Customer Reviews

Chaos in Motion, 2007-2008

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A disclaimer first: I am a really big DT fan. To me, they are the most talented band in the world and by far my favorite. I was traveling in Europe for business the week Chaos in Motion was released, and I was shocked to find the 5-disk edition in an airport electronics store in Italy. As a result, I got to watch it on the flight back.

DT had warned that the video quality would not be as good, so I was prepared for that. Considering the price (less than $40 for two DVDs and three CDs) I think the trade-off of footage from lots of shows instead of cinema-quality from one like the last two DVDs was a good choice by MP, especially when - for a band like Dream Theater - it's all about the music. I find the audio quality to be very good and I really enjoy when they revisit classics - especially the projects from the pre-Jordan days and given them a more current treatment. Throughout all of the songs, the musicianship is nearly flawless, of course.

Looking at the other reviews, what some may not understand about DT fans is that we simply cannot get enough of the band. I really enjoyed the 90 minutes behind the scenes. As one reviewer noted, there are not tons of endearing anecdotes, but it is still a glimpse inside the touring of my favorite band. After the 4th Indiana Jones movie came out, a friend asked what I thought and I said that no matter what, I was happy for another evening with an old friend and that Indy could probably do no wrong for me. Dream Theater is much the same...just thankful for another evening (or set of evenings) with my favorite band. If there is such the things as a casual DT fan, don't start with this one...definitely start with SCORE or Budokan or even Scenes from New York. For those of us that get it, we love the chance to learn more about their personalities and hear them accomplish the impossible live yet again.

EDIT: For those of you that commented on my review, please... I am a die-hard DT fan. But don't you understand that in our era of huge plasma TVs, amateur and unstable pictures are just too tiring to endure after 5 minutes? They could have put out a "raw" production without carrying cameras fully zoomed in on their shoulders. This DVD is just impossible to watch more than once, unless you're still using a 12" TV and you don't mind AM Radio sound quality.

MY ORIGINAL REVIEW:
It all started with NYPD Blue. Someone had the brilliant idea of tossing away the tripod that held cameras steady. Then, they moved the camera to the shoulder, zoomed in 10x and started walking around while recording.

It's a shame that this "technique" has spilled over Dream Theater's productions. After a DVD like SCORE where the production is good, the cameras are anchored on tripods and the sound was decent, now we have here a bundle of chaos in motion sickness where the viewer has to suffer through various inconsistencies in sound quality and avoid having any food prior due to the roller coaster effect that amateur like image recording can cause.

After enduring through 180 minutes of motion sickness, I was reluctant on watching the DVD #2 but finally I saw something interesting - the story of the unsung heros on the daily routines on the road.

If you are a DT fan yes I recommend this because after all it is another volume for the collection. If you are not a DT fan or just a recent one, don't bother. Buy the Budokan and Score shows.

Two stars because if I wanted to watch a bunch of amateur videos I'd go bootleg. From DT I expect Kevin Shirley to be thrown out off a cliff (worst live mixes ever) and I expect them to buy some tripods for cameras instead of spending 20 grand in starbucks coffee.

I'd lean more toward 3.5 stars for this collection. As others have mentioned, the video quality is subpar, though I suspect that was done intentionally to make the DVDs seem "grittier." It sometimes works, sometimes doesn't. As for the audio, there are moments when James LaBrie strains to hit or hold a note. His voice sounds tired at times. The rest of the guys are, as always, pretty much flawless. Particularly worth mentioning is John Petrucci's soaring solo on "Surrounded," which is the must-listen track of the set. Petrucci and the other guys are sometimes accused of being technicians who don't play with emotion, but this solo alone has the power to quiet much of that misguided criticism.

Ultimately, "Chaos in Motion" is probably for hardcore DT fans only, who will enjoy the different takes on songs they know by heart. Casual fans should probably purchase "Score" if they want to know what this band can do live.

Well I'm writing another review as Amazon hasn't posted my first one. Maybe it's a good thing since I've had a few days to process my thoughts on this DVD and CD set. Before I start I would like to point out that I am no novice on Dream Theater and own pretty much everything to date, save the bootlegs! Here are my thoughts:

Things I don't like
1. Video quality is literally pathetic and whoever came up with the idea to release them raw, should rethink their strategy. You DON'T release something like Score and Budokan and then this, you DON'T.
2. Audio mix is not great. Some songs sound ok whilst others sound thin and there is no bass. I will mention that the playing is exeptional though, except LaBrie but I'll get to that.
3. James LaBrie - seems like a great guy but as for his live singing, bad, very bad. He obviously can't hit all the notes anymore (perhaps he was just sick or something). His straining is obviously, especially when he dashes for the water after a series of high notes. The guy can sing no doubt and I can't fault him in the studio. I will say that his singing on the Score DVD was exceptional. Is it only me or does he go flat sometimes?

Things I like:
1. The playing by the musicians as always is exceptional.
2. The bonus disc documentary is great and really gives you insight into a tour.
3. Studio stuff was nice, but again the filming was subpar, especially on Myung. Also it was very uncreatively done. A studio tour would have been the ultimate bonus feature for me.
4. The stage tour by MP is cool, but a little unecessary as they cover all that stuff in depth in the documentary.
5. The audio discs are a plus, but not essential for me as I prefer to watch a live show than listen to it.
6. Great packaging!!! But I can't help thinking that the nice "wrapping" and extra 3 audio discs were added to cover up for this sets many flaws.
7. Live projections and music videos are super!!!!

Let me say that if the video quality was as good as Score, I would have given this Set 4 (-1 star for LaBrie's bad performance). Hardcore DT fans should buy this and will find it a worthy addition to their collection, but if you are new to DT, start with Budokan and Score.

"Chaos In Motion 2007-2008", while their 17th album overall, is Dream Theater's 6th live album to date. If you are a huge fan of Dream Theater's, and you do not have this live CD (triple CD to be accurate) in your collection, then you will have to buy the "Special Edition" DVD of "Chaos In Motion".

The "Standard Edition" DVD of "Chaos In Motion" is a double disc DVD, where the first disc features the concert (actually different performances from different concerts performed on their "Chaos In Motion" World Tour, a tour, in which Dream Theater was using to support their 2007 album, "Systematic Chaos"). The second disc features the DVD's bonus features.

The "Special Edition" DVD of "Chaos In Motion" contains 5 discs. The last 2 discs featured on this here "Edition" are the same 2 DVDs as the "Standard Edition", while the first 3 discs are the album.

DISC ONE: CD ONE

"INTRO" / "ALSO SPRACH ZARATHUSTRA"
Performed on October 9, 2007 at Ahoy Rotterdam in Rotterdam, Netherlands. This is an amazing intro, starting off with sound clips featuring Dream Theater's material from "When Dream And Day Unite" (1989) all the way up to "Octavarium" (2005), with Dream Theater, then performing a hard, progressive rock version of the classic Strauss composition, "Also Sprach Zarathustra". When you watch the DVD, the "Intro" is shown on a video screen, not only allowing you to hear Dream Theater's material from 1989 - 2005, but also showing clips to go along with the audio.

"CONSTANT MOTION"
Originally from the album "Systematic Chaos" (2007). Performed on October 9, 2007 at Ahoy Rotterdam in Rotterdam, Netherlands. What an amazing song to choose as the official concert "Opener".

"PANIC ATTACK"
Originally from the album "Octavarium" (2005). Performed on March 4, 2008 at Luna Park in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Awesome live performance.

"BLIND FAITH"
Originally from the album "Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence" (2002). DVD Version performed on August 18, 2007 at Molson Amphitheater in Toronto, Canada. Another all-time favorite of mine.

"SURROUNDED"
Originally from the album "Images And Words" (1992). DVD Version performed on August 18, 2007 at Molson Amphitheater in Toronto, Canada. "Surrounded", for the last year, has been one of my all-time favorite songs from Dream Theater. Throughout the tour, when performing this song, Dream Theater did an incredibly awesome job with performing this song. #1: They extended the song to about 12-15 minutes. #2: Before performing the final verse of the song, they perform (with James' singing included) a small sample of a song called "Sugar Mice", originally performed by 80s Progressive Rock / Metal band, MARILLION.

DISC TWO

"THE DARK ETERNAL NIGHT"
Originally from the album "Systematic Chaos" (2007). Performed on October 9, 2007 at Ahoy Rotterdam in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Another awesome performance.

"JORDAN RUDESS KEYBOARD SOLO"
Performed on August 21, 2007 at Bank Of America Pavilion in Boston, Massachusetts. I always enjoy hearing Jordan showing off is seriously incredible talents. Jordan will always be the keyboard wizard.

"LINES IN THE SAND"
Originally from the album "Falling Into Infinity" (1997). Performed on August 21, 2007 at Bank Of America Pavilion in Boston, Massachusetts. Another awesome song. I just wish Doug Pinnick (of King's X) was available to come in and sing his parts.

"SCARRED"
Originally from the album "Awake" (1994). Performed on August 21, 2007 at Bank Of America Pavillion in Boston, Massachusetts. Awesome song. Awesome performance.

"FORSAKEN"
Originally from the album "Systematic Chaos" (2007). Performed on May 6, 2008 at Oprheum Theater in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. I still cannot get enough of hearing this song, studio or live. This performance was recorded the day after (Vocalist) James LaBrie's 45th birthday, but before my 23rd birthday.

"THE MINISTRY OF LOST SOULS"
Originally from the album "Systematic Chaos" (2007). Performed on May 6, 2008 at Orpheum Theater in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Another all-time favorite of mine.

DISC THREE

"TAKE THE TIME"
Originally from the album "Images And Words" (1992). Performed on October 9, 2007 at Ahoy Rotterdam in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Still one of my all-time favorite Dream Theater tunes.

"IN THE PRESENCE OF ENEMINES": I. PREULUDE / II. RESURRECTION / III. HERETIC / IV. THE SLAUGHTER OF THE DAMNED / V. THE RECKONING / VI. SALVATION
Originally from the album "Systematic Chaos" (2007). Awesome "Epic" song. I love it that Dream Theater decided to perform the song as "one" instead of splitting it in two as it appears on the album, "Systematic Chaos".

"SCHMEDLEY WILCOX": I. "Trial Of Tears" / II. "Scene Nine": Finally Free / III. "Learning To Live" / IV. "In The Name Of God" / V. "Octavarium"
"Trial Of Tears" originally from the album "Falling Into Infinity" (1997). "Scene Nine": Finally Free originally from the album "Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From A Memory" (1999). "Learning To Live" originally from the album "Images And Words" (1992). "In The Name Of God" originally from the album "Train Of Thought" (2003). "Octavarium" originally from the album "Octavarium" (2005). You cannot get any better than this here 25+ minute medley. What an awesome performance.

This live album is just way too awesome to not have in your collection. The DVD is outstanding, showing additional clips in between each performance. DVD #2 gives awesome bonus features, including a 90 minute documentary, showcasing the guys on tour. This documentary shows just how awesome the guys are, not only onstage as musicians, but offstage, as "real" personable guys. They seriously look like a fun batch of guys, especially (Drummer) Mike Portnoy, who is real fun-loving goofball.

I bought this for my husband for his birthday. He is a huge fan of Dream Theater. As soon as he opened his gift he spent an entire Saturday watching the entire collection of DVDs. I even found myself on occasion glancing at the behind stage scenes. It gives a great view of the band by all angles. Fabulous! This is a must have for any Dream Theater fan.

The audio and visual quality of the Chaos in Motion DVD's are very poor. One would think at some points that it was filmed by an amateur with a personal video camera!

The "Live at Budokan" and "Metropolis" DVD's have far superior audio/visual quality. Rather spend your money on those before you buy Chaos in Motion.

First of all, this rating is from a die-hard fan, If you think DT is just ok, just another prog-metal band, it's 3 stars or even less. The production of the live part of this collection is nowhere nearly as good as their previous dvds. Imagine "once in a live time", as MP mentioned beforehand or three bonus tracks on "Score".

The behind their tour documentary on disc 2 is actually, to me the main dvd. The live is the bonus. The documentary focusing on each and every member(not just MP and JP, and JM talks more than ever!!) and particularly the crew behind their gigs is truly interesting to watch. But none of these can be interesting enough to I-think-DT-is-just-ok fans.

The CDs are great, to me the best ever since I liked the songs on "Systematic chaos" and others included here. If they'd released the CDs alone, I would've recommended them to even those softcore DT fans...
They could have put couple of bonus tracks just for the CDs though for the extra money we paid.

My only concern is that we're probably not going to see these songs here on their future live dvd with a decent production for a long time since they don't like things to be redundant.

Dream Theater reside at the top of the heap of progressive metal bands and there is no real close second. The musicianship and virtuosity that these five performers deliver is unmatched by anyone else. Dream Theater is not everyone's cup of tea as they do not deliver the commercial schlock that one typically gets on radio ad nauseum. This latest DVD offering is a compilation of performances from their last extensive tour. I feel it very much captures a more raw version of Dream Theater in concert compared to the more polished SCORE DVD of a few years ago. It still blow the socks off nearly anything else out there and you owe it to yourself to check it out. These boys simply never disappoint.

Simply, DT is the best, but the need to get a good photographer, film director whatever cause every single time I buy DT DVD, I get really mad, Mike Portnoy is a very very very very good drummer, but he's a very bad director, he can't be a film maker, Portnoy please stop & pay some money for a good director to take care of your DVDs'.
Whenever Petrucci starts any solo, I wanna see his hands, his performance, but I find camera man's focusing on Portnoy, audience, or anything but Petrucci, & sometimes they get the worst camera, worst resolution on Petrucci, WTF !!
Still DT music is the best I can't tell how much I love their music.