Ok, come posso dirvi prima che voi iniziate a leggere la recensione che i Dream Theater (gli ultimi naturalmente, non quelli del pre-Metropolis Part II) non mi piacciono, senza scatenare le ire funeste dei tanti fan accaniti??? Mmmm…diciamo semplicemente che non mi piacciono e chi se ne importa dei fan, va…
Dunque, cominciamo in ordine affermando da subito che, tranquilli, non è una recensione né di “Images And Words” né di uno degli altri quattro cento milioni di album che in 20 anni e più ha tirato fuori la band americana, dal momento che ciò di cui andremo a parlare in questa sede altro non è che la registrazione di un live, più precisamente svoltosi all’ “Heineken Music Hall di Amsterdam il 2 Aprile 2002, in cui la band ripropone i suoi più grandi successi, ricoprendo un po’ tutta la discografia, da quel “When Dream And Day Unite” che li fece entrare nel mondo del mercato discografico d’ampia distribuzione, fino a un piccolo antipasto dell’allora nuovissimo (sarebbe uscito qualche settimana dopo) “6 Degrees Of Inner Turbolence”; ora quello che mi sono chiesto all’ascolto di questo doppio disco live (regalatomi di una persona speciale per me) è stato fondamentalmente questo “Perché dover ascoltare dei pezzi, molti dei quali belli, cantati così male e con una qualità di registrazione da far venire il volta stomaco??”, ce n’era bisogno di un altro live firmato Dream Theater? Qualcuno ne sentiva davvero il bisogno? Beh, io no perché se è vero che anche questa volta in sede live i newyorkesi hanno dimostrato di essere un band tecnicamente parlando estremamente solida, d’altra parte ci hanno offerto una prestazione vocale al decisamente altalenante, specialmente in pezzi quali “Pull Me Under” o “Take The Time”, ma soprattutto ci hanno donato al pubblico un prodotto che pecca in quanto a qualità di registrazione, particolarità che fa diventare l’ascolto cosa decisamente ardua.
Dall’inizio del concerto, aperto da “The Glass Prison” sino alla fine della prima parte in cui si passa da “6:00” a “Lie”, dovendo nominare per forza anche pezzi quali “Surrounded” o lo splendido strumentale “Another Hand”, i Dream Theater si dimostrano gruppo di grande esperienza sfoderando una prestazione generale di buona qualità, ma è da “Scarred” che apre il secondo disco, che le cose cominciano a peggiorare: LaBrie dimostra il fiato corto in più frangenti, in alcune parti sembra addirittura stonare, dimostrando per altro pecche rilevanti anche dal punto di vista emozionale, risultando freddo come pochi altri cantanti in circolazione; andando avanti poi le cose non migliorano e se si può considerare buona la prestazione in “Peruvian Skies”, si ricade nel caos in pezzi come la già citata “Pull Me Under”, davvero pessima, in cui il buon Kevin James si limita a strillare il ritornello come se fosse in preda ad una crisi, cosa che si ripete anche in “Home” e in “The Spirit Carries On” (riproposta dalla band, musicalmente parlando, in maniera egregia), sino alla conclusiva “Take The Time”, nella quale il cantante mi ha fatto rimpiangere (ora verrò lapidato :D) in alcuni frangenti Dominici.
In finale dare un voto del tutto insufficiente non sarebbe corretto, poiché come già detto, la prova della band risulta come al solito pulita e pressoché priva di sbavature, ma promuovere questo doppio disco con il massimo dei voti, o quasi, risulterebbe del tutto fuorviante sia per la pessima prestazione vocale, sia per la qualità di registrazione, che non rende giustizia al lavoro svolto dai quattro musicisti americani.
Aspettando di risentire qualche cosa di paragonabile al bellissimo “Live At The Marquee”, torno ad ascoltare i bei lavori dei tempi andati che, con molta malinconia da parte mia, sembrano non tornare.
Elenco tracce e testi
05 Surrounded (00:00)
Morning comes too early
And night time falls too late
And sometimes all I want to do is wait
The shadow I've been hiding in has fled from me today
I know it's easier to walk away than look it in the eye
But I will raise a shelter to the sky
And here beneath this star tonight I'll lie
She will slowly yield the light
As I awaken from the longest night
Dreams are shaking
Set sirens waking up tired eyes
With the light the memories all rush into his head
By a candle stands a mirror
Of his heart and soul she dances
She was dancing through the night above his bed
And walking to the window
He throws the shutters out
Against the wall
And from an ivory tower hears her call
'Let light surround you'
It's been a long, long time
He's had awhile to think it over
In the end he only sees the change
Light to dark
Dark to light
Light to dark
Dark to light
Heaven must be more than this
When angels waken with a kiss
Sacred hearts won't take the pain
But mine will never be the same
He stands before the window
His shadow slowly fading from the wall
And from an ivory tower hears her call
'Let the light surround you'
Once lost but I was found
When I heard the stained glass shatter all around me
I sent the spirits tumbling down the hill
But I will hold this one on high above me still
She whispers words to clear my mind
I once could see but now at last I'm blind
I know it's easier to walk away than look it in the eye
But I had given all than I could take
And now I've only habits left to break
Tonight I'll still be lying here
Surrounded in all the light
08 The Killing Hand (00:00)
An Angel's kiss now fallen
Descending scarlet cuts the sky
Faded names left on the wall
Honor the fighting leave life to die
Remembered is the sacrifice but
No praisal of blood still flowing
Who were the leaders?
What controlled the Killing Hand
That caused this mourning?
Crossing over...
09 Misunderstood (00:00)
Waiting
In the calm of desolation
Wanting to break
From this circle of confusion
Sleeping
In the depths of isolation
Trying to wake
From this daydream of illusion
How can I feel abandoned even when the world surrounds me
How can I bite the hand that feeds the strangers all around me
How can I know so many
Never really knowing anyone
If I seem superhuman
I have been
Misunderstood
It challenges the essence of my soul
And leaves me in a state of disconnection
As I navigate the maze of self control
Playing a lion being led to a cage
I turn from a thief to a beggar
From a god to God save me
How can I feel abandoned even when the world surrounds me
How can I bite the hand that feeds the strangers all around me
How can I know so many
Never really knowing anyone
If I seem superhuman
I have been
Misunderstood
Playing a lion being led to a cage
I turn from surreal to seclusion
From love to disdain
From belief to delusion
From a thief to a beggar
From a god to God save me
How can I feel abandoned even when the world surrounds me
How can I bite the hand that feeds the strangers all around me
How can I know so many
Never really knowing anyone
If I seem superhuman
I have been
Misunderstood
10 Lie (00:00)
Daybreak, at the bottom of lake
It's a hundred degrees I can't breathe
And I won't get out 'til I figure it out
Though I'm weak like I can't believe
So you tell me 'trust me' l can trust you
Just let me show you
But I gotta work it out in a shadow of doubt
'cause I don't know if I know you
Doing fine but don't waste my time
Tell me what it is you want to say
You sin, you win, just let me in, hurry
I've been out in the rain all day
So you tell me 'trust me' I can trust you
As far as I can throw you
And I'm trying to get out of a shadow of doubt
'cause I don't know if I know you
Don't tell me you wanted me
Don't tell me you thought of me
I won't, I swear I won't
I'll try, I swear I'll try
Mother Mary quite contrary
Kiss the boys and make them wary
Things are getting just a little bit scary
It's a wonder I can still breathe
Never been much of a doubting Thomas
But nothing breaks like a broken promise
You tell me 'bout your two more coming
But once is just enough for me
Don't tell me you wanted me
Don't tell me you thought of me
I won't, I swear I won't
I'll try, I swear I'll try
I had gotten used to being a soul destroyed
She comes in apparently to fill the void
All dogs need a leash and at least I'll forget it
And she would never hurt me though, she's never said it
But I'm not gonna ask her today
I don't wanna scare her away
Your town, I'm all alone
And I just can't stare at the phone
I wanna talk about lifelong mistakes
And you can tell your stepfather I said so
Don't tell me you wanted me
Don't tell me you thought of me
I won't, I swear I won't
I'll try, I swear I'll try
12 The Great Debate (00:00)
What if someone said
Promise lies ahead
Hopes are high in certain scientific circles
Life won't have to end
You could walk again
What if someone said
Problems lie ahead
They've uncovered something highly controversial
The right to life is strong
Can't you see it's wrong
Human kind has reached a turning point
Poised for conflict at ground zero
Ready for a war
Do we look to our unearthly guide
Or to white coat heroes
Searching for a cure
Turn to the light
Don't be frightened of the shadows it creates
Turn to the light
Turning away would be a terrible mistake
Anarchistic moral vision
Industries of death
Facing violent opposition
Unmolested breaths
Ethic inquisitions breed
Antagonistic views
Right wing sound bite premonitions
In a labyrinth of rules
Are you justified
Are you justified
Are you justified
Justified in taking
Life to save life
Life to save life
Taking life to save life
This embryonic clay
Wrapped in fierce debate
Would be thrown away
Or otherwise discarded
Some of us believe
It may hold the key
To treatment of disease
And secrets highly guarded
Are you justified
Are you justified
Are you justified
Justified in taking
Life to save life
Life to save life
Life to save life
Human kind has reached a turning point
Poised for conflict at ground zero
Ready for a war
Do we look to our unearthly guide
Or to white coat heroes
Searching for a cure
Turn to the light
Don't be frightened of the shadows it creates
Turn to the light
Turning away would be a terrible mistake
We're reaching
But have we gone too far
Harvesting existence
Only to destroy
Carelessly together
We are sliding
Someone else's future
Four days frozen still
Someone else's fate
We are deciding
Miracle potential
Sanctity of life
Faced against each other
We're divided
Should we push the boundaries
Or should we condemn
Moral guilt and science
Have collided
Turn to the light
We defy our own mortality these days
Turn to the light
Pay attention to the questions we have raised
13 Peruvian Skies (00:00)
There, there it is
I swear he's gonna murder that poor kid
Wait, I hear it again
Don't turn on the lights until we
Hear the way it ends
Under peruvian skies
Vanessa regretfully waits
The story unfolds in her eyes
Where midnight hysteria's
No big surprise
Battered and bruised
Always confusing
The love that she's losing for hate
Poor Vanessa
Poor, poor Vanessa
Hey, I hope you know
I'm taking all of this time with me when I go
Shame, you're not to blame
I'm the monster you created
In your daddy's name
Under peruvian skies
Vanessa regretfully waits
The story unfolds in her eyes
Where midnight hysteria's
No big surprise
Battered and bruised
Always confusing
The love that she's losing for hate
Poor Vanessa
Poor Vanessa
Terror by night
Liar by day
Telling her secrets
Won't take them away
Under peruvian skies
Vanessa regretfully waits
The story unfolds in her eyes
Where midnight hysteria's
No big surprise
Battered and bruised
Always confusing
The love that she's losing for hate
Poor Vanessa
14 Pull Me Under (00:00)
Lost in the sky
Clouds roll by and I roll with them
Arrows fly
Seas increase and then fall again
This world is spinning around me
This world is spinning without me
Every day sends future to past
Every breath leaves me one less to my last
Watch the sparrow falling
Gives new meaning to it all
If not today nor yet tomorrow
Then some other day
I'll take seven lives for one
And then my only father's son
As sure as I did ever love him
I am not afraid
This world is spinning around me
The whole world keeps spinning around me
All life is future to past
Every breath leaves me one less to my last
Pull me under
Pull me under
Pull me under I'm not afraid
All that I feel is honor and spite
All I can do is set it right
Dust fills my eyes
Clouds roll by and I roll with them
Centuries cry
Orders fly and I fall again
This world is spinning inside me
The whole world is spinning inside me
Every day sends future to past
Every step brings me closer to my last
Pull me under
Pull me under
Pull me under I'm not afraid
Living my life too much in the sun
Only until your will is done
Pull me under
Pull me under
Pull me under I'm not afraid
All that I feel is honor and spite
All I can do is set it right
Pull me under
Pull me under
Pull me under I'm not afraid
Living my life too much in the sun
Only until your will is done
15 Home (00:00)
'''The Sleeper:'''
[Past]
Shine - lake of fire
Lines take me higher
My mind drips desire
Confined and overtired
Living this charade
Is getting me nowhere
I can't shake this charade
The city's cold blood calls me home...
Home... It's what I long for
Back home... where I belong
The city - it calls to me
Decadent scenes from my memory
Sorrow - eternity
My demons are coming to drown me
Help - I'm falling, I'm crawling
I can't keep away from its clutch
Can't have it, this habit
It's calling me back to my home
'''The Miracle:'''
[Past]
I remember the first time she came to me
Poured her soul out all night and cried...
I remember I was told there's a new love that's born
For each one that has died...
I never thought that I
Could carry on with this life
But I can't resist myself
No matter how hard I try
Living their other life
Is getting them nowhere
I'll make her my wife
Her sweet temptation calls me home...
Home... It's what I long for
My home... where she belongs
Her ecstasy - means so much to me
Even deceiving my own blood
Victoria watches and thoughtfully smiles
She's taking me to my home
Help - he's my brother, but I love her
I can't keep away from her touch
Deception, dishonor
It's calling me back to my home
''[A craps stickman is heard calling out various bets during the gambling and sex sequence.]
...four, four, who wants the hard four?... ...who wants the hard four?... ...shooter had one, four... one, four... one and make it the hard way... ...got the shooter... ...coming out for a new player... take your best shot, gambler... ...who wants to come? better hop in... place your bets... who wants to come?''
'''Nicholas:'''
[Past]
Her story - it holds the key
Unlocking dreams from my memory
Solving this mystery
Is everything that is a part of me
Help - regression, obsession
I can't keep away from it's clutch
Leave no doubt, to find out
It's calling me back to my home
16 The Spirit Carries On (00:00)
'''Nicholas:'''
[Present]
Where did we come from?
Why are we here?
Where do we go when we die?
What lies beyond
And what lay before?
Is anything certain in life?
They say, "Life is too short",
"The here and the now"
And "You're only given one shot"
But could there be more,
Have I lived before,
Or could this be all that we've got?
If I die tomorrow
I'd be all right
Because I believe
That after we're gone
The spirit carries on
I used to be frightened of dying
I used to think death was the end
But that was before
I'm not scared anymore
I know that my soul will transcend
I may never find all the answers
I may never understand why
I may never prove
What I know to be true
But I know that I still have to try
If I die tomorrow
I'd be allright
Because I believe
That after we're gone
The spirit carries on
'''Victoria:'''
[Present]
Move on, be brave
Don't weep at my grave
Because I am no longer here
But please never let
Your memory of me disappear
'''Nicholas:'''
[Present]
Safe in the light that surrounds me
Free of the fear and the pain
My questioning mind
Has helped me to find
The meaning in my life again
Victoria's real
I finally feel
At peace with the girl in my dreams
And now that I'm here
It's perfectly clear
I found out what all of this means
If I die tomorrow
I'd be allright
Because I believe
That after we're gone
The spirit carries on
17 Take The Time (00:00)
Hold it now
Wait a minute
C'mon... whew...
Just let me catch my breath
I've heard the promises, I've seen the mistakes
I've had my fair share of tough breaks
I need a new voice, a new law, a new way
Take the time, reevaluate
It's time to pick up the pieces, go back to square one
I think it's time for a change
There is something that I feel
To be something that is real
I feel the heat within my mind
And craft new changes with my eyes
Giving freely wandering promises
A place with decisions I'll fashion
I won't waste another breath
You can feel the waves coming on
It's time to take the time
Let them destroy you or carry you on
It's time to take the time
You're fighting the weight of the world
But no one can save you this time
Close your eyes
You can find all you need in your mind
Unbroken spirit, obscured and disquiet
Finds clearness this trial demands
And at the end of this day sighs an anxious relief
For the fortune lies still in his hands
If there's a pensive fear, a wasted year
A man must learn to cope
If his obsession's real
Suppression that he feels must turn to hope
Life is no more assuring than love
It's time to take the time
There are no answers from voices above
It's time to take the time
You're fighting the weight of the world
And no one can save you this time
Close your eyes
You can find all you need in your mind
I close my eyes
And feel the water rise around me
Drown in the beat of time
Let my senses fall away
I can see much clearer now, I'm blind
"Ora che ho perso la vista, ci vedo di piu"
You can feel the waves coming on
It's time to take the time
Let them destroy you or carry you on
It's time to take the time
You're fighting the weight of the world
But no one can save you this time
Close your eyes
You can find all you need in your mind
Awww awww
Yeah...
Find all you need in your mind
If you take the time
Find all you need in your mind
If you take the time
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