Search - Sade :: Lovers Rock/ Lovers Live (CD & DVD)

Good deal sometimes

kireviewer | Sunnyvale, Ca United States | 04/12/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"These discs are sold in many different ways. You can buy them separately. You can buy as they are sold here, as a CD with a bonus DVD in a standard CD jewel case. Or you can buy it as a DVD with a bonus CD in a standard DVD box. The prices on all keep changing. So, you should check all the options to see which is the best value. Lovers Live is also available on audio CD but does not include all of the songs.



THE DVD RATES ABOUT 4 STARS AND THE CD ABOUT 2 STARS.



This is one of the best filmed and edited concert DVDs to come out in the last few years. Most concert DVDs are filmed with inadequate lighting and with bad camera angles. The editing can be especially bad, with the scenes constantly flipping, the cameras always zooming in and out, and the wrong person being shown at the wrong time.



The filming and lighting of this DVD is extremely good. The camera angles and close ups are great. The editing is fairly good, but not as good as some classics, like Stop Making Sense. For the most part, the scene focuses on the correct musician at the correct time. The shots are held for more than 2 seconds. There still is a little too much flipping around in some parts, like during the encore. The shot never holds long enough for you to get a clear picture of the new outfit and hairdo Sade has just changed into.



The extras on this DVD are not very significant. There are shots of Sade and the band walking from backstage up to the stage. And then there is a section of inane interviews of fans.



This is the concert tour to support Sade's Lovers Rock CD. So, there are many songs from that album. Much of the music at this concert is played in the style of Lovers Rock, even most of her old classic songs.



I prefer Sade's original sound to what she is doing today. It is a subtle change, but I don't think the new sound makes the best of her voice and talents.



The sound is a starker, muted sound backed by a rhythm that almost sounds like an electronic drum machine. Her vocals are whispered in popish way. I prefer the old days where she a lusher, but more jazz oriented sound. However, I also like a couple of the new tracks on Lovers Rock that are blues oriented.



For anyone who loves Sade, especially her more recent sound, this is a fantastic concert DVD. You couldn't ask for more.



THIS CD DOES NOT MAKE THE MOST OF SADE'S VOICE OR SONG WRITING.



The CD, originally released in 2000, contains 11 studio recorded tracks. It is 44 minutes long.



This is really a stark, stripped down sound for Sade, especially when you compare it to her early work.



Seven of the tracks are driven by muted electronic rhythms and a muffled background music. I don't think the sound works well with Sade's vocal style. She sings flat and without emotion. All seven of these tracks sound alike and the CD gets boring and monotonous.



The songs that are good are where she drops the electronic rhythms and lets the emotion of her voice come through, or where she livens up and starts to rock.



On The Sweetest Gift and It's Only Love That Gets You Through, Sade sings to almost no accompanyment. Here she sings in a great jazz/blues style and really lets the emotion of her voice come through.



King of Sorrow and Immigrant are a little more upbeat rockers. (they are not really rockers, but do rock when you compare to the other tracks on the CD). Here she sings with more energy and variation.



So, if she is the King of Sorrow, I think I might consider turning gay.





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