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Rating: 
Summary: This one is EASY!
Review: If you are thinking about making this purchase...DO IT! You will not be disappointed. This is not a film about U2 although they are prominently featured. This is an outstanding documentary covering all facets of Irish music culminating with the status of Irish Rock circa 2000. Fantastic interviews with a reflective Van Morrison, still intense still burning Bob Geldolf, and a suprizingly humble Bono, along with several pilars of Irish music. I've learned so much about the music I love and discovered more wonderful artists to explore. I'm embarrassed to say that I had no idea who Rory Gallagher was (his name has every right to be mentioned in the same breath with Page, Hendrix, and Clapton...Guitar God? Hell Yeah!) until viewing this DVD. Now I can't get enough of his music. Thanks to Amazon.com for making so much of his catalogue as well as the other artists available. I haven't explored any special features on the DVD and don't even know if they exist at the time I'm writting this...but...who cares! This disc ROCKS! The sound and picture quality are there. Everyone I've shown this to are just stunned by what they are seeing and hearing. The only complaint is that the music clips are too short but again, it's a great way to learn more about not just Irish rock, but Rock and Roll period.
To sum it all up...crack a cold one, pop the disc in, kick back, and ENJOY!!!
Rating:
Summary: A GREAT OVERVIEW OF SOME OF IRELAND'S FINEST
Review: No program of this type is going to please EVERY music fan - music is too much of a subjective passion for the listener, and some viewers are inevitably going to feel that their favorites were slighted in some way - but this series, produced by the Irish television network, goes a long way in giving widespread, attentive coverage to those acts who were innovators and groundbreakers, inspiring and enabling others to follow in their footsteps, certainly not as imitators, but as fellow-travelers on a never-ending adventure in music, art, culture and politics.Beginning in the 1950s with the show bands, and moving through the 1980s, the three episodes contained on this DVD release (by the way, FROM A WHISPER TO A SCREAM and OUT OF IRELAND seem to be the same material with a different title and cover, the latter being the newer release) cover an amazing amount of musical ground - and, valuably, give the viewer lots of valuable background information on the Irish culture and atmosphere that contributed so vitally to the music documented here. There's plenty of rare, historical footage to be seen here - Planxty, from (I'm guessing) around 1972; Clannad (including a bit of the video featuring Maire NÃBhraonain and Bono duetting beautifully on 'In a lifetime'; Horslips (a great band that mixed traditional tunes with electricity, sadly unknown in the rest of the world); a great live segment with legends Moving Hearts performing 'Hiroshima-Nagasaki Russian roulette'; and much, much more. More toward the rock end of the spectrum, the programs deal extensively with U2 (of course), Bob Geldof's Boomtown Rats (including a nice section on the Live Aid concert that Geldof organized), Thin Lizzy (there's a touching tribute to Phil Lynott), Rory Gallagher (with and without his band Taste), the great Van Morrison, SÃnead Ó Connor - and the list goes on and on. Some of the archival footage is a little rough - but that's to be expected, and it actually adds not only a feeling of authenticity to the programs, but a sense of the true history of the subject as well. For too long, Ireland has been thought of as a piece of the British empire (of course, the North is still...), both politically and culturally. The programs explore the problems experienced by bands attempting to make a name for themselves in the 60s - scoffed at, and worse, by the powers-that-be in the UK music industry, until by sheer talent and determination, they made the world take heed and listen to them. This is a great documentary - and I was touched to receive it as a gift from my best friend. She really knows me well, and was right on target with this choice. Highly recommended to anyone who takes their music - rock & roll as well as traditional - seriously.
Rating:
Summary: A MUST FOR THE SERIOUS ROCK FAN AND STUDENT
Review: One caution...the average rock fan probably would be dissatisfied with this DVD because the music clips, though numerous, are so brief. But for the person looking for more depth and understanding, this documentary is tops. The very roots of Irish Rock & Roll are explored, including the influence of The Beatles and of Chuck Berry as well as that of traditional Irish music and even the Irish operatic tenor, John McCormick. Foremost of course is the Irish character itself which flavors Irish rock. Irish rock's place and influence on international rock is spotlighted, as well as the genre's place in the whole spectrum of Irish music. Performers such as Clannad (and Enya), U2, the Corrs, the Cranberries, Van Morrison are highlighted, but many other notable groups less familiar or unfamiliar to those outside of Ireland are given their dues. There's even a relationship shown between Irish rock and "Riverdance". If you are a serious student of rock, and seek understanding of Irish Rock's unique importance, this DVD is indeed for you.
Rating:
Summary: A MUST FOR THE SERIOUS ROCK FAN AND STUDENT
Review: Warning, this documentary might be disappointing to the average fan because the performance clips are painfully brief. But if you are more intererested in a deeper knowledge and understanding of Irish rock and it's place in rock..indeed in the full spectrum of Irish music, then this video should be your cup of tea. The influence of The Beatles as well as such American rock as Chuck Berry is traced along with the influence of traditional Irish music, even that of the legendary operatic tenor, John McCormick. Most important though is the very Irish nature which flavors the music. All music is interwoven, and the relationship between Irish rock and the dance spectacular, "Riverdance", is brought out. Performers such as Van Morrison, Clannad (and Enya), The Cranberries, U2, and The Corrs are all highlighted, but performers lesser known or even unknown outside of Ireland are all given their due, and the credit they deserve. If you want a comprehensive overview of Irish rock, and are NOT looking for the entertainment value of long performance clips, then this video is definitely for you.
Rating:
Summary: A MUST FOR THE SERIOUS ROCK FAN AND STUDENT
Review: Warning, this documentary might be disappointing to the average fan because the performance clips are painfully brief. But if you are more intererested in a deeper knowledge and understanding of Irish rock and it's place in rock..indeed in the full spectrum of Irish music, then this video should be your cup of tea. The influence of The Beatles as well as such American rock as Chuck Berry is traced along with the influence of traditional Irish music, even that of the legendary operatic tenor, John McCormick. Most important though is the very Irish nature which flavors the music. All music is interwoven, and the relationship between Irish rock and the dance spectacular, "Riverdance", is brought out. Performers such as Van Morrison, Clannad (and Enya), The Cranberries, U2, and The Corrs are all highlighted, but performers lesser known or even unknown outside of Ireland are all given their due, and the credit they deserve. If you want a comprehensive overview of Irish rock, and are NOT looking for the entertainment value of long performance clips, then this video is definitely for you.
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