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Wilco's Blu-ray Warning

October 29, 2008 Full disclosure: Wilco is my favorite band EVER. So it was hard at first to hear that they're knocking the upcoming Nov. 18 Blu-ray release of their documentary I'm Trying to Break Your Heart. You can read their email to fans here at The L.A. Times Pop & Hiss music blog.
Basically, Wilco is advising people not to purchase the Blu-ray version because it doesn't add anything to its earlier DVD release. Plus, the Blu-ray will run people about twice what the DVD cost. Apparently, its Warner Music Group distributor is releasing the Blu-ray version without the band's consent.
But upon reading the 'Consumer Alert' again, I have to give them props for their unabashed honesty. Wilco's film was intentionally done in an ultra-grainy home video camera style. The band wanted viewers to really feel as if they were hanging out in dingy recording spaces as they maded their hit album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.
Blu-ray doesn't do that sort of film justice, and is much better suited for big action movie releases. I wish the major studios were more selective with some of their older catalog films on Blu-ray. For example, I loved The Lost Boys vampire flick, but found the Blu-ray release a little underwhelming due to its lack of Blu-ray defining moments.
So despite their 'Stay Away' Blu-ray rant, I say Wilco is still my favorite band ever.

Posted by Susanne Ault on October 29, 2008 | Comments (0)