Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #27203 in DVD
• Released on: 2002-03-18
• Rating: Exempt
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 170 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
As In the Flesh--Live confirms, Pink Floyd fans can still get to hear their favourite numbers sung by the man who originated much of the band's songbook. Roger Waters took his latest show around a number of American stadiums in the summer of 2000, including a generous helping of Floyd numbers from 1968 to 83, and a selection from his subsequent solo albums. Tracks from The Wall make up the largest proportion of the concert, its angst lessened when interspersed among the more prog-rock ethos of the earlier 70s. His bass playing secure, Waters' voice has survived the passing of time reasonably well. He has the benefit of an emotional call-and-response with Katie Kissoon in "Mother", and serviceable back-up from Doyle Bramhall II, who overdoes the histrionics in recreating Dave Gilmour's guitar parts. The backing band is a class act, with Snowy White and Andy Fairweather Low trusty and responsive guitarists, and a rhythm section underpinned by Graham Broad's solid drumming. One for long-time fans, but a classy presentation in the best Floyd traditions.

On the DVD: the High Definition visuals reproduce with needle-sharp accuracy--and a choice between 5.1 Dolby Digital or Surround Encoded PCM Stereo enables you to savour the elaborate stage set-up to the full (a technical guide is included). There are detailed biographies of all 10 band members, two dozen diverse photographic stills and a 20-minute behind-the-scenes documentary, with Waters seen inventing new card games and lending out replacement socks! --Richard Whitehouse

DVD Description
Tracklisting:

In the Flesh
The Happiest Days Of Our Lives
Another Brick In The Wall, Part 2
Mother
Get Your Filthy Hands Off My Desert
Southampton Dock
Pigs On The Wing, Part 1
Dogs
Welcome To The Machine
Wish You Were Here
Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts 1-8)
Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun
Breathe (In The Air)
Time
Money
The Pros And Cons of Hitch Hiking Part 11 (AKA 5:06 AM - Every Stranger's Eyes)
Perfect Sense (Parts 1 and 2)
The Bravery Of Being Out Of Range
It's A Miracle
Amused To Death
Brain Damage
Eclipse
Comfortably Numb
Each Small Candle

Synopsis
The mastermind of post-Syd Barrett Pink Floyd, Roger Waters mixed psychedelic rock with operatic sensibilities. IN THE FLESH LIVE is a high definition concert film which utilizes the most advanced audiovisual technology. Touring in the United States after a 12 year break, Waters performs dozens of his progressive hits from both his solo and Pink Floyd days, including "Mother," "Welcome to the Machine," "The Bravery of Being Out of Range," and the title track.

Customer Reviews

Great songs and a well filmed DVD
Stop Making Sense by Talking Heads is the accepted benchmark for filmed concerts. That might be more energetic and cinematic, but this is almost as good. It's very well filmed. The editing is slow enough to let us see the instruments being played, but not too slow that it becomes boring for the eyes to watch. Also there are no special effects to distract the viewer/camera operators so it plays a lot better for home viewing.

Musically the two hours of Pink Floyd songs sound great. It might annoy some that the female backing vocals are so loud and extensive, but I liked them (except on Shine On You Crazy Diamond). I like that the DVD favours the vocals over the music so the lyrics can really be heard without any difficulty. Also there are English subtitles, which is a rarity for a music DVD.

Apparently the guitarists don't copy Gilmour to the exact tone of each note. For a non-musician I can't tell the difference. It all sounds like it should to me.

The song selection is slightly odd but this is explained in the liner notes of the CD version. The Gilmour Floyd had played some of the songs so much on tour that Waters decided to highlight different tracks. So on the plus side we get Mother and Dogs, on the negative side we get tracks from The Final Cut (a decent enough album, but no work of art).

The only Floyd song they butchered was unfortunately one of the big ones: Shine On You Crazy Diamond. They appear to have speeded up the tempo, cut sections out and added terrible backing vocals on the end at the fade out. I might be wrong, but I think they cut out the saxophone part! And to add insult to injury, they then later brought out a saxophone player to perform Money! The song Money is well performed but is a bit pointless as Waters doesn't sing any of it, instead letting others sing the lyrics.

His version of Another Brick In The Wall Part 2 is a lot better than the version on PULSE (live Pink Floyd album from 1994) as the child chorus is well performed by his female backing singers. On PULSE they had either weak backing singers or dreadful tape recordings as the children sounded terrible.

At the end of the two hour Floyd concert we get about half an hour of Waters solo material. It's as if the great band we've just been listening to has been replaced by another band. Suddenly the liquid guitar sound disappears. Waters vocals go from wonderfully shouty to super whispery. His solo stuff really is pretty poor. There's the odd decent lyric (sadly whispered with sadness instead of shouted with bile) but the music is so bland and unappealing that it becomes something you suffer through, not enjoy. Perfect Sense is okay as at least it's got a big sounding arrangement, and It's A Miracle is mildly interesting if you pay enough attention.

Enjoy the Music
If you like Pink Floyd, as I do, you'll love this Roger Waters concert on DVD. The line-up is brilliant. He has gathered some fabulous musicians for his tour. Surprise! Surprise, no David Gilmore, but isn't that a blessing considering the history. The music, as expected, is thankfully mostly Pink Floyd - captivating - the lyrics as expected are very anti-establishment, emotionally stimulating, and therefore entertaining. For me, the only thing that jarred was some of the lyrics of "It's a Miracle" where Roger rudely derided fellow musician Andrew Lloyd Weber. Why? Is he jealous of his millions? Me, I am a music lover of many genres, and will not be told whose music to dislike. So don't do it Roger, you only risk upsetting fans like me. Music is too precious. I like yours, but also Andrew's. I've watched this DVD at least 30 times, because I love your music. If you think it is OK for one musician to insult a fellow musician in his lyrics, OK. But just keep in mind that music, if good enough, can last for centuries. Lyrics however only remain meaningful and appreciated as long as these are topical.

Enjoy the Music
If you like Pink Floyd, as I do, you'll love this Roger Waters concert on DVD. The line-up is brilliant. He has gathered some fabulous musicians for his tour. Surprise! Surprise, no David Gilmore, but isn't that a blessing considering the history. The music, as expected, is thankfully mostly Pink Floyd - captivating - the lyrics as expected are very anti-establishment, emotionally stimulating, and therefore entertaining. For me, the only thing that jarred was some of the lyrics of "It's a Miracle" where Roger rudely derided fellow musician Andrew Lloyd Weber. Why? Is he jealous of his millions? Me, I am a music lover of many genres, and will not be told whose music to dislike. So don't do it Roger, you only risk upsetting fans like me. Music is too precious. I like yours, but also Andrew's. I've watched this DVD at least 30 times, because I love your music. If you think it is OK for one musician to insult a fellow musician in his lyrics, OK. But just keep in mind that music, if good enough, can last for centuries. Lyrics however only remain meaningful and appreciated as long as they are topical.