ELEMENTS OF PERSUASION

Solid album from beginning to end and puts Dream Theater's past 5 albums to shame. It blows away Six Degrees, Octavarium, Systematic Chaos and Black Clouds and Silver Growling. But It can't hold a candle to Train of Thought though. Which is really sad really on DT's part.

So.. Its pretty good, but that really is the problem. Its just good and maybe very good in some places, but never transcends to a level of excellence or brilliance (like Images and Words for example).

Now when I first bought this album way back in the day, I absolutely loved it, but over time I kinda forgot about it, and honestly I just listened to it again for the first time since probably 2007, so I guess that really says it all. I forgot about it. Something like Images and Words won't allow itself to be forgotten, it will burrow its way into your brain and DEMAND to be listened to. Yes it has its highlights such as Slightly Out of Reach, which is fantastic, but after just listening fresh, I have to say it kinda has a Strait Forward heavy rock sound, and maybe I'm just progged out of my mind at this point, but it just feels like Generic Meh.

3.5 Stars or B Grade