Live from Axis MundiGogol Bordello
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Released: Oct. 6, 2009
Label: SideOneDummy
Review by: Bill Jones
It is never much of a surprise when a live album sucks. Usually designed as a tie-over between albums, they are packed with music fans have already paid for, sometimes a poorly shot DVD, and audio recordings that do nothing to capture the live performance, leaving listeners better off with the album originals. When a live album is good, however, and exceeds those expectations, it can be a truly pleasant surprise.
Such is the case with Gogol Bordello’s Live from Axis Mundi. The 2-disc (one CD, one DVD) set is put together in a great package by SideOneDummy and the band. Fans are treated to a fold-out digipack, with a couple great photos, as well as a booklet featuring a letter from front man Eugene Hutz and plenty more live photos.
But it is the content on the two discs that truly impresses. The DVD contains a passionate 14-song set from the band, captured in July, 2007 at The Filmore at Irving Plaza in New York City. The Live Nation Studios Production is expertly filmed to capture the high-octane show Gogol Bordello always gives fans, seemingly on a pair of nights when the band was 110 percent on its game, taking to the balcony and riding bass drums over the crowd, all without using cheap editing techniques or mind-boggling quick cuts to get the job done. Between the vibrant visuals that cater to the band’s performance and the great audio (with options for Dolby 5.1 Surround or Stereo), Live at Axis Mundi provides fans the closest thing to being at a show, though without all the sweat.
The DVD is rounded out by four extra live tracks, music videos (“Start Wearing Purple,” “Not a Crime,” “Wonderlust King” and “American Wedding”) and “Bonus Chronicles,” which range from stage antics to a featurette on the band titled “Creative People Must Be Stopped!” It is a nice collection of goodies to make a great DVD even better.
Then the band one-ups itself again, opting for a CD collection of BBC and Gypsy Punk sessions, as well as two demos and an instrumental track, for a total of 11 tracks. It is a much better idea than a simple audio dub of the live DVD, and gives fans new ways to hear some of Gogol Bordello’s biggest and favorite tunes. Live from Axis Mundi is the type of live release that goes above and beyond to be something more than just another album break. Gogol Bordello outdoes itself, and fans should love every minute of it.
Such is the case with Gogol Bordello’s Live from Axis Mundi. The 2-disc (one CD, one DVD) set is put together in a great package by SideOneDummy and the band. Fans are treated to a fold-out digipack, with a couple great photos, as well as a booklet featuring a letter from front man Eugene Hutz and plenty more live photos.
But it is the content on the two discs that truly impresses. The DVD contains a passionate 14-song set from the band, captured in July, 2007 at The Filmore at Irving Plaza in New York City. The Live Nation Studios Production is expertly filmed to capture the high-octane show Gogol Bordello always gives fans, seemingly on a pair of nights when the band was 110 percent on its game, taking to the balcony and riding bass drums over the crowd, all without using cheap editing techniques or mind-boggling quick cuts to get the job done. Between the vibrant visuals that cater to the band’s performance and the great audio (with options for Dolby 5.1 Surround or Stereo), Live at Axis Mundi provides fans the closest thing to being at a show, though without all the sweat.
The DVD is rounded out by four extra live tracks, music videos (“Start Wearing Purple,” “Not a Crime,” “Wonderlust King” and “American Wedding”) and “Bonus Chronicles,” which range from stage antics to a featurette on the band titled “Creative People Must Be Stopped!” It is a nice collection of goodies to make a great DVD even better.
Then the band one-ups itself again, opting for a CD collection of BBC and Gypsy Punk sessions, as well as two demos and an instrumental track, for a total of 11 tracks. It is a much better idea than a simple audio dub of the live DVD, and gives fans new ways to hear some of Gogol Bordello’s biggest and favorite tunes. Live from Axis Mundi is the type of live release that goes above and beyond to be something more than just another album break. Gogol Bordello outdoes itself, and fans should love every minute of it.
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