IMAGES AND WORDS

Honestly, this is my favorite album of all time. I love every song equally because they each bring something special and and uniqely different from the others. Now I am not going to go off my rocker and say that they're all the best songs ever and this is definitely the best album ever or anything like that, because it's not that by any means for the greater majority of the world. But it's definitely my favorite, and if I could only take one album on a trip to Mars with me I would take it.

If I could describe this album in only three words I would say that it is "the complete package." This is James LaBrie's best singing album, the band's best compositional effort (greatly thanks to the soon to be departed Kevin Moore), and the most wire-to- wire great album. No real weak songs at all, unlike all their other albums (though Awake and Scenes come close once again). But what I like most about this album is that it's energetic and filled with emotion. You can't help but get into the music while you're listening to it. Dream Theater gets a lot of bashing for having "endless instrumentation and countless solos" that detract from the "overall songwriting." However, I don't really think that those detriments have very much if any presence on this album. Yes, half the album's songs are over 8 minutes and one is 11:30, but they are much more tastefully done here than they are in the future. The real beginning of those songs with "endless instrumentation and countless solos" really began when Jordan Rudess entered the band on the Scenes from a Memory album. So really you don't have to worry about that here. The songs are all filled with memorable melodies and phrases, and stylistic soloing.

The keyboard work on this album is flawless. Moore provides filling but not excessive additions musically and compositionally with his keyboard parts and leads, and his work on this album is what truly gives it its great sound. The music here is full and rich with melody, harmony, and supporting tones. Petrucci's guitar work is impecable as always, featuring him showing his stuff on nearly every song. The riffs played on this album are some of the best of his entire career. Portnoy also shines with great drumming. The structure of his drumming in every song is awe-inspiring as he creates great drum parts to go with the intense time changes featured in the music. Myung is well, almost unheard (as always). He does come out a couple times though and plays well. And finally, James LaBrie gives a stirring vocal performance on his debut album with the band. Probably the best vocal performance on any album in his entire career.

This album must be heard to be believed. Ranging from soft piano work to intense metal riffs, this album has everything any prog fan would want. Highest recommendation.

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