The Film
Twice a week, I drive past Bruce Springsteen's home on my way to work and marvel at how well the Boss did singing blue collar music. Bruce worked like a dog to get where he is and there is a interesting bit of irony that the guy who championed songs about the working man struggling to survive in dying towns all over this country would end up living in one of the nicest towns in America.
Adele reminds me a lot of Bruce Springsteen; she has this working class hero angle down pat and she seems quite comfortable with who she is. Adele Live at Royal Albert Hall was filmed in September; just before she began to suffer throat issues that have left her sidelined after surgery here in the United States. Her second album '21', was a runaway success; both in physical and online sales, and she seems to have taken the world by storm.
Unlike Lady Gaga, Adele can actually sing (good songs don't hurt either) and it's refreshing that a zoftig soul singer from England can rule the waves in 2011 and not some insane Madonna-wannabe from North Jersey. The concert will delight her fans as she pretty much sings everything; including a great cover of the Cure's "Lovesong". She has great chemistry with the audience; primarily because she seems like one of us, and it's hard not to be seduced by her. Those lovely eyes. That powerful voice. Her tribute to the late-Amy Winehouse was a classy act and it's sad that the two of them never had the chance to collaborate. One word of caution - Adele drops the F-bomb more times than the Jets receivers drop open field passes, so this may not be the ideal family viewing option.
The Picture
The Sound
The image quality of the transfer was slightly disappointing, but the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix is extremely impressive; excellent dynamic range, stong low end punch, and a level of midrange performance that will make audiophiles smile. Adele's voice is not as warm sounding in concert (in comparison to the studio albums), but she sounds wonderfully clear and her range is fantastic. The band doesn't drown out her singing; keeping the focus on her where it belongs.
If I have a major gripe about the mix, it is that the audience is too loud and far too close sounding. When I buy a concert video, I'm paying for the entire experience (the enegy of the crowd does add a lot), but I found the crowd noise distracting. On the CD, the audience sounds far more distant and I wish the show's producers had done the same with the Blu-ray transfer.
The Extras
Columbia has issued a rather spartan Blu-ray transfer. Aside from a short documentary with Adele backstage getting ready for the show, there is nothing else on the disc. However, the accompanying CD of the concert is a tremendous addition and likely to become a popular recording if you happen to love her music. Burn it to your hard drive and load up the iPhone or tablet because it's a great mix.
Final Thoughts
What makes Adele so intriguing is that she doesn't try to fit into the music industry's inane idea of what a singer should look like and it doesn't hurt her one bit that she can belt out a track about as well as any performer on the planet. If she's putting one over on everyone, then all the power to her, because she certainly has me fooled. The video quality could be better, but this is one of the best sounding Blu-ray concerts available, even with that slightly distracting crowd noise. The language is a tad mature for a viewing with children, but this girl is a keeper. Highly recommended.
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