
listener?
It means that Todd's vocals are
pristine, the sound stage is expansive,
and the bottom end is big.
Rundgren delivers a performance of
his last album anti-demagogue album,
Liars-giving new life to some of the
songs that only a live setting can
accomplish-as well as a generous
dollop of hits-and even misses.
Born to Synthesize from 1975's
Initiation has always been a personal
fave, but this time out Todd turns it into
a rather bizarre soul/funked-up treatise,
which includes a dream sequence of
being molested. (I'm not kidding.)
But other than the above clunker, there
are superb renditions of Hello It's Me,
Just One Victory, and even a very tasty
cover of While My Guitar Gently Weeps
which has Todd wielding killer solo.
Kasim Sulton, a long time Rundgren
collaborator and Utopia member is
prominent in the 20 song show, as is
Todd's multiple costume changes.
(Note to Todd: shave those underarms
if you are going to wear a sleeveless T!)
Extras on the DVD include a silly video
diary of the band shopping in Japan- a
market where Rundgren is definitely
still regarded as a wizard, and true star-
plus a (video) tour scrapbook.
The concert video itself is produced by
Mark Waldorf and is generally
top-notch, with a great saturation of
primary colors, and effective close-ups
and camera angles and cuts.
Beginning with the Nazz, Todd has
been around about 40 years, and
despite a hair style that one might
describe as 70s skunk, this DVD
proves he is far from stinking up any
joint as just a nostalgia act.
He's still, a real man.
Liars Live
Sanctuary
DD 5.1 DVD
If you are a Todd fan-and maybe even if
you are not, quite-this live set from
Albany NY recorded in excellent
surround sound could be your ticket to
a much under appreciated music
format.
Rundgren has always been ahead of
the curve, mating technology to music,
and this nearly 2 hour show has been
mixed into a 5.1 extravaganza that
should make anyone with even a basic
home theater system sit up and say,
"wow!"
Trust me, this is the "best" way to
listen to music.
Not corralled by just two channels, this
DVD makes efficient use of the
available 5 tracks, plus a dedicated
bass thumper.
What does that mean to the average
listener?
It means that Todd's vocals are
pristine, the sound stage is expansive,
and the bottom end is big.
Rundgren delivers a performance of
his last album anti-demagogue album,
Liars-giving new life to some of the
songs that only a live setting can
accomplish-as well as a generous
dollop of hits-and even misses.
Born to Synthesize from 1975's
Initiation has always been a personal
fave, but this time out Todd turns it into
a rather bizarre soul/funked-up treatise,
which includes a dream sequence of
being molested. (I'm not kidding.)
But other than the above clunker, there
are superb renditions of Hello It's Me,
Just One Victory, and even a very tasty
cover of While My Guitar Gently Weeps
which has Todd wielding killer solo.
Kasim Sulton, a long time Rundgren
collaborator and Utopia member is
prominent in the 20 song show, as is
Todd's multiple costume changes.
(Note to Todd: shave those underarms
if you are going to wear a sleeveless T!)
Extras on the DVD include a silly video
diary of the band shopping in Japan- a
market where Rundgren is definitely
still regarded as a wizard, and true star-
plus a (video) tour scrapbook.
The concert video itself is produced by
Mark Waldorf and is generally
top-notch, with a great saturation of
primary colors, and effective close-ups
and camera angles and cuts.
Beginning with the Nazz, Todd has
been around about 40 years, and
despite a hair style that one might
describe as 70s skunk, this DVD
proves he is far from stinking up any
joint as just a nostalgia act.
He's still, a real man.
