michaelwinters
01/09/07, 08:55 AM
The Doors - Perception Boxed Set
Release Date: N/A
When I decided that I wanted to do this, that is, to dive head first into everything that The Doors ever recorded together, I was, like any normal music fan should be, wary of my path. The Doors had been reviewed countless times before by countless different publications who hold credibility beyond my wildest imagination. To try and do this was like walking a well worth path with a new kind of walking stick. These albums had been hashed over thousands of times, but this box set certainly brought something new to the table. It was clearly a risk, but the pros once again outweighed the cons, and my journey through the doors of perception began.
The Doors are sometimes a misunderstood band. Jim Morrison, who was obviously the face of the doors since their inception in the early sixties, was really just the tip of the iceberg. Most of the goods, most of the real meat, was centered in the musicians that surrounded Jim Morrison, not in Jim himself. Sure, his lyrics were poetic and his mystic nature was enticing after the squeaky clean outer crust of the fifties, but really, most of the good stuff was from the band. Perception, the box set recently released by Elektra Records, showcases both sides of The Doors' appeal, highlighting both the musical nature of Robby Krieger, Ray Manzarek, and John Densmore while still presenting what the Doors really were: a delicately balanced card castle with four very important components. Take one out, and the whole thing falls.
The boxed set is presented in the order in which the albums were released, with each record containing not only an Audio CD with remixed and re-mastered audio, but a DVD with each album in 5.1 Surround Sound as well as one or two video clips of the band performing songs from the album live. Each CD also comes with a fifteen to twenty page booklet about the record with introductions by Bruce Botnik, one of The Doors' main engineers.
All the records ring true to their original releases. The mixes, which are noticeably different (The Doors' self -titled debut is even accelerated and transposed a half-step up because the original tape machine ran slow), really sound better and more defined. Some of the grain has been cleaned out as well, making these songs shine like never before. Some of The Doors' best work, like the epic "The End" and the jazzy "Riders on the Storm", really benefit from the re-mixing process, adding depth and space that make these psychedelic gems really glow. Another amazing aspect of this boxed sets are the demos, b-sides, and various out-takes that are tacked on the end of each album. Most contain alternate takes of songs or demos that never made the album, giving insight to some of the decisions the band was making about where their signature sound was going. Some, like Morrison Hotel, really showcase how the band was working in the studio, with ten or more takes of "Roadhouse Blues" taking up the bonus tracks of the album. The unreleased tracks that are presented here are amazing as well. The proof that the The Doors were much more than Jim Morrison lies in one of the bonus tracks from Waiting For The Sun. The Doors, in all their ambitious glory, take on Albinoni's Adagio in G Minor with spectacular results. Krieger and Manzarek really shine on this track, capturing the classical track without the help of Morrison's undeniable mojo.
The added cherry on this Doors sundae is most certainly the 5.1 mixes and video footage that is included on each DVD. The surround experience is perfect for The Doors' music, which translates perfectly to the modern format. The guitar parts whirl around you, the organ surrounds. For a surround sound freak like myself, it was pure bliss. The video footage is really interesting as well. As a child of the nineties, it's amazing to be able to watch a show that was performed while my parents were young. It provides a very real view of rock and roll past, creating an almost surreal experience.
While Mr. Mojo Risin' might just be an anagram for Jim Morrison, it certainly captures what The Doors were all about throughout their entire career, and while they may have had some ups and downs, their body of work certainly holds together so well that the music is still just as relevant today as it was in the sixties.
Release Date: N/A
When I decided that I wanted to do this, that is, to dive head first into everything that The Doors ever recorded together, I was, like any normal music fan should be, wary of my path. The Doors had been reviewed countless times before by countless different publications who hold credibility beyond my wildest imagination. To try and do this was like walking a well worth path with a new kind of walking stick. These albums had been hashed over thousands of times, but this box set certainly brought something new to the table. It was clearly a risk, but the pros once again outweighed the cons, and my journey through the doors of perception began.
The Doors are sometimes a misunderstood band. Jim Morrison, who was obviously the face of the doors since their inception in the early sixties, was really just the tip of the iceberg. Most of the goods, most of the real meat, was centered in the musicians that surrounded Jim Morrison, not in Jim himself. Sure, his lyrics were poetic and his mystic nature was enticing after the squeaky clean outer crust of the fifties, but really, most of the good stuff was from the band. Perception, the box set recently released by Elektra Records, showcases both sides of The Doors' appeal, highlighting both the musical nature of Robby Krieger, Ray Manzarek, and John Densmore while still presenting what the Doors really were: a delicately balanced card castle with four very important components. Take one out, and the whole thing falls.
The boxed set is presented in the order in which the albums were released, with each record containing not only an Audio CD with remixed and re-mastered audio, but a DVD with each album in 5.1 Surround Sound as well as one or two video clips of the band performing songs from the album live. Each CD also comes with a fifteen to twenty page booklet about the record with introductions by Bruce Botnik, one of The Doors' main engineers.
All the records ring true to their original releases. The mixes, which are noticeably different (The Doors' self -titled debut is even accelerated and transposed a half-step up because the original tape machine ran slow), really sound better and more defined. Some of the grain has been cleaned out as well, making these songs shine like never before. Some of The Doors' best work, like the epic "The End" and the jazzy "Riders on the Storm", really benefit from the re-mixing process, adding depth and space that make these psychedelic gems really glow. Another amazing aspect of this boxed sets are the demos, b-sides, and various out-takes that are tacked on the end of each album. Most contain alternate takes of songs or demos that never made the album, giving insight to some of the decisions the band was making about where their signature sound was going. Some, like Morrison Hotel, really showcase how the band was working in the studio, with ten or more takes of "Roadhouse Blues" taking up the bonus tracks of the album. The unreleased tracks that are presented here are amazing as well. The proof that the The Doors were much more than Jim Morrison lies in one of the bonus tracks from Waiting For The Sun. The Doors, in all their ambitious glory, take on Albinoni's Adagio in G Minor with spectacular results. Krieger and Manzarek really shine on this track, capturing the classical track without the help of Morrison's undeniable mojo.
The added cherry on this Doors sundae is most certainly the 5.1 mixes and video footage that is included on each DVD. The surround experience is perfect for The Doors' music, which translates perfectly to the modern format. The guitar parts whirl around you, the organ surrounds. For a surround sound freak like myself, it was pure bliss. The video footage is really interesting as well. As a child of the nineties, it's amazing to be able to watch a show that was performed while my parents were young. It provides a very real view of rock and roll past, creating an almost surreal experience.
While Mr. Mojo Risin' might just be an anagram for Jim Morrison, it certainly captures what The Doors were all about throughout their entire career, and while they may have had some ups and downs, their body of work certainly holds together so well that the music is still just as relevant today as it was in the sixties.