OCTAVARIUM

I mean, there is a ton of reproaches that you could address them but one thing is sure : unlike some other bands (hello, Symphony X) you can not blame them for repeating the some kind of stuff over and over. At each album its own style and the controversy that goes with it. Let's quickly remember. WDADU ? No singer in sight. I&W ? Too good to be honest. Awake ? Too cold. ACOS ? Too many covers. FII ? Too commercial. SFAM ? Too pretentious. SDOIT ? Too long. ToT ? Too metal.

And now Octavarium. So, what have the usual bashers found this time ? It's an easy pick. Too much plagiarism, of course. Well, let's verify. * "I Walk Beside You" - U2. Yes, true. I am happy cause I found this one alone . Same thing for "Octavarium" (intro) - Pink Floyd. * "These Walls" - Linkin Park. I don't know Linkin Park but my girlfriend confirms. * "Never Enough" - Muse. I don't know Muse either but everybody -my girlfriend included- confirms.

So they stole or at least imitated four songs from other bands, the four others being stolen to themselves. It is enough to accredit the accusation, no doubt. And so what ? Let me tell you a quick anecdote. I read an interview of Muse on a French website, made in June 2006. The journalist told Dominic Howard that Mike Portnoy claims to be very influenced by Muse lately. Howard laughed and, though admitting that he never heard any Dream Theater's song, answered : "Really ? So I love Dream Theater now". What is the point to this anecdote ? The point is that if bands themselves don't worry about imitations, why should we worry when the music is good ? And "Never Enough" is damn good, as far as I am concerned. Plus, Muse could gain one more fan since I am going to check their music very soon, thanks to plagiarism.

In fact, once you have set aside the plagiarism thing, Octavarium is a truly good album. Yes, like a chameleon, it constantly changes its colours. At first it disturbed me and this feeling lasted for a while. Now the music has grown on me and I am fine with it. OK, I have to admit that "The Answer Lies Within" is a very ordinary ballad with lyrics that could have been written by my 8 years old son (come on, John, you can do better than that). But everything else, although fulfilled with DT's usual flaws (too long, too technical, too commercial) is highly enjoyable.

Wait for me, Muse, I'm coming .

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