Dream Theater - Train of Thought
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Free Music Notes for Train of Thought
Free Music Review: Dream Theater At Their Heaviest
Hit: 5 Stars
Any thoughts that Dream Theater might be getting soft, as it's members move further into middle age, will be quickly dispelled by the material on this album. "Thought" is simply the heaviest most brutal offering the band has produced in their almost two decade career. The album's closest comparison would probably be "Awake" from 1994, but even that album has significant differences from this one in tone and form. Let there be no doubt that this is a guitar album. Everyone in the band is, as always, in top form, but guitarist John Pettruci really gets to shine in spots on this one. When I first got "Train" I was somewhat disappointed, but this is an album that grew on me with each listen as I succumbed to it's dark charms. Initially I would have given it a lukewarm review, but after numerous listens I think this is yet another outstanding piece of work from the Dream Theater boys. This album has divided a lot of Dream Theater fans. Some love it and some hate it. I have to give the band credit for trying something different. Although this is still very much progressive metal, parts of the album have more in common with Metallica, Megadeath, or even Pantera then with Rush, Kansas and Yes. In fact several of the tracks you could almost swear it is Megadeath you are listening to instead of Dream Theater. The album even delves into Nu Metal territory at times; although most Nu Metal bands only wish they could play half this well. Even with these more heavy influences this is still very much a Dream Theater record. The tracks "As I Am", "This Dying Soul", Endless Sacrifice", "Honor Thy Father", "Vacant", and "Stream Of Consciousness" are all rock solid. The band saves the best for last with the album closer "In The Name Of God" a 14 minute epic masterpiece that is the highlight of the album. This one tackles the subject of violence / war in the name of religion and resonates appropriately with today's headlines. Overall I don't think this is the best Dream Theater album, and it will not necessarily knock you out on first listen, but give it a chance and see if it does not creep up on you with it's not so subtle charms.Free Music Review: Simply Mindblowing And Amazing
Hit: 5 Stars
First off, how in the hell can this even be compared to Godsmack, SOAD, and Linkin park.Like, come on.
Ive been a fan of Dream Theater for a while now, and without a doubt this is one my favourite cd's (by anyone), especialy after listening to it over 100 times :-P.
Its my favourite, but it is still far from their best work (SFAM or I&W). Even though this is the weakest DT cd, its still mindblowing.
1.As I Am
Starts off with the last note of SDOIT, nice. Great song, catchy parts all over.
4/5
2. This Dying Soul
Probably Petruccis best lyrics ever. A Continuation of The Glass Prison. Amazing song, in every way. Starts off with a hard hitting riff and the amazing double bass beats of Portnoy. 3rd Favourite on the cd
4.5/5
3. Endless Sacrifice
Best Song On The Cd
Period
It may be one of the best songs theyve ever written. Starts off with a slow acoustic riff, then blasts into a metal masterpiece.
5/5
4. Honor Thy Father
Probably the weakest song on the cd. Everything is good, except for the chorus, which sounds....unfinished. Really angry lyrics from Mike, and the most hard hitting song on the album. But oh my god, LaBrie raps. By god, worst thing ive ever heard.
3/5
5. Vacant
The break in the middle of the album. Written by Labrie, and performed by Rudess and Myung (i belive). Really nice song, mellow, and the chello(sp?) adds a nice touch
4/5
6. Stream of Conciousness
The instrumental on the album. Really kick ass song. Great the whole way through. One of the best instrumentals (with Erotomania and The Ytse Jam) theyve ever written, if not the best.
5/5
7. In the Name Of God
This song is my 2nd favourite on the cd. Its a hard hitting song, with contreversal lyrics. About justifying violence and killing with the words in the bible. I love the scale at the start, it sounds so cool
5/5
Overall, a REALLY good disc from DT. Not their usual, but then again, their usual is insane. I guess we were spoiled silly with SFAM and 6DOIT.
-Matt
Free Music Review: A Message to skeptics:
Hit: 5 Stars
I have spent the last year analyzing this album. It has been in my car and on my computer almost everyday since i first picked it up in January 2004. I saw them on tour twice post album-release and even talked to them backstage at Universaly Amp. in Sept. My conclusion:
This album is beyond brilliant. Many people have argued that the solos are repetitive and that the lyrics fall short of expectations. At first I agreed with these views. The first couple times I listened to the album, I proclaimed that Dream Theater had missed. I even refered to it as their "St. Anger".
Then, after listening to it more and more, it finally clicked. I began hearing things I had never heard the during the first listening sessions. ALL DT fans have gone through this routine - of picking up new things and uncovering meanings within the songs with each new listen - like a Tarantino film.
Skeptics: STOP COMPARING THIS TO OTHER DT ALBUMS AND SIDE PROJECTS. STOP IT NOW. Any REAL Dream Theater fan knows that these 5 extraordinary musicians have the ability to explore multitudes of musical styles, and the fact that DT is able to successfully write a dark/heavy album such as this after releasing a concept album (SFAM) and a more jazz/fusion album (6DOIT) is testimony that this band KNOWS HOW TO DO THINGS.
The key to enjoying this album is TIME. It may take up to 10 listening sessions to finally appreciate it, but believe me - when you do you will not want to stop listening. Although I personally do not think this album is DT's best (In my opinion that's a tossup between Images and Words and Scenes from a Memory), Train of Thought is an enjoyable whirlwind of musical virtuosity and exploration.
I am so glad that in a dark age in musical history, where bands such as the White Stripes are rewarded for their "talent", that bands such as Dream Theater stay dedicated to progress and musical development.
This album belongs in the cd players of any true music fan.
Free Music Review: Don't trust the overall rating!
Hit: 5 Stars
I think this album deserves 4.5 stars because it has a lot of great riffs and melodies, but I won't waste my time writing a review because I don't even have to! It seems that the people who accept the reviews don't even care if the "reviews" don't talk about the album... Over 40 negative "reviews" were written by ONE person! A lot of "reviews" don't even say anything about the album! BUT worst of all, a lot of "reviews" are one guy insulting another guy! Why the *beep* were they allowed?
Here are a few examples of reviews that the people of Amazon find acceptable:
Review 1: "DONT LISTEN TO THAT 5 STAR PATHETIC LOSER! hes a moron- he doesent know anything"
Review 2: "you need to realize this disc sucks- if you like it you dont know music"
Review 3: "this album is horrific- just like the 5 star reviwer's mother"
Review 4: "you take this way too seriously-- i almosy feel bad for you-- almost- THIS ALBUM SUCKS!!!!"
Review 5: "who cares? and people ar going to read your reviews? you freakin idiot"
Review 6: "you must have no life- haha- like anyone is going to ready all of your moronic reviews- and your complaining about the intelligence of my reviews- LOL- like I spend a lot time reviewing what I wrote- I COULD CARE LESS- you and your holier than thou attitude- GO TO HELL-- you freakin dork"
Review 7: "you read every one of these reviews huh? and you wait for me to come on- you freakin loser"
Review 8: "help me please ! i'm egyptian and the cd is not sold right here ! so i only can download it ! i need the timing of each track and if possible its size ! cauz there is a fake train of thought published on the net !
if anybody knows a way to download the tracks also please tell me ! thank you.."
and there are 20 or so more.
All in all, don't take the overall rating seriously. If stupid trolls didn't exist, this album would have an overall rating higher than 4.
Free Music Review: Speechless
Hit: 5 Stars
This is my favorite DT CD. I have waited for the day when DT would make an CD full of songs with non-stop chops. This CD fits the style of metal music I prefer to a "T". There are many forms of metal music out there and to me this is the perfect fusion of Progressive, Power, Classic and Nu-Metals. I was blown away the first time I listened to the CD and I continue to discover more and more with each listen. I for one am glad to hear the bass more upfront and the keys in the back of the mix. It works well, especially with the style of this disc. By the way if you listen to the CD more than once you will notice that Rudess is very much present and is playing like a mad man throughout.There are many bands who try and fail to cross boundaries and define new territories. But, as I see it, Dream Theater has done this three times: 1) Combining 80's "AOR" with "Real Metal" on Images and Words, When Dream and Day Unite and Awake. This combination built the foundation for the genre known today as Progressive Metal. 2) Fusing "Progressive Rock" with "Real Metal" and "Progressive Metal" creating the three most important concept CDs ever written in "Metropolis Prt. II, Scences From A Memory", "A Change of Seasons" and disc 2 of "6DOIT". And Finally with "Train of Thought" they have done it again by combining "Progressive Metal", today's "Power Metal", "Classic Metal" and "Nu-Metal" (by the way this progress was started on "6DOIT" with the songs, "The Glass Prison" and "The Great Debate".
I also think the lyrics are perfect. No, it is not a story this time. The lyrics are introspective, angry and real. I for one think they are very thought provoking.
Hats off to the best band in the world. They have created a new genre of metal once again, "Nu-Prog-Power Metal". A disc that will go down as a metal classic.