[.ca] Galaxie 500

Audio & Visuals poor. Only good as historical document.:
Before getting this I expected that the Visuals might be Poor (bootleg visuals) with adequate Audio (band or sound board recordings). I was right about the Visuals, but unfortunately the audio is just as poor. The entire 2nd dvd of bootleg concerts sounds as if it was recorded on a 1970's boombox. Almost unwatchable. The 1st dvd is OK in places. The Commonwealth School set audio/visual is OK. The Middle East footage is OK (interesting to me b/c I go there). Some of the Kennel Club is OK. The BBC is very good but no drums, all 3 play guitar, bass. The videos stink (why is the sound so bad?). Whoever thought this was worth releasing has a lot of nerve.

Fantastic!:
This wonderful two-disc collection of Galaxie 500's music videos and live bootlegs is perfect for fans of the band who never got a chance to see them live (like me) or for anyone who's curious about what makes G500 so darn special. While the music videos are great and surprisingly violent (but effective), the live performances are the real treasures here. Ranging from professionally-produced concert footage, to a performance in a high school gym (!), to a rare 3-guitar-attack set on UK TV (featuring drummer Damon Krukowski on acoustic guitar), the live bootlegs are each as charming and unique as the band's music and their occasionally questionable quality only adds to the band's beautifully stark aesthetic. Another great thing about this DVD is its 28-page color booklet featuring an entertaining interview with the band by James McNew of Yo La Tengo. Topics range from the ever-changing hairstyles of Naomi Yang to the never-changing Spacemen 3 shirt of Dean Wareham. Anyone interested in Galaxie 500 should pick up this extensive and delightful DVD set.

Not The Last Waltz, but the next best thing.:
This is the best collection of Galaxie 500 material ever compiled. The sheer quantity of material makes this a must-have for even the casual fan. But, I'm not one to preach quantity over quality... All four of Galaxie 500's music videos are included. The videos are (not surprisingly) very low budget, and the visuals reflect this. They are shot with a dream-like aura that almost forces one to focus upon the music, and allows the video to sit on the back burner. The aesthetics of the videos only serve to make the viewer appreciate the music that much more. I'd prefer to watch them with my eyes closed or my back to the TV, but if I am ever so inclined to watch the video, it's certainly nice to have the option... The live performances, which are compiled from a combination of low-budget professional and fan footage, are great. Most of them appear to have been shot on VHS or Hi-8. The quality of which is lacking, but also lending to a more intimate atmosphere. It puts the viewer at the show. It's not like watching HBOs newest incarnation of a Britney Spears concert (should I say spectacle?), nor should it be. It's kinda like watching your neighbors home movies, only this time it doesn't suck. The settings are so intimate (some looking as though they were shot in a basement), that you can't help but to appreciate what you are watching. At least I couldn't. This DVD was a pleasant surprise. It is loaded with material, and the material is good. Given the quality of the sources, one couldn't ask for much more, and so I can wholeheartedly recommend this, even to the most casual of fans.