Dream Theater - Train of Thought
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Free Music Notes for Train of Thought
Free Music Review: So Good, It HURTS!
Hit: 5 Stars
This album is brilliant. Just brilliant. I think trying to go track by track and describing it would be a waste of time - there's just so much information packed into every single song it'd take days.
And yes, it's heavy - but this is a surprise?
Did you miss the live shows where Mike incorporated the licks from Pantera's "By Demons Be Driven" into his drum solo? Did you miss "Lie" and "The Mirror" as far back as 1994? Does the phrase "balls & chunk" not sound familiar?
Yes, this album's heaviness should not shock anyone - at least if you were paying attention. And if you think it sounds like a Metallica album - what era of Metallica? Certainly not that "St. Anger" album ... No, I hear elements of "Master Of Puppets" and "Justice" instead.
A prog rock band is the result of their influences - and I think you'd be hard pressed to find a band with more diverse influences that's currently recording. Which is another thing I love about Dream Theater - Just when you think you've got them jammed into some nice, neat little pigeonholed little description, and what they're expected to turn out, they turn around, smack you upside the head and go - "WRONG! TRY AGAIN!"
And with T.O.T., they've managed to create songs that have so much jammed into them on this album that it's mind-numbing - that's the best way I can possibly describe it. Mind-numbing.
Mind you, I don't pay much attention to lyrics - I like a good melody, and there's plenty of that here. Musicianship? Top notch. The compositions themselves are interesting - and really, after "A Change Of Seasons," a 23 minute song with no discernible "hook," that was a cohesive series of themes and thoughts - they certainly left themselves open to that kind of writing methodology.
But nothing on this record is so blatantly outrageous that there's not a justification for it. They always do something a little differently than the last time out, and obviously, they've chosen to make a very heavy, guitar oriented, metal album, yet still mantaining a lot of varying textures and layers that make for a very interesting listen - and there's plenty of things going on.
I certainly enjoy these songs more so than the ones on the first "6DOIT" disc - though, they've grown on me, in a way. And instead of expecting DT to crank out another "I &W," or somehow create a new genre of music ... listen to what they've presented as it's been done. I've been through this disc 5 times now, and I still am convinced this is one of the most interesting albums they've made.
Maybe it's not your cup of tea ... but it's an amazing album. Define Dream Theater however you like - just don't ever think you've got them figured out.
Free Music Review: From a non-massive fan
Hit: 5 Stars
First off, I haven't heard all of Dream Theater's albums. I'm not a big follower of them, so my review is a little different from most of the rest, since I can't compare this to any previous albums. This is a wonderful metal album. I've listened to plenty of metal, from Metallica and Megadeth's glory years to recent Slayer, Trivium, Type O Negative, Shadows Fall, and so on. This is the most progressive metal I've ever heard, but it is still metal. These guys are masterful musicians: Petrucci doesn't just shred to shred, his solos fit the style and feel of the album. The drums, bass, keyboard, and guitar fit together perfectly: these guys are TIGHT. There are a lot of times where the instrumentalists are in the spotlight, and they deserve it. The vocals run the gamut from spoken word to rapping to almost Iron Maidenesque throughout this album. Listening to the entire thing, everything fits together. All the songs (but one) are crushingly heavy, have big instrumental breaks that actually build the entire song up (instead of just showing how good they are), and have pretty darn good lyrics. Personally, no matter how much I love an album, I find myself skipping over some tracks a lot more than others after a while. With Master of Puppets I usually skip The Thing that Should Not Be, with Rust in Peace I usually skip Lucretia, with Reign in Blood I usually skip Criminally Insane, etc. With Train of Thought, I find myself skipping As I Am and sometimes Vacant. I don't think As I Am is as strong in any sense as any of the other heavy tracks on this album, and a lot of the time I'm not in the mood for Vacant. That being said, As I Am still gets a lot of playing time from me and is better than any other song from any other band. This Dying Soul, Endless Sacrifice, Honor Thy Father, Stream of Consciousness, and In the Name of God are all amazing songs from a prog-metal standpoint, and just a metal standpoint. Stream of Consciousness is the best instrumental I've heard since Orion or To Live is to Die, Endless Sacrifice makes one of the best transitions from ballad to crushing metal, and In the Name of God is just one of the best songs I've ever heard. The instrumental parts are never boring and always build up the song, and they're usually amazing. The vocals aren't the best in metal (I give that to Iron Maiden or Pantera on Vulgar Display), but they fit the music and are never out of place. And isn't that what the album should have? Awesome instrumentalists, a vocalist that fits the style and never stands out badly, well-crafted songs that fit as parts of the album, and fast and crushing riffs you can use to test your speakers out - this is what metal should be. If you like prog-metal, shredding, instrumentals, heavy metal, thrash, speed -- you know what? Just get this album.Free Music Review: Big, dumb, explosive and fantastic!
Hit: 5 Stars
I first heard DT back in the early 90's when the only saving grace to the crap hairband stuff coming out was Marillion. I really remember how impressed I was with the playing ability of the band - from musicianship standpoint they were just amazing. But I really was annoyed with how they took the crap cheezy hairband melodies and then inserted the brilliance... I gave that album away since I couldnt listen to the whole thing just the instrumental sections.Ok, so flash forward to 2003 and I read a guy's post on a PF here at work:
-new Dream Theater album, very very heavy and excellent!
Intrigued, I ask to borrow the disk for a day of listening. Probably the best hour of listening to new material I've had in 5 years.
DT does kinda go back to the NuMetal genre to grab the heavy grooves and chunka chunka guitar sounds that are so popular, but I dont think Limp Dickstick or others in that genre could ever put together a NuMetal song in 12/8 or mixed time sigs that DT succeeds in doing. Yes it's a bit derivative but they take it and extend it past anything out there right now. LaBrie's vocals were always a source of issue with me just because they're too pretty for the music, but with the production they definitely have grown on me. He's tried to toughen them up and for the most part succeeded. Especially the layered minor 7th and minor 3rd harmonies a la Alice In Chains, LaBrie is finally coming up to the rest of the band in his presentation. To be succinct: John Petrucci is just freaking amazing!! With sections where Portnoy and Myung are right in the speed metal groove a la Master of Puppets and Kill Them All, Petrucci just flies on the guitar making everyone else in metal look to be a pale pretender to the craft. I wish I could play like that but I would need about 10 cups of coffee every hour just to hit that intensity level.
Portnoy and Myung are typically brilliant, with Portnoy playing that big huge stupid work of art Siamese Monster kit of his and Myung chugging out ripping bass work supporting Petrucci and Rudess. You cant have a decent piece of music without solid rhythm track, and these guys give it everything and more.
Probably the only criticism I could have would be Jordan Rudess' playing seems hidden by the fact that his lead key sounds all sound like guitar - too close to Petrucci's sound to make it out on first listen. But after a few listens I found to my astonishment that what I thought were guitar lines were key solos and ... well that's all needs be said.
Bottom line: excellent musicianship, only one song seems weaker than the rest otherwise a brilliant concept album from start to finish. Any Prog Rock or Metal freak needs this in their collection.
Free Music Review: Underrated masterpiece
Hit: 5 Stars
I hear people complaining about how bad this album is, that "they've turned to crappy metal" or "they're not prog!" Seriously, if you think THIS album sucks, go buy a little album I like to call "St. Anus". True TOT isn't their best, but at least Mike Portnoy doesn't sound like he's banging his drum sticks on trash cans, and that John Petrucci can still solo. Seriously, I cannot believe how many negative reviews this album got! The poor liddle kiddies (or should I say kiddY) who are still POed at Kevin Moore for leaving the band must be working over-time. Seriously, don't you have lives besides writing negative TOT reviews all day? I bet 70% of the negative reviews came from the same person! Now that I got the rant off my chest, I will now review the album. Train of Thought, Dream Theater's 2003 studio album, is their heaviest yet. James LaBrie's vocals are as great as ever, John Petrucci still has those breath-taking guitar solos, John Myung's bass-lines are still HEARABLE, Mike Portnoy's drums are still amazing, and Jordan Rudess has those keyboard solos that sound like messed up guitar solos. Read on to see my review for the tracks
1. As I Am - The first single. Sounds ver Metallica-influenced. I like the lyrics "I wish I weren't so ****ed". A favorite 5/5
2. This Dying Soul - Very good song. Has a great double-bass pedal from Mike at the beginning. John's guitar solo rules. Also, at around 3:40, there's this CRUSHING riff. 5/5
3. Endless Sacrifice - My second favorite song. It's very balladic, with a heavy chorus. The lyrics are very great. 5/5
4. Honor Thy Father - The lyrics are a little lacking, and James' vocals can be better. but it still rules. Possibly the most chaotic song on the album. 5/5
5. Vacant - The shortest and softest (also the only song without heavy riffs) on the album. It's not bad, but not my favorite. 4.5/5
6. Stream of Consciousness [Instrumental] - It's an instrumental, and an amazing one at that! If "As I AM" is DT's "Enter Sandman", and "Endless Sacrifice" is their "Fade to Black", then this is their "Orion"! 5/5
7. In the Name of God - The BEST song on the album! About how Chrisitans use God to justify violence and inhumanity. The piano at the end sends a chill down my spine.
Verdict:
Is "Train of Thought" a horrible sell-out album, an underrated masterpiece, or just a misunderstood album? Truly a misunderstood, underrated masterpiece, one of 2003's best. You might be disappointed if you're acustomed to DT's old sound, but if you are a true DT fan or just have great taste in music, feel free to purchase this.
Free Music Review: One of DT's best.
Hit: 5 Stars
Dream Theater was and is a great band. I don't have their first album. But I&W was excellent, Awake was a great companion piece to show the darker side. ACOS was a great song. Falling into Infinity was disappointing but had good moments like "Lines in the Sand". SFAM was great but sometimes the focus was taken off the songs because of the greater idea. Same for disc 2 of 6DOIT. Disc 1 was good but could be hard to grasp.That being said "Train of Thought" is excellent. It beats out Awake and 6DOIT as the heaviest album DT has ever made. While it is uniquely heavy and different than what they have done before, it definitely is an extension of what they have done before. There is the obvious fact that "This Dying Soul", one of the best cuts, is an extension of "The Glass Prison" literally.
"As I Am" is an excellent lead off track. The beginning kind of reminds me of the beginning of "Black Sabbath" the song before becoming more punishing than Sabbath is.
"This Dying Soul" is great. It is a great way to continue the 12-step program layed out by Mike Portnoy in "THe Glass Prison". I especially like where it goes into the time change and John Petrucci starts this new riff between the two parts of the song.
"Endless Sacrifice" is another great song. The pain that James Labrie expresses in is just heart wrenching. It is proabaly the most emotional song DT has ever done. It has similarities to "Misunderstood" from 6DOIT, but was a lot better in many ways.
"Honor Thy Father" is good. While I don't rank it as high as the first three it is still a great song about Mike Portnoy's stepfather.
"Vacant" is a really short sad song about feeling alone. It has the same vibe as "Disappear" but seems more genuine in emotion.
"Stream of Consciousness" is probably the best instrumental that DT has done, in the vein of Metallica's "Orion", though very similar to the stuff that John Petrucci, Mike Portnoy and Jordan Rudess did in Liquid Tension Experiment.
"In the Name of God" is a great long diatribe against megalomaniacal religious fanatics. Makes references to Heaven's Gate and Branch Dividan and talks about how something like religion, which can be wonderful in its purest form can be perverted into something so hateful. It is one of the best lyrical statements that DT has ever made and was much more successful than "The Great Debate" from 6DOIT.
This is incredible. I feel like DT was emotionally very expressive on this release. ToT is a 75 minute catharsis of anger. FYI, yes there are some nu-metal influence on this record, but it is still a prog record and an old-style metal record with some of those nu-metal influences being embraced and it is pure DT.