Portishead - PNYC - Live At The Roseland Theatre [1998]

On the DVD: As well as re-EQ'ing all of the music, the band have provided extra musical snippets, footage from their world tour (which followed this concert), an exclusive acoustic version of "Wandering Star", all of their music videos and the cultish short film they made in 1994. The "road tour" section is quite dull, shot from a car racing around provincial England (Portishead, mainly). The music videos, by and large, are more interesting and artful, particularly the video for "Only You" which is undeniably beautiful. The parting shot is their short movie "To Kill A Dead Man" (directed, shot, acted and scored by the band), which is entertaining, despite the hefty disclaimer that precedes it. All in all this is a very comprehensive overview of one of the 90s' most revered bands and a worthy purchase even for those who have the original VHS edition.--Paul Sullivan

For those of you who don't know Beth Gibbons, she is arguably one of the greatest female vocalists ever, definitely of the last 15 years. Here she is on fire, filling the opening number with aching sadness before launching into 'Cowboys' with a passion that is quite frankly frightening.

The playlist is well chosen, shifting from the sublime 'Only You' to the sinister and scary 'Over'. This last track shows Gibbons at her most ferocious, with the drumbeats and turntables beinhd her going nuts. When this song crescendos, it's a 'hide behind the sofa' moment. Then they move in 'Glorybox', before launching into an amazing version of 'Sour Times' which ends the main act. All these tracks show just what an amazing voice Beth has, but it is on the 1st track of the encore that you realise just exactly how wonderful she can be. This version of 'Roads' (possibly my favourite track from 'Dummy') is heart-breakingly, soul-achingly beautiful, mournful, fragile, the sort of music you could fall in love in time to.

Overall, this is amazing, superlative live material from a band at their peak. Buy this, their studio albums and Gibbons' solo debut, you will not regret it.


pity about a couple of things...   May 13, 2002
 4 out of 9 found this review helpful

about time this was released - a brilliant concert (apart from the last couple of songs which are completely ruined by the american audience clapping very badly along to them - grrrr)

I would give this 5 stars as the extras are great too but... why isn't the promo video for their most famous single "Glory Box" included? A criminal oversight :(


A rare moment of absolute perfection   December 13, 2001
 25 out of 26 found this review helpful

This is simply stunning. I cannot praise it enough. It was quite clearly one of those rare moments when you just had to be there. I unfortunately wasn't, but when watching this I can almost feel like I didn't miss out. This was basically an experiment to take Portishead's raw, crusty sound on the road with the benefit of an orchestra. The result was/is breathtaking and enchanting, mysterious and moody, warm and soulful. Everything here is classic - this really is Portishead at their absolute best - in the words of vocalist (vastly insufficient terminology in this case) Beth at the end of the concert; "it wasn't meant to sound like that!".
Previously available on VHS and Audio CD, and now quite rightly transferred across to DVD (I have been waiting for this for *ages*!), it is an absolute essential purchase. BUY IT!


amazing   July 27, 2000
 0 out of 1 found this review helpful

an absolutley amazing video better than the nirvana unplugged session and they turn strangers into an amazing encore. buy this video