Dream Theater - Train of Thought
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Free Music Notes for Train of Thought
Free Music Review: John, I'm heartbroken
Hit: 5 Stars
This album musically is a phenominal masterpiece of style, technique, and brilliance. Dream Theater have once again proven to the world why they are the kings of progressive metal. That being stated, I regret to say that I found this album to be very disturbing with regards to the lyrics. I've read plenty that were much worse mind you, but never from Dream Theater. It seems Petrucci and Portnoy (having both written the majority of these lyrics) have taken the ever so popular route of blaming God and religion for all of their social problems in their daily lives. This, coming from a band that has championed itself for making positive and emotionally moving pieces of music was an absolute surprise to see. I was very shocked and offended to read a lot of these lyrics in a Dream Theater album simply because I though that they were above all this. Tool, Nine Inch Nails, Metal Blade metal artists, I would expect this from because that's what they're known for. But Dream Theater? A lot of people call this "nu-metal" but it's not. It's progressive and in top form, however they sound more like a Metal Blade band than anything else. Angry at the world and blaming God and Religion for all of their problems. I'm not pushing any views here, I'm just dissappointed that Dream Theater took this uneducated, nihilistic route to express themselves. I thought that John Petrucci, being the legendary artist that he is, would never execute such a low blow to certain people's beliefs with his lyrics. Not only does he attack other people's religious beliefs, he uses quite a bit of foul language in almost every piece on this album. This is a totally different band from Metropolis Part II. Fans of traditional Dream Theater need to know that this is not traditional dream theater at all. It sounds like them, it looks like them, but the lyrics do no read like them. However, having said all of this, I still give this album five stars because it is musically briliant as are all Dream Theater albums, and it's obvious to me that they had worked very hard on this album's technical content. John P., I'm very dissappointed. If this is the route you've chosen, you can forget about me buying any more of your albums. I don't care how good your technique is, if you want to write lyrics like these I'm not going to listen to them. You are a man with legendary skill, but you waste it all on a pessimistic philosophy of life. I'm sure you won't read this, but in case you do, here are your five stars. You've earned them, as you always do, but rest assured that this is the last thing you'll ever get from me. Goodbye, John. It was nice knowing you, I guess.Free Music Review: Amazing album from an amazing band
Hit: 5 Stars
Dream Theater's "Train of Thought" is, in this reviewer's opinion, their best offering yet. It's also their heaviest offering yet, pounding away at the listener with distinctive metal riffs every song and putting lead singer James LaBrie into a less operatic and grittier vocal style.While every track is well worth your listening time, some distinctive pieces include "As I Am", "Endless Sacrifice", "Vacant", and "Stream of Consciousness".
As the opening song of the album, "As I Am" begins with a traditional mellow Dream Theater riff, but quickly kicks into overdrive with heavy, fast-paced distorted guitar and the controlled insanity that is Portnoy's metal drumming. This song has a long and catchy chorus, making it much more suitable for radio audiences than most of Dream Theater's previous offerings, yet holds true to the band's exacting standards of songwriting.
"Endless Sacrifice" begins as a softer ballad piece with a heavy chorus, but soon shifts into metal mode in the style of Metallica's "One". It continues the style laid down in the first two tracks of the album - a heavier and more modern Dream Theater with just as skilled of musicianship and songwriting as they've always shown.
"Vacant" is the exception to the rule on this album. It is a straight-out guitar and piano driven ballad, and is the shortest song on the album, at less than three minutes of length. The very mellow nature of this song provides the listener with not just a note of emotional melancholy, but also serves to literally give them a break before the monumental instrumental piece which is...
"Stream of Consciousness". Many hardcore Dream Theater fans may have heard that the band initiated a contest a few months back, giving them the foundations (tempo and key structure) for this song and asking them to write and record their own version. The fans of course complied, sending in many pieces of excellent musicianship. Well, the song itself lives up to and exceeds the high standards I experienced when listening to the fans' contest entries. It is a long and complex but cohesive whole, each part leading smoothly into the next while retaining elements of the previous section - a true "Train of Thought".
This album is unarguably Dream Theater's most "metal" release to date. I believe it to also be their best release to date, but don't take my word for it - pick up a copy and experience this masterpiece yourself.
Free Music Review: Straightforward Progressive Metal - possible? Yes.
Hit: 5 Stars
After intense touring and some fan backlash (those who couldn't ingest the maturity of Six Degrees most likely), Dream Theater released their eighth studio album, Train of Thought in late 2003. Packaged in black and white with artistic photos, the album is much more straightforward than their previous release, and certainly much more intense.
With seven tracks, only two of which clock in under 10 minutes, I decided that they weren't messing around this time. The result is a sonic behemoth; inexplicably fast guitars, head-splitting drums, and violent keyboards. Even James LaBrie seems to be screaming at times, no longer the angelic voice he has shown us in previous albums.
Each song is a musical portrait of aggression, from the self-liberating anthemic "As I Am" to "This Dying Soul", the desperate continuation of "The Glass Prison". The album has no bad songs at all. "Endless Sacrifice" is equal parts metal and progressive, with a keyboard "solo" that can only be described as silverware falling from the top shelf of a cupboard. "Honor Thy Father" is an ominous and rapid onslaught, perfect for the angry metalhead (or the neglected child). By now, the album has lasted over forty minutes.
This is where we get our rest: "Vacant", a 3-minute piano/cello piece that serves as an introduction to what is arguably the best track on the album, the 11-minute instrumental "Stream of Consciousness". Unlike Dream Theater's staple instrumental pieces, this song is much more coherent and fluid, with defined movements and recurring melodies (neither of which defined previous album's instrumental songs). Finally, the 14-minute closer, "In the Name of God" brings together all of the previous songs' standout characteristics to end the album on an aggressive (yet melodic) note.
Having won over critics, the album (like its predecessor) has had mixed results with fans. Some say it is an amazing advance in their career, while others consider the album "nü-metal", a term attached to newer, younger hard-rock bands. Unfortunately for such criticisms, I cannot think of a single nü-metal band that reaches the technical heights or matches the boundless creativity of this progressive quintet. Train of Thought is not nearly as genre-bending as Six Degrees, but it is, without a doubt, an apt step forward for a band that turns heads with every release.
See also: Dream Theater - Awake, Dream Theater - Images and Words, Dream Theater - Scenes From a Memory
Free Music Review: Don't listen to DT's Psuedo-Fans
Hit: 5 Stars
First off, if you have not heard by now, this is Dream Theater's heaviest album EVER! I do not understand what these so called "fans" of DT are whining about. I mean do we really expect DT to sound like they did more than 10 years ago when Images and Words was released?! With each album DT releases, the fans never know what to expect. Because DT changes... they evolve... they experiment. But NEVER have they disappointed this fan. Aside from what some reviewers may let on, Train of Thought is not DT's version of "Load"(metallica). This is an amazing album! It does not compare to Scenes from a memory, but it buries the bands last effort. There are a number of interesting influences heard in this album. Bands like Mudvayne and Rush are the more obvious influences. Some may just be coincidence. For instance, one part off of track two sounds like it belongs on Metallica's "...And Justice for All" CD. Because of the unlikely influences some may say ToT is too Nu-Metalish. I say, "This is Dream Theater!" If they want to add a touch of nu-metal style riffage then let them. They will only back it up with incredible playing that no nu-metal band can even come close to touching. So, suffice to say, all the excellent musicianship you come to expect is there. Petrucci takes center stage on this album. I do not know what happened to him, but its obvious that something made him want to show people that he is one of the greatest guitarists of our time once again. It seems his solos have taken a more speed metal approach. They all lack melody, however it is made up for by the unreal speed and accuracy of his picking. Myung is much easier to hear this time around, and Portnoy is still god. I must say i was a bit disappointed with Rudess's playing. He is an amazing pianist/keyboardist but he just doesn't show off enough on ToT. As for James...personally I don't mind his singing on this album. Yes it is different. Yes, he does a bit of RATM style rapping in one song, but it fits. I am a fan of his and always loved his voice.
I was expecting a change of sound on Train of Thought. But that change, in my opinion, is for the better. Their talent as musicians is amazing, and this album shows. Whether or not they return to the days of I&W, who cares. ToT contains some great songs with incredible playing. And if they put out a Train of Thought II, I will be first in line to pick it up! So, Dream Theater, if you guys read this, I just want to say thank you for releasing an awesome album!!
Free Music Review: My very own train of 5 Stars
In the music industry of today, it's always nice to see a good band become a GREAT band. Such is the case with Dream Theater, five veteran musicians whose latest release, Train of Thought, proves that "aging" in the metal industry can still turn out to be a good thing.The 70 minute shredfest combines the DT of yesteryear, as well as more heavy influences, and molds them together to create one of the most powerful song sets of all time.
Tracks:
1. As I Am (7:47) A solid opener. Great vocals, heavy riffs, and a mind blowing guitar solo. What else do you need? 9.5/10
2. This Dying Soul (11:27) My personal favorite song on the album. Contains riffs reminiscent of "The Glass Prison" off of the Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence album. Furthermore, Petrucci, Portnoy and Myung show off their precise and accurate sense of timing from start to finish. 10/10
3. Endless Sacrifice (11:24) Similiar to Metallica's "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)" song, "Endless Sacrifice" begins with a simplistic guitar rythymn and slowly but surely builds up to a powerhouse of a rock anthem. Excellent work from Jordan Rudess on keyboards/piano. 10/10
4. Honor Thy Father (10:14) Another heavy tune. Riffs galore, sound effects, and yes, Labrie's is using vocal enhancements too! WTF? 10/10
5. Vacant (2:57) The slow song on the album features Labrie and a piano and a few strings. This songs was probably only put here to give listeners a three minute intermission-type thing to relax their ears. ALBUM FILLER, but nonetheless, a pretty nice one. 7/10
6. Stream Of Consciousness (11:16) The instrumental track on the album. Once again, Petrucci, Portnoy, Myung, and Rudess show the world that they indeed are in a class all by themselves. 9/10
7. In The Name Of God (14:14) Excellent intro to a powerhouse of an ending (My favorite group of Dream Theater riffs). I don't know what kind of sick places Petrucci and Portnoy's mind visited when writing this album, but they should definitely go back there again! Mind blowing guitar solo by Petrucci. Choir and strings provide an excellent ending to one hell of an album. 10/10
In closing, let me reiterate that I've been listening to Dream Theater ever since Images and Words was released, and Train of Thought is by far my favorite DT album. If you are an avid fan of old Metallica, Megadeth, Iron Maiden, or any other heavy rock act, I definitely recommend this album be picked up.