1080i

Somewhere, somehow, Usher has been dubbed the reigning “King of R&B.” I understand his sales are immense and popularity is undeniable, but I am hearing his name being said in the same sentence as James Brown and Michael Jackson. Those are insanely high standards to live up to, so I was was expecting a lot from the “OMG Tour” live performance.

Amidst scantily clad women, soaring lasers, massive video screens, a hyperactive backing band and sweating buckets in front of a sold out crowd, Usher does an 19 song long Michael Jackson impression. Am I watching the next King of Pop? Or (lord help me) King of R&B? (may the ghosts of Motown have mercy on whomever anointed Usher with that moniker). No, I am not. I am, however watching an extremely smooth dancer, a hard working entertainer, and charismatic singer lead an enormous stage production with a confident, cool professionalism.

Somewhere between Iron Maiden and Pink Floyd lies Queensryche's concept albums Operation Mindcrime parts one and two. Part One was released in 1988 and has since been heralded by many as one of the finest heavy metal albums (concept or otherwise) of all time. The sequel arrived in 2006. This concert film is from the subsequent tour that featured the band playing both albums in their entirety, back to back, with actors, animations, and an elaborate stage setup to perform this rock opera.

The plot follows a man who has been coerced into become an assassin of political figures. The sequel is a revenge story after he is jailed for his actions. A small team of actors fill in the roles that lead singer Geoff Tate does not.

Here are four evenings music fans did not anticipate coming, yet anyways hoped for. In 2005 Cream reunited for the first time since their breakup (save for one performance when they were inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame in 1993) for four concerts at the legendary Royal Albert Hall. The bad blood between the members of Cream was almost as famous as their influential music. With that in mind, it is wonderful to see these extremely talented men play just as tightly as they did in the 1960s, and some might argue that they've never played better than at these shows.

The set list is a rich mixture of chart topping originals (White Room, Sunshine of your Love...), classic covers (Born under a bad Sign, Crossroads...) and even some songs that the band had never played live before, such as 'Pressed Rat and Warthog.' The set that appears in this film is cobbled together with clips from each of the evenings, most likely to give us the best possible concert experience. As well, along with the songs, Ginger Baker gets a lengthy drum solo and, of course, Eric Clapton is alloted many opportunities to demonstrate some of the smoothest Blues guitar playing that has ever blessed our listening ears.

Bubokan is one of those venues that has become a goal for any major band. Dream Theater had toured Japan numerous times over the course of 12 years but never yet rocked this venue. Japan is, and has been, one of those markets that tends to embrace things differently than North America or Europe; and Progressive Metal is not exactly rocking the Top 40 stations (at least, not since RUSH were in their prime...and even then...). It was only a matter of time that the most relevant “Prog” band playing today would make it to Budokan, and they celebrated by making it into a concert film.

Each member of this group is a virtuoso at their instrument. Taking time for instrumentals or solos are rather commonplace for arena concerts. Instead of the standard guitar or drum solo, all but the lead singer of the group would flex their progressive metal playing muscles while putting on a clinic of just how flashy a musical education can be when the most technically impressive of scales and rhythms are played at breakneck paces and mixed with very strange time signature changes.