BLACK CLOUDS & SILVER LININGS

This, to me is quite possibly the most enjoyable Dream Theater CD I've heard (not that I've heard all of them, but I have heard quite a few). The songs are bombastic and very progressive. Even the somewhat maudlin "the Best Of Times" has it's good parts. And James LaBrie's vocals seem to stay away from the irritating upper ranges.

There are some almost death metal like vocals on some of the songs, but even these, while low pitched, are not the throw up in the back of your throat type that ruins quite a bit of modern metal. And having them say things like "Strength and dignity" almost makes it sound like DT is making fun of the genre. But I like it.

And while I'm not yet certain if "The Count Of Tuscany" is the best song Dream theater has ever done, it's up there with the best.

I purchased the "limited edition" version, with the instrumental disk, and the covers disk. The instrumental disk is nice, but I actually prefer the versions with vocals. And the covers, all listed here in PA as singles, plus "To Tame A Land" originally by Iron Maiden is a nice listen. "Odyssey", by The Dixie Dregs, is one of my all-time favorite songs, and DT does a superb job on it, but I wish they hadn't mixed John Myung's bass so far down. Andy West's spectacular lines were out front in the original recording, and Myung's should not be hidden here.

4.5 stars