Dream Theater

Once In A LIVEtime (EastWest)

This is the fifth album from the prog metallers captured at a Paris gig earlier this year. Spread over two CDs, the material contains many of Dream Theater's most popular songs (‘Pull Me Under’, ‘Take The Time’ and ‘Lie’ but sadly no ‘Under A Glass Moon’) all performed with great gusto and precision. Never commercial enough to be the jewel in MTV's eye, Dream Theater's sound resides in the melding of sonic textures, shifting tempos and time signatures packaged with virtuosic musicianship. With John Petrucci, they have progressive guitar's new guiding light as alternate picked and legato phrases fly from his fingers with confidence and blinding accuracy. The rest of the band are no slouches either, especially the guitar-like soloing of Derek Sherinian on keyboards (a Jan Hammer for the '90s). If you want to hear a band this sharp live and unleashed this is a must buy.

—Jason Sidwell

Rating: 4 out of 5 (Double gin and tonic)