The Pretenders - The Isle of View

Starring:The Pretenders
Studio: Warner Strat. Mkt.
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Fans of the Pretenders' 1995 live CD, The Isle of View, will be delighted that the DVD release of the band's televised performance at London's Jacob Street Studios (the source for that album) is an even greater thrill. Clearer now is the Pretenders' experimental intention to transform and unify its songbook with majestic pop arrangements--comparable to, say, George Martin revisiting a load of diverse Beatles songs and making them all sound and feel, for an hour or two, like "Yesterday." For the Pretenders, the result is exquisite. Familiar recordings such as "Sense of Purpose" and "I Hurt You" are renewed with brilliant, acoustic-based pop clarity; other songs are almost unbearably beautiful as their subtlest values intensify. A cover of Radiohead's "Creep" proves a bathetic misstep, but the emotional fulfillment of "Kid," "Criminal," and "Revolution" make The Isle of View an essential live set. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Chrissy Hynde Forever!.......2007-06-18

Have loved this great rock diva's music since the early 80s. Never, ever have I gotten tired of what she does.
How many performers can you honestly say that about? How many? Very Few.

Finally, "The Isle Of View" available on DVD!.......2003-11-20

Many bands have ventured into the 'unplugged' format, but few have succeeded as triumphantly as the Pretenders did with this performance. Along with stripped-down, acoustic only instrumentation, the Pretenders are also augmented by a string quartet, with the combination rendering mostly sublime new renditions of classic Pretenders hits and assorted album tracks.

Amongst the highlights are "Sense Of Purpose" and "Criminal", two lost gems from the sadly neglected "Packed" album (1990). Here, happily, they are given their just due. "Chill Factor", "I Hurt You", "Private Life" arguably exceed the original studio versions. "Back On The Chain Gang", "Kid", Brass In Pocket", and "2000 Miles" remind why this band was so vital in the first place. Finally, "Revolution" and "Night In My Veins", two new tracks off the then current "Last Of The Independents" album, showed Chrissie Hynde still had not lost any of her talents as one of rock's premier songwriter and singer.

The sound and picture quality are very good, and happily, presented in 'widescreen' format. The camera-work is commendable too, steady and focused, a welcome change from the typical distracting split-second editing found in most concert videos.

Rhino should be applauded for finally issuing this terrific performance by the Pretenders on DVD. Not much else to add, other than if you're a Chrissie Hynde/Pretenders fan, this is a DVD you won't want to miss

Like a break in the battle was your part............2003-09-23

Chrissie Hynde and her ensemble have stood always and ever for an independence, and in this remarkable film from MTV's Unplugged era (hey, remember when MTV had something to do with music?), that independence is so achingly poignant and terrifically presented that it nearly justifies all the other crap for which MTV has been responsible.
Hynde looks great. She is no one to trifle with and that inner strength she commands is front and center. Most of us would kill for that kind of self-confidence: it aint strut and swagger, she is the real deal, the genuine article. That said, the music is rendered with a more string influenced side, and that serves to bring out the drama in the songs more ardently. "Chain Gang" is a revelation on this disc, as is "Kid", "Creep" (a nod to Radiohead before anyone knew who Tom Yorke was), "Hymn to Her."
Opening with "Sense of Purpose" Hynde leads memebers of the Pretnders and a string quartet through her catalogue. It is just a greatly inspired jaunt. The sound on the DVD is stellar (MTV is capable of something), and the video swirls around in early 90's fashion, but there is a cold determination in Hynde's eyes that is unforgiving, asks and offers no quarter. The musicianship is protean. This is what real musicians do. Particularly in service to Music. And in this case, through Hynde, Music leans over and takes the audience into its confidence, delivering a textbook lesson on the metaphysics of communicating beyond words, gestures. This is all of the soul.

ABOUT TIME.......2003-09-01

I've almost worn out my VHS tape which is about 6 years old now. I've resisted buying foreign versions of the VC-D available at online auctions. But now...all is good.

My wishes were answered.......2000-11-11

Having been a long time Pretenders fan, I was thrilled when I came across "The Isle of View" cd. I kept thinking wouldn't this make a great video? Well lo and behold, I did a search, and guess what I found! This is the first music video I've ever purchased, I normally spend my $$ on cd's, but this is worth every penny. Excellent editing. With the strings of Duke, and Crissy, well being Crissy, you've really got something. If you've heard the cd, this is a must see!

Average customer rating:

Pretenders - The Isle of View - Acustic

Manufacturer: Conheca a Amazonia
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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

Product Description

PCONTENT: 01. Starting credits 02. Sense of purpose 03. Chil Factor 04. I hurt you 05. Back on the chain gang 06. Thumbelina 07. Kid 08. Private live 09. Creep 10. Criminal 11. Brass in pocket 12. 2000 miles 13. Hymn to her 14. Blue sun 15. Lovers today 16. The phone call 17. I go to sleep 18. Revolution 19. Night in my veins 20. Eding credits FEATURES: Interactive and animated menu Music selection Extras

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