A CHANGE OF SEASONS

I purchased this album during my last trip to Mexico in early July 07. Since it was at discount price (7 ?) I could hardly be tricked. I had heard about the epic "Change Of Seasons", but I was keen on listening to their covers. The band has such a fame for covers that I was really intrigued when I was looking at the songs played here.

But first "A Change Of Change Of Seasons". Actually it is an old song wrtiiten some years before this album (89) but that could never make an album. It is true that it holds some prog moments, but most of it is pure metal oriented. It alternates with very short acoustic moments (in the early phase of the song) and some rather vigourous hard/heavy rocking beats. More keyboards than average in a DT song. And, at times, the vocals will be rather interesting, convincing. Petrucci will also deliver a beautiful guitar solo. This guy is really gifted and I like his way of playing very much. So fast and wild on the one hand and emotional on the other. Like here.

I far much prefer the second part of the song (even if the intro is very good as well).

Now, the covers. I have to admit that combining all these great bands / artists in about half an hour is quite an exercise. And let's be honest. "Dream Theater" does it with talent. These songs are part of an album called "Uncovered" (sort of Christmas album). On the complete album there is even a "Yes" medley (featuring Steve Howe) as well as "Easter" (featuring Hogarth) and "Red Hill Mining Town" from U2 (and never be played live by them).

If I exclude some weak moments in the "Big Medley" (Turn It On Again), I confess that the other ones are quite well performed. One of the best song from the fine "Yellow Brick Road" album (Elton John's best one - by far). "Funeral For A Friend" is a damn good rock song. Furiously played of course, and with some fabulous guitar work.

"Perfect Strangers" is probably even better than the original one. It is not my fave Purple song, but DT adds a bit more kick to it. Sounds freasher and more dynamic (and you might know if you have read some of my forty-eight review for Purple that I like them an awful lot).

The Led Zep medley starts with "The Rover" which is definitely not one of my faver either. But "Achilles" and "The Song" are very good excerpts from these brilliant songs. The band is performing these very well, while LaBrie is maybe not on par.

The "Big Medley" have its good moments like "In The Flesh" from Floyd (more to come of course), Carry On" (very powerful).

Even on "Bohemian" DT will sound OK (they will play the rockiest part of it). The next song are less known (from Journey and Dixie Dregs (Steve Morse's first band). And the closing "Turn It On Again" is not good at all (but the original was not good either).

All in all this is a good album. Three stars.