Latest CD releases reviewed

BEASTIE BOYS
Awesome: I . . . Shot That! Revolver ****

How many people does it take to film a live show? In the case of Beastie Boys and their sold-out bop in New York's Madison Square Gardens in October 2004, it took 50 fans armed with Hi-8 video cameras to give an audience-side view of what happened from the time the band hit the stage until the lights went up. Aside from the budgetary pluses (the fans already had tickets for the show and each received $125 afterwards for their efforts, making this a distinctly low-cost shoot), the lo-fi, amateur approach ensured some unique angles and views from the stalls. The raw energy and unbridled enthusiasm of the gonzo cameramen as they watch the band onstage is as fascinating to observe as the greying Boys playing the hits to a hyped-up hometown crowd. No doubt it would have been even more interesting to have the cameras focusing as much on the fans as the Beasties, but that's one for the next time. www.awesomeishotthat.com  Jim Carroll

STEREOPHONICS
Language. Sex. Violence. Other? Liberation Entertainment **

You can say all you like about Stereophonics' rise and fall and fall and rise over the years, and how they went from being a reasonably efficient rock act to bland stadia band in the same time frame. But nothing will prevent you from feeling even more queasy when confronted with lead singer Kelly Jones's unfeasibly large self-importance. Aside from very serviceable US tour concert footage (10 tracks, including the band's best moment, Local Boy in the Photograph), there isn't much to recommend here; documentary footage reveals little else about the boy Jones and, of course, the controversial sacking of their original drummer, the hapless Stuart Cable, isn't broached - even when new drummer Javier Weyler is introduced. Extras include interviews, a making of documentary and four promo videos for hit singes Dakota, Superman, Devil and Rewind. www.stereophonics.com Tony Clayton-Lea