Good day folks, El Cosmico here...
As most of you have noticed, I like reviewing DVDs...not typically mainstream DVDs, but really great stuff that you probably won't see reviewed on most mainstream DVD sites. The kind of stuff that you might not hear about otherwise, but that deserves to be noticed. Anyway, now that our buddy Herc has the TV scoop hookup going on, and is doing such an excellent job at covering mainstream television, I'm probably going to go into even less mainstream content (I can hear the cheering throngs now!). By the way, I've decided that I really like Roswell. Maybe it's just because it has Katherine Heigl, but I think it's more than that. I really hope that show sticks around. Just thought you'd like to know.
Anyway, "El Cosmico," you ask, "How could your articles possibly be less...out there?" Well, maybe your questions aren't always so coherent, but since, in the words of Pootie-Tang, "I'm-a-lapadoo!", I'm gonna cover stuff that I like, that I don't see other people talking about, and that I think you folks really ought to know about. Whether you think so or not. Maybe it all doesn't belong in a section called "Coaxial", but until we decide to throw up another section for articles, it's gonna end up in here. As if you didn't know that already. You who have killed Fritz.
Today, for example, I bring you word of a very enjoyable disc which is not yet out, but will come to retail outlets and all of your favorite red-ink bathed e-commerce websites... on May 30th of this fine year. Stir it up and await the arrival of...
One Love: The Bob Marley All Star Tribute
Yes indeed. Now, to properly explain how I feel about this DVD I need to give you a sweet-smelling Old Slice of my life. You see, many years ago, in my university daze, I had this roommate, who, for a great long time played nothing but Bob Marley CDs. Nonstop. This was for a couple of years straight. He had every damn disc ever put out with even the slightest bit of Marley on it. By the time we parted ways, as we were both troubled souls in our own ways, I was about ready to kill the guy. This, compounded with the bizarre monotony of nonstop reggae tunes and accompanying appropriate behaviour, drove me to a type of madness...one unfortunate side-effect was that I could never listen to reggae, especially Bob Marley, without feelings of aggression.
It was with trepidation, then, that I put my new Marley tribute DVD into my player, and fired up the surround sound. Would I not be sickened and run? Probably, I thought, I would have to turn it off, and simply not review it.
The content was most pleasant. Here, my description. Portions of this tribute concert was originally shown on TNT in December of last year, for those of you who may have seen it... This disc contains an expanded version of that concert, 19 songs in all, with 5 bonus audio/video tracks by Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers, behind the scenes interviews with the performers, the finale is filmed and viewable in multiple angles, there's a Bob Marley photo gallery, an included Bob Marley discography, weblinks, and previews of other related items brought by the same fine folks who brought you this disc, Palm Pictures.
For those of you wondering about Palm Pictures' reggae credentials, they were founded by Chris Blackwell, the fellow who first signed Bob Marley to Island records. They certainly have produced a loving tribute to the man in this disc.
From the moment the disc began, I was impressed with the menu selections, but even more impressed with the excellent quality of transfer. I have yet to see a live event put on DVD in such vivid color, and with such a fine audio recording. There's plenty of color to enjoy, this is a reggae concert after all, and there are two audio tracks to enjoy, one in stereo PCM audio, and the other, a thoroughly enjoyable Dolby Digital 5.1 surround track. Truly outstanding. No need to worry about the treatment of the content, it's wonderful. Incidentally, this feature will be released on VHS at the same time as the DVD, but without these fancy extra features.
As for the content itself, well, it was just wonderful. It may slip my mind from time to time, but the fact is that Bob Marley wrote some really beautiful, loving, and fun songs. What's especially great about this disc is that such a great bunch of people were picked to play the tribute concert. Here's the songlist of the main 19 tracks for you:
- Lauryn Hill - "Turn Your Lights Down Low"
- Chrissie Hynde - "Waiting In Vain"
- Chrissie Hynde and Jimmy Cliff - "Jammin"
- Erykah Badu - "No More Trouble"
- Erykah Badu and Jimmy Cliff - "No Woman No Cry"
- Queen Latifah - "Who The Cap Fit"
- Darius Rucker - "War"
- Tracy Chapman - "Three Little Birds"
- Busta Rhymes and Julian Marley - "Rasta Man Chant"
- Chris Robinson and Damian Marley - "Kinky Reggae"
- Ben Harper - "Get Up, Stand Up"
- Toots Hibbert and the Wailers - "Lively Up Yourself"
- Tracy Chapman, Stephen Marley, and Ziggy Marley - "Trenchtown Rock"
- Eve and Stephen Marley - "Rat Race"
- Marley Family Band, Melody Makers and the Wailers - "Africa Unite"
- Lauryn Hill and Ziggy Marley - "Redemption Song"
- Marley Family - "Could You Be Loved"
- The Melody Makers - "Pass It On"
- Finale - All Performers - "One Love"
I don't know where to start here...my first thought when I saw that first track was...wow. You know, Lauryn Hill is just extremely beautiful, and this disc does a great job of showing just how beautiful she is, and how lucky Bob would feel to have her as a daughter if he was still around to see her and his kid Ziggy together. The fact is, though, Bob would feel lucky to see such a great bunch of people performing his music so well. I mean, I would buy just about ANY disc with Tracy Chapman on it. I had the privilege of seeing her in concert once, and to this day, it is the best show I've ever seen...and I've seen a whole hell of a lot of shows. There were some real surprises on this disc too, like Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes turning out a really excellent performance on "Kinky Reggae", or Darius Rucker (that's "Hootie"), who also belted out a fine performance, a little reminiscent of Corey Glover, on "War". I mean, I NEVER thought I'd enjoy a freaking track by Hootie. Oh, and Queen Latifah can sing, too. People who saw the oscars this year already know that, but it still surprises me to see Miss U.N.I.T.Y. singing so well. Most enjoyable, though, is the great amount of talent that Bob's family, the Melody Makers, and the Wailers, bring to the show. Let there be no doubt, they're carrying on Bob's spirit in fine fashion.
All of these performers just really did their songs right. After I watched this disc, I came away thinking, you know, I think I can enjoy reggae again. I think that because of this DVD, I can actually enjoy reggae music again. A lot. I'm surprised, even astonished, that this is so, but it is. I'm sure of it. So, if you've ever had a bad reggae experience, and need to be brought back to the light, this disc should do the trick. If you've never had a chance to see what reggae is all about, this is the disc to show you. If you already love reggae, you shouldn't spare a moment, get up, stand up, lively up yourself, and pick this disc up as soon as it's out. That's May 30th. Mark the calendars. :)
Where the disc fits, let them play it.
-El Cosmico
mail me at: elcosmico@austin.rr.com
Here are a couple of images for your enjoyment...
