Dvd in Rock & Pop Music

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"The All-Star Sessions [PA]" (10/11/2005) Heavy Metal Roadrunner United, Roadrunner Records (USA)ROADRUNNER UNITED: THE ALL-STAR SESSIONS features members of Roadrunner bands collaborating as four different "teams." Bands include: Slipknot, Killswitch Engage, Type O Negative, Trivium, Chimaira, Coal Chamber, Machine Head, Fear Factory, Life Of Agony, King Diamond, Cradle Of Filth, VOD, Sepultura, Opeth, Soulfly, Misfits, DevilDriver, Glassjaw, Ill Nino and Obituary. Personnel include: Robert Flynn (vocals, guitars); Keith Caputo (vocals, piano); Glen Benton, King Diamond, Mark Hunter, Max Cavalera, Howard Jones , Daryl Palumbo, Dani Filth, Kyle Thomas (vocals); Dino Cazares, Matthew K. Heafy (guitars); Josh Silver (keyboard, background vocals); Nadja Peulen (electric bass); Joey Jordison (drums). For Roadrunner's 25th anniversary, the pioneering heavy metal/hard rock label came up with a novel concept: four super groups composed of current and former Roadrunner artists, with more Roadrunner alumni guesting on each track. ROADRUNNER UNITED: THE ALL-STAR SESSIONS is the result. Based on core bands led by Slipknot drummer Joey Jordison, ex-Fear Factory guitarist Dino Cazares, Machine Head guitarist/vocalist Robert Flynn, and Trivium leader Matthew Heafy, the album covers a wide swath of aggressive styles, from the proggy thrash/death metal of "Annihilation by the Hands of God" to the old-school stoner boogie grooves of "Blood and Flames."

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"Viva la Bands: Bam Margera Presents" (06/21/2005) Rock & Pop Various Artists, 456 EnterprisesDaredevil skateboarder, prankster, music video director, and all-around hilarious cad Bam Margera is best known for his wildly popular MTV program VIVA LA BAM, an offshoot of the pioneering crazy-guys-doing-crazy-things show JACKASS. VIVA LA BANDS collects Margera's favorite music and is perfect for skating, don't-try-this-at home stunts, or just general rocking out. In other words, most of this is high-energy music of the hard rock, metal, and punk varieties. Because this is a compilation of one guy's favorites rather than a collection of corporate bands vying for soundtrack positions, the artists range from big-time (Clutch, CKY) to lesser-known (Bendover, Viking Skull). Highlights include "Lost Boys" from Finland's 69 Eyes, which sounds like a goth-infused combination of Motley Crue and The Cult, and Turbronegro's "All My Friends Are Dead," pure trashy '77-style punk with shout-along vocals, surfy guitar riffs, and a distinctly European flair.

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"Deadwing" (05/10/2005) Rock & Pop Porcupine Tree, DTS EntertainmentThis release contains a music video for Lazarus and EPK "Making The Video". Porcupine Tree: Steven Wilson (vocals, guitar, hammer dulcimer, piano, keyboards, bass guitar); Richard Barbieri (keyboards, synthesizer); Colin Edwin (bass guitar); Gavin Harrison (drums, percussion). Additional personnel: Mikael Akerfeldt (guitar, background vocals); Adrian Belew (guitar). Considering their cinematic scope, it's fitting that the songs on DEADWING were actually inspired by a film script written by Porcupine Tree mastermind Steven Wilson. Not that this should come as any surprise to longtime fans who know the UK act's reputation for churning out epic progressive rock so sonically descriptive that it's practically visual. Porcupine Tree creates works with complex structures that do not alienate or obscure the songs themselves, pieces that are dark and psychedelic without being sinister. On the 12-minute opening title track, weighty guitar riffs and spacious synths immediately recall Nine Inch Nails, but swooping melodic changes give way to ambient passages, making it plain that this is no industrial-rock rip-off. "Arriving Somewhere But Not Here" begins with processed backwards guitar, building into a harmony-fueled crescendo before dropping off completely to reveal sparse picking over loops and clicks. Guests Mikael Akerfeldt (Opeth) and Adrian Belew (King Crimson) contribute vocal harmonies and guitar, respectively, and the disc comes enhanced with behind-the-scenes video footage as a bonus feature.

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"David Bowie Stage" (01/10/2006) Rock & Pop Bowie, David, Virgin Records (USA)

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"David Live" (01/10/2006) Rock & Pop Bowie, David, Virgin Records (USA)Personnel: David Bowie (vocals); Earl Slick (guitar); David Sanborn (alto saxophone, flute); Richard Grando (baritone saxophone, flute); Mike Garson (piano, Mellotron); Michael Kamen (electric piano, Moog synthesizer, oboe); Herbie Flowers (bass); Tony Newman (drums); Pablo Rosario (percussion); Gui Andrisano, Warren Peace (background vocals). Recorded live at the Tower Theatre, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 12-15, 1974. Personnel: David Bowie (vocals); Earl Slick (guitar); David Sanborn (flute, alto saxophone); Richard Grando (flute, baritone saxophone); Michael Kamen (oboe, electric piano, Moog synthesizer); Mike Garson (piano, Mellotron); Herbie Flowers (bass guitar); Tony Newman (drums); Pablo Rosario (percussion). Recording information: Tower Theatre, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1974). When David Bowie recorded what became DAVID LIVE at Philadelphia's Tower Theatre in July 1974, he had fully made the leap from Ziggy Stardust and landed feet-first into the shoes of the Thin White Duke. Despite announcing his retirement from live performance the year before, Bowie seemed no worse for wear fronting a ten-piece directed by future LETHAL WEAPON composer Michael Kamen and featuring new guitarist Earl Slick and horn player David Sanborn. This 2-CD set finds the chameleonic performer mixing in Ziggy-era classics such as "Rock 'N' Roll Suicide" with material from DIAMOND DOGS ("Rebel Rebel," "1984"), ALADDIN SANE ("Cracked Actor") and HUNKY DORY ("Changes"). The fullness of the horn section and the style of his back-up band give this set a soulful tilt powered by Slick's ballsy playing. This, along with a cover of the Stax nugget "Knock On Wood," pointed at Bowie's immersion in a Philly soul direction that emerged full-fledged on YOUNG AMERICANS.

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"Foiled" (04/04/2006) Rock & Pop Blue October (Rock), Universal Records (USA)This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files. Blue October (Rock): Justin Furstenfeld (vocals); CB Hudson (guitar); Ryan Delahoussaye (violin); Matt Noveskey (bass guitar); Jeremy Furstenfeld (drums). Texas outfit Blue October have been gaining notoriety since the late 1990s with their brand of eclectic alt rock. 2006's FOILED builds on the band's past accomplishments, and represents one of their most focused and ambitious efforts. "Hate Me," the album's first single, shows that Blue October are no strangers to catchy, radio-ready songcraft, a quality that helps endear the group to many. Yet Blue October are admirably restless, and seldom rely on formula. FOILED also ranges from subtle and introspective numbers ("18th Floor Balcony") to edgy hard rockers ("Drilled a Wire Through My Cheek") to electro-dance ("X Amount of Words"), making for a rock album with dimension, polish, and substance.

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"Born To Run (30th Anniversary Edition) [Remaster]" (11/15/2005) Rock & Pop Springsteen, Bruce, Columbia (USA)Personnel: Bruce Springsteen (vocals, guitar); Steve Van Zandt (vocals); Suki Lahav (violin); Michael Brecker (tenor saxophone); David Sanborn (baritone saxophone); Clarence Clemons (saxophone, background vocals); Randy Brecker (trumpet, flugelhorn); Danny Federici (organ); Roy Bittan (keyboards, glockenspiel, background vocals); David Sancious (keyboards); Garry Tallent, Richard Davis (bass); Max Weinberg, Ernest "Boom" Carter (drums); Mike Appel (background vocals). Producers: Bruce Springsteen, Jon Landau, Mike Appel. Recorded at The Record Plant, New York, and 914 Sound Studio, Blauvelt, New York. Personnel: Bruce Springsteen (vocals, guitar, harmonica, horns); Clarence Clemons (saxophone, tenor saxophone); Michael Brecker (tenor saxophone); Dave Sanborn (baritone saxophone); Randy Brecker (trumpet, flugelhorn); Wayne Andre (trombone); Steve Van Zandt (horns, background vocals); Roy Bittan (piano, Fender Rhodes piano, harpsichord, organ, glockenspiel, background vocals); Danny Federici, David Sancious (keyboards); Garry Tallent (bass guitar); Max Weinberg (drums); Mike Appel (background vocals). BORN TO RUN is the album that turned Springsteen from a phenomenon into a superstar. His first couple of releases found Bruce working out his fascination with Dylan and Van Morrison on earthy, wordy, folk-rock-R&B tunes full of soul and punch. On BORN TO RUN, Springsteen became even more ambitious, synthesizing Spectorian production with Orbison-esque drama and Duane Eddy-influenced guitar work, creating something grand enough to be called rock opera but too proletarian to ever claim that title. BORN TO RUN was also the first album where the Boss began to crystallize his recurring theme of working class America's doomed-but-passionate rage against its circumstances. With the earnestness and emotion that bursts forth from Springsteen's street poems, the album is never less than exhilarating, and songs like "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" (a tongue-in-cheek history of the E Street Band) provide humor. "She's The One" puts the Bo Diddley beat to its most effective post-'50s use, and the title track is Springsteen's quintessential underdog epic.

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"The Great American Songbook Collection [Box]" (11/15/2005) Rock & Pop Stewart, Rod, J-Records (USA)Personnel include: Rod Stewart (vocals); Dolly Parton, Elton John, Queen Latifah, Stevie Wonder, Bette Midler, Diana Ross, Chaka Khan, Cher (vocals); Eric Clapton, George Benson (guitar); Dave Koz (saxophone); Chris Botti (trumpet). Those who still think of Rod Stewart as a rebellious rock-&-roll bad boy haven't been paying much attention to his transformation into a purveyor of classics-oriented, adult contemporary fare in the early 2000s. The shaggy-haired one now appears in suits and ties on the covers of his GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOKS series, which present his distinctive, raspy voice performing everything from "Stardust" to "It Had To Be You" to "My Funny Valentine." THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK box collects all four of Stewart's SONGBOOK albums in one set (the box includes a full-color booklet with photographs and an essay). And with a bonus DVD that features selections from Stewart's 2004 appearance at the Apollo Theater and one of his videos, this deluxe package makes a great gift for fans of standards and Stewart, who handles the material with passion and aplomb.

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"A Musical History [Box]" (09/27/2005) Rock & Pop Band (The), Capitol/EMI RecordsThe Band: Rick Danko (vocals, guitar, bass guitar); Robbie Robertson (vocals, guitar); Levon Helm (vocals, mandolin, drums); Richard Manuel (vocals, piano, drums); Garth Hudson (accordion, saxophone, bugle, organ, keyboards, synthesizer). Additional personnel: Emmylou Harris, Bob Dylan (vocals, guitar); Mavis Staples, Pops Staples, Ronnie Hawkins, Van Morrison (vocals); Roy Buchanan (guitar); Mickey Jones (drums); Dionne Warwick (background vocals). Liner Note Author: Rob Bowman. This stunning six-disc box set, A MUSICAL HISTORY, traces the evolution of the Band, one of the most towering and influential groups of the late 1960s and early '70s. In the minds of many, the Band came to define the sound of roots-oriented "Americana" rock (though most of its members were, ironically, Canadian). This lovingly assembled collection follows the development of that sound, from their inception as Ronnie Hawkins backing band the Hawks and their tenure with Bob Dylan, through their peak years as the Band, and on to their swan song in 1976, THE LAST WALTZ. What makes this set more essential than any prior compilation is not only its obsessive attention to the timeline (the chronological sequencing really does play, as the title states, like a musical history), but the abundance of new material (32 of the 102 cuts here were unreleased). Live versions, covers, alternate takes, rarities, and well-known songs--not to mention a bonus DVD packed with live-performance footage--work together to give a complete picture of this unique ensemble, making A MUSICAL HISTORY the final and definitive word on the Band.

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"Smack [PA]" (06/06/2005) Rock & Pop Various Artists, Koch Records (USA)Performers include: Young Jeezy, Redman, Fabolous, Fat Joe, Jim Jones, Juelz Santana, David Banner, Akon, Webbie, Paul Wall, Pitbull, Tru Life, Maino, Saigon. The first installment of the SMACK compilation series presents a formidable set of hardcore rap. Among the highlights of this hip-hop collection are Lord Tariq's furious "It Won't Stop" and "Don't Make No Sense," a raucous collaboration between Redman, Keith Murray, and Erick Sermon. Rounding out the star-studded track listing are other top-notch artists such as Young Jeezy, Bun-B, and Mack 10.

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"The Destruction of Everything Is the Beginning of Something New" (02/21/2006) Rock & Pop Adair, WarconAdair: Josh Goldenhersh, Patrick Baum (vocals, guitar); Bob Tweedie (vocals); Jeff Meyer (whistle, bass guitar); Matt Tuttle (drums).

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"Live In The Lou/Bassassins [PA]" (05/10/2005) Rock & Pop Story Of The Year, MaverickStory Of The Year: Dan Marsala (vocals); Ryan Phillips, Philip Sneed (guitar); Adam Russell (bass guitar); Josh Wills (drums). Recording information: St. Louis, Missouri (11/2004). For Story of the Year, 2004 turned out to be a very good 12 months, between the runaway success of the emo band's 2003 debut, PAGE AVENUE, and the intense following accrued while touring behind it. With these incendiary performances being such a driving force behind the Missouri group's breakthrough, the CD/DVD combo LIVE IN THE LOU/BASSASSINS, recorded at two November shows in their St. Louis hometown, is a "thank you" to all their fans. When frontman Dan Marsala isn't shredding his vocal chords amid the thunderous rhythms of the bone-shaking opener "And the Hero Will Drown" and the breakneck hardcore of "Falling Down," he's slinging plenty of profanity-laced banter at the crowd. Not surprisingly, the fans don't seem to mind, offering plenty of support in the form of lusty sing-alongs during the compelling "Anthem of Our Dying Day" and the angst-ridden call to arms "Until the Day I Die." Rounding out this aggressive concert document is the companion DVD, packed with live performances, home-video footage, and a handful of music videos.

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"X2005 CD/DVD Special Edition" (10/04/2005) Rock & Pop Various Artists, BEC RecordingsVarious Artists: Falling Up, Pillar, Relient K, TobyMac.

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"Forget Yourself" (02/21/2006) Rock & Pop Chan, Agnes, Bungalo RecordsPersonnel: Agnes Chan (vocals); Jackie Chan (vocals).

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"RBD Live in Hollywood" (04/04/2006) Rock & Pop RBD, EMI Records (USA)Recording information: 2006. DVD Features: Track List 1. Tras De Mi 2. Me Voy 3. Nustro Amor 4. Asi Soy Yo 5. Que Fue Del Amor 6. A Tu Lado 7. No Pares 8. Fuera 9. Solo Para Ti 10. Este Corazon 11. Aun Hay Algo 12. Que Hay Detras 13. Feliz Cumpleanos 14. Solo Guedate En Silencio 15. No Pares

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"Chem087cd+DVD" (05/30/2006) Rock & Pop Various Artists, Chemikal Underground (USA)

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"Afterglow Live" (11/23/2004) Rock & Pop McLachlan, Sarah, Arista Records (USA)Personnel: Sarah McLachlan (vocals, guitar, piano); Luke Doucet, Sean Ashby (vocals, guitar); Vincent Jones (vocals, keyboards); Brian Minato (vocals, bass guitar); Ashwin Sood (vocals, drums, percussion); Kathryn Rose (vocals); David Kershaw (keyboard, bass guitar). AFTERGLOW LIVE is Sarah McLachlan's second live album within a five-year span, with only one studio release of new material, 2003's AFTERGLOW, dividing the two. Though older McLachlan favorites like the pensive "Adia" and the lilting, minor-key "Sweet Surrender" overlap with 1999's MIRRORBALL, most of the songs are drawn from AFTERGLOW. "Fallen" and "Dirty Little Secret," for example, which open and close the set, respectively, demonstrate McLachlan's command of evocative, accessible rock songcraft and heartfelt balladry. Here the blend of newer tunes with the singer/songwriter's old standbys is seamless. The focus of the concert, naturally, is McLachlan's voice. Breathy, emotive, and threaded with embellishments, the singer's performances replicate her studio takes to the note. Likewise, her band creates a gauzy, shimmering wash of sound, perfectly complementing McLachlan, and giving the whole a high-end sheen. But the real treasure here is the accompanying DVD, which features live footage of all the songs on the audio disc, plus additional tunes (including a cover of Paul McCartney's "Blackbird"), videos, behind-the-scenes footage, and the politically motivated short film "World on Fire." For fans who have never seen McLachlan perform, or wish to relive the experience, AFTERGLOW LIVE is the next best thing to seeing the pop icon in person.

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"Waltham" (02/04/2005) Rock & Pop Waltham, Rykodisc (USA)Waltham: Frank Pino (vocals).

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"Supernature" (03/07/2006) Rock & Pop Goldfrapp, Mute RecordsGoldfrapp: Alison Goldfrapp, Will Gregory. Additional personnel: Daniel Miller, Charlie Jones. Recording information: 2006. Arguably Goldfrapp's most accessible and immediately engaging album, SUPERNATURE features the British duo mixing sensual electronica with catchy pop to wonderful effect. Sounding like the result of Ziggy Stardust crash-landing in Prince's studio during a session with Kylie Minogue, this outing sparkles with willful decadence and glamour, opening with the T. Rex-like techno-stomp of "Ooh La La." Alison Goldfrapp's voice often recalls both Minogue and Kate Bush, with the music generally veering towards the dance-floor furor of the former. Though the record does present slow and/or mid-tempo tracks, most notably the shuffling "You Never Know" and the dreamy "Let It Take You," Goldfrapp and Will Gregory's synth-soaked textures are frequently employed to a clubby, crowd-pleasing end, as on the sassy "Lovely 2 C U" and the raucous "Satin Chic." Although much of SUPERNATURE lacks the moody, overtly cinematic atmosphere of earlier Goldfrapp releases, most listeners will be too busy careening around the room to care. The 2006 U.S. edition of SUPERNATURE features the bonus track "Beautiful," a surging techno-tinged tune on a par with the album's best songs.

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"Dumbing Up" (05/02/2006) Rock & Pop World Party, SeaviewOriginally released in 2000, DUMBING UP was reissued in 2006 (in a package with a DVD of the group's videos). As always, Karl Wallinger (the band is essentially Wallinger's one-man project) is deeply steeped in the sounds of the 1960s, referencing Neil Young ("What Does It Mean Now?"), Crosby, Stills & Nash ("Til I Got You"), Bob Dylan ("Who Are You"), and the Beatles ("Another Thousand Years"). While Wallinger won't win any prizes for reinventing the wheel, his skills as a songwriter and builder of pop soundscapes are thoroughly winning, making DUMBING UP a fun, engaging listen from back to front.

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"Live Wire" (11/23/2004) Rock & Pop Third Day, Brentwood RecordsThird Day: David Carr, Tai Anderson, Mark Lee, Brad Avery. Recording information: 2004.

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"Life on the Murder Scene [PA] [Digipak]" (03/21/2006) Rock & Pop My Chemical Romance, RepriseMy Chemical Romance: Gerard Way (vocals); Ray Toro, Frank Iero (guitar); Mikey Way (bass guitar); Bob Bryar (drums). By early 2006, fans of the melodic screamo outfit My Chemical Romance were waiting on tenterhooks for a follow-up to the band's 2004 commercial breakthrough, THREE CHEERS FOR SWEET REVENGE. Rather than giving the people exactly what they want, the band delivered a three-disc audio-visual stopgap release packed with live performances and videos. While there's no new material, the release is a veritable treasure trove of material designed to please their devoted following. The audio CD includes demos, one previously unreleased track, and eight ferocious live performances of some of the band's best tunes. One of the DVDs features videos, TV appearances, and tons of live footage, while the other is a video diary that delivers interviews with the band and behind-the-scenes footage. Elaborately packaged, LIFE ON THE MURDER SCENE may seem like opportunistic marketing to some, but MCR fanatics will find much here to cherish. DVD Features: Tracklist: DVD 1: Video Diary DVD 2: Live Performances 1. I'm Not Okay (I Promise) 2. Cemetery Drive 3. Our Lady Of Sorrows 4. Honey, This Mirror Isn't Big Enough For The Two Of Us 5. You Know What They Do To Guys Like us In Prison 6. Headfirst For Halos 7. The Ghost Of You 8. Thank You For The Venom 9. Give 'Em Hell, Kid 10. Vampires Will Never Hurt You 11. Helena TV Appearances: 12. I'm Not Okay (I Promise) 13. I'm Not Okay (I Promise) Online Performances: 14. Helena 15. I'm Not Okay (I Promise) 16. The Ghost Of You 17. You Know What They Do To Guys Like Us In Prison 18. I'm Not Okay (I Promise) 19. Helena Videos: 20. I'm Not Okay (I Promise) 21. I'm Not Okay (I Promise) 22. I'm Not Okay (I Promise) [Making The Video] 23. Helena 24. Helena [Making The Video] 25. The Ghost Of You 26. The Ghost Of You [Making The Video]

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"Collision Course [PA] [Digipak]" (11/30/2004) Heavy Metal Jay-Z, Warner Bros. Records (Record Label)Package includes bonus DVD. Jay-Z/Linkin Park: Jay-Z (rap vocals); Mike Shinoda (vocals, piano); Chester Bennington (vocals); Brad Delson (guitars); Phoenix (bass guitar); Robert Bourdon (drums); Joseph Hahn (sampler). In keeping with rap-rock crossovers dating back to Aerosmith and Run-DMC, MTV used its ULTIMATE MASH-UPS show to put Jay-Z and Linking Park on one stage. The result is COLLISION COURSE, a combination DVD/CD package that crystallizes the meeting of New York City's Jay-Z with California rap-rockers Linkin Park. With LP MC/vocalist Mike Shinoda doing double-duty as the EP's producer, the results flow nicely over six tracks. Jay-Z's rapid-fire rhymes in "Jigga What" fit hand-in-glove amid the pounding guitars and howls of Linkin Park's "Faint." And the Jackson 5-sampling "Izzo" ducks and feints in a way that makes it a nearly seamless match with "In the End." Most impressive is how Jay-Z's seminal thumper "99 Problems" boldly wedges itself between the thunderous bookends of Linkin Park's "Points of Authority" and "One Step Closer." The audio portion, of course, is only part of the fun; the DVD features the entire live performance, along with a documentary on the MTV special and behind-the-scenes footage.

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"Smoking Popes at Metro *" (02/21/2006) Rock & Pop Smoking Popes, Victory Records (USA)Smoking Popes: Josh Caterer (vocals); Eli Caterer (guitar, background vocals); Matt Caterer (electric bass); Rob Kellenberger (drums). Recording information: The Metro, Chicago, Illinois (2005).

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"Street Drums Corps" (02/21/2006) Rock & Pop Street Drum Corps, WarconStreet Drum Corps: Bobby Alt, Adam Alt, Frank Zummo (percussion).

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"A Sunset Panorama" (09/27/2005) Rock & Pop Logh, Hydra Head RecordsInitial pressings of "A SUNSET PANORAMA" did not contain a bonus DVD. Recording information: Studio Grondahl, Stockholm, Sweden (09/26/2004).

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"Start a War [PA]" (06/14/2005) Rock & Pop Static-X, Warner Bros. Records (Record Label)Static-X: Wayne Static (vocals, guitar, programming); Tony Campos (vocals, bass guitar); Koichi Fukuda (guitar, programming); Nick Oshiro (drums). Additional personnel: Tripp Rex Eisen (guitar); Daniel Wild (percussion); Jason Freedman (sound effects). Recording information: Glenwood Place Studios, Burbank, California (2005). START A WAR's attendant printed info notes that the disc was recorded in "Sunny Burbank, California." A few seconds, however, is all it will take to convince listeners that this is one of Static X's darkest efforts. "The Enemy" skitters along at a frenetic, machine-gun-like pace appropriate for it's war-related title, while lead vocalist/screamer Wayne Static delivers an abrasive yet fleet-tongued combination of death-metal growling and East Coast speed-rapping. "Just in Case" emphasizes the industrial side of Static X's sound, with chorus music reminiscent of something one might hear in an auto manufacturing plant. "I Want to F****** Break It" begins with what sounds like an old time carnival tune that, though quickly overtaken by a repetitive jackhammer riff and violent lyrics, reappears throughout the song. The keyboards and new wave-style vocals that drive "My Damnation"'s verse reveal that in another life, Static X likely could have made it as a synth-pop band.

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"What to Do When You Are Dead" (02/22/2005) Rock & Pop Armor For Sleep, Equal VisionInitial pressings Of WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR DEAD include(d) Limited Edition bonus DVD. Armor For Sleep: Ben Jorgensen (vocals); PJ Decicco (guitar); Anthony DiIonno (bass guitar); Nash Breen (drums). Recording information: Water Music Recorders, Hoboken, New Jersey (2004). Among emo fans, it's all about which band can best touch the heart, engage the head, and rock the body in equal measure. Armor for Sleep has been one of the most successful on all three counts, regularly performing to gaggles of sweaty kids who sing along with every word. Of course, with lines like "Give me your hand; I'll shake it...and smile until my face falls off my head," this is no mean feat. Though, on the surface, the group's radio-friendly take on the "smart-punk" genre may appear to have something in common with pop-punk jesters Blink 182, Armor for Sleep's lyrics repeatedly explore themes of loneliness, death, and existential angst. Sonically, the ensemble is a bit more straightforward than some of its contemporaries, sticking with tried-and-true driving bass lines ("Stay on the Ground") and Iron Maiden-like harmonized lead-guitar lines ("Remember to Feel Real"). On "Walking at Night, Alone," an acoustic-guitar line even recalls the introduction to fellow New Jersey-ite Jon Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead or Alive." With WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU ARE DEAD, Armor for Sleep finds the common ground between tuneful accessibility and intellectual rigor.