The Go-Gos - Live From Central Park [2001]

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Product Details

Artist : The Go-Go's
Format : PAL
Binding : DVD
EAN : 5060009232173
Product Group : DVD
Region Code : 2
Release Date : 2003-08-25
Studio : Sony Bmg

ASIN : B00005U1Z5

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review

While the post-punk comeback is usually fraught with disasters, Live in Central Park is just part of the Go-Go's dignified and successful return to the music scene. Having dipped their toes in and out of the water since they originally split, 2001 saw the band release their first album in 17 years, the fantastic B00005N9ND God Bless The Go-Go's. This live video finds them riding the crest of that particular wave, with the set relying heavily on new material. Fortunately, the likes of "Throw Me a Curve", "Unforgiven" and "Apologies" are more than a match for their more well-known numbers. As a spectacle, the show is a little flat--a fairly straightforward concert recording--and, to be honest, the Go-Go's were never one of the world's great live bands. While on record their mixture of punk melodies and girl group harmonies is pristine, here the effect is a little more ragged. It's, however, hard to deny the spirit and chemistry that so obviously exists between the five, especially on the power pop rendition of "Our Lips Are Sealed" and closing cover of "I Wanna Be Sedated". This is a far from essential purchase (unlike the CD) but handy for die-hard fans. --Phil Udell

Special Features

English
Region 2

Synopsis

One of the defining girl groups of the 1980's, the Go-Go's fine tuned the art of perfect bubblegum pop. Led by the heart-faced, dimpled singer Belinda Carlisle, the band took a 10-year hiatus from the stage. LIVE IN CENTRAL PARK captures their triumphant return to touring. Filmed in New York's beautiful, massive park, the concert showcases the Go-Go's performance of old and new songs, including "Head Over Heels," "Vacation," and "We Got the Beat."

Customer Reviews

Looks 10 Sound 3 for the Go-Go's Live in Central Park (2002-11-26)

I thought "God Bless the Go-Go's" was one of the best albums of 2001 and a really great rock 'n' roll album. I thought that Belinda Carlisle had never sounded better, mainly because of the wonderful harmonies provided by Jane Wiedlin. I thought Charlotte Caffey was continuing to build on the song writing talent she displayed in "Talk Show." Paul Q. Kolderie and Sean Slade were the main producers and mixers on the album and apparently deserve a lot of credit because the Go-Go's never sounded better. The main reason this concert video of the "Go-Go's Live in Central park" is so disappointing is that the sound mix is awful, deplorable, utterly disappointing, and really, really bad. Slightly better than the rehearsal tapes from the early days that popped up on "Return to the Valley of the Go-Go's." For the most part the instruments overwhelm the vocals from start to finish in this concert. I have seen several live performances by the Go-Go's over the years, and Belinda Carlisle is never as good on stage as she is in the studio, but she does not even stand a chance on this one.

The concert is a mix between the new (seven tracks from the new album) and the requisite hits from yesterday ("Vacation," "We Got the Beat," and "Our Lips Are Sealed"). The "Talk Show" album, which represented the original great leap forward by the band from punk group to pop rockers, is woefully under-represented ("Head Over Heels" still starts the gig), but that is understandable since the group's previous concert video was for the tour for that album. Again, the new songs, which rely more on the vocal harmonies (e.g., "Unforgiven," "Apology"), suffer because of the sound problems.

Fortunately the DVD is redeemed, somewhat, by the over 30-minutes of behind-the-scenes footage which show the band getting ready for the gig while their fans get all revved up to party. The person who ends up impressing you the most in this footage is Gina Schock, not only because she is all business drumming away on stage, but because she emerges as the most articulate member talking about the Go-Go's then and now (ironic, since she is the only one of the group who never sings and remains silent throughout the concert, although she is working seriously on her wad of gum). Finally, I do want to point out that "Apology" is far and away the best song for which Kathy Valentine has ever been listed as lead writer. In the end "The Go-Go's Live in Central Park" is for the true Go-Go groupie, who will endure the less than adequate sound just to see the gals rockin' and rollin' again.

simply Go-Go's (2002-02-23)

Everything that the Go-Go's are about is on this DVD. The show is packed with great music, and all of it performed with such energy and playfullness. The band are obviously having a great time here and it shows in the music. The surround sound is truly amazing if you have the right speakers. You can feel Gina's drums and Kathy's bass, the crowd are all around you and Jane's lovely backing vocals fill the room. The songs draw from the band's 20 year history, with the new stuff being as strong as the classics. And the bonus features are quite hilarious, especially the behind the scenes footage where Kathy impersonates Gina while speaking on her mobile: "We're going to the sheeeeooowww!". Truly brilliant. GOD BLESS THE GO-GO'S INDEED!

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