Ministry - Sphinctour

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Industrial megaband Ministry have no pretensions about anything other than their music. Sphinctour is another example of that single-mindedness: 88 minutes' worth of 13 songs from their 1996 world tour, with none of the added bells and whistles often found on such DVD releases. Ministry fans will have no problem with this approach: the bludgeoning music is there. Period. In the end credits, we are told that 60 shows on the tour were filmed with a single camera, with no overdubs or postconcert tinkering in the studio. This back-to-basics video and audio quality enhances such Ministry epics as "So What," "Lava," and the show's closer, "Stigmata."

Skipping around among different performances (the songs come from 13 separate concerts) has its drawbacks. Although "Filth Pig" was recorded at Toronto's indoor Varsity Arena, there's a shot during the song that's clearly of an outdoor stadium show. But that's a small quibble: Ministry singer Al Jorgensen may not make eye contact with the throngs in front of him while onstage, but no one can deny the passion he and his cohorts put into their performances. --Kevin Filipski

Customer Reviews:

More than One Fix.......2007-03-11

This is an Awesome DVD for Ministry fans.
Mainly because of the Great Sound Quality and it really Captures the Energy
of Ministry Live.I have never seen them live but now I feel I know what it would be like.

Ministry.......2006-05-20

"There was no dancing or moshing . . . it was sprinting." When you were in HS? Come on man...I saw Ministry and KMFDM opened for them. Ministry has a cage around them. It was the "Mind is a Terrible Thing To Taste" tour. It was KMFDM's "Naive" tour. So really man if you saw that...you saw something you will never see again.

Further...this vid is OK...if you are an old Wax Trax person, you will think the same.

I am seeing the new tour in July 2006, because Jello Biafra is all over Revco's new album. Honestly, Ministry is no longer the same. That is hard for me to write, as their creativity has gone to hell. Even with side projects.

Alien come back

Hypo Luxa...Hermes Pan

Ministry at it's best.......2002-07-27

Since "In case you didn't feel like showing up" video, this is a great chance to watch the full live potential of the band. In this case, the 96' Sphinctour, with an heavier than ever sound, and even a more "rockstar" look icons.
The picture quality and the sound are outstanding,the performances are in top form too. The only complaint's that cost's the star missing, are the bonus section (an interview with guys so fascinating like Al & Paul well worth it!), with the less apportative backstage passes.
Like Al said, it's fun to watch this "kodak moments", with the distance of time. And recreate these fine moments with increadibly improved songs like "Just One Fix", and almost all the Filthpig material (compare the two versions of Crumbs), except for "The Fall", the only musical disapointment. So this is an even stronger reason to buy the DVD, because this one closes with the timeless anthem "Stigmata", and the Cd does not.

PUT IN CASE YOU DIDN"T ON DVD!.......2002-06-26

this is a great live dvd, I would have preffered less Filth pig tracks but it was shot well and the sound is great. the dvd has stigmata and so what which the cd doesn't so buy the dvd

Too much, too late - but still MINISTRY LIVE!.......2002-06-12

I must remark, NYC 1996 was probably the best gig Ministry ever did and parts of it are on this video - so take that for what it is worth. Check for Jourgensen in pillbox hat, black trenchcoat, dark shades and riding boots - absolutely the coolest he has ever looked! Now, my criticism - I feel Ministry could have done better. First off, why did they wait 6 years to release this concert footage?! Surely there have been enough concerts videotaped since then that they could have put "Bad Blood", "Supernaut" and some Revolting... covers onto this compilation - major disappointment. Next item, the video switches every 5 seconds from one concert venue to another so you see Jourgensen alternating personas - from scraggly deadhead-look to ultra-euro fascist with jack boots - to top hat, to Mapleleafs hockey jersey, to beany, to balding and nodding off at the mike. Now, Jourgensen is my hero - don't get me wrong. What I think was an editorial blunder here was that each venue could have been a unique composition and should have been left uncut and unedited - especially the NYC Roseland gig. Other than that - the video is cranking and a must for Ministry addicts (and other assorted addicts!)

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