Rating: 
Summary: What could have been..
Review: I'm giving this five stars because it is simply an awesome document of rock 'n' roll's greatest live performer backed by the world's most kick-ass bar band. The sound and picture of this DVD is almost shocking in its quality. You'll think that you're looking at an aquarium with the E Street Band playing within instead of a television screen. However, despite the five star ranking I can't help but remain a little disappointed. This could have been THE live musical document in DVD history. Why the Springsteen camp elected to put the HBO special on one disc and then throw a bunch of extra songs on a second is a mystery. I was at MSG that last night and it was magical. Anyone watching this will feel its pulse, but what would have put it over the top would have been to sequence this in its proper order with all songs included (except "Code of Silence" and "Further On Up the Road" which are new songs probably withheld for a new album). The second disc then could have been used for songs played on the penultimate evening ("The Ties That Bind", "Don't Look Back", "Jungleland", "The Ghost of Tom Joad", "Back In Your Arms"), additional interview footage with more screen time for the band - these seem to be fascinating people especially Steve Van Zandt. Subsequently we could then see and hear the deafening crowd chant of "E STREET BAND / E STREET BAND" and the entire song that led up to Bruce almost breaking down in tears as he sang the last lines of "Blood Brothers". Despite these faults this is certainly a must-have for any Springsteen fan, hell any fan of rock and roll. For those of you with Britney / Creed / Matchbox 20 / etc., fans in your home, please pop this in and give them a rock and roll education. They'll probably thank you for it.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome - but left out some of the best moments!
Review: An incredble video - sound quality and picture the best I've ever seen! It's a treat and a gift to be able to have this - thanks Bruce for giving this back to us! This video is a MUST for the hardcore and casual fan alike! One small complaint - some of the BEST stuff was left off. Just watch the snippet of Blood Brothers and Back in Your Arms Again. Makes you want the whole thing! And Blood Brothers and especially the E-Street Band chant that happened the last night of the tour 7/1/00 underscored the entire 2 years of the tour! This stuff should have been included!
Also: why on earth was the song order shuffled around? It makes me think that the person editing this video didn't have a clue about the tour! (Bruce, you didn't do this did you?) As you watch it it's obviously the songs are out of order - in one Bruce is soaked with sweat - then the next song comes up and he's bone dry! Because of this you don't get the true 'concert experience' because it doesn't seem to flow. OK, those of us who were there for multiple shows can tell you which song was recorded which night, just by looking at the color of the audience wristbands and who's in the first row! But if you're watching for the sheer enjoyment of a concert video - the obvious 'out of sequence'material is very distracting. It seems to me that the DVD was produced for the widest audience in mind, the'hard core' fan (like me) and the casual fan who mainly listens to 'Greatest Hits' - and from a marketing standpoint I can understand that. But I would have rather seen the 'interviews' and the 'pictures' from disc two replaced with the entirety of the last half hour of 7/1/00 - which was THE most powerful concert experience many of us have ever had the honor to attend.
Rating:
Summary: 5 Stars only because its Bruce.....
Review: I owned the VHS of this show, gave it away to a friend so I could get the DVD, well I can honestly say im dissapointed in the sound, it seems on the VHS version you can hear the whole band plus Bruces voice but this version they seemed to quiet the band and the audience and made Bruces voice stand out, kinda lame if you ask me. I want to hear crowd noise too. Now I dont have a stereo TV but still I can tell the mix has been changed. well maybe when I get a TV with surround sound it will sound better, video is great.... as it should be with DVD. I was at MSG for 2 of these shows, (not these though) and I can without hesitation say that Bruce Springsteen is the best live act on the planet. Highly Recommended.......
Rating:
Summary: Still The Boss
Review: Bruce Springsteen reteamed with the E Street Band for their first tour in ten years in early 1999. The tour took them around the world and eventually ended up in Madison Square Garden in New York City for a series of shows in June & July of 2000. The last two shows where filmed and presented as a television special on HBO in early 2001. The show perfectly captured the raw intensity and energy of the shows. During the tour, Mr. Springsteen talked about how he and the band were rededicated to the power and ministry of rock and roll. Mr. Springsteen plays the part of the preacher and his songs provide the sermons. The DVD adds eleven more songs to the original fifteen from the broadcast and they give an even greater sense of the overall show. There are some nice extras like a featurette on the shows and an interview Mr. Springsteen did with Bob Costas. But the real reason to buy the disk is the performance itself and even as he's reached his 50's, Mr. Springsteen brings a youthful exuberance to his shows and he lets it all hang out.
Rating:
Summary: Live In NYC - Best Music/Concert DVD
Review: Bruce came back in 1999 and ended his amazing world tour with an incredible 10 night triumph at Madison Square Garden in NY. I seriously doubt that any other man or band could do this but Bruce Springsteen. The man is older, but he can still sing, play guitar, and in my mind, will always have the stage presence of a god. Bruce delivers a great show! Athletes are told by their coaches to "leave a part of themselves on the playing field"... Bruce does this on stage - every night. I've seen Bruce live before, bit I missed out on this tour (I don't recall him making it thru Arizona. But after viewing this concert on DVD, I feel like I was there. I was never one for MTV or watching music videos... but this is different. This is an "experience". Great song selection (not just the hits), outstanding camera work & editing, superb sound (better than the CD). What's not to enjoy? Bruce & Band have set the bar extremely high for a DVD music concert experience. The ONLY other music DVD that's close (tho a distant 2nd place to this one) is the Eagles "Hell Freezes Over". Highlights include "The Promise", "American Skin" (about the Diallo shooting), "Lost In The Flood", "Darkness On The Edge Of Town", "Land Of Hope & Dreams" and "Badlands"... heck, it's all good. If you are even the slightest of a Springsteen fan, this will be a real treat for your eyes & ears.
Rating:
Summary: I'm in Awe....
Review: The sound quality on this is unsurpassed by any live recording I've ever heard... heck - I can go to actual concerts and not hear it sound so good... and that's merely the sound quality. How about quality of performance... in a word: breathtaking. Bruce's vocals are spot on... just brilliant, and his guitar playing is the best I've ever heard from him - better than in the studio... I play guitar, and I listen to some pretty talented guys... this is the first I've really taken note of Bruce's playing: there's a raw energy there, and he doesn't hit bad notes... pretty darned phenomenal. The rest of the band? Their usual spectacular selves: Max holds down a perfect rhythm as usual, and drums with great energy all the way through as he's known for... Little Steven is as cool as ever... Clarence even cooler still... Patty gorgeous and providing excellent harmonies... keys and bass all spot on as usual... oh - and Nils? The way he shreds the ever living daylights out of "Youngstown" left my jaw on the floor... amazing! The album features Bruce's raw power in so many ways... during "41 shots", he says, "We need some quiet", and poof: you can hear a pindrop... a friend of mine says: "It's easy to get 20,000 people screaming at the top of their lungs... you know you've got real power when you can get 20,000 people to shut up". True enough... the Boss was in charge that evening... easily a "must own" for any Boss fan... even the you casual fans. The serious fans already have it... I'm a casual Bruce fan, and this DVD is simply amazing.
Rating:
Summary: Pure Magic!
Review: That's all I have to say. The Boss and the E Street Band created a magic show. Haven't seen them live yet, but this is truly one great experience. I hope I ever get to see them live.
Rating:
Summary: IF You're no fan yet, you will be after this!!
Review: Simply amazing, hours of feeling like you are at this magical concert, this is what music is all about...!!
Rating:
Summary: A must have, and I'm not even a Bruce Springsteen fan
Review: Bruce Springsteen has great songs, and I always enjoy listening to him. I'm not a real hard-core fan though. IN the 80's in the vinyl era, I bought the River. Somewhere in the 90's I bought a CD, of which I don't even remember the title.
BUT... to see him live on video always make me quite happy.
A few weeks back, this DVD was quite cheap at a drugstore, so I decided to buy it anyway.
It's magic. A real must have, even for me.
Go get it and have a real enjoyable evening.
It's worth it.
Rating: 
Summary: Great live performer, decent DVD
Review: I saw Bruce at Madison Square Garden the week this DVD was filmed, and its sad to say this DVD doesn't come close to the live show. The biggest shortcoming is that they did not film one concert, or even several songs all the way through. They show 'Born to Run' and then fade to black and then fade to another song, which was clearly not the next song played during the actually concert. This really takes away from the feeling that you are there watching him. The quality of music is amazing, and Bruce live is simply the best. Unfortunately this DVD does not capture that. I hope he releases a most continuous show from his 2003 'The Rising' tour, where he was twice as good as he was on this 2001 tour.
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