CHAOS IN MOTION 2007-2008

With the latest set from Dream Theater Chaos In Motion 2007-2008 (deluxe collector's edition) the band gives their fans the ultimate gift by putting two DVDs and three CDs together for the most comprehensive overview of their music to date in a live setting.

I grabbed this gem the day it came out and later discovered the concert date I attended in Boston in 2007 makes a few appearances on the set, which makes this experience all that more personal and special for this listener. I was able to attend another concert early in 2008 and bring along my young son, a Petrucci disciple, and he thought seeing DT live was the most amazing thing he has ever seen. Thanks to the graciousness of Jordan Rudess and making these dreams come true, I continue to enjoy watching the development and legacy of DT grow with each passing year.

Chaos In Motion 2007-2008 is a lot to digest and after you are finished watching all the live footage, interviews and bonuses, then heard all three CDs, you certainly have the feeling you were just given the grand tour and history of a band. DT is at the point where a presentation such as this will be more commonplace because of their hard earned and well-deserved success. I recently spoke to their former manager Jim Putulski, and as we were discussing Jim's latest new label Blistering Records, the mention of the work ethic of DT came up and he intimated that if more bands held that belief closer to their heart that success would be unavoidable.

At the beginning of the first DVD, there are some questionable videos in reference to quality however, that is something that is more of an anomaly. Once you get past those rare instances, this is superb and it covers much of the output from this band. As the back of the box set says, "1 year & 1 day, 115 shows, 105 cities, 35 countries, 5 continents, hundreds of thousands of fans.1 Band" puts this entire event into proper perspective. The enormity of presence that DT commands finds a time capsule to fit into within this one sentence.

The promo videos and live screen projection films are also a highlight and very enjoyable. With "Behind The Chaos On The Road" segments, Mike Portnoy's tour of the stage prior to a show is an entirely different look from the band's eyes that we rarely get to see. As I mentioned previously, this set is all encompassing and I do not think very much is missing. The total DT experience is available here, including life on the road and all the people that make things happen along the way from the bus driver to the cooks, people that seldom get the recognition they deserve. This band is proud of its legacy and is always willing to give credit where it is due and that is why I respect them so much. Success has not changed their outlook, just made all of them more grateful for the current position they hold in music today.

It is hard to imagine how a DVD/CD box set could get much better than this although I have a feeling what is in the future will be yet another notch higher than this. DT is always looking to improve and this is a great way to see how this band has grown in every way by watching the DVDs. If you want to compare, contrast, and see how just how far they have come over the years, check out the double feature DVD Images and Words Live in Tokyo/5 Years in a Livetime, proceed to check out Chaos In Motion 2007-2008, and then watch the amazing progression of a band in one sitting. Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck