Epics Of Dream Theater

 

I would like to note that in my opinion A Change of Seasons is in my opinion the best song by Dream Theater and Im surprised AtLossForWords completly ignored it in the "quick rundown".

In fact this is the song which has the least "Musical Acrobatics", except for one very technical unison which is completly in good taste, in fact it is humoristic (Especially on live shows). This song also features the best vocals IMO, The best drumming. He plays like a fusion drummer on this song, not like a "super technical prog metal drummer". The way Portnoy communicates with the other instruments on ACOS is just awe inspiring. Also this song features the best "killer riffs" including a fantastic riff towards the beginning of the song in a time signature of 17/16 (the gesture to Erotomania), and many, many, many more mind blowing riffs.. Also, my favorite Petrucci solo appears on 17:18 of A Change of Seasons. Don't judge Petrucci before you hear this solo (in 7/4), or actually, all of ACOS. The entire song features no shredding solos whatsoever, and he just plays like a master throughout.

 

ha ha ha, I am looking forward to your thoughts on this.

 

When Dream and Day Unite- Sounds like Rush with more of a metal edge, a few cool songs, but it has the least musical quality.  I will admit the bass tone is not up to snuff.

 

Images and  Words- Best selling album, it actually sold gold which is very rare for a prog metal album.  This album really gave the Progressive Metal genre a push.  It's a complete improvement from When Dream and Day Unite.  There's too much w**king in some songs, but I highly reccomend "Learning to Live" which I believe should have universal appeal.  The only drawback of this album is the triggered snare comes off as cheesey, good thing they ditched that after this album.

 

Awake- My second favorite Dream Theater album, has three killer songs "A Mind Besides Itself", "Scarred", and "Space Dye Vest".  I can't see what is not too like about those three songs.  The only drawback is "The Mirror" and "Lie" two songs I can honestly admit are subpar for Dream Theater's standards.

 

Falling Into Infinity- Poppy but not cheesey, but Dream Theater had tight strings attached by Elektra from this album.  There are some timeless songs like "Lines in the Sand" and "Trial of Tears", but this is sadly one of Dream Theater's darkest hours.  I would really have loved to see what they would have done if they had full control  Mike Portnoy stated a twenty-five minute epic was in the works, but Elektra never let it come to be.

 

Scenes From a Memory- The most important album of their career.  No individual songs standout, but this is album where the entire album is magic.  Single songs are not reccomended, but the album as a whole is.  The musical acrobatics that Dream Theater is known more is most upfront on this album.  It is a turn off to some, but I personally love it, as do many Dream Theater fans.

Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence- Brilliant start to finish, and is without a doubt my favorite Dream Theater album.  The tones are perfect.  The first disc is very experimental with excellent songs like "The Great Debate", "Blind Faith", Misunderstood", and "Disappear" argueably the most unique song in Dream Theater's catalogue.  "The Glass Prison" is polarizing.  The second disc is a fourty-two minute epic, which is just musical heaven.  Not as well acclaimed as other Dream Theater albums, but it's so hard to describe.  It isn't heavy, but it isn't exactly soft.  It is it's own thing in my opinion.

 

Train of Thought- Deceptively more progressive with each later track.  Falls more on the metal side, so I wouldn't reccomend it for fans of softer prog.

 

Octavarium- This album is all about "Sacrificed Sons" and the title track.  There isn't as much technical skill, but this album is structured a little poppy towards the beginning.  Not highly reccomended, but there's less musical acrobatics on this album.  Influences are very apparent.

 

 

 

You listened to When Dream and Day Unite didn't you?

 

I really love John Myung's playing.  Most people that don't even like Dream Theater will say that he is a great bassist.  Listen to some songs off Awake and Falling Into Infinity (Trial of Tears and Lines in the Sand) for some great bass tones.