REALITY DREAM

104 minutes is rather on the short side for a live double album and indeed as already stated...many songs are missing...from which Loose Heart is perhaps one of the stangest choices. That said..it must be said that this song already was relaesed on a cd single in a truly amazing version....the other song that is not here and what I think is the best song of the entire trilogy is Rapid Eye Movement....however since this song is only available on the limited second disc of REM I dont know if they tend to have a habbit of playing, neither to add it to the Trilogy DVD. I perhaps push the envellope too much.

However what is left is a pleasure to our ears with no doubt. The souns is not always that good. Especially the drums that do not always come on as strong as on CD. Neither are the songs played as tight as on the cd's. I know Riverside had alot of complaints in relation to their live performances in the past...that it was not living up to the expectations...that it was not a good representation of the studio album, etc, etc...so I guess when listening to this..they must have improved alot. And then...not even Dream Theater can play the songs as tight as on the studio records..so we should not demand that....I think.

However..what I did like was the strong adds of much more powerfull and dominant keyboards here and there....which result in some truly chickenskin moments. As always great guitarwork......great vocals and great over all songs.......To me Riverside is much much more interesting than Dream Theater........Really look forward to the DVD...not to mention the Next album. Although..........till now none of the albums has been capable of living up against the first album....that should be ranked as a modern masterpiece in the galleries of Progressive Rock....so to begin this live cd with The Same River really was a good thing. The song builds up so amazingly.....and almost has sort of the same effect as Pink Floyd opening with Shine On Your Crazy Diamond..........perhaps a homage to this song on the second cd of REM, was therefor only obvious.