Stop Making Sense [Blu-ray] [Region Free]

Before David Byrne's collaboration with X-Press 2,"Lazy", Talking Heads had fallen off the critical radar and disappeared from public consciousness. It is high time they were credited for "Remain in Light" and this, easily the best live concert of all time. Audio releases of the concert (especially the original nine track version) do the visual power of the concert an injustice even though "Slippery People" "Burning Down the House" and "Take Me to the River" better the respective studio versions.The pacing of the film is exemplary: the gradual addition of musicians provides the context for David Byrne's metamorphosis from tense New Waver to full-on funkster. And while the rest of the Heads, augmented by musicians of the class and charisma of Bernie Worrell and Alex Weir amongst others, play brilliantly, Byrne steals the show. He is more compelling than Michael Stipe in "Tourfilm", Bjork at the Royal Opera House last year or anyone else you care to mention.Thankfully the classic "I Zimbra/Big Business" (the latter a Byrne solo number from "Songs from the Catherine Wheel") is included as an extra and proves one of the many highlights of the disc. Making further great use of DVD's potential, the disc provides the viewer with a choice of sounds tracks. While the concert sound was always good, the remastered track blows it away for clarity, depth and feeling. The voiceover gives great history and background and is good accompaniment to "Fa Fa Fa Fa Fa Fa", the biography of the band which reveals the extent of the inevitable animosity as Byrne garnered all the plaudits.Accusations that this is over-rated and dated are without foundation as well as explanation. While the music is still great (same as it ever was), the influence of the visualisation of the concert is palpable: countless subsequent concerts/live performances such as REM's "Tourfilm" and U2's "Zooroopa" are unthinkable without "Stop Making Sense"."Stop Making Sense" manages to be simulataneously cerebral and celebratory, enigmatic and ecstatic. In short, unmissable.

This film combines footage of Talking Heads in concert, shot over three nights at the Pantages Theater in Hollywood in December 1983 as part of the `Speaking in Tongues' tour. An early directorial effort by Jonathan Demme, it was completely financed by the band (at a reputed cost of more than US$1million) and the first ever to deploy 100% digital sound recording. The result is widely regarded as a leading contender for the best rock movie ever made.Having owned the VHS video for 25 years, I have to say the Blu-Ray transforms the viewing experience. The show opens with a performance of `Psycho Killer' by charismatic, eccentric band leader David Byrne on guitar and voice, playing over a thumping rhythm track on a 1980s ghetto-blaster placed on the stage beside him. It's absolutely riveting, mesmerising to watch. The other band members gradually join him one by one and two by two, until all nine are onstage.The band's performance is truly awesome, and even if you were never a fan and haven't heard their music you're likely to be won over. It never lets up from start to finish, full of quirky touches like Byrne sprinting clockwise around the stage for several minutes while the rest of the band plays on, and the outrageous `fat suit' which transforms his physique.There has never been a band quite like Talking Heads, combining catchy tunes, exemplary musicianship, poignant social commentary in the song lyrics and performance-art. Their demise was a loss to the spirit of true creativity and originality, but you still have this performance as a reminder of how great they were.The extras on the Blu-Ray offer an entertaining insight into the dynamics of the band, the mutual respect and good humoured ribbing between the different members a persistent feature of the relationships behind this enduring music.

I have seen the movie back when it had been originally released several times. IMHO, both the musical performance and the stage performance are great. The versions of some of the songs are definitely better worked out than on the original recordings, might be, because some really great artists are accompanying TH on that one. David Byrne proves an excellent performer, and Jonathan Demme has done a great job in catching the atmosphere. It starts with a solo performance by Byrne, doing Psycho Killer on an empty stage, and goes on with the duet "Heaven" with Tina Weymouth on bass. Then the drums are added, and so on. With every song done, the stage gets more filled, not just with people, but with instruments and decoration. Although the initial performances are intense, too, that way, the intensity of the performance is increasing throughout the movie. Not only Byrne's presence, but also stage performance of the others involved (the background singers, for example, really having fun!!, the fine percussion section featuring steve scales) add much fire and thrills to the funky rhythm base supplied by Weymouth & Frantz. Features a fine appearance by TOM-TOM-Club (essentially consisting of Tina & Chris), too. Together with the two albums prodcuced by Eno, this represents the lasting contribution of TH to popular music, IMHO. DVD has good quality and is complete (there are versions where songs originally featured in the movie are not indluded).Anyone who likes that kind of music will enjoy the movie.

Value for money