Dream Theater: Live at Budokan

There's nothing really wrong with Dream Theater, but there's nothing really right with them either. Like a 21st century Alan Parsons Project, they go through motions quite merrily, throwing out all the old prog rock cliches and stretching three-minute AOR songs to breaking point with faux-moody keyboard intros and directionless instrumental passages. But you never feel that this is anything more than posturing - sure they can play their instruments, but it's only impressive in a technical sense. Witness closing track 'In The Name of God', wherein the band members take it in turns to demonstrate their lifeless musicianship - "look at me, I'm highly competent but dull!" "Me too!" "And I'm the drummer!"

Now I'd like to strip away the lift music for a minute and concentrate on the actual songs. I'd like to, but unfortunately I can't, because there don't actually seem to be songs there, just occasional moments where the instrumentalists stop attention seeking and some bloke sings a bit. Badly. Fortunately, these moments are few and far between - much more time is spent making vaguely pleasant background noise that's probably quite good for sending babies to sleep. I don't think that's what Dream Theater were aiming for (unless this is actually Live at the Budokan Creche), but I suppose it's a success of sorts.