Rating: 
Summary: Paper Thin
Review: a powerful and seriously enjoyable performance that elevates these songs to new and more interesting heights.
Rating: 
Summary: Missing Policy of Truth & Enjoy The Silence
Review: Dave Gahan and Martin Gore's solo tours have had a lot of mixed reactions. What does it all mean? Just something each of them felt the need to do? Only time will tell. Unlike Martin, who played only 8 dates for his Counterfeit 2 tour, Dave's is the complete opposite in comparison, with many many concert dates all over the world. Live Monsters gives us the show Dave did in Paris, back on July 5th, 2003. This show was later shown on PayPerView. Dave of course is the center of attention and he loves every minute of it. I think it's safe to say, that although he does perform a bunch of Depeche Mode songs, this is his interpretation of where he wants to move musically as a performer, with a heavy blues influence and lighter softer songwriting. Sure he's no Martin Gore when it comes to writing songs, but Martin's been doing this professionally for more than twenty years now, and Dave's just started. A little slack, if you please. What really bothers me about this DVD release is that it is an incomplete concert. After Never Let Me Down Again is performed, Dave and company return for two additional encores: Policy of Truth and Enjoy The Silence, both acoustic. Now, truth be told, Policy of Truth was only performed about halfway (first two versus) and then ended abruptly for some strange reason. Enjoy The Silence was performed all the way and was a really good performance. As the crowd sings back to Dave, "All I ever wanted! All I ever needed is here! In my arms!", Dave looks back at them and says, "Who, me?! Oui?!" Just pure Dave Gahan. And all this is missing on Live Monsters. I had assumed from the Exciter Live In Paris DVD that the days of incomplete concerts released on home video were over. I guess I was wrong. The extra features are nice but I don't care how much bonus material you put on here, it means nothing without a complete concert. It shouldn't have to be this way. On the plus side, at least Mute Records released a Dave Gahan concert officially. If only they'd do the same for Martin Gore. A bonus DVD of five live tracks from Martin's Counterfeit 2 concert in Milan, Italy was inluded with the Loverman CD single in the EU, but Martin performed eighteen songs that night. Fans deserve much better than this and Mute Records needs to start coming through more often. If you feel the same way, voice your opinion here or write to Mute Records directly. Stay Devoted!
Rating:
Summary: Missing Policy of Truth & Enjoy The Silence
Review: Dave Gahan and Martin Gore's solo tours have had a lot of mixed reactions. What does it all mean? Just something each of them felt the need to do? Only time will tell. Unlike Martin, who played only 8 dates for his Counterfeit 2 tour, Dave's is the complete opposite in comparison, with many many concert dates all over the world. Live Monsters gives us the show Dave did in Paris, back on July 5th, 2003. This show was later shown on PayPerView. Dave of course is the center of attention and he loves every minute of it. I think it's safe to say, that although he does perform a bunch of Depeche Mode songs, this is his interpretation of where he wants to move musically as a performer, with a heavy blues influence and lighter softer songwriting. Sure he's no Martin Gore when it comes to writing songs, but Martin's been doing this professionally for more than twenty years now, and Dave's just started. A little slack, if you please. What really bothers me about this DVD release is that it is an incomplete concert. After Never Let Me Down Again is performed, Dave and company return for two additional encores: Policy of Truth and Enjoy The Silence, both acoustic. Now, truth be told, Policy of Truth was only performed about halfway (first two versus) and then ended abruptly for some strange reason. Enjoy The Silence was performed all the way and was a really good performance. As the crowd sings back to Dave, "All I ever wanted! All I ever needed is here! In my arms!", Dave looks back at them and says, "Who, me?! Oui?!" Just pure Dave Gahan. And all this is missing on Live Monsters. I had assumed from the Exciter Live In Paris DVD that the days of incomplete concerts released on home video were over. I guess I was wrong. The extra features are nice but I don't care how much bonus material you put on here, it means nothing without a complete concert. It shouldn't have to be this way. On the plus side, at least Mute Records released a Dave Gahan concert officially. If only they'd do the same for Martin Gore. A bonus DVD of five live tracks from Martin's Counterfeit 2 concert in Milan, Italy was inluded with the Loverman CD single in the EU, but Martin performed eighteen songs that night. Fans deserve much better than this and Mute Records needs to start coming through more often. If you feel the same way, voice your opinion here or write to Mute Records directly. Stay Devoted!
Rating:
Summary: Dave tries a little too hard, but it's OK.
Review: First, I need to correct a previous reviewer who stated that Anton Corbijn directed this film. It was directed by Fabien Raymond. Anton was only involved in the packaging.
I bought the Paper Monsters album and was quite impressed with it. And some of the PM songs are even given new life in this live format. Bitter Apple, Stay, and A Little Piece are transformed quite dramatically with live drumming and they come to life a little better than they do on the album. Black And Blue Again and Goodbye have intense little jams at the end of them. A Little Piece also has a little lyrical tag at the end that is lifted from Lips Like Sugar by Echo & The Bunnymen.
Some people have been saying that the DM songs performed here are more like versions by a bad DM cover band and I have to agree on some level. Dave and his band didn't do much to expand on or reinvent the DM songs, which I think was a goal of Dave's for this tour. That's not to say that his band aren't worth their salt. Knox Chandler, Martyn LeNoble, Victor Indrizzo and Vince Jones are all good musicians.
I wouldn't say that any of the DM songs were butchered, but they weren't improved on, either. A Question of Time has a really cheesy synth sound on it during the verses. Personal Jesus suffers the most, I think. It's way too fast and and Dave delivers the vocals badly. I Feel You is also kind of weak.
The bonus songs are nothing special but I do like the way Dirty Sticky Floors turned out as an acoustic version.
There is, however, a lot to be said for Dave's showmanship on this film. I attended a show on this tour and it was a lot of fun. Dave clearly enjoys himself here and is just as energetic as he was on the fantastic Exciter tour.
I gave it 3 stars because Dave really does push too hard on his voice in a lot of places, the DM songs don't come across so well, and the cinematography bugs me at certain points.
Rating: 
Summary: DAVE GAHAN
Review: FOR ME IS THE BEST OF WORLD, HAVE ONE SING BEATIFULL, YEAHHH, YOUR MIND AND HEART OF POETRY, IS SIMPLE, BUT YOUR VOICE IS EMOTION AND LOVE.
Rating:
Summary: Average but not great
Review: I did not like the 'Paper Monsters' that much except for just the song 'Bitter Apple' which I thought was phenominal. It took 3 seperate times at the music store considering buying this album before I just did it as I figure with a live version of bitter apple and an accoustic version, it might be worth the money. As well as assuming a live playing of the other songs might change my opinions on his other songs. Unfortunetly I'm not impressed with the DVD. It is well filmed but the 3 accoustic tracks have severe camera shaking problems and sometimes aren't even pointing at the band, but at the floor or ceiling. If you really liked 'Paper Monsters' then you will like this DVD but if you were only so-so about the album or didn't like it very much you will NOT enjoy this DVD. Don't say I didn't give Gahan a fair chance as I bought the album AND the DVD and still don't like his solo work.
Rating:
Summary: Average but not great
Review: I did not like the 'Paper Monsters' that much except for just the song 'Bitter Apple' which I thought was phenominal. It took 3 seperate times at the music store considering buying this album before I just did it as I figure with a live version of bitter apple and an accoustic version, it might be worth the money. As well as assuming a live playing of the other songs might change my opinions on his other songs. Unfortunetly I'm not impressed with the DVD. It is well filmed but the 3 accoustic tracks have severe camera shaking problems and sometimes aren't even pointing at the band, but at the floor or ceiling. If you really liked 'Paper Monsters' then you will like this DVD but if you were only so-so about the album or didn't like it very much you will NOT enjoy this DVD. Don't say I didn't give Gahan a fair chance as I bought the album AND the DVD and still don't like his solo work.
Rating:
Summary: The Soul Of Depeche Mode
Review: I had the fortune to see the show, because I could watch it on the tv, before it was edited on DVD.
I think Dave is really happy and full with his solist album, he look very healthy, with his voice intact, and full of energy. Obviously his charisma makes him unique upon the stage, keeping the conection between him and the public all along the show.
The song versions of DM are more powerful and have the Dave's solist mark.
The sound and the image have an incredible quality, you can feel the big atmosphere of this show, that is why the DVD is recomendable in all ways, for the Dave Gahan's fans, and also for the Depeche Mode's ones, and for everyone who wants to know a really artist.
Rating:
Summary: Ok...but could be better.
Review: I was one of the first people who tried to get his hands on David Gahan's solo CD. I thought his new sound was decent, and there were a few songs on that album that I did enjoy, such as Bitter Apple and Dirty Sticky Floors. I gave the DVD a shot, especially since I was curious to see his new take on old DM classics (Walking in My Shoes is one of my favorite DM songs).
Overall I wasn't that disappointed, but I definitely felt that it could have been a lot better. I didn't have an issue with the feel of the music, since I didn't go into it expecting it to be another live DM concert. The camerawork was acceptable, but there were some very strange angles in shots during certain songs. I also felt that the audio quality of the disk was poor. The mix was very muddy and the vocals were exceptionally loud at times versus the other instruments ... and vice versa. Unfortunately, this rough mix took some of the sublety away from his softer songs.
As for the DM songs, they were ok, but honestly sounded more like David Gahan fronting a bad DM cover band. I knew that he wanted to add a new dimension, a more edgy and bluesy dimension to the DM cuts, but for me, they sounded too familiar to be really different. And it's disappointing that the acoustic versions of Policy of Truth and Enjoy the Silence were omitted from the DVD. It would have been nice to hear Enjoy the Silence in the way that Martin Gore had originally conceived it (as an acoustic song)...before Alan Wilder added the trademark beat and rhythm that we know today (though I believe there is an acoustic version of ETS somewhere). A Question of Time, Walking in My Shoes, Personal Jesus, I Feel You and Never Let Me Down Again were generally ok for me, but I was expecting something different, something more.
The extras on the DVD are so-so. The only thing I found was pretty decent were the 3 extra acoustic cuts (for a radio promo thing that Dave & co. were doing) included. Dirty Sticky Floors actually sounded better acoustically to me... Overall it's a so so investment. I wouldn't recommend it anyone other than die-hard Dave fans.
Rating:
Summary: Paper Talents
Review: Ok, when I first listened to Paper Monsters I was happily surprised. I thought it was not great at any rate, but a good enough album. Since Exciter and Counterfeit2 where a bit of a let down for me, it made me glad.
After some success, Dave started to feel suddenly all against Martin's policy about DM and who writes the songs. I thought he could maybe try to come up with something, but let's face it, Dave's lyrics are mediocre at best, and can barely come up with a tune that would rival Martins'. So, when this gets announced I go and check all the previews, since I read that it is quite good. I was a bit suspicious since it is a bit strange that someone would release a proper live dvd with only one studio album and tour behind. And the worse was there. Dave is singing awfully bad. Listen to the 5 DM songs (all of which, for Dave's bad luck, are in the much much better One Night In Paris). Awfull renditions. The back up band can't compete in any way with Martin's DM (even without Wilder). But surprisingly, Gahan's vocal are all stressed up. People complained about his singing in some of the Paris dvd songs, but believe me, that was pure bliss in comparison. Also, now Dave is the only star. No one is there to offer contrast in the slightest bit. And the directing is pointless. They tried to make it "epic" and made it "typical". You expect this king of video direction from bands like Bon Jovi, not a DM member who was worked for years with the very very talented Anton Corbijn.
His solo album songs are dully performed too, the track list could be much better or a least a bit more generous, and the only reason I give an extra star is because it is cheap (but make no mistake, it is as cheap as the performance and release). Also, it should be pointed that Dave recently released an online single, A Little Piece. You pay and get a one-track-only single, consisting of the live version of the song in mp3 format, and cheap cover art in pdf format. How pathetic is that? I would have preferred "A Night With Martin L. Gore" being released in dvd (you can view the excerpts from every song in his site), even with its minimal direction and stage concept. At least we get rare and interesting versions of DM songs, even acoustic ones, and one hell of a vocal performance, all soul and passion (while Dave is all show off and diva-esque). Anyway, still better than Britney's last release...
|
