DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

It's really like Pink Floyd!

I have enjoyed rock music since I was a 14-year old boy in a small city in Indonesia. At that time there were many cassette offerings with various kind of music. Especially for rock music there were varieties of groups from Deep Purple to King Crimson. I knew Pink Floyd "Dark Side of The Moon" sometime in 1975 and really amazed with the kind of music the band plays. Because I was more familiar with straight rock, I could enjoy "Money" and "Time" easily without any barriers at all. In fact, I used "Time" as my wake up call using a timer. When this album was available in CD format, I purchased it right away and I think it was some time in the end of 80s. I did not have the CD player because I could not afford it. With this CD I also purchased Marillion's "Misplaced Childhood" even though I already had the LP.

Another one or two years later I could afford to buy a CD player and I did enjoy Dark Side of The Moon very much. The album actually has no complex arrangement at all but it does have an awesome soundscape and effects. I admire this album from this standpoint as well as the tight composition. I was kind like having an imagination that this album would be very tough to be emulated the same as the studio album because it has varied effects and wonderful soundscapes. In fact, in my collection of laser disc that features Pink Floyd live, performing some songs of Dark Side of The Moon, I could not sense the nuance and "soul" of the album on live performance (even by Pink Floyd themselves!).

But ... just couple of weeks ago I had a chance to enjoy this live set by Dream Theater and it BLEW me away at first spin.

WHY?

First off, Dream Theater can be considered asthe most popular progressive band in the world today. Look at this page and the post at the top right of HOME page where its latest album "Systematic Chaos" has been the most popular album with hundred plus reviews where the abum has just officially been released early June 2007. Many youngsters think nowadays that progressive music is Dream Theater while Dream Theater is progressive music. That's FACT that we all cannot deny. It seems awkward and weird if you find youngsters who claim as they like rock music but they don't know Dream Theater. Give me a break!Their music is really specific and they have their own character. No one would doubt their reputation.

Second, Pink Floyd is a legendary progressive band who laid their strong foundation since the psychedelic era of end 60s. The Dark Side of The Moon represents the band's ultimate achievement as it stayed for long period of time at Billboards top chart. Anyone who love rock music since 70s or 80s period would definitely know who Pink Floyd is.

Third, Dream Theater performed (live) Pink Floyd music wholeheartedly so that it created very positive image for the band. I would say that their performance for Dark Side of The Moon is very close to perfect. The Dark Side of The Moon was presented in almost exactly the same with what I listened to it during my childhood. I was really amazed on how Portnoy switched his style completely to have a drum sound which is very very close to Nick Mason's. Petrucci also retains his self-indulgent through emulating David Gilmour's guitar sound. Jordan Rudess also plays very similar like Rick Wright. I guess John Myung plays standard 4-string bass for this performance. All add up beautifully in PINK FLOYD's SOUND! In addition, LaBrie vocal is of course cannot deny that it's not as closer to Roger or Dave. But that's okay because it's a God given thing. The track that I was affraid the band could not perform well was "The Great Gig In The Sky". I was wrong! The band performed wonderfully with additional lead vocal by Theresa Thomasson. WOW!!!!

Fourth, covering legendary band like Pink Floyd means to me that Dream Theater (with its big name and brand) appreciates the legendary band (PINK FLOYD). On the other side of the coin, this cover version will give a chance for younger people to know one of the world's best progressive bands in the 70s that most of us must remember.

On top of the Dark Side of The Moon, the band also covers other Pink Floyd tracks. "Echoes" is performed in a close perfection. The toughest thing is "Comfortably Numb" especially during openig track with its unique ambient. This version cannot get the nuance very well even though the overall performance is excellent.

Overall, this is an excellent addition to any prog music collection. It's a MUST have for any of you who love prog music. Keep on proggin' ..!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW

The "DSOTM" part of this release was already available for a long time before the official release on the Internet (at least the Amsterdam show).

The band decided to play several albums in full after their original "DT" set when they would play several gigs in the same town. "Metallica" with "Master Of Puppets" and "Iron Maiden" with "The Number Of Te Beast" would be the first ones.

"Dream Theater" has often incorporated covers in their live sets (Elton John, Purple, FLoyd...). But to play the full of "DSOTM", such a lengendary prog album was kind of a daunting task.

And I have to say that it is a very good cover effort. Of course, I prefer a band as "The Machine" whi is one of the best Floyd cover band on the road because their approach is probably more faithful in spirit and more convincing. Bizzarely, the audience react quite well to these numbers (which does not really belong to "Dream Theater" repertoire).

The other songs are OK (as any professional cover band could do). Somewhat harder like "One Of These Days" (some will say massacred).

"DT" has now the fame of these covers. And again, they are doing quite right. "Time", and "Us & Them" are very well rendered.

One song of the second CD (not available on the first boot one) is the absolutely unexpected "Echoes". If there was one song that one wouln't have thought of being played by "Dream Theater" it is definitively "Echoes". It is one of my top three Floyd song (with ASOS and "SOYCD"). Such a version is also available from "Mostly Autumn. To be honest (and this always have been my policy) this version is ...very good. What else can I say ? I really can't tell it is bullsh.t when it isn't, right ?

"In The Flesh" is an old story already. It was featured on "A Change Of Season". The only poor rendition (IMO) is "Run Like Hell".

One personal comment. It sounds strange to me that the hords of "DT" fans (from 200 to 500 per album) are so quiet about this release (two reviews with comments). As if they are shy that their beloved band produced such a release. Of course, it won't convert "DT" into a full progressive band (which they definitely not are and never will be).

Still, this is a good example of the band's ability. I only wish that they will perform the full of "Made In Japan" in their live set that I am going to attend next Thursday (they already did this; so I am not talking about science-fiction).

Three stars.

Ugh.

This isn't pretty. DREAM THEATER play PINK FLOYD. As I began listening I found myself asking WHY? Why on earth would they do this? And, given they have, why does it sound so incredibly cold? Hoiw did they manage to suck all the life out of the record?

See, PINK FLOYD were the epitome of the British dichotomy: reserved and precise on the one hand, as exemplified by their carefully constructed sound; repressively, sphincter-tighteningly angry as only the Brits can get (a la John Cleese) in their lyrics and GILMOUR'S passionate guitar solos.

DREAM THEATER capture none of that. All they do is play the notes (well) and sing (badly, oh dear, LABRIE really finds singing difficult, doesn't he). But that doesn't make music. Now I'm no DREAM THEATER basher. For proof, check out my DT reviews. But I can't abide this sort of exercise. Yes, play some live covers, even some FLOYD if you must, though plainly you don't understand the music. Oh, but please, don't release it.

This really is a poor, one-star effort. But it will appeal to fans, so it has to be awarded two stars.

I'm no expert on Dream Theater but I was intrigued to hear what they would make of this classic of classic prog albums. Well, it's almost an exact copy, even down to using the same sound effects of clocks etc. The music of the original album is fairly starightforward so there's not much room for them to show off here, except for Petrucci in the Time and Money solos (which he does pretty well). The only time the band really lets rip is in Brain Damage.

All in all it's well done but it's so similar to the original that you wonder why they released it and whether people would listen to this in favour of the original. Full marks to the female singer for a great version of Great Gig in the Sky!

3.5 stars really!

This album is Dream Theater's version of one of the most recognizable and famous albums in the prog community and beyond. This is one of the best bands taking on this album. The result is much better than I thought. I thought a bunch of factors combined could somewhat mess up the album. For the most part, that doesn't happen.

However, there are a couple of times this happens. It's obvious that James LaBrie's voice doesn't fit this style. Sometimes it is worse than others though. It's also obvious that JP's guitar sound isn't at all similar to David Gilmour's style. It's obvious that Petrucci tries to sound a little bit like Gilmour, but that is somewhat a disappointment in itself. I would have liked them to change up the music to their style a little more, but instead it sounds almost the same. Even the sound effects are the same.

With that said, everything is still played well and is overall very good. The recording quality is also pretty good for a bootleg. I haven't mentioned Disc 2 yet. That contains a few sections from The Wall, as well as stuff from various other albums. If you are a die hard Pink Floyd fan or a die hard DT fan, you might be a little disappointment. However, from whatever camp you are in, you can't deny that this is a great version of great work from a classic prog band.

3.5/5 stars.

The Prog band of the late 90's covering the Prog band of the 70's. A great result.

I know there's many people that don't see anything similar between this two bands (myself included) but it's not a secret that Dream Theater guys are completely fans of the Floyds. They have covered one Metallica's album as well as one Iron Maiden, and it was about time to cover a more progressive release.

For instance, I really think that this live version brings a lot more "life" to the album. The intensity of the crowd and the strength of DT gave new life and it was great. The original album is one of the most recommended albums in history of prog rock and I don't really felt it that great. I know it's maybe good for the moment it was made, but I do find it too paced and slow, and sometimes is good and the Floyds bluesy edge is great for some moods, but there's nothing impressive about this record in particular. That being said, I do want to say it's not a bad album, just average for me. So, this live version is a lot more interesting because is more intense and fresh, so it was nice to hear. I know Mike Portnoy was a lot worry to make a worthy tribute, and they really succeeded at it.

The guest players made a great performance along with DT. Teresa Thomason brought a lot of life with her magical and powerful voice, as well as the sax player did a wonderful job covering the sax solo on the song Money.

Now, it's evident that James Labrie's voice is not the best match to this style of music. He didn't made a bad interpretation, but it's not like the original version. Not even close. Again, for me that's not bad, I think he made a good job and he is the original voice of DT, so if you get it as a cover version more than a copy version, is up to you to understand the goal of a cover album.

Good performance indeed and the live energy is all there. I really recommend this peace for any Pink Floyd fan that is not use to DT, it's a good place to start. And the quality of sound is great for being a bootleg. DT fans should check this out as well. 4 stars is fair. A very different side, a obscure side, a Dark Side of Dream Theater that any fan should discover.

I remember showing my daughter this cd just after I bought it and she just looked at me and said "Why?". Now I know why she said that (haha). At the time I just figured it would be cool to hear these guys cover one of my all-time favourite albums because of how well these guys play as evidenced on the "Change Of Seasons" EP. What I should have considered is that PINK FLOYD is different than most bands.Their music is about ideas, atmosphere and mood.These things are more difficult to copy than complex music for a band like DREAM THEATER. It starts off great with the sound of the crowd in anticipation, then hearing that heartbeat.The crowd claps along then the other samples come in like spoken word samples which sound like the real thing right from FLOYD.Then that dreamy and spacey music kicks in and it all sounds so good. LaBrie doesn't sound so bad at first but as this plays out it's clear his vocals are a distraction for me.What's worse is the fact that they don't always use the real FLOYD samples from here on out, and instead try to copy them and the results aren't pretty. Best part of the whole album is Theresa Thomason singing on "The Great Gig In The Sky". My God ! The loudest ovation on here is reserved for her when she finishes and for good reason. This is a fans only rating in my opinion and nothing more. Now where's my real "Dark Side Of The Moon" album ?