Dream Theater

Live In Tokyo/5Years In A LIVEtime (Rhino)

Rating: 3 out of 5

Level: intermediate to advanced, $19.99

The 1993 Tokyo concert footage on disc 1 of this double DVD features music from DT’s most commercially successful recording to date, Images And Words. The band, with keyboardist Kevin Moore, is young, enthusiastic, and... very hairy. The audio is fairly clean, with drummer Mike Portnoy’s progressive licks focused in the mix. Mike performs a visually captivating solo that brings the crowd to its feet. Disc 2 chronicles the band’s musical and personal development from 1994 through 1998, with keyboardist Derek Sherinian. Both discs feature road escapades and music videos. A cool collection for fans of this technically challenging band. (Parental discretion is advised.)

—Mike Haid