Review Summary: Living up to its name, A Change of Seasons is one of the finest works ever created by the band. The live covers are well done but unlikely to be of much interest to most listeners, this EP is all about the title track.
The Journey Through Dream Theater, Part 4
After 2 successful albums in the early 90’s, Dream Theater released an EP,
A Change of Seasons. It was their first recording with new keyboardist Derek Sherinian, and his first work with the band would be one of their most acclaimed.
The 23-minute title track is truly magnificent.
A Change of Seasons is an epic that is comprised of 7 different sections; the changes in tempo and style are a correlation to the theme of changing seasons, and the lyrics reflect that as well. If this isn’t the best song Dream Theater has ever written, it has few rivals. The whole band is on the top of their game here, not a single section feels out of place or overindulgent. Petrucci shows restraint, while still letting out several magnificent solos throughout the course of the song. LaBrie's vocals are fantastic as well, also changing throughout the song. Each member gets a chance to shine and show off his skills but still keeping it tasteful within the context of the song. Had it ended right there the EP would have been excellent as it was, showcasing an epic song that showed off the best of Dream Theater’s strengths.
However, following the title track is a collection of live covers. It kicks off with a rousing rendition of 2 Elton John songs, with the slower instrumental
Funeral For A Friend leading into
Love Lies Bleeding. Following it are Deep Purple’s
Perfect Strangers, and a Led Zeppelin medley that, although featuring a weaker performance from LaBrie, actually lets John Myung show off his skills for once, with audible, quick-paced basslines. The EP closes with
The Big Medley, featuring, among other things, various instrumental sections of
Carry On Wayward Son,
Bohemian Rhapsody, and Journey’s
Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’. This is the most enjoyable part of the covers, as Dream Theater makes the transition from each section smoothly.
The problem is not that the covers are not well done. On the contrary, they are executed well, especially for a live setting. The problem is that after hearing
A Change of Seasons, anything that comes after it pales in comparison. The covers are good and enjoyable but ultimately forgettable; worthwhile to add to one's Dream Theater collection, but unlikely to get more than a couple curious listens. However, the title track is definitely worth listening to, a 23-minute masterpiece that would rarely be rivaled throughout Dream Theater’s catalogue. It makes this a worthy addition to Dream Theater’s excellent works of the 90’s.
For
A Change of Seasons, Dream Theater was:
• John Myung – Bass guitar
• John Petrucci – Lead guitar
• Mike Portnoy – Drums, Percussion
• Derek Sherinian – Keyboards
• James LaBrie – Vocals
To Be Continued…
