 |  |  |  |  | |  |  |
 | |||||||
Dream Theater
InstruMental (1987)
 |
| Reviewer: lach (96) |
When Dream Theater (hereafter refered to as DT) were starting out, they recorded a bunch of instrumental tracks before they could find a singer. (A lot of these made it onto their first album with vocals.) This is the bootleg copy that I found somewhere. It's very good and shows how tight the band really are. Also included on the right is my coveted backstage pass! Got to meet all the band who were a great bunch of guys. James Labrie was the nicest! |
| Contribute my review of 'InstruMental' |
When Dream And Day Unite (1989)
 |
| Reviewer: lach (96) |
Saviours of heavy metal, gods of instrumentation, legends of ability.... In 1989, DT suddenly appeared out of nowhere with their first album, and were promptly ignored. (It was said that their record company didn't promote this album). This album has a different singer "Charlie Dominici", from all of their other albums. Charlie has a great but different voice. Very high, but not very metal. Sort of sounds a bit like John Farnham. He's very good, some people hate him, some people like him. Personally I think he's very good, but not brilliant. The production on this CD is pretty average (by todays standards), it almost sounds worse than albums recorded 10 years before this one. I read somewhere that Petrucci didn't even use his own guitars! Portnoy's drum kit sounds quite crap. Bass is pretty average (but at least you can hear it :) Anyway, what is it like? It's great!! "The Ytse Jam" (instrumental) is still a major fan favourite, as well as "The Killing Hand", "A Fortune in Lies" and "Afterlife" that are still played live to this day. All of the songs on this CD are still very very good. Portnoy's drumming is a standout, as well as the odd time signatures, killer solo's (guitar + keyboard), great instrumental breaks, great melodies.. if you can get past the production, it's fantastic. It's also worth buying just for the photo's in the artwork! My favourite lyrics, "I can remember when, in the unity of our five-day sessions / Not even once did we hear the siren song". It was said that DT used to practice together 5 days a week :) |
| Contribute my review of 'When Dream And Day Unite' |
Images And Words (1992)
 |
| Reviewer: lach (96) |
With James LaBrie taking the duties of lead vocalist, DT release an instant classic. "Pull Me Under" hits the charts, and it's no surprise why. The song is breathtaking and will get your heart pumping every time - when it hits 2:56, the band cut out, and James bellows out his line.. it's still done now and people love it! And then it reaches 3:15, with the guitar+bass start playing (in unison) their rhythm line, while the drums go double time.. ooooh baby. Then comes the chorus! I could talk about this song all day. Just go and listen to it, alright? Every song on this album is a classic. It's not often that you get a CD without one song that you don't like. Yeeoouch - just check out the intro to "Take the Time", the instrumental section in "Metropolis Part I", the ending to "Pull Me Under", the keyboard in "Wait For Sleep", the vocals in "Under A Glass Moon"... the list goes on and on. Check out the guitar rhythm in "Take the Time" at 5:20. Check out the keyboard solo in the same section! Dream Theater have a slightly strange (for metal) line-up of only one guitarist and a keyboardist. There's not many bands that can get away with having keyboards on an album - they often sound too cheesy. Kevin Moore adds so much! His grasp of rhythms and melody is superb, and really adds so much to a song. I remember playing this CD in my car with my Dad listening.. and all he said was "What the hell is this rubbish?" You know if he hates it this much it must be good. |
| Contribute my review of 'Images And Words' |
Live At The Marquee (1993)
 |
| Reviewer: lach (96) |
With "Images and Words" released - along comes a live CD to prove that they can play the stuff live. And play they can! The sound quality is great.. almost perhaps too great. Tell me there isn't a few touch-ups on this CD :) "Bombay Vindaloo" is a great instrumental jam, and they even play two tracks off their first album to prove that James can do anything Charlie ever could. In fact, my favourite part on this CD is when he completely nails a melody in "A Fortune in Lies", a part that Charlie sung the first note in falsetto.. and James just belts it out! Great stuff. |
| Contribute my review of 'Live At The Marquee' |
Awake (1994)
 |
| Reviewer: lach (96) |
In 1994 the band had been together for ten years! What an effort.. and boy does it show. This is probably my personal favourite album - slightly less commercial songs (mainly less catchy chorus's) and some fantastic solos, this album has lots of really moody and dark pieces. Warning! I actually owned this album for over a year without really getting into it! A high school friend of mine first lent me this album.. and I didn't enjoy it! The songs were too long and complicated and dark.. and I just didn't grasp it. It took me about a year to realise that you have to listen to each song about three times (in a row) before you can get the hang of them. And then you will start cheering. "Caught in a Web" and "6:00" are my favourite tracks, with some great keyboard melodies. "Lie" is also another killer song with a great chorus. This was the first album to feature Petrucci doing a lot of 7 string guitar. (Wake up Korn - DT did it first and about a hundred times better). And if you call yourself a guitarist - play the solo at the end of "lie". If I ever meet you I will buy you a beer. Genius. The last track, "Space Die Vest", is a great moody song written by keyboardist Kevin Moore. He was to leave the band after this album was released, due to wanting to go into a different direction. A pity, as his playing really rocked. |
| Contribute my review of 'Awake' |
A Change Of Seasons (1995)
 |
| Reviewer: lach (96) |
Responding to internet fan-group pressure, this EP featured the title track that clocked in at 23:06. And what a track it is! The very emotional lyrics are a stand out on this song, as well as the music itself (of course). A bunch of cool demo's were recorded for this track - I've only got a few but they are awesome. They were issued to members of the fan-clubs for Xmas but I missed out! The rest of the album features a bunch of obscure covers (well - they are to me) that the band played at a one-off gig. I don't really know why they bothered. They are ok, but nothing special. Something else would have been more appreciated! But this EP is seriously worth it alone just for the title track. After Kevin Moore left, Derek Sherinian filled in as a session player for a bunch of live gigs, and then eventually joined the band. His playing on ACOS is very cool - quite different to Moore but definitely enjoyable. |
| Contribute my review of 'A Change Of Seasons' |
Falling Into Infinity (1997)
 |
| Reviewer: lach (96) |
The next album came along and was a little bit of a let down. It's a bit hard to put your finger on it. Not as heavy as their previous albums, not as good, and a bit of "trying to sound a bit commercial". Their record company brought in Kevin Shirley to produce, whose first task was to "Bring some of their songs down to a normal length". Not good. After the release of this album, Portnoy was seriously considering quitting the band. He ended up giving an ultimatum to the label: "Give us full control on the next album or get stuffed" (basically). Anyway, there are some really good songs on this CD: "Lines in the Sand" is brilliant, with the wonderful Doug Pinnick (from King's X) providing some guest vocals. "Trial Of Tears" is very good. Still worth the money. The cool thing about this CD is that before it was recorded, they recorded demos for each song. They are floating around the internet - are are a lot better than the actual CD itself! Hunt them down. Please! "Burning my Soul" is so much better - it's a metal masterpiece! Odd time sigs, big metal intro.. it's huge. There is a massive and gorgeous intrumental in the middle - it ended up being ripped out and seperated into what turned out to be "Hells Kitchen". (allegedly at the insistance of Kevin Shirley). (Alleged by me). I even think that they played the whole thing together in one take. Maybe. The demo to "Lines in the Sand" is also awesome. (With an extra 1:30 - extended instrumental and an extra different chorus!). A demo version of "You not me" (titled "You Or Me") is provided on the "Hollow Years" single - which hasn't had the chorus screwed by Desmond Childs. (He writes for Ricky Martin... what were they thinking??). Check that out as well. |
| Contribute my review of 'Falling Into Infinity' |
Scenes From A Memory (1999)
 |
| Reviewer: lach (96) |
Woohoo Nelly! After the slightly disapointing release of the previous album, DT release their biggest "middle finger salute" to the record companies - A great concept album! Subtitled "Metropolis Part II", this album has a massive, intricite, detailed and thought provoking storyline. After I first bought this album I just didn't get it! I didn't know what the hell was going on. After reading a bit on the web and bothering to think about it.. it's pure genius. After recording the (brilliant, instrumental) Liquid Tension Experiment album with keyboardist Jordan Rudess, they decided that it was time to boot out Derek Sherinian and replace him. A little harsh and unfair in my opinion.. but it wasn't up to me and I don't have the full story. But anyway, Sherinian has gone on to have fantastic success so it all worked out for the best. Heaps of great songs on this one. The opening "Overture 1928" is a work of art - featuring sections from each song to follow, you can start to hear Rudess's influence. "Strange Deja Vu" is a standout, as well as "Home", the instrumental (at last, another one) "Dance of Eternity" and "The Spirit Carries On". DT went on to tour America playing this album start to finish, and then recording a fantastic DVD of one of these concerts. |
| Contribute my review of 'Scenes From A Memory' |
Cleaning Out The Closet (1999)
 |
| Reviewer: lach (96) |
DT have possibly the best fan club ever - because every year (from 96-02) DT sent out a CD to every member! Can you believe that? Frankly it's incredible. I only have this one because I quit paying for my membership - I was sick of reading concert reviews. DT have never come to Australia, an attitude which pisses me off. Oh well. The CD is cool with 9 unreleased tracks! What a score! |
| Contribute my review of 'Cleaning Out The Closet' |
Live Scenes From New York (2001)
 |
| Reviewer: lach (96) |
A triple live CD was then released on September 11th, 2001. Not the best timing.. especially when it was realised that the artwork featured the World Trade Centre towers in flames. This was of course a horrible coincidence that had to be taken care of, so they released another version with the burning apple removed. (The burning apple came about from the cover of Images and Words.. look at it carefully). Anyway, this album has a live recording in the entirity of "Scenes From a Memory", plus a killer version of "The Mirror", "Metropolis Part I", and what everyone was hoping... "A Change Of Seasons"!! Listen to the crowd sing along at the start! ACOS is played with so much vigour and excitement.. and the best part is that LaBrie sings 1 extra, heart-wrenching line that was obviously cut from the original recording. LaBrie's voice is also great on this album. Rudess proves he is Overlord of the keyboards. He absolutely nails all of Sherinian and Moore's parts, and proves he has a great sense of humour! Plus Myung's playing never gets enough credit - the guy is a machine. Listen to him doubling Petrucci's insane lines. Fantastic. |
| Contribute my review of 'Live Scenes From New York' |
Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence (2002)
 |
| Reviewer: lach (96) |
It says so much of a band that after 15 years they go and release my second favourite album! The first four songs on this album are pure joy. The opening track "The Glass Prison", is a killer, Pantera sounding 14 minute opus to Portnoy kicking his alchohol problems. Possibly my favourite ever DT song. Six degrees artwork inverted Track 2 "Blind Faith", is a detuned sounding song about.. well.. Blind Faith. Awesome. Track 3 "Misunderstood", is an amazing DT song about.. I'm not sure. It's still Awesome. Track 4 "The Great Debate", is a Tool sounding song that is about Stem Cell research. Guess what adjective I'd use to describe it? Awesome. CD2 is a mini-concept album. It's awesome. (PS If you are only to learn one thing from this website - buy this album. PPS Why does the artwork suck so much? Why didn't they just invert it?) |
| Contribute my review of 'Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence' |
Train Of Thought (2003)
 |
| Reviewer: lach (96) |
A very metal album - lots of heavy tracks. Not exactly my favourite album, but still has some great songs. It almost sounds like DT are trying to sound too heavy in some sections. Not quite though. There's lots of very very good songs on this album ("This Dying Soul" is cool). Just in comparison with SDOIT it would be almost impossible to beat. But talk to some fans and they would say that this is better than SDOIT, so what would I know. |
| Contribute my review of 'Train Of Thought' |
Octavarium (2005)
 |
| Reviewer: lach (96) |
The latest studio album. I've only listened to this one a few times, as it didn't immediately grab me as being fantastic. What strikes me about this CD is that is sounds like a "tribute to our favourite artists" CD. Why do I say this? * Track 1 - Sounds just like Metallica (not a bad thing) * Track 3 - Sounds just like Linkin Park (it's a good song though :) * Track 4 - Sounds just like U2 (it's a great song though :) * Track 5 - Sounds just like Muse * Track 8 - Sounds just like Pink Floyd I was initially very excited by the idea of the 24 minute title track, but I don't think that it lives up to "A Change of Seasons" - then again, what possibly could? Actually, I think that the track "Octavarium" isn't all that good: * The 4 minute intro is a complete Pink Floyd rip-off. * The guitar intro melody at 4:00 has the most horrible ear screeching tone ever. * The first verse is a bit of a Yawn. * The next bit sounds like something off Labrie's solo albums. Also yawn. * It finally picks up at about 14:00. But the lyrics consist of Portnoy naming his music influences! Possibly the stupidest idea of all time by Portnoy. It makes no sense, isn't enjoyable, and sounds ridiculous. * The next 4 minutes are Dream Theater on auto-pilot. Put together a bunch of "crazy" instrumental bits that basically suck. * The ending is kind of ok. But then Labrie's screaming is mixed down so that you can hardly hear it. Would have been the best part if you asked me. Such a pity, DT haven't really released that much bad stuff but this track definitely qualifies. I also notice that this is the first album in a long time that wasn't mixed by Kevin Shirly. I think that this is a bad thing, as quite a lot of the time I think that the mix is a bit "wrong" - you can't hear the stuff that you want to hear (solo's, vocals), and sometimes there's a bit too much reverb on stuff. Anyway. There's a couple of good songs on this CD - "Sacrificed Sons", "Panic Attack", "These Walls" and "I Walk Beside You" are all really good, so I'd still recommend buying the album. |
| Contribute my review of 'Octavarium' |
The Singles ()
 |
| Reviewer: lach (96) |
The Silent Man Demo version of "Take the Time". Similar to the original but still slightly different. Other track is "Eve" - a bonus track that was meant to precede "Pull Me Under". Hollow Years Album and Radio Edits of title track. "You Or Me" which is the demo version of "You Not Me". Other track is "The Way It Used To Be" - a very U2 sounding track left of FIF. Through Her Eyes Radio and different mix of title track. A live version of "Home" and a medley of old classics titled "When Images and Words Unite". Unfortunately the live versions of these songs are not too good, chiefly thanks to LaBrie singing pretty flat. He actually sounds pretty knackered. But it's funny hearing him stuffing around with "Pull Me Under" Portnoy did not tell the other guys that this nights performance was being recorded - maybe he should have ? :) |
| Contribute my review of 'The Singles' |