Rating: Summary: I actually watched the DVD and... Review: I can't help but wonder if the fellow reviewer from Dallas actually watched the same DVD as I did. For one, I think Jeff did a very good job interacting with his audience, talking between numbers and displaying a sense of humor that kept everyone involved (as if the music wasn't enough!). I don't think any of the tracks were lifeless or devoid of emotion, rather they were attempts to capture the impeccable studio work that Lynne has churned out over his 30+ years in the business. And to blame the failure of the Zoom tour in its entirety on the quality of this concert is simply asinine. The failure of the concert tour can be placed squarely at the feet of the promoters who chose to stage shows at arenas and amphitheatres that were simply too large to be profitable given the current fan base that ELO can attract on the road. In fact, this DVD was released AFTER the cancellation of the tour, and the only live performance that could be seen by the public prior to the failure of the tour was VH-1's Storytellers program, which was poorly promoted itself. This disc would get five stars if it were a bit longer...enjoy, ELO fans true and loyal.
Rating: Summary: Dead on arrival. Review: Very disappointing for a long time fan and avid admirer of Jeff Lynne and the legacy he built in ELO. It would have been better if this performance would have been released as a live CD. That way the audience could have imagined that the performers were alive. The three stars are because the music has earned its stripes in the past 30 years. But if this was the first effort to showcase the music of a new band, it would not likely succeed. Jeff Lynne is a pop music pioneer, a great innovator, producer, and a talented musician. His voice sounds as good as ever. And his guitar playing is cleaner and crisper than it was during ELO's heyday. But this DVD proves that being profficient and talented isn't everthing. You've got to have some soul to make it on the road.
Technically the DVD has a great look and a great sound. But it is a flat performance that has the new band, with only Lynne and keyboardist Richard Tandy representing the lineup that made it big, going through the motions with no appearance of any interest in the music and no ability to interact with the audience. It is no wonder that the ZOOM tour suffered an early death.
The classics are performed faithfully and the musicianship is of a very high caliber. But even if you are nostalgic and get misty eyed at the mere thought of the good old days of the 1970's this one just doesn't get under your skin or make you want to dance, move around, or even tap your toes.
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Rating: Summary: Bring back ELO part 2!! Review: This, Jeff Lynne's laughably lame 'comeback' for ELO (har har), is an abomination to the magnificent legacy of ELO Part 2. ELO Part 2 rocked the world over, to greatly enthusiastic crowds, for a decade of power. Then Lynne gets the name back and proceeds to turn it into a laughingstock. Lynne is a rotten performer, and as far as how he comes off in the interview segment-- he's also a pretty stupid fellow. Thank God noone heard of this travesty and the tour was mercifully axed.
Rating: Summary: Hmmm not bad, but not great. Review: I bought this just a while ago, found it okay but not the big production show I was expecting. The opening was great but once that was done, that was it. The songs were all okay, and yeah I knew them all. The crowd seemed, by the post/pre concert footage, to love him, but weren't really into the concert. My interpretation of it anyway. And could he take off his sunglasses??? He seems a nice and talented guy, but this is no big stadium ELO show.
Rating: Summary: One of My Favorites Review: I have just recently began collecting music DVDs since the completion of my theater. I base my decisions on two criterion. 1) The reviews have to support a very high rating for sound quality, and 2) hopefully it is a group that I like.
For me, at my age, that usually means that the performers are getting a little long in the tooth. So they not only have to still be alive, but also be performing within the last few years to take advantage of the new technologies. This DVD is fantastic on both accounts. They may not be as good as they once were, but they are as good once as they ever were.
Rating: Summary: ABSOLUTELY NUTHIN BETTER!!!!!!!! Review: AS FAR AS IM CONCERNED,THERE ISNT A BETTER SOUNDING CONCERT DVD OUT THERE.THIS SHOULD BE THE MODEL FOR THE REST....
Rating: Summary: Zoom on in!!! Review: I felt like I was watching an album being played.
Rating: Summary: Jeff Lynne Does ELO on Zoom Tour Live DVD Review: This is an excellent DVD of Jeff Lynne "covering" alot of older ELO material along with some new material from his new album (or excuse me - ) THEIR NEW ALBUM ZOOM! The material is very good. I agree with a previous reviewer that Lynne's stage presence is not that invigorating or entertaining. But the music packs a punch and all the music is played very well. The only thing that puzzles me about this whole Zoom idea/concept is that it really is Jeff Lynne solo. I can't help that feeling when I'm watching this. First off, there are no "real strings" except for 2 celloists that are barely audible to my ears - they only enhance the bass if anything. Also there is "mock" violin sounds from the keyboards (BTW, which is played by the only other former ELO member Richard Tandy). Secondly, on the album Zoom, most of it is played by Jeff Lynne himself with guests George Harrsion, Ringo Starr, a celloist, and Richard Tandy -- I'm probably missing others...but I don't think that consitutes calling it Electric Light Orchestra. I have the suspicion that maybe it's because it may be a bigger draw that having just the Jeff Lynne name on a product. Or is it the influence of ELO contained within that makes it qualify as ELO. I would have prefered it being just the Jeff Lynne Project or something to that degree because of the above explanations. Either way you slice it though, it's still a great DVD - ELO or Jeff Lynne. The sound is superb on surround sound. A+
Rating: Summary: Zoom plus KERPOW! Review: If you already like ELO, you'll LOVE this concert on a DVD. If you don't even know who ELO are, this is a perfect introduction on a DVD. Even in their heyday, there was no-one quite like ELO. Not that they were so much better than everyone else - but because, like Queen, for example, they had a style and a sound that really was innovative and all their own. An acquired taste, perhaps (certainly not for anyone who thinks that Rock and Roll should never feature a string section!), but a taste worth acquiring. What is particularly notable about this performance is the relative faithfulness to the original recordings. Some groups seem to feel that is a betrayal of their artistic integrity to ever give a live performance that matches their recorded material. To my mind this is like the film company that buys up a bestselling novel and re-writes it to such an extent that only the names remain the same. I'm not suggesting that pop music should never be innovative, but if things are going to change it should at least be for the better - which is all too often not the case. In the Zoom concert we get 23 numbers, of which 17 are old favourites, and six are from the Orchestra's new album. At first hearing the older tracks all sound pretty much as they did way back when, but listen a little more carefully and there are SUBTLE variations, especially from keyboardist Richard Tandy, that ensure that they have renewed vigour and Kerpow! ELO were great then, they're great Now. So just buy it!
Rating: Summary: This is long overdue, Jeff and ELO...but no late charges!! Review: I never got to see ELO live during their prime, but this DVD just proves the music of Jeff Lynne/ELO is timeless. This band is as tight now as I have ever heard in my 20+ years of listening to ELO. If you are a fan of ELO, you must have this DVD in your collection. The new stuff is just as fresh and ELO-esque as the stuff of 15-18 years ago. Jeff Lynne has got a strange magic when it comes to song writing. Keep up the good work!!!
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