Rating: 
Summary: Almost Perfect with some Growing Pains
Review: After much ado, it's finally here. A few things up front, there is some overdubbing. No big deal, as the original concert had Peter talking to the audience using almost no English. There are reportedly a few scenes where Melanie Gabriel was given the opportunity to re-sing a few lines, but other than that this concert is basically untouched audibly. Some other people, (Fabio Vampel from NYC USA who thinks we won't notice that he posted twice) will lead you to believe that the video quality is poor and the camera angles are limited. Nothing could be further from the truth. There are sometimes ten cameras visible in a single frame at a time let alone the other 15 they used in shooting the concert. The transfer has more than enough bit rate cursing through it, it's anamorphic, and any DVD player with a good deinterlacer and a DVI output to a High Def TV will show you just how fantastic this picture transfer really is. For those who think that's unfair and it should look great on all TV's and DVD players... sorry, it ain't gonna happen. ^_^; The recording style/mix is a lot more raw than the Secret World concert. Sounds a lot more like the sound of a 'real' concert. And the 5.1 DTS mix on this disc is truly spectacular. Peter's vocals on quieter songs will be a revelation for those who have the proper sound set up to take advantage of it. The picture quality ranks among the best I've seen for concerts. Not quite as sharp as Bruce Springsteen's latest live DVD that was shot for HBO, but Peter's comes off as smother and more 'film like'. Green hues just pop off the screen and the darks are very prominent and moody. The disc being anamorphic was seen as a given but it's VERY much appreciated just the same. Now that I've watched it, there's much to criticize in way it's shot. Actually, more like in the way they chose to edit it. It leaves very little to the imagination. There's too many under the stage shots and they don't make ANY effort to hide the camera guys and technicians running around in BRIGHT orange?! You get the feeling they wanted you to think you were 'in on their secrets' but it comes off as distracting from the songs instead. Also there's some head scratching sceen cutting and editing. Let's face it, stilling the frame and having it fade to B&W looks so... dumb. Frankly it's all the more irritating because most of it looks so cool. Take note, though, that the positive stomps the negative. We have a solid list of classics and new tunes (though having Rythm of the Heat instead of Animal Nation would have been nice). We have an incredible audio mix of it all. And we have superior packaging along with a well crafted tour to pick from. Songs like Mercy Street and Signal to Noise will remind you why Peter is a master at show atmosphere with visuals never overtaking the reason we're all here. Which is to enjoy the music.
Rating:
Summary: Superlative!
Review: This DVD compares favorably with Gabriel's last live outing, 'Secret World Live'. 'Up' has the considerable advantage of being produced with DVD in mind, while 'Secret' was originally made for VHS, with all the limitations imposed by that now-obsolete format. While 'Secret' did make the upgrade to DVD, the video was compromised (excellent DTS sound, though). The new live DVD is simply a pleasure to behold. 'Blue Sky' is worth the price of the DVD all by itself; the Blind Boys of Alabama deliver spine-tingling harmony. The other songs are no less impressive. I do miss Manu Katche on drums on this disc, however. His playing is as much a part of the Gabriel sound as Tony Levin's or David Rhodes - no doubt about it. Gabriel's use of props and the circular, moving dual-level stage is both original and an enhancement to the concert in general. Somehow Gabriel manages to pull these things off without seeming cheap or overly theatrical. Other reviewers have complained about the under-stage shots and stage hand work as being a distraction - I disagree. Far too frequently the yeoman work roadies do is invisible. Apparently Gabriel saw fit to include them in the overall scheme of the concert, and wanted to show just how much his success over the years has been owed to these unsung heroes (I was once a roadie/soundman for a band, so I do indentify). The DTS sound is simply among the best I've heard in ANY concert DVD; all 5 channels are clear and precise. One feels covered in sound from all directions. Marvelous! Overall, this is a terrific concert DVD. Now I don't feel quite so bad about not seeing this tour in person! I just hope I don't have to wait another 10 years before P.G. decides to tour once again!
Rating:
Summary: A grumpy review...
Review: En mi opinion, cuando uno se dispone a ver un concierto de rock, no espera ver 4 ó 5 tipos sentados tocando sus instrumentos mientras leen su partitura, en una habitacion sobria y oscura, asi los espectadores pueden enfocarse en la musica. No, para eso existen los discos, los recitales de rock son una experiencia tanto visual como musical, y Peter Gabriel hace un rabajo espectacuar con este en particular.
Todo el trabajo de Gabriel surge de un tema, un punto principal, y las ideas se desarrollan de ese germen comun, y este video es un ejemplo de eso. Es uno de los recitales mas recomendables de estos ulimos años. Sobre todo para los que gustan de la buena musica y que saben apreciar una buena experiencia visual.
Buona sera.
Rating: 
Summary: Re-UPing
Review: This concert is less the tale of a man coming to grips with essential parts of his life coming undone than SECRET WORLD. This is a more lighthearted and playful Gabriel who re-considers the songs from UP as well as assembles a presentation of well known tunes from his canon. In short, this is more concert than concept.
And it is a great concert! I did not have the opportunity to catch it live, but the cameras are giving you a multitude of perspectives you would not have caught anyway. The performances are absolutely sterling and there seems to be far less overdubbing on this than there was with SECRET WORLD. Colleagues Levin and Rhodes anchor the drive of Gabriel's music and with Ged Lynch in the drummer's chair, Rachel Z at the keys and daughter Melanie on vocals, the whole effort has a very strong rock instead of world direction. Less the romantic leading man of his last DVD, Gabriel is a bit more computer geek with paunch. Happens to all of us, I guess. In any case his approach is much lighter in humour than UP would have ever suggested. I can remember him sitting on the edge of the stage at the Tower in the course of "Fear is the mother" and freaking out the girls who had come close to caress him by rearing his head back with his eyes rolled up into his skull. No more mental patient on the loose. The fun of doing this concert comes off effectively. It had to have been great fun live, because it is just a real joy to watch on DVD. Among the highlights are The Blind Boys of Alabama, whose harmonizing is absolutely the best thing musically about this concert. It's a great disc to just enjoy for its own sake. I'm sure Gabriel will get back to mythology and ontology later.
Rating:
Summary: Excellant!
Review: What a wonderful work of art from one of the hardest working rock artists ever. Peter Gabriel takes 10 years to make a record and it shoes. I own the Secret World Live dvd as well as Growing Up and each one is great in its own right. Growing Up displays the maturing sensibilities of this artist. Audibly, the sound is better than Secret World Live. Every track is wonderful. The highlights are Red Rain which displays some of bassist Tony Levin's best work and Signal To Noise which is a Pink Floydian rock track in an orchestral string setting. Visually, the film (which, fortunately, uses cinematic lighting) is a feast for the eyes with its minimalistic props and dramatic lighting. One of the best examples in popular music that less is more. The arrangements are excellant, the performances wonderful. I even like daughter Melanie's singing which is very understated. Gabriel's voice is in fine form and Ged Lynch is a great drummer. Gabriel's music is intelligent and artful at every turn. This is how pop music should be written, recorded and filmed. Long live Peter Gabriel!
Rating:
Summary: Can't quit watching!!
Review: Great camerawork, soundtrack, upclose shots! Would do anything to have been to that concert!! Peter Gabriel shows that you can have an entertaining production without the shock value. My favorite DVD by far!
Rating: 
Summary: No Genesis covers???????????
Review: Peter Gabriel's best work was with Genesis and this Genesis fan back stabber doesn't even play The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Awesome
Review: I just watched this and all I can say is WOW! This is the best concert video I have ever seen. Peter Gabriel is the greatest bard of our time.
Rating:
Summary: A little disappointing
Review: I realise that it is 9 years since Peter did Secret World Live and that at about 54 he is not the spring chicken he once was. His music and lyrics are as to be expected - perfect, however, is stage presence and dynamic energy fade to insignificance when compared to Secret World Live.
The concert contains a good mix of his newer works and the classics such as 'Solsbury Hill', though I thought that the key backing vocalist for 'In Your Eyes' lacked the vocal power required to pull that song off. Paula Cole did a far better job on Secret World Live.
One big let-down is the childish overuse of cheap video tricks in the post production. 360 degree frame spins do nothing for me and the overuse of random freeze frames makes it appear that the DVD has a data fault. All in all, still a very good concert.
10 points for Peter, still entertaining the world.
10 points for the band.
7 points for the post production sound engineer/producer, not the best mix.
4 points for the post production video engineer/producer. Anyone wanting to buy this DVD - all good, but I highly recommend you purchase 'Secret World Live' as well.
Rating:
Summary: The best music DVD I have seen.
Review: This is the first time that I have watched a DVD and felt compelled to review it right away. This performance in my opinion, is THE best music DVD I have bought. I own approx. 350 various DVD's and I would even go so far as to say that it is one of the best DVD's in my collection. I have been a fan of his since the 80's so I may be biased. I have had the day off work today, and was lucky to receive it in the mail this morning. With no housework or shopping to do, I immediately started it up. To my surprise, even the menu screen is flowing with superb sounding music and effects. I took that to be a good indication of what I was about to watch. I was not disappointed. As you would know from reading other comments, this is a live concert recorded in Milan, Italy. From the first song, you could tell that the audience were there to listen to HIM, not to just another foreign performer. The majority appeared to be genuine fans, who were singing along in English. One of the features is that whilst the concert is being performed, we are also shown bits of what is happening under the elevated stage. All of the stagehands are dressed the same and are very impressive to watch. Why? Well, because the choreography is like nothing else I have ever seen in a concert. It was similar to the Genesis concert I saw live here in Sydney some years back, but much more professional. Fans of Gabriel will know why it may remind you of Genesis. Many, many moves were impressively choreographed with all performers joining in. The giant plastic air ball which suddenly appears in the middle of the stage is great eye candy and even more impressive when you see Gabriel actually climb into the thing and walk, or roll, around the circumference of the round stage whilst continuing to sing with a headset microphone. I have a few other music DVD's which offer DTS sound, but this clearly stands out from the rest. So too does the picture quality. I came away thinking that the concert was made purely for DVD. Unfortunately, the great Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan is no longer with us, however that doesn't stop us being treated to his wonderful voice on the track "Signal To Noise". Lastly, having recently lost my father, his final song "Father, Son", which naturally he dedicated to his father, was performed with so much feeling that it bought a tear to my eye. If you like Peter Gabriel, or just like to watch a good concert, of even if you have a semi-professional home theatre set-up and want to test it capabilities, this is one DVD you must own.
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