Usher-Live: Evolution 8701 (2002)

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General		Extras
Category	Music	Booklet Menu Animation & Audio Featurette-Rehearsal Song: U Don't Have To Call Featurette-Usher Bio Video Biographies-Cast Gallery-Photo Web Links
Rating
Year Of Production	2002
Running Time	93:31 (Case: 90)
RSDL / Flipper	RSDL (49:20)	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	1,2,3,4,5,6	Directed By	Hamish Hamilton
Studio Distributor	Warner Vision	Starring	Usher
Case	Amaray-Transparent-Secure Clip
RPI	$34.95	Music	Usher Various

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	English Dolby Digital 2.0 (224Kb/s) English Dolby Digital 5.1 (448Kb/s) English dts 5.1 (1536Kb/s)
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	1.78:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	576i (PAL)
Original Aspect Ratio	1.78:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	None	Smoking	No
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

    Usher Live is a very slickly produced concert DVD, which looks like a Broadway Stage Show, yet sounds like an R&B concert.

    Born in Atlanta, Usher Raymond IV started singing with a local gospel choir. At thirteen he signed a record deal, and began his recording career. Now in his early 20s, Usher has already won a Grammy for best R&B vocal, and his fourth album, 8701, which spawned this concert, is six-time platinum in sales. Usher is also a very accomplished dancer, and he and his support singer/dancers provide a great high-energy stage show.

    While I cannot claim to be an Usher fan, I did recognise a few of the songs, such as U Got it Bad, U Don't Have to Call, and I Need a Girl. I also enjoyed the great dancing and the smooth pace with which the concert moved. While everything in this concert is derivative, from the Jimi Hendrix style National Anthem opening, to the Michael Jackson and Prince-styled choreography, it is obvious that a lot of time and energy went into planning, choreographing, and rehearsing this show.

    The tracks on the DVD are:

Video

    Recorded as a widescreen image, with Hi Definition video, and featuring great camera work, editing, and a few effects, this DVD's transfer is excellent.

    The transfer is presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1, 16x9 enhanced.

    The sharpness is excellent, and the shadow detail is in keeping with the concert lighting. There are a rich palette of colours, which seems to accurately capture the original image. There are no problems with MPEG, film-to-video, or film artefacts.

    There are no subtitles present on this DVD.

    This is an RSDL disc, with the layer change at 49:20. It is noticeable but not disruptive.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

    There are three audio options: English Dolby Digital 2.0 (224Kb/s), English Dolby Digital 5.1 (448Kb/s), and English dts 5.1 (1536Kb/s). The latter two are definitely preferred for their use of the surrounds, which captures the excitement of the crowd. The dts track is the better of the three for its greater presence in the bass, and its greater clarity.

    The dialogue quality and audio sync are excellent on all three audio tracks.

    The musical score is largely comprised of Usher's music, some of which he wrote or co-wrote. If you're unfamiliar with Usher, imagine a young R&B version of Barry White.

    The surround presence and activity is excellent with the 5.1 mixes. The roar of the very enthusiastic crowd is piped through the rears, and one feels as though one is in the crowd throughout.

    The LFE on both the Dolby Digital 5.1 and dts 5.1 tracks is very good, however, the dts audio seems to have greater presence and range in the bass.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

    There are a few extras.

Menu

    An animated menu with audio.

Booklet

    A small, colour booklet (one folded double-sided page), with publicity photographs.

Rehearsal Song - U Don't Have To Call (6.02)

    Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1, 16x9 enhanced, with three audio options: English Dolby Digital 2.0 (224Kb/s), English Dolby Digital 5.1 (448Kb/s), and English dts 5.1 (1536Kb/s).

Featurette - Usher Bio Video (1:44)

    This is the same video that appears at the opening of the concert.

Biography and Discography

    Text-based information about Usher and his recording career.

Photo Gallery

    A series of photographs covering Usher's tour.

Web Link

    A link to Usher's fan site on the Internet: www.usherworld.com

    Usher Live has been released on DVD in Region 1, and the two versions seem to be the same.

   Usher Live is a well-produced and well-executed concert and DVD that would please most, if not all, Usher fans.

    The video quality is excellent.

    The audio quality is also excellent, and is a very immersive concert recording.

    The extras are interesting.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall