Yes - Yesspeak (35th Anniversary)

Video:

Yesspeak is presented in a 1.78:1 widescreen aspect ratio, and has been anamorphically enhanced for your widescreen-viewing giddiness. I enjoyed the overall quality of the video presentation, but several diverse elements were culled in the creation of the program, resulting in a video quality that varies from shot to shot. The newly taped footage came across the best with strong colors, reasonable image definition, deep contrasts, rich black levels, clearly delineated shadow detail, and a generally clean appearance. Other shots demonstrated noticeable (but not excessive) edge-enhancement, haloing, softness as well as over-sharpness. However, the positive qualities definitely outweighed the faults. While I would have appreciated a more consistent video quality across the line, I found the video presentation to be generally agreeable.

Audio:

The audio is presented in both Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1, and both offer fine aural complements to the program. I found both tracks to be tonally similar, although there were definite volume fluctuations on the DTS track which resulted in a louder, more boisterous presentation. Dialog levels are the only inherent flaw to the presentation; the DTS dialog seems overpowered by the rest of the soundtrack. The music and orchestrations drown out Roger Daltrey's narration, almost to the point of incomprehension. The interview segments are much clearer and discernable, but this is due to the lack of music or score on the soundtrack during these instances. The Dolby Digital track demonstrated clearer and more stable dialog levels, but this was balanced by the softer, less aggressive nature of DD track.

Surround and LFE usage is put to the test constantly throughout the presentation. The front soundstage was spacious and balanced, while the rears are used effectively and aggressively to complement the front stage presentation without adding excessive discrete tangibility. Low-end effects were smart and appropriate, never sounding forced or artificial.

Subtitle tracks are included in French, German, Italian, and Spanish. Strangely enough, there are no English subtitles or captions to be found on this DVD!

Extras:

The only (but quite lengthy) extra is a Live Audio Set included on Disc Two. This set contains over two hours of Yes live, but not as a video performance. Instead, the live audio is performed as a number of still shots of the various members are presented onscreen. That's right: a rock-and-roll slideshow! How... invigorating? Intriguing? Ponderously boring? I'll leave the judgments to you, the faithful readers, but I think it would have benefited the fans to leave off the Live Audio Set and simply include a CD of the recording. Just a thought...

Final Thoughts

I have reviewed a lot of live performances and musical documentaries on DVD, but I have yet to come across one as plodding and full of wasted potential as Yesspeak. I do not dislike the band, and do in fact enjoy much of their music, but any interest I did have in Yes was almost dissipated in quanta by this over-indulgent, bloated, and generally forgettable documentary. Fans will definitely garner more value out of this set than anybody else, but even they will have a tough row to hoe slogging through Yesspeak. This one merits little more than a "Skip It", except for the Yes faithful and devoted, for whom I lightly and cautiously recommend the set... and even then, you still might want to rent first.