Michael McDonald – This Christmas: Live In Chicago (Eagle Blu-ray)
Picture: B- Sound: B Extras: C- Concert: C+
Though he
could be doing worse (like Rod Stewart doing old 1930s standards or Barry
Manilow remaking Rock songs that make Pat Boone sound like Buddy Holly), Michael
McDonald has fallen into a series of “theme” projects that I have not always
been happy with. Not happy with either
of his Motown projects, he fared better in the following Soundstage installment
a few years ago:
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/2273/Michael+McDonald+In+Concert+(Soun
Now comes
his latest project, This Christmas: Live
In Chicago, a well-recorded, mixed show that mixes his solo hits and hits
with The Doobie Brothers with Christmas Classics! What???
Yes,
along with Sweet Freedom, I Keep Forgettin’, What A Fool Believes, Takin’
It To The Streets and Minute By
Minute, we get White Christmas/Winter
Wonderland, I’ll Be Home For Christmas,
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
and Come, O Come Emanuel. Yes, it is hilarious, but he is doing this in
all seriousness. The only thing missing
is a duet of On My Own with Mrs.
Claus and a mostly instrumental performance of Steely Dan classics Peg where he just sings the backup part.
Those who
like him and somehow liked the Motown projects will want to give this one a
look, but otherwise, I see another Paul Rudd comedy with more insults to bear.
The 1080i
1.78 X 1 digital High Definition image is colorful and not bad, but has detail
limits and though a DVD could not look as good, we have seen better HD-shot
concerts on Blu-ray. Camera angles
help. The DTS-HD MA (Master Audio)
lossless 5.1 mix is better than the Dolby Digital 5.1 and PCM 2.0 Stereo mixes,
with a fine soundfield and overall fidelity that is the default highlight of
this release. Too bad the show was
uneven. The only extra is the bonus
track performance Hallelujah, which
is on camera.
-
Nicholas Sheffo
