Styx and REO Speedwagon-Arch Allies: Live at Riverport (2000) (NTSC) |
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General | Extras | ||
Category | Music |
Menu Animation & Audio Biographies-Cast Discography Audio-Only Track-Audio Interview Gallery-Photo Web Links DVD Credits |
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Rating | |||
Year Of Production | 2000 | ||
Running Time | 101:26 (Case: 105) | ||
RSDL / Flipper | No/No | Cast & Crew | |
Start Up | Menu | ||
Region Coding | 1,2,3,4,5,6 | Directed By | Kenneth Botelho |
Studio
Distributor |
Warner Vision |
Starring |
James Young Tommy Shaw Glen Burtnik Lawrence Gowan Todd Sucherman Chuck Panozzo Neal Doughty Kevin Cronin Bruce Hall Dave Amato Bryan Hitt |
Case | Click | ||
RPI | $34.95 | Music |
Styx R.E.O. Speedwagon |
Video (NTSC) | Audio | ||
Pan & Scan/Full Frame | Full Frame |
English Dolby Digital 2.0 (192Kb/s) English Dolby Digital 5.1 (448Kb/s) |
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Widescreen Aspect Ratio | None | ||
16x9 Enhancement | No | ||
Video Format | 480i (NTSC) | ||
Original Aspect Ratio | 1.33:1 | Miscellaneous | |
Jacket Pictures | No | ||
Subtitles | None | Smoking | No |
Annoying Product Placement | No | ||
Action In or After Credits | Yes, the credits roll next to the final song. |
Both Styx and R.E.O. Speedwagon started out in the early seventies, but it wasn't until the end of that decade that they started to hit it big. They became the "kings of arena rock" - playing shows to big crowds in big venues across America, and around the world. While their notoriety has gradually waned over the years, both bands are still going, and are still playing to big crowds. This show links the two under the banner Arch Allies for a double-bill concert. The name was chosen as a reference to the fact that over the years the press played the two up as arch-enemies.
While at times the similarity between the styles of the bands and the songs themselves can make the concert feel a little bland, the energy the performers put in generates more than enough interest to make the 100 minutes pass quickly. The general format of the concert has Styx performing first with 8 songs in about 40 minutes, then the entire stage is cleared, and R.E.O. Speedwagon do 9 songs. Finally, the two bands join together on stage for two songs with all 11 members playing.
This disc is unlikely to appeal to any but fans of the two bands, which is a pity because it is a concert that is very good. This concert comes highly recommended to those who are fans of the band, or just like big, enthusiastic, "arena" rock - it may not be "cool", but it sounds good.
1. Blue Collar Man 2. Fooling Yourself 3. Lady 4. Brave New World 5. Edge Of The Century 6. Heavy Water 7. Too Much Time On My Hands 8. Renegade 9. Don't Let Him Go 10. Music Man | 11. Take It On The Run 12. Can't Fight This Feeling 13. Time For Me To Fly 14. Back On The Road Again 15. Keep On Loving You 16. Ridin' The Storm 17. 157 Riverside Avenue 18. Blue Collar Man 19. Roll With The Changes |
This transfer is presented at 1.33:1, not 16x9 enhanced. That would most likely be the correct aspect ratio, given the apparent video source, and the purpose of the show (made for TV in the US).
The transfer is reasonably sharp, providing more than enough detail where necessary, allowing the fine aspects of the performers' clothes and faces to be seen. Shadow detail is not quite as good, but it is still enough that there are never any problems. It is of little importance however, as the stage is almost always well lit. There is no low level noise present.
Colours are a little muted, although this is not helped by the source and the NTSC transfer. Other than that, they are still good enough to represent the bright nature of the concert.
The only compression artefact is some slight pixelization on effects smoke in the background (such as at 49:02). There are no film artefacts at all in this transfer, but aliasing is a very large problem. While the NTSC nature of the transfer would not have helped, what is present here is not generally going to benefit that much from increased resolution. Severe instances occur on everything from guitars (7:48 to 7:53) to the edge of the stage (63:32 to 63:38) and the edges of the keyboard during the Styx concert (27:13). There is virtually no frame in which there is not some aliasing, and as such it is a major detriment to the transfer.
There are no subtitles present on this disc.
This is a single-layered disc, and as such does not contain a layer change.
Sharpness | |
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Colour | |
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Overall |
There are two audio tracks present on this disc. Both are the original concert recording in Dolby Digital 5.1 (at 448 Kbps), and Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo (at 192 Kbps).
Vocals are clear and easy to understand at all times. The music recording is equally as good, with excellent clarity, making it very easy to hear the individual instruments (the steel-string guitars are particularly impressive). Both the stereo and surround soundtracks are equally impressive in this regard, presenting wide soundstages that are a pleasure to listen to.
Audio sync is good for the most part, although there is a short period (around 29:39) during the Styx concert where it does become a little suspect.
Surround use is mostly typical of recent concert discs, where the surrounds are used primarily for crowd ambience. During the Styx portion of the concert the surrounds are additionally used for vocal harmonies, and this works to very good effect. The stereo soundtrack, obviously, misses out on these, but is still good enough that those without surround capabilities will not miss out on much.
Subwoofer utilisation is very subtle, but still gives a good backing to the music. Both stereo and surround soundtracks carry similar amounts of bass.
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Audio Sync | |
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Subwoofer | |
Overall |
NOTE: To view non-R4 releases, your equipment needs to be multi-zone compatible and usually also NTSC compatible.
The video quality is quite good apart from a large amount of severe aliasing, which serves to bring the entire transfer down.
The audio quality is very good, providing an extremely enjoyable concert experience, regardless of which soundtrack (stereo or surround) is listened to.
The extras are quite limited, and apart from the interviews, are not particularly interesting. The interviews however, are well worth a listen.
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Review Equipment | |
DVD | Pioneer DV-535, using Component output |
Display | Loewe Xelos 5381ZW. Calibrated with Video Essentials. This display device is 16x9 capable. |
Audio Decoder | Built in to amplifier/receiver. Calibrated with Video Essentials. |
Amplification | Onkyo TX-DS787, THX Select |
Speakers | All matching Vifa Drivers: centre 2x6.5" + 1" tweeter (d'appolito); fronts and rears 6.5" + 1" tweeter; centre rear 5" + 1" tweeter; sub 10" (150WRMS) |