Amazing instrumental

[lurker]

<A HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhedP71N9gQ">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhedP71N9gQ</A>

Indication of complexity.
<A HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-QXwl_NljU">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-QXwl_NljU</A>

[Pete Schumacher ®]

> <A HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhedP71N9gQ">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhedP71N9gQ</A>
> Indication of complexity.
> <A HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-QXwl_NljU">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-QXwl_NljU</A>

They are an unreal collection of talent. They have their better and worse moments in terms of composition, but never in execution. Their skill is in the top .1% for sure.

But this DVD is great compositionally as well as technically. The sound could be better, but that's consistent with most of their recordings. The music is rich, complex, potent, heavy and glorious, and seems to get better the more you play it. The complexity almost demands it.

Their live double CD from right after Change of Seasons is a pretty nice live recording, but not great. What amazes me is that what you hear is performed live. The prowess exhibited by these 4 musicians (I don't count the singer) is just amazing. Polished is one way to describe it, but I prefer Masterful.

[lurker]

..but he isn't really good either... There are a couple songs on Awake where I think he really shines, though.

> Masterful.

Majesty

[Wolf]

> ..but he isn't really good either... There
> are a couple songs on Awake where I think he
> really shines, though.

> Majesty

I have the DVD for I&W/Once in a live-time, and the one for Scenes from a Memory. The second one is almost a necessity to really understand the story behind the cd. Wasn't Majesty their initial name, and another band already had it? I agree LaBrie is a fatty that needs a voice lesson most of the time, but on Awake, and Train of Thought, he's more raspy and appropriate. I use "Silent Man" a lot for speaker auditioning. It's one of the better recorded songs. It's just a hair sibilant, semi-spacious, and a nice bass-line to anchor it.
"do-ga-dugga-dwee-da *pop* dum...."
I like the acoustic solo as well. If you really like the talent, check out "Rodrigo y Gabriela", as their roots are in metal, and they perform a mean acoustic duo...
Later,
Wolf