The Police: Certifiable - Live In Buenos Aires (2-DVD 2-CD Set)

It seems the reviews of The Police's new DVD/CD package are mixed at best. I can't figure out what the naysayers are thinking on this one--I think "Certifiable" is perhaps the best live DVD I've ever seen.I did not attend a show on the big Police reunion tour last year, so I had no idea what the stage show looked like or what the set-list included, so the live DVD was my first look at Sting, Andy, and Stewart back together again. The opening track, Message in a Bottle" was an excellent choice, and the lighting at that point was minimal. Once "Synchronicity II" kicked in, the stage show kicked in, and so did the crowd. They were on their feet the entire show and I was mesmerized by the musicianship of these 3 players.The first thing that surprised me was the sound quality. I have a modest home theater system set up that I don't know much about other than how to turn it on and turn it up. Without any tweaking at all, I noticed Sting's bass was much louder and more "present" than I would have expected. It made for an interesting listen to the show, because it underscored what a great bassist Sting really is. I'm sure most of us think of him as a singer/songwriter first and as a bassist a distant second. He is a phenomenal player and underrated in that regard.But the Police is the combustion that happens between Sting and Stewart and Andy. Just like Sting, Summers & Copeland prove themselves masters of their instruments.I have read some complaints that some of the songs were re-worked & sound a little different. That's true, and from my own personal point of view, it's a great thing. 1st off, nothing is reworked so drastically that a fan wouldn't be able to recognize the song that's playing. But if you've kept up with Sting's career lately, he does this regularly. A little change here & there makes it a bit more interesting. One reviewer called these changes "bored & lazy." If you watch dvd 2 in the set, you'll see how much work went into working up each song. I, for one, loved the changes in the songs.If you're sitting here reading this thinking about purchasing the DVD/cd set, DON'T WAIT. I buy a lot of live DVD sets like this, but this one is by far the best all around, from musicianship, to the stageshow, the song selection, and the extras that show how this band got back together.

This doesn't sound like a band who had been apart for over 25+ years. Rather, the Police are at the top of their game. The sound is excellent. It's great to hear the updated versions of these songs. Yes, some of the songs have been lowered a few keys, but they fit Sting's voice better than some of the original tunings (where he had to stretch a bit too much on some of the early Police tracks). You'll find a bit more of a jazzy element to the guitar and bass-work on these versions, but that works a lot better than the pseudo-punk sound they attempted in their early years. Honestly, for the pre-Synchronicity tracks (i.e before 1983), I prefer these live versions to the original studio arrangements.I'd love to see these three do one last studio album together. While it's hard to top their classic works, each of them has grown musically over the last 25+ years. Those expanded chops are evident on this DVD/CD set...it would be awesome to see what they could do in developing new material. Sting has hit a bit of a dry patch creatively over the last decade, so maybe a new Police project could reinvigorate him. I know it's a long shot, but I'll keep my fingers crossed :)

there are no track listings on the DVD's which was disappointing.The relationship between the band members is an interesting insight explored in the 2nd DVD - the CD's supplied give a recording of the DVD show - is this necessary? I would have preferred the original studio recordings. A good addition to my collection and one which I will visit again and again to try and inspire my next generation of music afficionados (i.e. teenage kids) with the greatest era of music - 70's and 80's - a bit like trying to poke butter up a hedgehog's bum with a hot needle. Not that I've ever tried...

It is evident from the performance that The Police had rehearsed 8 hours a day for 8 weeks before this tour concert. This is one of the tightest musical performances in concert that I have heard. If you like this band, buy this Blu-ray/DVD and CD bundle.

Sorry I missed this tour - hard to believe it's been ten years already. But this is as good as it gets - three virtuosos on stage making incredible music. All the songs you know, but they throw some interesting chord substitutions in here and there. Great music, but don't expect it to sound exactly like the recorded versions. Andy Summers' guitar work floored me - at times quiet and textural, other times raging and chaotic. If you are a fan of these guys you must own this. If you are a fan of live music and love to watch top notch players doing their thing - well I would highly recommend it.

Although I've been a rabid Amazon shopper for ten years, I've never bothered nor have I been moved to write a review-until now. Both the concert and the documentary are extremely moving, both in terms of the band's stunning musical virtuosity and the time-mocking brilliance and originality of their songwriting. The Police just plain embarrass most music acts present and past. And although I'd love another studio album, you'll see in the concert footage that the old songs have become living entities of their own, and are so loaded into people's lives and consciousness through generations and across cultures that only groups like the Beatles can compare. I'm extremely bummed out that I missed this tour, but the DVD/CD pack almost makes up for it. Don't hesitate even if you have all the Police albums. This is musical manna.

The audio is excellent, the song choices definitive, video is sharp and crisp, HOWEVER, the editing is terrible European three second snips that will induce vertigo in the stablest of minds. PS: A happy Stewart Copeland is a joy to behold.