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DVD Reviews

5Boro Join Or Die

5boro_join_or_dieThe first time I watched 5-Boro’s new video Join Or Die I wanted to rush outside and skate. The second time I watched Join Or Die I wanted to skate even more. The third time worked a charm and so on and so on. This is a no-nonsense production; there are no slo-mos, HD effects or skits; just top-knotch skating with a banging soundtrack.

Steve Rodriguez, Tombo Colabraro and Mark Nardelli didn’t try to introduce the audience to some obscure indie bands or impress viewers with a pompous tailor-made score. They went to the source and picked music from crowd favourites: Bad Brains, Nas, Wu Tang Clan, Joy Division, Dire Straits and The Rolling Stones.

With a 25 minute runtime the editing is quick and concise. It took a few extra viewings to pick up on some truly gnarly stunts performed by the team. The newest pro’s Willy Akers and Joe Tookmanian serve as book ends with Willy’s balls-to-the-wall ATV antics opening the show and Took’s ridiculous switch skills closing off the session. Jimmy McDonald and Dan Pensyl’s sections each leap some super tight and super wide bank to bank launches. Jordan Trahan has one of the most remarkable tricks in the montage section with an asleep-at-the-wheel skid and jump going mach 10 down a hill. It was cool to see Bordeaux resident Guillaume Dulout get a section to himself. The Frenchman and his buddies have been repping 5-Boro for a few years already so it’s great to see them get their shine just as much as the resident New Yorkers.

Finally, no 5-Boro video would be complete without some lovely 8mm footage of the city streets and skylines. The DVD also has a couple of sweet web edits as bonus sections that are bite size delights. I have to take my hat off to 5-Boro for putting out a DVD and then posting its entirety on the web. Obviously the video market is slim pickings and awash with mediocrity nowadays so putting the time and effort into a small masterpiece for free is worth everyone’s support and respect.

Ralph Lloyd-Davis