Under Blackpool Lights

Rating:
Summary: Finally, the world has witnessed the magic
Review: How many people do you know that dismiss "The" bands at the drop of a dime. The Hives, The Vines, The Strokes... there all the same to several people. But with any new/popular style, you get the groundbreakers, one of which is The White Stripes. The garage rock revival has brought a lot of great music to people who felt suffocated by the nausea infested, overproduced pop music, with little to know substance. "Under Blackpool Lights" shows Jack White as the blues/rock guitar god that he is.

Despite the presence of any special features whatsoever, the concert rocks enough on it's own to justify the purchase. The sound is excellent, and the picture is so-so, which gives you that real "garage rock" feel. It's just Jack and Meg up there, rocking the show to it's fullest. Jack jams out a hell of a show, belting out solos flawlessly. Meg is her usual self, swaying her head around in tranquility, feeding off of the energy that Jack puts forth. The unity between the two really stands out.

The White Stripes are the real thing. Here is the proof.


Rating:
Summary: Incredible.
Review: I just purchased this dvd and i can't stop watching it. Favorites include "Hotel Yorba" because the performance has a real feel good vibe and "Death Letter" which i have yet to see a bad live performance of. Jack White's playing is insane as always and Meg's drumming is quite impressive considering how she has to keep up with Jack's improv-heavy guitar work. Pick this up and see what all the fuss is about.

Rating:
Summary: Saviour of the Blues
Review: I tell people I love the White Stripes because they're a blues band first and foremost, and sometimes I get blank stares. Watching Jack White play slide guitar on "Death Letter" is all the proof anyone needs that blues and rock are blood relatives. Under his spell, the familiar toe-tapping Son House dirge culminates in a frenzied chord-crunching finale that'll send chills up and down your spine. Fans who buy this DVD will fall in love with White Stripes songs all over again, thanks to Jack's new twists on his already searing riffs (like the opening of Hardest Button to Button) and his playfulness with vocals. It's also amazing to watch them seamlessly change tempo several times during a song...their teamwork is telepathic.

Rating:
Summary: That man can play the guitar
Review: I was in awe the entire time. The White Stripes are just back to basic music, and Jack White plays the guitar as if he is possessed. Meg White is a solid drummer - a perfect complement to the guitar wailings of Jack. That's it folks, two musicians who make more music than larger bands.

The energy is astounding. The audio recording is beautiful. The visuals are intentionally grainy, but I find it enhances the experience. Overall, the package is very well done. There are no frills. You put the DVD in and the concert begins.

Lover's of music will not be disappointed. I believe Jimi Hendrix would have been impressed.

Rating:
Summary: One Amazing Live Show!
Review: If you're a fan of the White Stripes, this concert DVD is a must-have for your collection. The band plays a good number of tunes from each of their albums as well as a number of improvised blues songs. Many of the songs have been sped up and/or re-interpreted here, so don't expect to fork out $20 to hear the same old renditions as on cd. From the oldest to the newest song, Jack and Meg inject a great deal of life into their performance. Some highlights include the heart-wrenchingly passionate, 'Jolene', and the blistering 'Death Letter' which will leave fans drooling as they watch. The concert was filmed with Super 8, so the film has a grainy feel that certainly adds to the live experience. The show has also been edited superbly, with numerous camera angles and lots of great close-ups that give you the feel that you're right on stage with the band and yet right in the middle of the screaming crowd. The audio quality of the performance is pristine, and before viewing you should choose the audio setup that suits your entertainment system best (DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2 speaker stereo)- believe me, it will make a huge difference in the quality and brilliance of the sound. So, what are you waiting for? Pick this DVD up and enjoy the show.

Rating:
Summary: Rock and Roll Lives!!!
Review: Imagine the lyrical brilliance and melodic sensibilities of Lennon/McCarthy, the molten riffs of Jimmy Page and Tony Iomi, the soul and passion of Robert Johnson, and the force and energy of the Ramones, all in one band. The White Stipes is all this and more. They're quite simply the best "real" rock and roll band performing today. In a world of prepackaged, computer generated garbage that gets past off as "music", the White Stripes are proudly carrying the torch.

The chemistry between Jack and Meg is amazing. I've never seen a band this much in synch since Led Zeppelin with John Bohnam. They literally can finish each other's sentences (musically speaking).

If you've only heard the White Stripes on radio or CD, then get this DVD. The true measure of a band is whether or not they can cut it live. The White Stripes could easily wipe the floor with any other live act performing today.




Rating:
Summary: Raw powerful rock & blues
Review: In my opinion, the White Stripes are consummate artists. The music isn't pretty or polished. It is raw and feeling. Jack is an incredible talent on the guitar. Meg certainly holds her own on the drums (her playing is somehow sensual). The stripped down gritty sound is absolutely electrifying. Their live show is bursting with energy. Jack's vocals are raw and full of emotion. It is not a pretty sound, it is a powerful one. When you hear them perform "Jolene", for instance, it feels like that is the way the song was meant to be performed; raw, emotional, real. The audio and video of the show are exquisite. I had been waiting for a live DVD from the Stripes for quite some time... it was worth the wait. The show is really a near-perfect experience. It's a great representation of what the band is all about. I can't recommend it highly enough.

Rating:
Summary: Raw quality, much like the band's music
Review: This is The White Stripes first officially released concert DVD, and it captures the entirety of a concert in England from the 2003 Elephant tour. The cinematography is a little self-consciously "indie" and the the film is left with a grainy and raw quality, much like the band's music.There are a couple of different cameras used on stage and then few shots from handheld cameras in the audience.

The music itself is excellent, Jack and Meg have really hit their stride performing live. Whereas some of their earlier performances had a jumply hyperactive quality, they have now learned to pace their material for dramatic effect without losing any of the raw energy that makes them so exciting. Highlights are many, but of particular note are Jack's slide guitar playing on Son House's immortal "Death Letter Blues" which also works in the House classic "Grinnin' in Your Face" as well. Leadbells really inspires the band and they take great pleasure in performing "Boll Wevil Blues" as the set ender. Original material shines as well, from the bluesy grind of "Ball and Biscuit" to the relative tranquility of "Apple Blossom." All in all, a superb performance and highly recommended to fans of garage rock.

Rating:
Summary: Incredible
Review: With just a slip to the left or the right, this could've been cheese or, worse, the band's miniature aesthetic could've been dwarfed by the surroundings.

But "Under Blackpool Lights" has been put together with the same stark simplicity that makes the band so unique. Jack and Meg sling out one song after another -- Jack does his Robert-Plant-caught-in-a-wringer howl and moan; his guitars wail; Meg, sans shoes, pounds drums; fuzzy, red-lit crowds of fans roil all around and hand-held cameras capture the whole thing. It's gritty, it's grainy, it's groovin' and it's great.

Here's what they play (in just about an hour and a half):

1) "When I Hear My Name"
2)"Black Math"
3) "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground"
4) "I Think I Smell a Rat"
5) "Take a Whiff on Me"
6) "Astro"
7) "Outlaw Blues"
8) "Jack the Ripper"
9) "Jolene"
10) "Hotel Yorba"
11) "Death Letter"
12) "Do"
13) "The Hardest Button to Button"
14) "Truth Doesn't Make a Noise"
15) "The Big Three Killed My Baby"
16) "Wasting My Time"
17) "You're Pretty Good Looking"
18) "Hello Operator"
19) "Apple Blossom"
20) "Ball and Biscuit"
21) "Let's Shake Hands"
22) "I Fought Pirhanas"
23) "Let's Build a Home"
24) "Goin' Back to Memphis"
25) "Seven Nation Army"
26) "De Ballit of De Boll Weevil"