CD´s Reviews
World's Best Kept Secret (DVD)
Release Date: Unknown
Line Up: Jeff Scott Soto - Vocals , Marcel Jacob - Bass , Howie Simon and Freddie Åkesson - Guitars, Jamie Borger - Drums
On the first disc of this 2-DVD set, you find the visual rendition of the double live CD "Five Man Live" that is currently on the market. The recording of the live set at the Club Mondo is enhanced with some behind the scene footage from before the concert, and is very interesting to see how things warmed up towards the end of that set (Soto ends up in nude torso, and completely to his body sticking pants from the profuse sweating) No rendition of Ozzy 's "Crazy Train" though! As a bonus, there's multiple angle shoots of the songs "Mysterious" , "If You Would Only Be My Friend" , and "Outta My Way" .
Also, there's the posibility to see the lyrics as subtitles. That of Sweden Rock has also been edited somewhat (some audience interaction of Soto including them in wishing his son a happy birthday over the phone). Disc 2 is the really interesting part, opening with a visual 'history of the band' if you like, backed with behind the scenes video recordings, live shoots in Japan (1.993), Sweden (2.001's Sweden Rock ) and Belgium (Lokeren 2.003) and videos.
A very nice 'Retrospective' by all means, taking the band back to its beginning days with another drummer and guitarist, and bringing the 'story' up to date in a chronological manner. As bonusses, you get a complete discography (including song titles), the "Shred" video (the guitarists taking being competitive towards each other during a moment when one of the other players happened to be 'out' for some reason, I guess), and the "Naked Bassplayer" section, where Marcel Jacob uncovers...noó, not his...body!, but certain tricks he uses as a bassist.
Sorta like a 'Hey, wanna play the bass, perhaps' message to upcoming musicians! The disc ends with the credits list. In all, enough to keep you busy for some 4 hours in total, so a good buy by all means! But, since this DVD set gives us slightly móre than the live Cds, I would have to rate it somewhat higher, eh? Fair is fair! And, as far as we're being sincere, this is really the first time I came in contact with the band's music so elaborately (sure, I'd seen the "Color My XTC" video back in the days, but that was just about all), and...I'm convinced now! |
Not only does Talisman a wonderful frontman in Jeff Scott Soto , but all the other musicians are upper quality as well!