- Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
- Video Codec: AVC/MPEG-4
- Resolution: 1080i/60
- Audio Codec: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, LPCM 2.0, Dolby Digital 5.1
- Subtitles: English, French, German, Spanish
- Region: ABC (Region-Free)
- Rating: NR
- Run Time: 179 Mins.
- Discs: 1 (1 x Blu-ray)
- Studio: Eagle Rock Entertainment
- Blu-ray Release Date: November 1, 2011
- List Price: $19.98
[amazon-product]B005OGYH8G[/amazon-product]
BestBuy.com:
Purchase Placebo: We Come in Pieces on Blu-ray at CD Universe
Shop for more Blu-ray titles at Amazon.com
Overall
[Rating:3.5/5]
The Performance
[Rating:3.5/5]
Video Quality
[Rating:2/5]
Audio Quality
[Rating:4/5]
Supplemental Materials
[Rating:3/5]
Click thumbnails for high-resolution 1920X1080p screen captures
(Screen captures are lightly compressed with lossy JPEG thus are meant as a general representation of the content and do not fully reveal the capabilities of the Blu-ray format)
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The Performance
[Rating:3.5/5]
Placebo have always been more popular in Europe than they have been here in the United States. A sort of Goth/Euro version of Nirvana, their music can sometimes evoke Joy Division, The Cure, or The Sex Pistols. Their more keyboard-heavy productions might even lean toward the more macho side of Echo and the Bunnymen.
In September 2008 Placebo launched a lengthy world tour, the band’s eighth, in support of their album Battle for the Sun, that would only end in September of 2010. This Blu-ray from Eagle Rock Entertainment captures the band on that tour in September 2010 at London’s Brixton Academy. A schizophrenic production with hyperactive edits, chaotic visual effects, and pulsating lights behind the band on stage, this live concert disc seeks to capture the energy of a Placebo live show. Whether or not it succeeds, I cannot say, I only know that I did not find sitting through the actual video production quite pleasing.
The actual music, on the other hand, did yield at least a few pleasing highlights. Most notably was one of the band’s more recognizable hits, “Nancy Boy,” which they used as the show opener, “Every You Every Me,” and their dedication “to absent friends,” Nirvana’s “All Apologies.” I’m certain that, despite the annoying video production, fans will enjoy this show – all they need do is turn off the television.
Track Listing:
- Nancy Boy
- Ashtray Heart
- Battle For The Sun
- Soulmates
- Kitty Litter
- Every You Every Me
- Special Needs
- Breathe Underwater
- The Never-Ending Why
- Bright Lights
- Meds
- Teenage Angst
- All Apologies
- For What It’s Worth
- Song To Say Goodbye
- The Bitter End
- Trigger Happy Hands
- Post Blue
- Infra-Red
- Taste In Men
Video Quality
[Rating:2/5]
Caution: do not watch this concert disc if you suffer from migraines or seizures! Perhaps if they could slow down the cameras a bit, quit with the constant zooming, ridiculous flashing lights behind the band, choppy edits, and annoying visual effects like purposeful heavy doses of video noise and blurring, then one could seriously review or recommend viewing this at all. But, alas, as a result of this hyperactive, ADD style of videography and the 1080i/60 AVC encodement, there is a lot of artifacting and sitting down to watch We Come in Pieces is an endurance test more than a pleasure.
Audio Quality
[Rating:4/5]
Fortunately, the sound mix does not suffer the same fate as the video, although it still does not reach the heights of some of the best live Blu-ray releases I have heard. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix doesn’t offer a very distinct amount of instrumental separation, but it does sound sufficiently live and have a good dynamic range. Surround channels have lots of room ambience and crowd noise, lows are deep, but not loose and unwieldy. Highs, on the other hand, are just a bit jagged, making the guitars sound a little too grating. Lead vocals sometimes get lost in the mix as well.
Supplemental Materials
[Rating:3/5]
Fans of Placebo should enjoy the extras on here a lot. There six bonus performances and an hour-long documentary chronicling the band’s 2008 through 2010 world tour for their album Battle for the Sun.
The supplements provided with this release are:
- Coming Up For Air – Documentary (1.78:1; 1080i/60; 01:01:17)
- Trigger Happy Hands – Film (2.35:1; 1080p/24; 00:10:31)
- Bonus Live Tracks:
- Kitty Litter – Switzerland
- Speak in Tongues – Mexico
- For What It’s Worth – Japan
- Breathe Underwater – Germany
- Bright Lights – Switzerland
- Trigger Happy Hands – Belgium
The Definitive Word
Overall:
[Rating:3.5/5]
A competent and energetic performance from these Euro rockers that fans are sure to love despite what is an annoying video production. Rent first before buying.
Additional Screen Captures
–
[amazon-product]B005OGYH8G[/amazon-product]
BestBuy.com:
Purchase Placebo: We Come in Pieces on Blu-ray at CD Universe
Shop for more Blu-ray titles at Amazon.com
Overall
[Rating:3.5/5]
The Performance
[Rating:3.5/5]
Video Quality
[Rating:2/5]
Audio Quality
[Rating:4/5]
Supplemental Materials
[Rating:3/5]
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