Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds: Live at Radio City Music Hall [Blu-ray] Reviews

• Best Live CD in Quite Some Time

  
  By AQGDGMPN2VW0U on 2007-08-21
  OK OK While I'd like to say I'm a huge Dave fan, I will admit that unlike some of the people that will buy this CD, I only have been to 6 concerts and own 10-12 CDs including 5 live discs.
  
  To most people that is a lot, but to Dave Matthew addicts that might not. I know that there are some people so obsessed that they probably have all 54 or so albums (90% of them live) that have been released.
  
  That being said I have to say that this album in my opinion is well deserving of a 5 star rating for the following reasons:
  
  a) Sound Quality - 5 stars. The sound quality is perfect. Just enough crowd and the band is captured well. Not to much voice not too much band. Perfect.
  
  b) Song Selection - 5 Stars. A Few old songs a few classics, some Lillywhite stuff, but plenty of newer stuff. I also own the Live Trax Fenway album that has 4 cds. I mean I love Dave, but 4 discs is too many. Dave plays so many songs I realize it's tough to pare down a weekend of concerts into one CD, and that is why this disc gets 5 stars. Perfect paring. And yes there are some new tracks on here as well!
  
  c) Performance - 4.5 stars - Comparing this disc to the Luther College Tim Reynolds disc is tough since that was the standard, but despite Tim not shining as bright as he did on that album he still adds plenty to this disc as would be expected. Also I notice that it seems like everyone kind of brings their A game. Not sure if it's Tims presence or what but it is definitely noticeable. And yes there's a little Dave speak, but overall very good. And did I hear a piano in there...
  
  d) Value - 5 stars - Amazon has this for $11.99 that is great for a new release live disc from DMB that contains a couple new songs, but more importantly new live versions of recent songs. I mean if people are comparing this to Live at Luther College from 7-8 years ago then you know it's worth the $.
  
  Overall this CD is great. My favorite still remains the Red Rocks two disc. For the simple fact that at the time it was awesome. It is still good, despite the fact that having heard all those songs played over and over in so many live versions has made it lose its luster. However as a new release live disc, I don't think there's a two disc release from that Dave to date that was greeted with so much widespread enjoyment as that albums was way back in 1997.
  
  

• This was a great concert, but it is undeniably spectacular on Blu-ray

  
  By A3QP52KNJK8R40 on 2007-07-24
  With lossless 5.1 24-bit/96kHz Dolby TrueHD, lossless 2.0 24-bit/48kHz PCM and a high bit-rate pristine VC-1 1080p picture, this marks not only the first time a Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds show is being released on a video format, but the first time we have a lossless surround mix of these two great musicians.
  You can read the tracklist to see what is on this disc. D+T shows are always pretty special if you're lucky enough to get one.
  Is the difference worth spending $3 more than the DVD? Only if you have a Blu-ray player or a Playstation 3, then you would be foolish to NOT buy it. Even if you don't have an HDTV the high bitrate VC-1 encode will look far superior at 480i on a standard television set than the DVD will.
  If you do pick this up, get ready to experience Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds like never before.
  As Peter Bracke said on High Def Digest about this release "the TrueHD is without a doubt the best audio presentation I've yet heard on a next-gen release. I mean it -- it's that good."
  Do you hear that people? The best audio presentation of any Blu-ray or HD DVD disc to date.
  Enjoy. =D
  
  

• Innocence (Luther College) vs. Experience (Radio City)

  
  By A3KXUMN3EJO543 on 2007-08-18
  I think this is a fine release. The comment that "Tim doesn't shine" on this one as he does on Luther College is absolutely true. But more than this, Luther had an innocent, fun quality. This release sounds more of experience. The more recent songs work surprisingly well in their acoustic form. The "too much talking" comment is also absolutely true. Davespeak was once fun and funny and we couldn't get enough of it...but that was then. Now that we are experienced...
  
  

• Great reference disc for Blu-Ray

  
  By A2SHD5L9CB8T58 on 2007-09-14
  I recently had a Pioneer 6010FD, Denon 4306 AVR, and Samsung BDP-1200 installed. I put this disc in to demo the new home theater setup for my wife. To say she was blown away is an understatement.
  
  My AVR doesn't decode TrueHD. However, the PCM 2.0 was incredible. The clarity of the music was unbelievable. The music just seemed to fill the room and take your breath away. Sound seemed to be coming from everywhere.
  
  The video wasn't shabby, either. In 1080p you could even read notes that Dave had written on his hand.
  
  If you want to showcase your new system, this disc is tops for showing the capabilities of the audio and does a fantastic job with the video as well.
  
  

• Outstanding

  
  By AC8QZLX8MOVHS on 2007-08-14
  This is by far Dave's best live album to date... even better than "Live at Luther College". Tim Reynolds is amazing once again.
  
  
• What happened??
  By A237YNQKPFF9AE on 2007-08-21
  Live at Luther College is amazing. Tim Reynolds expanded my awareness of what an acoustic guitar can do in the hands of a genius with exceeding technical skill; his composition "Stream" is mindblowing, as are his solos/riffs on songs like Ants Marching and Tripping Billies. So:
  
  What happened??
  
  I had the highest hopes for this album. Even after a disappointing first disc, I thought surely the "classic" songs at the end of disc 2 would be winners. But, sadly, no.
  
  The only song I think I will listen to in the future from this show is "The Maker". I have heard the DMB cover from the early 90s, the revamped version (e.g., Live in Chicago), although never the original; Dave puts some extra soul into this one, that comes through with only a couple acoustic guitars as backing.
  
  
• A perfect companion to Luther College.
  By A3PCC8VFK0ML7L on 2007-08-21
  I hadn't given Luther College a listen in a long time before picking up this brand new Dave/Tim release. When I placed the CD in the player, the first track, a haunting version of "Bartender", immediately conjured up memories of what it was to sit down on a dark night and pop-in Luther College for some mood music.
  
  That's not to say that Live at Radio City is a purely nostalgic piece. The memories of the past were soon overtaken by the glory of the present, as Radio City easily stands on its own not as Luther College's "little brother" so to speak, but as its equal.
  
  This can be credited to Radio City's unique song selection - only 4 of the 26 tracks presented here are on the previous Dave/Tim release. The unique tracks include Dave and Tim versions of songs from the DMB albums LWS/Busted Stuff, Before These Crowded Streets, Stand Up, and from the Dave solo album Some Devil.
  
  There are also a few covers of Daniel Lanois songs, as well as one Neil Young cover, and Woody Guthrie's staple "This Land Is Your Land". And, of course, Tim plays a few of his own songs, which allows him to demonstrate the full capabilities of his guitar playing. And, if that wasn't enough, there are also a few unreleased Dave-penned songs here including "Eh Hee", "Cornbread", and "Sister," all of which are being played regularly on the current (2007) DMB tour.
  
  Some highlights include a fantastic "Grace Is Gone" (a song that seemed to be made for this type of setting), "Lie In Our Graves", the new song "Eh Hee", "Some Devil", "When the World Ends", and I like both of the Tim songs better than "Stream". And "Old Dirt Hill" is actually kind've interesting here.
  
  That's all I have to say. Happy listening.
  
  
• Possibly the most moving...
  By A1L6T1MPRWLKEI on 2007-08-22
  This concert is outstanding. The quality is amazing. This DVD has the BEST sound quality of any previous release. The camera work is great. I have been a huge fan of the Dave Matthews Band since I heard "What Would You Say" on the radio back in the early 90s. I thought Live at Luther College was wonderful, but Live at Radio City Music Hall shines in many many ways.
  
  The sound is really like being there. Even the video quality is extremely clear. The track listing is nearly perfect for a newer release. Not too much old stuff, not too much of the crappy stuff, and some excellent new material. I have to say how wonderful it is to witness Tim Reynolds play the guitar. I've only imagined it since their last release in the late 90s. To not only hear him, but see him play will leave you with your mouth open.
  
  To hear Dave tell the stories he has to tell is a real treat. I always enjoy his ramblings, because sometimes, even if they seem like they aren't going anywhere, they always end up of some importance to the next song. The story about "The Bushmen" is entertaining and interesting as he goes into Eh Hee. Also the performance of Crush could be the most moving version I've ever heard.
  
  Overall, I this should be on the top of any fan's list of what to buy. If you're choosey about buying the many live discs the group puts out, buy this one without second thought.
  
  
• Bummer vibes, too much talking, but Great Music
  By A3AUBM9CQ8THEI on 2007-08-16
  When I listen to music I want to be left feeing high, this dvd was a tad depressing ...Musically, it is great, Reynolds is a wizard on the guitar and the chemistry is awesome. I just don't wanna hear Dave babbling on about mistreated soldiers, blah, blah, blah...the dvd comes with the story in print, which *should* be read and brought to people's attention, just not during what should be an uplifting experience, who wants to hear depressing stories @ a concert, it left me feeling like i had just watched a benefit show for wounded vets....In other words, don't watch the dvd on any type of mind altering substances, or you may have a bad trip....I sure hope they edited all of Dave's banter out of the cd, especially the wounded soldier rap....Just shut up and Play Music.
  
  
• Stunning performance and "how does he do that"
  By A7R1CB7EDH1S2 on 2007-08-25
  While I am a casual fan of DMB, I have always enjoyed his work with Tim Reynolds.
  This DVD is absolutley one of the best purchases I have ever made. The performances are stunning, the musical connection between Reynolds and Mathews is unbelievable and borders on clairvoyant. The song selection and production are among the best of any concert DVD I have purchased and as I watch I am constantly saying "how does he do that" about Reynolds guitar prowess.
  
  
• WOW
  By A19N3S7CBSU6O7 on 2007-09-07
  Video
  ------------------
  1080p, VC-1
  
  Audio
  ------------------
  English Dolby TrueHD 5.1
  
  Main feature
  ------------------
  Stunning.
  
  
  With stunning video and audio, this is one of the finest releases on Blu-ray. HD-DuD fans are drooling at the mouth right now, and rightfully so.
  
  
• Another solid release
  By A2W98D3MXCC5UP on 2007-08-14
  Although not as good as the Luther College cd, this cd is another great live album by one of the most talented artist of this generation, Dave Matthews. I don't think that Tim shines on this record as he does on Luther College.
  In the end, this is yet another 5 star release by Dave.
  
  
• Magical
  By A2W98D3MXCC5UP on 2007-08-16
  This DVD is amazing. Dave is such a great artist and Tim backs him up very well.
  
  
• Another great release from Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds
  By AZUYPZ80G2Y74 on 2007-08-20
  Let me start this off by saying that I would pay a ridiculous sum of money to Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds live. I've seen Dave Matthews Band play several times, but this act has eluded me. With their previous release, "Live at Luther College," being one of my favorite albums, I was very excited to see a new release come from the acoustic duo. Needless to say, I am very pleased and satisfied with this release. It is a good combination of old DMB favorites, "Some Devil" songs, and new songs that I hope will be on the new studio album (particularly "Eh Hee" and "Cornbread.") My only complaint is the plugs about the war in Iraq. Everyone is entitled to their opinions and Dave Matthews can say whatever the hell he wants in concert, however just don't put it on the live release. Not that I am not interested in the fate of U.S. soldiers injured in Iraq because they are truly our finest, but there is a time and a place for everything. When I am listening to "Live at Radio City," I want to unwind and only think about the incredible music Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds can make, not hear about all the doom and gloom that is going on in our world today. So, that's my rant, and thank you Dave for putting out this release. I hope there is more to come from you, Tim Reynolds, and DMB.
  
  
• For Fans Only
  By A2J6XO5JBCRU21 on 2007-08-25
  I had to splice out about 30 minutes of crowd noise [applause?] and crude comments by Dave to have a listenable disc. Dave is talented, unfortuately his ego preceeds all his performances like oobleck seeping everywhere.....
  
  
• A High Def Experience That's Hard To Top!!!
  By A1CC6I8JDXU22J on 2007-09-06
  My friends and I grew up with Live at Luther. When I found out Dave and Tim were releasing a new show on video, I went crazy. Then I found out it was coming to Blu Ray, so I didn't buy the DVD and waited. My friends all bought the DVD the day it came out, and I couldn't help but cheat and watch it with them. I was amazed! My friend did not have surround sound but did have a 42" LCD, and the picture was great for a DVD. This got me so excited to see what the Blu Ray would look like in HD. WOW! I am so glad I waited!!!
  
  The Blu Ray has a perfect high def picture!!! On top of that, the Blu Ray features lossless DolbyTrueHD Surround Sound(96 kHz/24bit) and PCM Stereo Sound (48kHz/24bit), and I can honestly say it's the best sound quality I've heard on any concert disc. I have a nice 5.1 surround sound setup, and it's had many concerts played on it, but nothing like this!!! Compared to the DVD, I also noticed that when Tim speaks, it can actually be heard clearly on Blu Ray (and he says some pretty funny stuff). On the DVD, it just sounds like he mumbles. They might not have put his audio track on the DVD. The concert is incredible, the bonus material is incredible, and best of all, the quality of audio and video make the Blu Ray version of this show a must own for anyone with an HD setup and surround sound!
  
  
• Nice audio and video if you are fan of his..
  By A16XZP13DWYLRV on 2007-10-04
  This is a very nice sounding BD. If you have a quality HT system to enjoy this, this gets even better.
  
  This BD houses Lossless audio at a 24bit/96hz! The sound is captured at its best and you can hear the distinctive sounds from both guitar players. The vocals are also very well mastered. It feels almost as if you are there in the live concert.
  
  I am not a big fan of Dave in general, so I gave it 4/5 stars. But, if I was, it's an easy 5/5! I'd more of avid Jazz fan, and Chris Botti BD excels in that regard. But then again, I really enjoyed this BD also.. So, be your own judge..
  
  
• Unbelievable!
  By A2B759IEUOL5ZF on 2007-10-24
  I recently purchased DMB in Central Park and really enjoyed it. The band jammed a lot and it is similar to the 2 DMB concerts I have been to. But there seemed to be something missing about that. While I really enjoyed it, I didn't love it. I did however LOVE DM and TR at RCMH.
  
  First off the picture quality. I watched this on a 50 inch Plasma (only capable of 1080I not 1080P) but the picture is crystal clear. Considering this is a Blu-Ray, and Sony developed Blu-Ray, and Sony owns BMG (or are at least in partnership with them) this seems to be almost a marketing piece for what Blu-Ray can do. Filmed with 9 high definition cameras, the quality is amazing. The lighting on the stages only adds to it. Turn the lights down and watch this and be prepared to be amazed.
  
  As for the audio quality, it too is very impressive. Not only is the recording as well as the presentation of audio on the Blu-Ray perfect, this is primarily an acoustic concert. it's just Dave and Tim playing and singing. There are no others here. The presentation is very clear and clean. The only time that is not the case is the first song in the first encore where Dave plays an electric guitar solo (and yes, there are two encores). The audio starts to get a little muddled (this is the sound from the guitar, not the way it was recorded).
  
  As far as the content of the DVD, the music is great. There are a lot of the standard DM songs as well as a few I haven't heard him do before. Dave also talks a fair amount before some of the songs. While some of the background on the songs is nice, DM seems to be "out there" if you know what I mean when speaking. His dialogue personally makes me like him a little less but that's just my personal opinion. But once he starts to sing, he is once again amazing.
  
  There are also a couple of TR solos which are classic TR and had me pressing the back button to watch again. I keep saying it but it truly is amazing.
  
  On Disc 2 there are a couple of items to check out. The photo montage is actually pretty cool (but I also do a lot of photography). It's only 4 or 5 minutes long so it's worth watching even if only 1 time. I started to watch the documentary (about 45 minutes). While it did shed a little light on how TR and DM met, I was again turned off by DM. I ended up stopping the documentary and watching the concert again. But that's totally fine as I didn't buy this for the documentary.
  
  If you have a blu-ray player and a good 5.1 system, you simply can not go wrong with this disc. If it's actually possible to wear out a Blu-Ray, this will be the first one I need to replace.
  
  
• To cool to put in to words.
  By AGA6B9FHJ6HY0 on 2007-12-16
  If there is a better Blu Ray concert out there..... or a better live performance period.... I have never seen it.
  This show was recorded absolutely perfectly. Top notch production all the way around, top notch performance from Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds. I couldn't recommend this more.
  If you like Dave, you will love this.
  
  
• One of the best concerts on both formats
  By ARS9DJTF9YNMU on 2007-12-28
  I hope we can see more Dave Matthews concerts on Blu-ray. This is without a doubt one of the best sounding movies out on blu-ray. If you have a home theater, you can close your eyes and honestly believe you are at the concert. It is without doubt the best sounding disc Dave Matthews has ever released from a audiophile level. Absolutely a must own if you have a stereo and blu-ray player and call yourself a dmb fan.
  
  
• Dave and Tim at their best.
  By A2QAH8M7GKIILH on 2008-01-21
  I love chocolate, but when someone hands me a Godiva truffle, I know that it's even more special. In that same way, I love Dave Matthews Band, but watching Dave and Tim play is something different. It's a magical thing to watch two amazing artists doing what they love. The concert is full of Dave's fun stories, and the DVD has fun extras as well. This is a great DVD to own.
  
  
• I am hooked!
  By ABMDH3VBUY8G6 on 2007-08-16
  This is my first experience with a Dave and Tim show. I must say, it is nothing short of spectacular. There is a chemistry between them that is incredible. I think this is the best I've ever seen and heard Dave. I'm just sad that I wasn't there that night.
  
  
• Dave and Tim
  By APBKWDI0DCGR8 on 2007-08-24
  Amazing. Better then Luther College and it takes some doin to do that.
  
  If you are a Dave Matthews fan then you have to buy buy buy buy buy buy!
  
  
• I'll take Dave Matthews Band over Dave and Tim any day...
  By ALNKGF4ITOIIU on 2007-09-14
  This isn't bad for what it is, but what drew me to Dave Matthews Band back in the mid-90's was just that... the band. Part of the appeal, to me, of Dave Matthews Band's music is their musicianship, both in-studio and on-stage. Every member brings something complementary to the overall sound, like pieces of a puzzle that fit together perfectly. So if you're a big fan of acoustic guitar work or you like DMB just because of Dave, go for it. But if you're a fan of the entire band and their overall sound, this may not be the best choice for you.
  
  
• Dave you're getting a little Preachy in your old age
  By AZF16LJJG96B7 on 2007-09-27
  Overall an excellent live performance. Dave puts togehter an incredible set mostly comprised of his deeper/moodier songs. The integration on these two disks is great, the songs flow from one to the next seemlessly.
  
  It almost as if this performance reflects your own mood. If your happy, it will come of as uplipting. If your in a bad place, these songs will allow you to wallow in it, as they seem darker.
  
  Tim Reynolds is always incredible, these guys make great music together.
  
  My only beef is that Dave gets a little preachy... talking about Iraq and other issues. Sometimes you just want him to shut up and play.
  
  
• Dave Matthews + Blu-Ray = Best Concert I own
  By A36RRRFLUF8JB0 on 2007-10-04
  I own many Dave Matthews Band concerts on dvd. I like them all since I am
  a fan, but the picture and sound quality are never both excellent at the same time. Here, on blu-ray, I finally am experiencing the best of both.
  Dave and Tim play at Radio City. Basically, an unplugged concert with
  two excellent musicians playing guitars. Dave does talk some in between songs. This is a pleasant surprise. It is a long concert, but is
  very enjoyable to watch and listen to because of the high definition
  picture and sound. A must have for diehard fans and also a good choice for those who don't know anything about Dave Matthews.
  
  
• I'm not a Matthews Fanatic - I'm a fan of great concert DVD's
  By AZZW25TJ2KNKV on 2007-11-07
  I own several concert DVD's / Blu-rays and SACD's
  
  - Bruce Springsteen - Seager Sessions
  - Dido
  - James Taylor: Live at the Beacon Theater
  - Allison Kraus and Union Station
  - Eric Clapton
  - John Mayer
  - David Grey
  - Diana Krall
  - Blue Man Group
  etc
  
  Before owning this Blu-Ray, James Taylor: Live at the Beacon was my favorite DVD. The 5.1 soundtrack on that concert was the best I had heard. There was nothing distracting about it - the different channels blended seemlessly for an excellent and very relaxing experience. I'm always on the look out for recording's like that. I hate getting a DVD and being frustrated by poor mixing - usually in the surround channels; sometimes in the levels of the different instruments - Diana Krall in Paris is one example - something about it just didn't sit right with me. The piano just seemed out of place in the soundtrack - not bad, just didn't fit together like I hoped it would. Bruce Springsteen's Blu-ray is better but at times it can be difficult to set the surround speakers to the right level so that they don't become distracting. The Dave Matthews Blu-ray is the best recording I've heard. I listen to it over some highend speakers using the TrueHD soundtrack and it transports you into the concert hall for one of the best concert experiences you can get without actually being at the concert. Its just two guitars and an occasional piano. When Tim Reynold strums his guitar you hear every vibration and it is mixed about as perfectly as it can be with absolutely no distractions from the surround speakers (like too much ambience, etc). I highly recomend this blu-ray to anyone looking for an incredibly well mixed soundtrack and songs that just about anyone can enjoy even if they don't know any Dave Matthews songs. My second recomendation would still be JT (the original JT): Live at the Beacon
  
  
• Amazing concert experience
  By A22979RO9HDOGW on 2007-11-14
  I bought this CD version of this concert shortly after it was released and loved it. I recently bought an HDTV (Sony KDL-40W3000 40" 1080p LCD) and wanted to test out the BlueRay feature of the Sony PS3 I bought over the summer. I couldn't think of any BlueRay disk I'd rather own.
  
  Although I had heard every track from the performance several times, the entire concert was extremely entertaining. The camera work is great. The clarity (both audio and video) is the best I've ever experienced. And the music is... well, if your fan, and I bet you are... fantastic.
  
  
• Stunning "Must-have" Dave Matthews / Blu-Ray Reference Disc
  By AHSFICH1H2G5C on 2007-12-28
  I am already a Dave Matthews fan. I wanted a Blu-Ray concert Disc that would not only serve as a reference disc and show me how good concert sound could be on Blu-Ray, but I wanted a consumate Dave Matthews acoustic performance. This disc is is just two guys, Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds. I'd never heard of Tim Reynolds before, but assumed Dave would only perform with the best. I am also an acoustic guitarist. Tim's playing was very fine. But I must admit he's not my favorite. He does some nice work with Dave, but this disc is a showcase for Dave Matthews. I've never heard Dave talk so much and he's very funny, entertaining and demonstrates both depth, as well as child like innocence besides being a real goofball. He was incredibly entertaining. The sound was as good as I've ever heard, the setting was stunning and the video was simply outstanding and entertaining in every way. Highly recommended!
  
  
• Amazing!!!
  By A3FMBZRXBR0BH6 on 2008-01-09
  Words hardly describe this performance. I have been a long time fan Dave Matthews' music. In order, my opinion would be this, Dave Matthews Band studio recordings are: Good. Dave Matthews Band live: Better. Dave Matthews live with Tim Reynolds: Nothing better on the planet. These two men together are unbelievable. Not only is the music amazing, The camera work and the way this was filmed (camera, editing, etc. a ) is second to none. In addition Dave tells some wonderful stories throughout the show. Buy it, buy it, buy it, NOW.....Why are you still reading? :)
  
  
  

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