Review of REM: Tourfilm

Introduction

The third of four REM DVDs currently available in region 2, the live performance on this DVD was recorded at the end of the "Green" world tour in 1989. It was mostly after this that REM became a really big band, known throughout the world.

So unless you are a really big REM fan, and/or you were a fan before "Out of Time", you probably won`t recognise too many of the songs on here. You might spot "Stand", "The One I Love" (if you listen closely you`ll notice similarities with Oasis` "Morning Glory") and "It`s the end of the world as we know it".

Video

The concert footage and other footage is shot entirely in 4:3. It is very grainy at times, and whilst that seems to be intentional, it is often quite distracting as more and more artefacts appear.

It`s not perhaps the most exciting stage show in the world either, so presenting a lot of black and white footage doesn`t help. Again, this might be intentional, but it does tend to annoy.

Michael Stipe appears on stage as a cross between Morrissey and Keith Flint from The Prodigy.......

Audio

Not good sound this time round either. A PCM stereo track that lacks clarity, instruments lack definition, and things just sound a bit muddy.

And as for the terrible recording of "Belong" tacked on to the end of chapter 12, it`s an embarrasment.

Features

No extra features here. As with the other REM discs subtitles are included.

Conclusion

Compared to the other discs available this is a real let-down. The video is not so good, the audio is not so good.

Fans of post-1990 REM won`t be too impressed by most of the songs on offer either. The highlights are those that I`ve already mentioned.

This disc is only really for die-hard REM fans. If you want some REM on DVD you`d be better off with one of the other discs.