The Radiators are truly one of the great American bands of the last 25 years, spreading their unruly bliss around New Orleans while stirring rhythm and blues, boogie-woogie, jazz, rock and roll, and a whole lot of hoodoo noise into a fantastic stew dubbed "fish head music." Earth Vs. the Radiators: The First 25 is a wondrous concert performance shot on January 31, 2004 in the "Crescent City," with a few guest stars (Gregg Allman and Maceo Parker among them) dropping by to help celebrate. Like most good music coming out of New Orleans, the Radiators' sound is the antithesis of fusion and soulless perfectionism: songs such as "Last Getaway" and "Waiting for the Rain" are built with overlapping, instrumental patterns atop which guitars, horns, keyboards, and vocals assert strong personalities, sometimes pushing each other out of the way. Serving up one mesmerizing jam after another, this is a musical smorgasbord of sometimes ornate, sometimes jumpy, and sometimes sultry blues pushed to the edges of the rhythm map with an almost spiritual zeal (and a touch of comedy). DVD extras include bonus footage from other concerts. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. Aud: P. (T. Keogh)
Earth Vs. the Radiators: The First 25
(2004) 148 min. DVD: $19.99. Image Entertainment (avail. from most distributors). Color cover. Volume 19, Issue 5
Earth Vs. the Radiators: The First 25
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