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Dream Theater => Dream Theater => Topic started by: DarkLord_Lalinc on October 03, 2014, 04:18:28 PM
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What's the grade you give this Blu-Ray? I'm giving it a solid 8 right now, but it's growing real fast so it might become a 9 any moment soon.
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I'm feeling a strong 4 / light 5.
Pros:
- Great performances from the band
- Good second half w. Awake songs and then orchestra
- Well shot and directed
- Overall nice package
Cons:
- James' performance just "OK"
- First set leaves a lot to be desired
- Very compressed audio
- Mix is very muddy and thin sounding - this is a deal breaker
Overall I would file this release into a "for hardcore fans only" category. If someone's a casual fan or new to DT, I'd recommend them other DVDs first.
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Overall I would file this release into a "for hardcore fans only" category. If someone's a casual fan or new to DT, I'd recommend them other DVDs first.
I respectfully digress. I watched it with only really knowing 8 songs from that setlist (five of them were from the self-titled) and I was just floored with the performance, as a whole, and that it was pretty easy to get into the show if you have an good broad idea of what the band is all about. I gave it a 9.
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Overall I would file this release into a "for hardcore fans only" category. If someone's a casual fan or new to DT, I'd recommend them other DVDs first.
I digress. I watched it with only really knowing 8 songs from that setlist (five of them were from the self-titled) and I was just floored with the performance, as a whole, and that it was pretty easy to get into the show if you have an good broad idea of what the band is all about. I gave it a 9.
Glad you enjoyed it :tup
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I give it a 9, easily.
Only two VERY small complaints:
1. The mix is just a little funky for me. Although no mix is perfect, especially for a live show, the heaviness of a few songs didn't smack me upside the head as much as it should have because the guitar was a little low and the keyboards a little high.
2. The overlay on Scarred was REALLY distracting. For the first time EVER, after several tries on a live performance captured for release, we have a nearly flawless performance of this song...and they do that to it. :rant:
I was tempted to still give it a 10 anyway. This is truly a phenominal release.
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2. The overlay on Scarred was REALLY distracting. For the first time EVER, after several tries on a live performance captured for release, we have a nearly flawless performance of this song...and they do that to it. :rant:
Really. WTF is that even all about? Why would they do that?
Like a cross between the Live Scenes VHS and The Beat Club.
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At this point I'll give it a 9. The only thing keeping it from being a 10 is that I'd like to replace some songs (TSF, Scarred, OTBOA) and add at least one from I&W.
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This thread should have been titled "Rating the Fourth Wall". Missed opportunity! :P
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I'll give 8. No complaints about mix or sound here!
+ The setlist is really good and enjoyable
+ The performance quality is far better than in any other tour (includes incredible tour videos)
+ Mangini's fills and attitude
- The lack of different live versions of songs (no instrumental additional jams etc.)
- Mangini is playing too heavily sometimes where he should relax a little.
- the lack of bonus material
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2. The overlay on Scarred was REALLY distracting. For the first time EVER, after several tries on a live performance captured for release, we have a nearly flawless performance of this song...and they do that to it. :rant:
Really. WTF is that even all about? Why would they do that?
Agreed. Whoever decided to do that should be kicked in the nuts.
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2. The overlay on Scarred was REALLY distracting. For the first time EVER, after several tries on a live performance captured for release, we have a nearly flawless performance of this song...and they do that to it. :rant:
Really. WTF is that even all about? Why would they do that?
Agreed. Whoever decided to do that should be kicked in the nuts.
Wait a second, what are you talking about? What is overlay? I haven't seen the DVD yet.
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Agreed. Whoever decided to do that should be kicked in the nuts.
+1 i Understand Enigma Machine,The Enemy Inside,but Scarred? :censored
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I give it a 9. My only complaints are JP's muddy tone, JM is a bit low, and i would like to see a little bit more of Jordan. Otherwise it's a great looking show, and i got chills during IT, even though i don't like the song that much.
One of the best DT live releases, leaps and bounds better than the mediocre LALP.
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(https://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i238/hefdaddy42/motivation/10_zps5006d9a1.jpg)
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This thread should have been titled "Rating the Fourth Wall". Missed opportunity! :P
:sadpanda: :sadpanda: :sadpanda: :sadpanda: :sadpanda:
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9 - not a perfect release, but pretty close!
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9 for me as well. Love the setlist, the sound is pretty good and the performance is great. Probably my favourite DT live video.
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Agreed. Whoever decided to do that should be kicked in the nuts.
+1 i Understand Enigma Machine,The Enemy Inside,but Scarred? :censored
Yeah, but neither of those were even as bad. I mean, those parts faded in and out, and it wasn't that distracting. But with Scarred, they just played that weird overlay that wasn't even what was on the overhead screen, and it was just there, all through the songs, without fading in and out, or giving any exclusivity to the musicians. I don't mind the idea of overlaying some visuals once in a while, but in this case it was down right distracting.
That being said, it would bring the overall level down by maybe 3% meaning to average it out, I'd still give the overall thing a 10/10. Everything other than that was absolutely amazing.
And those who are complaining about the mix, honestly, it has a much more genuine feeling of a concert for me. Whereas Score and LAB etc. sound great, they sound a little dry, and almost mixed like you would a studio album, which I don't mind so much, but this release, and that little bit of extra reverb or whatever, managed to capture the sound of a real concert, without sacrificing the quality, and for that, I think it deserves major credit.
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I gave 9 without any doubt.
Only few minor things have prevented this release to take a full 10, for example, as said many times, the Scarred overlay thing and the not always perfect Petrucci's tone.
But yeah, these are really minor concerns, what we have in hands is something nearly perfect.
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9 due to the lack of bonus material. The setlist is absolutely killer and it's a great performance.
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Guys, I think we're in for a DT release having (almost) general approval! Effing great!
B.Lee
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Love this release.
Performance is awesome by everyone. And the mix, though it has some small issues, is WAY better than Luna Park to me.
I gave it a solid 8. The only 2 things that I dislike are:
- Setlist was great overall, but there were a few issues for my personal taste. None of my favorite DT12 songs were played (BTV, STR, and TBP). But we got TLG and EM instead, two of my least favorites from DT12 :(. Also, I will probably get bashed, but I really do not like Lie, Scarred, Trial Of Tears, or Lifting Shadows. So there goes a full 50 minutes of stuff I dislike :( Other than that though, awesome set!
- As someone mentioned, no bonus features. Man...I used to love the documentaries that MP used to commentate on the DVDs!
If Enigma Machine, The Looking Glass, and Lie were replaced with TBP, BTV, and TBP, this release would be a 10 for me. Again, just a personal taste thing.
Still though, it is among my favorite DVDs. Up there with Budoken and Score!
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- As someone mentioned, no bonus features. Man...I used to love the documentaries that MP used to commentate on the DVDs!
Don't forget, the Budokan and Score commentaries were on MP's drum cam vids.
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Too soon! Too soon! I voted LOL. Every DT release is awesome after initial release. Give it some breathing room.
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Too soon! Too soon! I voted LOL. Every DT release is awesome after initial release. Give it some breathing room.
Good point, although I didn't like Luna Park when it came out and I still don't like it. I have to admit I didn't even watch it through the end. After one hour I knew enough and I turned it off. I'm even surprised by the quality of this release. On par with their best live releases (LSFNY, Budokan, Score). I don't like it better than those three but it's just as good. LSFNY stands out because of its authentic feel, Budokan because of the heaviness and cinematography, and Score because of the symphonic/classic DT setlist. This one, however, may be the most all-round release they've put out. It's so damn solid.
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I give it an 8 because of the fucking audio
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- As someone mentioned, no bonus features. Man...I used to love the documentaries that MP used to commentate on the DVDs!
Don't forget, the Budokan and Score commentaries were on MP's drum cam vids.
Oh whoops, I meant the actual documentaries then. Like the 20 years of DT one which came with Score.
My fault, I did not mean to say MP commentaries. :blush
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I'll give 8. No complaints about mix or sound here!
+ The setlist is really good and enjoyable
+ The performance quality is far better than in any other tour (includes incredible tour videos)
+ Mangini's fills and attitude
- The lack of different live versions of songs (no instrumental additional jams etc.)
- Mangini is playing too heavily sometimes where he should relax a little.
- the lack of bonus material
Pretty much this. Very good, but not great.
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Cons:
- James' performance just "OK"
What the hell?
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Cons:
- James' performance just "OK"
What the hell?
Seriously this, James is amazing. I know his performance was doctored but I don't care, I like to enjoy the performance without too much distraction from sour notes and the "thin" sound James has had on other live DVD's.
I give it a 9.5. Band seemed more relaxed and confident than ever. They even seemed to get a little rock groove on at times. TLG seemed to have a little swagger that is not on the studio version.
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Gave it a 9. Everything is good to excellent except JP's and JM's tones. JM was to low in the mix, and JP's muddy messy guitar sound is really getting old. It's like he listened to all the great-sounding riffs from classic metal bands like Maiden, Priest, and Metallica and thought "oh no, those 6-string riffs are not heavy enough, I need a 7-string or detuned 6-string to get the job done". Seriously, you can write great heavy riffs on a normally tuned 6-string just like a bazillion other metal bands have done, and then it wouldn't sound like crap in a live setting.
Edit: also 9 instead of 10 because no TBP, BTV, or STR.
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I'm still super convinced that The Bigger Picture might have been a perfect way to close the show.
I mean, Finally Free is all kinds of awesome always, but imagine that after Finally Free they burst out into a "second" encore, which could be TBP. They would be probably tired as hell to that point, but hey...a man can dream!
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Gave it a 9. Everything is good to excellent except JP's and JM's tones. JM was to low in the mix, and JP's muddy messy guitar sound is really getting old. It's like he listened to all the great-sounding riffs from classic metal bands like Maiden, Priest, and Metallica and thought "oh no, those 6-string riffs are not heavy enough, I need a 7-string or detuned 6-string to get the job done". Seriously, you can write great heavy riffs on a normally tuned 6-string just like a bazillion other metal bands have done, and then it wouldn't sound like crap in a live setting.
Edit: also 9 instead of 10 because no TBP, BTV, or STR.
This is a silly argument. Low tuning does not equate bad/muddy sound.
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Yeah, it's not like he hasn't been using 7-string guitars for 20 years or anything.
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Yeah, Meshuggah uses 8 strings and their live sound is nigh-on perfect.
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My only complaint is the lack of volume coming from J P guitar. Feel that in a good few of the songs the sound from it us too quiet. Apart from that I love it. 9.
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Feel like we should have a Poll for best DT live DVD but i don't wanna start yet another Breaking The Fourth Wall thread :P
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Cons:
- James' performance just "OK"
What the hell?
Seriously this, James is amazing. I know his performance was doctored but I don't care, I like to enjoy the performance without too much distraction from sour notes and the "thin" sound James has had on other live DVD's.
100% this. Off-key/sour notes totally ruin my listening experience. I wish this weren't true, but I can't help it. :-\ I am SO glad that DT does not put out raw vocals on DVDs anymore. James cannot hit notes like he used to be able to, so if they did not use some autotune here and there, I would cringe at the inevitable flat/sharp notes.
This is no knock on James at all, as it is impossible to hit every note...especially when expected to cover such a range. But rather just a praise on whoever decided to doctor up his performances for DVDs.
I think this began when Score came out? I could be dead wrong...did Budoken use any auto tune or overdub stuff?
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I only have the iTunes download. Great live album. JLB is fantastic as well as the rest of the band. But, I have issues with the setlist. Add Behind The Veil and take away EM, AFTR & IT and replace those with Hell's Kitchen, Voices and LTL. I would've given it a 9.5. Instead, it only gets a 6.0.
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Hmmm, how come you didn't want IT, the grand pièce de résistance of the new album, and probably the one song that most people wanted them to play on this tour, be in the set? And wow. Does them playing those particular new songs really lower your score that much?
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One of the best DT live releases, leaps and bounds better than the mediocre LALP.
I don't understand how anyone could consider LALP "mediocre." But anyway...
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One of the best DT live releases, leaps and bounds better than the mediocre LALP.
I don't understand how anyone could consider LALP "mediocre." But anyway...
The only thing I didn't like about it was that at times, JP is SO loud that I can't clearly hear everyone else. But the film work is great, as are the performances and the setlist.
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Yeah, same here. I mean, I guess I can understand not liking it if you are either insane or deaf though.
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I guess those would be mitigating factors?
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The bad quality of the vocals doesn't bother you?
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The bad quality of the vocals doesn't bother you?
As in "they were sonically bad" or "James wasn't singing well"?
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I don't see how either of those options apply to that release.
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One of the best DT live releases, leaps and bounds better than the mediocre LALP.
I don't understand how anyone could consider LALP "mediocre." But anyway...
The only thing I didn't like about it was that at times, JP is SO loud that I can't clearly hear everyone else. But the film work is great, as are the performances and the setlist.
I agree with this. The inaudible keyboards at times is frustrating (especially during the main theme at the beginning of Breaking All Illusions), but, all in all, Luna Park is pretty great. :tup :tup
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No offense, bosk, but *that* I would call borderline deaf. They processed James' vocals to death, and during the acoustic session it becomes really, really bad.
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The drums sound weak and thin (some of the tom fills can hardly be made out, the kick and the snare are tiny) and the keys are super buried. For me, these are the two most important elements of the DT sound, so I'll disqualify LALP based just on this and looking at their live output, I have no problem labeling it as mediocre. On top of it there's the issue with the vocals, JP's not-so-good tone (which is a flaw of BTFW as well) and I'm not a huge fan of the looks either, a bit too colorful and saturated with the J.J. Abrams style lens flare excess. The setlist was so-so, I don't think we needed another version of WIMH/TTTSTA (with the eyebrow raising backing vocals) or TSCO. Add to the mix that I had huge expectations, I really wanted this to top Budokan or Score and it just didn't deliver. I thought I'd get superior sounding versions of the ADTOE songs, but I was wrong on that count as well. On the flip side, James' performance was excellent and the drum solo was a big juicy surprise, I probably watched it more than a dozen times (also, the drums sounded amazing by themselves). Fortunately, Breaking the Fourth Wall set everything right.
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The drums sound weak and thin (some of the tom fills can hardly be made out, the kick and the snare are tiny) and the keys are super buried.
wat
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I jumped into the latest comments in this thread, and I was going "what the hell?" and then realized that you guys are talking about LALP. :lol
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The drums sound weak and thin (some of the tom fills can hardly be made out, the kick and the snare are tiny) and the keys are super buried.
wat
I jumped into the latest comments in this thread, and I was going "what the hell?" and then realized that you guys are talking about LALP. :lol
Probably dat.
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The bad quality of the vocals doesn't bother you?
They weren't good on the acoustic sections, way too breathy. But that is such a small part of the show. I don't have much of a problem anywhere else.
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I jumped into the latest comments in this thread, and I was going "what the hell?" and then realized that you guys are talking about LALP. :lol
Yeah, now it makes sense :lol
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Sorry, but could anyone explain what the title means? Breaking the fourth wall?
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Here is a detailed explanation (https://lmgtfy.com/?q=breaking+the+fourth+wall)
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Thanks, but I´m not really interested in the theatrical term, but what the band meant. What is the message behind the term (if there´s any)?
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If you are not interested in the theatrical term, you are missing the point. There is no "message behind the term." It refers to the common usage of the term.
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The only "message" here is "We played the concert in an opera house, and we tried to connect with the audience. We broke the Fourth Wall."
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Ok. I thought it could be related to IT lyrics...
When your backs’ against the wall
And the time's uncertain
Consider this question
But I guess I was just drifting away.... :biggrin:
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The only "message" here is "We played the concert in an opera house, and we tried to connect with the audience. We broke the Fourth Wall."
Theatre term, opera house, Dream THEATER, interaction with the audience. (Although I'd argue the idea of all music performances is to break the 'fourth wall' but that's probably besides the point).
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This thread should have been titled "Rating the Fourth Wall". Missed opportunity! :P
The fourth wall has a 2 hr 42 min rating
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Thanks, but I´m not really interested in the theatrical term, but what the band meant. What is the message behind the term (if there´s any)?
:facepalm:
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I don't think you have a forehead anymore.
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Thanks, but I´m not really interested in the theatrical term, but what the band meant. What is the message behind the term (if there´s any)?
:facepalm:
This is rude and bashing. A moderator breaking the forum rules? I was warned here a long time ago for a similar attitude. If you dont have anything useful to say, choose silence. You intimidate discussion and the free flow of ideas with that kind of post. You think you are very smart, dont ya? Shame on you, moderator!
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Thanks, but I´m not really interested in the theatrical term, but what the band meant. What is the message behind the term (if there´s any)?
:facepalm:
This is rude and bashing. A moderator breaking the forum rules? I was warned here a long time ago for a similar attitude. If you dont have anything useful to say, choose silence. You intimidate discussion and the free flow of ideas with that kind of post. You think you are very smart, dont ya? Shame on you, moderator!
WTF I was not being rude or bashing. I didn't intimidate (?) any discussion or free flow of ideas. I have a sense of humor and I express it.
Besides, that was a completely appropriate response to someone asking a question, getting an answer, and then still asking it again.
If you took offense, sorry, but please don't question my motives or accuse me of breaking forum rules.
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Thanks, but I´m not really interested in the theatrical term, but what the band meant. What is the message behind the term (if there´s any)?
:facepalm:
This is rude and bashing. A moderator breaking the forum rules? I was warned here a long time ago for a similar attitude. If you dont have anything useful to say, choose silence. You intimidate discussion and the free flow of ideas with that kind of post. You think you are very smart, dont ya? Shame on you, moderator!
If I asked what Live at Luna Park meant, but then said I'm not interested in the definition of live or the venue of Luna Park, what would you do?
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LOL. LALP doesn't mean anything except LALP. BTFW is a metaphor. Clearly not the same thing.