****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
I am still relatively new to CT, having first become interested in them during their PBS presentation in February, 2016. I am in the process of collecting the various DVDs that have been released over the past nine years or so, and I’m enjoying all of them so far. I only wish I hadn’t been so late to the party! But I’m enjoying myself tremendously now.“Take Me Home” is my most recent purchase, and I know there are many reviews of it from the time it was released, but I wanted to offer my own take on it and say that I’m going to have to go against the consensus of a lot of previous critiques on this site. I thoroughly enjoy watching the performances, plus the visual quality of the DVD is outstanding. It isn’t blu-ray, but the clarity is incredible.I thought the performers were simply wonderful, as usual. It was interesting to see how much Damian had grown and how much his voice had matured since “The Show”. He seemed more confident and sure of himself, but he had a few awkward moments vocally, particularly in “Raggle Taggle”. I loved the newer versions of “Over the Hills” and “Bird Without Wings”. Both were simply beautiful. George was typically consistent, and I truly love his thoughtful rendition of “Working Man”, but “Yesterday’s Men” and “500 Miles” are equally noteworthy.Ryan, as pointed out by others, appeared thinner, but to me he seemed neither gaunt nor haggard. To the contrary, he looked very trim and fit, and during “Ride On” he bounded all over the stage with energy I wish I still possessed! “Desperado” was beautifully done, and “Heartbreaker” is fun to watch - I find myself wondering how he keeps from cringing, knowing he is about to get slapped! Paul was a bit devilish, lifting the hem of his kilt during “Caledonia” to the delighted squeals of the ladies, and he performed a wonderful rendition of “Nights in White Satin”. I’m not a fan of operatic-style, but I have to give kudos to him and Ryan for “That’s a Woman”, and their ability to sing (or speak) different melodies at the same time without missing a single note. Keith’s solos of “Castles in the Air”, “Lauren & I”, and “I Wanna Know What Love Is” round out the group, and are certain to be appreciated by his fans. Having started out watching the more recent material first, though, I have to say that I missed seeing Neil in the front, but he’s there on the lead guitar in the background.Another reviewer pointed out that the audience is barely heard in this video, and while I noticed faint audience response at certain parts, it did seem a bit odd to be watching a concert where there was so little noise from the crowd. It was most noticeable in “500 Miles”, where George is engaging them. You can see them clapping and responding to events on the stage, sometimes quite enthusiastically, but apparently the sounds were diminished in post-production. I’m not sure why, since viewers expect to hear the audience’s ovations and reactions to the singers. It neither makes nor breaks the DVD, but it’s just something I found odd.It’s true that many of the songs featured in “Take Me Home” had been done previously in “The Show”, a fact of which I was already aware when I ordered it. I was, in fact, interested to see my particular favorites done in a different stage setting, since I didn’t like the split orchestra pit in the first DVD. I am going to concede that “The Show” was probably a bit superior in its freshness and novelty, but “Take Me Home” is, in my opinion, is a pretty close second, very enjoyable and very worthy of a place in a CT collection.There was no visible orchestra in “Take Me Home”, but there were three violinists and a cellist who provided adequate strings. The drummer is, as always, mesmerizing to watch. The band performed two solos, but the last one, “Appalachian Round Up” was my favorite.I thoroughly enjoyed this production, and would recommend it to anyone.
