TASTE THE MEMORIES

Unlike the infect "Christams Album" from 2000, this one benefits from a very good sound and even if these recordings come from different sources, it is hard to tell.

These songs were recorded way behing the date of release (more than ten years). So, it is a rather "young" DT that is featured here. Two songs even coming from their debut album in which LaBrie was not yet involved ("Afterlife" and "Only A Matter Of Time"). Very well played and interpreted (but it is not the first time that LaBrie sings numbers from "When Dream And Day Unite " and he always did it alright.

Since these recordings come from the promotional tour for "Images & Words", three songs from this album are featured and are rather good to very good ("Take The Time").

"Puppies Of Acid" is a very short instrumental (less than two minutes which is bearable but no more).

Now, about the poor moments. The definite winner is "Moon Bubbles". Almost ten boring minutes of a bass solo first followed by a totally useless and weak and looooooong guitar one. Avoid this by all means. In a certain way "To Live Forever" is made of the same mould : long and boring Petrucci solo but this is again a very old song (I only know of a demo version recorded in 1991 and which only made a B-side I think). It has been extended to over twelve minutes (while the original one didn't exceed five). If they would have stuck to this original version it would have been more than sufficient.

And finally, we will have the full version of "A Change Of Season". It was about time to get this as a whole on an "official" live album. Let's forget about the stupid and sliced rendition on "Once In A Livetime". Even if it is shortened by over three minutes (almost tenty minutes long here), it is a very good version. This song has been started in 1989 already and officially featured on "A Change Of Season" in 1995. One of their most progressive opus. The highlight of course.

All in all I would say that it is a good "DT" live album. This CD is filled at maximimum capacty). Just a pity for those two weak tracks. Three stars.

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