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Having watched the DVD only a few days ago and noticing that there was nothing about it on DeBaser, here it is, a brief review of the latest and original (?) find of the Irish band.
As the title suggests, the focus of this DVD is the band's idea to perform on a stage surrounded by the audience on every side, a 360-degree experience. This is made possible thanks to the sci-fi stage nicknamed The Claw, a sort of enormous spaceship "landed" in the center of the stadium and balanced on these four gargantuan pedestals, with every kind of visual/light wonder naturally attached. The idea that U2 probably wants to convey is a return to the splendor and exaggerations of the Zoo TV Tour that followed their "Achtung Baby" in the early '90s; unfortunately, the only thing this DVD, once viewed, will have in common with the aforementioned Zoo TV DVD, is precisely the (in this case useless) exaggeration of the setup put up by the four from Dublin.
Let's go in order. The concert set list includes 6 tracks from the latest album "No Line On The Horizon", tracks that range from the decent presence of "Unknown Caller" (with karaoke included on the Claw screens) and "Moment Of Surrender" (probably the best moment of the concert, as well as the best song from the latest album) to the obscenities represented, for example, by "Get On Your Boots" (now famous as Vertigo2) and a terrible remix of "I'll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight". Besides the new recruits, the old glories of the band obviously find their place, such as "Where The Streets Have No Name" or "One", which at least manage to lift the overall quality level, even though they have little to do with their glorious past.
Because it is known that U2 is 70% Bono Vox's voice and 30% The Edge's delay; and if that 70% is missing, the lively "Sunday Bloody Sunday" or the excellent and finally rediscovered "The Unforgettable Fire" lose all the charm that characterizes them, becoming shadows of themselves. Shadows like Bono's voice now is, which after 30 years on stage has been reduced to a hoarse mumble that has nothing to do with the ancient feats. Bono himself, probably aware of everything, tries in every way to compensate for this lack with ridiculous moves (embarrassing his boxer-like attitude towards the camera) that only increase a sense of discomfort while contemplating everything. Discomfort because, despite The Edge being impeccable in his task and Larry and Adam as usual efficient extras, this concert carries an aura of inadequacy, to the massive installation that serves as a set and the past that the four bring to the stage.
The performances are often and willingly without a minimum of "bite" and even the huge crowd at the foot of the Claw seems to notice, often inert or completely neutral in front of what is in front of them.
In conclusion, this is a DVD that was absolutely not missed, the only possible interested parties to purchase might be only the unshakable and madly in love fans of the Irish. DVD created exclusively with the intent of celebrating what in a few months will become the highest-grossing music tour of all time (to amortize the costs of the beast?). To want to resume the connection with the Zoo TV tour, the band's highest live expression, this 360° is without a doubt the worst live expression of the four. The rating would be a 1 especially for the comparison with the old U2, but magically transforms into a 2 for the affection the writer, despite everything, places in the band.
Top: "Moment Of Surrender", "The Unforgettable Fire", "Ultraviolet (Light My Way)"
Flop: "Get On Your Boots", having left out the best tracks from the latest album like "Fez-Being Born" or "Cedars Of Lebanon"
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