David Byrne's "American Utopia" on HBO

[ProgRules]

Can't find anything about a US release. Will there be one???

 

[humprof]

Can't find anything about a US release. Will there be one???

The one currently for sale at Amazon looks like the UK version--although the seller doesn't include a warning about regional playback restrictions. Dogwoof's site says all their releases are Region 2/B.

I would guess it won't have a proper US release until HBO's "exclusive" is over. Three months? Six months? (Not sure if this site is legit....)

 

[Titch]

Good review, but I disagree with the above part.

I saw the show at the Hudson theater on Broadway where this was filmed, up in "cheap seats" of the third balcony, which is so high it's nearly an overhead. I remember before the show being somewhat disappointed our vantage was such a high view, over the performer's gaze, but then during the show I realized this was actually the best place to see the choreography, as you mentioned.

I think Lee did a great job showing all angles of the Broadway version of the show -- direct gaze forward of those on floor level, our third balcony overhead view of the choreoprahy, and even some interesting on-stage cast and crew viewpoints.

I've never had front row seats at a concert before. It was absolutely incredible.

 

[Titch]

Can't find anything about a US release. Will there be one???

The Universal logo is first up on the Dogwoof disc. And yes - the UK disc is region B-locked.

 

[humprof]

Two bits of news from today's Nonesuch Records newsletter: American Utopia has now moved to Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and other platforms. Also: on his podcast The Hang, soul/jazz singer Gregory Porter, whose latest album All Rise is available in a meh Atmos mix on Tidal, talks to Byrne:
https://play.acast.com/s/thehangwithgregoryporter/theholyghostofdavidbyrne

 

[V96GLF]

The 5.1 mix is okay, but the performance is amazing, great musicianship and choreography. It's up there with Stop Making Sense imo. Byrne is in fine voice (possibly using autotune?)

I watched this on AppleTV+ last night. Superb performance, and a great mix.

I wondered about autotune, and concluded that David’s voice has not been tuned - but perhaps the backing vocals have? Hard to tell.