Search - John Cale :: Circus Live (Bonus Dvd) (Pal) (Chi)

Circus Live (Bonus Dvd) (Pal) (Chi)
John Cale
Circus Live (Bonus Dvd) (Pal) (Chi)
Genres: Alternative Rock, Special Interest, New Age, Pop, Rock, Soundtracks, Classic Rock
 
  •  Track Listings (13) - Disc #1
  •  Track Listings (10) - Disc #2

2007 three disc live set (two CD + PAL/Region 0 DVD) by former Velvet Underground member and the ringmaster of the avant-garde, Mr. John Cale. The album is virtually a career retrospective, recorded live on John's 2006 Eu...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: John Cale
Title: Circus Live (Bonus Dvd) (Pal) (Chi)
Members Wishing: 2
Total Copies: 0
Label: Emd Int'l
Release Date: 3/12/2007
Album Type: Import
Genres: Alternative Rock, Special Interest, New Age, Pop, Rock, Soundtracks, Classic Rock
Styles: Hardcore & Punk, Experimental Music, Progressive, Progressive Rock
Number of Discs: 2
SwapaCD Credits: 2
UPC: 094637794425

Synopsis

Album Description
2007 three disc live set (two CD + PAL/Region 0 DVD) by former Velvet Underground member and the ringmaster of the avant-garde, Mr. John Cale. The album is virtually a career retrospective, recorded live on John's 2006 European tour. Cale felt like he'd finally found the personnel to interpret his songs with new twists, new dimensions and new emotions. None more so evident than the track 'Gun', originally appearing on 1974's Eno & Manzanera produced Fear but now sounding akin to a heavy arsenal of crunching weaponry. Inspired, Cale recorded the dates and the band began to tear up a 40 year musical history book, challenging and breathing new life into Cale's work. In full, confident stride they take in everything from 'Femme Fatale', the Warhol tribute 'Style It Takes', a capricious 'Pablo Picasso', the sweet groove of 'Hanky Panky Nohow' from 'Paris 1919', 'Look Horizon' & 'Zen' from 2003's 'Hobosapiens', the Neptunes inspired funk of 'Outta The Bag' and 'Hush' from 'black:Acetate', an impassioned take of Presley's 'Heartbreak Hotel' and the viola swathed VU masterpiece 'Venus In Furs'. This two CD + DVD comes beautifully packaged in a three disc box with 48 page color booklet. The DVD contains previously unreleased live rehearsal footage of John and the band shot in LA, plus the new animated promo video for Jumbo In Tha Modernworld. Also included are a new mix of GrevelDrive from the blackAcetate album, plus a 2007 rerecording of Big White Cloud, originally from the Vintage Violence album. EMI.
 

CD Reviews

5 stars, but beware the PAL format DVD
Charles A. Miller | Baltimore, Maryland U.S.A. | 03/17/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)

"What a great live album. Not the usual run-through of your old favorites, which is mainly the case with these affairs, but rather, complete reinvention. At first I was a little disappointed reading the titles as there was little in the way of John Cale's recent (and in my opinion, best) works, but listening dispelled that. All of these mostly older tunes have been rewritten with, in some cases, radically different arrangements. Actually to the point where they are different... almost like an album of new material. Imagine a slow, almost gentle, albeit sinister Mercenaries!



There are also extensive droning effects throughout (the beginning, between the "end" of the concert and the encore, and the actual coda), harkening back to John Cale's early experimental roots.



All of this is supported by the technically perfect musicianship of players. Take away the applause between many of the tracks and it sounds like a studio album, only better because of the high-energy that comes with live music territory.



The presentation is excellent as well. Nice "slippery" slip-case with excellent and clever art, graphics and documentation throughout.



But there is a drawback... the DVD, which is PAL format. Many in the U.S. will not be able to play it. Why is that NTSC owners are cheated out of this? Why could there not have been two versions, one for Europe and one for the United States? As is often the case, an American version will probably see the light of day a year or so from now, but that's a long wait for such an excellent album. One can only assume that the DVD is as good as the CDs.



I suppose, technically, I should have given this release 4 stars due to the PAL DVD, but didn't want to drag down what is otherwise one of the best live albums of all time."
Surprised and dissappointed
J. M. Booth | New Zealand | 02/15/2008
(2 out of 5 stars)

"To my ears a very dissappointing set. The musicianship and production values are excellent. That is the problem for me. The spark and energy and life I have come to enjoy from John Cale live are missing. Hidden behind technically profficent sound. Then again I am someone who enjoys John Constable's oil sketches far more than his finished paintings. The bonus DVD is mis-represented, "exclusive live footage," well this is actually 45 minutes of disjointed rehearsal footage. And I did not find it particularly engaging, other record companies have served their artists much better with 'in the rehearsal rooms' videos. I still very much enjoy John Cale, but not how he is presented here."