SLIPSTREAM (DVD)

This absolutely blew my mind. From the opening introduction until the last credits rolled I was hooked to the TV waiting for what was going to happen next. More than your standard music video, this is similar to Pink Floyd's "The Wall" in the sense that it is actually a regular motion picture based on the music of Jethro Tull. The introduction stars off with an aerial view of an ocean/cliff setting, and the settles into everyone's favorite man: Aqualung. Tearing the cliché "Thick As A Brick" newspaper off of his face, he realizes he is being chased by 3 red balloons. He runs to take shelter in an old opera house on the hill, and realizes that Jethro Tull is performing there! Then the actual music stars off.

The concert opens up with a live version of A's best song, "Black Sunday". Much better than the original, Ian is one of the most energetic performers I have ever watched and seeing his movements really help to push this song to new musical heights. "Dun Ringill" is next, and instead of live footage the cut to a music video. Personally, this is not a favorite song of mine, but the visual imagery and effects that accompany it are incredible. Another music video follows, this time it is the spacey and futuristic "Flyingdale Flyer". This is another of the best tracks off of "A", and the music video is pretty average. Ian proves to be a great actor, although the kids in the A suits kind of screw the video up by looking into the cameras during some of the shooting.

Head back to the stage and another live performance, this time it is "Songs From The Wood". The music is kind of bland here, as they try to re-create the studio version and don't necessarily succeed. The visual effects are nothing short of amazing however, as they are on the whole of the video. "Heavy Horses" follows up as another live performance. This version beats the studio album version about 25 times over. When Eddie Jobson and Ian start play the violin/flute combination my jaw just hit the floor because it was so amazing. Of course, Martin Barre never fails to amaze me as he is one of my favorite guitarists of all time, and just by watching his playing here you should understand what I mean.

Back to the music video songs, and these are two rather bland music pieces. Not my favorites, but once again the visuals and the video itself saves these two tracks and turns them into enjoyable pieces. The band is shown again up on the stage to play their last songs, and the concert will end live. "Skating Away" starts off with a massive instrument swap, and we see Barre exit the stage in the corner, but it is still an excellent piece. One of the best live songs the Tull has ever done. "Aqualung" is next, and this is the closer of the regular show. What to say about their most famous song? It was sloppy, Ian's vocals were intensely strained and the band was kind of off at different points throughout the whole show. After about 5 minutes of Ian waving goodbye and saluting, Jobson starts blasting the synths and the encore, "Locomotive Breath" starts off. Terrible rendition, but hey it's an encore.

All in all, this is an exceptional live concert/music video performance. great background story for the videos, but I feel that the live versions are untouchable. Martin Barre is on fire from start to finish, and Jobson does what he needs to do without even breaking a sweat. The visual effects really bring out the energy of Ian Anderson as when he jumps around and pirouettes and whatnot, you can see it in slow-motion and freeze-frame as well. Dave Pegg just plugs along the whole show, and produces a really good sound while underrated Mark Craney slams out some good solos.

Excellent DVD, even though some of the live versions get a tad sloppy and some of the music videos have errors in them. 4 stars, nonetheless.