The latest releases reviewed

A Reality Tour Sony BMG ****

Bowie's output has been a bit erratic over the last while, but 2003's Reality album was a real return to form. On tour, Bowie featured not just many songs from Reality songs but also the previous Heathen album, as well as judiciously dipping into his extensive back catalogue. Filmed at Dublin's Point, this DVD shows yet again just what a consummate showman the creative chameleon is. He plays the Reality material with a fair deal of relish, but what really lifts this up is how well he manages to reimagine some of his classic moments: Rebel Rebel, Ashes to Ashes and Loving the Alien are standouts. Bowie is on electric form throughout, making this one of the best recent live shows from a man who sure knows a thing or three about glittering stage performance. BRIAN BOYD

THE SPECIALS
Too Much Too Young Revelation Films **

As the first band to fuse punk- rock and ska - they were a multicultural ensemble unit from Coventry, so no real surprises there - even back in the day we knew The Specials would hold something of an exalted position in the pantheon of politicised pop music. You only have to listen to Ghost Town for proof of this. Almost 30 years on and, quelle surprise, they are namechecked by bright young thing pop stars (from Damon Albarn to Amy Winehouse), as much for their music as for their decidedly thrift-shop sartorial sense. This generally woeful DVD aims to bring the band's brilliant story to light, but without input from any members it wanders aimlessly. Buy it instead for the 13 time-capsule promo videos, made at a time when budgets were low but imagination wasn't. TONY CLAYTON-LEA