SIX DEGREES OF INNER TURBULENCE

This is a great double-CD album that doesn't manage to feel like it has a lot of filler. It has excellent musicianship and while it does not really progress from the excellent conceptual album that came before this, it is very fun to listen to. Criticisms from Zitro include lack of originality, heavy influences from other bands, bad vocals, and a somewhat poor-constructed huge epic that had lots of potential. So, what you got is unoriginal amazing music.

Glass Prison begins with a song about battling Alcohol and influences include Metallica with the amazing riffing and horrible vocals that try to hard to be like Metalica's. The guitar playing is sooo good that you will forget that. 8/10

Blind Faith is instrumentally great and has a great instrumental part with some of the best moments Ruddess had in his band, but the vocals are really bad. IF you don't believe me, hear a chorus and cringe. 6.5/10

Misunderstood is almost psychedelic and something new for Dream Theater. The song is really dark, something odd from the band. The vocals aren't that bad here and are redeemed by the hypnotic outro. 8/10

The Great Debate: Is this really Dream Theater? It sounds like a Tool tribute. It is so unoriginal that they really don't use their sound and instead go playing rhythmic guitar riffs in the style off Adam, and Maynard-wanna be vocals in parts. The pre-chorusese and choruses are so tool-like that it sounds like a rip-off. However, this song is so amazing that you'll forgive their unoriginality. 9/10

Disappear is a great accessible tune that is also very dark, yet also depressing. The vocals are at their best here as he doesn't scream and I love the keyboard theme. 8/10

Six Degrees Under Turbulence: Overall, it has very good songs, but it just doesn't feel very coherent. It sounds more like actual songs connected together. The best part is easily the overture and is one if my favourite instrumentals from them. It features an orchestra ... and Electric guitars!!!. The rest are ballads, pop songs and heavy parts switching back and forth. They are pretty solid songs with good melodies (except for the unpleasant "Test that stumped") and the song ends with reprises and explorations from earlier themes while finishing with the orchestra. Highlights here are Overture, Goodnight Kiss, and Solitary Shell. 7/10

So, I'll instert a cliched conclusion that says what I already said: A great set of derivative songs where mediocre vocals can get in the way.

My Grade: B-