Dream Theater - Live At Budokan
Performance
Production 
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Dream Theater - Live At Budokan
Performance
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Dream Theater has finally gotten it right. Well, almost. After releasing a few other hit-and-miss video releases, throughout the past decade, we finally get a full length, DVD, concert video with world class production values. This DVD doesn't suffer from the same problems as their previous videos, such as a phenomenal performance marred by a terrible production (Metropolis 2000), but it does have its own unique problems. That is not to say that Live At Budokan is still not one hell of a progressive-metal fan's wet dream. Live At Budokan was recorded at the famous Budokan hall in Tokyo, Japan on April 26, 2004, towards the end of Dream Theater's Train Of Thought world tour. The DVD was released only a little more than five months after the recording was done, which might explain the one huge production glitch that still haunts this DVD. I'll cover that one later. Right from the opening credits, as the camera slowly pans around the packed Budokan hall, like the opening scene of a Martin Scorsese epic, a steady keyboard drone climactically builds up until the house lights finally die, the Train Of Thought album cover is emblazoned on each of the three mammoth video screens, and the opening bass harmonics of "As I Am" are played by John Myung. "As I Am" was followed by "This Dying Soul", just like it is on the Train Of Thought album. Put it this way, if you absolutely love the Train Of Thought and Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence albums, you will be on cloud nine watching this DVD, because ten of the sixteen songs are from those two albums. If you are like me, and found these two albums to be Dream Theater's low points, then you might be a little disappointed. The highlights of the show were the fantastic "Instrumedley", a blending of most of the band's most famous instrumental passages from each of their albums, as well as the three Falling Into Infinity songs, "Trial of Tears", "New Millennium", and a much gentler, more acoustic flavored version of "Hallow Years", which features a fantastic new Petrucci guitar solo that will blow you away. "Beyond This Life" also had an incredible extended ending, which featured amazing solo sections from each of the band members, and saved an otherwise dull song. My main beef with this video is the song selection. Of course I expected them to play much of the new Train Of Though album, and those songs were all done well, but the songs they chose from their other albums were usually the worst ones. "Beyond This Life", the only song from Metropolis 2000? "War Inside My Head", "The Test That Stumped Them All", and "Disappear" from Six Degrees? Huh!?! Those are all literally my least favorite songs from that album. Where the hell was "Misunderstood", or "The Glass Prison"? (minus the entire middle, see-how-fast-we-can-play section). And if they are going to go all the way back to their very first album, When Dream And Day Unite, at least treat us to one of the two or three good songs, instead of the very weak "Only A Matter Of Time". My biggest disappointment was that their first two, and finest, albums were represented by only one song here, "Pull Me Under". Production-wise, this DVD is brilliant. From the opening scene you are treated to a stunning, hi-definition, widescreen presentation, with some of the best camera work I have ever seen. Dream Theater's light show was excellent, although not as colorful and unique as their first Japan video. They did not appear to use any extra stage lighting, for the purpose of filming, which is a good thing because that usually makes everything look unnatural and does not accurately present the true live concert atmosphere. The stage was a little dark at times, but the band was always captured with perfect clarity. The film crew did an admiral job getting close-ups of all of the key solo parts performed by each of the band members, and this is a must when watching Dream Theater, as they are as famous for their instrumental virtuosity as they are for their songsmanship. The Dolby 5.1 surround mix was one of the best I have heard - that is until about 1-hour, 35-minutes, and 30-seconds into the concert, about a quarter of the way into "New Millennium", when the mix goes terribly, terribly wrong. Up until this point the mix was crisp and powerful, the instrument separation was outstanding, and the surrounds were used brilliantly. The rear speakers were nearly as loud as the fronts, and Petrucci's guitar was mixed equally as loud to the right-rear as it was to the right-front. I was in heaven, listening to Petrucci's Ibanez screaming in my right ear, until that fatal 1:35:30 point when that speaker basically cut out. That is the best way to explain what the problem was - the right-rear mix simply died. Even with this flaw, the audio still sounded good, just not as awesome as before the glitch. This DVD would have rated a ten in the production if not for this. There was plenty of good bonus material that was included on the second disk, which was highlighted by a 30 minute Japanese tour documentary called "Riding The Train Of Thought". John Petrucci and Jordan Rudess also have individual behind the scenes segments, and Mike Portnoy's drum solo, where he brings up several members of the audience to play along with him, is also shown. "The Dream Theater Chronicles" 2004 Tour Opening Video goes all the way back to the band's beginning in 1985 when they were called Majesty, on up to their most recent 2004 Dream Theater stuff. Lastly is a multiangle presentation of the "Instrumedley" which provides a drum angle, keyboards angle, guitar angle, stage left angle, and normal view. After reading my review of this DVD, you might not believe that Dream Theater is my favorite band of the last decade. They are, which is why I hold them up to such a high standard of excellence. I just think that they have slipped a little bit with the last couple of albums and tours. Live At Budokan will however easily make my best of 2004 list, as it is, for the most part, brilliantly performed and produced. James Labrie's vocals have matured like fine wine, and I didn't notice a single missed or forced note, which often plagued him in the past. Petrucci and Myung are two of the most accomplished virtuosos on their instruments but came across a little stiff and rehearsed during this performance. I would rather see Petrucci strutting around the stage, than propped against his two metal stands so that he can assume the classical guitar position in order to play the hard stuff. I say fuck the hard stuff and just jam sometimes John! We all know you can play a thousand notes per second with ZERO errors, but give us a little of your heart and soul next time. Same goes for Rudess. He is one of the most technically accomplished keyboardists in the business, but where the hell is the melody. Portnoy always manages to make a Dream Theater show special, not only with his hall of fame drumming, but with his genuine enthusiasm and appreciation for the fans. See for yourselves - just don't pass this one up. Reviewed by Paul M. Roy - November 2004 Update (Feb 06): I have finally purchased (since Rhino wouldn't send me a replacement) a new copy of this DVD which has the audio glitch fixed. I have since upgraded the Production rating to a much deserved ten. |
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Set List |
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Running Time: 173 Minutes |
DVD Release Date - October 2004 |