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Encouraging to hear Alan but when you say the sound is excellent, is it not the same mix as we've heard on the samples? Does it not sound somewhat more flat and lifeless than Songs From The Road? I hope not but fear so.

AlanM wrote:I collected my BluRay disc and 3 CD set a couple of hours ago.
Visuals are stunning, lip-sync is spot-on and the sound is excellent.
I'm happy - no, make that delighted.
I'm amused to see Leif described in the booklets as "Guitar Technician and Boffin".
No sign of Crazy To Love You on the menu on my disc (see above).
I wonder if Jarkko has a secret code to get us to a hidden track on the disc.
The Anyhow track includes the extended taking up smoking/jazz combo introduction.

Must return to watching now.
Alan

Officially out earlier than anticipated in Australia??? Anyway thanks for the very positive first report which wets my appetite even more
I'm not expecting 'Crazy to love you' !

gosh I have just read through this thread and what a rollercoaster ride it has been!

I dearly hope the favorable report from Alan is indeed the case. The disappointment will be soul destroying if this DVD is anything less than exquisite.

Fear not, fellow Cohenites, the sound is brilliant. As suggested, I followed up watching Live In Dublin BluRay by playing Closing Time on Songs From The Road BluRay.
To my ears there is no difference in sound quality.
Songs From The Road is a multi-venue disc so there are different audio "footprints" between tracks and that doesn't occur on Live In Dublin.
I resisted the temptation to watch the internet preview videos, but did listen to the audio of Suzanne via my computer speakers. I thought it was all right, but nothing like the quality from a proper sound system.
Closing my eyes in the midst of my 5.1 speakers, I could feel myself at a live concert, if it hadn't been for the dog on my lap. Yes, a proper concert experience.

Re the balance between Leonard, the band and the audience, I think it has been done very well. The audience were not overwhelming when singing during I'm Your Man and Marianne.
At the beginning of 1000 Kisses Deep there is an interjection from the audience that stopped Leonard, but I didn't catch it, however he did comment and then restarted the recitation.

Bev, you will be delighted as there are plenty of close-ups of Alex and his violin.

The only negative comments I would make after one viewing are in regards to the lighting.
During Famous Blue Raincoat the overhead spotlight spills over the brim of Leonard's hat a few times resulting in the end of his nose being much brighter than the rest of his face.
During If It Be Your Will there is/was a yellow spot used on The Webb Sisters - gave them both flaxen coloured hair, but did little for their complexions - bit jaundiced!

Re release date, it appears that Friday is the main day to release new music in Australia and 28th is the officially listed release. I pre-ordered my discs by phone and got an SMS this afternoon, so needless to say I headed off ASAP. JB Hi-Fi website said that internet orders are sent out the day before the official date and I guess the stores get their copies the same day. Anyhow (to coin a song title) I'm not complaining.

I'll be interested in the opinions of others.

Alan

I've just looked at Everybody Knows https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IfmiKn ... eG3Sw0LPOA and found the lip-sync was out.
I then updated my CODECs and downloaded the same track and it seems OK now.

This is the source I have used for several years, I presume there are others:
http://www.free-codecs.com/K_Lite_Codec ... wnload.htm

BEWARE - there is "bundled software" on offer that you have to opt out from. Check each screen during setup before clicking next.

Alan

AlanM wrote:Fear not, fellow Cohenites, the sound is brilliant. As suggested, I followed up watching Live In Dublin BluRay by playing Closing Time on Songs From The Road BluRay.
To my ears there is no difference in sound quality.
Songs From The Road is a multi-venue disc so there are different audio "footprints" between tracks and that doesn't occur on Live In Dublin.
I resisted the temptation to watch the internet preview videos, but did listen to the audio of Suzanne via my computer speakers. I thought it was all right, but nothing like the quality from a proper sound system.
Closing my eyes in the midst of my 5.1 speakers, I could feel myself at a live concert, if it hadn't been for the dog on my lap. Yes, a proper concert experience.

Re the balance between Leonard, the band and the audience, I think it has been done very well. The audience were not overwhelming when singing during I'm Your Man and Marianne.
At the beginning of 1000 Kisses Deep there is an interjection from the audience that stopped Leonard, but I didn't catch it, however he did comment and then restarted the recitation.

Bev, you will be delighted as there are plenty of close-ups of Alex and his violin.

The only negative comments I would make after one viewing are in regards to the lighting.
During Famous Blue Raincoat the overhead spotlight spills over the brim of Leonard's hat a few times resulting in the end of his nose being much brighter than the rest of his face.
During If It Be Your Will there is/was a yellow spot used on The Webb Sisters - gave them both flaxen coloured hair, but did little for their complexions - bit jaundiced!

Re release date, it appears that Friday is the main day to release new music in Australia and 28th is the officially listed release. I pre-ordered my discs by phone and got an SMS this afternoon, so needless to say I headed off ASAP. JB Hi-Fi website said that internet orders are sent out the day before the official date and I guess the stores get their copies the same day. Anyhow (to coin a song title) I'm not complaining.

I'll be interested in the opinions of others.

Alan

Thank you so much for this kind review Alan. You have set many minds at ease I am sure!

Thanks for that detailed overview Alan. Sounds like the release on that format will be good. I hope the digital release is as satisfying...

The Blu-Ray disc, and I presume the DVD, has a run time on 3 hours and 10 minutes, not including the 3 extra tracks (16 minutes and 20 seconds).
I haven't yet been able to get the 3 extra tracks to play in sequence - each one needs to be cued individually - they don't appear to flow on after the main concert. Maybe I need to sit through the FBI warnings in several languages - can't skip over those.
The 3 CD set has a run time of 3 hours and 1 minute. Some of the chat (e.g. the interruption at the start of recitation) and probably some of the applause has been edited out.

Alan

AlanM wrote: At the beginning of 1000 Kisses Deep there is an interjection from the audience that stopped Leonard, but I didn't catch it, however he did comment and then restarted the recitation.

On second watching I turned on the subtitles at the start of recitation, which follows I'm Your Man.
A lady from the audience calls out "I'm your woman".
LC "Thank you". Then after a pause "Just thinking about what that might mean. I don't know."

Alan

p.s. second watching (and listening) is just as good as the first.

That woman was behind us at the concert. It was so funny and can be heard on my video of the recitation. On a bus now so can't link it.
I have my copy of Live in Dublin purchased and looking forward to viewing tonight

The video is now in the shops here in Finland. I got the BluRay today and have now watched it once, using my video projector and HiFi sound system.
All I can say is this: it's brilliant.
I am so happy that we have now a complete concert of the Old Ideas tour in such an impressive quality.

Still waiting here in the UK - official release date is next Monday.

Some of you will know that I have never watched Live in London or Songs From the Road. I said I would watch them when my memories from the shows I attended were starting to fade and I needed a booster. That day has not yet come BUT I may just relent and watch Live in Dublin .... on our pathetically low tech DVD player!

Wendy

My order is due to arrive on December 2nd. I am so happy to hear the good reports and can hardly wait!
Thanks
Leslie

Its out in the uk .Got home to find it delivered .
I have people around tonight who aren't cohen fans so will have to wait before seeing the whole thing .
However - looked at some of it ( blu ray , good 6 channel av amp) . It looks and sounds superb.....much better than the ' spoilers' suggest !

twelve out of ten at least !!

AlanM wrote:Bev, you will be delighted as there are plenty of close-ups of Alex and his violin.

Ah Alan, an absolute bonus to look forward to

As you know, unfortunately I've been occupied with other things and still am. From yesterday we started going through mum’s house, sorting furniture etc. Consequently, I still haven’t made arrangements to get my discs yet. I could have bought them on line at JB’s but I wanted to go to their closest store which is 40 klms away and buy a blue ray player as well and haven't had the time to do so. Can you recommend any brand, type you think is good?

Wendy, maybe you could get the same one Alan suggests too