The DVD series Live At Full House Rock Show (ARD) presents mid-'80s concerts originally broadcast on German television. The latest two installments—Little Steven and The Style Council—are wholly, wonderfully products of their era. The former catches the once-and-future E Street Band-er during his days as a wonky, socially conscious worldbeat-rock star, singing about El Salvador while his headbanded, sleeveless-shirted backing musicians dove into extended Prince-like funk workouts. It isn't the best music Little Steven ever made, but it's definitely exciting. As for The Style Council set, it's a tight half-hour of internationalist R&B, showcasing Paul Weller's post-Jam efforts to bring soul to pasty Brits. It's a largely neglected chapter in Weller's long career, but songs like "With Everything To Lose" and "Shout To The Top" are among the best he ever wrote, and they're performed here with spirit and sweat… Little Steven: B; The Style Council: A-
Joy Division's Under Review (Sexy Intellectual) may be the best episode yet of an increasingly essential series. A reasonably small number of UK rock writers—all of whom witnessed the Joy Division phenomenon firsthand—share anecdotes and memories of what the music meant to them, in a tidy hourlong film that includes revelatory clips from TV performances by a still-mysterious post-punk band. The absence of Factory Records mogul Tony Wilson is felt—though his ex-wife does appear—and it would be nice if one day the Under Review producers could get permission to include whole, uncut performances on the DVDs. But this disc still has a lot to add to the Joy Division story, mainly by pointing out how much the bandmembers were really just normal lads, possessed by some dark, inexplicable muse… A-
It's easy to be skeptical of the handful of critics and fans on Wendy O. Williams And The Plasmatics' The DVD (MVD) who praise the band's hard-rock shock theater, claiming that they were like the Ramones, The Clash, and Sex Pistols "times 10." But the proof is in the concert footage, which brings The Plasmatics' sex-and-violence aesthetic to exciting life, bare breasts, exploding cars, and all. The documentary portion of this disc is too long and too scattered, and it oversells the idea that Williams made a repressive establishment see red. But when she's out there howling like a wolf while wearing a see-through leotard and wielding a chainsaw, who's in the mood to make fine distinctions?… B
Without having seen the Philadelphia roots-rock band Marah live, it may be hard to find a reason for the devotion shown by high-profile fans like Bruce Springsteen, Nick Hornby, and Stephen King. Sooner Or Later In Spain (Yep Roc), a DVD/CD set that catches the band on a European tour, helps a great deal. The picture is cruddy and the editing sloppy, but it's clear that the Bielanko brothers—Dave and Serge—are right there with the crowd, engaging the Spaniards with a set of uplifting, uptempo songs… B+
Lousy camerawork aside, there's a lot to recommend about Blackalicious' 4/20 Live In Seattle (MVD), which presents an energetic show by one of the best touring rap acts around, and intersperses it with low-key, insightful band interviews. Onstage highlight: a romping version of the early single "Lady Don't Tek No" that sounds like vintage Funkadelic. Offstage highlight: The Gift Of Gab walking us through a list of the rappers that influenced him, with a nuanced explanation of what makes their styles unique.… B+.