A Solid Effort but I Wanted More
J. Wilson | California | 07/10/2009
(3 out of 5 stars)
"First of all I'm a Berlin fan, so I may be biased, but I'll be honest. The sound quality of the drums, bass and guitar are a little flat and I wish they had included the entire concert on the DVD disc. However, I'd say that it is a strong effort by this band. The Jefferson Airplane, Duran Duran and Marilyn Manson cover songs are nice. Overall, the true Berlin fan will like this set."
Hometown Concert 2009
DJ Paul McGee | United States | 07/17/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Terri Nunn and Berlin return to their hometown Anaheim, CA for an entertaining 14-song live recording taped in April 2009. Anaheim was the city where it all started for Berlin, so it seemed appropriate for a hometown concert filming.
Recorded at The House of Blues, this new set covers most of Berlin's biggest hits such as "No More Words, "Take My Breath Away," "The Metro," and the always ear-catching "Sex (I'm A...)."
Never a band that does an identical show, Nunn & company also turn in a few surprising covers including "Somebody To Love" (Jefferson Airplane), "The Dope Show" (Marilyn Manson), plus a more appropriate cover of fellow 80's icons Duran Duran on "Ordinary World."
Though All The Way In doesn't pack the sonic punch of Berlin's previous concert album Live: Sacred and Profane (2000), it is still something that true Berlin fans will want to own. The band has stronger moments, and weaker moments in the set, as does Terri Nunn.
On the bonus 10-song DVD you can really see the love Berlin's many longtime fans have for the band, and Terri Nunn shows plenty of appreciation in return during this intimate concert. Though climbing on to a fan's shoulders and wondering through the crowd might not have been the greatest idea, for the mic has some feedback in the process.
Long before Gwen Stefani and No Doubt, Nunn was the original Orange County blonde bombshell. Nunn remains in good vocal form (on most of the songs), over 25 years since the debut Berlin release Pleasure Victim."
Pull Out, Please!
Jeffrey P. Stoneking | Centerville, OH | 07/28/2009
(2 out of 5 stars)
"I've been digging Berlin since the initial release of "Pleasure Victim", and have seen them half-a-dozen times. This latest release, as a previous reviewer posted, is flat. During the audio portion on the CD segment, Terri Nunn sounds as though she is speaking from a distant tunnel.
The live disc from 2000, "Sacred and Profane", is a far superior recording and presentation than this attempt. Its got a harder edge, and comes from a Berlin that is really making an effort to become something again.
As for the DVD segment, I question why the entire show isn't included. Never mind that someone I am quite close to is dancing with Terri during "The Dope Show". He at least made it to the inner package's photo caption with his shirt pulled up over his head. When a package arrives with both a CD and DVD, I have an expectation that I'm going to be watching the same in its entirety, not an abridged version.
There was a 2003 live DVD entitled "Intimate" which is absolute crap, complete with disruptive interviews in-between each song, and a lifeless crowd who appears as though they are not even grateful to be in attendance. Comparing it to this one, there is no comparison as "All The Way In" is, indeed, a concert one would expect to view.
My biggest complaint overall is Terri Nunn's porn-like conduct. Costumes are one thing, but cheap antics to rival the Britney's and other growth-spurting blondes is completely unnecessary when one possesses true talent and looks. Adding skank dancers to distract during "Touch" makes me question who is making the decisions.
Ditch the foulness."