Dream Theater - Octavarium
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Music CD Cover
Artist: Dream TheaterEdition: Music CD
Published: 2005
CD Release Date: 2005-06-07
Music Label: Atlantic / Wea
Soundtracks:
- Root Of All Evil
- Answer Lies Within
- These Walls
- I Walk Beside You
- Panic Attack
- Never Enough
- Sacrificed Sons
- Octavarium
Free Music Notes for Octavarium
Free Music Review: "As far as I could tell, there's nothing more I need."
Hit: 5 Stars
For some odd reason, I had 'Octavarium' for two years before I even bothered to listen to the title track. I often find it difficult to get into the more Yes/King Crimson/Floyd-ish 70s-style prog-rock so I figured I wouldn't enjoy it too much, and....well, lemme cover the rest of the album first. The whole disc revolves around the theme of numbers (particularly 8 and 3) and various other themes (terrorism in 'Sacrificed Sons', ungrateful people in 'Never Enough', and a return to Portnoy's AA saga in the killer 'The Root of All Evil'). All of them are brought together in the mammoth title track at the end.
1. The Root of All Evil 9/10 (solid crunching heavy opener which brings in old motifs from 'This Dying Soul' since this is the 3rd part of the AA saga; heavy riffs, great melodies, and great lyrics. A winner).
2. The Answer Lies Within 7.5/10 (a more mellow track that would be at home on 'Falling Into Infinity' but by no means a weak track, but DT's done better. Still, enjoyabe).
3. These Walls 9.5/10 (DT takes a cue from riffs from the likes of Korn and Linkin Park in the intro, in builds it into an absolutely killer track with a hell of a chorus. Amazing).
4. I Walk Beside You 9/10 (probably the poppiest track DT's ever done, and one of the best on the album! More of the U2 influence shows here and it makes for a pop/metal song with DT's unique spin. The shift-up of key on the final chorus is heavenly).
5. Panic Attack 8/10 (heavy track with a bass-driven intro and some of the more techncial guitar work from Petrucci on the album. Very good but one of my least favorite on the album).
6. Never Enough 8/10 (people say this track takes a nod from Muse; I haven't really listened to them so I can't say for certain, but it's another enjoyable track, heavy but retaining a poppy flavor. Portnoy's lyrics here touch on the arrogance of some music fans who are exceedingly rude toward the bands they "love")
7. Sacrificed Sons 9.5/10 (here's where things get good. This epic about the 9/11 attacks begins with a haunting barrage of mass media clips from that day and segueways brilliantly (via channel changing tracking noise) into a haunting 6/8 little piano part. The whole song builds and builds into leading into a killer solo duel between Rudess and Petrucci, climaxing (after Petrucci's solo) in a haunting, sad, but hopeful melodic lead. A powerful epic which brilliantly builds up the emotion for......)
8. Octavarium 10+/10 (If one views music-making as a quest to create the greatest piece of music they are capable of producing and leaving their mark forever on the music world, this piece does it. DT decided to try their hand at a less-heavy, more composition-driven piece a la Yes and Pink Floyd (but still retaining the classic DT sound and plenty of power chords) and what results is the most breathtaking 20-minute epic I've ever heard. To me this piece is one of the greatest if not the greatest prog epics ever written, right up there with 'Close to the Edge'. The first chorus ("this was not for me....") gives me ferocious chills everytime I hear it; it's the most beautiful chorus I've ever heard, almost tear-inducing. Then after a repeat of the chorus the track builds into a part that literally makes you feel like you're soaring through the air with wings ("as far as I could tell, there's nothing more I need.....)"....the emotion to describe this part is pure EUPHORIA. The whole piece builds and builds with more euphoric brilliance with the "Trapped inside this Octavarium!" climax and the stunning "Razor's Edge" finale section. Once I got done listening to this masterpiece track for a second time, I had no doubt in my mind that this was DT's greatest achievement, one of prog's great masterpieces, and MY overall favorite song of all-time.
In short, Octavarium is an exquisite release from tracks 1-7. The title track finale makes it go from an exquisite release to a must-have. An essential piece of DT awesomeness, and once again the title track is a must-hear for all music fans.
Best Tracks: Octavarium, Sacrificed Sons, These Walls, The Root of All Evil, I Walk Beside You
Octavarium Poster
Octavarium opens with a lean and enthusiastic-sounding Dream Theater, one that continues to move forward without compromising its classic sound or its classic progressive metal appeal. Bassist John Myung propels album opener "The Root Of All Evil" with a weight equal to that of Mike Portnoy's forceful but finessed drumming and guitarist John Petrucci's masterful riffing which seems once more to widen the realm of possibilities available on the instrument. Keyboardist Jordan Rudess lends subtle and deft touches throughout helping further solidify the outfit's equally strong footing in the worlds of heavy and progressive rock. But the best evidence that Dream Theater remains alive and well rests perhaps in the final 34 minutes of the album. The 10-minute 9/11 meditation "Sacrificed Sons" finds vocalist James LaBrie giving one of his most convincing performances to date. The closing, 24-minute title track serves as the sound of a progressive rock orchestra delivering one more classic epic symphony, one more that lengthens this unit's ever-long prime. Both tracks stand as testament to the quintet's virtuosity, integrity and ingenuity and will fast become favorites. Further evidence of the group's diversity also exists here in the form of the unapologetically commercial (and U2-inflected) "I Walk Beside You," a song that seems destined to connect with a crossover audience--at least one up for an unforgettable adventure. --Jedd BeaudoinDream Theater has maintained a rare combination of stellar musicianship and unwavering passion for over a decade, selling millions of albums and filling concert venues worldwide. The band once again confirms its status as progressive hard rock's standard-bearers on their latest studio epic, Octavarium.
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