The Doors of the 21st Century - L.A. Woman Live
Purists may scoff atThe Doors of the 21st Century, but for those who believe in second chances, this concert succeeds as both reunion and revival of one of the greatest rock bands in history. Replacing the late, great Jim Morrison is a daunting task, but the addition of British vocalist Ian Astbury (who bears more than passing resemblance to Morrison) is a risk that pays off surprisingly well during this 102-minute gig, superbly recorded in Houston, Texas, during the band's 2003 world tour. Astbury respects Morrison's legacy, but wisely avoids slavish re-creation of "the Lizard King"'s inimitable style; he's paying affectionate tribute while channeling his own vocal energy into Morrison's poetry. In performing the entirety of the Doors' classicL.A. Womanalong with other timeless hits, keyboardist Ray Manzarek and guitarist Robby Krieger (drummer John Densmore moved on to a variety of solo projects; he's replaced here by Ty Dennis) make good on a 32-year-old promise to give Doors fans the tour that Morrison's death pre-empted, adding what the Doors never officially had: a bass player (Angelo Barbera) to re-create the LP's rhythm section. The band's in excellent form here, so let the naysayers whine; this DVD proves that new Doors are better than no Doors at all.--Jeff Shannon