OCTAVARIUM

I could go into how I think this is certainly one of DT's best album (which it is) or analyze each song and talk about the overall sound or the mix, but it's been done prior to my review and probably will be discussed afterwards many times over. I'd rather just touch on some things about the recording and lyrics that I think are pretty cool. First of all, if you listen at the beginning of track 1 (The ROOT OF aLL evil), just as the drums come in, you can hear footsteps on gravel or payment that sound just like those from "Scenes". Also, with this first song, there are obvious references to "This Dying Soul," from TOT, both musically at the beginning and also with the lyrics "I can feel my body breaking" which I think is interesting. The song is divided into two parts, labeled VI. Ready and VII. Remove (and obvious continuation of songs written by MP about the 12 steps of recovery of AA. *personal note: I love "I Walk Beside You." If you don't feel a little better by listening to it, I don't know what's wrong with you. It has a great, positive energy to it. If you really like the heaviness of Train of Thought, you're going to enjoy "panic aTTacK." It easily could've been on the last album.

"never enough" is a very interesting song lyrically, addressing those 'so-called' fans who are so quick to criticize this or that about what the band does: Sacrifice my life/ Neglect my kids and wife / All for you to be happy / All those sleepless nights / And countless fights to give you more / And then you say how dare that I didn't write you back/ I must be too good for you / I only care about myself (the chorus) What would you say if I walked away /Would you appreciate/ But then it'd be too late/ Because I can only take so much of your ungrateful ways/ Everything is never enough -WOW!

I think the question posed in TOT's "In The Name of God" (Does following faith lead us to violence?) is answered, in part, by track 7- "sacrificed sons". An obvious overview of the 9/11 attacks, it begins with what sounds like a middle-eastern language being spoken, then a series of re-enacted news blips that one might've heard on that terrible day. It's a very thoughtful and intelligent song about a day that changed many of our lives forever.

Finally, on the last part (Razor's Edge) of Octavarium, the very last lign says 'This story ends where it began.' Sure enough, as the song reaches its conclusion & gets quiet, you hear a low note on the keyboard, then an effect that pans from side to side in the speakers, then fades. If you start the CD again, you realize the 1st song starts with that very same part. I thought it was kind of cool. *the artworkof the album is very interesting and symbolic as well.

So, a masterpiece..not quite. But a very, very good album for sure. I'm not disappointed in the least. There's no other group quite like Dream Theater!