Disco de Keane: “Strangers [DVD]”

If you're a KEANE fan, this is a must-have DVD!!!! The amount of footage and access you get on this 2-disc dvd for the low Amazon price is amazing! Even if you're not a KEANE fan and/or have never seen them live, this dvd is great to have to see all of the live performance footage; they'll win you over! The documentary tells KEANE's interesting story (how they met, how their music evolved, etc...), and the bonus footage (live performances, videos, etc...) is just icing on the cake. The only silly drawback is that some of the bonus footage is buried in the interactive mode of the dvd (i.e. you can only access certain footage by using the interactive mode within different chapters). But, KEANE is worth even this tiny hassle. Now, I can't wait for KEANE'S next album!!!!!!

It's not everyday that I latch on to any band. Prior to Keane, it was The Smiths in '83, which I still adore. "Hopes and Fears" is the best album I've purchased since 1987 (the year that The Smiths released "Strangeways here we come" and disbanded. So, naturally, I went to see them in Montreal where they blew the doors off The Spectrum! Better than any show I've ever seen. So, naturally, it was with great anticipation that I purchased "Strangers". One thing to note is that it's not a concert video. Yes, there are many fantastic live songs taken from 4 or 5 different shows, but it's not the "concert experience". "Strangers" is a long-time fan's labour of love. Despite his admitted inexperience with making documentaries, Ed Roe does a masterful job at giving us a glimpse into the soul of Keane. The documentary takes us through the birth and transformation of Keane as well as life on tour including a very tense band meeting (I'd really like to know what Tim was upset about). At the end, you're left with (at least I was) one impression: It couldn't have happened to a nicer bunch of guys. Much like U2, the synergy of these 3 talented guys far outweighs the sum of their individual skills. The concert footage captures them exactly as it should, but one particular piece of footage left me in tears: Keane playing Bedshaped live over their gradual progression from a basement band to a pub band to a small venue act to international superstars. When you see and hear them play in the basement in their current incarnation, it's easy to see why they made it. Simply put, "Strangers" could easily be entered into major documentary and/or international film competitions and be a contender. And, the concert footage is awesome too!

Actually a "3 and a half" would be more accurate. Been a fan of Keane's music since I first caught an appearance on an episode of Conan O'Brien...uh, about 2 years ago I think. Absolutely love the uniqueness of this piano-driven band (as opposed to the usual guitar-driven ones); I love the lead singer's voice; and I also love the songs. Already looking forward to their next CD. But since this review is suppose to focus on the DVD documentary I'll just write about that for now. The best parts are the concert footage segments -- the audiences are totally into the music and there is a great deal of energy and passion. It really made me want to be right there in the front row with the other fans, dancing around, singing along, and having fun. I have yet to attend an actual Keane concert so I appreciate this footage all the more.

I can't rate the documentary footage as highly as the concert parts but that is not to say that I would not recommend this DVD to Keane fans (I would). The problem with the documentary stuff is that there wasn't a whole lot of interesting, funny, or even candid footage. You never really get to know the guys as individuals nor do you get to know much about their own interests, personalities, friendship or working relationships. In comparison to other band documentaries that I've seen over the years, this one did not really let the viewer inside of the band's world. In fact, there were a couple of segments where the guys (hmn...maybe the piano player and drummer more than the lead singer) didn't even seem to be enjoying the tour. At one point, one of the guys is seen and heard - after a show - complaining about how horrible the show was. This was a show where hundreds of fans stood for hours out in the pouring rain just to see their favorite band and the rain didn't seem to bother the fans at all. The documentary footage left me with the impression that the band (again, not so much the lead guy though) seemed burned out. They are so young and this is so early in their career that I'm hoping they don't call it quits after only a short period of success. They make such beautiful music together and I hope they'll be around for years to come.

So in sum, the concert footage is excellent and the documentary stuff is not so great. Wondering now if any other fans who have seen this DVD agree with me about the documentary stuff or not? That said, if you're a Keane fan then it's worth a look!!!

Sorry for the outburst but I am SO glad I got this DVD. I am a HUGE Keane fan (ask anybody who knows me)but I wanted to know more about the band. Sure, I had googled them but it wasn't enough so I bought "Strangers." I was estatic to see it came with two discs, both packed with live performaces and a documentary. It was very interesting to see how the band started and got going. It was also very funny at times and I'd have to pause the DVD because I was laughing but didn't want to miss any good material. It was great to see, after worshipping these guys for months, that they're regular people who are dysfunctional but funny, restless but charming. I felt like a even bigger fan after watching this, which is always a good feeling. And it was really cool because I bought the DVD in winter 2005 and I heard Tim and Tom talking about songs from their next album (Under the Iron Sea) and I finally got to understand what they we're talking about 6 months later when they released the CD. Speaking of Tim, it was very intriguing to see him in the writing process and, as stated before, the discussion of songs. It's also great just to see Chaplin, because he's so cool and SUCH an amazing singer. Richard is a great drummer though I found it hard to connect with him. The band's personality really shines through in this DVD and it's so much fun to watch.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Funny and fresh with loads of info and performances, this DVD is worth every penny.

The item is a two DVD set. Each disc has doumentary info, live performances and videos. You are able to see the documentary and the live performances in each disc from the main menu. But if you want to see the videos you are forced to watch the dcoumentary. Terrible way to lay out this item. It would have been best to put all the music (live and videos) in one disc and the documentaty on the other.

The quality of the music and videos (when you can get to them) is very good.