Reviews & Columns |
Reviews DVD TV on DVD Blu-ray 4K UHD International DVDs In Theaters Reviews by Studio Video Games Features Collector Series DVDs Easter Egg Database Interviews DVD Talk Radio Feature Articles Columns Anime Talk DVD Savant Horror DVDs The M.O.D. Squad Art House HD Talk Silent DVD
|
DVD Talk Forum |
|
Resources |
DVD Price Search Customer Service #'s RCE Info Links |
Columns
|
|
Tindersticks - Bareback
That's never been a problem for England's Tindersticks. The band walked a line somewhere between the guitar effects-laden Brit-pop acts of the 90s (Blur, James, Oasis, and even some bands with two words for names) and a heavy folk lean. The easiest comparison is to Nick Cave, around the time of "End of the World," but without the flair for the dramatic.
Tindersticks – Bareback is a compilation of nine "companion films" to Tindersticks songs directed by U.K. cinematographer, filmmaker and director Martin Wallace. These shorts play out like music videos, but are much different than what one would find on MTV or any other corporate purveyor of what is the approved "cool" nowadays. At their best, the videos are slices-of-life that compliment the lyrics of the songs while not merely acting out the words. At their worst, they look like karaoke machine videos.
Some of the highlights:
"Can Our Love" – Dual images from the imagination/memory of a man and a woman illustrate the ups and downs of a relationship.
"Rented Room" – Backstage, then on stage at a Vegas-style music act replete with showgirls. Amusingly hammed up, and an interesting look at a uniquely American institution (Las Vegas) through British eyes.
"Traveling Light" – The disc highlight is a black-and-white quasi-home video about a rare night out for a mother and father. The song is also my favorite on the disc: A fantastic, sad duet with Carla Torgerson of the Walkabouts.
The DVD
Tindersticks – Bareback is a massive exercise in frustration. The menu is the current leader in the race for "Least User-Friendly DVD Menu … Ever:"
No song names. No discernable options. Just bull parts to randomly click.
For your sanity's sake, here is a list of which songs ended up where:
"Sometimes it Hurts" – nose
"Can Our Love" – lower front leg
"Don't Ever Get Tired" – upper front leg
"Can We Ever Start Again?" – lower leg, second from right
"Rented Room" – lower leg, second from left
"Bathtime" – the pile of crap
"Traveling Light" – lower back leg
"City Sickness" – the tail and the name above the bull (??)
"The Art of Lovemaking" – the stomach
(NOTE: Instructions for the menu may be included in the packaging, whether in an insert or on the case itself. The disc was sent to DVDTalk sans packaging, however. Hey, I can only review what I see.)
Video:
It's hard to imagine Tindersticks – Bareback looking any worse than it does. There is pretty awful zebra striping on white surfaces throughout the disc, a great deal of grain (some intentional, some not) and even blocking and pixelation. In all, the disc looks like it is only a half-step up from VHS.
Audio:
A flat 2.0 track is all that's included. It's not terrible, of course, but with the high quality of music DVDs on the market, something – anything! – more lively is becoming the standard.
Extras:
None. Or maybe there are some, and I can't find them through the infuriating menu.
Final Thoughts:
The Tindersticks are a fantastic band, one that's never really made the splash on this side of the Atlantic that it deserves. Unfortunately, there is no way of telling that from this collection of videos. Buy the albums, don't buy the DVD.
|
Popular Reviews |
Sponsored Links |
|
Sponsored Links |
|
Release List | Reviews | Shop | Newsletter | Forum | DVD Giveaways | Blu-Ray | Advertise |
Copyright 2024 DVDTalk.com All Rights Reserved. Legal Info, Privacy Policy, Terms of Use,
Manage Preferences,
Your Privacy Choices
|