Best of 2011: DVDs
From my standpoint, this past year has been a good one for music-related DVDs. I reviewed several here, but the most noteworthy among them are these:
Ballad of Mott the Hoople – This loving documentary takes an in-depth look at the ups-and-downs that characterized the band. Featuring the cooperation of all surviving ex-members, it’s great for serious fans as well as those who don’t know much about them beyond “All the Young Dudes” and perhaps “All the Way From Memphis.”
Frank Sinatra Around the World – Even in the late sixties and beyond, Ol’ Blue Eyes still – most nights – had the goods. This three-concert set chronicles shows that are each unique in their own way. Even when the song selection overlaps (as it does a bit) the style, performance and delivery is unique to each show. Well worth watching, if only to prove that performers should not wish to — as Pete Townshend wrote — “die before [they] get old.”
Brian Eno: The Man Who Fell to Earth – I had the opportunity to see Brian Eno give an “Illustrated Talk” this year, and this documentary – covering his creative output in the 1970s – made a good warmup for that. Casual fans may think they know about Eno, but as this fascinating – long but never boring – DVD makes clear, there’s a lot more to know.
Steven Wilson – Insurgentes — Returning readers to this blog probably know that I’m a serious fan of Steven Wilson. Porcupine Tree, his remix/remaster work on popular 70s albums, on and on. His first solo album under his own name also gave rise to this closely-related film (which is not a long-form music video). It’s sort of a meditation on, well, all the things rattling around in Wilson’s mind. Which is to say, some interesting and provocative subject matter. Poignant, unsettling and humorous, occasionally all at once.
Derailroaded – As (bad) luck would have it, Larry “Wild Man” Fischer passed away within a few weeks of my screening and reviewing this modern-day look at his life and, um, career. If you know about Fischer and think of him as a one-dimensional joke that’s not especially funny, this film might change your mind.
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About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The 4000-plus interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he is co-teaching a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: 40 Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.