Courtesy: Eagle Rock Entertainment
Veteran rock band Aerosmith is an anomaly of the music community. For forty-five years, the Boston, MA-based rock band has been rocking audiences the world over. What’s more, the band has managed to face every obstacle put before it and stick together as a unit no matter the tumult that has faced its members. Because the band has faced all of those obstacles and overcome them, it has become known as one of the most prolific acts in not just the rock community but the music community in whole. And it has proven that yet again with its latest new live recording Aerosmith Rocks Donington 2014. Aerosmith Rocks Donington 2014 is one of the best live recordings that Aerosmith has released to date. That is especially the case with the concert’s 3-LP/DVD combo pack. It is not the only platform on which the concert will be available upon its release on September 4th. But it is definitely one of the best platforms on which the recording is available. That is because it offers audiences the complete concert experience. The LPs create a wonderful sense of nostalgia both through their sound and packaging. The DVD adds the full video experience of the concert, giving viewers the full experience. It is recommended though, that regardless of whether enjoyed on vinyl or on DVD, this concert specifically is enjoyed on a home theater system. That isn’t to say that those without a home theater system shouldn’t buy this recording. But audiences that experience the concert will agree to the need for said system. That’s just one element of the recording that audiences will appreciate. The show’s set list is just as worth noting. It runs twenty songs deep and features some of the biggest hits from the band’s decades-long career. The band’s stage presence throughout its nearly two hour performance makes all the more enjoyable. It’s incredible to see so much energy from this veteran act’s members four plus decades removed from their first time together. That energy coupled with the work of the show’s camera crew makes for a performance that translates just as well on screen as it surely must have for audiences that were in attendance at the concert’s taping. All of these elements assembled together present a clear, vivid picture of a concert that is both one of Aerosmith’s best live recordings to date and one of this year’s best new live recordings overall. It is just one more example of why today Eagle Rock Entertainment maintains the mantle of the leader in live recordings.
Aerosmith Rocks Donington 2014 is one of Aerosmith’s best live recordings to date and one of this year’s best new live recordings overall. There are so many reasons that it earns such recognition that there is not enough time or space to cover them all. So for the sake of this review, we will focus on three of the most notable reasons that it stands out. The first of those reasons is its availability over multiple platforms. One of the best of those platforms is its 3 LP/DVD combo pack. This presentation gives audiences one of the fullest concert experiences possible for this recording. Not only do audiences get the audio portion spread across three double-sided 180 gram LPs but they also get the complete audio/video presentation in the set’s companion DVD. For those fans that are more particular about the format in which they enjoy music, the set’s three double-sided 180-gram LPs are a great part of the set. That is because they serve to really establish a welcome sense of nostalgia especially considering that Aerosmith got its start at a time when vinyl was the only listening option for music. The artwork incorporated both into the double gatefold packaging and that of each LP’s sleeve adds to the enjoyment for those audiences. The packaging presents a great down-angle shot of the band from behind drummer Joey Kramer in the initial opening. From there, the secondary opening presents an even wider shot of the band from the vantage point of the audience. Both shots serve to fully illustrate the magnitude of the show. The LP’s sleeves each present their own bonus as each has a picture of each of the band’s members performing at the show. They aren’t just random publicity shots, but actual shots of the band members performing. There is just something special about that that audiences will enjoy if only for cosmetic reasons.
Regardless of whether or not audiences take in the show on DVD or vinyl, it is recommended that it is enjoyed on a home theater system if at all possible. That is not to say that those without a home theater system won’t be able to enjoy the concert. But thanks to the work of those behind the boards at the show and those charged with handling the audio in post-production, it is clear that a home theater system is the best listening option in this case. The sound is just that full and rich from start to finish. It is a tribute to the work of those noted individuals. The work of the camera crew is a whole other story. The camera crew was right in time with the band, capturing every bit of the show’s energy and highlighting it so well. Their work really makes the band’s energy translate so well even on screen. That will be discussed at more length later. For the moment though, it can be said that the inclusion of the concert on such a full presentation is in itself plenty of reason for audiences to add this set to their home music libraries or to those of their favorite Aerosmith fans.
The presentation of Aerosmith Rocks Donington 2014 on a full 3 LP/DVD combo pack gives Aerosmith fans of all ages plenty of reason in itself to pick up this recording. It hardly the only reason that fans will want to add it to their personal music libraries, too. Its set list is just as much of a reason that fans will enjoy it. The show’s set list runs twenty songs deep and just shy of the two hour mark. More specifically speaking it runs roughly an hour and forty-five minutes. And that’s just counting the concert. That is not counting any bonus material. The set list could very easily be considered a career-spanning collection of songs featuring quite the variety of songs. Those songs include the likes of: ‘Dream On’ from the band’s self-titled 1973 debut, ‘ Same Old Song and Dance’ from its follow-up, 1974’s Get Your Wings, and the title track from the band’s third album, 1975’s Toys in the Attic among so many others. Simply put, the band pulled from almost all of its now fifteen (yes, fifteen) studio recordings in order to make up the set list for this show. It shows that the band wanted to give fans the fullest concert experience even in this aspect. It succeeded quite well in this avenue, too. And the success didn’t end here, either. The band’s stage presence throughout its rich set list was another success.
Aerosmith’s stage presence throughout its nearly two-hour set at Donington is the proverbial icing on the cake that is the band’s new live recording. It is difficult to put fully into words just how incredible the band’s stage presence is in its performance here. One would think that almost half a century into their time together, the band’s members would be anything but what they were in the band’s heyday. But watching this show, the band performs with the energy of so many of today’s much younger acts. This is especially the case watching front man Steven Tyler running around on stage, jumping on a piano and much more, and lead guitarist Joe Perry strutting all around with the confidence of a much younger man. The core of the band, these two are full of energy. And drummer Joey Kramer even shows quite the stamina through it all as he keeps the band moving. Audiences will be blown away at the band’s energy throughout it all. Even some bands out there today that have been around as long as Aerosmith don’t have the power and energy exhibited here. As noted previously, the work of the people behind the cameras enhances that energy and makes the concert in whole that much more intense for fans. From their pans and zooms to their interesting variety of angles, the shots captured by the camera crew translate so well even on screen. They honestly give fans at home an even better seat than those that were there. On a side note, for all of the band’s energy from start to finish, there is some foul language throughout the show courtesy of Tyler. As a matter of fact there is so much that it is a surprise that the recording didn’t receive a parental advisory warning. Though, on the hand there are no gratuitous shots of topless women at any point. Of course near the show’s end Tyler does throw a comment in the direction of a woman who one can only assume decided to put herself on display for the band. Again audiences don’t actually see said woman. So one can only assume, luckily. All of this in mind, Aerosmith’s stage presence throughout the course of its show completes the concert. They along with the show’s camera crew create an energy that translates perfectly on screen. That, coupled with the show’s extensive set list and its overall presentation in its 3 LP/DVD combo pack make fully clear why it is such an impressive release. It is one more example of why Aerosmith remains today one of the leading bands in both the rock community and the music community in whole. It is also one more example of why Eagle Rock Entertainment remains today the rightful leader in live recordings and why the recording in whole is one of the best of the year’s new live recordings overall.
Aerosmith Rocks Donington 2014 is one of the best of this year’s new live recordings overall. From the multitude of platforms through which it is presented to its extensive set list to the energy exuded by the band from start to finish, the band offers lots of reason for fans to add this recording to their personal music libraries. It is available now in stores and online. More information on this and other titles from Eagle Rock Entertainment is available online now at:
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