U2start.com | Bootleg Round Table 3.0

Originally posted by haytrain:Bump? Anyone?

Hopefully Thursday (today) evening, I'm currently working into the early hours on the 2nd of 2 essays lol. First impressions aren't too bad to be honest, although that damned whistle in the crowd during the Fly

...

MWSAH

17 years

Mine will come at Sunday. Don't have time to listen to it properly now.

aussiemofo

17 years

aussiemofo's review of

1993-08-18 Cardiff

Performance

I couldn't help but feeling underwhelmed. I'm sure the boys were "on" this night, but with the really disappointing sound coming through you couldn't really tell. This is a perfect example of how sub-standard quality can impact on the overall enjoyment of the performance.

The show started in typical ZooTV fashion if not a little flat. The huge pause by the band after The Fly was noted and then we came to what I felt was a fairly lacklustre Mysterious/End of the World/New Year's Day string before we got to the high point of the show from Numb to Bad. These songs were played well with a bit more passion and energy than the rest of the set I felt.

Larry on Numb was above par, Babyface was a 'win' for diversity, Angel of Harlem was upbeat as was Dancing Queen, Stay is always welcome in any middle-set, then we had a solid Satellite and Bad.

But between two of ZooTV's champions, Running To Stand Still and Ultraviolet, there's not a lot more to comment here. Streets and Pride were flat, Desire hit the spot I guess and the only thing I really remember from With Or Without You is the Shine Like Stars snippet. An afterthought - maybe Bullet was above average.

3 stars - unfortunately the sound probably takes off at least half a point.

Audience
The crowd were disappointing in general. Their sing-alongs were notable during Bad and Running but they were completely silent in others. They were most vocal during a non-U2 song - Dancing Queen - and those around the taper could be regularly heard talking through songs. Bono even tried to pick up their participation with a few references to Cardiff - the typically easy "local town suck-up" during Stay included - but he got absolutely nothing from the Welsh.
2.5 stars.

Sound
It's listed as 3 stars on this site but that's being generous. It's quite obvious this version has been through the wringer a few times and been messed and fiddled about before. Originals would be very nice. I thought the boot was quite literally fucked. It was muddled, vocals were extremely distant, Stay was cut, Pride's volume went down the toilet, and Edge was next to mute during Numb. On top of this, you had the most annoying chopping and changing between songs. There were a couple of bizarre moments when the recording rewound to an earlier point in the show (was that just me?) and flicking and distortion existed throughout.

2 stars.

Overall

It's not on my iPod anymore. It's just not a memorable ZooTV boot. Only get this if you've exhausted all 5,4 and 3 star recordings. The sound lets it down the most. I reckon it might have been an excellent show to attend but this boot does not deliver the promise that it might have had.

Highlights are listed in the performance. Nothing else to say.

2.5 stars.

WojBhoy

17 years

Review's coming hopefully tonight or tomorrow; I think people are being slightly overharsh, to be honest, but that's my take...

germcevoy

17 years

Shit. Sooo forgot. I'll get a review in somehow

MWSAH

17 years

1993-08-18 Cardiff

Performance:
A good setlist, for sure. Basic Zooropa, but there were some nice snippets like Irish Heartbeat, which I enjoyed. A fairly good performance was the result, but the big deal with Zoo TV for me is that I prefer the pre-Zooropa gigs. They were more into it a year before. I enjoyed this show, but...the sound..

Audience:
I couldn't always hear them screaming and singing along, but that's also a recording malfunction rather than a lack of enthusiasm, I think. And I missed our Dan. If he would have been there, the audience would have got 5-stars lol.

Sound:
Not good...distortions and muffled.

Overall:
Decent show, poor sound. And since we rate the bootleg and not only the show, I give it 3.5 stars. Blame the sound-department here.

Further on, excuse me for this short review. I almost resigned for this one since I only listened to 80% of the show. Blame my work and lack of spare time.

WojBhoy

17 years

I have a feeling I may have to do a Sergio and just post late

still haven't had the chance due to work etc...sorry guys

djrlewis

17 years

Balls. I'm late too.

I'll post my full review intothe bootleg page in the next couple of days. Like most people it seems, had a lot on. Sorry.

Performance - 4 stars. Standard good quality Zooropa

Audience - 3.5 stars. 1 star docked for talking, half a star cos I wasn't there

Sound - 3 stars. Not great, not awful. Very skippy though.

Overall - 3.5 stars. I know for a fact it was a damn good gig (mates who went) but the bootleg is average with far better recordings from all 5 legs available.

fenderman

17 years