A further selection of DVD-Audio releases from Silverline trawls the Sanctuary back catalogue and plucks out some defining moments in rock history with pristine 5.1 Dolby sound.

Iggy Pop is one of the great showmen of rock and has been called the Godfather of punk. This album features tracks from his two David Bowie-produced albums 'The Idiot' and 'Lust For Life' including 'Nightclubbing' and 'China Girl'. Unfortunately recording information is missing from the brief inlay. The gig was in fact taken from the Blah Blah Blah tour, recorded in 1986 at his sold out performance at the Ritz in NYC. (From The Front Row...Live! Silverline 288173-9) ***

'Ace Of Spades' was Motorhead's breakthrough album in 1980 giving the metal trio a hit single in the UK with the title track. With 'fast' Eddie Clark on guitar, this album is a blueprint for the thrash metal wanabees that were to flourish a decade or more later. Motorhead formed in 1975 and were originally going to be called Bastard. Again Silverline's added value features are dodgy: I couldn't access either the photo gallery or the lyric option on this disc. (Silverline 288133-9)***

1997's 'Brother To Brother' brought together Lynyrd Skynyrd vocalist Johnny Van Zant and Donnie Van Zant (38 Special) in a tribute to their late brother Ronnie's memory. It may be surprising that this album isn't very Skynyrd-like: it's more melodic and soulful, although the southern blues rock swagger isn't far away, as evidenced on 'Livin' A Lie' and 'That Was Yesterday'. There's no doubting the vocal talent on offer here, but there's some good support from Pat Buchanan and Survivor's Jim Peterik on guitars. (Silverline 288186-9) ***

'Balls To Picasso' was the second solo album from Iron Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson in 2001. Whilst it will appeal to Maiden fans, there does seem to have been a conscious effort to introduce some variation from the Maiden mould. Tracks like 'Change Of Heart' and 'Tears Of The Dragon' are cast more in the mould of mainstream melodic rock. (Silverline 288187-9) ***

Eddie Money's brand of mainstream guitar-led pop rock found Stateside success in the 1980's but that never really filtered over the water and he remains very much a US phenomenon. This 1997 live concert is an adequate enough career summary and includes the radio-friendly hits 'Take Me Home Tonight' and 'Shakin'. An excellent introduction to Eddie Money and an easy induction for the uninitiated. (Silverline 288188-9) ***

These Silverline albums are well produced and although in some cases liner note information is lacking (and even on-disc visuals) the remixing in Dolby 5.1 is superb and with a half-decent digital set-up makes a compelling case for purchase.

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Review by David Randall

© 2003 All rights reserved.

***** Out of this world | **** Pretty damn fine |
*** OK, approach with caution unless you are a fan |
** Instant bargain bin fodder | * Ugly. Just ugly