OCTAVARIUM

I'd like to start by saying one thing about this album: It, like most other Dream Theater albums, needs multiple listens to really be appreciated. I don't really think it's fair for anyone to write a review of the album after just one lsten, hence why I have listed to this album many times before bothering to write a review.

For me at least, this is the band's best album since Scenes From a Memory and above all else shows a development in the band's ability as songwriters, something that was lost a little in their last effort, Train of Thought. Some fans will, at first at least, dislike some of the songs on the album such as The Answer Lies With and the U2-esque I Walk Beside You because of just how catchy and simple they are. I was a little put-off at first, but I soon came round because I remembered that just because music isn't progressive doesn't mean it's bad (something a lot of people seem to forget). It also seems as though John Petrucci has taken a backseat for this album. Instead of having two or three lengthy guitar solos and a unison/duel with keyboardist Jordan Rudess, you have a few carefully placed, well written solos. You will still find typical Petrucci style solos in songs such as Sacrificed Sons which I'm glad about. It seems as though the star of this album is Jordan Rudess, who seems to dominate many songs, particuarly Never Enough and Octavarium. The thought of a very Jordan-heavy Dream Theater album would normally make me worry for I thought that Moore's songwriting and Sherinian's 'sound' were better than what Rudess could offer despite his technical ability. That said, Jordan shines in this album, much more so than on the past three albums. James LaBrie also performs very well on this album, better than he usually does. As far as the title track is concerned, I am certainly impressed. I wasn't expecting anything this good, it's even better than the somewhat overrated A Change of Seasons which may now see a tempory retirement from the band's live setlists in order to make way for this masterpiece.

In short, if you approach this album with an open mind and are prepared to listen to it a few times, you'll find yourself enjoying this new direction of the band. It's not like the 'classic' early 90s albums they made which some people seem disappointed by, but why go back and do something you've already done?