Drive Thru Records DVD 2, Various Artists
It's not cool to like Drive Thru, but you know what? I DON'T CARE. This DVD, the label's second, is absolutely barnstorming and knocks the first one clean out. If only there was some more Finch live stuff, as there was first time round, I'd be in visual heaven. Still, you can't have everything even if the good folks at DTR actually try and cram everything onto this little disc. You want making the videos? Check. Live stuff? Check. Videos? Check. Home-made skits? Check. You name it - this DVD has it. There's about 4 hours of material packed in and it's all good fun.
For me the live videos stand out. Senses Fail blow out at Skate and Surf with a fantastic version of '187', while the more intimate venue for 'Bite To Break Skin' looks cool. The Early November are fantastic throughout, with their live efforts energetic and their interviews and home movies hilarious. The skit with the new 'publicist' is exctremely juvenile, but ultimately will raise a giggle. Finch play 'Untitled' and The Starting Line get a massive singalong for 'The Best Of Me', as well as an acoustic version of 'Playing Favourites'. The Movielife do 'Hey' unplugged too, another bonus for the fans. The msuic videos are well shot on the whole too. Finch do the alternate non-Underworld version of 'Worms of the Earth', while Senses Fail's 'Bloody Romance' is a keeper. Homegrown are titilating (literally), while The Starting Line also have 'Leaving' on offer. There's a glossy feel to each video, probably proving just how far the label has come. There's a stack of making the video featurettes too, all of which give a behind the scenes look at how the videos were put together.
The down sides? Well Steel Train will never be my bag and there's a lack of Movielife and Hidden In Plain View live stuff, but there's something from all of the DTR bands which gives this a well-rounded feel. The videos are good on the whole and there's a comedy feel to pretty much everything. You sense the makers of the DVD probably had more fun than those who watch it, and it's this warmth that really sticks out. If you're a fan of any of the bands, or the label, then you need to pick this up. If you're one of the DTR hater-crew this probably won't publically change your mind - but I dare anyone to watch this all the way through and not laugh once...
www.drivethrurecords.com
Paul
