AWAKE

"Awake" is the third studio album of Dream Theater and was released in 1994. Much of the material for the album was written by Dream Theater under pressure from their record label to produce an album as successful as their previous studio album "Images And Words". The record label wanted the band produced a more metal oriented album. It was the last Dream Theater's album to feature their former keyboardist Kevin Moore, who announced his decision to leave the band during the recording sessions of the album, to pursue a solo career. He was substituted by Derek Sherinian to perform with the band during the live tour of the album. Sherinian stayed with in the band only on "Falling Into Infinity".

So, the line up on the album is James LaBrie (lead vocals), John Petrucci (backing vocals and guitars), Kevin Moore (vocals and keyboards), John Myung (bass) and Mike Portnoy (backing vocals, drums and percussion).

"Awake" has eleven tracks. All music was written by Dream Theater except "A Mind Beside Itself: III. The Silent" written by Petrucci and "Space-Dye Vest" written by Moore. The first track "6.00", with lyrics by Moore, shows the more technical side of the band, with plenty of strange and syncopated rhythms. It's aggressive, musically and lyrically, with LaBrie's high notes. It's warning us this isn't another "Images And Words". The second track "Caught In A Web", with lyrics by LaBrie and Petrucci, is much like its predecessor but it features very interesting keyboard effects over a nice rhythm. Probably, this is one of the most keyboard oriented songs on the album. It's another excellent song with intricate parts. The third track "Innocence Faded", with lyrics by Petrucci, is more radio friendly than the first two tracks and is almost a throwback to "Images And Words". The voice of LaBrie is more melodic and it has also a less aggressive guitar work. However, it maintains the great darker aura of "Awake". The fourth track "A Mind Beside Itself: I. Erotomania" is an instrumental track and represents the first part of a suite. This is a complex track, even by the standards of Dream Theater. It's a track with many musical changes and passages that shows perfectly well the high quality of these musicians. The fifth track "A Mind Beside Itself: II. Voices", with lyrics by Petrucci, is the part two of the suite and is one of the two epics on the album. It's another track full of changes and passages where each member shines through it. The chorus is incredible with an epic feel and the solo sections are excellent, which are probably the best on the album. The sixth track "A Mind Beside Itself: III. The Silent Man", with lyrics by Petrucci, is the last section of the suite and is the shortest track on the album. Musically it's a different song because it's all acoustic. But, it actually follows the standard's song structures. It's also a great song, but it doesn't stand out much after the epic. The seventh track "The Mirror", with lyrics by Portnoy, is about his alcoholic problems. It's one of the heaviest songs on the album. It starts with an aggressive guitar work followed by drums. What impresses me most on this song are Moore's keyboard lines, added to the hostile attitude of LaBrie when he delivers Portnoy's story of his losing battle against alcoholism. The eighth track "Lie", with lyrics by Moore, seems like a counterpoint, more melodic and technical, but still heavy and similar in tone to the previous track. The lyrics are also a counterpoint, expressing Moore's anger at being continually deceived by lovers, friends and possibly, even by his fellows of the group. The ninth track "Lifting Shadows Off A Dream", with lyrics by Myung, is a song built on bass guitar, with the other instruments providing the support. It's a sort of a break from the two last heavy songs. It's a pretty and simple ballad with an incredible atmosphere and with a phenomenal keyboard work. The tenth track "Scarred", with lyrics by Portnoy, is the album's second epic. It seems to be the most experimental song on the album and it has even more changes and passages, that are used here, than on "A Mind Beside Itself". This is one of the best tracks on the album and it became a classic track, really. The eleventh and last track "Space-Dye Vest", with lyrics by Moore, is a simple but hunting beautiful piano piece with some drumming and guitars in the back. This track is simply amazing and represents the culmination of everything that made Moore's keyboard work so great. This is a perfect closer for the album and a great farewell of Moore from the band.

Conclusion: "Awake" is a complex, experimental and varied album, with a permanent gloomy feeling to it. "Awake" is definitely another masterpiece of Dream Theater and represents really a very impressive follow up to the great previous album "Images And Words". It shows a different musical approach to a more progressive metal sound. Comparing to its predecessor "Awake" has a heavier and aggressive sound and the lyrics are more dark and impenetrable. In my humble opinion, "Awake" is probably a better album than "Images And Words" is. It hasn't any weak points and it's more expressive, inspired, honest and fresh. Sincerely, I think "Awake" is simply brilliant and a very unique album in Dream Theater's career. It's one of their best releases that will take some time to grow on you. It's highly recommended.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)

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