Ministry
Adios…Puta Madres
13th Planet/Megaforce

This fifteen-song live set was filmed during the band's goodbye-kiss; 2008's C U LaTour. And there's no fat amongst the farewell tour meat; Ministry cranks it out hard and heavy from the very beginning, opening the show with the recent band and fan favorite "Let's Go." It's clear that Al Jourgensen wanted his band to be remembered for the music as he forgoes stage patter and just lets it rip from behind his special antler and handlebar-adorned microphone stand. Guitarists Sin Quirin and Tommy Victor steal the show on many occasions with Quirin being fond of sticking out his tongue and mugging for the crowd as he reels off incendiary licks. A three song vignette finds the band waxing political; "No W" and "Rio Grande Blood" lambast George W. Bush but just as nasty a harpooning is given to Venezuelan strongman (and Bush foe) Hugo Chavez during "Senor Peligro." The overall production is very well done---from the light show to the projected visuals to the camerawork---Ministry fans will love this memento right through to the rave-up of the chestnut "What a Wonderful World" that closes the show and the book on Ministry. A CD of the show is also included in the package as is a documentary DVD featuring backstage footage and lots of reminiscences from band members.

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Jeff Buckley
Grace Around the World
Columbia/Legacy

This 2-DVD+CD package is an absolute godsend for Buckley fans. It includes intimate, mostly previously-unreleased footage of Buckley performing every song from Grace except for "Corpus Christi Carol." A version of "Eternal Life" shot for MTV London finds Buckley and his band rocking with a grungy urgency but otherwise the moody artist lets his passion flow in his typically sedate manner. And as understated as many of the performances are, Buckley's responses to interview questions on the included documentary DVD are even more thoughtful. There's no doubt that this portion of the program will bring some fans of the late artist to tears. Grace Around the World comes in a deluxe package that includes a double-sided poster, a replica backstage pass, a set of postcards, a twenty-two page booklet and even a replica of Buckley's boarding pass stub for a flight from Los Angeles to Sydney.

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Ice T
Live in Montreux
Charly

Ice T was in a great mood when this concert was filmed in Switzerland in 1995; he's smiling all the way through a generous set that includes "Zip-Lock," "Peel Their Caps Back," "Make the Loot Loop" and of course the horny "Girls L.G.B.N.A.F." "I'm Your Pusher" is a highlight; the frighteningly realistic anti-drug song is a sharp contrast to "Virtual Reality," the hilarious portion of the concert where Ice has audience members come up on stage for a talent show (and is eventually stunned by the talent of one participant.) The main show ends with a medley of "O.G. Original Gangster," "New Jack Hustler" and "Colors" but a bonus DVD includes additional footage of Ice and Body Count caught on stage in San Bernardino, California.

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Billie Holiday
The Life and Artistry of Lady Day
Idem

Holiday's story has been told many times but here's another look at the life and times of the troubled jazz singer. The story is a sad one and no punches are pulled in this retelling; Holiday's rough life included youthful prostitution, abandonment and abuse, racial prejudice and a drug addiction that ended up killing her. Still she became the most-revered female jazz singer of all time and songs performed here like "Strange Fruit," "The Blues are Brewin'" and "Do You Know What it means to Miss New Orleans" show why.

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