Rough Edge: Dream Theater CD Reviews

Fans of Dream Theater probably had this disc in hand or had a digital copy imprinted on their brain the second it was released in stores. I picked up my copy the day it came out and had that pesky cellophane wrapper ripped off before I got back to my vehicle. There is only a two year difference from the release of "Systematic Chaos" and "Black Clouds & Silver Linings," giving those who require a steady stream of Dream Theater their fill.

Each song has a different story attached to it and reading along while James LaBrie sings helps you to understand where the song came from. Although each track has some event that happened to John Petrucci or Mike Portnoy they all find the sliver lining surrounding the black cloud. The first track, "A Nightmare To Remember," is about Petrucci who was involved in a car wreck when he was little.

Dream Theater will keep the same fans that have followed them throughout the years; this disc might not gather any newer ones and if the ink is dry on your DT tattoo then show it off proudly. A lot of the tracks are not radio friendly with the longest clocking in at 19:16. Of course DT doesn't write for radio and those who know this delight in songs that unfold rather than repeat a catchy chorus.

This disc is full of choir sounds; Jordan Rudess really puts the Gothic sound in each song and creates some harrowing music to battle Petrucci's guitar prowess. James LaBrie and Portnoy share vocals duties once again and it's great to hear how they portray their part. John Myung's bass is incredible and you can hear a lot more of it on this disc than before.

The track titled "The Best Of Times" was written about Mike Portnoy's dad who passed away while they were recording this disc. It’s a great story about a father and son -- it’s a tribute. This disc flows along and the only minor hiccup would be the track "Wither" which is a little slow but it's still well written.

Dream Theater: James LaBrie – vocals; John Petrucci – guitar and backing vocals; Jordan Rudess – keyboards and Continuum; John Myung – bass; Mike Portnoy – drums and backing vocals.

I’m excited to review this Dream Theater release with you today. It’s no doubt that I love DT and have since I saw the video for “Pull Me Under” on Headbangers Ball. Insert metal horns here (\m/). I’ve reviewed two of their discs already and will do more in the future. Since 1992 I’ve followed Dream Theater album by album and immersed myself deeply into their progressive music and, although I’ve never waited patiently for a release, (primarily because I have a play list devoted to them with over 13 hours of music to listen to), I’m always a little more bright-eyed when I hear an album is coming soon. Well, soon is now, let’s dive in.

Usually when a band has been around a long time they get tired. Well, at least their sound does and maybe even they do. The thing that makes progressive music last longer isn't just because of the name “progressive”, which means moving forward or advancing, is that it’s ever changing. Dream Theater, if they wanted to, could release a completely instrumental album and the music would still do the talking. Of course, James LaBrie is the voice for DT and his operatic style makes each song unique. "Systematic Chaos" has a five minute instrumental intro by DT until LaBrie ever starts to sing. If any other band tried that it might not fly, but Dream Theater play with such exuberance and confidence, we almost expect nothing less from them.

John Petrucci’s playing exceeds all expectations because this disc has him playing at least four different styles. His melodic tone is always present but, unlike the night manager who locks the doors when things get crowded and uncontrolled, John steps up and fires solos off like “back off” warnings. Songs such as “Forsaken,” and “Constant Motion” are prime examples. “The Dark Eternal Night” song has him riffing it up with a Pantera-like assault.

Mike Portnoy and John Petrucci produce Dream Theater’s sound so those guys are closer than Siamese twins when it comes to crafting the music we all marvel at. On the song “Prophets Of War,” Petrucci makes his guitar sound like a helicopter to give the effect it needs to match the chant lyrics. It last only six minutes, but it's one of the eeriest tracks performed.

In an ever changing musical world where is seems everyone is trying to come up with the latest sound to capture a few more of your dollars, Dream Theater stick with the sound they pioneered. They do this with little or no radio play. DT doesn’t just have fans, they have a multitude.

Dream Theater: James LaBrie – vocals; John Myung – bass; John Petrucci – guitar and vocals; Mike Portnoy – drums, percussion and vocals; Jordan Rudess – keyboards and continuum.

For more information, check out http://www.dreamtheater.net/.

After hearing Dream Theater’s “Pull Me Under” way back in 1992 I knew I was hooked. While I have purchased all of the band’s live CDs I have been reluctant to purchase their DVD concert documentations as I’ve always thought that it might spoil the rare chances I do see them live. Not to mention the fact that who has the time to watch music DVDs? I certainly don’t.

“Score” is the band’s final performance of the Octavarium Tour which concluded the 20th year of the band’s existence. Filmed at the famed Radio City Music Hall in New York City Dream Theater managed to land the penultimate concert spot in a perfect location in their “hometown.” That’s a far cry from the first time I saw Dream Theater at the dumpy but comfortable Daytona’s Club (R.I.P.) on the Infinity Tour.

“Score,” like most of the band’s performances, draws from every album in the band’s history and Portnoy’s set list makes every attempt to make the show as unique as possible. The set list on “Score” is different than their last live release “Live In Japan.” I think it’s amazing that Dream Theater is prepared to play any song from their official releases and others at the drop of a hat. The evidence on “Score” pretty much makes it look effortless. The visuals make prominent display of Portnoy’s manic energy, Myung’s understated low-end strength and fluidity, Rudess’ maestro-like ability, Petrucci’s amazing dexterity and skills, and LaBrie’s expressive range.

The first set includes a variety of tracks including the heavyweight “Under A Glass Moon” and a stately “The Spirit Carries On.” The second set is entirely done with an orchestra (dubbed the Octavarium Orchestra) as a sonic complement. The second set begins with a complete performance of “Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence.” Here the Octavarium Orchestra gives this album-length song a stunning fullness. The complete performance of “Six Degrees” can get a bit long for the casual music fan, but, generally speaking, casual music fans aren’t Dream Theater fans. The second set with the orchestra includes a crushing “Sacrificed Sons” and a rousing, concert-concluding “Metropolis.”

However, the best treat for me on the “Score” performance is the unreleased track “Raise the Knife” (appears in the first set). This track fits in perfectly with the ‘anthology’ nature of entire concert and serves a special treat for me as I’ve been lazy at collecting the band’s works outside of official releases.

The production values on the “Score” DVD are quite high which makes the DVD easy to watch and listen to. I have found myself simply listening to the DVD and not watching it – the audio quality is that impressive. “Score” is a powerful testament to the vision and history of Dream Theater.

The second DVD features bonus material including a documentary highlighting the band’s progression through their 20 year history, three bonus tracks from previous performances, and a brief animation. The documentary is interesting and insightful, but perhaps a bit long even for the dedicated Dream Theater fan that probably already knows a lot about the band. The bonus tracks are “Another Day” from a 1993 concert, “The Great Debate” from a 2002 concert, and “Honor Thy Father” from a 2005 concert. Since none of these three songs are on the main “Score” DVD they are unique addition and valuable visual evidence of the band’s evolution. Also included is the “Octavarium” animation which was featured at the beginning of the band’s concerts on their tours for the album of that name.

Dream Theater: James LaBrie on vocals, John Petrucci on guitars, John Myung on bass, Jordan Rudess on keyboards, and Mike Portnoy on drums.

Prog rockers Dream Theater return to release another tight and proficient album titled "Octavarium." In listening to this release, you will notice a lighter mood than "Train Of Thought" required. A couple of tracks here are piano and strings driven: "The Answer Lies Within" and "I Walk Beside You." One should note that DT can create a different flow or vibe with each CD, although -- with all the guitar driven music out there -- DT are allowed as musicians to show all sides of each member's talents.

James LaBrie's vocals are smooth on the light tracks and powerful yet controlled on the heavy tracks. John Petrucci's guitar is very melodic and, of course, full of brilliant solos and rhythm that carries you along as Jordan Rudess lays an angelic hum behind the wall of sound. Mike Portnoy is still as great as he is expected to be with drums and percussion. John Myung keeps the bass department tight as he places his instrument perfectly with all the others to create the firm sound Dream Theater is known for.

With each Dream Theater release, it takes a few listens to fully appreciate all of the music they put in to it. It's not a difficult listen at all, however. In fact, rather it's very inviting and welcoming. Most fans snatched this CD up the day it came out.

Dream Theater have been together for sixteen years but that shouldn't have anyone thinking that their music is manufactured simply to satisfy a record contract. These guys have incredible talent and produce some of the best music around. They shine the most on the epic tracks that run at least ten minutes or more.

The best tracks here are "The Root Of All Evil," "Panic Attack," "Never Enough," and "Sacrificed Sons."

Dream Theater is: James LaBrie - vocals; John Myung - bass; John Petrucci - guitar and vocals; Mike Portnoy - drums, vocals and percussion; Jordan Rudess - keyboards, continuum and lap steel guitar.

For more information, check out www.dreamtheater.net.

What are the odds of a highly respected band like Dream Theater releasing a CD bearing the same title as a legendary Metallica CD? I mean, really, they've got to be astronomical!

Okay, I'm being a smart ass here. Of course Dream Theater's "Master of Puppets" is the same as Metallica's. This CD captures the band's February 19th, 2002 live performance in Barcelona, Spain as they covered the entire "Master of Puppets" album as an encore to their regularly scheduled set. (According to the liner notes, this later became a tradition with the band playing a complete classic album whenever they were scheduled to play two live dates in the same city).

The question is does Dream Theater have the chops to perform "Master of Puppets"? The answer, as any Dream Theater fan will tell you, is hell, yeah! With a line-up of nothing short of spectacular musicians, Dream Theater does "Master of Puppets" justice, with the only exception being an understandably weary and raw-voiced James LaBrie delivering a less-than-pitch-perfect James Hetfield impression.

Throughout, Dream Theater's version of "Master of Puppets" stays very close to Metallica's. Perhaps it would have been nice to have a few experimental, more Dream Theater-like moments thrown in but that's one of those situations where you're damned if you do and damned if you don't. If you don't, people like me will wonder why. If you do, people will bitch that you're messing with a classic. Guitarist John Petrucci, a legend in his own right, does toss in the occasional superman trick, however, and they're worth looking for.

Bottom line is this: Dream Theater fans and Metallica fans will definitely want to have this "Master of Puppets" in their collection.

Dream Theater: James LaBrie - vocals; John Myung - bass; John Petrucci - guitar; Mike Portnoy - drums, vocals; Jordan Rudess - keyboards.

This disc is heavy, not just musically but lyrically as well. Dream Theater follow-up "Six Degrees Of Separation" with "Train Of Thought," which is an appropriate name for an album with this lyrical content. Mostly, DT pen songs that have a concept or message. This release tackles alcoholism and recovery on the track "This Dying Soul." while "As I Am" fronts resistance and independence. The title alone of "In The Name Of God" should give you an idea of what the subject of that song is.

As mentioned above, this disc is heavy in that the guitar is crunchy yet melodic. The solos seem to come from nowhere; they are ripping and burning but so well written you know you have just witnessed listening to a masterpiece. John Petrucci's heavy but quick-handed guitar and his epic playing continue to prove him a guitarist who will never cease to amaze those who follow his side projects and commercial releases with Dream Theater.

Each member is so well represented here that no one overpowers the other.

James LaBrie's vocals exude the eerie brilliance that makes him the sound of Dream Theater. He sings his own harmony, he growls more on this disc than others. He uses spoken words at times and a low devilish voice at others. It really runs the gamut of his talents. Mike Portnoy is a stick smasher but with such technicality that you would think an Julliard trained octopus is drumming sometimes. John Myung's bass just gallops along with the guitar. Jordan Rudess has the keyboard part so well intertwined with Petrucci's guitar that you sometimes think if he picked up a gitfiddle he could give John a run for his money.

Each song is an epic in length; five of the seven here run ten minutes or more. I guess that's standard for a progressive song - no pop song could last that long; how awful would it be to hear the same three chords for ten minutes in a row? Painful to think about, isn't it?

The best songs here are "As I Am," and ... ah, just listen and pick your own. I would love to hear which ones amazed you.

Dream Theater: James LaBrie - vocals; John Myung - bass; John Petrucci - guitar and vocals; Mike Portnoy - drums, percussion; Jordan Rudess - keyboards.

For more information, check out www.dreamtheater.net.

"Metropolis 2: Scenes From A Memory" is a concept album that was given birth by the song "Metropolis Part One" on Dream Theater's 1991 release "Images And Words." Dream Theater fans have been clamoring for a concept album since the band's earliest days; Dream Theater have delivered an epic and the fans can complain no longer.

"Scenes From A Memory" is ambitious and sprawling. However, the music isn't hard to follow; the disc is like glue that stays stuck in the mind for a long time. I'm not ashamed to say that I have difficulty putting this CD away - it's great in every way imaginable. Whereas Dream Theater's last studio effort ("Falling Into Infinity") lacked an edginess in the heavy parts of songs and lacked sincerity in the ballads, "Scenes From A Memory" pushes the boundaries of the Dream Theater sound whilst retaining the characteristics we've all grown to love since the band's embryonic days. "Scenes From A Memory" brings the band another step closer to their goal of having a sound to call their own.

Bits and pieces of the original motif from "Metropolis Part One" appear in fragments of "Scenes From A Memory" - this is integral in making the story lines match musically. The addition of keyboardist Jordan Rudess to Dream Theater has been magnificent - Rudess' virtuoso keyboard work is just what Dream Theater needed to help the band get to the next level. Bassist John Myung has a thankless task, but he does a great job keeping the low end interesting and supportive. Mike Portnoy is certainly a force to be reckoned with - the complexity of the drum parts always seems to fit the songs. John Petrucci is a guitar monster - words simply do not do justice to his abilities as a guitar player or a songwriter.

The lyrics alternate between the past and the present with each new verse revealing new clues to the storyline. The words convey a sense of emotion rarely found on heavy metal or progressive discs. James LaBrie really does a magnificent job with the material on "Scenes From A Memory" - it is almost enough to make one forget the less-than-stellar "Falling Into Infinity" (although I wouldn't call the material on FII very inspiring in the grand scheme of things). The lyrics on "Scenes From A Memory" have obviously allowed LaBrie to connect with the story and the characters as his emotive voice lends a sense of drama to the proceedings. What's even better is that LaBrie's stellar vocal effort connects the listener to the story, too - check out the lethal combination of "Fatal Tragedy" and "Beyond This Life" for immediate corroboration of this fact. Theresa Thomason's additional vocals are a welcome contribution to the disc's storytelling features.

The production is nothing short of flawless; Portnoy and Petrucci are fast becoming studio veterans in the production realm and by taking charge they've enabled themselves and the band to deliver the kind of amazing work that the entire metal/progressive community has come to expect.

There's not a doubt in my mind that "Scenes From A Memory" will one day be recognized as a defining moment in progressive metal history.