Product: Brian Wilson: On Tour [VHS] (2003)
Rating: 3.0
Fine, for what it is...
Clocking in at a mere 77 minutes, this DVD provides a nice (if somewhat bland) overview of Brian's transformation from Beach Boy to solo entity, but it's brevity certainly raises some significant questions.If Brian is truly "back", then why is almost every chapter of this DVD so heavily edited? Why are we presented with so many snippets of songs instead of fully realized productions? Why is the concert footage only culled from the 1999 and 2000 tours?As it is, "Brian Wilson On Tour", is simply a sanitized PBS-oriented documentary. There is no Beach Boy pathos here, just fun (and art!) on the road. And while it does sometimes feel contrived, this DVD does provide the fan with occasional spontaneous human moments from Brian. My personal fave scene is where Brian is asked to name his favorite tune from different groups ... very cool. However, be warned that this DVD does not offer much in the way of complete songs.In fact, that's my biggest gripe with this disc: there is not enough unedited concert footage. Almost everything is offered in piecemeal fashion. Heck, even "Saturday Morning In The City" - a "new" track which is advertised on the outside of the package - is presented as a miniscule 30 second piano snippet! VERY MISLEADING PACKAGING!!!Much like 1995's "I Just Wasn't Made For These Times", "Brian Wilson On Tour" is yet another fixed perspective look into Brian's world. How much of this documentary is truth and how much is revision is left up to the viewer to decide.Only the overworked editor knows for sure.