Jason Mraz's Beautiful Mess: Live on Earth

The second official full length concert recording from Jason Mraz, Beautiful Mess is an apt demonstration of his continued growth as an artist and performer. Recorded during the Gratitude Cafe Tour, this CD/DVD set is well suited for new fans and old hats alike.The setlist, while unsurprisingly heavy on We Sing, We Dance, We Steal things, is well chosen and does a solid job of showcasing Mraz's sound of late and the tour the show was part of. "The Remedy" gets a new Reggae-style arrangement, "Make it Mine" is accompanied by long-time tour intro, and fan-favorite, "Traveler" and "Coyotes" reaches it's full potential as a surprisingly rockin' live jam. The two new tunes, "Sunshine Song" (previously known as "Ray of Sunshine") and "Anything You Want", also offer a promising look at what's to come. There's no pleasing everyone and quibbling over setlist selection is unavoidable but overall I think the set included on Beautiful Mess gets the job done. Although, attendees of the Chicago show will want to take note that half a dozen songs performed the night of the recording didn't make the final cut. Lionel Richie's "All Night Long" and a cover of the Bushwalla tune "Fall Through Glass", which became signatures of the tour are, however, welcome additions. As is the solo performance of "The Boy's Gone" which features Mraz playing to an empty Charter One Pavilion the night before the show was recorded.Mraz's vocals are characteristically strong and his band top notch. The Grooveline Horns are featured prominently with multiple solos and their own interlude "Copchase". With keyboards, rhythm guitarist, bass, drums and ever-present "vocusionist" Toca Rivera on board, the sound on Beautiful Mess is full and robust but never becomes overbearing or cluttered.The DVD also contains a pair of featurettes. "Un Beau Desordre" is a mocumentary featuring Mraz and long-time pal/roommate Billy "Bushwalla" Galewood touring Charter One and "overseeing" every part of the show's production. "We Sing, We Dance, We Make Videos" features director Darren Doane and Mraz sharing the story, and behind the scenes footage, of their collaboration on the three videos from the latest album; "I'm Yours", "Make it Mine" and "Lucky".Beautiful Mess vs. Tonight Not AgainI'm sure there are more than a few folks just discovering Mraz and debating which live DVD they should pick up. To avoid the wholly useless (though completely justified) advice of "get both", I'll offer a bit of comparison. Both shows are enjoyable yet vastly different in both content and production. Sound wise, the significantly smaller Eagles Ballroom gives Tonight Not Again a more intimate feel while the outdoor Charter One Pavilion lends a grander, more expansive tone to Beautiful Mess. Both mixes are high quality, with vocals appropriately up front. The horns play a more prominent role on Beautiful Mess with the Grooveline boys taking a few welcome solos while The Ohio Players appear only on select tracks on Tonight Not Again. I would say that for live DVDs, both shows offer a pretty good balance of crowd noise. That is to say that neither show really suffers from any sort of distracting screaming, though there may be a few debatable moments on Tonight Not Again.The setlists from the two shows are completely different with the only duplicate song between the two being "The Remedy" which is performed in a completely different style on Beautiful Mess. Both albums reflect the album being toured to support at the time, but Beautiful Mess also offers a couple of new tunes.Both DVDs contain some fun bonus features. Tonight Not Again features the 20 minute "International So and So" which follows Mraz on part of his world tour as well as a behind the scenes featurette on the taping of the show. Beautiful Mess follows suit with the Mocumentary "Un Beau Desordre" featuring Bushwalla and the featurette We Sing, We Dance, We Make videos. Both will be well worth watching for fans and entertaining at the least for the casually acquainted.The biggest difference between the two CD/DVDs, other than song content, might be that Tonight Not Again features interspersed interview segments between songs, while Beautiful Mess sticks to just the music. Both shows lack much of the between song banter that's become familiar to Mraz fans but doesn't lend itself well to a live recording.In general, I'd say that fans of We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things will definitely want to pick up Beautiful Mess if you're interested in hearing those songs fully realized in the live setting or look into Tonight Not Again if you're more interested in hearing what else Mraz has to offer (which is plenty). Past that, comparing the two DVDs really becomes a matter of apples and oranges so flip a coin, pick one up, then save your pennies and grab the other one when you can.

Have to be honest ... when I ordered it (not paying attention) I thought there were two CD's ...sooo ...'Twas a tad dissapointed to find one was a DVD. Not anymore. The energy & lyrics are so good - intelligent, positive, upbeat, infectious. Jason Mraz is one very talented person. Plus the horn section is so fine.Two of my favorite segments: The operatic high notes he achieves with lyric "Live for tomorrow..." in song "Coyotes" (crank the volume for that) and when in the intro for "The Dynamo Of Volition" he says, "Don't ever let your mind keep you from having a good time". Words to live by, heh? It will get you up, out of that couch & you'll be clapping, moving, grooving, appreciating and, best of all, having a good time.Trust me on this one. After two and a half years of reconstructive surgeries on both hips, the nursing home & wheelchair period and eventually rehab ...THIS makes me stand up and dance(?). Well, you would be kind, very kind, if you refered to it that way. Anyhow, among other things, it is great physical therapy! Actually elevates my mood better, much better, than all those friggin' pills. ENJOY!

This is the 3rd time I've purchased this. ABSOLUTE amazing CD...but the DVD brings me to tears everytime. I see Jason live as often as possible and his live performances never disappoint, whether in person, on DVD or even YOUTUBE. He is amazing, one of a kind, optimistic artist.. spreading love with every song he sings. I buy this particular CD/DVD set as a gift for my music loving family & friends and they always enjoy it. I turn this DVD on for my 8 month old daughter to watch as she plays with her toys and I know it inspires her and opens up her ever growing mind. LISTEN TO JASON MRAZ AND FALL IN LOVE. Simple as that. If any one of his songs has sparked an interest In you at all, watch one of his live DVD's and you will be hooked for life.

I admit I have come to the Jason Mraz party so late in his career, as I am sure others were first introduced to him after Lucky and I'm Yours. But now, I can converse with the best on Jason Mraz as I have been looking for and finding a wealth of variations of many tracks on Youtube. This collection of a Chicago concert contains many standout moments, but this version of Beautiful Mess is by far better than the album version and other live versions (the 2008 Nobel Peace Concert version is a different, but a close 2nd in my opinion). The first time I listened to this version of Beautiful Mess was while I was driving and I had to pull over and hit replay the version was so moving. If anyone knows of a site that catalogs all the different versions of his songs and rates them, I'd like to hear from you!

This is what all true Mraz fans look forward to; another live concert recording! Jason starts off by taking us into his daily life whether it be seeking out life experiences to write about or taking us on the road; we are given something to be inspired about. His wit, fun humor, and sincerity charm and entertain us. Then he wows us with the show! In my experience of 10 shows at crouds of 250 to thousands, each one is better than the other and all are unique, always with him getting audience participation and always performing at his best! The DVD allows us to experience the fun over and over visually and the cd I keep in the car. This is a great gift to his fans expressing his gratitude for the support from us all over the years! Go out and get yourself into a Beautiful Mess!

I have been a fan of Mr AZ for quite a while now. This live CD is very enjoyable, I got it as a gift for my partner who is a HUGE fan. We both loved the DVD that accompanied it, as did the entire group of people that watched it with us. I would DEFINITELY recommend this CD to any Jason Mraz fan - new and old.

Gran concierto con una tracklist buenisima, el dvd en vivo está increíble y los extras son buenos!

Love his lyrics and melodies! Recomended his songs to her' Thank you.

Uno dei migliori album live di Jason Mraz. SuperConsigliato

on ne se lace pas son meilleur disc c'est tout. de plus le vidéo offert pur bonheur buy it now

Ich dachte mir, ne nette DVD zum Abends mal gucken.Tatsächlich ist diese DVD viel mehr als "nur" eine nette DVD zum Abends mal gucken.Ich wollte schon immer auf ein Jason Mraz Konzert - daher das ich aber nicht in die USA fliegen wollte kaufte ich mir diese DVD.Die DVD beweist eindrucksvoll, dass dieser Typ unglaublich vielseitig ist.Von langsamen Balladen über funkige Spaß-Stücke bis hin zum Party Musik ist alles dabei.Wie Jason außerdem mit dem Publikum spielt ist toll.Musikalisch ist die DVD sowieso 1A. Als langjähriger Musiker weiß ich die vielseitigen Musiker zu schätzen.In den Spezial Features sieht man wie locker und fast kindlich Herr Mraz auch sonst ist.Insgesamt muss ich sagen das ich selten eine bessere Musik-DVD gesehen habe.Ein "Must Have"!!!