Out of the Box

Rating:
Summary: Oh my!
Review: I consider myself to be the harshest of critics. As a musician and singer myself, I'm very particular about what products deserve my hard earned cash. Because of this I rely heavily on well thought out reviews and don't usually pay much attention to those hyped up fans who give 5 stars to everything! Thankfully, however, this time I completely ignored the unjustifiably negative reviews that I read and went out on a limb to get this DVD.
If there is anyone dithering over whether to get this or not... buy this without delay! Not only is Tonex an exceptionally great singer, writer, producer and musician (evidenced on the dvd), he is a great conceptualist and this dvd showcases this to the max. There is nothing like this at all in gospel music today. In all honesty, if there were more gospel music/live experiences like this around I would never buy another secular CD as long as I live! As it stands this isn't the case so I'll just have to store this among the other great music classics in my collection.

Well done Tonex!


Rating:
Summary: DVD is good, but Tonex could have done better.
Review: I got this dvd in total excitement. The CD was incredible so i assumed the DVD would be too. The dvd is just average. I personally feel tonex could had done so much more with this project. The show first started of slow. In the begining, Tonex comes out in some tight burgandy leather bootcut pants and it looks like he feels he is too cute to really let loose. After the first custom change the show improves a whole lot. The songs, like the cd, are incredible, the pictures of him and his wife before the 'taxi' song are adorable, and miss shelia e. gets really crunk on the drums in 'Todos juntos'. I would personally suggest getting the cd over the dvd (Buy the Cd, it is one of the best gosple cd's of 2004), but the dvd would be a nice addition to your movie libary.

Rating:
Summary: I thought i had seen it all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: I love Gospel Music, Traditional, Contemporary, Rap, As long as it is Praising JESUS CHRIST!! TONEX IS COMPLETELY OFF THE CHAIN!!!!. I always wondered what the music scene would be like with someone who is as talented as Michael Jackson, Prince, Steveie Wonder, and Terrence Trent Darby and was SAVED AND FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST!!. I NEED WONDER NO LONGER!!!!. This Man is truly gifted and Blessed by the Holy Spirit. Please do yourself a great blessing and pick up this DVD and the CD... DO NOT SLEEP ON THIS YOUNG MAN!!

Rating:
Summary: Could have done way better
Review: I would recommend the out of the box cd. It is way better to listen to the album than watch it. I couldnt tell if this was a Prince or Usher concert or a gospel concert. I was seriously waiting for Michael Jackson to make an appearance on the stage. The dvd has way too much self promotion on it and at the same time some sacreligious pictures like where tonex replaces Jesus and puts his face(doesnt make sense). Alot of worldy material on here too, Way too much distractions. Is he suppose to be a man of God looking and dancing like that? Looks like a rock star to me. Towards the end it was alright with Sheila E. and Kirk Franklin but could have been better. This dvd DOES NOT fit in the "MUST HAVE" catergory, I recommend, Israel and Newbreed "live from another level" or Marvin Sapp "Dairy of a Psalmist" those dvds are must have gospel dvds. Im not satisfied with this dvd.

Rating:
Summary: I was looking to be blown away.
Review: Once again, I feel like, I have wasted my money. First, I purchased the C.D. and, I was disapointed. Then, I purchased the DVD thinking that it would give me a better idea of what the C.D. was lacking but it did not. I became a listener of Tonex's in 1998 when a friend of mine loaned me a copy of his {taxi} C.D. and, I have been a supporter of Tonex's projects every since then, I have nothing bad to say about him as he is a very inventive producer and singer but as for this project it seems like he is trying to get somewhere before it is time to arrive. I see nothing wrong with wanting to be successful but I feel it would be better if he would wait and let someone other than Tonex create the myth.

ps I also thought that he was a better dancer and performer than he showed us on the DVD I always thought if he had a chance to give a show on a stage big like the one he was on that he would really show the world that GOD can give the world better dancers and performer than the world has ever seen.

Rating:
Summary: Don't Contain Him!
Review: This album is better seen than heard! Having a respect for Tonex and his unparallel vision, I have to say that I was more than inspired this Thanksgiving Day when I saw the concept companion DVD to the "Out The Box" album. WHOA!!! When you really want to get more from an artist, psalmist or minister of this caliber, you don't expect to get everything in one place. That's the reason why DVD's are produced; to receive extras that are not covered on VHS and CD formats. Tonex took me back, brought me closer to the present, and wet my interest for more to come in the future. This is unlike any other gospel live performance. This is more like sitting in the middle of an action movie or a stage play. (I have DVD surround sound and a Sony Trinitron HDTV, so the effects are impeccable. LOL!) The portion of the DVD that really gripped my attention was noticing the depth behind every section and scene by merely adding various backgrounds to the concert giving the show a storyline. (i.e. - "Games" surrounded by the "Family Feud" show setting.) Also, we see a host of excerpts of him preaching at his church with a very supportive membership, The Truth Apostolic Community Church. His messages are awe-inspiring, by the way!! Lastly, which I think is probably the most creative part of the DVD is the added visual features, like seeing Sheila E. appearing in hyperspeed while playing her percussion set on "Todos Juntos" and definitely, seeing the names of the people he mentioned on "Your Word" in the prophetic worship section. If you don't understand the lyrics on this song [they're also in the cd cover] you will be able to see them in part or whole on this DVD. Overall, this video is a must-see. Big ups to Steve "The Chef" Russell (Tonex's long-time technician, props and sound manager) for putting such determination in bringing Tonex's unique style and sound to life and etching it into our eyes, hearts, and minds. Don't contain Tonex!!! His talents and anointing are irreplaceable and needed to bring more souls closer to Christ. Creativity is never meant to remain in an enclosed area.

Rating:
Summary: Simply a masterpiece! Qua!!!
Review: This DVD is a MUST have. I've never seen anything better,(and I've seen every gospel DVD there is to see) it's totally fresh and new. Most gospel DVDs are just the standard performance--BORING--...Tonèx brought the live experience, a 7 peice band, 40 voice choir, 4 dancers, and a crowd of almost 4,000 and packaged it all very neatly into this DVD. If you have the CD, you've gotta pick up the DVD, it gives you a look into Tonèx's, ministry live. Even if you don't have the CD it stands alone as a great project. Everyone I've shown it to has loved it and it ran out to pick up their copy. The music, creativity, choreography, most of all the anointing will compel you to watch it over, and over again. There are so many things I'd like to say, but I want don't want to spoil it, just go get it, you'll be glad you did.

Nishki
Delaware Nureau Crew

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining !!
Review: This DVD is actually the Out The Box cd,as far as the concert is concerned its the same as the cd,it do have a few extras as far as intermissions not on the cd and seeing Tonex dance.I really was expecting more the concert is constanly interupted by other footage like pictures and other live shows in the midst of the
Out the Box concert.

From the hype for this DVD I was expecting a
uninterupted concert of praise like CeCe Winans DVD.
CeCe's DVD is much better because its uninterupted
worship and praise like I was expecting Tonex's to
be and to make it worse Tonex's DVD is the same
as the cd so if you already have the cd you may
want to save your money on the DVD unless you want
to see the visuals but I must say I did enjoy
watching Tonex and Shila E on "Todos Juntos" Shila
E is awesome and my mother likes her,so thanks to Shila
E I feel my money was not wasted and also thanks to the
extras that you dont get on the cd so for me its like
a better/sweet buy.

God Bless

Rating:
Summary: This gospel artist could break the music mainstream...
Review: Tonex is an incredible vocalist, dancer, producer, conceptualist. I think that he has the vision and the potential to cross over into the mainstream market of music with his visions.

My 8 year old hasn't put this video down since we've received it. (the day after Thanksgiving). She's learning the dance routines and knows the names of all of the performers, as well as, many of the lyrics.

For all it's worth, I would rather see today's youth watching something like this, than many of the other audio/visual presentations I've seen on MTV & Bet, Vh1, etc.

The musical genre's are similar, (jazz, neo soul, rock, r&b, hip hop, latin, etc.) but I think the message in the presentation addresses the concerns of today with fundamentals of Christianity. Many of the complaints that many have had about today music videos, including extremely revealing dancers, nasty lyrics, confusing messages about sex, etc. are addressed in this DVD.

Anyone who has come to our home and has seen the video, goes out and buys a copy for themselves. While there were a couple of things that I did not understand, much of the editing is wonderfully creative.

For those who are traditionalist in terms of gopel music (...and this DVD will have a tendacy to point you out), this may be a little 'over the top'. For those who are more open and for young one's, the general message is that you can dance, party, sing, have fun, dress funky, wear your hair wild (...or not) be "cool" and still be a bona fide Christian. It would take just such a movement to bring the younger generation back to the church.

My favorite scene was the "shout". A must see...I've never seen anyone do that dance like Tonex! Sheila Escovito, was great and so was Kirk Franklin...a forefather of this evolution in non-secular music.

With all of this in mind, I would say this is a must see dvd experience.

Rating:
Summary: Wasn't Blown Away...But Still The Best Gospel DVD I've Seen
Review: Well, I finally saw the DVD, and I was impressed. I wasn't blown away as I expected, but I was impressed nonetheless. The best gospel DVD I've ever seen, in terms of innovation and energy. I thought that they could have showed the choir more though, because I only saw them in bits and pieces, and when they did show them it would be for a millisecond. But still, great DVD........


Favourite scenes:

Alive 1 & 2

Children's Bread

Taxi Overture/Taxi

Todos Juntos (Sheila E. is a MONSTER)

Make Me Over (Seeing it live was a whole new experience, as if I heard for the first time again)

Get it now if you don't have it, and don't be like the naysayers, nit-picking on every little detail. Just enjoy the DVD for what it is.