jthomas666

Hmmm.I downloaded the top three sound files yesterday. I listened to Phantom and BD some today--still haven't listened to Cavvies yet. And for full disclosure, I haven't seen any shows this year--My wife was out of town the week of the Birmingham show, and I just didn't feel like trying to take three kids 5 and under. Phantom--Very simply, I'm likely to buy DVDs for Ave Maria alone. An absolutely stunning piece. Balanced, under control, and heartachingly delicate. And when you think about it, "delicate" is not a word that has been used to describe PRs shows of late. The 96 show was breathtaking, but it was also about as subtle as a baby seal hunt. But this year...just, ####. And I was really nervous about the Mahler closer, partly because I still remember the last time they tried it, but again, they came with a lush choral sound that caught the essence of the symphony. BD--Very simply, it didn't work for me. The performance was technically solid, but the jazzification of the Godfather themes just didn't work. The power of the key themes comes from an almost haunted quality, and that got lost somewhere along the way. Perhaps it may be different when I see the visuals to go with it. I didn't download the Cadets, but I will say that I certainly hope that at least one time during the season, Sulley & Mike from Monsters, Inc. came through the door. JMO

Another broadcast that looks like it was edited by Freddie Kruger? :P :ramd: :P

Yes, what we need are macho-looking bunny men. The Cadets like to push the envelope. What they discovered this year was Newton's 3rd Law: When you push the envelope, the envelope pushes back.

The juxtaposition of these two sentences is hysterical.

Only if they are playing music from Caddyshack.

Do we call The Cadets "Cadets" or "The"? Another person who refers to "Phantom"

This argument would be valid if even a single show were shown from start to finish. Otherwise, the newbie simply can't fully appreciate what drum corps is all about--and if the newbie can't really appreciate it, then how likely is it that the newbie will be drawn in? It's like showing someone who's never seen a baseball game a clip of a guy swinging a bat, a guy throwing a ball, and a guy sliding into home and asking them if they like the game.Of course DCI has to protect it's product--but showing a single show in its entirety--or even--dare I say it--two shows --isn't cutting into profits. Anyone who would be satisfied with the the winning performance is not someone who would be buying finals dvds in any event.

Don't get me wrong. I agree that the supplemental material helps sell drum corps to outsiders. And a lot of the segments were solid. But I don't think we needed that much. With only a little judicious editing, we could have seen the top three shows in their entirety without sacrificing any of the substance of the extras.We didn't get to see a single show in its entirety. That, IMO, is a travesty. BYMMV. And, btw, I'd be much more likely to buy the DVDs if I had a better idea of what I was getting.

I'm watching the telecast on ESPN2, and I am terribly disappointed. It's a two hout telecast, and at best maybe 20-25 minutes has been given to the actual shows. It's ridiculous. I'm sure some of the filler stuff is interesting, but it can easily be trimmd back to allow more time for the shows--which is the point of the telecast, so I thought. And they are still recycling that bit with the drummer hooked up to the telemetry. Taht piece is what, 4 years old now? I can kind of understand only showing parts of the bottom corps, but from what little I saw, Phantom Regiment had a spectacular show, one that, IMO probably should have won, and we got two minutes? That is an insult to the viewers and to the corps.