Pink Floyd

For any band to follow up on a success is not an easy task, and even in the best circumstances, coming back from the massive success of "Dark side of the moon" could have been an impossible task for Pink Floyd . Unfortunately, when they returned to the studio in January 1975, conditions were far from favorable within the group, for various reasons, in particular the fact that, after having adapted their lives to their worldwide success, the members of the group found themselves more disoriented than satisfied. The problem was made worse by a growing disconnect between bassist Roger Waters and the rest of Pink Floyd, especially guitarist David Gilmour.

Recorded in the fall of 1994, this DVD shows the band - David Gilmour, Nick Mason, and Richard Wright - in their highest form. The concert features songs from Wish You Were Here, The Wall, A Momentary Lapse of Reason, and Dark Side Of the Moon performed in its entirety. Also included are screen films that were projected during the concert, documentary, photo gallery, and even some bootlegs…

By condensing the sonic explorations of Meddle to actual songs and adding a lush, immaculate production to their trippiest instrumental sections, Pink Floyd inadvertently designed their commercial breakthrough with Dark Side of the Moon. The primary revelation of Dark Side of the Moon is what a little focus does for the band. Roger Waters wrote a series of songs about mundane, everyday details which aren't that impressive by themselves, but when given the sonic backdrop of Floyd's slow, atmospheric soundscapes and carefully placed sound effects, they achieve an emotional resonance…

Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii, The Director's Cut (2001)
DVD9 | 1:31:40 | MPEG2 | PAL | 720x576 | 16:9 | 25fps | Dolby Digital 5.1 | 7.0GB
Language: English | Full DVD: Film + Bonuses + Cover

This film is nothing short of "must see" documentary history. I'll never be able to fully express how moving it is to see the young men of Pink Floyd during uninhibited moments of creativity, eating and chatting together, rehearsing, having philosophical discussions about the fate of rock-n-roll music and the shaking off of their drug-oriented image, and even arguing now and then.

Beyond how intriguing the band and it's members are, the film itself is so well directed and beautifully shot. The sound is excellent. Incredibly artistic film montages add to, rather than detract from the music. I have never seen a better portrayal of live music. The sheer musicianship of these men is mind boggling. Each is highlighted at different points in the film and it is clear that they have immense skill and talent.

Pink Floyd was so ahead of its time and will never seem out of style. And this film, although shot in 1972, is as fresh as a daisy. There are some incomparable moments, making this truly the best rock documentary I have ever seen. David Gilmour looks very handsome, by the way, and will always be my favorite guitar god.