The Definitive Live Album

[chaotic_ripper]

  Which live album do you think is the definitive for DT.  I really just want this to be focused on the albums and not the videos.  I think that makes a difference on some of these.  I have a hard time choosing between LSFNY and Score.  Live Scenes has a setlist that can't be beat.  The SFAM album sounds better here (to me) than the studio version.  On the other hand, Score is also great.  The first disc is like a fanclub show, all these kinda "hidden gems" and the other two discs are big and bombastic with the orchestra.  What do you guys think?

To the mods: I hope it's ok to have this here instead of the P/S forum.  I thought it would get more discussion in this forum.

[ZKX-2099]

Budokan is winning close the poll.

[peruvianskynewhampshire]

Budokan hands down the best all around live dvd  in my opinion. the camera work the set list etc.you cant go wrong with this dvd

[chaotic_ripper]

Budokan hands down the best all around live dvd  in my opinion. the camera work the set list etc.you cant go wrong with this dvd

Yeah the DVD is nice, but like I said in my original post I was just asking about the albums.  To me the Budokan album gets kinda boring. 

[JayOctavarium]

tough toss up between Live Scenes,  Budokan, and Score. Went with Score... but i could of gonna any way

[Ben_Jamin]

Live Scenes, Its energetic has all of Pt.2 plus extra stuff added in, like the choir and Teresa. Great encores with AMBI, LTL and ACOS.

Budakon comes in 2nd

[The Letter M]

Live Scenes, Its energetic has all of Pt.2 plus extra stuff added in, like the choir and Teresa. Great encores with AMBI, LTL and ACOS.

Budakon comes in 2nd

AFAIK, and IIRC, only ACOS was the encore, whereas AMBI and LTL ended the 2nd set. I think it's commonly misinterpreted that way because all of those songs were on Disc 3 of the album. I don't think DT have ever played an encore that was longer than 30 minutes, have they? They usually play anywhere between 10-25 minutes, barring any surprise/2nd Encores after they've left the stage, but as far as planned encores, it's usually 1-3 songs and at most, 30 minutes.

Either way, back to the topic at hand, LSFNY is definitely my choice and I enjoy that album a lot more than SCORE or LAB, and it's gotten the most spins from me.

-Marc.

[Aniland]

If Budokan and Score were suddenly one DVD, no one would have to look any further.

[orcus116]

As much as I don't like the performance, Live Scenes. I get the most enjoyment out of Once In A Livetime and Live At The Marquee, though. I dunno why Budokan is winning, the setlist is quite boring and not at all what I'd consider definitive.

[pogoowner]

It's gotta be Score. LaBrie is fantastic.

[chaotic_ripper]

As much as I don't like the performance, Live Scenes. I get the most enjoyment out of Once In A Livetime and Live At The Marquee, though. I dunno why Budokan is winning, the setlist is quite boring and not at all what I'd consider definitive.

I concur...with all of this.  Even though I like the performance on LSFNY.

[Obfuscation]

I have lost count of how many times I have seen Live at Budokan.

[The Silent Cody]

It is the thing between Score and Budokan only, Budokan is I think the best DVD I've ever seen so I choose Budokan

[wasteland]

Who's the one that likes Chaos In Motion more than any other live? 

I can't stand that one... Just horrible...

By the way, I voted LSFNY. I love Budokan and Score (a bit more Budokan, to be honest). But Metropolis, AMBI, LTL, ACOS all in one single evening... It's just too much to be beaten by a normal (albeit great) show, like LaB and Score are.

[Raziel666]

I'd vote for LSFNY, if we had the complete set available without the weird FX editing. Now my vote goes to score, where we get to here 2 of my favourites of DT's catalogue, 6DOIT and 8VM with an orchestra accompanying the band. Also JLB was awesome that particular night, he pretty much nailed everything!

[Mladen]

It's gotta be Score. LaBrie is fantastic.

This.

[hefdaddy42]

I really just want this to be focused on the albums and not the videos.

Budokan hands down the best all around live dvd  in my opinion. the camera work the set list etc.you cant go wrong with this dvd

Yeah the DVD is nice, but like I said in my original post I was just asking about the albums. 

Literacy is helpful when reading, people.  Stop talking about the DVDs, they aren't the point of the thread.

Gotta go with LSFNY.

[Mladen]

Oh, albums!

Yeah, still Score. Then again, I love the vibe on Chaos in motion...

[chaotic_ripper]

Thank you Hef.

[Fran521]

It's gotta be Score. LaBrie is fantastic.

This. also, the setlist is fantastic.

[JimmyJava]

If we are talking about the live albums, it's Live Scenes From New York, without a question. Problaby my favorite live album ever. 3 hours of the best that Dream Theater can offer. And that ending with A Change of Seasons...awesome!

[Ħ]

LATM: Great for a spontaneous spin for it's length, sometimes interesting b/c James sounds so different...
OIALT: I almost pretend like this doesn't exist.  I'm sorry but James ruins it for me.
LSFNY: Great setlist, and everyone sounds great.  It does go on for a little long, though.  Some of my favorite live recordings.
LAB: Don't play too often.  It really drags, and James isn't that great.  A couple shiners in HY and BTL though.
SCORE: Perfect length, great sound quality, everyone plays beautifully, James is very strong, but the setlist is a little lacking.
CIM: Haven't heard too often, but from what I remember James is pretty bad.

So it's between LSFNY and SCORE for me...I'm going to have to go with LSFNY for the better setlist.

[Metabog]

The very first time I ever saw or heard DT was Live Scenes from New York, so it has a certain meaning to me. That said, Score wins, lol.

[tri.ad]

I think that it has yet to be created. Of all the live albums they've done so far, Score probably comes closest.

[Jaffa]

Budokan is winning close the poll.

Live at Budokan  22 (28.6%)
Score  37 (48.1%)

Pwned.  =D 

I haven't seen all of these yet, so I probably shouldn't vote.  But LSFNY was awesome, so I voted for that.

[chaotic_ripper]

I think that it has yet to be created. Of all the live albums they've done so far, Score probably comes closest.

That's an interesting answer.  I like that.

[jerome snail]

LSFNY for the album.

(Score for the DVD)

[krands85]

I prefer the setlist of LSFNY, but I think the Score performance is better - plus, the way it visits every part of their career up to that point makes it the most 'definitive' for me.

[CrimsonSunrise]

Score performance is the best.  As far as best setlist?  I'd mix and match.  2nd set from Score, and encores from LSFNY.

[BanksD]

Score
LSFNY
LAB
OIALT
LATM








CIM

[IronEarthTheater]

I don't think they actually have a definitive live album.  To me, each of their live albums is a snapshot of a very different time or aspect of their history (which, frankly is what makes them good).  I like that they are so different.  Maybe someday we'll get a huge live album drawing from their whole catalog that is truly representative - of course they would need three hours to do so.  I voted for LSFNY because its my favorite (and still the best of their concerts I've seen - in Cincinnati, not NY). 

[Jamesman42]

I picked LATM, but I just realized it's more about the definitive live album.

In that case, Score wins it for me. Long setlist, JLB sounds fantastic, wide array of songs (even the rarer stuff), etc etc.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

I picked Budokan. Amazing stage production, amazing mix, amazing video and I don't think JLB does as bad as some of you say.