Heart: Alive in Seattle [Blu-ray]

I'm only 27 so my Heart knowledge is backfill anything before thier self titled 1985 album. I didn't discover most of the older tunes until I had graduated from High School. I'm amazed that Ann sounds exactly the same after all these years. At 51 years old, I would say she is not just sounding great for her age, but sounding great for any age and I thought they both looked gorgeous.

But, that's not why people will buy this, nor why they will like it. At least 30 minutes of the DVD is just the two of them, no band, playing and sounding amazing. And I should note they aren't playing and sounding amazing as far as being women goes... they are playing and sounding as good as anyone. Period.

A friend loaned me his copy. I wasn't aware that they had been on a tour, been recording an album, and that now one has been released. I am a bit dissapointed that Heaven and Break The Rock didn't make it on the new album, but the preview clips on thier website sound great and I'll definately be buying my first Heart album ever. I've had various songs on compilations but never an album so I have some catch up work to do.

Oh, and if you do like this DVD, get Toto's 25th anniversery DVD, Kansas' Device Voice Drum, and Journey's 2001 DVD. All of them are still sounding amazing. If you like Heart's heavy side, get Dream Theater's Metropolis Pt2 Live DVD... :)

Ok, done plugging. There are quite a few new bands I like, but I haven't seen any of the newer band's DVDs that match the quality in performance of these. I have to thank all these guys for continuing to push the definition of old to higher and higher numbers. It's proof I guess that you're only as old as you feel and act. :)


Proof that Rock 'n' Roll Still Has Heart   July 13, 2004
Michael R Gates (Nampa, ID United States)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

The 2003 DVD release HEART: ALIVE IN SEATTLE is one of the best video recordings of a live performance of a rock band, and it is especially impressive when considering that it documents a recent performance from a band that has been playing kick-*ss rock for nearly 30 years (their debut album, DREAMBOAT ANNIE, was released in 1976).

The performance was recorded at the Paramount Theater in Seattle (Heart's hometown) on Aug. 8, 2002, the last gig on the band's 2002 "Summer of Love" tour. The response to the tour was tremendous, with longtime fans and newbies alike enthusiastically welcoming fronters Ann and Nancy Wilson and their new back-up band--an ensemble that includes former Ozzy Osbourne and Alice In Chains bassist Mike Inez and Lovemongers drummer Ben Smith. The tour was so successful, in fact, that they turned right around and toured again in 2003 (the "Alive in America" tour) playing basically the same song set. So fans who missed either or both of those tours can still experience that concert atmosphere vicariously with the HEART: ALIVE IN SEATTLE disc--but with much better "seating"!

The Wilson sisters made an excellent choice for the set list, which includes the band's very popular pre-'80s hard-rock standards like "Crazy on You," "Straight On," "Magic Man," and "Barracuda," as well as some great post-70s tunes such as "Alone" and "These Dreams." In addition, the band does a fantastic job on covers of Led Zeppelin's "Battle of Evermore" and "Black Dog," the Elton John ballad "Mona Lisas and Madhatters," and an old garage-band ditty called "The Witch."

Dark-haired Vocalist Ann Wilson, as beautiful as ever, proves that she still has what it takes to belt out the band's old hard-rock standards, and she still sounds as angelic as ever on the softer melancholy favorites like "Dog and Butterfly" and "Dreamboat Annie." When Heart plays their classic stuff, Ms. Wilson sounds exactly like she did when the songs were first recorded--which is a lot more than you can say for most rock vocalists from the '60s and '70s, who can no longer hit those high notes. But she and sister Nancy (who mainly plays guitar and other strings) also easily keep up with the newer, younger artists when they perform some of their latest compositions like "Heaven," "Sister Wild Rose," and the really cool hard-hitter "Break The Rock." Both women are certainly in top form and prove they can go the distance in the studio and on stage. And with HEART: ALIVE IN SEATTLE, they leave no doubt that they are still two of the most talented and creative women in rock.

The picture quality on this DVD is crisp and clear, with great color saturation and nice contrast, and the cinematographer does a top-notch job of capturing the energy of the artists and the spirit of their performances. The Dolby sound quality is also excellent, and a sound system that takes advantage of the DTS Surround Sound can really make viewers feel like they are at the live performance.

No longtime fan of HEART will be disappointed with HEART: ALIVE IN SEATTLE. And the DVD will certainly give newbies a taste of just how powerful and emotive this band and the talented duo that drives it can be.


This is AWESOME!!   June 18, 2004
(ok, first of all, I thought I would say that I was NOT at the concert) WOW!! I LOVE this DVD. Every time I watch it I want to sing like Ann and play guitar like Nancy. These sisters totally rock. My favorite performances were Barracuda, Crazy On You, Sister Wild Rose, and Witch. I think it was a GREAT concert! Rock on, Ann and Nancy!


Good, but vocals are gettin raspy   May 31, 2004
The Nemean Lion apparently is the sad example of someone with the mental development of a six-year-old refusing to take his prescription medication. Similarly, the lack of a girlfriend--or any friends at all--has taken its toll on his mental health. While his posts are a desperate cry for help, perhaps the world really would be better off without him.

That said, it is clear that Ann's voice, though still powerful, is not quite what it once was. Years of blowing out her vocal cords has taken its toll, and her timbre is now clouded with raspiness. The high notes just aren't the same. Still has the powerful vibrato, though, and Nancy's guitar rocks the house.