Van Morrison – Astral Weeks Live At The Hollywood
Bowl (DVD Concert Set)
Picture:
C+ Sound: B- Extras: C Concert: B-
Rock/Jazz
icon Van Morrison is back with a brand new concert and it focuses on the album
that continues to be his masterwork. Astral Weeks Live brings the album to
life in what turns out to be another good performance and yet another
interesting, entertaining DVD of the man and his music. You can read more of our previous coverage at
these links:
Live At Montreux 1980/1974
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/4631/Van+Morrison+–+Live+At+Montreux
Under Review 1964 - 1974
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/6850/Under+Review+series:+The
The
original album was issued in 1968, was his solo debut after being in the hit
and Them and is often considered his signature work. When most artists from that time try to play
their music this many decades later, they falter. They cannot sing the material, play the
material well, rush the material or do it with such a lack of life that they
should have stayed home. Fortunately,
Morrison has the energy, heart and soul (as well as a well-picked band and
back-up singer section) to pull off classics like Beside You, Sweet Thing, Madame George and Cyprus Avenue.
If you
are a fan, you will not be disappointed by the 84 minutes-long program and
others less familiar will be surprised how good he is, was and that any spoofs
of him do no do him justice. All in all,
one of the better concert DVDs we’ve seen for 2009.
The anamorphically
enhanced 1.78 x 1 image was shot on High Definition video and unfortunately has
some detail issues, but some of the problem may just be the downtrade to DVD,
because depth and color can look pretty good throughout, but is always hampered
by definition limits. The Dolby Digital 5.1
mix is better than the 2.0 Stereo version, but this sounds so good that you
will hope for DTS. Maybe a Blu-ray will
deliver that. Extras include bonus songs
from the concert (Common One, Gloria) and a preview for an upcoming
Morrison documentary.
- Nicholas Sheffo
