I A M

Since this was my first album I bought from direct influence of this sight, I found it quite fitting that this would be my first review. But what can I say that has not already been said about this album? Not much since most of it has been covered, but perhaps I can put my own spin on it.

The three songs on this album are equily epic. The first song, I, does an amasing job of opining the album. It has almost a '1984' by Rick Wakeman feel to it, with a very deep sound, and very quick high notes on the keybords. Like the other two songs, the song goes through many changes, so if one part of the song does not do anything for you, there will be one part that will. Even the scechy vocals halfway through the song with some notes sounding like the lead sinnger: Anders Jansson just could not quite hit, makes it that much more enjoyable. It adds a feel of 'realality' to the sound. As though admiting to limitations, and instead of going back and trying to 'perfect' the album, leave it as it is. That makes it, at least to me, much more enjoyable then hearing the notes hit perficly.

The second song: A, is my favourity song on the album, and could quite posibly be one of my favourit songs. When first listining to it, you keep thinking "there's no way he can top that epic bild up and climax" when BAM! your hit again with an even greater one. It starts with a very soothing grand piano solo, and then hits you with a very heavy dubble gitar, acompanied with the very 'rockish' vocals. When they say "Take me home" it feels as though you are home, expeshaly when Tomas comes in on the keybords. The grand sound is almost over powering, and it's hard not to enjoy it. It then goes into a very mellow fase, with its main focus on focals, a base line and a very nice piano movement, which gets progressively mellow. It gets to the point where it's only the lead vocals just past a wisper, and the grand piano.

It then enters what I love about this song, a very powerful and holesome sound. It even pays tribute to The Flower Kings album 'Unfold the Future' when Anders sings "The truth will set you free" being followed by the Zilaphone, similer to the song "the Truth will set you free" and back up humming has a very fermiler sound that I cant quite place. It again gose into a mellow fase, with a synthazised flute, and starts to bild momentom. It then reaches the first of two big climaxes of the song. On first listining to the song, I though there was no way he could top that and that was the end of the awesome song. Luckaly, I was very wrong and the song continues on, as though the song itself does not wish to stop.

It then continues on where the last climax had left off, but going through a slows down, as though walking down slanted stairs, or riding a bumpy slide. And again, when you think its over, it hits you with the hardest part of the song, with full forse sound. From here it comes to a nice finish and a lead in to the last song.

Ever since I first heard the last song, to even now, I still think the begining of the song is how Pink Floyd's "The wall" or "The Final Cut" should have ended, sound wise. It starts with very emotional vocals, and offers a very reflective lyrics. After the intro, it continues on to how most of the album has sounded before it, with heavy gitars, and keybords. The song goes through many changes like the songs before it and ends very abruply that takes a few listens to get use to.

All in all, this is one of the best albums I've heard. If you're a fan of long epic songs, this album is for you. I give this album 4 stars since each time I listen to it, I can't help but enjoy it; the only down side to the album is the last song really doesn't go anywhere, unlike the first two songs which have clear direction, it just flounders. Also, at times it can be little too 'grand' sounding which isn't so much as a bad thing, it's just a lot to take in at one sitting and hard to get others who are use to 'Mainstream, pop radio' music to listen to it, or threaten to harm you if you don't take it off. But it is to those that Tomas is rebelling against, and it is very apparent in the album. So a very strong 4.5 stars for one of my favorite albums.