Review of Dream Theater - Metropolis 2000: Scenes From New York (DVD)

Dream Theater is a band that I'm always thankful I was turned onto every time they make it into the rotation. I don't listen to them all that often anymore, but when they do make the listening list they usually remain on it for good period of time. With Images And Words being my first taste of Dream Theater, it wasn't until hearing Awake that this band had my complete respect and full attention. A Change Of Seasons was like medication helping heal the wounds of everyday life. That CD really had meaning for me and might still be my favorite to this day, but I'd say a close second would be Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From A Memory. I was fortunate enough to see the tour for that album on a bitter cold February night a couple of years back with the friend who actually introduced me to these highly skilled musicians. It was without a doubt one of the best concerts I've seen. Those of you familiar with the studio CD behind this DVD know that it is a story of fiction and one to me that is very unique. Basically it's about a guy who after time begins to realize he was a woman in a previous life. What he later finds out is that the woman was murdered and the struggle to break free from the various emotional memories begins. The album is twelve songs combined into one long song that musically brings this tale to life. You have your high-tech progressive riffage, licks and solos mixed with an incredible drum and bass tandem topped off with some keyboard playing that is completely out of this world (If your metal IQ is above and beyond keyboards read no further). Being the newest replacement on the keys, Jordan Rudess really must have felt the pressure to step up because if you can believe it the guy damn near stole the show. Now we all know that's impossible with all the other talent on the stage, but the guy is smokin'. Before seeing the show I'd read that the band planned on doing the entire new CD front to back, just like the album. That's exactly what I got and that's exactly what you get as the main feature on this DVD. If you close your eyes and put your head back it's almost like listening to the studio release and as it was in person. The visuals come from about 5 or 6 different cameras catching the entire stage as well as some crowd shots. If you've seen the DVD, you remember. If you went to one of the shows on this tour, you know what I'm talking about. If you've done neither, you're depriving yourself of a brilliant musical story. The great thing about DVD's is that more times than not you're going to get some extra footage versus any VHS version. The bonus footage contains a good amount of behind the scenes clips as well as three bonus live tracks (one with three parts and one with seven parts) covering nearly a full hour of additional music. The songs include A Mind Beside Itself from Awake, Learning To Live off of Images And Words and the title track from A Change Of Seasons, my personal favorite part. Once again these are performed with utter flawlessness. Even though I'm sure these guys could personally point out mistakes of their own, I didn't notice a thing. With all that being said, I believe I've pretty much summed things up for any and all fans. If you've never had the opportunity to even hear Dream Theater, do yourself a favor and look them up under the "highly-progressive/technically efficient/slightly power metal but not really" section at any music store.

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Dream Theater

Metropolis 2000: Scenes From New York (DVD)

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