DVD 1 contains the visual aspect of the two complete shows also featured on the audio double CD "Five Men Live" The show from Club Mondo in Stockholm is the best one since it has multiple camera angles. The Mondo show was recorded with 9 cameras, while the Sweden Rock show only has two cameras in action. Both performances are solid and display Jeff Scott Soto as a really cool frontman. For more information on these shows
read the review of the audio CD.
DVD 2 features a complete retrospective including behind the scenes footage, all Talisman's videos and some live performances. Everything is done in chronological order, which gives you a good impression of Talisman's progression even though there is nothing from after "Humanimal" (1994) up till the performance from Sweden Rock 2001.
Funny moment is
I'll Be Waiting performed on Swedish television where drummer Jake Samuels suddenly grabs a guitar and does the guitar solo playback, while Jeff Scott Soto finish the song behind the drum kit playing drums and singing.
The footage goes back to when Jason Bieler from Saigon Kick was in the band. The DVD made me rediscover a forgotten gem, the amazing ballad
Just Between Us, which underlines the great potential of Talisman, which should have made them huge in the early nineties.
There is extensive footage from Japan 1993, where the band also recorded the live album "Five out of Five". Talisman sounds really tight on these songs and if you find the hidden bonus menu you can watch some outtakes from that tour. The band plays a great version of Journey's
Separate Ways with Fredrik Akesson imitating Neal Schon note for note. Also the audience screams out for Yngwie's
I am a Viking, where after Marcel Jacob and Jeff Scott Soto perform the first verse. Really cool.
There are 4 tracks from Lokerse festival, which looks like a big outdoor festival. Even though the rain is pouring down Talisman put on a great show.
The videos from the "Cats and Dogs" album tracks are outtakes from this DVD compiled into a so-called music video. Nothing special.
The retrospect DVD is quite interesting and in between the live songs and videos, there is personal footage to spice it up.
There certainly is value for money with 2 live performances and a documentary. The only complaint is the same as on the audio DVD - the songs played at Sweden Rock festival is similar to Club Mondo, since all Sweden Rock 2003 songs also is included in the Mondo set.
Rating: 7/10Written by
Michael Thursday, April 28, 2005
