Convenient new size...Still f***ing huge! Metallica's Live Sh*t: Binge & Purge - the unprecendented box set featuring three complete concerts on three CD's and three VHS tapes, more than eight hours of live Metallica - is ... more »now being made available on three CD's and two DVD's at a special price. This colossal box has sold an incredible 613,000 copies since its 1993 release, and this reissue is sure to swell the ranks of those blown away by these shows. Nothing gets left behind -- the complete original 72-page full-color book is even included on DVD 2, and the commemorative backstage pass and scary guy stencil are enclosed as well. It's a one-two-three punch unmatched by any band, before or since, and the perfect gift for that special someone who needs their ass kicked hard by the world's greatest rock & roll band.« less
Genres:Musicals & Performing Arts Sub-Genres:Musicals & Performing Arts Studio:Elektra/Asylum Format:DVD DVD Release Date: 11/12/2002 Original Release Date: 01/01/1993 Release Year: 2002 Number of Discs: 5 SwapaDVD Credits: 5 Total Copies: 0 Members Wishing: 1 Edition: Box set
"Simply put, this is the best box set I've ever owned. Granted, I'm a huge Metallica fan and I'm probably inclined to fall in love with anything they release. But Metallica rips it live, and this box set showcases over eight hours of that. On both the CDs and DVDs (a Mexico City show on the CDs, and full Seattle and San Diego shows on the DVDs), you hear a completely different side of the band. While their studio recordings are tight and emotional, their live set conveys the sense that Metallica have fun when they play live. There is a certain leaning toward improvisation that makes listening to these tracks a blast.The sound quality isn't as good as on S&M, probably because these shows were recorded in the early nineties, and the high-budget production of that era falls short of what you can expect of live recordings from the past few years. But it's still great to listen to a different interpretation of their songs. When they play live, their tunes sound different than their studio counterparts, but this is actually a positive thing; there are certain moments when they let things hang, and then pummel the tension whenever they feel like it, which gives the sets kind of a jammy feel. Hetfield's comments to the crowd are left in, which was the only dissapointing thing about S&M; it's great to hear James interact with the crowd. As he pumps them up, you feel energized as well.The show from the Black Album tour is impressive, but the direction is somewhat choppy. The ...And Justice For All show is directed brilliantly, and their set comes across as very epic and powerful.Like I said, best box set I've ever owned. And it's loads cheaper than the VHS version, so I'd recommend this to any hardcore Metallica fan, or anyone who loves hearing quality live albums."
Good set, great value for money, but questionable sound.
D. Mok | Los Angeles, CA | 04/29/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I'd missed out on the chance to see Metallica live during this tour in support of the band's eponymous 'Black Album', so Live Sh*t: Binge & Purge is probably the closest I'll come.This former boxed set is now available in two formats -- a double-CD case and a DVD-style longbox. As far as I can tell from their descriptions, the contents are the same, and typical of Metallica, they give you loads of material for a pretty good price -- three live CDs and two concert DVDs for only a little more than the price of two DVD movies.The good points:- The three live CDs span a broad range of songs from the band's history, rather than obsessively focusing on the Black Album.
- The sound quality of the CDs is quite good.
- The performances, especially James Hetfield's vocals and rhythm guitar, are searing.
- The DVD concerts are pretty well shot, if a little bit rough on the editing front. I'd always had reservations about getting this set because I was worried the concert footage would wear thin very quickly, but the band's fiery performances, the inventive staging (such as when Lars Ulrich runs across the stage in the middle of "The Four Horsemen" and jumps onto another kit at the other end) and multiple cameras helped make the viewing experience engaging.The bad points:
- No booklet. I think they should have made the package a little bigger, a small boxed set, and included the booklet.
- The sound on the DVDs is horrible. I've never heard a professional music-DVD release with so many volume fluctuations and bad sound cuts. It's like listening to a live CD with the engineer whipping the faders up and down for no reason. The vocals are muddy, the lead guitar mixed too far back, and all of the tracks on the DVD sound like they have foam in front of the speakers.
- The format I'd bought, the double-CD case, is just not enough to hold five discs. They should have designed a special Digipak, or used three double-CD jewel cases.
- The live CD contains far, far too much crowd noise, banter and moments of waiting for the music. In a concert setting this might be okay, but as a listening experience, it's dreary to listen to a solid minute and a half of war sound effects before "One" can begin. They should have been more diligent with editing.
- No bonus materials. The videos from the Black Album, and especially the legendary music video for "One", would have made very enticing bonus materials for this set.Despite its shortcomings, this was the last major official release from Metallica before it entered its bitterly contested 'Load/Reload' phase, so as a document of the band's history, this set is invaluable."
One Box Set That Is Worth Every Cent It Cost!!
Coleen | Down in the alley | 04/05/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"There is SO MUCH included on the DVDs and CDs that I've had the set for a couple days and still haven't gotten through it all!! One more DVD to watch! The (all LIVE) music includes songs from KILL 'EM ALL through METALLICA, and it rocks thunderously hard!!! The DVD quality is excellent. The CDs sound great! A MUST for all Metallica fans! "
Metallica at their best!
Coleen | 09/28/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you buy only 1 thing from Metallica- make it this 3 cd, 3 video set!!! 'Nuff said"
Review of binge and purge
basscreep86 | Hampton Roads, VA USA | 01/24/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Well, I've read through all of the other reviews, and I'm not sure that any of them except for the first even come close to doing this set, no pun intended, justice. First, I'll start off on the Seattle show, since it's the earliest dated. Great quality, excellent stage setup, and they make it fun by slightly altering the lyrics in some songs to make jokes, as in "Seek and Destroy". I personally liked this show a lot better than the others because it was released before the black album and has more of the classic stuff that they never play in full anymore (like Blackened and ...And Justice For All to name a few). Next, the San Diego show. Yes, James playing the drums was interesting, and to tell the truth, he isn't that bad at them. My guess is Lars gave him lessons sometime. Kirk Hammet gives some top-notch guitar solos, including one where he plays it with his butt. You read right, he takes the guitar, puts it behind him, and rubs the strings against his butt. The scary thing is, he actually makes it sound good, like he actually practiced doing that ahead of time. Lastly, the Mexico City show. 3 cds, the longest show in the set, but definitely worth listening to. My only complaint with the collection is how in the San Diego and Mexico city shows, how they cut "Master of Puppets" short, stopping before the guitar solo interlude. Aside from that, a complete masterpiece, showcasing how powerful of a live band Metallica really is. It also contains many of their forgotten classics that they don't play live anymore, such as Fade to Black, Last Caress, Blackened, and Whiplash. If you're a fan of the old Metallica, and for some reason don't already own this set, I highly urge you to buy it, although I recommend the dvd version only due to the fact that it's cheaper. And some of the complaints (pages falling out of the book) have been fixed; the entire book is under the special features in dvd disc 2. Either way, it's worth every last penny that you're spending."