I have been a Muse fan since 2003 and the release of "Absolution". I have since seen them live 7 times, including the 16th June 2007 at Wembley Stadium.
So, as you would gather, I was looking forward to this DVD for a long long time. It was originally supposed to come out last November, and got pushed back to 17th March 08. It comes in a standard double CD case, rather than a DVD case. You'll find this on the music album charts, rather than the DVD shelves. It contains a CD from the 16th June and a DVD from the 17th. Prices vary depending on where you buy it from. Your best bet is probably Play.com - free delivery and only £10.99. Well worth the money.
Let's start with the menu: You can "Play all", or select a track, view the gallery, or view various settings. Pressing "Play all", we see an overhead shot of the stadium, taken by helicopter on the night. This then cuts to the middle of the stadium where Muse are making an impressive entrance to the sound of "Prokofiev: Dance of the Knights". They come up on a lift in the middle of the crowd, with a shower of confetti filling the stadium.
The entrance is all very well but what about the performance itself? You won't be disappointed. Let's have a look at the track listing:
Intro Knights Of Cydonia Hysteria Supermassive Black Hole Map Of The Problematique Butterflies And Hurricanes Hoodoo Apocalypse Please Feeling Good Invincible Starlight Improv Time Is Running Out New Born Soldiers Poem Unintended Blackout Plug In Baby Stockholm Syndrome Take A Bow
The band play a blinding set throughout, putting their heart and soul into every song. Highlights are "Knights of Cydonia", "Hoodoo", "Starlight", "Soldiers Poem", "Blackout" and of course, "Stockholm Syndrome". "Soldiers Poem" looks beautiful with everyone holding their mobile phones in the air. It almost brought a tear to my eye at the real gig, and watching the DVD just brings those memories back. Anyone who wasn't there will undoubtedly be impressed.
The deluxe edition features some extra footage (around 10 mins) of the band before they go on stage, and it comes in a prettier box with some postcards. I don't personally think it's worth the extra money, as you can probably watch the footage on a certain video site, cough cough.
The gallery is a nice feature, with some shots of the band throughout the show, played to "Sing for Absolution" (live).
I have neglected the CD a bit throughout this review, which is because it contains nearly the same tracks as the DVD except obviously just sound. The full tracklist is: Intro Knights Of Cydonia Hysteria Supermassive Black Hole Map Of The Problematique Butterflies And Hurricanes Invincible Starlight Time Is Running Out New Born Unintended Microcuts Stockholm Syndrome Take A Bow
My only criticisms of the whole thing are the fact it is missing a few tracks which were played on the night, including "City of Delusion" and "Bliss" (the latter being played whilst giant balloons filled with confetti bounced round the stadium - definitely a sight to see and very disappointing to not have it on the DVD). "City of Delusion" was included when pre-ordering from iTunes but this is no longer available. I'd also have liked a bit more extra footage, like the Hullabaloo DVD. Unfortunately the DVD is not available in High Definition. Before it was released, there were some screenings at Vue cinemas in the UK (which I attended) where it was blasted out in HD and stereo sound.
So, in conclusion this is a brilliant, brilliant DVD, whether you're an avid Muse fan or just a casual listener. The effort they put into the show is astounding. BUY IT! For a CD/DVD it's a bargain as well.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
It takes a certain sort of band to fill Wembley stadium, one unafraid to embrace scale, ... more
flirt with pomposity, and perform the odd grand gesture. Watching Muse's live CD/DVD H.A.A.R.P--recorded over two nights in June 2007--you're left wondering if Wemb...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Advantages: Muse at their best, almost all their great hits, 'Best live band' Captured perfectly Disadvantages: The need to buy the cd to recieve the dvd.
Advantages: Great for those wishing to relive the gig, good for those wishing they were there Disadvantages: Would be good as a double CD/DVD rather than two seperate commodities
Apr 6th, 2008
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