OCTAVARIUM

By this point, it almost seems pointless to review this album since everything there is to say, and anything can can be said about it has already been said. And there's everything to hear! Just look at these reviews: everything from 'this belongs in the trash next to an empty box of pizza' to 'this belongs in a musium next to the Mona Lisa'. Well, I geuss that's the beauty of Progressive Music, there is a diverse range in thought about it. But on to my own two sents on this album.

This is a very odd album for Dream Theater....at times it sounds....can it be? Radio Friendly? Manstream? I think it could! But for this album, it's not such a bad thing. I know, I know, I'll be the first to tell you that anything remotly close to the manstream needs to be disregarded as 'Greatness' in music....but maybe Dream Theater is on to something with these few songs. These songs are 'The Answer Lies Within' 'I walk Beside You' and to some extent 'Never Enough' (Lyricly). For me persanaly, I needed these songs at one point in my life, and damned if I'm going to turn to the mainstream for help. These songs sound as though you'd hear them on a 'Soft Rock' morning radio show or something along those lines (well, excuding Never Enough for that one). As Mike Portnoy put it on the DVD of 'Systematic Chaos' it has a 'Cold Play' feel to it. *Shudders* But they do so well, so good on them for trying something new. And...my God...it makes one feel good after hearing it! Le Gasp all round.

But lest move on to the harder points. Mainly "The Root" "These Walls" "Panic Attack" and even "Never Enough". These are your tipical head pounding Metal songs we've all come to love from Dream Theater. For those of us that arn't Metal heads but still love the energy that Metal brings but cant take the complete madness that comes with it, these songs are true treats. They provide deep movement and sounds along with very technical and skillful craftmenship of music. These guys know how to play, and play well. They're quite complex (at least to my ears) and overflowing with colour and change. The longer the song, the deeper the movements. I perticularly love 'Never Enough' for it's great use of a buildup and climax. Dream Theater sure knows how to build up to something spectaculer, which I will come back to for Octavarium.

Sacrificed Sons seems to be another one of their traid mark political songs they include on most of their newer albums (I only own and have heard from Scenes from a memory onword, so I'm quite ignorate to Images and Words). I've got mixed emotions with these songs. But I supose they felt it was time and they needed to do it, and I give them codos for doing it. Its not a bad song by any strech of the amagination, and I'm glad it does progress or else I would have to skip it each time. Luckaly it dose have some very exilent parts once it starts going.

This brings us to the epic song of the album: Octavarium. This is where the album truely shines. You can hear riffs from this song scattered through the album as a dusting of delight for those of us that love taking a deeper look into albums. It starts off very 'shine on you crazy diamonds' by Floyd with a very deep synthaziser and a very emotional gitar. It then explodes to show the listiner that this is not Floyd but Dream Theater, and then implodes back to a mellow scene to get a foundation for the song layed out. I love the transitions this song gose through, and the montause of all the classic songs splurged into verse is just beautiful. I had to rewind when they say '..and my Supers Ready', wait? did I hear them corectly?Did he just say Supers Ready? Arguably the best 20+ minuet song ever recorded? AND Cinama Show?!? These guys have some great tast in music! I shead a tear of greatness. The only point that I dont like from this song mind you, is at the climax and James LaBrie continualy says "Trapped inside this Octavarium". It just feels too 'Screamy' for me. Had he just sung it, it wouldn't hurt my ears so much. But luckaly they redeam themselves from rapping it all up so perficly. These guys really know what they're doing.

So, my final verdict: its more then an Excellent addition to any prog music collection........but can I call this a true masterpiece of music? Does it earn a place beside my 'Foxtrot' 'Selling England' 'I AM' 'Going For the One' 'Wish You Were Here' 'Darkside of the Moon' and 'Thick as a Brick?'.......its tough, since '6 Digrees' and 'Scenes from a Memory' do, but can I say 'Octavarium' does also? If it doesnt, it definitly earn a speshil spot in my play list. If I tally all the songs together, out of five, this album would earn a very worthy 4.7, but a masterpiece? The jury is still out on that one. I want to say it is, and to me this is a complete masterpiece of music. So that is how my rating shall stand. This has taken the music one step further and there is a much deeper meaning for the listiner. Its not just 'Another album full of music' its 'Another Dream Theater album full of though and beautiful music' and if THATS not a masterpiece, I dont know what is.

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