American Roots Music [DVD]

Starring:Various Artists
Studio: Palm Pictures / Umvd
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
O Brother, wherever thou art, behold what thou and thy kin hath wrought. With the documentary American Roots Music and its spinoffs (including a book and CD collection), producers Jim Brown and Sam Pollard clearly were influenced by the popularity of the 2000 film O Brother, Where Art Thou? and its music. You won't be seeing Eminem and Mariah Carey here, or even Duke Ellington and Ray Charles, but rather a comprehensive, if flawed, four-part documentary examining the various cultural and ethnic folk traditions that blended together to create the rich, multi- flavored brew that is American music.

Narrated by Kris Kristofferson, each of the four parts is a little less than an hour long. Episode One offers a brief overview before detailing topics like the spread of music via Victrolas and radio, the early days of country music and the Grand Ole Opry, the rise of black gospel music, and seminal blues musicians like Son House, Mamie Smith, and Robert Johnson. Episode Two deals with western music (Gene Autry, Bob Wills), Bill Monroe and bluegrass, Hank Williams, Woody Guthrie, and more blues (Leadbelly, Sonny Boy Williamson, B.B. King). Episode Three, perhaps the best of the lot, takes on urban blues (Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf), black spirituals, and the early '60s folk boom, while Episode Four studies Cajun, zydeco and Tex-Mex styles, along with Native American music and more.

The style is standard documentary, with interviews and photos interspersed with new and old live footage. The producers tout the presence of "rare performances" by Guthrie, Waters, Monroe, Clifton Chenier, and many others, and they're fascinating. But for whatever reason (lack of time or maybe lack of faith in viewers' attention spans) none is presented in its entirety. It's a drawback that is remedied to some extent by the addition of six bonus clips (three on each DVD) that are complete, including wonderful vintage films of Western Swing master Bob Wills and the remarkable gospel singer/guitarist Sister Rosetta Tharpe. --Sam Graham
Description
American Roots Music is a four-part documentary. This landmark television program explores the development of uniquely American music genres during the 20th century. Each 1-hour episode features seminal historic footage and musical performances by the pioneers of American music and traces the cultural evolution that shaped and influenced our rich tapestry of music. Masters in the fields of Folk, Country, Blues, Gospel, Western Swing, Bluegrass, Cajun, Zydeco, Tejano and Native American music are celebrated. You will see rare footage and hear music from artists ranging from the Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers, B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Son House, Woody Guthrie, Lead Belly, Bill Monroe, Hank Williams, Clifton Chenier, Flaco Jimenez, R. Carlos Nakai, Bob Dylan and many more. The astonishing performance footage is placed in context by colorful interviews with some of the artists themselves, their peers, family and friends.

Keep on Marchin
Average customer rating:

Recommended Blues

Keep on Marchin
Starring: North Mississippi Allstars
Manufacturer: Songs of the South
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Breakin' It Up, Breakin' It Down

Easy Tiger

Live at Massey Hall (CD/DVD)

Dave Alvin: Live from Austin, Texas

Preludes

ASIN: B000Q9OD62
Release Date: 2007-06-26

Customer Reviews:

Recommended Blues.......2007-06-25

The North Mississippi All Stars cover the distance from traditional blues to contemporary jam in a single step, and in this DVD we watch them take the full stride. The set opens with guitarist Luther Dickinson soloing on a modified diddley bow (here, a single-string instrument with a cigar box resonator with a broom handle) and evolves into Chicago blues, funk, Phish-type jams, funk, near-hip-hop, and finally into Derek-Trucks-quality jazz improvisions. Along the way, the trio periodically circles back to the blues touchstone that underlies it all. There's even a solo washboard performance by Cody Dickinson (brother of Luther Dickson). The Dickinson brothers--along with bassist Chris Chew--channel the traditional delta music in all directions and never lose sight of home. As an improvisional trio, the North Mississippi All Stars really have few equals all the way back to Cream.

Even though they are larger than the sum of their parts when they're doing Allman-style extended instrumental jams, they thin out during the vocal passages and seem limited by the trio format. Somehow, the vocals separate out from the rhythm like an unstirred roux. Luther Dickinson's rugged vocals add an air of authenticity and immediacy reminiscent of singer James Dewar's work on Robin Tower's notable blues work, but Dickinson's thinner, reedier voice just can't carry the full load demanded by a band of this power.

But there's no slighting any individual player. Drummer Cody Dickinson displays more flair that the genre usually allows, but does he does it well, drawing on resources and chops that were never included in the Blues toolbox. Bassist Chews is ultimate pocket player. Even his solos remain firmly in the groove, embellished with just enough melody to elevate it above the rhythm lines. Luther Dickinson is a slide player unrivalled anywhere.

When this DVD finds the groove, it's quite a ride.

That Night in Toronto: Pierre & Francois Lamoureux

Average customer rating:

Excellent
What an ego
Huge disappointment
Classic Hip
Great high-energy concert!!

That Night in Toronto: Pierre & Francois Lamoureux
Starring: The Tragically Hip
Manufacturer: Fontana Universal
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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World Container
World Container
In Violet Light
Trouble at the Henhouse
In Between Evolution

ASIN: B000ASDF72
Release Date: 2005-11-08

Description

* Their first ever DVD

* Features 24 Live tracks recorded in November in Toronto at the Air Canada Centre

* Filmed in High Definition & Mixed in PCM Stereo & 5.1 Surround Sound

* Bonus features include Multi-angles on selected tracks

Customer Reviews:

Excellent.......2007-06-08

I really enjoy this DVD, the "Hip" at their best, in concert.
A good selection of songs and an excellent snap shot of a tight band in a concert environment stretching and having fun with songs that they've played many times before.

What an ego.......2007-05-17

I love this band's studio stuff and was excited at the prospect of acquiring this live show. The first issue is the audio mix, it is poor with the guitars very much in the background. Next is my biggest issue, the singer talks over the solos, sings out of key, barks like a dog and in general ruins the show. In the song 100th Meridian (which is a great song), he starts off okay but very quickly strays off into a bunch of ranting, comes back briefly to the original content and it ends. Zero satisfaction for somebody wanting to hear to anything remotely close to the original tune. This is just one example. Simply put, the singer ruins this show.

I will say that it is a very nicely shot DVD and the band (aside from Gord?) is top notch. With that said, I cannot sit through it again and will be pitching this one in the rubbish bin.

Huge disappointment.......2007-04-17

I've loved the Hip for years, and always heard how amazing they are live. But personally this DVD leaves me less of a fan.
First off, the mix is all wrong for a rock band. The vocals and the drums are much louder than the rest of the band. The guitars and bass are buried, it's as if the teeth and bite were taken out of the guitars. What guitar you can hear is very muted, and the solos seem like quick afterthoughts before Gord starts shouting again. Hip CDs sound (mixed) completely different, they are guitar heavy, with a mix of rockers and subtle, emotional ballads, (this is rock band after all), which is what I was expecting here...but not so.
That alone was enough to disappoint me. But also Downie should take it down a notch and let the music do the talking. He never shuts up and is so overbearing with his delivery that the music becomes secondary to his rants. I read somewhere how charismatic he is, is that what you call it?? I call it distracting, the Hip is much more than he and he alone, shut up and let the band play. There are a couple of bright moments towards the end but not enough to make up for the poor production and Gord's overbearing overenthusiastic shouting. I skipped through it trying to find the emotion of the CDs, but I gave up. I agree with reviewer Skipjack, if this is how the Hip sounds live i'll stick with the cds.

Classic Hip.......2006-07-25

Terrific concert, great video/audio quality. I especially love the approach the filmmakers took in trying to really capture the experience of being there. They leave in the standing ovations, the cheering and the pauses between encores. It's one concert (not pieced together from different shows) and it runs in real time. It really captures the energy and vitality of the band and the audience. It's really very exciting. I felt like I was there! Spectacular work all around!

Great high-energy concert!!.......2006-07-05

Finally a concert DVD by this band! No gimmicks, just great music and an inspired performance. Gord rants - but that is what he does. I highly recommend the DVD.

Average customer rating:

Weak, Confusing, Disappointing
Typical - very, VERY typical
Nearly Perfect
Digitally Re-mastered Culture Wars
American Roots Music VHS

American Roots Music [DVD]
Starring: Various Artists
Manufacturer: Palm Pictures / Umvd
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Cowboy | Country | Styles | Music

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American Roots Music
The History of Rock and Roll
American Roots Music
Blues Masters - The Essential History of the Blues
Times Ain't Like They Used to Be

ASIN: B00005Q65K
Release Date: 2001-10-30

Amazon.com

O Brother, wherever thou art, behold what thou and thy kin hath wrought. With the documentary American Roots Music and its spinoffs (including a book and CD collection), producers Jim Brown and Sam Pollard clearly were influenced by the popularity of the 2000 film O Brother, Where Art Thou? and its music. You won't be seeing Eminem and Mariah Carey here, or even Duke Ellington and Ray Charles, but rather a comprehensive, if flawed, four-part documentary examining the various cultural and ethnic folk traditions that blended together to create the rich, multi- flavored brew that is American music.

Description

American Roots Music is a four-part documentary. This landmark television program explores the development of uniquely American music genres during the 20th century. Each 1-hour episode features seminal historic footage and musical performances by the pioneers of American music and traces the cultural evolution that shaped and influenced our rich tapestry of music. Masters in the fields of Folk, Country, Blues, Gospel, Western Swing, Bluegrass, Cajun, Zydeco, Tejano and Native American music are celebrated. You will see rare footage and hear music from artists ranging from the Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers, B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Son House, Woody Guthrie, Lead Belly, Bill Monroe, Hank Williams, Clifton Chenier, Flaco Jimenez, R. Carlos Nakai, Bob Dylan and many more. The astonishing performance footage is placed in context by colorful interviews with some of the artists themselves, their peers, family and friends.

Customer Reviews:

Weak, Confusing, Disappointing.......2006-02-18

Its hard to believe someone budgeted a 4-part series that says so little about such a fascinating and important subject. This is truly one of the worst documentaries I've ever seen and in four volumes! The first episode makes no sense, its just bits and pieces of sound clips, film and photos supposedly representing the development of roots music but there's no story that ties it together. For example, gospel music is one of the foundations of roots music. The documentary spends a fair amount of time on the topic but gives no real explanation of what it is or why its so important. You have to already be familiar with the history of american roots music to put together the confusing pieces. Kris Kristoffersen narrates and sounds like he's about to fall asleep. Its very lame, don't waste your money.

Typical - very, VERY typical.......2005-02-17

Some great footage of real music legends edited into obscenely short clips with unenlightening narrative commentary by a bunch of folk-music has-beens and nobodies vieing for the viewers sympathies by maundering on cluelessly about the fabled sufferings of the American underclasses. Lots of bogus romanticization which would be thoroughly unecessasary if they had simply shut up and let the music speak for itself (like i give a crap what KEB MO has to say about any of the great bluesmen!!). The treatment of most of the musical forms is hoplessley brief and slapdash - particularily the cajun and Zydeco segments. Unfortunately, a lot of people will claim to like this simply because they feel like they SHOULD, but this was a concept that had a lot of potential that was ultimately squandered. A waste of time and money.

Nearly Perfect.......2004-07-07

The PBS American Roots Music series - both the 4 part documentary on DVD and 4 CD boxed set - is a commendable work. It is an incredible education in not only popular American music and culture, but history, and should be required viewing and listening in high schools.

Many of the problems in American Society and its youth today stem from a complete lack of pride and self-awareness. A quick survey of popular music and culture reveal a frightening level of ignorance of America's history, values, and ideals. In short, while the series focusses on America's musical traditions, it does a fantastic job of conveying a sense of America's "roots" in a positive, enriching manner.

The DVD documentary strikes a perfect balance between glossing over, and becoming bogged down in, the material. Unlike the Ken Burns' projects that exhaust the viewer's interest and collapse under their own weight, the series is informative and educational, yet entertaining. It is not MEANT to be an exhaustive treatise on the subject - and so some reviewers here are missing the point - that would take 40, not 4, episodes. Rather, it is an introduction and a sampler; peaking our curiosity and prompting us to investigate and research further the wonderful heritage of music out there. And in that, it succeeds marvelously.

What also impressed me was the documentary's remarkable objectivity. While it eschews political correctness, it doesn't necessarily candy coat anything either. What it does do is present the material in a respectful, thoughtful, intelligent, and unbiased manner - something so lacking in today's political and social discourse. So in this sense, folks looking for something with an "agenda" - conspiracies, skeletons in the closet, and historical revisionism - may be disappointed by the documentary.

The CD boxed set is equally well-done: a fantastic booklet, thorough liner notes, and collection of songs that is a music lover's dream. Again, it is intended to be a sampler - great songs by landmark artists - not an exhaustive account of American Roots music. And also like the documentary, its meant to be a enriching, uplifting - not deconstructing - experience.

If the series has a shortcoming, it is the absence of one of the major "roots" - Jazz - which was no doubt and most unfortunately excluded, because of the recent Ken Burns' PBS documentary. But to exclude Jazz from the discussion of American Roots music, means we do not have the entire picture. And so in that sense, the series is somewhat flawed.

Still, its hard to find any other fault with the series. This is a work that TRULY embraces and celebrates America's cultural diversity. Entertaining and enlightening, I would heartily recommend owning the box set and DVD for one's own edification as well as a way to help introduce friends and family to REAL American music - in all its forms.

Digitally Re-mastered Culture Wars.......2002-11-08

When I saw this picture of BB King on the cover of the DVD , I thought I was in for a real historic musical treat. When I read the back of the box and saw that they had rare footage and that they actually had a chapter on Zydeco, I got even more excited. I immediately rushed to the sales counter at Tower Records and gave them my hard earned 40 dollars plus tax. When I got home, I put the DVD in the player and main menu appeared. I selected the chapter on Zydeco, because it is a music that my family in Southwest Louisiana was instrumental in creating. When the video began to play, my excitement turned to disgust, for they attempted to present this very Black Louisiana Creole music as a spin off of so-called "Cajun" music. Other than the brief footage on Clifton Chenier, the video didn't interview or expose the viewers to not one Black Creole creator of the music. Instead they interviewed various white folks, who even if they considered themselves experts, are at best outsiders of the Black Creole culture, and judging from what they shared on the video they didn't know that much about the music.

In the chapter covering Zydeco I would have loved to see some rare footage or mention of the "juré" music of the Black Southwest Louisiana Creoles that later became what is called Zydeco. I would have loved to hear stories from the common folk around Opelousas, Ville Platte, Mamou, Eunice and Plasiance telling about the racism of the Cajuns toward the Black Creoles of the area, and how this racism reinforced the seprate musical worlds of the Cajuns from that of the Black Creoles. Instead this video painted a very false picture of cultural homogeneity between two very distinct people who have been at odds for over two centuries. While it is true that the Black Creoles of Southwest Louisiana had French folk songs in their repetoire, Black Creole music ( including so-called "Zydeco") is no spin off of Cajun music. To the contrary, Cajun musicians are borrowing from Black Creole music at an alarming rate. In fact the only other musicians covered in the Zydeco segment is a band of white folks who according to the video are "blending elements of Cajun music, Zydeco and Swamp Pop". The makers of this video should have dug a little deeper into American soil and touched the deepest roots before projecting such an influential film into the market place of ideas. This DVD is sure to mislead at lease a million people. People should watch this video with caution.

(reprinted with permission from blackdotcafe magazine oct/nov 2002 issue)

American Roots Music VHS.......2002-01-11

I loved this series. It is very well-done. They have taken 200 years of music in this country (some goes back farther than that) and made a very interesting story that ties in the many peoples and sounds and styles. You end up with this continuous musical tapestry that has them all woven in. Boy, a lot is packed into a little viewing time. You see nice long excerpts of live performances of all types. There are interesting interviews with performers. The narration is informative and stays on track with what you're watching. I really loved the music - all of it. And there was so much, no matter what your preference. Seeing how music evolved- and seeing where it's going and can go - that was fantastic. When it was over, I felt like I had been left with a timeless gift.

The Radiators - Earth vs. the Radiators - The First 25

Average customer rating:

OUTSTANDING CONCERT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Buy It and Smile!

The Radiators - Earth vs. the Radiators - The First 25
Starring: Radiators
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

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General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

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( R ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Earth vs. The Radiators: The First 25
Dreaming Out Loud
The Radiators
Party On
Heat Generation

ASIN: B00022PZ3I
Release Date: 2004-06-08

Description

Back in 1978, a funkified concoction called "fishhead music" percolated from New Orleans juke joints, served up in heaping three-set helpings by a chops-seasoned band of misfits called the Radiators. Straight from the musical New Orleans wetlands, the sou

Customer Reviews:

OUTSTANDING CONCERT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2005-10-09

I OWN ABOUT 150 DVD CONCERTS AND VERY FEW ROCK LIKE THIS ONE.I'VE SEEN THE RADIATORS ABOUT 5 TIMES AND EACH TIME THEY WERE BETTER THAN BEFORE. THIS DVD RAISES THE BAR EVEN HIGHER.THE RADIATORS ARE THE BEST KEPT SECRET IN MUSIC TODAY.DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND BUY THIS DVD NOW! YOU ALSO MAY WANT TO PUT YOUR HELMET ON CAUSE THIS DVD ROCKS...............

Buy It and Smile!.......2005-02-24

After a bit of confusion and delay (intially getting a region 0 DVD that didn't play, and thinking wrongly that all these region 0 issued releases weren't going to play on my player), I finally got my copy, and had the treat of seeing this complete show from their 1/31/05 26th anniversary gig in New Orleans.

This comes from the same set of shows as the 5 star CD of the same title, but of the 2 and a half hours of music on each of these releases only THREE songs are repeated (Waiting For The Rain, Lila and Lovely You). This is a great bonus! I repeat, all but three of these songs are different than on the CD,and thats from a total of 300 minutes (5 hrs!) of music. (While I was initially disappointed not to be able to see my favorites from the CD, I was delighted to find it to be mostly a whole set of different songs.) And can these guys play, and put on a great show!....They start off hot and keep cookin creating a wall of sound, playing original compositions with a great groove, tasty leads, wonderful interplay and excellent guest appearances on horns (trombone and sax), percussion, and bass and a lively appreciative Mardi gras audience, this little-known local legend puts the big-named arena rockers and later-day jambands to shame.

The 2 bonus tracks (with Greg Allman and Maceo Parker from a different night and venue respectively) are very good but not as well produced as the main show, and the group interview and backstage rehersal footage (amazing that's all Karl Denson needed to pull off such a tight performance) is fun, entertaining and educational.

If you like a good show (in the Little Feat/Maceo Parker/Allman Brothers/ Dead kind of way) get this DVD.

If you like the Radiators, then you don't even need this review!

Average customer rating:

The Gun Club: Fire of Love
Starring: Gun Club
Manufacturer: Cherry Red UK
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Roots Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

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( F ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

True Believers: The Musical Family Of Rounder Records

Average customer rating:

True Believers: The Musical Family Of Rounder Records
Starring: True Believers
Manufacturer: Bmg Special Product
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

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Description

True Believers: The Musical Family of Rounder Records includes: Acadia A La Louisiana, Baby Now That I Found You, Bayou Nab/Back of Tow 2-Step, Beau of Jacque Boogie, Birches, Carol Country Blues, Deja Me Leeza, Facts of Life, Hey Big Shot, In My Hands, John Henry, Letter From Heaven, Little Jimmy King's Blues #1, Little Jimmy King's #2, Maybe, My Better Years, Robert Johnson, She'll Be So Fine, Tears From A Smoke Filled Room, True Love.

Bluesland - A Portrait in American Music

Average customer rating:

This DVD sucks. Buy somethign else.
Start "The Year of The Blues" by Watching This!

Bluesland - A Portrait in American Music
Starring: Louis Jordan , Muddy Waters , Count Basie , Son House , and Leadbelly
Director: Ken Mandel
Manufacturer: Bmg Special Product
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Blues | Styles | Music

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

Biography | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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Blues Masters - The Essential History of the Blues
Blues Story
The American Folk Blues Festival 1962-1969, Vol. 3
The American Folk Blues Festival 1962-1966, Vol. 1
The American Folk Blues Festival 1962-1966, Vol. 2

ASIN: B00006672M
Release Date: 2002-05-07

Amazon.com

With traditions that variously intersect and parallel those of jazz, the blues has likewise emerged as a uniquely American musical dialect that has powerfully influenced music from the early 20th century forward. Whether tuned to the stark individuality of country blues, with its often-harrowing, adult themes of sex, death, and violence, or keyed to the livelier cadences and more boisterous moods of the urban strains that would later evolve into R&B, the blues have become uniquely pervasive.

This 85-minute documentary, part of a six-segment jazz and blues project funded by a multinational coalition of producers, benefits from a creative visual presentation and a smart selection of performers and interview subjects to explore not only the various regional and chronological styles of the blues itself, but also the music's alternately subtle and striking impact on other styles from swing and rock & roll to jazz itself. The blues' vital odyssey from the Mississippi Delta through the South and on to increasingly distant American cities is traced, as are the varying rural and urban styles of such masters as Son House, Leadbelly, Bessie Smith, Big Bill Broonzy, Sonny Boy Williamson, Muddy Waters, and T-Bone Walker. Giving this portrait a broader, rightly inclusive sense of how the blues has threaded through African American culture are performances by nominal jazz and rhythm & blues masters including Count Basie , Louis Jordan, Big Joe Turner, Jimmy Rushing, and Dinah Washington, among others. Perceptive interview segments with writers including Albert Murray and the late Robert Palmer further illuminate a fertile terrain that has managed to regenerate itself through successive periods of rediscovery. --Sam Sutherland

Customer Reviews:

This DVD sucks. Buy somethign else........2006-01-13

More stock footage woven between three old guys too busy talking about, to actually live the blues. The rare footage of Bessie smith, Billie Holiday, etc., etc. (almost all the greats are listed as having footage on here) is non-existent and pretty much adds up to a couple of promotional photos. Lame. To top it all off, it's even incfredibly short, but I didn't even notice that much. Poor.

Start "The Year of The Blues" by Watching This!.......2003-02-01

The first five minutes tells it all with fine editing of a diddely bow, Sonny Boy Williamson, Muddy Waters, Duke Ellington, John Coltrane and Miles Davis into a mosaic of images and music that define blues and blues-based jazz for all time. You will find some new insight at which to marvel everytime you revisit this classic. One of the very finest blues documentaries ever made. You don't have to be a blues historian of even a fan to enjoy this fine DVD and gain new insights into the history not only of bluesmen or Blacks but America. The diaspora, the great migration from the deep South to the North was, at the time, the greatest peacetime migration in human history and its story is told in Bluesland. Toby Byron and his associates are to be celebrated for this excellent work of art.

Average customer rating:

raw, but wise

Five Conversations About Soul
Director: Scott Andrews-Dunn
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

General | African American Cinema | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( F ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Description

This bootleg video graffiti glimpse into the lives and thoughts of critically acclaimed, established and emerging soul artists shows them at their most direct and honest, talking about their relation to the ideas, history and business behind the music. It's a backstage digital sketchbook of fierce opinion and considered reflection, a grassroots response to the homogenization and appropriation of music culture by big business. More than a survey of "neo soul," this documents the feelings and thoughs that drive and support two generations of black visionaries. Candid interviews and rare footage captures the essence of such artists as Teddy Pendergrass, ?uestLove, Jaquar Wright, Fertile Ground, George Clinton, Julie Dexter, Olu Butterfly Woods, Maysa Leak.

Customer Reviews:

raw, but wise.......2003-12-24

I am a big fan of George Clinton and QuestLove so I picked this doccie up even though there were no reviews ANYWHERE! It is definately an indi, punk approach to creating a film. In this case, it works and I mean the production is raw in a very good way.

The things that are said are never really heard from artists. I found it really humanizing and in a strange way friendly. So, I recommend it as an antidote to the overproduced crap that passes for entertainment day-after-day.

Basically, we are watching interviews that have been cut together with some underground performance footage. The thing that is impressive is that not one of the performers has a facade or is pretending to be cool or hard. The talk is direct and real and makes you see how rich and real these people really are. I think THAT aspect of this film is amazing-esp. since 99% of all American music is overproduced and soulless.

The style seems to fit the subject matter. This music comes from the heart; the small, raw club; the early times in a performer's life when they get a calling.

Customer Reviews:

Could have been so great.......2006-12-29

I love Steve Earle, and was really interested in a backstage look at his politics and tour. Unfortunately, this DVD doesn't feel cohesive or complete. And -- although I've heard Steve Earle is quite a character -- I thought the film was fairly dull. Some great footage though, especialy the bluegrass show.

Sad, really sad..........2004-08-30

... and there was such great potential here but none of it was realized. Poor sound, poor camera work and way to much of Steve just jabbering on. Where there was finally some music as often as not there was taking over it too. I watched it once and sold it. If you want a lesson in Steve's politics, this is for you. If you want music, forget it.

not enough.......2004-03-12

I'm a great fan of Steve Earle, the outspoken activist/musician and the subject of this documentary. I had read a recent biography of him, so I was somewhat familiar with his life, music, and politics, and was looking forward to learning more when I put this DVD in.
JUST AN AMERICAN BOY contains some terrific musical performances, but sadly it leaves Earle himself unknowable. The 2002 tour, the film's primary setting, occurred during the firestom over "John Walker's Blues", a song on Earle's JERSUALEM album widely misunderstood as being pro-Taliban. There are a lot of issues to discuss here, yet Earle is heard to say little on the subject in the film, and we just get some recycled news clips for context. Footage from a court-ordered concert at a prison comes late and out of chronological order in the film, and little is said about Earle's overcoming some whopping addictions earlier in his life. In one bizarre scene, Earlr recounts a story of being arrested while carrying a gun which accidentally discharges to a woman who laughs uproariously and inappropriately. Also, I would have liked more on Earle's musical roots, there's only a brief mention of the iconoclastic singer-writers who nurtured Earle, like Townes Van Zandt.
Overall, a disappointing film about a fascinating man.

Unbelievably bad!!!!!.......2004-03-06

When I first read the review of this documentary I thought,"Wow! I have to buy this". WHAT A MISTAKE!!!
This is by far the worst piece of crap I've ever purchased. The "film-making" was absolutely horrible...Shaky, amateurish edits done with what looks like a cheap, home video camera. It literally looks like someones 12 year old kid put this together. But even if you can stomach the amateurish production, the bad story telling cannot be overlooked. The film-makers seemed to lose focus after the first 10 minutes of so....Very little meaningful insight into the man behind the music. All in all...a horrible document of a great musical talent.

DVD-Innovative Arrangements For American Blues/Roots Guitar

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DVD-Innovative Arrangements For American Blues/Roots Guitar
Starring: Geoff Muldaur
Manufacturer: Homespun Tapes
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

Independently Distributed | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Special Interests | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Educational | Genres | DVD | Video

( D ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Special Interests | Independently Distributed | Stores | DVD | Video

Independently Distributed | Indie & Art House | Stores | DVD | Video

General | Instructional | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00021TDQE
Release Date: 2004-04-01

Description

Legendary singer and guitarist Geoff Muldaur has chosen six gospel and blues arrangements that are filled with ideas, techniques and wonderful songs to add to your repertoire. They include two traditional gospel songs: "Just a Little While to Stay Here," based on a New Orleans funeral march in dropped D tuning; the soulful "Trouble Soon Be Over" in open G; and "I Believe I'll Go Back Home," Geoff's own version of the biblical story of the Prodigal Son.

Geoff teaches his blues arrangement to "Wild Ox Moan," the amazing rendition of Vera Hall's Texas Blues that was one of the highlights of his hit CD "The Secret Handshake." His original blues/ballad "Got to Find Blind Lemon" tells the compelling story of Geoff's search for the blues master's resting place so he can "see that his grave is kept clean," and includes some vintage Blind Lemon licks in the arrangement. Finally, Delta blues riffs and rich chord shapes in open C tuning (EGCGCE) make a powerful setting for Blind Willie Johnson's "Tears Come Rolling Down."

Geoff's vision of the guitar as an arranging tool gives this video lesson a uniquely important place among instructional materials. He uses standard ingredients of fingerstyle playing -- alternating bass, arpeggio rolls, moving lines, harmonized scales and syncopations, combined with rich chord voicings that add a jazz sensibility to traditional music. With his rare musical intelligence, he sheds light on how to "find the little things that make a difference" and how, by making small changes, you can make turnarounds and blues licks sound fresh and new.

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