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Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - God Is in the House

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - God Is in the House

List Price: $19.98
Your Price: $17.98
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 1 stars
Summary: TERRIBLE Sound quality
Review: Okay, First off, Nick Cave gets 6 stars for his performance on this DVD. He is an amazingly energetic showman, and an incredible songwriter.

That said, the audio quality for this concert footage is AWFUL. I was wondering if I got the same DVD as the other people who reviewed it, because nobody has even mentioned it. I know I'm not just being fussy, I own a decent collection of live concerts from various artists and this is by far the worst sound quality I've ever heard. Especially on the vocals, which is unforgiveable. You can tell what it should sound like beneath the muttled wall of noise and distortion, but unfortunately it doesn't do justice to the performance.

The video's on this DVD in addition to the documentary, ended up making it worth it, but be aware, the concert audio is really bad!!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Someday he'll come out ... God Is In the House
Review: Perhaps the greatest example of a true showman. Nick Cave stomps around stage pointing and screaming at the audience one minute, then gently caressing the mic the next. He's a charismatic cross between an early 1950's crooner and a mid-1970's minister - somehow he makes it all accessible and brilliant. For those into masochistic entertainment, please apply here. It's lyrically brutal music, but transforms into an artform once Cave delivers in his Jim Morrison/Elvis/Johnny Cash baritone while proclaiming to the audience, "All of God's children will have to die."

This is, of course, a DVD of a show Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds performed in Lyons, France around 2001 (just after the recording of the album, `No More Shall We Part' - my favorite Cave release by the way). It showcases the mad, frantic, masterful way Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds can direct emotions and coax the audience into applauding even though he's bringing to light all their flaws (well not just them, but humans in general).

But I've gotten caught up in describing only one half of his musical persona. The other half consists of the brooding crooner (think David Bowie, Tom Waits, or Lou Reed) singing lines such as, "We've bred all our kittens white so that we can see them in the night ... God is in the house." - any songwriter who can compare forced Christian individualism and seclusion with cats, has my vote as one of the greatest lyricists of the 20th century.

It is rather terrifying, because if it wasn't for the documentary (more on that later), you'd think that Cave actually meant every lyric he pronounced - he's that good of a performer. Pure emotion and visceral honesty. After you hear him shouting, "Do you love me?" after describing his lover's bleeding thighs with complete conviction, you wonder, Is he talking from experience?

Now the crowning achievement (both of Cave and whoever produced this DVD), is the documentary which shows Cave and his cohorts recording the `No More Shall We Part' album. It shows Cave in a different light than what most people are used to. You think you'd see a brooding madman, berating and ranting (like his live shows), but here in his natural persona (I've used that word again), he is surprisingly normal. Quiet, encouraging, and sarcastically funny, he seems like someone worth knowing in real life. I was worried `cause, as entertaining as it is, his live personality is something I'd rather watch from a distance.

While Cave and his band (the Bad Seeds) aren't at their absolute best on this particular show (performing wise), they still have the energy they had back in the `80s (impressive, considering that there's not a person in the band younger than 40). Hopefully there will be another live performance released on DVD, but for those who need more, check out the album `Live Seeds' - a flawless performance - perhaps one of the greatest live albums of all time.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: He's only gotten better with age.
Review: The appeal of Nick Cave is hard to describe, but easy to understand when seeing him perform live. His music is smart, dark, brash at times, and melodic at others. This new DVD showcases one of the earlier concerts on the "No More Shall We Part" tour, taking place in Lyon, France in June of 2001. The show, to say the least, was intense.

As anyone who has been to a Nick Cave concert can attest, the songs take on a whole new life when performed live. His trademark is a style where the song starts off slow, but then gradually picks up pace, then becomes intense and blisteringly fast. The best song to illustrate this is "The Mercy Seat", my favorite of all the songs on this DVD. As far as the set list goes, it is a mix of old and new. New songs like "As I Sat Sadly By Her Side", "Oh My Lord", and "God Is In The House" are tempered with fan favorites such as "Do You Love Me?", "Red Right Hand", "Into My Arms", and the too seldom played "Papa Won't Leave You Henry". Absent here are some of the better songs, like "Henry Lee" and "Nobody's Baby Now". But what can you do? The highlights are Cave's inimitable dancing during the more intense songs, and when he even forgets the lyrics during "The Curse of Millhaven", a song that required an extra (audience member?) to hold cue cards for him. The full band was in top form, especially drummer Thomas Wydler and guitarist Mick Harvey.

The DVD transfer itself was quite good. The mix of camera angles assures that you get a good view of the band during all the key moments. The sound quality, which one reviewer said was horrible, was actually very good. I noticed no problems at all, and I deduce that his was a defective copy. The supplements are also good, considering that concert DVDs are not known for being overly generous in that department. The 35 minute "No More Shall We Part - The Recording Sessions" is not an actual documentary, but the filming of various stages of recording the album. There is no narrative, no interviews, nothing of the sort. It is very entertaining, and considering that material on Nick Cave of this kind is rare, it is a definite treat for fans. Also included are 3 music videos from "No More Shall We Part", the best of which has "Fifteen Feet Of Pure White Snow".

At long last, Nick Cave fans have a live DVD to enjoy over and over again. I have seen him twice live and consider him to be one of the best showmen around, so to have a concert on DVD is an easy recommendation for both new and old fans.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Merci Merci Nick!
Review: This has to be the definitive live video to have from Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. Having the Live at the Paradiso and a video from Kings of the Independence, this one is the one to have! Not just because of the picture quality but for the cinemotography. It is a up close and personal. He is powerful, sings with more feeling, he has experienced and mature band behind him. Just watch, "we came along this road," even "Saint Huck." you'll see how powerful and diverse this band has become. If you have seen the No More Shall We Part tour and you loved the setup list, check this out.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Merci Merci Nick!
Review: This has to be the definitive live video to have from Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. Having the Live at the Paradiso and a video from Kings of the Independence, this one is the one to have! Not just because of the picture quality but for the cinemotography. It is a up close and personal. He is powerful, sings with more feeling, he has experienced and mature band behind him. Just watch, "we came along this road," even "Saint Huck." you'll see how powerful and diverse this band has become. If you have seen the No More Shall We Part tour and you loved the setup list, check this out.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Seattle Nick Cave Fan Loves It!
Review: What a fabulous DVD! I saw the band in Seattle on the "No More Shall We Part" tour and the track list on this DVD is fairly close to the play list for that concert. I only wish they had done an encore of Stagger Lee on the DVD like they did when they were here. I have to agree with a previous reviewer that the sound quality for the concert portion of this DVD is not the greatest. But it is not bad for a live show. Regardless of any slight imperfection, this is a must-have item for any Nick Cave fan!! I absolutely love the promo videos!!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Seattle Nick Cave Fan Loves It!
Review: What a fabulous DVD! I saw the band in Seattle on the "No More Shall We Part" tour and the track list on this DVD is fairly close to the play list for that concert. I only wish they had done an encore of Stagger Lee on the DVD like they did when they were here. I have to agree with a previous reviewer that the sound quality for the concert portion of this DVD is not the greatest. But it is not bad for a live show. Regardless of any slight imperfection, this is a must-have item for any Nick Cave fan!! I absolutely love the promo videos!!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Seattle Nick Cave Fan Loves It!
Review: What a fabulous DVD! I saw the band in Seattle on the "No More Shall We Part" tour and the track list on this DVD is fairly close to the play list for that concert. I only wish they had done an encore of Stagger Lee on the DVD like they did when they were here. I have to agree with a previous reviewer that the sound quality for the concert portion of this DVD is not the greatest. But it is not bad for a live show. Regardless of any slight imperfection, this is a must-have item for any Nick Cave fan!! I absolutely love the promo videos!!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Nick Is In The House.....My House........
Review: Wow! A Nick Cave Concert in my living room! And an excellent show that evening too.. How lucky we are to have a chance to see this performance on DVD....NOT MANY OF US CAN CLAIM TO HAVE BEEN THERE THAT NIGHT........
Appropriately titled...it is, as someone said earlier, in a way a kinda religious experience........great showmanship, incredible lyrics, very listenable music....everything just clicks....this is Nick Cave in one of his finest moments...(although, I suspect he has had many....)If you are willing to experiment a little, and are looking for something just a little different, then give this DVD concert a try. If you are a fan, you probably already have it....or certainly should (what's wrong with you???)
I am constantly amazed at the energy level and almost "psychic bond" seen between Nick and the band members onstage.......that's one of the reasons this is a great DVD release rather than just a CD release......watching them "perform" is half the fun......
There is some good bonus material too....an interesting documentary, and a few videos.........
Not the "reference quality" DVD we would hope for, but certainly not bad either....good quality camerawork and visuals, 5.1 surround mix......with a good system, and the right frame of mind, well.......you will be totally satisfied. And hooked! I have always been a fan....going WAY back.......Finding something worth writing about, and trying to get others excited about it, doesn't happen to me too often.
I'm excited about this DVD release......and you should be too........
So,
what are you waiting for.....
get excited!!!!!!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A NICK CAVE FAN'S DREAM COME TRUE
Review: WOW! this was great live dvd. it's about time some of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds shows come out on dvd. The concert part of the dvd is pretty much straight foward concert footage, but with the lighting and the multiple angles it gives a very moody feel to already great songs. the concert really shows how much the whole band puts into the songs. My only problem is that some of my favorite songs (Tupelo) were not in it. but that is very minor in the long run. this is as close I will probably see him in concert again. I saw them at Lolapalooza one year where he got the shaft opening the whole thing. People were still coming in for petes sake. I was probably one of the few who was there to see him and not the 14 other bands. And then I missed him in Australia by three days. there wasnt too much interaction with the crowd and when there was I couldn't hear what he was saying for the most part, but the songs were loud and soft too and very well mixed. So I have to be happy with this.
The documentery on the "No More Shall We Part" was good too. You get to see the inside of recording the album and the creative stuff that goes on behind the scenes as well.
I am a HUGE fan and would reccomend this for any fan. but if your as big of fan as i am you'll skip every single review and just get it.


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