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this article I have decided to explore Metallicas live
videos. I will point out what I think to be the strong
points and the weak points of each one. The list is as
follows: The 19.98 Home Vid Cliff Em All! This is a video made up totally of bootleg footage of Metallicas "early days" with Cliff Burton. Basically its nothing but highlights from the first three albums with bad quality recording and pictures added. It lacks the improv and variety that later videos make up for. The greatest thing about this one is without a doubt Cliff Burtons outrageous bass solos. This is something that no other video contains and definitely makes Cliff Em All worth owning. Receives a 7 on the 1 to 10 scale (10 being the best). Live Shit: San Diego This is the longest in Metallicas concert footage catalog. It has lots of material from the newly released black album also features a lot of improvisational solos and interaction with the audience. Excellent video all except for the length. After the fifth chorus of "Seek and Destroy" your ready for it to be over. It does have a really cool medley from the justice album (fondly entitled the "Justice Medley") which features the best instrumental and lyrical highlights from that often underrated album. Other than the almost absurd length, San Diego gets a firm (hu hu -firm) 8 out of 10 (thanks to hidden jewels such as Jasons bass solo and an excerpt from "Orion"). Live Shit: Seattle In my opinion the greatest Metallica live footage ever shot. PERIOD. James voice is amazing. The song selection is awesome. It also features hidden jewels such as a different bass solo and an excerpt from "To Live is to Die." I would spend the 90 dollars on the live shit box set if nothing else were included but this one video. 10 out of 10. Cunning Stunts Probably the one I watch the least. Not because of the song choice being mostly Load-era titles but for another reason. The songs are very obscure and at times it seems strange that Metallica would ever care to release some of them live. Its worth having simply for the live versions of the Load era songs that were never released live before. Other than that Cunning Stunts is pretty much the same old same old with a different singing style. I give it a 6 out of 10. S&M This vid will blow you away. Even if you already have the CD I would highly suggest getting the video as well. It gives you new insight into how massive the collaboration between the San Francisco Symphony and Metallica was. Even if you dont like the orchestra in the back you have to admit that it adds a whole new dimension to classic Metallica. However the absence of some main stays in the set list (Fade to Black, Creeping Death to name a few) bring it down a point or two. 9 out of 10. Definitely worth having. |
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