Janet Jackson: The Velvet Rope Tour
May 2004 Reviewed by: Anthony Di Marco Format: DVD	(all ratings out of 5): Overall Enjoyment Picture Quality Packaged Extras Sound Quality

After witnessing the Super Bowl halftime debacle with Justin Timberlake and experiencing The Velvet Rope Tour, I have just one question: Exactly what would you expect from Janet Jackson? Sexuality pours from this two-hour DVD like water from a fountain. From the overt display of "If" to the masochistic tease of "Rope Burn," this DVD is full of not-so-subtle innuendo. Such a surplus of thrust and grind makes a split second of bared breast seem unimportant.

Onstage sexual simulation notwithstanding, I have to give Jackson and her crew credit for mounting a very impressive production for this disc. Seventeen songs and two medleys are set against a backdrop of sets and costumes that make one gawk in amazement. The "Escapade Medley" jumps from the screen with vibrancy and energy befitting a Broadway production. It’s apparent that Jackson has taken inspiration from her brother Michael as well as rock-opera giants like Queen and David Bowie. The choreography is outstanding: Each song benefits from perfectly arranged dance steps and improvisation.

I’m not a huge fan of Jackson’s music, but there is no denying the energy and passion that this pop diva brings to the material. That Jackson retained top-notch musicians doesn’t hurt either. A three-minute segue between "What About" and "Rhythm Nation" gives the band a chance to flex its considerable muscle and kick out the jams.

For the amount of money that went into The Velvet Rope Tour it’s disappointing to see such an average DVD. Video and audio quality are simply OK. Although color saturation holds together nicely, MPEG compression artifacts are legion. I had a hard time ignoring shimmering edges and jumping pixels within the image.

DTS and Dolby Digital tracks differed only in their recorded levels, though dynamic range for both was anemic. Bass response was thin and unexciting, and Jackson’s vocals were mostly unintelligible. However, soundstage depth and the overall surround mix were very good. Instead of simply adding crowd noise and delay, the recording engineer added music to the rears. Overall balance between the front and rear channels sounded natural and in line with what I would expect to experience at a venue like New York’s Madison Square Garden.

Considering the level of detail and quality in the performance, I did not mind the lack of extra features. A brief but informative typed biography is the only extra included.

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