Review: Nine Inch Nails, Beside You in Time Live DVD

I had the pleasure of seeing Nine Inch Nails twice during their year-plus With Teeth tour: October 2005 in Chicago and July 2006 at Milwaukee's Summerfest. Having throughly enjoyed both concerts, I can wholeheartedly say the Beside You In Time DVD captures the best of the NIN live experience and is almost as fun as being there. The packaging is minimal and keeping with the digital interlace designs of the With Teeth era. The picture and sound quality are flawless even at the DVD level (I envy those with the chance to see the HD or Blu-Ray versions). The LED displays and projections are beautiful and vivid; they serve as a testament to Trent Reznor's never-ending ambition to make the audience engage themselves and find new ways to experience the music. The sound is extremely crisp and well mixed, nothing ever seems too loud or drowned out.

It is unfair to compare this live showcase to 2002's And All That Could Have Been: long gone are the days of cornstarch, Reznor's bibulous antics and the enigma known as Robin Finck. With nineteen Winter Tour performances, five from the Summer leg, three videos from 2005 rehearsals, two music videos and countless stills, Beside You In Time is worth every penny. Reznor has always been known for demanding only the best from his band and it shows throughout. Each member plays with such vigor and intensity on each song as if his life depends on it. Josh Freese shows why he's one of the most in-demand drummers in Rock, while guitarist Aaron North bounces around the stage like a child on Ritalin withdrawal (watch out for one of his headstands). Keyboardist Alessandro Cortini is keeper of the sacred electronic groove. Even typically stoic bassist Jeordie White rocks out on most tracks.

Beside You In Time is a highly engaging and entertaining live compilation. From the opener "Love is Not Enough" to the visual magnificence of "Beside You In Time" and the bring-the-house-down closer "Head Like A Hole," director Rob Sheridan has managed to present only the best from one of Alternative/Modern Rock's most influential mainstays. This DVD is a must-have for Nine Inch Nails fans and lovers of Rock.

Standout performances-

"Terrible Lie": This sonically tight performance of a Nine Inch Nails setlist staple features one of Reznor's strongest vocal performances in recent history.

"The Big Come Down": Before the Summer tour, this song was a rarity in NIN performances. Thank goodness it made its way to the DVD's setlist in all its electro-funk glory.

"Somewhat Damaged," North American Summer Tour: The Fragile opener served as a fitting concert opener on this leg of the tour. Features great visuals and energy from Reznor and the crew.

"Closer," North American Summer Tour: The excellent visuals here are capped off by Reznor's interactivity with a cascade of red LEDs.

Live at Rehearsals 2005 footage: "The Collector" and "Love is Not Enough" sound far better and more organic here than on With Teeth.

Misses-

Cell phones: We get a nice full glimpse of one during "The Line Begins to Blur" and a slew of them open for "Hurt" (seriously, folks). Lighters anyone?