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Like any good ‘Greatest Hits’ package, McFly have released their DVD to accompany the album.
And – to the annoyance of many – it’s actually pretty good. Centred around their date at Wolverhampton’s Civic Hall, it shows the band in their ‘stripped down’ state (which, for once isn’t them running around starkers) with the fireworks and rotating drum kits left behind for a straightforward, hard working gig instead.
The regular, clichéd rock poses are all in here, complete with the pogo jumping that was made synonymous by Busted in pop circles, slides across the floor and the like, which is lapped up by the bucketload by the adoring crowd.
There’s even enough time to fit in a Paul Gascoigne tribute as his famous Dentist Chair celebration from 1996 comes in for a cameo appearance. Crowd interaction is what you expect it to be, with Tom Fletcher and Danny Jones shouting out “Y’alright?!” seemingly in nearly every interval.
The gig itself is a good one, as their pop tunes are relayed with near perfect replication. The main difference being that the bands’ earlier material has been given a serious sonic boost as the band turn their amps up and throw away the quaint Beach Boys moniker of old and aim for arena rock levels instead. Set closer Five Colours In Her Hair is a prime example of such a deviation.
As it is the Greatest Hits tour, the favourites are all on show, including a rare outing for Broccoli from Room On The Third Floor, as well as their version of Queen’s Don’t Stop Me Now, which unfortunately takes it all down a notch.
The extras on the DVD are commendable, with every promotional video to date being put together in chronological order for you to enjoy and to gasp in shock at just how young they looked back in 2004 – Dougie Poynter on bass was just 17 at the time – but it also shows their evolution from Busted Mk. II into artists in their own right.
But just in case this was all getting a little too serious and hi-brow for you (just look at the video for the Tim Burton-esque The Ballad Of Paul K), the 10 minute video of life on the road brings it all back down to earth with a light-hearted look at their backstage antics. It’s all very harmless, and it feels like it has been edited together using only the mildest of clips from behind the stage in a bid to keep their clean image in check.
It’s a good DVD package, and will undoubtedly go down a storm with fans of all ages thanks to their universal appeal. If only they could stop with the atrocious covers now, they would be so much better… |