ANESTHETIZE

I really wish I had been there during the play of this. The Incident Tour was excellent, however this just blows everthing away. FOABP kicks things off, and to hear it in it's entirety live is just a stunning experience. The title track just makes your hairs stand on end and just grows and grows and grows until it finally explodes with the awsome riff 3/4 of the way through wit an energy that doesn't quite come across on the Studio version. Oh, and before I forget to mention it, I have never seen Wilson look more focused and moody than on here, there's definatley a feeling and energy like no other coming from him, he really means buisness. My Ashes. Wonderful stuff, although I do have a slight problem with this version. John Wesely's vocals in the chorus just aren't up to scratch, to the point of cringing. It comes across better with Steven doing it, it's more believable. Ok, ANESTHETIZE. AWSOME. Special mention to Wesely too, great job with the guitar solo in the first section, it's never going to be as good as Alex Lifeson's, but he puts a lot of soul into it. Gavin Harrison = WOW. You get a real feel that everyone, especially Barbreri, is enjoying themselves. Every now and then the camera cuts to him smiling when someone is playing a solo, very nice. Sentimental is excellent too, you have to admire the harmonies between Wilson and Wesley. Not much to add to Way Out Of Here. We have all witnessed it live and know how good it is. The album closer 'Sleep Together.' This song has always brought up mixed reviews,but I think it gets better with each listen, and I was always 100% certain that it was made to be played live, and I was right. Wilson growls away with brute force and the band just ooze class, feeding off his energy. 'What Happens Now' one of the highlights of Nil Reccuring. This has it's moments, but I don't feel it's quite as good as the studio version. I love the way it opens, it has an almost dance feel to it and it's very cool. It's not quite as good live because the guitars at the climax aren't crunchy enough for me. Normal - what a song this is. A ballad with a metal riff halfway through, and it works!!! Played to perfection, one slip up and it would all fall apart, that's how intricut the playing is. Love the vocals. Barberi's synths, like in every song, are amazing. Dark Matter. I didn't have the set list in front of me so had no idea this was up next, the inro by Barberi had me really scratching my head, then I nearly wet myself when I realised what it was. Superb, sounds awsome live. The ultimate moment of the gig is Wilson's guitar solo, watch the energy flowing from him. That's how to play guitar!!! Drown With Me is not quite as good live but it will make you smile. Cheating The Polygraph is really, really good live the atmosphere created by the sound is just unbelievable, I keep going on, but the playing is just top draw. Half Light is the one real dissapointment for me I'm afraid. It's just too 'Stadium Rock' with a glowing guitar and huge guitar solo at the end. It needs to be more intimate sounding. Sever. WOW. I'll talk about vocals later, this is excellent. Wedding Nails is a nice inclusion, and comes across very well here. Strip The Soul/Dot Three. There's something lacking that I can't quite put my finger on here, I was dissapointed. Sleep Of No Dreaming, see comments for Sever. Halo had to be on it because they didn't close with another song. The bonus track 'Prodigal' on the CD is very good, however the closing guitar solo is a let down, I much prefer the intense Floyd like solo on the studio version. So to sum up, this is a fantastic package, the gig is amazing. Even better than Arriving Somewhere, granted... Both have there highlights, making them both essential. Steven Wilson's vocals are magnificent, seriously, every song is sung to perfection, listen to Sever, Normal, ANESTHETIZE... listen to the whole thing if you don't believe me!!! Musically it is flawless. So, after all that I give this 5/5 for the entire package (I have the RED). The cloth book, the way the CD's/DVD's are packadged and the 128 page booklet make this the greatest Live Package I have ever seen, coupled with the performance. I can't comment on the standard edition, but it won't hold up to this, especially considering 1000 were printed, and a futher 4000 in GREY. Thanks Steven for this amazing special edition. I shall cherish this forever I am sure.