My Top 5 Music DVDs Of The Last Year
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1. HEIMA – Sigur Ros
a. Though it was released at the tail end of last year, this DVD makes
my number 1 for so many reasons. For those of you who don’t know,
Sigur Ros is a completely artistic entity – every single thing that
they do it art. From their ambient, spacey songs, to the art in their
CD packages, to their t-shirts, to their groundbreaking music videos,
this band is one, never-ending source of inspiration, both musically
and aesthetically. This DVD is amazing and you should definitely watch
it!
2. LIVE IN THE LBC – Avenged Sevenfold
a. This band is one of my all-time favorites. They restored my faith
in heavy metal, and made me proud to be a guitarist at a time when
neither of those things really mattered in music. Like it or not,
these guys are amazing musicians, and they write great songs. From the
epic sing-alongs (“Second Heartbeat,” “Seize The Day,”), to the
blazing guitar solos of Synyster Gates (“Afterlife,” “Beast And The
Harlot,”), to fan favorites (“Unholy Confessions”), and ending with an
opera inspired manifesto (“A Little Piece Of Heave”), A7X delivers a
live show with the best of them! Captured in High Definition and 5.1
Surround Sound, the package also includes a disc of seven unreleased
Avenged originals, the buzzed about cover of Pantera’s classic “Walk,”
an epic cover of Iron Maiden’s “Flash Of The Blade,” and a remix and
alternate take of two songs off of their latest, self-titled record.
Check it out!
3. WHERE THE LIGHT IS – John Mayer
a. Hate him or love him, John Mayer is one of the most talented
singers/songwriters/guitarists of this – or any generation. He talks
the talk, and definitely walks the walk, with three (count ‘em, three)
sets of music at Hollywood’s Nokia Theatre – one solo set of acoustic
Mayer classics, a set with the John Mayer Trio, and a final set with
the John Mayer band. Doing three consecutive sets in one night is no
easy feat – yet Mayer pulls it off with his unmistakable swagger,
providing hit, after hit, after hit, after…
4. COLORS LIVE – Between The Buried And Me
a. I’m surprised that any of my Between The Buried And Me (or BTBAM)
CDs still work, considering the fact that I have listened to every
single one of them from the moment of purchase until I find something
else that tickles my fancy. In their first ever live concert DVD, the
band pulls off a herculean effort by performing their earth shattering
release COLORS (eight songs meant to sound like one long song, and
over seventy-two minutes of music) in full, followed by a set of the
band’s classic material. This band is like a three-way marriage
between Dream Theatre, The Mars Volta, and Sepultura – but only they
sound like BTBAM.
5. THE BLACK PARADE IS DEAD! – My Chemical Romance
a. I have never been the hugest fan of MCR’s music, but they have a
flare for the dramatic, and I appreciate that a lot. These guys put on
a great show, and they have great hooks. This is an awesome DVD.