DVD Reviews

Rising Son – The Legend of Skateboarder Christian Hosoi: Directed by Cesario Montano

Tim Newby March 6, 2007 No Comments

This new documentary follows Hosoi’s career from young skating prodigy to the top of the skateboard world and his status as a certified “rock star” living a notorious life style with endless money to burn. Thats when his life begins a descent into crystal-meth addiction and an eventual arrest that led to him spending just over four years in a Hawaiian prison.

South: Up Close and Personal

William Ruben Helms February 22, 2007 No Comments

South may not break out of the Brit-pop mold but their recent attempt to make a unique name for themselves is compelling enough to give a listen.

Pixies: Acoustic: Live in Newport

Chad Berndtson November 29, 2006 No Comments

There's been a windfall of Pixies DVDs in the past year or two, but Acoustic: Live In Newport takes the cake for odd and wonderful resonance. What's even more fascinating than this concert document of the Pixies at the 2005 Newport Folk Festival is the behind-the-scenes material, where we quickly see that the the reconstituted band not so much eases into the idea of an acoustic set as it gets ready to shoehorn itself in.

Neko Case : Live From Austin, Texas

Jason Gonulsen November 28, 2006 No Comments

Recorded on August 9, 2003, Neko Case’s appearance on Austin City Limits is obviously a bit late to hit the stores. It only features one song (“Maybe Sparrow) off her latest album, Fox Confessor Brings the Flood, instead concentrating on covers and material from Case’s older albums, all of which are performed with the usual cast of characters that she has taken on the road the past few years.

Everybody Stares: The Police Inside Out: Directed by Stewart Copeland

Jason Macneil November 27, 2006 No Comments

As the drummer of The Police, Stewart Copeland was an integral part of their success. And fortunately he was able to cash in on that success at the time by purchasing a Super 8 video camera. The result is Everybody Stares: The Police Inside Out, an impressive, insightful and antic-tinged look at how a band goes from nowhere to somewhere big, while getting lost in the journey.

Tea Leaf Green: Rock ‘n’ Roll Band

Jason Rooks November 3, 2006 No Comments

Both accompaniments encapsulate the ‘fledgling rock band sweating it out night after night’ motif, though this one leaves you with more than just potential. Rock ‘n’ Roll Band is a colorful chapter in what promises to be a grand career.

The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players: Off And On Broadway

Jason Macneil October 24, 2006 No Comments

It’s a movie about a rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle, but there are no VH1 “Behind The Music” moments here – unless you consider shopping for organic vegetables as crazy as thrashing hotel rooms after orgies.

Slightly Stoopid: Live In San Diego

Pietro Truba September 8, 2006 No Comments

Southern California

Particle: Transformations Live: For The People

Chad Berndtson September 5, 2006 No Comments

Transformations is the first release by the new Particle, or was, until RANA vet Scott Metzger announced his joining the band as a co-lead-guitarist would in fact be only temporary. These things happen, though, and Metzger’s departure doesn’t really lose ground for the transitional Particle, per se. With only eight months under their belt as fulltime members, Metzger and Ben Combe were/are only in the break-in phase of the band.