Search - Fishbone - Critical Times - Fishbone's Hen House Sessions on DVD

A Fascinating Moment In One Of The Many Fishbone Lineups

Gordon Kyd | Sydney, NSW Australia | 06/04/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Regardless of whether this DVD was authorised by Fishbone or not, which seems to be the latter case, 'Critical Times - Fishbone's Hen House Sessions' is an insightful, honest, unmanipulated and fascinating view of the recording process of an album (that was never released) by one of the most underated and influencial bands to come out of the LA music scene.
The 'Hen House Sessions' is more a documentary than anything else. The only disappointed is that none of the songs the band have recorded for this unreleased album are played in their entirety. This DVD is more a collection of moments in the recording precess from songwritting, differences of opinions within the band, points of view, mistakes, bad takes and interviews with the band members. This type of video footage, i.e in the studio while recording, is a first for the band and for a fan such as myself who feels starved of anything recent from Fishbone, this DVD delivers an 'up close and personal' account of the band from the line up of 2001. High light moments are comments made by Walt and Spacey regarding Angelo's over use of the thermin. Also another potent message from Angelo was when he repeated the phrase "Once we got hooked up with the music industry, that's when the deteriaration started. Once we got hooked up with the music industry, that's when the deteriaration started!!!!" after Norwood talked about how fun and happy the really early days were, before a record label was involved.

WHY THIS ALBUM WAS NEVER RELEASED
It was upon discovering that Hen House Studios had placed complete songs (that were recorded during the filming of this footage) up on the Hen House Studios web site, free for downloading, that Fishbone angrily announced that these tracks were to be off their next album, not for free sampling. As a result of this, the band decided to scrap the release of this album feeling betrayed by Hen House Studio's as this new material was to be a surprise. Two years latter, to add insult to injury, Hen House Studios released an unautherised DVD which is the one being reviewed here. The band openly denounced it and insisted that people should not purchase the 'Hen House Sessions' DVD as they have not authorized the material contained within it.
Surely if Fishbone had a case, they would have filed a law suite against the studio and won. Something tells me they didn't read the fine print on the contract.....

As Fishbone have not released a video or dvd in more than ten years, asking it's fans to boycott this dvd is a little ripe and insulting, so I went ahead and bought it as I feel like I have been deprived of seeing or hearing Fishbone. Yeah, I'm a really bad fan for wanting to see a video of my favourite band!!!!

'Critical Times - Fishbone's Hen House Sessions' is a very entertaining account of the band during this time and I highly recommend it to any Fishbone fan. If only Fishbone could release another DVD soon.......one that is authorised that is............"

Fishbone is Great!! DVD not so much.

Clifford Lynn | Mayfield Village, OH United States | 12/31/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"If you like watching people work in the studio, you'll love this. Watching people work in the studio can be annoying because, as a musician, it can be a lot of work and headaches (which is evident in this dvd). Another problem is the DVD does not give you full versions of the songs, just clips from songs that they are working on that never been released,... as of yet. So why did I give it 3 stars? INSIGHTS!! The DVD gave me some insights of their ideas and what goes on in their minds (mostly ganja, which they make obvious) as they work. Angelo, Dirty Walt, and Norwood all talk a little about their history and inspirations, so in this aspect it can be used as a tool for creativity for musicians. Certainly you could find more insights reading the autobiography of Quincy Jones, Miles Davis, Charles Mingus and etc...but this is Fishbone!! Anyway I still support this band because they make me 'skank & go nutts'!!!"

An Unauthorized Scam on Fishbone!!!!!

J. Whiteside | Canon City, CO. | 09/15/2005

(1 out of 5 stars)

"The band is not being compensated for thier creative genious! This DVD is not supporting FISHBONE it is ripping them off and if you buy this without FISHBONE getting compensated for it you are doing them an injustice. This band deserves more than they have ever gotten for thier musical rightousness! Please buy thier new release DVD/CD Live in Amsterdam instead if you respect the work that they do for you!"