DVD of the Day - "From The Basement"

DVD of the Day
"From The Basement" (Eagle Vision/ST2) 2009

Featuring: Radiohead, PJ Harvey, The White Stripes, Sonic Youth, Beck, Laura Marling, Damien Rice, Thom Yorke, José González, Autolux, Super Furry Animals, Jamie Lidell, The Shins, Albert Hammond Jr., Eels, Neil Hannon et al. 130 minutes!
It is rare to be able to watch raw live performances that are stripped of everything except the artists and music. From The Basement, the new series on IFC has done just that. Without any small talk or a live audience, and feeding only off of the energy the music itself delivers, viewers receive the opportunity to experience the music at the forefront in its rawest, most intimate form. From The Basement is a compilation of the best performances from the show's first season, including performances by Radiohead (and solo performances from Thom Yorke), The White Stripes, Super Furry Animals, Sonic Youth, Eels, Albert Hammond Jr., PJ Harvey, and Beck.
The IFC music series "From the Basement" strips out the nonsense that typically stands between the performers and the TV audience: gone are the chatty host, in-studio onlookers, and ritzy stagecraft. Instead, the musicians - ranging from superstars (Radiohead, White Stripes) to cult favorites (Super Furry Animals, Laura Marling) - set up gear in an intimate space and play powerful, engaging sets.