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Image Entertainment presents

Lilith Fair: A Celebration of Women in Music (2001)

"She is such a strong and wonderful feminist figure, yet we have never been taught that. So I feel really proud to put her back in her rightful goddess position."- Sarah McLachlan (on the goddess Lilith)

Stars: Sarah McLachlan
Other Stars: Jewel, The Indigo Girls, Sheryl Crow, Lisa Loeb, Paula Cole, and Shawn Colvin
Director: Laurie Feldman

MPAA Rating: Not Rated for (nothing offensive)
Run Time: 01h:30m:02s
Release Date: 2001-02-06
Genre: music

Style
Grade
Substance
Grade
Image Transfer
Grade
Audio Transfer
Grade
Extras
Grade
B- A-B+B F

 

DVD Review

Over the course of the past ten years there have been new music festivals popping up all over the country. Often these festivals cater to a certain taste, providing one distinct type of music with every band. But none has been as widely varied as Lilith Fair. Taking its name from the first wife of Adam (of "...and Eve" fame), the festival showcased many popular artists as well as several newcomers. And while the concept had been done before, Lilith Fair broke new ground by featuring an entirely female line up.

When Canadian singer Sarah McLachlan first thought up the idea for the tour she garnered opposition from concert promoters who felt that the show would fail due to the all female content. In its first year the festival proved everyone wrong by becoming the largest touring festival since Lollapalooza. Ultimately the concept lasted three short years, and while CDs and other memorabilia are still readily available, the talent have each gone their separate ways.

For those of you who missed your chance to see the concert live, Lilith Fair: A Celebration Of Women In Music offers up just as good a seat as you can get. Featuring five of the more popular artists to perform at the festival, this DVD showcases sixteen songs, all filmed during a single day in Toronto.

While the performances showcased on LF: ACOWIM are the highlight of the disc, there are also some well done behind-the-scenes documentary footage. Interviews with McLachlan, Jewel, Sheryl Crow, The Indigo Girls, Lisa Loeb and Paula Cole are each equally interesting and at times hilarious. McLachlan has a very funny moment discussing possible catfighting and her comment on The Indigo girls had me laughing very hard. Other moments such as Crow and The Indigo Girls rehearsing a song backstage have a very intimate quality to them.

The songs featured are as follows:
Building a Mystery -Sarah McLachlan
Water is Wide - Indigo Girls, Jewel, and Sarah McLachlan
Bitch -Meredith Brooks
Tried to Be True -Indigo Girls and Sheryl Crow
Sunny Came Home -Shawn Colvin
Strong Enough -Sheryl Crow
Near You Always -Jewel
Shame on You -Indigo Girls
Ice Cream -Sarah McLachlan
Closer to Fine -Indigo Girls, Meredith Brooks, Jewel, and Sarah McLachlan
I Need -Meredith Brooks
Wichita Skyline -Shawn Colvin
Angel -Sarah McLachlan
I Shall Believe -Sheryl Crow
Morning Song -Jewel
Big Yellow Taxi -all artists

Rating for Style: B-
Rating for Substance: A-

 

Image Transfer

 One
Aspect Ratio1.33:1 - Full Frame
Original Aspect Ratioyes
Anamorphicno


Image Transfer Review: Other than Short Circuit, Lilith Fair: A Celebration of Women in Music is the first title from Image that I have had the pleasure to review. And I can honestly say that if all of their titles look like this I look forward to reviewing more. Colors are vibrant not only on the stage, but also on the outfits and Ms. McLachlan's multi-colored hair. Sharpness and black levels are constantly fine. There are a few moments of shimmering, but for the most part this image is perfect.

Image Transfer Grade: B+
 

Audio Transfer

 LanguageRemote Access
DS 2.0Englishyes
Dolby Digital
5.1
Englishyes


Audio Transfer Review: While the Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is less than what it could be, what is here is still above the rest. Dialogue is clear and even in the interview segments as well as in the performance footage. Bass is tight and certainly hits in each of the songs. The surrounds become active in the musical numbers with both background music and crowd noise. A Dolby 2.0 mix is also available.

Audio Transfer Grade:

Disc Extras

Static menu
Scene Access with 30 cues and remote access
Packaging: Amaray
1 Disc
1-Sided disc(s)
Layers: single

Extras Review: There are no extra features included on this disc.

Extras Grade: F
 

Final Comments

Anyone who doubts the universal appeal of Lilith Fair should know this. I list my favorite bands as Incubus, Pearl Jam, Radiohead, and The Dave Matthews Band yet I attended two of the three Lilith Fair festivals. If someone like myself, whose musical taste rests in alternative music, can willingly go to this concert, is it any question as to whether this disc is a must buy?

Kevin Clemons 2001-02-27