OCTAVARIUM

Well, this is probably the worst DT album I own. It's not really terrible, it just has some junky stuff, although their lyrics are better any more. But, whereas the small amount of slow stuff on Train of Thought was pretty good and an improvement over their previous slow stuff. But anyway. So the Root of All Evil is an exellent opening track, rocks pretty hard. Then comes a boring slow song, The answer lies within. not very good. These Walls is my favorite song on the whole album, I love the keyboard licks and such. Dream Theater is really good at blending keyboards with heavy metal guitar. Then comes I walk Beside You. This song is not terrible, but I don't know, it doesn't really do anything for me. Panic Attack is a great heavy song, with some of LaBrie's vocals ever. Never Enough has some typical lyrics, but its pretty good anyway. Sacrificed Sons is also a good one, though it drags on a little bit.

Now Octavarium. The twenty four minute title track. It starts out so awesome, with that super echoey lead guitar from Petrucci, then it goes all slow for the first two parts, and this is slow Dream Theater at their worst. Then it rocks a little bit with III. Full Circle, but it has some goofy lyrics, although they are clever at times. Then comes the really rocking part, Intervals, which is pretty good. Razor's Edge is my favorite section of the song, with the slow vocals and the heaviness of it all. So it goes from great to horrible for a while then to pretty good to Awesome.

But anyway when Dream Theater rocks they are excellent, but the slow stuff really brings this album down. Highlights include: The Root of All Evil, These Walls, Panic Attack, the very beginning and Parts 3 thru 5 of Octavrium.