2006-10-19
It appears that 20 years have passed already since Dream Theater, the flag of Prog Metal, released their first album "When day and dream unite"; 20 years and a few keyboardists later we get a live document of their 20 years anniversary show constructed with songs from their varied albums. Oh, and there's also an orchestra, of course.
There are two approaches that can be taken for reviewing this triple album: As a die-hard fan who already owns every document of sound existing from the moment one of the band members owned an instrument, and the kind of fan which likes the band a lot but still hasn't bought the Petrucci boxer shorts.
The difference between the approches is the level of satisfaction you get from the album, for the die hard fan it's a blessing, after all there are two never-before-released songs in here, "Another won" which is one of their first songs recorded ever, and "Raise the knife" an outtake from one of their previous albums.
Also, most songs in this album are taken from their latest and weakest album yet, "Octavrium", and the selections of their other songs is mostly based on "non live hits", meaning, songs they usually don't do live.
The die hard fans will love it, based on the fact that there is nothing more satisfying then hearing a band you adore perform songs that you were dying to hear live and never get to, for the softcore fans, those who wanted to hear a simply good live album this will be kind of a dissapointment as the setlist if far from being a compilation of their best songs ( A change of seasons" was neglected, and the only song from their contervetial cd "Train of thought" is also the least attractive one out of it).
The highlight of the show is the full live version of their masterpiece "Six Degrees" featuring a live orchestra, which give the overture a new dimension and intrest.
The show is divided to two parts, the first one is the band in their usual playing form and the other half (six degrees and beyond) which is performed with a live orchestra. Except for Six Degrees there is no justification for the orchestra in my opinion, saying this complimenting Jordan Rudess, the band's keyboardist, whose playing can easily outshadow the orchestra in regular performances; it only takes to see him playing Octavarium live to understand how talneted this guy is.
The surprise of the show is definitly James LaBrie, which gives a hell of a good vocal performance, the best I've heard of him for a long long time, doesn't miss a note even in the hardest songs and man…there are some hard songs in there.
If you're looking for a good compilation of Dream Theater songs, one that actually does justice with their 20 years carrer buy "Live At Budokan", if you already have the entire discography, videography, bed sheets, plates and cups, go and buy this album.
Roy Povarchik
