The band was probably at peak performance during the time this concert was recorded. The entire live album is amazing from beginning to end, but the third song, Beyond this life, is probably the best live track the band has ever released. It's pure DT alchemy concentrated in twenty minutes.
@@nathanguitarriffing3898 James LaBrie on the Marquee record is peak vocal performance. What he does in the end of Another Hand/Killing Hand is out of this world.
They’re so Talented, I can’t think of a band out there that compares. Maybe between the buried and me, but the vocals turn me off. Half their songs they do the death metal vocals. I just hate that crap!
@@scottlaughlin9897 have you tried 70s bands? Rush, Yes, King Crimson, Emerson Lake and Palmer etc. DT practically opened the doors to the world of prog for me.
@@budi.haryono Same, my older cousin introduced me to the band through ToT and As I Am immediately became my favourite song, even though it was one of the simplest. The album itself came at a time I was getting into more heavy bands and wasn't mature enough for their older works but as I grew up and listened to the rest of the catalogue and also accompanied the new releases, they just solidified as my favourite band and a few years later I was there watching them live before Black Clouds and Silver Linings released. They ended the concert with As I Am and I couldn't be happier.
@@_Ellurion you're so lucky, man 🤘 I never see them live before. They will perform in my country this year but unfortunately I'm not going And yes, As I Am is one of their simplest song but definitely an effective opener track for the album! 🤘
Its one of my favorite and I think it was the generational gap album which is why it got so much hate from earlier fans despite newer fans liking it. But honestly, I think they nailed it and Portnoys drums, just amazing. Also fun fact, the demo tapes for this album really let you hear the bass SO much better than the final mix. Portnoys parts changed a lot but Myungs raw bass tone here was SO nice
If you play all the parts in a row, you'll notice that they share a lot of shared/reused riffes and lyrical ideas with variations. You'll see the iconic/main riffs from all parts of the suite re used every now and then. Helps build unity. The last song in the suite, The Shattered Foretress has riffs from all the parts, nice callbacks. This one ends with the opening riff from The Root Of All Evil, the next part. Because in the end, it's 1 big long song with parts, sections, and.. well suites.
I think the song Shattered Fortress is weak lacks soul and originality. Despite all other songs having a hint of the previous steps, they all were original and had their own themes. Shattered Fortress is just a call back to every other step filled with pointless solo sessions. Poorest song of the whole suite. Shame.
@@Cestariarts I disagree. Although the riffs all are recycled - which is the whole idea - they are all re-arranged and repurposed in a wonderful and clever way.
I recommend listening to “The Mirror” when you can. It’s a prequel of sorts to the 12-step suite. Lot of lyrics and motifs are borrowed from that song. They come back around later on in the suite too. Listening to the whole thing in one go performed live really adds context to the whole piece with the motifs and lyrical directions.
I got to see them in a bar in Houston Texas back in 92! I met and chatted with the band! I got everyone’s autograph on their picture in my “when dream and day unite” cd insert. James signed it on the back because he wasn’t in the band then. Great guys!
Yesterday I rewatched your The Glass Prison episode and thought “When is he gonna finish the 12 Step Suite?” Lol Also some of the riffs and motifs carry on to other songs
Dream Theater has saved my life during my darkest hour; the twelve step suit helped me get out of my own destructive obsessions. I've never been an alcoholic but regardless this music has helped me a great deal and I'm sure I cannot be the only one.
That bass line at 4:06, just after Dr. Doug says "Just right into it." is absolutely etched into my soul. An interesting bass part that grabs my attention, but also compliments the rest of the music is, to me, greater than the sum of its parts.
Live Scenes from NY was my first introduction to DT, but getting and watching Live at Budokan was my life changing moment. Favorite band of all time ever since!
Step 4 "Reflections of Reality" and some of the lyrics in that step reference the lyrics to "The Mirror / Lie" from the Awake album. "The Mirror" is not officially part of the 12-Step Suite but it is referenced in a big way. I suggest listening to "The Mirror / Lie" when you get a chance as an addendum to the 12-Step Suite.
The Mirror is without a doubt a pre-cursor to the Twelve-Step Suite, with lyrics such as "Let's stare the problem right in the eye" and "reflections of reality" that are re-introduced in This Dying Soul, and even though Lie isn't connected lyrically, you just can't listen to The Mirror without following up with Lie.
Yeah honestly the live in budokan on a musicianship stand point, is one of the most impressive live metal concert ever recorded. Some of the shit from that live is insane.
I used to play this album (Train of Thought) at work. The only downside was that hardly any work got done. The people I was working with were mesmerize by the music. I used to do my own version of Maiden Mondays. I would start with their first album and see far into their albums I could get before quitting time. I would usually got to about Seventh Son before we had to go. Great times.
A cool twist would be to do the live sons of Apollo version. It’s one of Mike Portnoy projects post DT with the keyboardist that did those songs when he was in DT. So cool to see them do it together.
My favorite song(s) from Train of Thought is(are) Vacant/Stream of Consciousness. Vacant is about James LeBrie's daughter slipping into a coma when she was six. It flows seamlessly into Stream of Consciousness which is an instrumental based on a similar musical idea that, in my mind, goes through all of the emotions that James may have felt when dealing with this. Love it.
Check out Pain of Salvation: On A Tuesday from In The Passing Light Of Day. Studio verion is great, but Live At Hellfest 2017 is as good. (starts at 51:25) Kinda similar musical start, but more dynamics later. Loss, despair and hope: "I lost my way, but haven't lost my faith, it's just lost in me..." Seems hopeful. I think the writer was in isolation with a flesh eating bug and 50/50 chance of survival at the time.
"This Dying Soul" is the song that made me fall in love with Dream Theater - and I first heard it on this particular performance. I'm not lying when I say it helped me a lot of times in my life.
You're right about the live version sounding better. The Live at Budokan mix was incredible! Especially the bass! Best live mix I've heard and it continues to the rest of the show also. I've got the 1080p Blue-ray and it's worth getting!
Yes, this version is amazing, it sounds like in the album. Nice that Doug could go to see them live, I am waiting to them to come Back to México, nice review with the lyrics.
It's nice that Dream Theater has warmed you up to a bit more of the extreme elements of extreme metal like the double kicks and very fast tempos. Mind you not saying you should, or will, go much further than a song like This Dying Soul but nevertheless I think that the version of you all those months ago that started this channel wouldn't have been able to get into a song with this much double kicks and long sections of fast drumming and such so kudos on that because many more trained musicians never give this kind of stuff a chance even if it is by a darling prog band like DT. And yes I kinda want to slide into recommending one my recent favorites bands, the death metal neoclassical act First Fragment, but well it might not be time yet since that would be going from a 3 or 4 that this dying soul represents in terms of violent, heavy and extremely busy music into that 11 right away so maybe one day.
I will beat that drum until you listen to it. But Doug I really really really feel like you would absolutely love The Astonishing album. It's the Dream Theater you like most, theatrical with more emphasis on songwriting as opposed to the riff based, super heavy and technical stuff. I know a lot of DT fans hate it but I think it fits right into your tastes.
You're not wrong, that album might be Doug's favorite... maybe because it's easier to figure that out, and the lyrics hit heavy... I would never get over that line at "Act of Faythe" when it says: "living like a stranger... inside of my home." That shit described me back in those days.
This is such an amazing live album, the band, as you said, at the top of their game... some of my favorite songs and that huge instrumedley (that Hell's Kitchen ending is breathtaking!!). That bass piercing the mix is AMAZING!! Sadly in later albums the bass is drowned in the mix... Score has some hidden gems worth exploring , Another Won and Raise the Knife (the latter will finally be officially released by the band on th Falling into Infinity demos - which have the first demo for Metropolis pt2, as a single track - still with Derek sherinian)
Train of Thought ranks in my top 3 for all time favourite DT albums. They’ve never ever been heavier and that is why Train of Thought remains a special and unique album in their discography.
The best DT live performance at the prestigious Budokan!!!!! ⚡⚡⚡🔥🔥🔥🔥💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼 Insane riffs and the combination of those elements with such deep lyrics from Portnoy, I mean, it's DT at it best!!!!!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Yeah, freaking amazing what they can pull off live. That song is really, really intense, especially at the end. If you want a comparable instrumental beginning, try "Lost Not Forgotten" sometime. Amazing song in its own right, but the music is pure magic.
First time hearing this band, and wow! They are damn good! I need to get a Kurzweil stand like he's got, but first I need to get another Kurz. I've had three and keep giving them to the Funky Geezer, who wears them down for me.
The next one is "The Root Of All Evil" and you gotta check out the live version from "Score" which was very next tour after this one. The performance is seriously mind blowing! 🤘
My first time seeing them live was on this tour, a couple of weeks before this show. You should also take a look at Hollow Years from this show. I love this version of the mix with the bass upfront, shame that JP's last solo gets a bit buried in the mix though. And yeah, powerful lyrics, people that have gone through this must relate to these songs.
Doug!!! 👊😎 The characteristic you're looking for in almost all Dream Theater music is what they call the "shrink and grow." It happens rhythmically AND at times harmonically. It's a thing! Lol
Please, please you gotta do the instrumental from this album and yes the live version from Budokan. It's called "Stream of Consciousness" and its absolutely amazing!
Next is The Root Of All Evil, but honestly, I think you'd be better off doing the entire Octavarium album as an extended play because the songs go into each other and reference each other like a classic Floyd album. It's my personal favourite album of the last 25 years or so and I think definitely worth a full listen!
first time I heard both of these songs was at the Fields Of Rock festival on June 17th, 2007. So, that was before the album even came out. I immediately fell in love with these songs and they're still among my all time favorite Dream Theater songs.
Great musical and lyrical breakdown as always. Hard to believe that Train of Thought was written in a month. They've put out lots of fantastic albums but to me it is their best all around album in my opinion. There are no bad songs on the album. It's heavy, hard hitting, progressive and just fantastic. I can put the album on and run it from start to finish without getting bored or skipping songs.That being said you should watch the entire Live at the Budokan concert. This time period they were at the top of their game for the Portnoy years in my opinion. It was one of the first concert DVD's I ever owned and was what helped me get hooked on DT.
Okay... although i lost my "appetite" for DT since portnoy left, this remains a cool song. Special note to the most underrated bass player of all time. Myung is an animal!
This is off my favorite album by them. It’s so heavy and dark, and every song but one is over ten minutes long. Can’t get much better than that for me.
I can't wait to see you experience "At Wit's End" from Distance over Time album. They have an official video live as well. That is a ridiculously awesome song
so regarding double kick; it's like spice in food, by that i mean you can get away with bland tasting meal by masking it with hot spice (which is pretty common in metal songs). in this case, portnoy know exactly when and how to use said 'spice'; it adds flavor, works with the rest of the song, and doesn't cause headache aftertaste like in any other metal songs by most bands out there (or like after eating spicy food). i hope this food analogy helps 🙂 so yeah, pretty much why portnoy leaving the band cause a huge commotion among the fans. such a talented drummer
This entire album is one of my favorites. The whole album has a rather heavy/ dark vibe to it. An it's also one of my favorites by them in terms of the mix. Mike Portnoys drums on this album just sounded impeccable. Both the recording itself and musically. The album only has 7 songs but it's still about an hour I believe. An to know they wrote it in a matter of weeks is just amazing. Just imagine being able to compose such a level of music so quickly while still being so captivating. It's not their most technical work but on an artistic level it's certainly in my top 3 Dream Theater albums. My number one favorite is Awake. That albums just covers the full spectrum of elements that is Dream Theater to me. The last album in my top 3 would probably be metropolis with metropolis and Train of thought not being in any particular order. But my number one has always been Awake. It was the very first Dream Theater album I heard, particularly the song Erotnomania. A fairly short instrumental song but it was the first time I had heard anything like it. I'd recommend that album to anyone for their first DT experience.
Please consider listening to the band An Endless Sporadic. Probably the most underrated band I know of. They have great progressive elements and incredible creative musicianship. Jordan Rudess has even spoken to their abilities of songwriting and has even collaborated on a song with them. Please give it a try! I would recommend Sky Run ft. Jordan Rudess to get you started! Thanks, Doug, for all your content that keeps me watching daily!
I agree that few drummers are so enjoyable to watch, at least for a non-drummer like me. Mike has such a playful style, he is always adding some cool cymbal colorations or things like that to what other drummers might be content with. Another one I enjoy in that regard would be Marco Minnemann.
Great stuff, Doug! The only thing I would suggest is to leave less time between listens. That’s going to make you miss so much references etc. For the next part: The Root of all evil you could easily do the Live version at Radio City Music Hall. For Repentance, there is no live version. And for the last part: The Shattered Fortress, there is a great live version with Mike Mangini, but I would suggest doing the studio version. You can’t listen to Portnoy’s story without Portnoy, right? 😉 but anyway, great stuff, as always
Hey, I love your analysis, particularly the one with piano playing you've done to Opeth songs. I'd really love to hear you analyse Meshuggah, although I know it might be too much for you in terms of heaviness, and the vocals may be unbearable. I appreciate your willingness to come out of your comfort zone, though. I'd also love for you to delve into some less conventional prog metal such as Intronaut (I propose "Milk Leg" or "Harmonomicon" from Habitual Levitations) or Nevermore (I propose "This Godless Endeavor" from the album of the same name) or Voivod (I propose "Jack Luminous" from The Outer Limits). Cheers and keep up!
I’ll fight anyone saying Mike Portnoy isn’t just the greatest drummer of all time. BY FAR! And one of the greatest musicians of all time. Right up there. Man, I love his playing! Watching him play is absolute joy!
There are several references to The Mirror, a song from their 1994 album Awake, which is considered a prequel to the Twelve-Step Suite. Obviously, "Hello mirror, so glad to see you my friend, it's been a while" and Part 4's title Reflections of Reality (Revisited) is a reference to the lyric "reflections of reality". Also the lyrics "Let's stare the problem right in the eye, it's plagued me from coast to coast, racing the clock to please everyone, all but the one who matter the most" from The Mirror is re-introduced as "Now it's time to stare the problem right between the eyes" and "Spreading all your lies from coast to coast, then spitting on the ones that matter most". And while Lie isn't connected to the Suite at all, its seamless transition from The Mirror makes it necessary to listen to if you're going to listen to The Mirror.
The band was probably at peak performance during the time this concert was recorded. The entire live album is amazing from beginning to end, but the third song, Beyond this life, is probably the best live track the band has ever released. It's pure DT alchemy concentrated in twenty minutes.
True. Beyond This Life from Budokan might just be the best DT live recording. I always just keep smiling throughout the whole improv part.
The Band performance on live at the marquee (james labrie included) was something else.
I wouldn’t say peak but it’s good. Score was their peak performance live wise I believe
@@nathanguitarriffing3898 James LaBrie on the Marquee record is peak vocal performance. What he does in the end of Another Hand/Killing Hand is out of this world.
I have the Budokan DVD, but How the hell the bass is SO loud in this?
Live at Budokan is such a phenomenal concert. highly recommend watching the entire thing
John Myung really shines here. That tone.
This Budokan DVD was my first experience with Dream Theater, I was blown away and have loved the band ever since!
Same here
They’re so Talented, I can’t think of a band out there that compares. Maybe between the buried and me, but the vocals turn me off. Half their songs they do the death metal vocals. I just hate that crap!
@@scottlaughlin9897 Try symphony x, maybe dragon force if you like that, sounds a bit strange sometimes.
@@scottlaughlin9897 have you tried 70s bands? Rush, Yes, King Crimson, Emerson Lake and Palmer etc. DT practically opened the doors to the world of prog for me.
Same here
Train of Thought is a solid album beginning to end. Definitely worth a full listen if you haven’t yet
One of my favorite! ToT was the album that introduced me to DT
@@budi.haryono Same, my older cousin introduced me to the band through ToT and As I Am immediately became my favourite song, even though it was one of the simplest. The album itself came at a time I was getting into more heavy bands and wasn't mature enough for their older works but as I grew up and listened to the rest of the catalogue and also accompanied the new releases, they just solidified as my favourite band and a few years later I was there watching them live before Black Clouds and Silver Linings released. They ended the concert with As I Am and I couldn't be happier.
an incredible album indeed
@@_Ellurion you're so lucky, man 🤘 I never see them live before. They will perform in my country this year but unfortunately I'm not going
And yes, As I Am is one of their simplest song but definitely an effective opener track for the album! 🤘
Its one of my favorite and I think it was the generational gap album which is why it got so much hate from earlier fans despite newer fans liking it. But honestly, I think they nailed it and Portnoys drums, just amazing.
Also fun fact, the demo tapes for this album really let you hear the bass SO much better than the final mix. Portnoys parts changed a lot but Myungs raw bass tone here was SO nice
If you play all the parts in a row, you'll notice that they share a lot of shared/reused riffes and lyrical ideas with variations. You'll see the iconic/main riffs from all parts of the suite re used every now and then. Helps build unity. The last song in the suite, The Shattered Foretress has riffs from all the parts, nice callbacks. This one ends with the opening riff from The Root Of All Evil, the next part. Because in the end, it's 1 big long song with parts, sections, and.. well suites.
you forgot "Repentance"
I think the song Shattered Fortress is weak lacks soul and originality. Despite all other songs having a hint of the previous steps, they all were original and had their own themes. Shattered Fortress is just a call back to every other step filled with pointless solo sessions. Poorest song of the whole suite. Shame.
@@Pirustae one of the best Petrucci solos
Yeah, but in 'The Shattered Foretress' you wont hear anothing new. It's conglomerate of previous riffs. It's boring as hell.
@@Cestariarts I disagree. Although the riffs all are recycled - which is the whole idea - they are all re-arranged and repurposed in a wonderful and clever way.
Myung is soooo clean . Just perfect bass
Stream of Consciousness from this DVD is MONSTROUS IMO. Love the album version, absolutely blown away from this live performance.
What a killer bass tone
I liked the Yamaha way more than the Bongo.
I recommend listening to “The Mirror” when you can. It’s a prequel of sorts to the 12-step suite. Lot of lyrics and motifs are borrowed from that song. They come back around later on in the suite too. Listening to the whole thing in one go performed live really adds context to the whole piece with the motifs and lyrical directions.
Dream theater are the best ! Genius! And I love you so ,dt is medicin and therapy and .......Masters! The Rock Olymp!.............
Okay maybe you'd like some Elegy Dutch prog on youtube early 90tz
DT's Live at Budokan is worth watching through and through. An excellent live recording, my favourite of theirs.
I got to see them in a bar in Houston Texas back in 92! I met and chatted with the band! I got everyone’s autograph on their picture in my “when dream and day unite” cd insert.
James signed it on the back because he wasn’t in the band then. Great guys!
Yesterday I rewatched your The Glass Prison episode and thought “When is he gonna finish the 12 Step Suite?” Lol
Also some of the riffs and motifs carry on to other songs
That's why I love The Shattered Fortress, it's a compilation and a closure to it all. Love it.
Dream Theater has saved my life during my darkest hour; the twelve step suit helped me get out of my own destructive obsessions. I've never been an alcoholic but regardless this music has helped me a great deal and I'm sure I cannot be the only one.
I saw them in NYC a few weeks before this show and they were even better at the NYC show!
One thing to note that during this song the power went out for part of the song at the MSG theater show! I was second row in front of JP!
That bass line at 4:06, just after Dr. Doug says "Just right into it." is absolutely etched into my soul. An interesting bass part that grabs my attention, but also compliments the rest of the music is, to me, greater than the sum of its parts.
You said they were on top of their game and you're right. This is probably peak Dream Theater (2003-2004).
For me its start in 1999 with what is their best album Metropolis part 2
Yeah, I'd say '99-'04. Five miracle years.@@themusicfan2179
Live Scenes from NY was my first introduction to DT, but getting and watching Live at Budokan was my life changing moment. Favorite band of all time ever since!
Step 4 "Reflections of Reality" and some of the lyrics in that step reference the lyrics to "The Mirror / Lie" from the Awake album. "The Mirror" is not officially part of the 12-Step Suite but it is referenced in a big way. I suggest listening to "The Mirror / Lie" when you get a chance as an addendum to the 12-Step Suite.
The Mirror is without a doubt a pre-cursor to the Twelve-Step Suite, with lyrics such as "Let's stare the problem right in the eye" and "reflections of reality" that are re-introduced in This Dying Soul, and even though Lie isn't connected lyrically, you just can't listen to The Mirror without following up with Lie.
I can’t wait for a full album Awake EPL video!
Thank you for reacting to the Budokan show! This entire concert is well worth watching.
I’m so happy right now. Dream theater is my favorite band of all time
I'd love each metal monday to be used to finish this 12 step suite. Great stuff
15:54 until 16:17 is my favorite part. In my opinion Doug is changing, and his perception would be different several months ago.
Yeah honestly the live in budokan on a musicianship stand point, is one of the most impressive live metal concert ever recorded. Some of the shit from that live is insane.
I used to play this album (Train of Thought) at work. The only downside was that hardly any work got done. The people I was working with were mesmerize by the music.
I used to do my own version of Maiden Mondays. I would start with their first album and see far into their albums I could get before quitting time.
I would usually got to about Seventh Son before we had to go. Great times.
You must listen this piece of dream theater mastering " Hell's Kitchen + Lines in the Sand", it's a masterpiece
i second this
Lines in The Sand is awesome
Hell's Kitchen is one of my all time favorites from DT. Its simply amazing.
From Falling Into Infinity or is there a live version?
A cool twist would be to do the live sons of Apollo version. It’s one of Mike Portnoy projects post DT with the keyboardist that did those songs when he was in DT. So cool to see them do it together.
My favorite song(s) from Train of Thought is(are) Vacant/Stream of Consciousness. Vacant is about James LeBrie's daughter slipping into a coma when she was six. It flows seamlessly into Stream of Consciousness which is an instrumental based on a similar musical idea that, in my mind, goes through all of the emotions that James may have felt when dealing with this. Love it.
Check out Pain of Salvation: On A Tuesday from In The Passing Light Of Day. Studio verion is great, but Live At Hellfest 2017 is as good. (starts at 51:25)
Kinda similar musical start, but more dynamics later. Loss, despair and hope: "I lost my way, but haven't lost my faith, it's just lost in me..." Seems hopeful. I think the writer was in isolation with a flesh eating bug and 50/50 chance of survival at the time.
Dream Theater days on the Daily Doug are my favorite kinds of days.
Man - that gets me every time! Holy crap! Loved seeing your reaction - it brings a fun twist to listening to my favorite music!
"This Dying Soul" is the song that made me fall in love with Dream Theater - and I first heard it on this particular performance. I'm not lying when I say it helped me a lot of times in my life.
waoww accidently i only wear the left headphone, unbelievable you can hear keyboard and bass clear as a diamond. amazing
You're right about the live version sounding better. The Live at Budokan mix was incredible! Especially the bass! Best live mix I've heard and it continues to the rest of the show also. I've got the 1080p Blue-ray and it's worth getting!
Yes, this version is amazing, it sounds like in the album. Nice that Doug could go to see them live, I am waiting to them to come Back to México, nice review with the lyrics.
Wow, that was amazing! First time I've seen them play with Mike on the drums.
It's nice that Dream Theater has warmed you up to a bit more of the extreme elements of extreme metal like the double kicks and very fast tempos. Mind you not saying you should, or will, go much further than a song like This Dying Soul but nevertheless I think that the version of you all those months ago that started this channel wouldn't have been able to get into a song with this much double kicks and long sections of fast drumming and such so kudos on that because many more trained musicians never give this kind of stuff a chance even if it is by a darling prog band like DT.
And yes I kinda want to slide into recommending one my recent favorites bands, the death metal neoclassical act First Fragment, but well it might not be time yet since that would be going from a 3 or 4 that this dying soul represents in terms of violent, heavy and extremely busy music into that 11 right away so maybe one day.
First Fragment - Yes...
I love how clear you can hear John myungs bass in this mix, some of the parts he plays are just insane
Great reaction! Live at Budokan is probably their best live recording!
I will beat that drum until you listen to it. But Doug I really really really feel like you would absolutely love The Astonishing album. It's the Dream Theater you like most, theatrical with more emphasis on songwriting as opposed to the riff based, super heavy and technical stuff.
I know a lot of DT fans hate it but I think it fits right into your tastes.
> I know a lot of DT fans hate it
I wouldn't say that. The album has been critically acclaimed and many consider it the best Mangini album.
It's their best album.
@@gp5109 By who? Most people hate it and I've never heard someone of repute talk positively about it.
You're not wrong, that album might be Doug's favorite... maybe because it's easier to figure that out, and the lyrics hit heavy... I would never get over that line at "Act of Faythe" when it says: "living like a stranger... inside of my home." That shit described me back in those days.
@@LuisRdzG10 I love it whenever he sings Evangeline, those parts are awesome
This is such an amazing live album, the band, as you said, at the top of their game... some of my favorite songs and that huge instrumedley (that Hell's Kitchen ending is breathtaking!!). That bass piercing the mix is AMAZING!! Sadly in later albums the bass is drowned in the mix...
Score has some hidden gems worth exploring , Another Won and Raise the Knife (the latter will finally be officially released by the band on th Falling into Infinity demos - which have the first demo for Metropolis pt2, as a single track - still with Derek sherinian)
I just love when hes reviewing these legends.
Please please and please review Hollow years live at budokan.
Doug Doug Doug more DT please.
Just got to see then live too in Milan and it was freaking amazing
This is my favorite Dream Theater song. Unbelievable
Train of Thought ranks in my top 3 for all time favourite DT albums. They’ve never ever been heavier and that is why Train of Thought remains a special and unique album in their discography.
Tain of Thought is in my top 3 DT albums...I think it's an under appreciated album. I love it.
Nothing under appreciated about it lol
The best DT live performance at the prestigious Budokan!!!!! ⚡⚡⚡🔥🔥🔥🔥💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼 Insane riffs and the combination of those elements with such deep lyrics from Portnoy, I mean, it's DT at it best!!!!!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Nice breakdown. One of the few DT releases I revisit with any frequency. Love the heaviness and less than normal pretentious noodling.
Yeah, freaking amazing what they can pull off live. That song is really, really intense, especially at the end.
If you want a comparable instrumental beginning, try "Lost Not Forgotten" sometime.
Amazing song in its own right, but the music is pure magic.
First time hearing this band, and wow! They are damn good! I need to get a Kurzweil stand like he's got, but first I need to get another Kurz. I've had three and keep giving them to the Funky Geezer, who wears them down for me.
The next one is "The Root Of All Evil" and you gotta check out the live version from "Score" which was very next tour after this one. The performance is seriously mind blowing! 🤘
Fav song, fav album.
Fav react RUclipsr, indeed
My first time seeing them live was on this tour, a couple of weeks before this show. You should also take a look at Hollow Years from this show.
I love this version of the mix with the bass upfront, shame that JP's last solo gets a bit buried in the mix though.
And yeah, powerful lyrics, people that have gone through this must relate to these songs.
Yesss, finally part 2! You go, Doug. =)
Doug!!! 👊😎
The characteristic you're looking for in almost all Dream Theater music is what they call the "shrink and grow." It happens rhythmically AND at times harmonically. It's a thing! Lol
you know when it´s a good transition at 15:00 because Doug didn´t even got bothered by the double bass drum in this section, ha.
Please, please you gotta do the instrumental from this album and yes the live version from Budokan. It's called "Stream of Consciousness" and its absolutely amazing!
My favourite DT song from my favourite DT album
They reference The Mirror from the Awake album. Reflections of reality.
Next is The Root Of All Evil, but honestly, I think you'd be better off doing the entire Octavarium album as an extended play because the songs go into each other and reference each other like a classic Floyd album. It's my personal favourite album of the last 25 years or so and I think definitely worth a full listen!
Dream Theater
Definitely one of their best albums, amazing performance as usual!
I love the Portnoy maneuver at 7:39.😁
Doug instructed Dream Theater that it is a reality.
2 of my favorite Heavy songs from DT are "Constant Motion" & "Dark Eternal Night". Both off of Their Systematic Chaos Album.
first time I heard both of these songs was at the Fields Of Rock festival on June 17th, 2007.
So, that was before the album even came out.
I immediately fell in love with these songs and they're still among my all time favorite Dream Theater songs.
Both amazing and especially super fun to play on guitar.
It’s hard to believe it’s 20 years ago until you see John’s hair. No shade I had the same cut at the time
Doug. Listen to the Hollow
Years on the same album. Beautiful song then breaks right into War instead head. Mind-blowing!
The fact that the entire Train of Thought album was written in just three weeks, still blows my mind...
I love Endles Sacrifice that comes right after this one.
Chills. Every time. Chills.
JP took one look at the remastered/Blue-Ray version of Budokan, and went, "I'll never let Myung get his bass loud ever again!" :p
fyi: The Glass Prison (12-Step Suite parts 1-3) reaction: ruclips.net/video/IG8c6rG10cY/видео.html
I love how high the bass is in the mix.
Great musical and lyrical breakdown as always. Hard to believe that Train of Thought was written in a month. They've put out lots of fantastic albums but to me it is their best all around album in my opinion. There are no bad songs on the album. It's heavy, hard hitting, progressive and just fantastic. I can put the album on and run it from start to finish without getting bored or skipping songs.That being said you should watch the entire Live at the Budokan concert. This time period they were at the top of their game for the Portnoy years in my opinion. It was one of the first concert DVD's I ever owned and was what helped me get hooked on DT.
God I miss young James LaBrie
Okay... although i lost my "appetite" for DT since portnoy left, this remains a cool song. Special note to the most underrated bass player of all time. Myung is an animal!
This is off my favorite album by them. It’s so heavy and dark, and every song but one is over ten minutes long. Can’t get much better than that for me.
Glad to you realize how good this band's music... And that enjoyable drummer to watch... haha
I can't wait to see you experience "At Wit's End" from Distance over Time album. They have an official video live as well. That is a ridiculously awesome song
This live DVD was absolutely amazing! Please do yourself a favor and check the rest of it out. You won't be disappointed.
It even swings. That baffels me, you would think all these notes would sound like a midi game.
so regarding double kick; it's like spice in food, by that i mean you can get away with bland tasting meal by masking it with hot spice (which is pretty common in metal songs).
in this case, portnoy know exactly when and how to use said 'spice'; it adds flavor, works with the rest of the song, and doesn't cause headache aftertaste like in any other metal songs by most bands out there (or like after eating spicy food). i hope this food analogy helps 🙂
so yeah, pretty much why portnoy leaving the band cause a huge commotion among the fans. such a talented drummer
This entire album is one of my favorites. The whole album has a rather heavy/ dark vibe to it. An it's also one of my favorites by them in terms of the mix. Mike Portnoys drums on this album just sounded impeccable. Both the recording itself and musically. The album only has 7 songs but it's still about an hour I believe. An to know they wrote it in a matter of weeks is just amazing. Just imagine being able to compose such a level of music so quickly while still being so captivating. It's not their most technical work but on an artistic level it's certainly in my top 3 Dream Theater albums. My number one favorite is Awake. That albums just covers the full spectrum of elements that is Dream Theater to me. The last album in my top 3 would probably be metropolis with metropolis and Train of thought not being in any particular order. But my number one has always been Awake. It was the very first Dream Theater album I heard, particularly the song Erotnomania. A fairly short instrumental song but it was the first time I had heard anything like it. I'd recommend that album to anyone for their first DT experience.
My favourite album by far, probably their heaviest too
I see Dream Theater, i slap the LIKE button... It's like that!
Please consider listening to the band An Endless Sporadic. Probably the most underrated band I know of. They have great progressive elements and incredible creative musicianship. Jordan Rudess has even spoken to their abilities of songwriting and has even collaborated on a song with them. Please give it a try! I would recommend Sky Run ft. Jordan Rudess to get you started! Thanks, Doug, for all your content that keeps me watching daily!
I know it’s a ways away but on sept 11 you should watch Dream Theater: Sacrificed Sons the live version
Perfect!
I agree that few drummers are so enjoyable to watch, at least for a non-drummer like me. Mike has such a playful style, he is always adding some cool cymbal colorations or things like that to what other drummers might be content with. Another one I enjoy in that regard would be Marco Minnemann.
Great stuff, Doug! The only thing I would suggest is to leave less time between listens. That’s going to make you miss so much references etc. For the next part: The Root of all evil you could easily do the Live version at Radio City Music Hall. For Repentance, there is no live version. And for the last part: The Shattered Fortress, there is a great live version with Mike Mangini, but I would suggest doing the studio version. You can’t listen to Portnoy’s story without Portnoy, right? 😉 but anyway, great stuff, as always
how is it possible that we still haven't had an Arch Echo reaction
12:00 Well it seems pretty simple since it doesn't sound like double kick.
"I don't know if Jordan is human." 🤣🤣🤣👍
Hey, I love your analysis, particularly the one with piano playing you've done to Opeth songs. I'd really love to hear you analyse Meshuggah, although I know it might be too much for you in terms of heaviness, and the vocals may be unbearable. I appreciate your willingness to come out of your comfort zone, though. I'd also love for you to delve into some less conventional prog metal such as Intronaut (I propose "Milk Leg" or "Harmonomicon" from Habitual Levitations) or Nevermore (I propose "This Godless Endeavor" from the album of the same name) or Voivod (I propose "Jack Luminous" from The Outer Limits). Cheers and keep up!
特にアウトロのユニゾンソロを支えるベースラインがカッコいいよね
そして武道館ライブはベースの音がよく聴こえる
I’ll fight anyone saying Mike Portnoy isn’t just the greatest drummer of all time. BY FAR! And one of the greatest musicians of all time. Right up there. Man, I love his playing! Watching him play is absolute joy!
Primeira música do DT que escutei na vida. Foi amor à primeira ouvida ❤️
Best myung with live concert full bass 🤣🤟
There are several references to The Mirror, a song from their 1994 album Awake, which is considered a prequel to the Twelve-Step Suite. Obviously, "Hello mirror, so glad to see you my friend, it's been a while" and Part 4's title Reflections of Reality (Revisited) is a reference to the lyric "reflections of reality". Also the lyrics "Let's stare the problem right in the eye, it's plagued me from coast to coast, racing the clock to please everyone, all but the one who matter the most" from The Mirror is re-introduced as "Now it's time to stare the problem right between the eyes" and "Spreading all your lies from coast to coast, then spitting on the ones that matter most". And while Lie isn't connected to the Suite at all, its seamless transition from The Mirror makes it necessary to listen to if you're going to listen to The Mirror.
Today is the 15 anniversary of Systematic Chaos. Need to do In the Presence of Enemies 1 and 2 in the extended play lounge.