Rating: Summary: Stellar performance, whether you're a fan or not Review: It's nice to finally have this whole performance on DVD and to see what was edited out of the 30-minute TV show. Neil Finn and his band are brilliant! I was especially amazed by the songs in which Mark Hart, who was in Crowded House, joined Neil. Mark's a fantastic musician and singer, and he adds a lot to the overall band performance.This DVD is well-worth having just for the music alone!
Rating: Summary: So good it causes goosebumps! Review: Musicianship, songwriting, performance and DVD quality do not get any better than this. Anyone who appreciates the type of hook-laden pop-rock of Lennon/McCartney, Squeeze, and of course Crowded House will be knocked off their feet by this exemplary DVD. Neil Finn and his stellar band excrete more talent than most others on the music scene today can muster collectively. While the PCM stereo is superb, the 5.1 Dolby digital mix is incredible. Discreet instrumentation and crystal-clear sound imaging, along with stunning video clarity, set a new standard for recorded concerts. The instrument and vocal placements provide the sensation of being right behind the camera as it moves around the sound stage. Do yourself a big, big favor and get this DVD. When the concert ends, you'll find yourself grabbing for a Bic lighter. Just hit replay.
Rating: Summary: So good it causes goosebumps! Review: Musicianship, songwriting, performance and DVD quality do not get any better than this. Anyone who appreciates the type of hook-laden pop-rock of Lennon/McCartney, Squeeze, and of course Crowded House will be knocked off their feet by this exemplary DVD. Neil Finn and his stellar band excrete more talent than most others on the music scene today can muster collectively. While the PCM stereo is superb, the 5.1 Dolby digital mix is incredible. Discreet instrumentation and crystal-clear sound imaging, along with stunning video clarity, set a new standard for recorded concerts. The instrument and vocal placements provide the sensation of being right behind the camera as it moves around the sound stage. Do yourself a big, big favor and get this DVD. When the concert ends, you'll find yourself grabbing for a Bic lighter. Just hit replay.
Rating: Summary: Great artist, terrible production Review: Neal Finn is great. This DVD isn't. Take away the very poorly produced, directed and edited video production and you have a nice live CD. Look to 7 Worlds Collide for a spectacular 5 star concert DVD. The three stars are for Neil Finn. Zero of them are for the DVD itself.
Rating: Summary: Neil Finn : Anti-Rock-God in waiting.... Review: Neil is an amazing showman and humorous to the bone.. He's another of the very few artists who are genuine in their music and persona. Of course he's projecting something, but still there is a great bit of his real humanity that comes through his performances. This is a great ensemble that includes his son Liam and a guest spot by former CH member Mark Hart... Excellent sound and video transfer. No real DVD extras but that's alright...This is worth the money any way you slice it.. buy it!!
Rating: Summary: intimate and . . . Review: Quality intimate 'unplugged' concert from Neils 'Try Whistling This' tour. Some great moments. A lot of instrument swapping between the band. Great to watch Neils son do a sterling job on the guitar, awkward adolescent presence and all. I agree with another reviewers comment about Neils down to earth presence but my main criticism is the somewhat strained repoire with the audience, who are so annoyingly quiet. He seems a little unrelaxed compared to what I know of him in live concerts with Crowded House. This a good DVD for fans of Neils solo work to have but I would thoroughly recommend however the 'Seven Worlds Collide' DVD -an inspiring concert covering Neils 'One Nil' album and beyond.
Rating: Summary: Neil Finn Sessions at West 54th Review: The Try Whistling This tour covered a lot of ground over it's 5 months on the road. For many fans this DVD is a chance to wander down memory lane and enjoy Neil Finn and band live in your living room. The bonus features on the dvd -Discography/Biography are up to date- my only train spotter mistake is the lack of mentions of some Split Enz releases that Neil performed on. However for new fans it's a way to mark off Finn related recordings that may be missing from one's collection. The 15 songs performed are the majority of Neil's Try Whistling This solo cd (with only Dream Date absent). Neil's old band mate from the Crowded House days- Mark Hart is special guest and Neil's band departs the stage to allow Hart/Finn to play 2 rousing versions of "Fall at your feet" and the USA mega hit-"Dont dream it's over". My personal favourites are: Twisty Bass, the wonderful Pop moment that is "She will have her way" and a tough as nails version of " "Faster than Light"with Neil's son (Betchadupa front man) Liam on drums. The dvd has dolby digital 5.1 sound and PCM Stereo for that cd quality- nice on all music dvds. It's intro'd by Talking Heads David Byrne and Finn himself still has youth on his side making him New Zealand's answer to Paul McCartney (with songs that McCartney would kill for). If you managed to catch Neil Finn and band on this tour, than you will enjoy this release- if you simply enjoy music with exceptional lyrics Neil Finn is your man. 75 minutes later the fan side of me is content, but eagerly awaiting his next solo outing. This dvd is sure to find it's way into many a Finn fans Xmas stocking this year.
Rating: Summary: Five-star Finn. Review: These West 54th Sessions capture all the musical genius of a live Neil Finn performance. Drawn mostly from his dark and atmospheric 1998 solo release, TRY WHISTLING THIS, Neil's DVD set list also includes a couple of Crowded House songs ("Don't Dream It's Over;" "Fall at Your Feet") with a guest appearance by former bandmate, Mark Hart, and a Split Enz classic ("I Got You"). Neil's band includes his son, Liam, who gets credit for cowriting "Souvenir." Other standout songs include "She Will Have Her Way," "Truth," "King Tide," "Addicted," and "Faster than Light." This somewhat laid-back, unplugged performance makes an excellent companion to Finn's more jangly and electric, 7 WORLDS COLLIDE DVD performance. G. Merritt
Rating: Summary: would only change one thing Review: This is a great opportunity to see Neil Finn in his natural element. He plays multiple instruments and is joined by friends and family on stage. It makes you wish he played the U.S. more often. It's a great DVD, with one exception... they left off the interview between Neil and David Byrne. That would have been a great extra. The music is fantastic, but I would have loved some more one-on-one time with Neil.
Rating: Summary: Neil Finn in an Intimate Setting Review: This is a must for any Neil Finn fan. It's especially necessary if you're a big fan of _Try Whistling This_, as most of that album is performed on this excellent DVD. The audio and visual aspects of this DVD are exceptional. In addition, it enables you to display the lyrics to all of the songs. Hearing and seeing Finn perform "Try Whistling This" at the piano is worth the price of this DVD alone. Other highlights include the acoustic versions of "Fall at Your Feet" and "Don't Dream It's Over," as well as the rocking versions of "Twisty Bass", "Loose Tongue" and the Split Enz hit, "I Got You." All in all, this is a great DVD for any fan of Finn, Crowded House and/or Split Enz. Everyone knows that Finn is a tremendous songwriter, but this DVD showcases his abilities as an excellent and captivating performer as well.
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