New releases - 04.08.07: REVIEWS DVD.

The Rolling Stones

The Biggest Bang (Rolling Stones/Universal 75022)

The Rolling Stones' A Bigger Bang is the highest-grossing concert tour of all time so, naturally, it deserves one of the most ambitious and comprehensive DVD releases to serve as a souvenir - and The Biggest Bang doesn't disappoint. Sprawling across four discs, it includes two full concerts - at Rio and Austin - plus a brace of documentaries, hitherto unheard duets and a plethora of bonus features, all of which add up to 55 songs and more than seven hours of material, lensed at venues throughout the world. Crucially, the Stones remain convincing and committed rockers, whose economy of style and ability to deliver remains unimpaired by their advancing years. Jagger remains a strutting peacock and the band really know how to please a crowd, as it works its way through a classic selection of songs, including (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction, Honky Tonk Women and Sympathy For The Devil.

Jethro Tull

Live At Montreux (Eagle Vision EREDV648)

One of Britain's leading progressive rock bands, Jethro Tull didn't make their their maiden visit to the famous Montreux Jazz Festival until 2003, where they played 18 songs in a set lasting nearly two hours. Simultaneously released as a two-CD set (EDGCD363) and on DVD, the concert demonstrates that lead singer and flautist Ian Anderson maintains a commanding presence to which his colleagues play unobtrusive - but slick - seconds. Although there's plenty of meat here for fans of the band's prog rock style, they also throw in a little blues in the form of Some Day The Sun Won't Shine For You, a pretty jazz version of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen and excellent classical renditions of Bouree and Pavane. They include other favourites from their career: life's A Long Song is performed in a relaxed style, but they blow up a storm on Living In The Past and also showcase newer material like Budapest and Dot.Com.

Various