1 There are plenty of other live-recordings...
...I'd rather add to my Sting-dvd-collection! This being said; Sting delievers. Not the most inspiring I've seen from my favorite artist (I wish they would release "Summoners' Travels" on dvd sometime in the near future -in my opinion Sting was at top (his best) in the years 1985-1994. Some of his best work and performances took place between then.
Not that I don't find Sting inspiring anymore -he is still the best! Still my favorite, and I doubt anything could ever change that. Sting is still in progress (musically) -and the man never stops surprising me! Working with some of the best musicians in the world, well, millions of fans can't be wrong! And I'm always curious on how his next sound and project will turn out!
This dvd-release is probably the least seen in my collection. I don't know why -there is just something, (...what's the description here...?) hm, uninteresting and different about the show. A little unpersonal. A lot of my favorite Sting-songs missing, not his best vocal-performance -and though mistaces may be charming; Have you noticed in one of the songs at the end of the show Sting is not touching the bass guitar -but the bass guitar is playing. Has he got an auto-pilot in there somewhere? No big deal, but I got a little curious. That's all.
The sound 5.1 is fantastic -so I don't recognize other reviewers experiences here with the sound-format on this release. Picture good.
Stage and performances, good. The background a little unnessacary (correct spelled?). Sting is not famous for a visually stunning live show like Pink Floyd, but instead is critically acclaimed for his talent of involving the audiences in his performing.
Unless you're not a big fan, don't buy this -it may give you a wrong impression. I'd buy All This Time or Bring On The Night instead -both 5 star worthy in my opinion!
(I personally also think that they overdid Chris Bottis' trumpetplaying at times during the Brand New Day-tours' shows, not that he is anything but a talented musician -but "Moon Over Bourbon Street" is the worst and most painful version I've ever heard on this release.)
2 Brand New Day Tour
I have to say I'm a big Sting fan, although I don't necessarily like all his new material in the last year. This DVD however, which should have been a grand slam for him, turned out to be a very disappointing experience due to the audio quality. The camera footage was excellent as well as the lineup of talent, but I couldn't over come the poor sound mix. In fact I returned the DVD for another, which also turned out exactly the same. I wrote the label with no success. Shame on them! Shame on Sting for letting this fly by him! If you must have a Sting fix, put your money elsewhere!
3 Great Music, Horrible Sound Transfer
I must agree with most of the reviewers on this site. I wish I had listened to them before buying this DVD. The music is great, as usual from Sting. But the sound is CRAP! Even listening on stereo headphones the sound goes in and out, up and down, really loud and then barely discernible. It also always seems to go down when Sting is singing or speaking. Whoever was running the board this night should be shot... repeatedly... in the knees... with a bow & arrow... for days. I mean, it's ridiculous. I'm going to try and return it, but I'm not hopeful. See if you can rent this first (try Netflix) and see how it does on your sound system. If it's good (or even okay) buy it, because it's a great concert. Please take this review to heart from someone who didn't.
4 Better on CD than DVD
I watched this last night. Sting is better to listen to on CD than to watch on DVD as it is rather boring to watch as there is not much stage presence. This DVD is not in my "top 20" concert DVD list. This one is not a keeper.
5 Dolby Digital is the ONLY way to listen to this DVD
Fact is, this DVD is excellent but only when listened to with a Dolby Digital 5.1 compatible receiver.
Unfortunately, the Pro Logic and stereo output is poor with levels going in and out. One fault is the level of Cheb Mami's vocal mix, that mistake is also present in the Dolby Digital output but the levels were reduced midway through the song. The stereo and Pro Logic audio problems are a reflection of the poor sound engineering during the second leg of the Brand New Day tour.
I reiterate that the audio and overall concert, audio and video is FANTASTIC when listened to in Dolby Digital, in fact probably the best concert DVD I own. Highly recommended but only is you have a Dolby Digital decoder.
6 Amazing Disc
...I first heard and saw this DVD about a year ago when I borrowed it from a friend of mine. It is nothing short of amazing!!! Not only did I end up buying it, but I another friend of mine who borrowed the DVD from me while I was borrowing it bought it too...I find this DVD to be one of the better Dolby Digital DVD's that I own. I saw the concert live when it was here in Cincinnati and this DVD is better than being there!
Keep in mind, I do have my DVD player hooked up digitally to my receiver which is hooked up to Bose speakers. It isn't top of the line, but it is better than your average set-up. I enjoy just popping the DVD in and cleaning my apartment or relaxing. There are very few DVD's or CD which have the same effect.
In conclusion, I would highly reccommend this DVD to any Sting fan. If you are unsure about the audio after reading other reviews, see what you can do about renting the DVD or borrowing it before you purchase it. Again, I have had no problems with it...
7 Occasionally fun, but disappointing
It's true that Cheb Mani's voice is about 10dB too loud on Desert Rose. What were they thinking? The sound quality on the rest of the disc is ok - sure it's live, but it's no James Taylor-level quality. This is one of those discs that you watch once, and may occasionally pull out for single songs.
8 STING SHOULD RECALL THIS DVD !!
All the reviews are right. The sound is from the mixing board and its bad !!! Sting should credit everyone who bought this disc. Do not buy !!
I thought even on a non sound system tv things would be OK but it's not. Don't think that these other people are just picky sound junkies ..they are not ..the sound is screwed ..trust me. They should redo this disc and anyone with an old copy should be able to return it for a new and improved one. HEY ANYONE IN STINGS MANAGEMENT LISTENING ...DO THE RIGHT THING !!!
I like Stings music and this concert I would have enjoyed. I know Sting could not have heard this DVD ...so if anyone out there knows him ..... RECALL THIS DISC ...and then fire the person in charge.
9 good but not perfect
although sting is not that good to be a stage performer, i did enjoy the songs, i have a complete surround system and the output was quite ok, i do not know why other people had some bad sound outputs.....the pre-performance interview was quite boring, too long i guess...
10 very very dissapoiting
I disregarded the commentary about bad sound on this dvd before buying it... I was under the impression that since I had a surround sound system it would enable for good sound. It wasnt the case....The sound came in at times loud and would soon alter and become low... Very annoying... My favorite song , desert rose came in pretty bad. Moreover , even if I love sting, he isnt that entertaining in Concert. So I highly do not recommend this DVD.
11 Worst DVD sound quality I EVER heard!!!!!!!!
Don't waste your time an money! The audio is muffled - at best.
12 Worst DVD sound quality I EVER heard!!!!!!!!
Don't waste your time! The audio is muffled - at best...
13 Don't waste your money.
I am as big a Sting fan as there is. I named my son after him, i have all his albums, well, you get the idea.
I was so excited when this dvd came out, i got it right away.
But when i played it, i thought something was wrong with my surround sound. This is the worst sounding dvd i have ever seen/heard. Honestly, as picky as Sting is, i'm amazed this slipped under his radar. It is one of the first shows of the tour, and it shows. When songs are building, like when they hit the chorus, the bass drops out. It sounds like the mix was taken straight from the soundboard, with no editing or mixing. It is so annoying. Major disappointment. The extras are no better. You have to turn the volume up so high just to hear sting talk, and when the music comes in it's blasting. And i played it on my friends system, who just has stereo, and it was just as bad. This dvd will not sound good on any system, i considered taking it back because it was defective, until i heard other people say the same thing.
I'm hoping Sting will do his fans a favor, and release another dvd soon. But even if he doesn't......i'm still a fan.
If you're just dying to get a live concert dvd, do yourself a favor and pick up Sarah McLachlan's mirrorball dvd. absolutely amazing!
14 SAD SOUND
I can only agre with other people rating this.....
The sound is disepering up and down all the time...
Dolby Digital/Stereo it dont matter...
very very sad.....
sorry for my bad English....
15 Sting rocks at the Universal!!!
I actually saw Sting perform at the Universal a few days before the show they used in this video. Having seen the concert as well as the video, I must say the video does an excellent job of bringing the concert into your living room. The sound engineer does an excellent job balancing the instruments and Sting's voice and contrary to some of the other reviews of this product, I didn't have any problems listening to it in 2 channel or 5 channel stereo or in 5.1 Dolby Digital. The Dolby Digital setting does a very nice job of putting you right in the middle of the audience! This, combined with some great footage, really gives you the whole concert experience. If you are a fan of Sting, or just getting into his music, the combination of songs on this DVD will give you a great compilation of his works, from the Police, all the way to his latest solo works... as well as some excellent songs from in between. I highly recommend this to anyone thinking about buying it!
16 Digital receiver doesn't help
In response to another review concerning the type of receiver to use - I have a Dolby Digital receiver (Sony/Bose system) and I also have problems with the sound fading in and out, etc regardless of the sound field setting. In fact another review described exactly the same problems I have. The band instruments sound fine until just before the vocal starts or continues then abruptly drop off. Changing the mode to 2 channel stereo does not help the problem. I'm currently awaiting the delivery of another disk that hopefully will have quality sound. Otherwise the show is superb. With normal DVD audio my rating would be 5 stars.
17 Dolby Digital is the only way to get good audio
Just thought I should share that if you do not have a Dolby Digital receiver, you will have audio problems with this DVD. All reports on audio difficulty with the sound fading in and out, etc, are from people not using a Dolby Digital decoder receiver.
Compression problems, absence of vocal effects, Cheb's loud vocal mix on Desert Rose are still a problem using DD.
18 Crisp and clean!
I saw Sting perform live this summer, in Moline, Illinois, and this DVD is almost a mirror image of that performance. Granted, every live performance will be unique...but this DVD captures all of the music, all of the set design, and more! This is also one of the most crisp and clean, musically as well as visually, recordings of a concert I have ever seen. This DVD also captures a beautiful selection of songs, from almost all of his solo career, and a couple from the golden days spent with the "Police". I happen to be a fan more of his personal work, though, than that of the Police. If you've followed Sting's career with any love for his music at all, you should be quite happy with this DVD!
19 Concert with Class! Made for the Medium
This is what concert DVDs should be about! I've viewed this repeatedly since purchasing it. The digital video is absolutely exceptional, giving the viewer the best seat in the house. The variety of camera angles and the flawless editing make this a true concert experience. This show flows as though you were there in person. Thank goodness it was NOT done "mtv-style" with so so many split second camera changes that the viewer doesn't even have time to focus.
I was especially impressed with how well the camera showcased the stage setting, which must have been quite breathtaking in person. It's a simple and elegantly decorated stage, relying on fabric and lighting techniques. Nick Sholem's lighting design paints the stage like an artist does a canvas. The stage setting enhances the musical performance, rather than detract from it. There's no need for lasers, elevated stages and other mechanical devices that so many entertainers have put in their shows. This concert really is about the music.
And great music it is. I've never thought that Sting had an exceptional singing voice, but there's something about the soulful delivery of his songs that make him such a magnetic and charismatic performer. The viewer/listener can really appreciate that Sting just loves *music* - and that he doesn't stick to one genre or style. This concert gives us pop, rock, rap, jazz, soul, country - and it is all pure Sting. And even though Sting is the front man and vocalist, the concert is a team effort of all the musicians and singers. The guest appearances by Stevie Wonder and Cheb Mami add to the enjoyment of the performance.
The dolby digital sounds great on my system - it's better than having a front row seat.
Part of my attraction to DVD are the 'extras' that are included. This one has some behind-the-scenes backstage footage which I found quite enjoyable.
I delayed purchasing this DVD mainly because of what other reviewers posted here. I'm glad that I finally bought it because it is one of the best concert DVDs in my growing collection. I wonder if some faulty copies made their way into the marketplace because technically - video and sound - you can't beat this one.
20 Enjoyable but poor use of the DVD medium
My wife and I certainly enjoyed watching this concert from the DVD. With a newborn and a 3 year old we had to miss Sting's Boston 3-night stand.
I was very VERY dissapointed in the audio and video quality of the this DVD. The audio volume level changes during playback and I found myself having to reach for the voulme control 2-3 times to try and maintain a stable volume level. Also, the 5.1 sound was extremely disapointing. Poor bass response and a bit flat sounding overall. The video quality was both disasterous and stunning depending upon the camera angle. Close-ups of Sting were crystal clear, while mid/distance shots were completely blury - almost as if the camera was too far away and the editors digitally zoomed in at the expense of the video's clarity. Every zoomed out shot has this problem - I'm guessing that the editors were left with only one or two good camera angles where the video was clear and then had to force alternative camera footage to work (for fear that only 2 camera angles wouldn't cut it).
If you can get beyond the sometimes poor video quality and the less than perfect audio quality it's an entertaining DVD and I'd recommend it.
...
21 horrible sound
The camera always fixes sting even when his musicians play solos.The sound makes it the worst of my concert dvds.Like mono, no atmosphere,only stings voice in the front.I had to check my surround system,because first I thought it`s broken. Save your money!!!
22 Better With Age
Sting`s musical style together with his Jazz roots before The Police show how truly amazing he has grown as an artist.A true superstar in our generation. A fantastic concert, great camera angles and a great DVD to have on even while cleaning the house!
23 Sting still rocks
I can't believe all the whining about this disc from the previous reviews. I saw Sting live at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney in Novmeber 2000 and the show I saw was identical to the one on the disc (except for the guest appearances and the three backing vocalists.) I thought the mix was great, and the even though Sting *is* a bass player, his instrument is exactly where it's supposed to be in the mix. It sounds great on my system. Just remember it's LIVE. There are no overdubs on this disc. Sting hits flat notes every now and then, as do his BV's. I think it's great that in today's post production environment with Pro Tools and Auto Tune etc, that Sting has the honesty to say "this is the show, just as it happened". If you want album quality, listen to the cd. This is Sting live and it's bloody brilliant.
24 Not the pristine audio adventure you might expect
first.. just to get this off of my chest.. between this disc and having seen Sting live several times it just reenforces what a lazy performer he is Two amazing banks of songs to draw on (The Police and his own) and you are lucky to get just over 90 min out of this guy, and that's with the one encore he begrudgingly affords Shame, really his stuff is great
As to this disc.. in my view (and I do have a very acceptable dts audio setup) the audio mix is not very good, especially the low end, which at least on my system, is far too dominate in the mix, also pondersome and muddy. The identical setup and settings play Steely Dan's 2 Against Nature dvd (rich powerful audio) and Eagle's Hell Freezes Over (possibly the most stunning sounding dvd to date) flawlessly, not to mention several other dts audio cds, so I don't think it's the gear
If you are a Sting fan, or at least want to see what a show might be like, I guess the setlist is acceptable, but hardly a wishlist so to speak. If your purpose in considering this selection is to hear Sting via enhanced audio, try the dts remix of Tales instead You'll be much happier
25 Poor Audio Quality!!
When playing this DVD I seriously thought there was something wrong with my system! The audio comes and goes in waves when played in Dolby 5.1 and is not much better when played in stereo. I wish I could have returned it for a full refund.
26 Poor sound
I agree with some of the reviews here. This DVD does not provide the dynamic sound to give the viewer a "LIVE" feel. It does not give the kick people look for at a concert. Certainly not as enjoyable as "THE CORRS: LIVE AT LANSDOWNE ROAD DVD", despite Sting's good vocal performance (can't hear his bass guitar clearly though).
27 Excellent concert, but the audio compression is quite poor!
Let me preface this by letting you know that I have both seen Sting live during the "Mercury Falling" tour and I have spent over 10 years performing live and recording, so I am a bit more heavy on the scrutiny than most. [....] Let me tell you, if you want a concert that replicates the CD, then you should be buying the CD, not the concert DVD. Concerts are not necessarily supposed to be "perfect" in the sense that everything in an 18-song set is identical to a performance that takes months of studio recording to perfect (and even then it's NEVER perfect). Concerts are supposed to be a bit of an experience that brings the audience closer to the artist. I feel that the DVD does this successfully, and I find that the concert itself is rather enjoyable, including an excellent trumpet player (Chris Botti, who was remarkable!), Stevie Wonder, and Cheb Mami (on Desert Rose). While I personally miss Kenny Kirkland and Vinnie Colaiuta, Manu Katche (whom I remember from "Nothing Like The Sun") does very well behind the drums and out front for a couple of songs. Sting tries several things during the course of the concert to deviate a bit from the norm. He roughs it up a bit for "Moon Over Bourbon Street", which caught me a bit by surprise (and completely annoyed my wife!), and Manu Katche coming out front to rap in French was quite refreshing. The quality of the visual end of the DVD was very good, but the real reason for the three-star rating was the poor sound compression. While the sound itself was not bad, the compression used while mixing down the live audio to the DVD was HORRIBLE!!! It can't be put any other way. I read [that someone] was checking his 5.1 system and components. I laughed when I read that, because I did exactly the same thing. There are times where the mix is BRILLIANT and the clarity is what you expect from the very best of DVD audio. Then immediately, the music drops quite low, only to accentuate vocals, and then it tries to correct itself over a 10-15 second time period. It just gets ugly at times and puts a HUGE black eye on what I consider to be a DVD for any Sting fan. It is just really difficult to look past this blight. [....] Then I can maybe pull out this DVD after he releases something else with a better audio track. Of course, I find Sting to be an incredible artist and may watch it again in the near future, since my Ten Summoner's Tales video is going bad from my frequent viewing habits...
28 Mediocre at best
There are several problems with this DVD. First, Sting does not appear to be at the top of his game- missing some notes, unable to hold others. Second, the band is not tight- poor coordination between bass and drums esp. Third, the sound quality is poor. I have a set of five identical full range speakers with a good set of components all chosen with music concerts in mind. My first reaction listening to this DVD was panic that one of my components had failed. Changing to 2 channel helped a little but overall the sound was dry, excessively bright and uninvolving. Bass notes were bloated in many cases and wispy in others.
There are some good songs on this DVD- enough to merit purchase by Sting devotees. But not, unfortunately, enough to delight those of us who aply a broader set of criteria.
29 It grows on you!
I remember the long trips to Oklahoma for Christmas when all my parents listened to was Sting. I used to despise Sting. Now, I work at Best Buy and this Sting DVD is all they play. I must say that this CD grows on you. It is a great music DVD and I would recommend it to anyone. This DVD has changed my view on Sting totally.
30 Best DVD out there!!!
Some of you people gave this awesome DVD no credit. This is, by far, my most treasured DVD I own, and I own 20+ DVD's. I saw this tour in Milwaukee, WI and the DVD is ALMOST identicle to the show I saw. I'm not a huge Sting fan, but I am a fan and believed I need to give credit where credit is due, this DVD is for anyone, fan or not, BUY IT--you won't be sorry. Best Sting song---Seven Days!
31 A waste of money for most
If you're a Sting fan, then this doesn't apply. I take it that people have different tastes and you should read the other reviews, which seem to indicate this DVD is mediocre.
If you're not a full-fledged Sting fan, but saw the commercial on TV featuring the song Desert Rose... and found it highly appealing, then you'll be totally dissapointed with this DVD.
-- The footage on TV is not the same as on the DVD (I don't know where they got that from).
-- The song itself isn't very long, so don't expect any lengthier rendition here.
-- I don't care for any of the other songs (so I didn't find any other good ones).
-- The Sound on the DVD (I just have stereo) doesn't seem right. Other's have commented that it fades in and out, and I read those reviews before buying. But, I thought they might not have picked the right audio setting. Well... it does seem to fade in and out.
The bottom line: I was hoping for something good, something different that I'd find some enjoyment watching/listening to. But, I'll never bother with it (I only skipped through and listened here and there).
I may return it, it's a shame to throw away 20 bucks, but don't like doing that in general... or, I'd just as soon give it away to someone... it's just the hassle involved.
32 No problems here! Great concert DVD
The sound on my copy was really good with the exception of the behind-the-scenes footage. The sound in the backstage segment did fade in and out as many have noted. The concert, however, was excellent in 5.1. I played this no less than 10 times in the first week and got comments from many friends on how good it sounded. I'm a bit confused by the high number of bad reviews. Maybe the problem has been fixed and I lucked out.
33 This should have been a 5 star, DONT BUY IT !
The audio quality is HORRIBLE. Anyone that glosses over this problem must be tone deaf. I have 78's that sound better than this. Sting is our favorite artist, and this should have been a high point in our DVD collection. Instead I am returning it.
I read the reviews complaining of the problem, and thought maybe these guys were too picky. WRONG ! The audio fading is extremely frustrating. It is impossible to watch this all the way through because of it.
The notion that 2 channel stereo is better is ridiculous. It too has the same fading problem, and just sounds worse.
By the way, I video taped this off Direct TV last summer, and the audio is EXCEPTIONAL. It has to be an engineering problem with tone deaf engineers at A&M. All I can figure is they have lowered all the standards to that of their other "big" artist, eminem (yuch).
34 An uplifting and joyful live performance
The video footage on this DVD is good but 5.1 audio is somewhat uneven - the concert sounds more balanced when switched to 2 channel stereo. Nonetheless the DVD is a valuable addition to an audio library, especially considering the brief, but charming appearances by Stevie Wonder and Cheb Mami on Brand New Day and Desert Rose respectively. Just sit back, forget the technical aspects, and enjoy the feelgood music of Sting - a great DVD to watch after a stressful day at work!
35 First Rate DvD
It amazes me to read so many poor reviews of this excellent dvd. The sound quality (at least on my system) is first rate, and the picture quality is some of the best I've seen on dvd. The song selection is also excellent, mixing his new music with old standby's from his Police days. Highlights here are the amazing rendition of Desert Rose featuring Cheb Mami's Tuvulan Throat-like vocals, a beautiful version of Fragile, and one of Stings best new tunes, A Thousand Years. Overall an excellent concert DvD. The negative reviews I'm reading are somewhat perplexing.Buy it!
36 5 stars for Sting 1 for the band, average=3 stars
I purchased this VHS as a compensation for not being able to attend the concert. While I still want to see Sting Live, this may have not been the best tour for me to catch if this show is indicative of the whole tour... While Sting was up to par; charismatic and wieldy as ever; the band left much to be desired. I have come to expect so much from Sting's back up since the days of Bring on the Night, and Soul Cages... These new players were not in sync, and the dischord often distracted from Sting's vocals. And the back up singers, they didn't seem to FEEL the music, their movements were so staged and forced, they seemed more focused on keeping their tummies sucked than singing the songs... It is still worth it to watch but if you can only own one Sting concert video, this is not the one to get. Bring on the Night or MTV Unplugged are the ones to get.
37 My Bard, Sting, is Perfect!
I couldn't get the sound right on my PC's DVD player (with SoundBlaster Live Value!) but when I plugged this into my surround sound on a regular DVD player, its full glory was revealed! There is no better composer, musician or lyricist as far as I'm concerned!
Sting is the poet/singer (bardaugh) of the century! And this concert is very memorable in its perfection.
38 NO, YOU'RE NOT HEARING THINGS! THE SOUND IS TERRIBLE!
What a relief to log in to Amazon and find out that my hearing is not going completely whacko! As a huge Sting fan, I am still going through the grieving process after taking back two copies of this DVD to my local music store, and giving up! Whatever the technical reasons are for poor sound distribution on this disc, all I can tell you is that there is a very good chance the sound falls far below any DVD concert recording I've ever heard. The sound becomes muffled when Sting sings, the crowd fades in and out, just a poor listening experience all the way around. If EMI ever fixes this problem, give me a call!
39 sting at his best
If your a sting fan, this is the DVD for you. The behind the scenes portion of the DVD shows another side of Sting right before the concert begins. Sting's performance of Fragile, Moon Over Bourbon Street and of course Desert Rose is worth the price by themselves.
40 well, alright
Having seen two concerts of this tour, i have to say that I am honestly disappointed by this video. The band is not that well-played together yet, the three shaking girls aren't the greatest vocalists, the mix is disappointing, (where's the bass, bassdrum etc), sometimes it seems as Sting is happy that they made it through the song. There are mistakes on the tape (wrong chords etc)...there have been better videos and concerts, and it tells me, never go to the third concert of a new tour.
41 What a shame - Sting without the honey!
I was really looking forward to this but unfortunately I agree with the reviews I have read of this DVD. I saw this concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London in May 2000. I had never seen him before but it was fantastic and Sting at his very best. The DVD disappoints because the stereo soundtrack has been created direct from the mixing desk without any effects, particularly on Stings vocals. As much as I love his and Cheb Mami's voice on Desert Rose, they are far too loud in the mix and make it near impossible to enjoy. I would love to see Ten Summoners Tales on DVD which was a film recorded during the recording of that album at Sting's home in England. Or Bring on the Night, or his previous music videos - please...there has been so much better than this from Sting.
42 Great DVD, but not the entire show
Great DVD. Great Concert. But why is this limited to 90 minutes, and cut some really great songs like "Roxanne", "When the World...", and "If I Ever Lose my Faith in You" which was played in the concert. I hope that Sting / EMI releases a DVD with the entire concert, there is plenty of room on the DVD to do it!!
43 Very Disappointed
The sound quality is so poor it is almost unbearable to watch. I had high expectations based on Bring On The Night. I thought for a moment the disc was defective until I read other reviews. EMI should consider fixing and rereleasing.
44 Good Picture, Terrible Sound
I am a huge Sting fan and was enthusiastic when I saw a DVD was to be released. Based on the quaility of Bring on the Night I had great expectations but was very, very dissapointed when I came to learn of the sound quality. I thought I had a bad disc and was going to exchange until I read others were having the same problem.
45 Thank god I kept my receipt!!
I just bought this DVD from the store hours ago and came home expecting to see a high quality live performance, which it was, no doubt...Only problem was the not-so-high-quality audio that came along with the package. Everything else was just fine, but seriously, am I supposed to shut up and pretend I didn't notice? This is really Crappy sound. Who's playing with the volume control? I'm sorry I have to do this, but this one's going back tomorrow morning. Still, I shure hope they re-release it with the glitch fixed...
46 dvd audio problems
this would be an awesome dvd if it werent for the fade out audio problems. i have a harmon kardon surround sound system --not top of the line but you would expect it to at least play dvds.....and it does...all my other live in concert dvds work just fine. the people who say this is great audio must be the lucky ones without a defective copy.
47 Great artist, but band could be better
I am a huge Sting fan, have great respect for him, but I do not understand why he keeps touring with Dominic Miller on guitar. Miller's solos are by far the worst I have ever heard and almost always seems out of tune with the rest of the band. I preferred Vinnie on drums. Manu is not bad, but is not as talented. It also struck me that the slow, jazzy songs are the best of the concert.
48 Excellent Audio
We have had this DVD for a week & watched it probably 5 or 6 times already. I noticed NO audio problems whatsoever with this disc. Our AV receiver is a Denon AVR 5700 w/ 3 fronts, including the center speaker, 4 rears and 3 subs. NO AUDIBLE PROBLEMS HERE! This DVD is excellent. You hear ... and feel all the nuances of each musician and to top it off, the backdrop changes with every song. Lots of colors, unique concepts, and money went into this tour. The extras on this video are very good also, you get to know a little about each musician ... such as, they are all into yoga. I was unfamiliar with Manu Katchen (drums) and Chris Botti (trumpet) before viewing this concert. We are now actively seeking to learn more about, and hear more of their works individually. Don't miss out on this concert, or collection of musicians playing together!
49 TRUE STING FANS WILL BE UPSET
Yes it is true.... The dvd sounds terrible. The 5.1 and 2 channel both "fade in and out badly" and I am sorry to say that there is no BUTTON on your receiver that will help this problem. I am currently attempting to contact someone from EMI to see if there is going to be a fix, and then a possible replacement. Anyone who is a true fan knows that Sting goes out of his way to make sure his recordings are TOP rate. I am not sure what happened here. I even verified the problem with my local stereo stores who also have disks with the same problem. ( I must admit that the video is excellent, and when the audio isn't fading it is GREAT!) If any other bummed out fan is interested in what I find out feel free to email me. dprosser@wi.rr.com
50 Good concert - bad audio . . .
I bought this right when it came out, before there were any reviews here - Sting and co. perform a good concert, but as the other reviewers have noted, the 5.1 audio fades in and out on many of the songs, I'm really surprised this made it past the pre-production review process - this should have never been released. If you can get past this problem, it is a good concert, but for the audio purists, this will bug the heck out of you :-)
51 THE AUDIO IS FINE!
I was a little wary about buying this disc after reading a few of the reviews about it, in particular the audio dropouts on some of the songs like Every Little Thing... While listening to the disc I too noticed the dropouts; specifically, it sounded like some sort of compression was kicking in. I thought about it for a few seconds and realized that I had "Night" mode (compression) turned on on my receiver. This is a feature that will lower the loudest sounds on a DVD, like gun shots, to prevent the sound from getting too loud. I turned the "night" mode off and the audio no longer had the volume fluctuations other reviewers complained about.
The sound was very good overall so don't let the other reviews scare you away from this disc. Just make sure you know how to use your receiver!
Ron
52 Like a vintage bottle of wine
I first saw the video (halfway) on hbo a few months back and i was amazed. finally got my own dvd copy and was awed by sting's performance. he's one of the few songwriter's who could justify performing new songs instead of the old one's. the audio 5.1 has some backdrops though. recommended for sting fans!
53 "as good as it gets"
Sting's concert "Brand New Day" is absolutely fantastic. From the lighting through the costums of the band to the beauty of every single note, the concert is perfect. Sting has been, in my view, the world's top pop artist for a long time now. It's amazing how he gets better every album. This one particularly is unquestionably wonderful. I honestly recomend this concert, for the good taste of the arrengments and for the beauty of the songs. The appearence of Steve Wonder playing harmonica on "brand new day" is enough to make this concert a five star one.
54 Good, but could be better.....
I was very excited when I heard Sting was coming to dvd, as I am a huge fan of Sting and also the legend players he works with. Overall the disc is great, apart from an annoying audio problem when watching it from the 5.1 source through a non 5.1 system( it seems fine when using stereo, but default setting is 5.1) Manu Katche's drumming is no where as good as Vinnie's from the album, ( I am a HUGE Vinnie fan.) but he does play some really tasetful stuff in "englishman in new york" and some great shuffles in other tracks. Dominic Miller(guitar) is a legend Sting makes this dvd happen ( apart from reading words from his music stand in some songs) His song writing shines through. Could have been a much better performance, but was taken from one of the first concerts, which really shows. If you are into Sting, it is worth getting...
55 Sting - Brand New Day Tour
I was very excited when I heard Sting was coming to dvd, as I am a huge fan of Sting and also the legend players he works with. Overall the disc is great, apart from an annoying audio problem when watching it from the 5.1 source through a non 5.1 system( it seems fine when using stereo, but default setting is 5.1) I don't know if it is o.k through a 5.1 system cause I don't have one, but from what I've heard it is o.k. Manu Katche's drumming is no where as good as Vinnie's from the album, ( I am a HUGE Vinnie fan.) but he does play some really tasetful stuff in "englishman in new york" and some great shuffles in other tracks. Dominic Miller(guitar) is a legend Sting makes this dvd happen ( apart from reading words from his music stand in some songs) His song writing is flawless........ If you are into Sting, you need to have it.
56 VERY DISAPPOINTING
Worthless. The interviews sound fine, but the music (oddly enough, the reason I bought this thing) sounds terrible. The sound constantly fades in and out from a full rich sound to a flat 2D sound in EVERY song. They souldn't have released something of such poor quality. Do not buy this one.
57 I should have paid attention to the reviews!
Who recorded sound during this performance and who approved the quality to have sold it as a CD/DVD Dolby Digital?? Sad to say, but my ten year old son could have done a better job with his Canon L1 Hi8 video - recording in Stereo. I'm disssapointed and embarrased, because before I ordered the DVD, I read several of the unfavorable reviews, but did not believe them. Concert is not a video and/or a sound experience, unless you like to play with your remote's volume control. By the tone of this review, you probably think I don't like Sting, but it is the only Concert DVD I own.
58 Do not buy this one!
I have been a Sting fan since the beginning....his lyrics have a profound depth, his choice of backup musicians have a similar quality to the Steely Dan days of yore....but THIS recording is a very poor effort! The band sounds like a rehearsal....NOT good enough quality for a DVD recorded performance! His choice of songs was poor....very little intense rock and improvisation by the great backup musicians like the lead guitarist and solo trumpet player. His voice was not moving or even in tune! Being a rock/blues guitarist myself, and having a very well-trained ear for pitch....I think that Sting sounds like a burned-out musician that should take some time off to rest. I was also sad to listen to the lyrics in songs like "Perfect Love Gone Wrong" or the way his voice was lowered in "Englishman in New York." Music is like art....there is no RIGHT way to interpret the usefullness or validity of it....if you enjoy it then it works for you! As I watched this DVD I was appalled at the poor quality of vocals and the sloppiness of musicianship....the black female backup vocalists are absoultely beautiful though!
59 Audio drop outs
Great DVD..vintage Sting. Be forewarned about some audio drop outs or "volume" fluctuations on only two or three songs...but its annoying. Most noticeable on "Every Little Thing She does is Majic". We've tried two DVD's now..both have the same problem. I'm still happy to own this DVD....but Sting the perfectionist should track down this technical glitch and get it fixed if possible.
60 A must have
This one just became one of my reference DVD's. Video quality is superb, however, the real gem is the audio. Eventhough 5.1 surround effects are minimal, the recording is great. Very well mixed, great imaging and LOTS of material under 80Hz helps to make you feel like you are in a "real" concert.(A good sub is required). As for the music, different...A great performance.
61 ok at best
ok at best. Dissapointing, and average. Sting is(was) cappible of so much more.
62 Great DVD if you like the "Brand New" Sting
This DVD is the perfect example of why Sting has remained a musical icon for so many years. Sting has the ability to evolve with time, as this collection shows. Only a few greatest hits - most titles here are from his latest studio release "Brand New Day" and that is not a bad thing if you enjoy the Sting of the present. Those looking for a Police reunion or 20 "Greatest Hits" songs should stay away. Although he performs a few titles from the past - Sting really shines with the new material, mostly attributed to the incredible band backing him on the tour. Great sound and video quality, whith applause, percusion and a bit of echo filling your back speakers in 5.1 If you enjoy Stings solo career, buy this DVD - you will not be disappointed.
63 Rather disappointing...
As a huge Sting fan who views him as one of the musical geniuses of his generation, I looked forward to this concert DVD with bated breath. Unfortunately, my expectations may have been a tad too high, as the disc disappoints.
Admittedly, 'Brand New Day' isn't my favourite Sting album, but even his performance of his older material, like 'Fragile' and 'Message In A Bottle', fails to truly ignite. While other reviewers appear to have enjoyed it, I found his Louis Armstrong style version of 'Moon Over Bourbon Street' particularly grating, as it bled the menacing, sinister soul out of what is, after all, a very dark song inspired by Anne Rice's 'Interview With A Vampire'.
All-in-all, I would probably still grudgingly recommend this DVD to Sting fans, at least until someone gets around to releasing a CD or DVD of his recent free concert in Central Park. At worst, it's okay if put on in the background while you are doing something else.
Oh, if only they would release BRING ON THE NIGHT on DVD instead...now THAT is a Sting concert video (actually, a full-length documentary) worth buying!
64 Sting has stung once again.
This is an excellant DVD with state of the art picture as well as sound. DVD and home theater owners have been fortunate the last few weeks with several great DVD releases from veteran artist like James Brown, Santana and now Sting. Sting's DVD features compositions showing he has grown as an artist with his songs sounding like he has gone to another level for music artistry. His music is more refined with numerous styles evident in almost every composition. The sound although 5.1 uses the rear speakers for ambient effect with most of the music coming from the front three speakers and the sub. It is a very entertaining DVD especially if you are a fan of good creative music. Sting has stung us again with an excellant show and music. Buy it.
65 Sting in the present tense!
When Sting went solo in 1985, a lot was made of his using nearly 50 percent new songs for his first BRING ON THE NIGHT tour (as if a superstar act "should" keep the new stuff to a bare minimum). Fifteen years later he is even bolder: of the eighteen songs presented here, EIGHT of them are from his latest, acclaimed BRAND NEW DAY album, and I count only eight that date from the first two decades of his career (with only three associated with the Police)!
VERY FEW veteran artists have the confidence--and the talent--to remain in the present tense after all these years, defying the overwhelming trend for established performers to become mostly oldies acts (e.g., the Stones, Prince, Earth Wind & Fire, and countless others). This is not so much a criticism of the oldies trend, but rather an indication of how uniquely Sting has positioned himself.
Some might say Sting is mellowing, but I'm looking at this beautifully-shot, wonderfully-sounding DVD and thinking that, while his use of rock elements has diminished, the music has become more assertively eclectic, with jazz, country, funk, and world music elements seamlessly morphing into a unique, "Sting" sound. The style may sound less brash than some Police recordings, but the soulful substance is deeper. I think it's a pop-culture myth that being subtle means retreating from the cutting edge--Sting continues to make a case that the opposite may be true!
The group is outstanding in their ability to tweak the new material, and to revamp some of the older songs (the once-moody song MOON OVER BOURBON STREET has become a Satchmo-like New Orleans romp). Chris Botti is the most assertive horn player in Sting's group since Branford Marsalis, and the remaining musicians are well-chosen for their ability to play as a team and to forge a truly contemporary sound for their leader. Sting himself sounds as fresh and invigorated as if he just mastered how to play the music yesterday, whether it's the new material or his timeless classic MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE.
If you're looking for Sting to take you down memory lane at this stage of his career, be forewarned that he is one of the least nostalgic pop artists on the planet...his inspiration lies mostly with the newer material. On the other hand, the new material shows his continued growth as an artist, so if you're open to his current musical vision, this DVD is highly recommended. The music is great, and the presentation (visuals, sound) is first-rate.
66 Sting...the mellow lounge lizard
...yeah Sting continues to mellow and surround himself with competent musicians and not folks who challenge him. The set list is weighted towards the Brand New Day CD...with several chestnuts from the POLICE and early Sting catalog given new (if not always better) arrangements. I guess I have a love/hate relationship with this concert film. I seem to be playing it more than most of my recent purchases which I may rate higher....and it has its moments. Sting..virtually solo with a nylon string guitar singing Message in a Bottle certainly is nice. Stevie Wonder joining the show on Brand New Day ...doesn't work for two reasons...1) his harmonica solo is too low in the mix and he is not given enough room..and 2) Wonder doesn't even have to sing a note to dwarf Sting and it is slightly uncomfortable to see this TRUE legend in that akward situation. Chris Botti on trumpet ..basically takes the parts that Branford Marsalis used to on Sax..Dominic Miller is vanilla on guitar (he actually shines on previous concerts when Rock was the goal)...Stings Louis Armstrong vocal approach to Bourbon street wears on me... the extra Bonus footage is interesting to watch ..ONCE and the output level on it is almost ZERO compared to the concert which actually is very high..another good point. If you like the jazzy, middle of the road ..STING you will love it.. IF you miss the Sting (even at his 40th at the Hollywood Bowl) who rocked out...you may be slightly dissapointed. IF you like the POLICE...Forgetabout it...and speaking of that..isn't it about time to give Andy and Stewart a call? Heck David Lee Roth is rehearsing with VanHalen..
You can certainly do worse than this DVD..but one is left feeling that Sting ...certainly could do better.
67 Yet another display of Sting's
While this is early in the tour, Live At The Universal is a good display of how far Sting has come both lyrically and musically since The Police not to mention displays the great talents of Chris Boti (trumpet), Domminic Miller (guitar), and others. Plus a good apperance from Stevie Wonder on harmonica during Brand New Day and Cheb Mami during Desert Rose makes this concert well worth owning for any and all Sting fans.
