Music Review: Steps: Gold (Greatest Hits) DVD
Written by: Kage Alan

Film Rating: A
DVD Special Features: A

      I came across an album in the import bin a few years back by Steps called 
"Step One," their first.  Despite having ended up with some very crappy CDs  
because I liked the look of the cover (one would think I'd learn), I pulled 
out the checkbook and made the purchase.  Thankfully, it turned out be an 
amazing breath of fresh air in the Pop vein and did extremely well…in Britain  
and the rest of the world.  Their sophomore album, "Steptacular," did even  
better and the US record division FINALLY decided to give them a shot.
Instead of releasing one or both albums in their entirety, they released 
"Step One" and featured the most popular songs from the first two albums, 
which means that North American buyers are only getting 11 out of 26 tracks.

Steps third album, "Buzz," was released last year and did receive a US
release, only it's missing 6 tracks from the import and features one 
additional song unavailable on the import.  Does this make any sense?
Finally, in the fall of last year, Steps released their first Greatest Hits 
package that included 4 new songs.  Released shortly after was the DVD with 
all their video hits and a huge load of extras.

For those of you who may not be familiar with Steps, they're a bubblegum pop 
band with a combination 70s and 80s sound.  Like many of our young bands in North America these days, they're a bit manufactured, but not in the R&B 
vein.  The two men and three women in Steps exude a great deal of charisma 
and they're extremely likable. They also co-write some of their own music, 
so they are continuing to grow as a group and as artists.  Now, onto the DVD.

The videos featured on "Gold" are: "Chain Reaction," "Here And Now," "You'll Be Sorry," "It's The Way You Make Me Feel," "Stomp," "Summer Of Love," "When I Said Goodbye," "Deeper Shade Of Blue," "Say You'll Be Mine," "Better The Devil You Know," "After The Love Has Gone," "Love's Got A Hold On My Heart," "Better Best Forgotten," "Tragedy," "Heartbeat," "On For Sorrow," "Last Thing On My Mind" and "5,6,7,8." Hidden somewhere on the disc are two other videos,"One For Sorrow (US Remix)" and "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby."

The videos can be played one right after the other or with an introduction by 
various members of the group.  There is also a way to choose the videos by 
album. Aside from the two additional videos being hidden on the disc, there 
are other surprises that show up and can be accessed when the letter "S" 
appears on the screen. It's very much like following the white rabbit on 
"The Matrix" DVD.  There are behind-the-scenes featurettes as well as  
interviews with the group.

Other special features include a six-minute documentary titled "The Making of 
Chain Reaction," which is the title of their latest single.  It's actually a  
great little piece because it shows the complexity of the shots (the first 
one lasts quite a ways into the video without a cut or transition) and the 
thought behind how it's put together.  "What were we thinking?" is up next  
and features commentaries by the group for the songs "5,6,7,8," "Heartbeat," 
"Tragedy" and "Deeper Shade Of Blue." There's a discography section with 
direct links from the album tracks to the videos featured on Gold.  Beyond 
that is a time line from 1997 through 2001 as well as information regarding 
their website.

I keep getting surprised by how much thought and effort is going into music 
DVDs these days.  Unfortunately, "Steps: Gold" is only available overseas.   
The best place I've found to order it through is Black Star at
http://www.blackstar.co.uk.   Fortunately, while it hasn't been released 
domestically, I have been able to play it on our Region 1 DVD players.
"Gold" is as good as gold!                          

Kage holds degrees in Creative Writing, as well as Film & Video. He has been featured in a Life Journey Tele-Course, published poems in several national anthologies, been a contributor to The Third Coast Magazine and written several novels. kage@modamag.com