I'm getting Dream Theater's Metropolis: Scenes From A Memory Part II for X-mas.  It's rated pretty highly on Progarchives.com (4.29). Question, people. What am I getting myself into?  In the end, I know it's my opinion, but I want other opinions as well.

sbrushfan wrote: Question, people. What am I getting myself into?

a poor album

One of the greatest prog metal albums ever!!! Actually, I'm a bit jealous that discovering DT is still ahead for you They're the greatest prog metal band, and SFAM is their second best album after Images And Words(IMO). So you won't be disappointed

Pseud0 wrote: sbrushfan wrote: Question, people. What am I getting myself into?  a poor album

Blasphemy!!!! 

Pseud0 wrote: sbrushfan wrote: Question, people. What am I getting myself into?  a poor album

Prepare yourself to be able to defend yourself regardless of your opinion is my advice.

Cygnus X-2 wrote: Pseud0 wrote: sbrushfan wrote: Question, people. What am I getting myself into?  a poor album Prepare yourself to be able to defend yourself regardless of your opinion is my advice.

lol no

i just dont like it... i used to listen to it a lot but after a while the effect wore off and i realized how just how incredibly cheesy it is.

Pseud0 wrote: Cygnus X-2 wrote: Pseud0 wrote: sbrushfan wrote: Question, people. What am I getting myself into?  a poor album Prepare yourself to be able to defend yourself regardless of your opinion is my advice. lol no i just dont like it... i used to listen to it a lot but after a while the effect wore off and i realized how just how incredibly cheesy it is.

I'll admit it's cheesy, but there are some solid riffs and rhythms in there...

Anyway, my comment actually wasn't directed towards you... it was directed to the author of the thread as I was mentioning to them that they better defend their opinion on it if they want to get anywhere.

The Miracle wrote: ^Where do you see the cheese? It's a perfectly well crafted, 5 star album... It's no Love Beach for ya...

There are a few prog cliches here and there, and the story is a bit out of whack. But overall I still think it's a good album, but not the masterpiece people rave it to be.

Cygnus X-2 wrote: The Miracle wrote: ^Where do you see the cheese? It's a perfectly well crafted, 5 star album... It's no Love Beach for ya... There are a few prog cliches here and there, and the story is a bit out of whack. But overall I still think it's a good album, but not the masterpiece people rave it to be.

It is old chum!

Snow Dog wrote: Cygnus X-2 wrote: The Miracle wrote: ^Where do you see the cheese? It's a perfectly well crafted, 5 star album... It's no Love Beach for ya... There are a few prog cliches here and there, and the story is a bit out of whack. But overall I still think it's a good album, but not the masterpiece people rave it to be. It is old chum!

Old chum you say?!

Snow Dog wrote: ^..ok, it is a masterpiece old sausage!

Seriously, I think SFAM is a 5 star masterpice, and their second best album.

 "it was directed to the author of the thread..."

That's me...I'm the creator of the thread.  I don't HAVE an opinion on it.  I can't until I know what it is I'm listening to.  Otherwise I'd never have started this thread.

That is the next album Im buy from them. i only own I&W and Octavarium, and I&W isnt that much of an album for me, it does have some nice songs though

My quistion is, is there any cheesy ballad like Die an other day or the awnser lies within? I really hope not...

sbrushfan wrote:  "it was directed to the author of the thread..." That's me...I'm the creator of the thread.  I don't HAVE an opinion on it.  I can't until I know what it is I'm listening to.  Otherwise I'd never have started this thread.

I'm just saying that once you do listen to the album, there will be many who will try to sway your opinion regardless of if you liked it or not.

It depends on your taste in music, or prog to be more specific. If you enjoy prog metal and harder prog rock bands, then you will absolutely love Scenes! It's an amazing album full of intense music driven by an incredible concept and story. But if you prefer only classic prog like symphonic and folk prog, then you may not like this album. It really depends on your taste.

If you like prog metal, SFAM = amazing

If you dont like prog metal, SFAM = crap

I personally love prog metal, symphonic prog, folk prog, art rock.... all that stuff from DT to Rush to Yes, Genesis, Tull... i like them all so i love DT and SFAM!

Lets just discuss the music without dissing each other.

It is the nature of a music forum to expect forthright views about bands and albums we like or dont like.What isnt permissable is to start insulting each other.

Be nice!

Useful_Idiot wrote: I find it to be one of the most boring prog-metal albums ever, Dream Theater only do anything for me when they're actually trying to write songs rather than just show off how talented they are.

that's coming from a prog metal specialist? Wow- maybe you'd better re-consider your title.

The Miracle wrote: One of the greatest prog metal albums ever!!! Actually, I'm a bit jealous that discovering DT is still ahead for you They're the greatest prog metal band, and SFAM is their second best album after Images And Words(IMO). So you won't be disappointed

Same for me.

I think its one of their best and one of the best prog- metal albums ever, however I cant decide if the story is really great or retarted.

one of the Greatest Progressive Metal albums ever made...

one of their best

Next to I&W IMO....

after the CD was released here in the philippines( about 4-5 years ago i think, it was a birthday present from me to me!!) i immediately bought it... and WOW!!!!!

SCENES FROM A MEMORY is the album that got me into prog...

It's one of the Dream Theater's best albums. 

One of the best prog/prog-meatl albums ever made, my mate believes its the most importent concpet album since Dark side and I do wane slightly to that opinion plus it is one of their more listenable albums (im not saying that all their albums are not listenable) alongside six degrees of inner turbulance aswell as one of their more possible commercial albums.

most defenatly an album id give to someone who wanted to get in Prog especially the Prog-metal scene and into Dream Theater

sbrushfan wrote: So...the general consensus is that it's a great album, with a few flaws?

That would sum up the forum consencus yes.

IMO SFAM is the greatest album ever, its hard to think how it could be any better. If you are even remotely interested in Prog metal you will probably like it.

widjum wrote: I was duped into buying this by a "friend". Don't think I ever heard all of it. Would rather die than ever hear any of it again.

Pray tell...why?

sbrushfan wrote: widjum wrote: I was duped into buying this by a "friend". Don't think I ever heard all of it. Would rather die than ever hear any of it again. Pray tell...why?

I just don't like their music(especially Labrie's vocals). Theres no doubting DT are all excelllent musicians but it's just not my cup of tea.

widjum wrote: sbrushfan wrote: widjum wrote: I was duped into buying this by a "friend". Don't think I ever heard all of it. Would rather die than ever hear any of it again. Pray tell...why? I just don't like their music(especially Labrie's vocals). Theres no doubting DT are all excelllent musicians but it's just not my cup of tea.

Fair enough.

Useful_Idiot wrote: I find it to be one of the most boring prog-metal albums ever, Dream Theater only do anything for me when they're actually trying to write songs rather than just show off how talented they are.

I think that statement is contradictory. This album is not a show-off album by any means. I think this album is very songwriting focused. It is a concept album after all.

Drew wrote: I think its pathetic when people bag on DT for being Technical- hey, its DT, and there's no other like them. They are their own niche. What do you want, for DT to sound like every other prog artist? (esp in the prog metal genre)

Hell, Drew...I've seen people rag on Rush for being techinical.  Yet, I see other, less talented bands (non-prog, natch, like Nirvana), get raved about.  Never mind that the group has ceased to exist for nigh on a decade.

It's VERY uneven, IMO. Most of the mellow sections are simply dreadful. Some not-so-mellow ones as well. Still, it can be mindboggling in places and usually retains the characteristic DT wit and elegance. 3.5-3.75/5 for me. 

And props to King Volta - I like Train of Thought more too, and woe to the many that don't.  

Manunkind wrote: It's VERY uneven, IMO. Most of the mellow sections are simply dreadful. Some not-so-mellow ones as well. Still, it can be mindboggling in places and usually retains the characteristic DT wit and elegance. 3.5-3.75/5 for me.  And props to King Volta - I like Train of Thought more too, and woe to the many that don't.

Well, Manunkind...what does ToT possess that Metropolis may lack?

sbrushfan wrote: Manunkind wrote: It's VERY uneven, IMO. Most of the mellow sections are simply dreadful. Some not-so-mellow ones as well. Still, it can be mindboggling in places and usually retains the characteristic DT wit and elegance. 3.5-3.75/5 for me.  And props to King Volta - I like Train of Thought more too, and woe to the many that don't.   Well, Manunkind...what does ToT possess that Metropolis may lack?

SFAM is the more varied album,  but as I said, this doesn't seem to be an asset here, since long sections are IMO very bad. There are bad moments on ToT, too, but they're few and far between. This is simply something I have with DT - some of their ballads simply make me cringe. There are exceptions - "Wait for Sleep", "Space Dye Vest", "Disappear" and "Vacant" (off ToT) I find excellent. The ones on "Falling into Infinity" arent half bad, either. The ones on SFAM, however... ugh (apart from "One Last Time" and the solo on "The Spirit Carries On".) It's mostly (but not exclusively) due to LaBrie's vocals - he simply pours layers of sugar and fake tears on every line, or gets realy overblown. Now I love overblown music... when I can hear a certain tongue-in-cheek aspect to it. This isn't the case here. Apart from that, certain sections on "Beyond This Life" sound very hackneyed to these ears and the whole song fails to deliver on its potential. One more major flaw here is the pacing, especially in the first half of the album. Although ToT is a slightly harder and more intense album, it doesn't suffer from this problem IMO.   

Manunkind wrote: sbrushfan wrote: Manunkind wrote: It's VERY uneven, IMO. Most of the mellow sections are simply dreadful. Some not-so-mellow ones as well. Still, it can be mindboggling in places and usually retains the characteristic DT wit and elegance. 3.5-3.75/5 for me.  And props to King Volta - I like Train of Thought more too, and woe to the many that don't.   Well, Manunkind...what does ToT possess that Metropolis may lack? SFAM is the more varied album,  but as I said, this doesn't seem to be an asset here, since long sections are IMO very bad. There are bad moments on ToT, too, but they're few and far between. This is simply something I have with DT - some of their ballads simply make me cringe. There are exceptions - "Wait for Sleep", "Space Dye Vest", "Disappear" and "Vacant" (off ToT) I find excellent. The ones on "Falling into Infinity" arent half bad, either. The ones on SFAM, however... ugh (apart from "One Last Time" and the solo on "The Spirit Carries On".) It's mostly (but not exclusively) due to LaBrie's vocals - he simply pours layers of sugar and fake tears on every line, or gets realy overblown. Now I love overblown music... when I can hear a certain tongue-in-cheek aspect to it. This isn't the case here. Apart from that, certain sections on "Beyond This Life" sound very hackneyed to these ears and the whole song fails to deliver on its potential. One more major flaw here is the pacing, especially in the first half of the album. Although ToT is a slightly harder and more intense album, it doesn't suffer from this problem IMO.

OK...that was pretty deep.  Now I'm kinda frightened.

sbrushfan wrote: Manunkind wrote: sbrushfan wrote: Manunkind wrote: It's VERY uneven, IMO. Most of the mellow sections are simply dreadful. Some not-so-mellow ones as well. Still, it can be mindboggling in places and usually retains the characteristic DT wit and elegance. 3.5-3.75/5 for me.  And props to King Volta - I like Train of Thought more too, and woe to the many that don't.   Well, Manunkind...what does ToT possess that Metropolis may lack? SFAM is the more varied album,  but as I said, this doesn't seem to be an asset here, since long sections are IMO very bad. There are bad moments on ToT, too, but they're few and far between. This is simply something I have with DT - some of their ballads simply make me cringe. There are exceptions - "Wait for Sleep", "Space Dye Vest", "Disappear" and "Vacant" (off ToT) I find excellent. The ones on "Falling into Infinity" arent half bad, either. The ones on SFAM, however... ugh (apart from "One Last Time" and the solo on "The Spirit Carries On".) It's mostly (but not exclusively) due to LaBrie's vocals - he simply pours layers of sugar and fake tears on every line, or gets realy overblown. Now I love overblown music... when I can hear a certain tongue-in-cheek aspect to it. This isn't the case here. Apart from that, certain sections on "Beyond This Life" sound very hackneyed to these ears and the whole song fails to deliver on its potential. One more major flaw here is the pacing, especially in the first half of the album. Although ToT is a slightly harder and more intense album, it doesn't suffer from this problem IMO.    OK...that was pretty deep.  Now I'm kinda frightened.

If you get a chance to listen to the album before you buy it, do so. I think that's the only way you're going to get anywhere with SFAM.

Anyway, just to further confuse you, the above critical points aside, IMO the album has at least 40 minutes of music that is simply to die for. Still, that's only 40 out of, how many, 70? I don't know what DT albums you already have, but I think "Images and Words", "Awake" and "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence" should be the priority here, not SFAM. Also "Falling Into Infinity", if you can see the tasty subversiveness behind that album, and, yes, "Train of Thought" - it's not all hard, and even when it is hard, it's not that hard (although this is coming from a confirmed and unrepentant death metal head - don't say you haven't been warned)

SFAM is one of Dream Theater's best albums, solid 3 star album would probably not be overstating it IMHO.

Manunkind wrote: sbrushfan wrote: Manunkind wrote: sbrushfan wrote: Manunkind wrote: It's VERY uneven, IMO. Most of the mellow sections are simply dreadful. Some not-so-mellow ones as well. Still, it can be mindboggling in places and usually retains the characteristic DT wit and elegance. 3.5-3.75/5 for me.  And props to King Volta - I like Train of Thought more too, and woe to the many that don't.   Well, Manunkind...what does ToT possess that Metropolis may lack? SFAM is the more varied album,  but as I said, this doesn't seem to be an asset here, since long sections are IMO very bad. There are bad moments on ToT, too, but they're few and far between. This is simply something I have with DT - some of their ballads simply make me cringe. There are exceptions - "Wait for Sleep", "Space Dye Vest", "Disappear" and "Vacant" (off ToT) I find excellent. The ones on "Falling into Infinity" arent half bad, either. The ones on SFAM, however... ugh (apart from "One Last Time" and the solo on "The Spirit Carries On".) It's mostly (but not exclusively) due to LaBrie's vocals - he simply pours layers of sugar and fake tears on every line, or gets realy overblown. Now I love overblown music... when I can hear a certain tongue-in-cheek aspect to it. This isn't the case here. Apart from that, certain sections on "Beyond This Life" sound very hackneyed to these ears and the whole song fails to deliver on its potential. One more major flaw here is the pacing, especially in the first half of the album. Although ToT is a slightly harder and more intense album, it doesn't suffer from this problem IMO.    OK...that was pretty deep.  Now I'm kinda frightened. If you get a chance to listen to the album before you buy it, do so. I think that's the only way you're going to get anywhere with SFAM. Anyway, just to further confuse you, the above critical points aside, IMO the album has at least 40 minutes of music that is simply to die for. Still, that's only 40 out of, how many, 70? I don't know what DT albums you already have, but I think "Images and Words", "Awake" and "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence" should be the priority here, not SFAM. Also "Falling Into Infinity", if you can see the tasty subversiveness behind that album, and, yes, "Train of Thought" - it's not all hard, and even when it is hard, it's not that hard (although this is coming from a confirmed and unrepentant death metal head - don't say you haven't been warned)

What do you want for irony?  I have NOTHING from Dream Theater.  Now, as far as death metal is concerned, I have some Exodus, some Opeth, Arch Enemy, Deicide, Cannibal Corpse, etc.

Wow...lots of divided opinions on this one, even from DT fans!

Hmmm...

UPDATE!!!!!

The CD's I ordered were supposed to be delivered yesterday.  The CD's were ordered online (along with the Rush DVD I wanted) and the package got lost somewhere.

graphicgeek80 wrote: This is the album that got me into DT and prog metal. Is it their best, you decide. It did open me up to concept albums though. After this I got into Aryeon, Shadow Gallery, and Savatage. Its not a bad way to break into the genre.

Gotcha.

As you will see there's no other band on this website where opinions are so divided.  For all the views listed here, and mine is it is a fantastic album from a fantastic band, as you have said only your view counts.

I look foward to hearing it.

St Hubbins wrote: As you will see there's no other band on this website where opinions are so divided.  For all the views listed here, and mine is it is a fantastic album from a fantastic band, as you have said only your view counts. I look foward to hearing it.

Me too.  I may not wait for the people to deliver the package.  I may just go out and buy the damn thing myself.

Strange Deja Vu

i love that track

OK...fair enough.

EDIT...I just got the CD in my hot little hands!  I picked it up, and a chunk of it fell away! IT'S BROKEN!!!!! NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

sbrushfan wrote: Looks like I gotta wait.  Longer.

Get a Napster trial account - it's free. They have all the Dream Theater albums available, except for Octavarium.

sometimes i think they are cheesy, but im not really sure. at times DT can be cheesy i guess, but not nearly as cheesy as shadow gallery if you've heard them. the musicianship is excellent. they easily have some of the most talented musicians in the world. that being said, expect some pretty technical music. i dont think it's overblown on SFAM though. petrucci doesnt really get shred heavy until after SFAM.

i find labrie's vocals the hardest to swallow. he sings in a very metal high range and uses too much voice tremelo IMO. all that stuff aside, i usually find DT very enjoyable to listen to (the dvd's are fun too).

Manunkind wrote: Actually it's my least fav album, and the one I'd have advised you to get last. Glad you like it, though.

i for one do not like octavarium at all...it might actually be what turned me away from dream theater...the only albums i still listen to occasionally are ToT and Scenes...ToT being the greater...oh and maybe once a year i'll listen to like one or two songs off of I&W.

king volta wrote: Manunkind wrote: Actually it's my least fav album, and the one I'd have advised you to get last. Glad you like it, though. i for one do not like octavarium at all...it might actually be what turned me away from dream theater...the only albums i still listen to occasionally are ToT and Scenes...ToT being the greater...oh and maybe once a year i'll listen to like one or two songs off of I&W.

Albums on which people's opinions are so divided intrigue me no end, Volta.  I plan on picking up Yes' OPEN YOUR EYES" next.  I wanna see what all the fuss is about.  I got my paws on "90125" and "BIG GENERATOR" this past week, and I think they're great.

HeirToRuin wrote: sbrushfan wrote: Albums on which people's opinions are so divided intrigue me no end, Volta.  I plan on picking up Yes' OPEN YOUR EYES" next.  I wanna see what all the fuss is about.  I got my paws on "90125" and "BIG GENERATOR" this past week, and I think they're great. More pop songs...just an excuse to tour really.  The songs are just plain boring.

Nothing wrong with pop...hell, I'm a pop/rock fiend.  Unless it's a massive departure from their "classic" period, then it might be a good thing.  I, on the other hand, haven't heard their "classic" period.  So I have nothing to base an opinion on.

Speaking of YES...why does Wakeman keep leaving and returning?

if not their best album, its between the first 2 ( the other is I&W)

unexpected at its time of release

It's definately one of the cheesiest albums ever recorded, so be prepared for that (a lot of people ignore that though), but it has it's moments The first half is the stronger one, after that it's either too stretched out (Home )or overdone (Dance of Eternity)

sbrushfan wrote: Well, I'm still gonna get it, along with TRAIN OF THOUGHT. Controversial records (TRAIN OF THOUGHT, Yes' OPEN YOUR EYES, etc.) fascinate me.

Good call on ToT. I don't know if you can call "Open Your Eyes" controversial. All the reviews I've seen are unanimous in calling it crap.

Manunkind wrote: sbrushfan wrote: Well, I'm still gonna get it, along with TRAIN OF THOUGHT. Controversial records (TRAIN OF THOUGHT, Yes' OPEN YOUR EYES, etc.) fascinate me. Good call on ToT. I don't know if you can call "Open Your Eyes" controversial. All the reviews I've seen are unanimous in calling it crap.

Well, I've read the reviews myself as well, Manunkind. Amdist the one and two stars reviews are a smattering of four-star people...that leads me to believe that it might just be controversial.  I'm also gonna review BIG GENERATOR and 90125 after I let them all sink in.

My problem with the genre of prog (and this has less to do with the genre itself than it does with people who claim to be "fans") is that if a "prog-rock" band leans a bit too far either way (be it pop OR rock) they get trashed by the reviewers who seem all too eager to bash something. Take TRAIN OF THOUGHT, for instance. It, seemingly, wasn't easy enough on the ears to some people, so it got trashed. It leaned too heavily towards metal, seemingly, so it got trashed.  I thought DT were a "prog-METAL" group. Aren't they?

ok, this album transformed me into a fan.

It is simply...awesome, you know? Every darn part of the album is so fascinating. This makes you think that all the other musicians(non-prog) are just in a wheel of fortune made by crap, and DT just have been in a gold carrousel dancing around or something. There is so much intensity in SFAM, eventhough you somehow do not understand the tale at all in the first listen. This record can change your life!! ARE YOU READY?!

HaHa!! Well , I dunno. I'm still a prog-rookie.

Anyway, yes, be prepared for sweet ballads. This album goes like a freakin' rocket in every style, from really powerful metal to strong and quiet songs. But, hey, isn't that  what DT is all about? A band that blends metal and ballad songs into one unique piece only they can manage? In every album(xcept TOT of course) there are ballads and metallic songs. So I don't understand why some make such a fuss about it.

 Glad you just purchased Octavarium, it is really good, don't listen to the Octa haters!

Anguiad wrote: ok, this album transformed me into a fan. It is simply...awesome, you know? Every darn part of the album is so fascinating. This makes you think that all the other musicians(non-prog) are just in a wheel of fortune made by crap, and DT just have been in a gold carrousel dancing around or something. There is so much intensity in SFAM, eventhough you somehow do not understand the tale at all in the first listen. This record can change your life!! ARE YOU READY?! HaHa!! Well , I dunno. I'm still a prog-rookie. Anyway, yes, be prepared for sweet ballads. This album goes like a freakin' rocket in every style, from really powerful metal to strong and quiet songs. But, hey, isn't that  what DT is all about? A band that blends metal and ballad songs into one unique piece only they can manage? In every album(xcept TOT of course) there are ballads and metallic songs. So I don't understand why some make such a fuss about it.  Glad you just purchased Octavarium, it is really good, don't listen to the Octa haters!

OCTAVARUIM is a GREAT album, but I didn't dig on the production and I wasn't digging on the lack of leadwork.