.. |
JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS: LIVE
Review by Michael Jacobson
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
Video: Full Frame 1.33:1
Studio: BMG
Features: Two Bonus Videos, Biography,
Discography
Length: 60 Minutes
Release Date: June 12, 2001
I dont give a damn about my bad reputation
Film ***
I Love Rock n Roll crowned the
Billboard charts for an amazing eight straight weeks back in 1981. It had legions of loyal fans scowling and pumping
their fists in the air to the heavy beat, and it made a household name of one Joan Jett
and her band, The Blackhearts. The gritty,
black and white video became a staple of the new music channel called MTV, and the song
became an instantly recognizable rock anthem for all time.
Ms. Jett may never have repeated that chart success,
but to call her a one-hit wonder would be unfair. She
has continued to rock audiences around the world with an energetic live show, a collection
of great songs, and an ever changing look
from the unglamorous short and straight
hair days of I Love Rock n Roll to her new, bleach blonde crew cut, Joan
Jett has never been conventional, nor has she been willing to fit comfortably into any
image the entertainment world might want her to reside in.
This live DVD shows Jett and company in a concert taped
for VH1 in Colorado. Its too bad it was
for TV, as Joans colorful language is often censored, and there are breaks in the
show for commercial placement. No matter
the
music is all there, loud, rude, and potent as ever, as is Joans unmistakable voice. Her choice of material is inclusive and eclectic,
from her hit remakes (I Love
, Crimson and Clover, Do
You Wanna Touch Me) to new songs (Androgynous, Fetish) to
the unexpected (The Mary Tyler Moore Theme, Everyday People).
Joan Jett remains solidly in character throughout, with
a dangerous sneer and curled lip as she belts out tune after tune
but every so often,
she forgets herself and gives a smile. She
obviously loves what shes doing, or she still wouldnt be doing it some twenty
years after her biggest hit.
Video **
You cant expect much from a made-for-TV program recorded on video, and you dont get it here. The show is perfectly watchable, but all the inherent problems of tape are here, including softer images, distortions with bright or colored lights, and a general lack of detail in long shots.
Audio ***1/2
Nothing wrong with the audio mix, however. This loud, dynamic 5.1 soundtrack will fill your living room with a concert going experience, with a deep, booming bass anchoring the soaring guitars and vocals.
Features *1/2
Two bonus videos are the main feature I wished they had included some of her early, pioneering works, but instead, one is a live rendition of Do You Wanna Touch Me at an MTV New Years Party for 1985 (does the crowd look terminally bored to you, or is it just me?) and a more recent video for Real Wild Child. Rounding out the extras is a bio on Jett, and a discography.
Summary:
Joan Jett has worn her rock and roll attitude on her sleeve for more than two decades. Whether shes playing sold out arenas or small venues, she proves on this DVD that she still gives her all to the music she loves, and her fans are still loving her in return.