U2 Live At Red Rocks – Under A Blood Red Sky (Universal Music DVD/CD Set)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: B-     Extras: C+     Concert: B-

 

 

If you are a fan of only older U2 material, then you will be happy with their oft-issued U2 Live At Red Rocks – Under A Blood Red Sky DVD/CD Set that Universal has issued in the nicest edition yet.  The classic 1983 concert comes in a hard CD-sized slipcase and out of it comes a hardcover booklet with the sleeves at either end to put in the DVD and CD.  It helped to further break the band worldwide and Director Gavin Taylor captured well the band in their early peak.

 

The performance of Sunday Bloody Sunday in particular was released as a de facto Music Video and shows how energetic the band was in the beginning, but no one could have imagined that they would have grown, survived and become as huge as they are today, even from a concert this good.  The DVD has more performances than the CD, with both including songs like Gloria, the masterwork New Year’s Day and (a DVD exclusive) October.

 

Though this is said to be filmed, it is in fact a 1.33 X 1 videotaped image, but one that is stylized, looks pretty good for its age, has some softness and is nicely shot.  The DTS 5.1 and PCM 16/48 2.0 Stereo are a little better than the Dolby Digital 5.1 mix on the DVD, but the audio itself shows its age, which extends to the PCM 16/44.1 2.0 Stereo on the CD.  The sonic limits are apparent, but part of it is that they simply did not think in terms of multi-channel and the live recording that did happen has a few limits technically.  Extras include DVD-ROM wallpaper, weblinks and screensaver, plus you also get the built-in booklet and director’s audio commentary.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo