Product: Porcupine Tree: Anesthetize (2008)
Rating: 4.0
Great concert, disappointing Blu-Ray transfer
Sound quality (DTS Master Audio): A masterpieceVideo quality (Blu Ray): DisappointingSetlist: EclecticPerformance: ExcellentThere are quite a few reviews of Anesthetize out there, so I'll focus on a few issues that didn't get much coverage elsewhere. The sound quality (DTS-MA) is absolutely stunning - possibly the best I've ever heard in a concert recording. The singing is incredibly clear. SW didn't go overboard with the multichannel mix on this album, although spatial separation of instruments is excellent. I found the Blu-Ray video transfer rather disappointing (viewed on a reference-quality home theater setup). There is very little improvement (if any) over the DVD version. The picture has rather limited dynamic range - neither the blacks are truly black, nor the whites are truly white. The picture is rather noisy due to low light conditions and (presumably) the use of cameras with poor low-light performance. There is significant color fringing on certain shots. Resolution is nowhere near 1080p. It might have been shot on cameras with a lower resolution. Incidentally, they filmed the Incident tour in Chicago on April 30 using high-end Canon DSLRs in video mode (I was there). It will be interesting to see how the Incident concert Blu-Ray will compare to Anesthetize.PT usually doesn't disappoint live, and the performance is excellent once again. To me, the highlights of the concert are Sentimental and Sleep Together. The setlist is rather eclectic, with nothing from Deadwing except for Halo, a few rarities such as Half Light, Drown With Me, and Dark Matter, and some of the less popular songs from In Absentia. I was disappointed to see that they did not include Stars Die, which was part of the Tilburg setlist.Overall, a must have for any PT fan. Just don't expect much from the Blu Ray version except for the stellar DTS MA soundtrack.