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Bond - Live at the Royal Albert Hall

Bond - Live at the Royal Albert Hall

List Price: $19.98
Your Price: $15.98
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Amazing
Review: I went into an electronics store to get something and on the way out I caught notice of a big screen TV playing a live performance. I watched for 20 minutes and decided I must have the DVD. I've watched the whole thing once and a couple of tracks many times. Outstanding! There's no other word to describe it. It's four very beautiful, talented young women doing what they enjoy most. By the time you've gone 10 minutes into the DVD you'll realize this. These girls are really having fun! I hope they do another soon.
Included on this DVD are two videos they've done. The first, "Viva" contains enough energy to launch a rocket! I never knew a string quartet could sound (or look) so good.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: MTV for the Old Teen-Ager in All of Us
Review: I'm over 40, but this is the kind of video that lets me understand why teenagers are drawn to MTV. It hits my demographic with a sledgehammer. The music is great, juiced up classical music played by talented, classically trained artists that just happen to be beautiful.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Unoriginal
Review: Listen once to "The 1812" and you will understand my one-star rating. The 1812 Overture is, admittedly, a little cheesy, but nothing deserves the treatment Bond give it.

Classical instruments do not need a dance beat and electrification to be cool. Listen to anything by the band Apocalyptica, or even Godspeed You ! Black Emperor (who use celli)--there is music out there that pushes the boundaries of traditional classical music, and does it well, without resorting to electronic beats and scantily clad women.

If you must order this, order Apocalyptica's "Cult" with it, for purposes of comparison.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Unoriginal
Review: Listen once to "The 1812" and you will understand my one-star rating. The 1812 Overture is, admittedly, a little cheesy, but nothing deserves the treatment Bond give it.

Classical instruments do not need a dance beat and electrification to be cool. Listen to anything by the band Apocalyptica, or even Godspeed You ! Black Emperor (who use celli)--there is music out there that pushes the boundaries of traditional classical music, and does it well, without resorting to electronic beats and scantily clad women.

If you must order this, order Apocalyptica's "Cult" with it, for purposes of comparison.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Ah, Hype...
Review: Okay, I'll admit that Bond's not the self-inclusive symphony that it has been hyped by the record label as. However, anyone who says that their 'Coyote Ugly'-esque costumes are the evidence that Bond 'isn't about making classical music cool, it's about sex' don't know too many 24-year-old women. My credentials in this area come from two sources: first as a classically trained singer (as such I'm professionally familiar with orchestras) and as the friend of numerous women in their twenties. From women at my work to women I've sung with, I've covered many differant personality-types, and with only a few exceptions they would all love to get out on stage and play sex-kitten for a night. As a band, Bond is about re-vamping Classical music, the leather pants and low-cut silk shirts are simply the natural result of young women getting to pick their wardrobes when money is no object. With that out of the way...

Bond has to be one of greatest ideas for a 'reinvention' of a genre ever. Quickly after William Orbit's 'Barber's Adagio for strings' took over clubs some record excutive decided to see if he could make a band out of it. Are the four 'Bond girls' a manufactored quintet, of course! But when was the last time you heard of a twelve piece orchestra coming together because they met in college and thought playing together would be fun? Of course Bond is four string-players, but they tour with an actual orchestra, complemented by DJs and a standard rock-band. So the CD is an orchestral endevour, Bond is simply the figure-head. Kind of like Bruce Springsteen's last album.

In sort, disregard what you've heard disparaging Bond's artistic credibility. Think only of Paul Oakenfold getting a hold of Beethoven's fifth symphony, run through a few bars, and if you like, jump on the Bond wagon. This is classical fused with techno, and unlike most orchestras, the stage show's just as good as the music.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Skillful But Goofy
Review: The one time I attempted to watch this concert was immediately after watching "Miracle" by the 12 Girls Band (both concerts were on the same DVD for some odd reason). I was able to sit through only a few pieces before having to eject the DVD. While "Miracle" showed the 12 Girls Band to be a class act exhibiting skillful musicianship, elegance and femininity, Bond came across like some goofy teenage girls lacking class, elegance and femininity. OK, so they are skillful musicians; not good enough.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Superb form and substance
Review: The problem with musicians looking good is we underestimate their true talents - we tend to focus on the form not the substance. The Bond obviously has both. My misgivings on their real talents totally vanished in Korobushka; without the din of the drums and the orchestra, it was amazing to see their individual talents showcased in cascading display of violins, viola and cello virtuosity. But aside from being superb technicians, this group also flashes creativity in composing some of their music - Gay-yee's Kismet and Eos' Bella Donna are hauntingly exquisite. Before Bond, I never realized that a "String Quartet" could be that exciting.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Real emotion at a concert, so refreshing!
Review: This DVD is a surprise, I have never heard of bond till 2 weeks ago. I was in my local home theater store and caught them on one of the screening rooms. The music was upbeat, the girls looks great but what caught my eye were the emotions flowing thru. it looks like they are having the time of their life.

This is so refreshing since what you get from most live performance from established performer is an act. A show put together by expert structured to get the audience emotionally involve, with perfectly timed high and low point. To see a group that's actually having great fun on stage was so unique that I have to ask the sales person who they are and bought a copy of the DVD on the spot.

I have since picked up the Japanese import for Born and I would say the DVD is much better. The background music on the CD was much more pronounced and was actually overshadowing the string instruments on some tracks. The concert performance has clean up some of the arrangement and move the string instruments back to stage front. I still enjoy the CD but I'm hoping that they will release the concert on audio CD.

In conclusion, If you know bond and like their CD, the DVD is a must buy. If you were like me and have never heard of them before. give the DVD a try.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Imagine a live pre-recorded concert
Review: This DVD is not a LIVE concert! At least not 100%. Although the 4 gifted string performers are actually playing music in front of a live audience at the Royal Albert Hall, the music track is superimposed on top of the live performance, which makes the concert feel and sound more like a music video. There is only one song that is played 100% live, and for that experience alone, I still rated the DVD with 3 stars. It is enjoyable and entertaining to watch Bond anyhow. Just understand that it is not a full live concert experience for which you will be paying.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Wonderful
Review: This DVD showcases Bonds unique musical talents. Their performance was flawless and electrifying. Bond is absolutely amazing!


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