803. Queensrÿche / The Art of Live. 2004. 2.5/5

You would have to start questioning a band's driving motivation when they have released a live album which comprehensively covers their entire career to that point in time, then release a new studio album which may or may not be well received... and then release yet another live album which focuses in the majority on the songs from that album. But then again, Iron Maiden has made a career of such a move over the past couple of decade, so perhaps that is an unfair statement.

Following on from Tribe, which was going to herald the glorious return of Chris DeGarmo to the fold and was instead a disappointment on that front, Queensrÿche recorded this during their 2003 tour with Dream Theater. The first half of the album consists entirely of songs lifted from the Tribe album, except for "Sign of the Times". Now, were you to be a fan of that album, this would be terrific for you. Hearing songs you love being played live - what could be better? Of course, were you to find the album dull, unimaginative and of a type musically that you just don't find particularly attractive, well you may have a slight problem with this release.

I have a slight problem with this release.

The good thing about a lot of live albums is that it can showcase songs in a different light, and sometimes songs that you may not particularly like suddenly find a new life when you hear how the band plays them in a live setting. And, to a certain (very small, miniscule) degree, that can be applied here. But to be honest, if you don't like the album, then you won't get anything from hearing half of it here, because it is just like listening to half of the Tribe album.
Following this we are treated to two songs in an acoustic setting. "My Global Mind" is as dull as it was on Promised Land, but to play "Roads to Madness" acoustically is just a travesty. I'd have felt short changed if I was at the gig. It's like listening to Metallica doing "The Four Horsemen" unplugged. It shouldn't be allowed to happen.
The final five songs on the album come from the band's most heralded albums, Operation: Mindcrime and Empire. One thing the band can be applauded for here is that none of these five songs featured on the previous live album Live Evolution, meaning they weren't doubling up in that way, giving us live versions of "Della Brown", "Anybody Listening?" and "Best I Can" from Empire that the fans can hold onto, as well as "Breaking the Silence" and "The Needle Lies" from Operation: Mindcrime.

It's hard to fault the musicianship on this album. the band sounds great, and plays with as much gusto as the material allows them to. What is hard is trying to get the most out of a live album when the majority of it just doesn't appeal to you. If I had bought this on vinyl I can pretty much guarantee there would only ever be one side of the album played, and not even all of that.

Rating:  I've gone too far to turn back now.  2.5/5