Search - Go-Betweens :: That Striped Sunlight Sound (DVD plus audio CD)

This is hardcore

Boxodreams | district of columbia | 02/08/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The reason robert forster never became a big star, like, say, bryan ferry with a preference for wearing a sweater under his jacket, is that he wouldn't put the guitar down. this nod to mundane craft, and, with his playing style, anti-glamor, however, gave a fullness, mental toughness and far more complex structure to the go-betweens. because robert's guitar was there in the service of his songs, which, fortunately for us, he liked so much, he wanted to actually play rather than front. And that's how this great band grew up. "That striped sunlight sound" is, much more so than the early singles VHS tape, the ultimate go-betweens document. the tour this past summer showcased a wonderfully organic, seriously working band, fully engaged and fully in belief of the goodness of their sound. The kinetic rawboned beauty of their Lindy Morrison days has been traded for a more professionally textured but no less truthful live sound. far better than the stilted, slightly embalmed 'live at the barbican' set for sale at their shows and cherry picked for a bonus CD inside the Oceans Apart album. 'That striped sunlight sound' is exactly how you would want the best go-betweens concert ever to sound.

The acoustic singles section is a nice cubist history of the band, told in the quiet of an empty living room with two guitars. The two, showing their years, do some lovely work in tandem in this part, which shines through despite grant's tight voice and dry mouth. A nice valentine to the hardcore, and it's heartening to see the best songs still have the ability to take their breath away. They sometimes sigh in awe and wonder at their own performances. A small section of garbage that follows best would have been left out, what with talk tangentally equating the go-betweens with god, or something like that. one false move in a veneer of wonder, intelligence and gentleness, the last which Grant says is the future of the band. that and some songs for an upcoming episode of the 'OC.' Honest workers, indeed."

A Veritable Bonanza....

Travis Dubya McGee Bickle | Texas Quail Hunting Camp | 02/17/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"...of wonderful stuff...



First, you have the Tivoli footage, done with their current touring and recording ensemble, featuring (the very evocatively named) Adele Pickvance on bass, and Glenn Thompson on drums - they both sing, as well...They are a quite capable rhythm section and add some great backing vocals. What's more is they add a certain chemistry - you can tell GM and RF are having a blast with them up on stage. As a rhythm section, they handle all the GB's catalog quite well, with the lone exception of "Spring Rain" - they don't quite get the Creedence-y swing of the original, it's a little off...



Highlights of the Tivoli set include "Clouds", done as a simple duet, with the added treat of a verse from Dylan's "Love minus zero" neatly folded in..."Streets of your town", beautiful and heartfelt, with a nifty solo by RF and GM counting down in German (unlike Bono, Grant is able to count correctly in a foreign language)..."Boundary Rider", the best song from "Oceans Apart", simply and lovingly reproduced, with lovely backing vocals from Ms. Pickvance....and, "Surfing Magazines", maybe a slight song, but a real concert highlight - you'll find yourself humming the chorus for days after watching this....An Audio CD reprises all the performances of the DVD - nice to have for the car, etc...



But the biggest treat of all in the package is the "Acoustic Stories" segment, wherein Grant and Robert assay many classics from their catalog in acoustic format, and along the way, provide all kinds of juicy background detail about them. No band, no "voltage enhancement" - just two voices and guitars.

It's all sublimely wonderful, but my favorites from this set are the achingly beautiful, hymn-like "Bachelor Kisses" and the epic, majestic "Dive for Your Memory"...the heights of awe-inspiring, jangly beauty these two reach here have been attained by very few, if indeed, any....



If you're a stone, hardcore fan, like me, or just getting into the GBs, this is pretty indispensable either way."

RIP Grant McLennan

Danby | Melbourne, Australia | 05/10/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I bought this DVD yesterday, inspired to do so by the untimely death on May 6th of Grant McLennan. The DVD of concert material recorded last year is great - as mentioned by the other reviewers. The extra material of Grant and Robert playing their guitars and singing quietly in the front room of a house, is very nice, interesting to hear the stories behind each album and each song that they perform, but with added poignancy now that McLennan has passed away so young. He will be remembered for the bitter sweet lyrics and the wistful tunes that he gave us. Buy this DVD and you will have a lovely tribute to the band and a live recording captured recently (and they were in fine form)."