H.I.M.
Digital Versatile Doom: Live at the
Orpheum Theatre
Release Date 2008 02 26
Label Warner Bros.
Rating:


H.I.M.
has a reputation for engaging live shows, so it's disconcerting when
Digital Versatile Doom starts off a bit stiff and stilted. It's an
unfounded worry -- as lead singer Ville Valo and his band loosen up
on-stage, the music becomes warmer and more involving (along with Valo's
stage presence), and fans will be pleased to know that the album
captures not only H.I.M.'s sound, but also the mood and atmosphere of
what was evidently a particularly impressive show. Valo is in fine form;
by the time the lead singer reaches &"Wicked Game," the set's
fourth song, he's showing off his considerable vocal range, making the
ladies in attendance squeal as he slides effortlessly from falsetto to
deep, sensual growls, and joking around with both spectators and his
fellow bandmembers between numbers. Things get even better exactly half
way through when H.I.M. turns in an exuberant performance of &"Dead
Lovers Lane," a track off of the studio album Venus Doom. While the
concert (recorded at The Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles) was in support
of what was then the band's latest album, the set list is a balanced mix
of the group's most well-known tunes. It's a decision that pays off
handsomely: the crowd is happy that their favorite hits get a turn, and
that makes it easy for Valo to lead them in singing the opening lines of
several songs. (His gentle encouragement at the beginning of
&"Poison Girl" is particularly endearing.) As could be expected for a
group with such a charismatic frontman, most of the theatrics are
reserved for Valo, who plays with melodic variations throughout the
concert and sneaks in some naughty improvisation at the end of
&"It's All Tears." Consequently, there isn't much time for the rest
of the band to get part of the spotlight; when they do, it's with the
concert's centerpiece, &"Sleepwalking Past Hope." Clocking in at
just over ten minutes, the song gives guitarist Lily Lazer, keyboardist
Emerson Burton, and bassist Migè Amour a chance to shine while their
vocalist takes well-deserved break. It's a move that benefits not only
Valo, but his audience; unlike other live recordings, the second half of
Digital Versatile Doom doesn't flag, but manages to continue and even
build up a bit more energy before it concludes with a lush version of
&"Funeral of Hearts." If the ultimate goal of a live album is to
capture not only the music but the full experience of a band in concert,
it's safe to say that Digital Versatile Doom succeeds handily.
Katherine Fulton, All Music Guide

Tracks:

TitleComposerTime1Passion's
Killing FloorValo5:142(Rip
Out) The Wings of a ButterflyValo3:313Buried
Alive by LoveValo4:524Wicked
GameIsaak4:285Kiss of DawnValo4:356Vampire
HeartValo4:247Poison GirlValo5:058Dead
Lovers' LaneValo4:179Join
Me in DeathValo3:3010It's
All TearsVano, Wyndorf4:2111Sleepwalking
Past HopeValo10:4112Killing
LonelinessValo4:3013Soul
on FireValo4:2314Your Sweet
Six Six SixValo4:0315Bleed
WellValo4:2216Funeral of
HeartsValo4:4317Intro
(Blood Theme) [DVD]Light
18Passion's
Killing Floor [DVD]Valo
19(Rip
Out) The Wings of a Butterfly [DVD]Valo
20Buried
Alive by Love [DVD]Valo
21Wicked
Game [DVD]Isaak
22Kiss of
Dawn [DVD]Valo
23Vampire
Heart [DVD]Valo
24Poison
Girl [DVD]Valo
25Dead
Lovers' Lane [DVD]Valo
26Join
Me in Death [DVD]Valo
27It's
All Tears [DVD]Vano, Wyndorf
28Sleepwalking
Past Hope [DVD]Valo
29Killing
Loneliness [DVD]Valo
30Soul
on Fire [DVD]Valo
31Your
Sweet Six Six Six [DVD]Valo
32Bleed
Well [DVD]Valo
33Right Here
in My Arms [DVD]Valo
34Funeral
of Hearts [DVD]Valo
35V.D.O.
[DVD]Valo
36Bonus Materials
[DVD][*]

Последна редакция от punkrockallstar - 16.06.2010, 15:01