A Music Video Fan's Blog

From The Vault - Bif Naked

2008-10-20T03:24:00.002-04:00

Bif Naked - Essentially Naked

This is another greatest hits compilation on which they added a DVD of music videos. This time from Bif Naked.

Here are my favorite videos from the compilation, in no particular order :

From The Vault - Sloan

2008-10-19T02:27:00.004-04:00

Sloan - A Sides Win

I thought i'd bump one of the lesser known Canadian acts for a change.

This greatest hits compilation includes a DVD of this Halifax band's videos. Here are my faves :

Coax Me
The Good In Everyone
The Lines You Amend
Money City Maniacs
The Other Man (high quality/real player)
Rest Of My Life (high quality/real player)

BTW, don't even bother putting the CD in your computer. It's copy protected. :( The DVD works fine though.

From The Vault - Garbage

2008-10-18T08:17:00.002-04:00

Garbage - Absolute Garbage

Why did I keep forgetting to add this compilation ?! Shirley Manson is on Season Two of the Sarah Connor Chronicles every freaking week !

Anyhow, this is an excellent compilation, full of bright, imaginative videos including my favorites :

Garbage - The World is not enough
Uploaded by bebepanda

Gimme My DVD ! Ozzy Osbourne

2008-10-08T14:02:00.003-04:00

You'd think that the popularity of The Osbournes television series would have resulted in a video compilation being released ! They didn't even take advantage of the many greatest hits compilations to release one. I seriously don't get Sony, at all...

Anyhow, here are my favorites from Ozzy :

Artist Site

From The Vault - Rammstein

2008-10-04T08:10:00.003-04:00

Rammstein - Lichtspielhaus

This is one of my very favorite compilations. It includes all of Rammstein's videos up to the Mutter videos. Here are my favorites from this DVD :

The only drawback with this collection is with the Sonne video. The Sonne video on Lichtspielhaus has the original album soundtrack and not the single's soundtrack that includes the dramatic female vocal solo. I prefer the later but the other version is quite acceptable.

From The Vault - Pat Benatar

2008-10-02T14:51:00.003-04:00

Pat Benatar - Choice Cuts

This is another nostalgic compilation in my collection. It includes all of her 24 music videos and five live performances. But strangely enough "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" is missing from this collection.

I still like it though for the following videos :

Anxiety
We Belong
Invincible
Sex As A Weapon

Pat Benatar - Sex As A Weapon
Uploaded by alexandru2006

From The Vault - Cyndi Lauper

2008-09-28T07:12:00.005-04:00

Cyndi Lauper - 12 Deadly Cyns... And Then Some

Most people know her for Girls Just Want To Have Fun but she's got numerous other hit videos, most of which are included on this compilation.

The compilation of course starts with Girls Just Want To Have Fun and winds through her hits up to That's What I Think, back full circle to a 1993 Remix of Girls Just Want To Have Fun and her first hit single with Blue Angel entitled I'm Gonna Be Strong - A decades worth of videos minus the Goonies videos.

Though mostly nostalgic, this DVD does contain some very good music videos, all of which are my favorites :

Cyndi lauper- i drove all night
Uploaded by Docbuzz

Gimme My DVD ! The Go-Go's

2008-09-26T23:05:00.006-04:00

The Go-Go's - Prime Time

Here's another video compilation that i've given up in ever seeing on DVD.

Prime Time was released in 1985 by RCA/Columbia Music Video when The Go-Go's were at their peek and featured the following classic music videos :

I know, their videos aren't really that special but they're nostalgic and from a time when music videos were in their infancy. That's why I like them and want them. But their label, IRS, folded in 1996 and Sony BMG is incredibly slow in releasing music video compilations. :(

Go-Go's - Vacation
Uploaded by jpdc11

From The Vault - Bjork

2008-09-24T23:52:00.004-04:00

Bjork - Volumen 1993-2003

This 2003 video compilation is actually a re-issue, a collection on which two previous compilations have been combined : Volumen, the compilation I purchased in 1999 and Volumen II, which was released in 2002.

Ten years of videos can be found on this collections, from Debut's "Human Behaviour" to Vespertine's "Cocoon", with two bonus videos thrown in : "It's In Our Hands" & "Nature Is Ancient". Here are my very favorite videos from this compilation, in no particular order :

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Björk - Army Of Me
Uploaded by Bjork

From The Vault - Metallica

2008-09-24T02:20:00.007-04:00

Metallica - The Videos (1989-2004)

Another compilation that was a long time coming, but i'm glad that they waited to add some of the more memorable, visually stunning videos like I Disappear and The Memory Remains.

Yes, I like the dark and raw grittiness of the extended version of Unforgiven and it's second part, Unforgiven II but i'm never been a headbanger so the appeal of videos like Wherever I May Roam and Sad But True have limited appeal to me. They're two of my favorite tracks off the black album but the videos are only o.k.

Another excellent track with a good but not great video is Nothing Else Matters. I like the video but I wouldn't say the video itself was impressive. Interesting but not one of their best.

Metallica - The Memory Remains
Uploaded by metallica

From The Vault - Talk Talk

2008-09-21T02:35:00.005-04:00

Talk Talk - Natural History

This compilation was promised for years and was finally released last year in Europe, released as a bonus disc with the Natural History CD re-release.

It isn't fancy but it includes all of their ten videos, including both versions of Talk Talk, and that's what matters. You get everything, including a second version of Dum Dum Girl. Here are my very favorites from this compilation :

This European compilation is of course on a region free disc but in PAL so you'll need to check your DVD player's manual to see if it's PAL compatible. Many modern DVD players are and will convert the video from PAL to NTSC - I've compiled a list here but your DVD manual should have the necessary information.

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Talk Talk - Life's What You Make It
Uploaded by cladstrife

What The ?! Johnny Hallyday

2008-09-20T20:02:00.008-04:00

Johnny Hallyday - Master Serie

Most people outside of European and French Canada don't know this guy but he's been in the French rock scene since the 60's. I particularly like some of his video, including Marie and Sang Pour Sang so when I ran into the Master Serie on Universal's web site, listed as a Region 0 DVD, I ordered it on the spot.

Unfortunately it wasn't Region 0 but Region 2 ! And non only was it listed on the Universal site I ordered it from but it had been listed as Region 0 on multiple other sites and the cover as well. Argh !

Well, this finalized my decision to buy a hackable DVD Player from Philips.

I had waited for A-ha's Headlines & Deadlines compilation to be released on Region 1 or 0 for years and this was basically the last straw. And in the end it helped when I received two other mislabeled imports from Europe, including Les Ritas Mitsouko's bonus DVD on "Bestov".

Anyhow, this is an excellent collection but fans will likely prefer his newer compilation, Mes Clips, covering his videos from 1984 to 2006 - But that one is definately confirmed as being Region 2, so be warned.

Warning - Following Video Starts With Sound of Explosion

Johnny Hallyday - Marie
Uploaded by JohnnyHallyday

From The Vaults - Sarah McLachlan

2008-09-10T00:14:00.007-04:00

Sarah McLachlan: Video Collection 1989-1998

This is an incredible collection, not only for the music but for the visually stunning videos.

As implied by the title this DVD contains all of her videos from her Canadian video for Vox to the Grammy Award nominated Adia, the later videos being my favorites from the compilation :

Some may consider someone of her earlier videos to be a bit dry and simplistic but I like them nevertheless - Ben's Song and Hold On are also among my very favorite videos but I generally watch most of the compilation whenever I put it in the DVD player.

BTW, you will notice that Sarah has a new compilation CD coming out on October 7th, entitled "Closer". I don't know if a DVD is scheduled for release for it but who knows ?

Sarah Mc Lachlan - Sweet Surrender
Uploaded by rafiko69

From The Vaults - Mylene Farmer

2008-09-09T18:24:00.003-04:00

Mylene Farmer - Music Video I, II & III

Known as the French Kate Bush this french Canadian born singer is popular in France, Quebec and Russia for her occasionally sultry, award winning videos and anthems, many of which are my French favorites :

Most of her videos are a bit too racy for my tastes but the music is excellent. And I had to purchase the two compilations, Music Videos I and Music Videos II/III, even if they were in PAL and I had to import them from France at the time - They're available from Amazon in North America now.

A third DVD entitled Music Videos IV has been released but I haven't had a chance to buy it. It features her beautiful duet with Seal entitled "Les Mots" and the animated "C'est Une Belle Journée" (with drawings by Mylene). But now that it has popped up on Amazon here...

BTW, if you wondering why Mylene may sound familiar : Désenchantée was an international club hit, "Tomber 7 Fois" was featured in an Aiwa commercial and "L'Historie D'Une Fee, C'est" was featured in the Rugrats In Paris film and soundtrack.

Gimme My DVD ! Kate Bush

2008-09-08T14:56:00.007-04:00

Kate Bush - The Whole Story

This video compilation was released on VHS and laser disc and it is quite apparent that it will never see the light of day on DVD.

They had a chance to re-release it on the CD's tenth anniversary in 2006 but didn't. They had a chance to release it with the videos from The Red Shoes but didn't. They've also ignored the countless appeals by fans for a release ! I've pretty much given up on this one ever being released.

So basically I'm left watching the following classic videos over and over again on Youtube :

Cloudbusting (featuring Donald Sutherland)
Experiment IV (featuring Hugh Laurie and Dawn French)
Breathing
Running Up That Hill (her most popular single)
Rubberband Girl (featuring Miranda Richardson)
This Woman's Work (featuring Tim McInnerny)

Well, it isn't the label's fault really - They can't afford paying a few thousand dollars to get this DVD out because they need all they money they can to produce the shitty generic videos their spoiled pop princesses and posturing rappers want.

On a lighter note, Hugh Laurie, Miranda Richardson and Tim McInnerny are all from one of my favorite British comedies - The Black Adder. And Damn French is also the star of two British Comedy series that I like : French & Saunders & The Vicar Of Dibley. Just something I thought you'd like to check out, along with Placebo's cover of Running Up That Hill.

From The Vault - ABBA

2008-09-07T17:01:00.006-04:00

ABBA - The Definitive Collection

Yes, Abba. :)

My parents had several of their albums in their vinyl collection so I naturally listened to them through-out my childhood. But in my defense I never really liked them for their dance music. I preferred their ballads with the odd dance track :

This compilation is unfortunately out of print now, six years after it's release, and has been replaced by a 2006 compilation of the most successful video singles entitled Number Ones.

Number Ones included all but one of my favorite videos, Eagle, but I doubt most people won't miss it because of the better video on The Movie.

From The Vault - Tears For Fears

2008-09-05T09:58:00.011-04:00

Tears For Fears - Scenes From The Big Chair
Tears For Fears - Tears Roll Down

Scenes From The Big Chair was my second music video compilation purchase, again on VHS. And you'll notice that it is again from a British band - Tears For Fears

This incredible compilation was released to capitalize on the popularity of Songs From The Big Chair and included most of the videos from that album, interviews in regards to the making of the videos and live performances from their Canadian, British and European tour - These live performances of course included songs from their hit debut, The Hurting.

Of course the DVD version of this compilation has all of the videos from the album and a few extras, including a 1990 concert filmed in California. Here are my favorite videos from this DVD :

Of course this is far from a complete collection of videos for the band itself and most people will likely just go for Tears Roll Down instead to obtain the videos from the band's first and remaining albums as well.

To complete my video collection from the band at the time I had purchased a three video EP from PMV/Sony simply entitled Tears For Fears, which included the three videos off The Hurting :

And a four video compilation entitled Sowing The Seeds for the remaining videos off The Seeds Of Love :

These video compilations were of course replaced when the Tears Roll Down compilation was released in 1992/93. But I didn't purchase that compilation, instead choosing to wear my previous VHS copies thin until the DVD came out. :)

Gimme My DVD ! - Platinum Blonde

2008-09-04T09:16:00.006-04:00

Gimme My "The Complete Video Collection" DVD, SONY-BMG !

If you're Canadian and older than 30, chances are you'll remember the new wave hard rockers Platinum Blonde.

Known primarily for their Platinum selling single Crying Over You and the quadruple Platinum album from which is came, "Alien Shores", this band had numerous hit singles and albums in Canada from 1983 to 1987.

Featuring nine videos, The Complete Video Collection was mastered and was originally scheduled for release in 2005. But Sony-BMG have decided to wait until a reunion tour to release it so the fans have been left watching some of these videos on Youtube.

ARGH !

From The Vault - My First Purchase

2008-09-02T03:18:00.014-04:00

Def Leppard - Historia

This is an excellent compilation.

I had basically just tuned into Def Leppard with Hysteria because of the single of the same name and had just purchased Hysteria and Pyromania on cassette when this compilation came out on VHS.

Featuring all of the videos from Hello America to Love Bites, with a few television performances thrown in, this compilation was released to take advantage of the Hysteria hysteria - The album was about to get Diamond certification here in Canada when it was released.

Personally, I think this compilation is better than the subsequent greatest hits compilations because the later do not include the following :

Hello America (Their first video/live television performance)
Let It Go (A video compiled from an early live concert performance)
High 'N' Dry (Another video taken from aforementioned concert)
Bringing Up The Heartbreak V1 (the concert video that got them noticed here)
Me & My Wine (a music video featuring the lads goofing around on a television series set)
and last but not least, the original Pour Some Sugar On Me music video

The other compilations are great for an overall selection but if you were a fan since Pyromania or Hysteria, I think you'd prefer this compilation - Especially on DVD because they compiled both the Historia and incredible In The Round, In Your Face concert onto one DVD - In The Round, In Your Face was my second purchase on VHS and is one of my very favorite concert vids.

Hi Everyone !

2008-09-01T07:15:00.016-04:00

Just thought I'd welcome everyone to this blog and explain what this blog will be about.

I've been a fan of music videos since I first started watching Video Hits and Good Rockin' Tonight on CBC Television here in Canada in my teens back in the mid 80's and thought I'd post a blog about what music compilations and concerts I purchased, what compilations I'd like to see released and general discussions on the best places to view music videos online.

Here are a few categories I'll be using in this blog :

Gimme My DVD - As implied by the title, all posts starting with Gimme My DVD are basically comments on DVDs that have yet to be released. These music video compilations or concerts may have been previous released on VHS and/or laser disc or may have been actually had a limited release on DVD, somewhere. But have yet to have had a significant release.

From The Vault - These are basically short reviews of a few music video compilations or concerts from my collection. I've got a few hundred of these, from various genres.

What The ?! - These are reviews of bad or faulty compilations I've encountered. Skipping, bad video transfers, audio problems, annoying menus and errors on the labels will result in DVDs being reviewed under this category.

Question Du Jour - I'm of course hoping for feedback from people as well, in regards to their favorite DVDs, regardless of the genre or artist, and other subjects related to this blog.

I will of course post random posts as well. I hope that you'll like it.