METROPOLIS PART 2 - SCENES FROM A MEMORY

I bought this about two weeks ago; the first listen through was rough: the lyrics were at times hard to follow and some songs were amazing, but most was just kind of hard to get into. The second listen was the exact opposite: it was when I realized this is the type of album that requires attention to detail and a love for those details as well as kick-ass riffs, amazing lyrics, and all-out mindblowing efforts. The second listen was awe-striking and powerful because that was when I was able to pick up the many lyrical and musical connections to the albums 1992 prequel song off of Images and Words. That's when everything came together. The story is part sci-fi (some parts reminiscent of the film "Total Recall" in the dejavu dreams and "second" awakening of Nicholas from the sleep in the final song. The storytelling was very much "Pulp Fiction" in its nonlinearity. Track listings are as follows:

1. Regression 10/10 The words of the hypnotherapist putting the lead character Nicholas under hypnosis in his attempts to understand the deja-vu feeling he has been having within his dreams about a girl in 1928. Very haunting as his words begin to fade out, a faint choir is heard, and the best acoustic short ever is played. Brilliant intro.

2. Overture 1928 100/10 The most powerful sub-four minute instrumental ever. Unbelievably amazing in every note, every beat, every break. Intended to show the emotions of Nicholas as he first enters his sleep; it soon segues into....

3. Strange DejaVu 10/10 Same basic melodies as Overture; lyrics begin by describing the sensations of the sleep, then with an unexpected time signature shift, the story of his arrival in the "other world" begins

4. Through My Words 10/10 Fantastic piano ballad whose melody is one of many to be reprised throughout the album.

5. Fatal Tragedy 10/10 Another fantastic song which describes Nicholas going to another home to ask about the murder and his interactions therein, and rounds out with a mindblowing instrumental jam.

6. Beyond This Life 9.5/10 "Now it's time to show you how you died...."; with those words, the song begins with an almost nu-metallish chord progression, but soon as it progresses you realize its far from that; one of the album's heaviest tracks, describing the newspaper headlines of the murder of the girl Victoria as well as filling in some details about her. Rounds out with some drama-queen-tastic "Victoria" vocals from James LaBrie.

7. Through Her Eyes 9.5/10 Another fantastic piano ballad that ballad that begins with some bluesy guitar and, in my opinion the only unoriginal element of the album, some very Dark Side of the Moon-like soul vocals (Claire Torry, anyone?). But the cons end there, a very emotional and touching song with lyrics about Nicholas's thoughts and emotions toward Victoria.

8. Home 10/10 Longest track on the album is very middle-eastern like and it introduces the Miracle and the Sleeper characters and identifies them for the first time, clearing up some mystery from "Metropolis Pt. One." Great instrumental parts as well.

9. Dance of Eternity 50/10 Another monstrous instrumental, but much more complex than "Overture 1928." This one requires a knowledge (and liking) of the structure and melodies of "Metropolis Pt. One," as many are reprised in this song in various haunting ways (two examples are the fading in and out of the "Master of Puppets-like" leads in "Metropolis Pt. One" and the chilling keyboard reprise of the aggressive melody that comes right before the main solo in "Metropolis Pt. One".) Amazing.

10. The Spirit Carries On 20/10 Acoustic song that utilizes same melodies as the Regression acoustic piece and rounds out with a gospel choir; lyrics reflect the awakening of Nicholas (or possibly not?) and how his life has been changed. Moving and astounding.

11. Finally Free 10/10 Strange finale flashes back to the murder. Lyrics are a little girly and weak here but its has a powerful and strange finale that finishes with the sounds of Nicholas walking into his house, watching the news, listening to some music to the melody of Regression/Spirit Carries On (or possibly just another interlude), and then in a psychotic twist, he hears the hypnotherapist say, "Open your eyes Nicholas" once again, and he screams knocking the record askew. The final minute or so is fuzz. What a weird twist. Really reminds me of the movie "Total Recall."

Undoubtedly the best and strangest CD in my collection, you cannot go wrong buying this album if you are a fan of good music who has an attention span and enjoys paying attention to details within albums. A perfect masterpiece.