Even better todayU2 - Zoo TV Live From Sydney DVD(Island) 4 stars (out of 5 stars) Reviewed: Sept. 21, 2006 |
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Review by Andy Argyrakis Anyone who's seen U2's latest millennial outings can attest to the band's immense staying power, relevance and enthralling stage shows. But long before the "Elevation" and "Vertigo" tours of the 2000s, Ireland's top foursome rocked the world with its early 1990s "Zoo TV" tour, an epic that supported the two pop focused projects Achtung Baby and Zooropa while pushing the technological envelope further than even the Rolling Stones, Madonna and Michael Jackson. Though the outing was previously released as a VHS title, it's just been upgraded to DVD in both a single disc concert package and double disc experience loaded with extras.To quote Bono following rousing versions of "Zoo Station" and "The Fly" on the newly restored offering, the band had "the latest and greatest in software, hardware and men's wear- we've got it all here." Indeed they did, including a slew of hits, gargantuan jumbo trons, a mind blowing light show (especially considering the tour began well over a decade ago) plus the front man's sleek bug-eye sunglasses, leather clad torso from head to toe and devil horn disguise later in the program. While the experience is loaded with frills, it never overpowers the group's enduring catalogue, including cuts that were new at the time "Even Better Than the Real Thing" and "One" (both of which still sound current) and 80s staples like "New Year's Day" and "Where the Streets Have No Name." In the spirit of U2 constantly changing up its set lists, the rarely performed "Running To Stand Still" is included from the classic Joshua Tree sessions, along with a Lou Reed video duet come "Satellite of Love" and a finale cover of "Can't Help Falling In Love." Aside from these rarities, fans will especially clamor for the bonus disc addition, which features the highly sought after tracks "Tryin' To Throw Your Arms Around the World" and "Desire" (previously only available from a 1992 Yankee Stadium television special) along with the documentaries "A Fistful of Zoo TV" and "Zoo TV- The Inside Story." With all these exceptional extras, this collection will surely be devoured by die-hards and hopefully signal the start of DVD releases for other VHS-only U2 concerts, including the Red Rocks run through of Under the Blood Red Sky and Pop Mart Live From Mexico City. |
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