Marillion – Marbles On
The Road (DVD-Video)
Picture: B-
Sound: B- Extras: C Concert: B
In the 1980s, the Progressive Rock of the 1970s gave way
to overly Pop-oriented bands like GTR, Asia, The Firm and other disappointments
that got the Classical/Jazz Music laced subgenre relabeled “Prog Rock”
since. Marillion is a Rock band that
has gone into that direction, but with a spirit more in line with some New Wave
sensibilities. In 2004, they issued
their album Marbles On The Road, followed by this live DVD concert
version in which they cover the album and some other favorites.
Using 15 different cameras at the 16 X 9 aspect ratio, I
was impressed both by the sincere attempt to do a concept album that worked,
empathetic singing, some interesting ideas and trying to do something knew with
the 16 X 9 frame. The concert runs
nearly two hours in all and features:
1) The
Invisible Man
2) Marbles
I
3) You’re
Gone
4) Angelina
5) Marbles
II
6) Don’t
Hurt Yourself
7) Fantastic
Place
8) Marbles
III
9) The
Damage
10) Marbles IV
11) Neverland (Conclusion of title
program)
12) Bridge
13) Living With The Big Lie
14) The Party
15) Between You & Me
16) Uninvited Guest
17) Cover My Eyes
It should be said that they are somewhat ambiguous in what
they are saying, though the initial points are valid. When I read they offer life-changing ideas, I get suspicious, as
if they are hiding some religious agenda or cult thing, but we can only judge
only the concert here and it is one of the most interesting of the new
widescreen video concerts we have seen to date. Even if you land up discovering something you might not like
about them or think they may be somehow sneaky about were they are coming from,
they have pulled off an intelligent, fun, solid concert DVD anyone who likes
live shows will want to get their hands on.
The anamorphically enhanced 16 X 9/1.78 X 1 image is
stylized with some overdone color on the performers from the stage lighting on
purpose, but this does not bleed much and is a nice change of pace from the
usually dull 16 X 9 concerts we have seen.
Producers have got to do more with these cameras and the 15 here are
used well, with the addition of a wide video screen above and behind them. The Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is above the 2.0
Stereo here as it should be, but it is sad this does not have DTS, because this
is a very well recorded concert trying to break through. Maybe an SACD would prove just how sonically
solid the recording really is. The only
extras are so-so Music Videos for tracks 3 & 6, plus an Electronic Press
Kit for the album. No matter what the
future result, I look forward to listening to more Marillion. The concert is certainly a winner.
- Nicholas Sheffo
