| CD Reviews Last updated: 10.25.05 Dream Theater Live At Budokan Tracklist: Disc One: 1. As I Am (7:25) (Lyrics: Petrucci, Music: Dream Theater) 2. This Dying Soul (11:44) (Lyrics: Portnoy, Music: Dream Theater) 3. Beyond This Life (19:37) (Lyrics: Petrucci, Music: Dream Theater) 4. Hollow Years (9:18) (Lyrics: Petrucci, Music: Dream Theater) 5. War Inside My Head (2:22) (Lyrics: Portnoy, Music: Dream Theater) 6. The Test That Stumped Them All (5:00) (Lyrics: Portnoy, Music: Dream Theater) Disc Two: 1. Endless Sacrifice (11:18) (Lyrics: Petrucci, Music: Dream Theater) 2. Instrumedley (12:15) (Music: Dream Theater) 3. Trial Of Tears (13:49) (Lyrics: Myung, Music: Dream Theater) 4. New Millennium (8:01) (Lyrics: Portnoy, Music: Dream Theater) 5. Keyboard Solo (3:58) (Music: Rudess) 6. Only A Matter Of Time (7:21) (Lyrics: Moore, Music: Dream Theater) Disc Three: 1. Goodnight Kiss (6:16) (Lyrics: Portnoy, Music: Dream Theater) 2. Solitary Shell (5:58) (Lyrics: Petrucci, Music: Dream Theater) 3. Stream Of Consciousness (10:54) (Music: Dream Theater) 4. Disappear (5:56) (Lyrics: LaBrie, Music: Dream Theater) 5. Pull Me Under (8:38) (Lyrics: Moore, Music: Dream Theater) 6. In The Name Of God (15:49) (Lyrics: Petrucci, Music: Dream Theater) Total: Disc One � 55:28 Disc Two � 56:44 Disc Three - 53:32 Introduction: Recorded on April 26th, 2004 in Tokyo, Japan, Live At Budokan is Dream Theater�s fourth live album. The album boasts an impressive set list, containing nearly all of the parts of �Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence� and most of the songs on Train Of Thought, as well as some old favorites, not to mention excellent instrument playing and vocals from the band. Synopsis: Disc One opens up with the first track of off the band�s most recent album, Train Of Thought, �As I Am�. The band plays as fast as the album version, and Petrucci nails the great solo in the song perfectly. And just like on Train of Thought, �As I Am� is followed by a hard rocking performance of �This Dying Soul�. Next up is �Beyond This Life�, one of my favorite songs from Scenes From A Memory. It features an extended jam at the end of the song, making it the longest track on this whole album. A beautiful performance of �Hollow Years� is the fifth track, which features a longer intro and a flat-out amazing guitar solo. You�ll have to hear it for yourself; it�s �eargasmic�. The heavy track �War Inside My Head� is next, which features a slightly different intro. �The Test That Stumped Them All� immediately follows it. A performance of �Endless Sacrifice�, another track off of Train Of Thought, commences Disc Two, and it�s played perfectly. It is followed up by the �Instrumedley�, which is a medley of a handful of Dream Theater�s instrumentals, as well as two Liquid Tension Experiment songs ("Paradigm Shift" and "Universal Mind"). The songs are as follows: I. Dance of Eternity II. Metropolis, Pt. I III. Erotomania IV. Dance of Eternity V. Metropolis, Pt. I VI. A Change Of Seasons, Pt. IV: The Darkest of Winters VII. Ytse Jam VIII. Dance of Eternity IX. Paradigm Shift X. Universal Mind XI. Dance of Eternity XII. Hell's Kitchen A great performance of another one of my favorite Dream Theater songs, �Trial Of Tears�, from the album Falling Into Infinity, is performed afterward. Then, John Myung busts out the Chapman Stick, and the band plays �New Millennium�. The �Keyboard Solo� is next, and Jordan gets to show off his skills once more. He uses some unique instruments for his solo, as well as some fast as hell movements. And in a surprising move, the band plays �Only A Matter Of Time�, off of the band�s debut album, When Dream And Day Unite. Awesome. The final disc of the lot opens up with �Goodnight Kiss�, another excerpt from �Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence�, and �Solitary Shell� is the next track, just like in the studio version of the song. Both are excellent performances. The band�s monster instrumental, �Stream Of Consciousness�, is next and the band plays it perfectly. A rare performance of �Disappear� (which, as of this writing, has only been played live twice) is next, followed by the band�s biggest hit, �Pull Me Under�, to which the crowd instantly recognizes. Of course, the band comes back for an encore, to which they play the epic �In The Name Of God�, to a great reaction. Thus ends an excellent performance of an enormous set list. Highlights: �Hollow Years�, �Instrumedley�, �In The Name Of God� Overall: Live At Budokan fails to disappoint; Dream Theater put on an amazing live show. What some may not like, however, is that Live At Budokan is mostly made up of newer material. Only one song from Images And Words (�Pull Me Under�) is played in its entirety, and not one song from Awake is fully played. But for what it�s worth, I don�t think I would�ve taken any of the songs on the set list off. If you liked Dream Theater�s previous live albums, then you should definitely check out the Live At Budokan CD or DVD. Final Score: A Any questions, comments, submissions, or anything related to the site should be e-mailed to me: shadowdragonxx [at] hotmail [dot] com. Don't take anything from the site without permission. |
| Live At Budokan Album line-up: James LaBrie (Vocals, Percussion) John Myung (Bass Guitar, Chapman Stick) John Petrucci (Guitar, Vocals) Mike Portnoy (Drums, Vocals) Jordan Rudess (Keyboards) Additional Personnel: N/A Release Year: 2004 Label: Atlantic Produced by: John Petrucci & Mike Portnoy |
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