The Moody Blues
A Night at Red Rocks
Polydor
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For those not familiar with The Moody Blues, they're a U.K four-piece who've spent several decades creating, well, moody blues (although their music is really more like a bland rock and roll/folk hybrid). A Night at Red Rocks enlists the Colorado Symphony Orchestra and a middle-aged audience who would've been flower children if they'd been cool enough (they weren't); the purpose being to celebrate 25 years of glorious Moody magic. And that's what you get. It's pretty simple really -- song plays, audience looks under the influence of mild tranquillisers, song ends; repeat.
If the Moody Blues fan within you is anticipating extra footage or bonus content, you'll be sorely disappointed -- there isn't any, and the concert itself is under way within a minute of the DVD opening (not before some mediocre aerial shots of Red Rocks, though. And don't forget the close-ups on some of the more bored members of the audience, who always seem to turn up in this type of filming). A Night at Red Rocks typifies the "let's grab a concert off TV, throw it onto a disc and sell it because we can't be bothered making something worthwhile for the fanbase" type approach to DVD concerts. About the only saving grace, presentation-wise, is the booklet -- sure, it's ugly, but at least it's three pages instead of the standard single sheet.
It may sound like I'm complaining for the sake of it, and perhaps I am, but this release typifies an overwhelming trend in the "music DVD" market that big labels are perpetuating -- not taking advantage of the increased capabilities of DVD or the extra storage space of the medium, overpricing what is now a relatively cheap technology, and delivering the item in packaging that could have been designed by primary school children employed for extra pocket money. This Moody Blues release is a great example of how to say a resounding "fuck you" to your customers. Even if I liked the music that these guys make (and, after such an uninspiring performance, I can safely say that I don't), Red Rocks would be something I'd think twice about buying, if for no reason other than it's an insulting excuse for a 25-year retrospective.
The Moody Blues: http://www.moodyblues.co.uk
Dan Stapleton
