This DVD changed my life 20 years ago. Not only did it introduce me to what is still one of my favourite bands, not only did it spark my interest in progressive rock and metal, but it is also both directly and indirectly responsible for my social circle. I have met all of my friends except one thanks to me becoming a DT fan. Sometimes directly (I would seek out other DT enthusiasts), sometimes indirectly (meeting mutual friends and so on). Even my work right now, I had to start again after losing my career last year, and I found a new job thanks to a friend whom I wouldn't have met if not for DT's Live in Budokan. It also inspired me to practice all my instruments harder. I would have been a VERY different person right now if I skipped this DVD back in the day. No other album has had such a huge influence on my life.
Same here. Train of Thought was my introduction, then I worked backwards through the catalogue and then forward with Octavarium. No knocks on Mangini, but the creativity and feel in the band has been waning over the last few albums. I can't even listen to Distance over Time. Hoping Portnoy's return ignites that spark from the past!
Live at Budokan was also my first exposure to DT, and prog metal in general in fact, a friend passed me the DVD and sais "check this out". My mind was pretty blown in general, but when I got to Instrumedley I remember thinking "where the hell has this been all my life".
I discovered them in 9th grade when a new kid moved in up the road, and was the first person to be picked up by the school bus in the morning (before that it was me). He played drums in band, and since we were the only two people on the bus for another half hour or so we became fast friends. I started spending time at this house since it was only a short walk from where I lived at the time. He then showed me his favorite drummer, Mike Portnoy...and this band he was in called "Dream Theater" and this side project called "Liquid Tension Experiment". The rest is history, I became obsessed. I had never listened to music like that before, and was instantly hooked. They've been a big part of my life ever since, and that would have been some time in 2002 (iirc). I haven't seen Adam in many many years, but I hope he's out there doing well for himself and I can't imagine my life without DT, had I not met him.
@@candra_abdurrahman Yes that’s right! I knew I remembered hearing Doug talk about the song (he did in one of his weekly updates), but I was puzzled when I couldn’t find his reaction. Now it makes sense
He rarely writes, but when he does, man his lyrics are usually the best in the entire album. He's underrated as a lyricist. Learning to Live, Trial of Tears and Lifting Shadows Off A Dream are some of the best lyrics in DT's entire discography.
@@davidkrausz That one is from JP. JM wrote Fatal Tragedy, which is a bit of an exception to his lyrical style, as it is straightforward and it follows the album story instead of the almost freeform poetry that is his lyrics. Still great, but that one is on another boat as Lifting Shadows and Trial
I tried getting my wife into Dream Theater for months, back when we were dating. By the time we got into Falling Into Infinity, it all clicked for her. Plus a lot of the songs on that album are self reflective, dealing with loss, etc. and she really got into songs like Take Away My Pain, Hollow Years, which then opened up the rest of the album for her.
i introduced my fiance to SDOIT last year, and it's safe to say its her go-to album on roadtrips right now. she even gets excited when the reprise comes out after solitary shell lmao
One thing I definitely love about DT is that they simply don't give a damn f** when referencing their favorite songs/bands. Clearly this is a big Xanadu (Rush) reference... Thats what make them unique!
Doug this actually is completely in standard tuning despite the use of key signatures that don't correspond to the open strings. Myung is able to play the low E flats and stuff on his low B string and JP never actually goes that low in it, staying with higher or inverted voicings for those chords. The guitar solo by the way is heavily inspired by Allan Holdsworth, the great jazz fusion guitarist, who JP got really into around this time.
The song itself is almost 30 years old and it feels just as fresh as when it came out back in 1997. And I'd say this was probably James' best ever recorded performance. Many say Score, but there is known evidence there were studio overdubs in that album. This one is pure DT awesomeness, and even when Jordan is often criticized for turning his solos into a wankerfest, he truly killed it on that album
@@forentertainment3259 DT was my favorite band for a long time, and I still listen to it today (older songs). See how Doug never made a video on the newer songs? But after they changed their style it just doesn´t do it for me anymore, there may be one or 2 good songs here and there, but nothing close to what it was. If you like it, good for you.
Peruvian Skies is in my very top tier of DT songs! The haunting beginning and then the thrash section that is one of their heaviest ever make this song a masterpiece!
That guitar solo by Petrucci is probably the most Allan Holdsworth-esque i've heard from Petrucci, really showcases just how important Holdsworth was to prog guitarists.
The whole Live at Budokan album rocks. The other track from Falling Into Infinity they play at this concert “New Millennium” is also great and more “digestible” to a radio type song that the label wanted. Worth checking out
It truly is a fantastic album. I think DT fans were just expecting something different at the time, I lived through it. Even I needed some time to warm to it. But man, what a great album of songwriting.
@@dinospd Take Away My Pain was such a powerful song for me as I myself got older and I started losing older loved ones. Going through their struggle with them and seeing them just get so exhausted and ready for the end really resonated with the message of this song for me.
Phenomenal album! Deeply underrated and written off by many fans for what appears to be to be mere rumors about confused direction. It’s one of their best and Kevin Shirley’s production is wonderful. The drums and bass are incredibly big and natural sounding. The song Anna Lee is incredible!
You have to check out In The Name of God by Dream Theater. It's off their 2003 album 'Train of Thought', and has amazing musicianship, and awesome lyrics.
The first time I heard “in the dead of night” by U.K. I was like….. “where have I heard this solo?”, then it hit me. Hopefully DT fans appreciate those who have come before us.
The transition from the keyboard solo to the strumming guitar part in this performance is just so memorable to me. Also, one of my favourite Petrucci solos. The whole concert is just staggeringly good.
Hollow Years is from Falling Into Infinity as well, and their live performance from this same live album is fantastic! Some of these songs they perform differently live as they didn't like the way the label forced them to hold back in the studio.
Absolutely! They took a decent album song and turned it into a complete emotional ride live. Pettrucci’s guitar work on the DVD almost brings me to tears it’s so beautiful!
You truly need to do FATES WARNING. Some song suggestions "The Light And Shade Of Things", "The Longest Shadow Of The Day", "Monument", "The Ghosts Of Home", "Still Remains", "Something for Nothing" and/or the entire album "A Pleasant Shade Of Gray"
This music is another masterpiece by DT. Honestly, they have so many amazing songs… Looking back nowadays, Live at Budokan is most likely their best live performance.
we're waiting on some new Planet X too.. that ended up being the snottiest, busiest, most technically "holy crap" stuff to come from the DT extended family
For an upcoming Metal Monday, please feature "Midnight Serenade" by Arch/Matheos. John Arch and Jim Matheos are two of the original members of Fates Warning, a band that at least one member of Dream Theater credits with influencing their prog metal journey.
He still plays 7s pretty often. I guess Tosin Abasi gave him an 8 string over the summer so he's probably using one at some point on the album they're working on now
This whole album is very underratted the reason you said making a turn to a more radio-like songs but nevertheless they did not lose any of their deepness in thoughts and creativity in music. I regurarly skip two songs from this album but consider it one of my favorite albums. And the best thing is - to listen to demos of this album which i highly recommend because there are songs that did not make it to the official album. Also, some lyrics that are excluded. Overall it has a message deep inside that again I will not reveal but in their context of lyrics - it's there. Keep listening to Dream Theater - it can be life changing. It was for me.
+1 on the Demo's. I think those who care know this by now, but that's the best songwriting DT ever did was on stuff that didn't get released.. lol. There's things about DT that are low key odd and that's one of them.
If anyone is curious, here's an excerpt from an interview with John done by Bass Frontiers in 1997. BF: A lot of the songs on this new album seem to deal with some hard topics. You composed a song called 'Trial Of Tears'. That one really made me think and want to analyze it. Can you tell me more about that song? JM: That was the first song that I did a sketch for where I played guitar and keyboards and bass on it, and I presented it to the band. It was a song that went through many different stages. The first demo that I made was a really raw version of that and then we worked on it as a band and took it to another level. It turned out to be this incredible song that went from the version that I did to something that incorporated the band, which is a really great thing because you can still have independence and choose a direction, but then be able to synergize what that song is with your bandmates and be interdependent with them. That's when the magic happens. That's when the song really starts to transform and take on a strong personality. Lyrically, that was a real therapeutic song for me. It deals with ego and my perception of it and understanding how it can cage you and really alter your perspective, but then realizing that life is really short so you need to make a decision. You also need to learn how to deal with regret while still moving forward. There's one line that talks about, 'you're not much better than the man you hate.' That's pretty much a play off one of the commandments 'Love thy enemy'. You know, 'Open up, you're not the only person here.' Also, my view of heaven being here today and not some distant galaxy, but based upon how centered and conscious you are will affect your experience and your perception. Understanding that is a really hard thing to do. It's just a whole bunch of different things that I was going through, just put into a song.
Technically, the original lineup (1989, When Dream & Day Unite) had Kevin Moore on keyboards and Charlie Dominici on lead vocals. James LaBrie replaced Dominici for the 1992 Images & Words album. After Moore quit the band following the Awake album (1994), DT wanted Jordan Rudess as the replacement, but was unavailable. Derek Sherinian was recruited for the Awake tour and officially hired for Falling Into Infinity (1997). During the Liquid Tension Experiment project, Portnoy was able to get Rudess to join in the project, during which, he courted him again to join DT. Having his prior commitments fulfilled, Rudess agreed, and became the 3rd keyboardist for DT appearing on 1999's concept album, Metropolis Part II : Scenes From A Memory. The LaBrie/Petrucci/Myung/Portnoy/Rudess lineup remained solid until 2011's A Dramatic Turn Of Events, where a "Mike swap" (like a "mic drop" - SWIDT?) saw the departure of Portnoy and the arrival of Mike Mangini.
Doug you HAVE to listen to Anna Lee and Peruvian Skies from this album. They're both beautiful melodic pieces covering the topic of an abused child which I think the band dealt with incredibly well.
Falling into Infinity was the first dream theater album i heard, so i am bit biased about loving it. It's very different from their previous work, more "EP"ish like Awake but mainstream? It's very down and gritty, but also hopeful and melodic. It has one of my favorite instrumentals that they've ever done and ever by any band, Hell's Kitchen in it, along with some bangers like Trials of tears and lines in the sand. Yeah, it's not talked about a lot these days in the grand scheme of DT's music now, but its very recommended.
I'd keep your thoughts about how all bad moments should pass, sometimes in life we need to remember that we can go back to the top. The key, as you said, is to watch all the possibilities. Thank you Doug!
Doug, please check out “Scarred” next. The version from the album is fantastic, but they also have a great live performance from the Boston opera house in 2014
James LaBrie had that terrible food poisoning episode in 1994 while on vacation in Cuba. The extreme coughing and blood ruptured his vocal cords. He said he didn’t feel completely (almost) healed from this until 2004. He only recovered 95% of his range. His upper end is affected. That may have something to do with tuning down a half step at times.
Erotomania, Voices, Lifting shadows of a dream, etc etc… pleaseeeee. Awake album! What do I have to do to make you react to this song and the best ones from DT? WHY???!!!
oh gods, this is my favorite song from DT, and it is so strange that someone with your level of following chose it. It has made me really happy today. Now, for the next DT song I would recommend Voices from the Awake album. Can't really recall if you've done a song from that one.
A absolutely love Trial of Tears, specially this Budokan version! Falling into Infinity is an amazing album and Budokan one of their greatest live albums! Check them out and you will not me sorry
This is a great live version of this song. One thing it's missing from the studio version is when James sings the "welcome to the wasteland" line there is a sound effect that sounds like someone lighting a flare. Not sure if that's what they intended but it has always made me think of it that way and brings an atmospheric feel of someone trudging through a dark and dismal wasteland. It's a tiny little thing in the song that I have always found really cool.
Lovely interpretation and review. Falling Into Infinity, what an interesting album, I deeply recommend a full listening experience. Stellar and unexpected results came out from those recording sessions, full of record company’s meddling and outside pressures. I can only dream of the prospected double album and the wide variety of songs and moods. Fortunately, all the songs that were left off the record, have surfaced one way or the other. Cheers!
Doug, my friend at heart! You don’t know it but I look to your song analysis’s for advice each wave of songs I write. I’ve noticed a lot of the music you review lines up identically with what I enjoy. Being autistic I had to analysis why that was the case. I believe it’s because; I like music with stimulating mathematical concepts that manipulate emotion at an intense level, whether or not the song is of an intense or peaceful nature to begin with. Your channel in a way resembles “a musical look through history to determine the building blocks of a goodness, used in song, that host appeal to the masses” Even before I heard of your channel I’ve made a point to discover the concept at work that makes me like every song I’ve ever liked. Your channels made this a lot easier for me. Traditionally I leave what ever song I listen to on repeat and memorize every instrument at work well before I move into another song. Then I’ll double back looking for at how the instruments work together as a whole, first intentionally from the perspective of how traditional music theory explains concepts then after for accidental concepts that in no way should work but somehow add/enhance a song. After 25 years of this method I’ve arrived at a doozie, I was kinda hoping to pass it off… to you.. to do it for me 😅, perhaps, maybe 🤞 I’ve been stuck on it for nearly 3 weeks and I haven’t came across a puzzle like this since iron maidens “the parchment” I need to know. Why is “a seafarers knot - fair to midland” so unbelievably appealing??? I suspect the answer has a lot to do with the rhythm that the vocalist accents during the course but, I’m not sure yet. It feels like it should be predictable but it’s not for some reason. Anyways I really hope you give “A Seafarer’s Knot” a go. If not, keep up the good work anyways. I’ve watched a lot of your videos and it’s shocking how there are no bad ones. Your consistency really indicates sharing what you do is a talent. You were born were born for it. “For goodness sake! somebody pay the man!!!” 😂
On point as always. I'd love to see you get back to Devin Townsend, and finish the last song of the three from Lightworker, with the actual title track, and the official video Lightworker. I think you'd like it.
I saw DT twice in 1997--once at the House of Blues in LA and then at the Universal Amphitheater. It was a triple bill with Deep Purple, ELP, and DT. They only played 6 songs. I loved Falling Into Infinity, but in my mind, everything since (with one astonishing exception) has eclipsed it. It might be time to revisit it.
That Bass line is fucking insane.
Yeah JM’s basslines back then was more prominent and melodic like than now
The bass and the Holdsworth solo make this song divine.
@@justincamp5716 k
Yeah, you can hear it !
This DVD changed my life 20 years ago. Not only did it introduce me to what is still one of my favourite bands, not only did it spark my interest in progressive rock and metal, but it is also both directly and indirectly responsible for my social circle. I have met all of my friends except one thanks to me becoming a DT fan. Sometimes directly (I would seek out other DT enthusiasts), sometimes indirectly (meeting mutual friends and so on). Even my work right now, I had to start again after losing my career last year, and I found a new job thanks to a friend whom I wouldn't have met if not for DT's Live in Budokan. It also inspired me to practice all my instruments harder. I would have been a VERY different person right now if I skipped this DVD back in the day. No other album has had such a huge influence on my life.
Same here. Train of Thought was my introduction, then I worked backwards through the catalogue and then forward with Octavarium.
No knocks on Mangini, but the creativity and feel in the band has been waning over the last few albums. I can't even listen to Distance over Time. Hoping Portnoy's return ignites that spark from the past!
Live at Budokan was also my first exposure to DT, and prog metal in general in fact, a friend passed me the DVD and sais "check this out".
My mind was pretty blown in general, but when I got to Instrumedley I remember thinking "where the hell has this been all my life".
I discovered them in 9th grade when a new kid moved in up the road, and was the first person to be picked up by the school bus in the morning (before that it was me). He played drums in band, and since we were the only two people on the bus for another half hour or so we became fast friends. I started spending time at this house since it was only a short walk from where I lived at the time. He then showed me his favorite drummer, Mike Portnoy...and this band he was in called "Dream Theater" and this side project called "Liquid Tension Experiment". The rest is history, I became obsessed. I had never listened to music like that before, and was instantly hooked. They've been a big part of my life ever since, and that would have been some time in 2002 (iirc). I haven't seen Adam in many many years, but I hope he's out there doing well for himself and I can't imagine my life without DT, had I not met him.
@@na-tv6rnSo don't listen to it. Nobody cares if you don't.
John Myung deserves so much credit for this song. His bass sang through this tune - and so clean but fat and funky at the same time.
You gotta do Ministry of Lost Souls soon.
100000% it would blow his mind!
Absolutely! He's done all of the epics, and most of the mini-epics. Ministry is one mini-epics he hasn't done, and I consider it an essential DT track
I would love to see that!
Actually, Doug has already heard it at the concert he went to, but I'm not complaining if he decides to hear it again 😂
@@candra_abdurrahman Yes that’s right! I knew I remembered hearing Doug talk about the song (he did in one of his weekly updates), but I was puzzled when I couldn’t find his reaction. Now it makes sense
Trial of Tears and Lines in the Sand are the best 2 songs on this album and two of the best songs ever.
The guitar solo in Lines In The Sand may be my most favourite ever.
I love the way Mike Portnoy, makes it sound like a thunder storm.
Live At Budokan is a mind blowing concert.
The opening is very reminiscent of "Xanadu" by Rush. (Which you should review if you haven't already!)
pretty sure he has already
The master list is public, you can search there. I think it was among the first 150 episodes or so
They even referenced that when they played part of Trial of Tears in a medley in 2007/8!
even the cowbells are the same!
I think the opening is an intentional homage to Xanadu... Pretty overt
Myung doesn’t write lyrics often but when he does it’s always great and usually so deep.
He rarely writes, but when he does, man his lyrics are usually the best in the entire album. He's underrated as a lyricist. Learning to Live, Trial of Tears and Lifting Shadows Off A Dream are some of the best lyrics in DT's entire discography.
@@branlopgar Beyond this Life?
@@davidkrausz That one is from JP.
JM wrote Fatal Tragedy, which is a bit of an exception to his lyrical style, as it is straightforward and it follows the album story instead of the almost freeform poetry that is his lyrics. Still great, but that one is on another boat as Lifting Shadows and Trial
Dear Sir Douglas Helvering,
*We await Awake,*
Sincerely, Dream Theater fans.
Best D.T. Album.
Unquestionably the best DT album.
Yess, Awake and Images & words are the best albums by far!
This song isn’t from Awake
@@lucaskyte-tremblay924 exactly
I tried getting my wife into Dream Theater for months, back when we were dating. By the time we got into Falling Into Infinity, it all clicked for her. Plus a lot of the songs on that album are self reflective, dealing with loss, etc. and she really got into songs like Take Away My Pain, Hollow Years, which then opened up the rest of the album for her.
I gave up with mine...
@@MrRhay900 Same, it's sometimes a lonely journey when your a DT fan, funny though, my Dad at 77 loves them.
She’s a keeper. There’s no hope for mine.
i introduced my fiance to SDOIT last year, and it's safe to say its her go-to album on roadtrips right now. she even gets excited when the reprise comes out after solitary shell lmao
One thing I definitely love about DT is that they simply don't give a damn f** when referencing their favorite songs/bands. Clearly this is a big Xanadu (Rush) reference... Thats what make them unique!
Doug this actually is completely in standard tuning despite the use of key signatures that don't correspond to the open strings. Myung is able to play the low E flats and stuff on his low B string and JP never actually goes that low in it, staying with higher or inverted voicings for those chords.
The guitar solo by the way is heavily inspired by Allan Holdsworth, the great jazz fusion guitarist, who JP got really into around this time.
HOLY SHIT...James's Voice back then ..HAS it been 20 YEARS ALREADY ???? .I remember seeing Them in those days like it was yesterday...
The song itself is almost 30 years old and it feels just as fresh as when it came out back in 1997. And I'd say this was probably James' best ever recorded performance. Many say Score, but there is known evidence there were studio overdubs in that album. This one is pure DT awesomeness, and even when Jordan is often criticized for turning his solos into a wankerfest, he truly killed it on that album
Best version was 2009/2010 anyways. But yes, this was a good era too for him.
Theyve been around for such a long time, but i've on,y just found them! This video has enhanced my enjoyment of them.
Don´t go beyond the album Octavarium, it´s a wasteland of crap.
@@carlosalbertogarbijr6212 Don't listen to this drivel. There is a ton of great stuff off all their albums from start to finish
@@carlosalbertogarbijr6212You have beaten this opinion into your head, dwell in it, and for what? To lure others into your preferred understanding?
I've been a fan for 20 years and about 5 years ago I showed these guys to my wife... now she has another love :)
@@forentertainment3259 DT was my favorite band for a long time, and I still listen to it today (older songs). See how Doug never made a video on the newer songs?
But after they changed their style it just doesn´t do it for me anymore, there may be one or 2 good songs here and there, but nothing close to what it was. If you like it, good for you.
Peruvian Skies is another good song from that album.
and the live versions (in Once in a Live Time) for all of the songs are soooooo good
Peruvian Skies is in my very top tier of DT songs! The haunting beginning and then the thrash section that is one of their heaviest ever make this song a masterpiece!
Some of Petrucci's best rhythm tones are from that album, just killer stuff.
Peruvian Skies a "good" song? Understatement of the century
@@themountain3461 my bad! It really is a great song.
I've always liked how faithful Jordan was on this version to Derek's original parts.
That guitar solo by Petrucci is probably the most Allan Holdsworth-esque i've heard from Petrucci, really showcases just how important Holdsworth was to prog guitarists.
You need to do Beyond This Life and the Instrumedley from live at Budokan. Incredible
The Beyond this Life performance is so fun!!
The whole Live at Budokan album rocks. The other track from Falling Into Infinity they play at this concert “New Millennium” is also great and more “digestible” to a radio type song that the label wanted. Worth checking out
Kamelot - Memento Mori
A true classic masterpiece
the entire album !
I love Kamelot! We should talk about how great they are. But alas, I must take your farewell! Carried by destiny, bound to obey…
Loved this reaction! FII has a special place in my heart. It's a fantastic album. Peace.
It truly is a fantastic album. I think DT fans were just expecting something different at the time, I lived through it. Even I needed some time to warm to it. But man, what a great album of songwriting.
I didn’t enjoy FII when it was released… the likes of Anna Lee and Just Let me breath don’t vibe with me, but the rest of the album is actually great!
@@dinospd Take Away My Pain was such a powerful song for me as I myself got older and I started losing older loved ones. Going through their struggle with them and seeing them just get so exhausted and ready for the end really resonated with the message of this song for me.
How I wish John Myung had been allowed to continue writing DT lyrics. I just love his introspective style.
He's actually contributed lyrics to 4 of the last 5 DT albums.
Finally a new DT review.. been a while man.
The middle section has such a strong U.K. feel to it...great stuff
Yeah, it's VERY In the Dead of Night, and John's soloing is at his most Holdsworthy here. I love it. :)
@@Zebula77it’s literally the same as U.K. as a salute to the brilliance of the original quartet which I was blessed to witness in Sacramento in 1978.
This album was my introduction to Dream Theater and was my go to on workouts at the gym - I absolutely love this song.
People are nutty! I absolutely LOVED Falling Into Infinity. One of my favorite DT albums. 🤷🏻♂️
It's a lot better than some people give it credit for, but it's also not their best
It’s my second least favorite DT album. That being said, it’s good enough that I still listen to it. It’s a DT album.
What a pleasure to have your analysis on this
Falling into Infinite is one of my favorite DT albums!
All Doug is missing is Instrumedley.... :) PLEASE DOUG!
Phenomenal album! Deeply underrated and written off by many fans for what appears to be to be mere rumors about confused direction. It’s one of their best and Kevin Shirley’s production is wonderful. The drums and bass are incredibly big and natural sounding. The song Anna Lee is incredible!
Friggin yes. What a song and version!
We had no idea how good we had it on that album.
You have to check out In The Name of God by Dream Theater. It's off their 2003 album 'Train of Thought', and has amazing musicianship, and awesome lyrics.
Chills every time
Thank you Doug for doing this with this awesome band so more people can experience it!
This album is not their virtuositiest one, but have some great melodies and compositions, deserve credit for that
The first time I heard “in the dead of night” by U.K. I was like….. “where have I heard this solo?”, then it hit me. Hopefully DT fans appreciate those who have come before us.
The transition from the keyboard solo to the strumming guitar part in this performance is just so memorable to me. Also, one of my favourite Petrucci solos. The whole concert is just staggeringly good.
I'm sure you'd love the song "Anna Lee". It prominently features the Mixolydian b6 scale which is such a unique sound.....
People used to crap on that tune and now it's pretty clear that's one of the better things they did "song" wise.
Still waiting the whole review of Awake album 🤭
the bass is so soothing👌
Live at Budokan is the height of DT's powers
Hollow Years is from Falling Into Infinity as well, and their live performance from this same live album is fantastic! Some of these songs they perform differently live as they didn't like the way the label forced them to hold back in the studio.
Absolutely! They took a decent album song and turned it into a complete emotional ride live. Pettrucci’s guitar work on the DVD almost brings me to tears it’s so beautiful!
DO THE MIRROR NEXT!!!
If you noticed there is homage to Rush (their heroes) in this song in the beginning parts of Xanadu
You truly need to do FATES WARNING. Some song suggestions "The Light And Shade Of Things", "The Longest Shadow Of The Day", "Monument", "The Ghosts Of Home", "Still Remains", "Something for Nothing" and/or the entire album "A Pleasant Shade Of Gray"
Probably the best DT live album in terms of production and audio quality.
I think Score is unbeatable, by themself or any other band. Best live album of all time to me.
Howdy Doug, have you ever had the chance to listen to "An Evening with John and Jordan"? Such a delight. Cheers!
This music is another masterpiece by DT. Honestly, they have so many amazing songs…
Looking back nowadays, Live at Budokan is most likely their best live performance.
You should watch Instrumedley before this song. Makes it all that more impressive. No one can touch this band.
This is actually one of their best songs!
Holy fuck!! This is one of my favorite songs ever!!! FII is such a killer album! Derek Sherinian is a master!!
we're waiting on some new Planet X too.. that ended up being the snottiest, busiest, most technically "holy crap" stuff to come from the DT extended family
This is one of their worst albums by far….
Wow.. my most favourite song ever..
One of my favorite songs by them. Written by John Myung.
Man! Thanks for this! One of my favorite album! One underated album
I would love for you to react to The Ministry of Lost Souls.
it's one hell of a deep song by dream theater
Next one:
SPACE DYE VEST, from "Awake" album.... The last song written by their 1st keyboard player Kevin Moore.... Please 🙏🏻🎶🎹
Space Dye Vest is incredible!
Kind of a preview of his next band, OSI.
Great speech at the end, Doug. ❤
One of their many masterpieces!🤩
Masterpiece. As always.
For an upcoming Metal Monday, please feature "Midnight Serenade" by Arch/Matheos. John Arch and Jim Matheos are two of the original members of Fates Warning, a band that at least one member of Dream Theater credits with influencing their prog metal journey.
Looking well Doug. Good to see :) - Glad you heard this. A personal fav since it's release
They're not tuned down. Dream theater just writes in flat keys sometimes lol. I mean, Octavarium is in F minor lol
John used to play a 7 string guitar during those years too, so the range was there.
Edit: seems like not in this one
He still plays 7s pretty often. I guess Tosin Abasi gave him an 8 string over the summer so he's probably using one at some point on the album they're working on now
This whole album is very underratted the reason you said making a turn to a more radio-like songs but nevertheless they did not lose any of their deepness in thoughts and creativity in music. I regurarly skip two songs from this album but consider it one of my favorite albums. And the best thing is - to listen to demos of this album which i highly recommend because there are songs that did not make it to the official album. Also, some lyrics that are excluded. Overall it has a message deep inside that again I will not reveal but in their context of lyrics - it's there. Keep listening to Dream Theater - it can be life changing. It was for me.
I skip Burning my soul, it sounds too generic and boring to me. The rest of the album is just flawless.
+1 on the Demo's. I think those who care know this by now, but that's the best songwriting DT ever did was on stuff that didn't get released.. lol. There's things about DT that are low key odd and that's one of them.
If you return to Dream Theater, you should look into The Best of Times. It has one of the most emotional guitar solos you'll ever hear.
If anyone is curious, here's an excerpt from an interview with John done by Bass Frontiers in 1997.
BF: A lot of the songs on this new album seem to deal with some hard topics. You composed a song called 'Trial Of Tears'. That one really made me think and want to analyze it. Can you tell me more about that song?
JM: That was the first song that I did a sketch for where I played guitar and keyboards and bass on it, and I presented it to the band. It was a song that went through many different stages. The first demo that I made was a really raw version of that and then we worked on it as a band and took it to another level. It turned out to be this incredible song that went from the version that I did to something that incorporated the band, which is a really great thing because you can still have independence and choose a direction, but then be able to synergize what that song is with your bandmates and be interdependent with them. That's when the magic happens. That's when the song really starts to transform and take on a strong personality.
Lyrically, that was a real therapeutic song for me. It deals with ego and my perception of it and understanding how it can cage you and really alter your perspective, but then realizing that life is really short so you need to make a decision. You also need to learn how to deal with regret while still moving forward. There's one line that talks about, 'you're not much better than the man you hate.' That's pretty much a play off one of the commandments 'Love thy enemy'. You know, 'Open up, you're not the only person here.' Also, my view of heaven being here today and not some distant galaxy, but based upon how centered and conscious you are will affect your experience and your perception. Understanding that is a really hard thing to do. It's just a whole bunch of different things that I was going through, just put into a song.
2004 Live At Budokan
Technically, the original lineup (1989, When Dream & Day Unite) had Kevin Moore on keyboards and Charlie Dominici on lead vocals.
James LaBrie replaced Dominici for the 1992 Images & Words album.
After Moore quit the band following the Awake album (1994), DT wanted Jordan Rudess as the replacement, but was unavailable. Derek Sherinian was recruited for the Awake tour and officially hired for Falling Into Infinity (1997).
During the Liquid Tension Experiment project, Portnoy was able to get Rudess to join in the project, during which, he courted him again to join DT. Having his prior commitments fulfilled, Rudess agreed, and became the 3rd keyboardist for DT appearing on 1999's concept album, Metropolis Part II : Scenes From A Memory. The LaBrie/Petrucci/Myung/Portnoy/Rudess lineup remained solid until 2011's A Dramatic Turn Of Events, where a "Mike swap" (like a "mic drop" - SWIDT?) saw the departure of Portnoy and the arrival of Mike Mangini.
And now the Mike swap has been reversed
Doug you HAVE to listen to Anna Lee and Peruvian Skies from this album. They're both beautiful melodic pieces covering the topic of an abused child which I think the band dealt with incredibly well.
Thats my favorite song from my favorite band ever, so much love for it!
My Favorite band ever and my favorite reactor ever
I love this song remembered when the album came out I was like in my late teens and in my early tweenties. So iconic.
Falling into Infinity was the first dream theater album i heard, so i am bit biased about loving it. It's very different from their previous work, more "EP"ish like Awake but mainstream? It's very down and gritty, but also hopeful and melodic. It has one of my favorite instrumentals that they've ever done and ever by any band, Hell's Kitchen in it, along with some bangers like Trials of tears and lines in the sand. Yeah, it's not talked about a lot these days in the grand scheme of DT's music now, but its very recommended.
Nice choice Doug. Thank you!
another great little tune from DT. now do the mission impossible: find not a great one.
One of my DT favorites! Thanks Doug,!
I'd keep your thoughts about how all bad moments should pass, sometimes in life we need to remember that we can go back to the top. The key, as you said, is to watch all the possibilities. Thank you Doug!
Petricci's solo reminded me of the one in In the dead of night by allan holdsworth in the UK album ...
This is an awesome track. Thanks for doing this one.
Yes! One I was waiting for, love this album
Doug, please check out “Scarred” next. The version from the album is fantastic, but they also have a great live performance from the Boston opera house in 2014
James LaBrie had that terrible food poisoning episode in 1994 while on vacation in Cuba. The extreme coughing and blood ruptured his vocal cords. He said he didn’t feel completely (almost) healed from this until 2004. He only recovered 95% of his range. His upper end is affected. That may have something to do with tuning down a half step at times.
Have you checked Apocalypse 1470 BC by Planet X? Derek on keyboards, Donati on drums, Macalpine on guitars the Live from Oz 2002 version
Erotomania, Voices, Lifting shadows of a dream, etc etc… pleaseeeee. Awake album!
What do I have to do to make you react to this song and the best ones from DT?
WHY???!!!
oh gods, this is my favorite song from DT, and it is so strange that someone with your level of following chose it. It has made me really happy today. Now, for the next DT song I would recommend Voices from the Awake album. Can't really recall if you've done a song from that one.
Seen this song live a few times, gives chills
Veteran's Day or Memorial Day, you must do The Enemy Inside
Found out DT in 2014. Did not get down to listen the first albuns first, and having heard it all in order, this album is the best in my humble opinion
A absolutely love Trial of Tears, specially this Budokan version! Falling into Infinity is an amazing album and Budokan one of their greatest live albums! Check them out and you will not me sorry
This is a great live version of this song. One thing it's missing from the studio version is when James sings the "welcome to the wasteland" line there is a sound effect that sounds like someone lighting a flare. Not sure if that's what they intended but it has always made me think of it that way and brings an atmospheric feel of someone trudging through a dark and dismal wasteland. It's a tiny little thing in the song that I have always found really cool.
One of my favorite albums.
Those were the times when DT made incredibly great music, not 'look what we can do showcases' of their technical capabilites. My opinion, certainly.
One of DT's many masterpieces.
Love this song and album.
Been a fan since 93 when Pull Me Under hit the airways.
Lovely interpretation and review. Falling Into Infinity, what an interesting album, I deeply recommend a full listening experience. Stellar and unexpected results came out from those recording sessions, full of record company’s meddling and outside pressures. I can only dream of the prospected double album and the wide variety of songs and moods. Fortunately, all the songs that were left off the record, have surfaced one way or the other. Cheers!
Great work, Doug! Next time, please do The Ministry of Lost Souls. I guarantee you will love it!
Doug, my friend at heart! You don’t know it but I look to your song analysis’s for advice each wave of songs I write.
I’ve noticed a lot of the music you review lines up identically with what I enjoy. Being autistic I had to analysis why that was the case. I believe it’s because; I like music with stimulating mathematical concepts that manipulate emotion at an intense level, whether or not the song is of an intense or peaceful nature to begin with.
Your channel in a way resembles “a musical look through history to determine the building blocks of a goodness, used in song, that host appeal to the masses”
Even before I heard of your channel I’ve made a point to discover the concept at work that makes me like every song I’ve ever liked. Your channels made this a lot easier for me. Traditionally I leave what ever song I listen to on repeat and memorize every instrument at work well before I move into another song. Then I’ll double back looking for at how the instruments work together as a whole, first intentionally from the perspective of how traditional music theory explains concepts then after for accidental concepts that in no way should work but somehow add/enhance a song.
After 25 years of this method I’ve arrived at a doozie, I was kinda hoping to pass it off… to you.. to do it for me 😅, perhaps, maybe 🤞 I’ve been stuck on it for nearly 3 weeks and I haven’t came across a puzzle like this since iron maidens “the parchment”
I need to know. Why is “a seafarers knot - fair to midland”
so unbelievably appealing???
I suspect the answer has a lot to do with the rhythm that the vocalist accents during the course but, I’m not sure yet. It feels like it should be predictable but it’s not for some reason.
Anyways I really hope you give “A Seafarer’s Knot” a go. If not, keep up the good work anyways. I’ve watched a lot of your videos and it’s shocking how there are no bad ones. Your consistency really indicates sharing what you do is a talent. You were born were born for it. “For goodness sake! somebody pay the man!!!” 😂
On point as always. I'd love to see you get back to Devin Townsend, and finish the last song of the three from Lightworker, with the actual title track, and the official video Lightworker. I think you'd like it.
I saw DT twice in 1997--once at the House of Blues in LA and then at the Universal Amphitheater. It was a triple bill with Deep Purple, ELP, and DT. They only played 6 songs. I loved Falling Into Infinity, but in my mind, everything since (with one astonishing exception) has eclipsed it. It might be time to revisit it.
6 songs but a 90 minute set? 😂