Bookmarks: Scenes From A Memory ~ Dream Theater DVD ~ Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
From: Tetsu Hamanaka
If you like Queensryche and Rush, I recommend their first album, When Dream
and Day Unite. If you like Symphonic Heavy music and massive Keyboard sounds
with positive lyrics, then I recommend Images And Words. I&W is my favorite
of Dream Theater. I think Awake is also good album. They play more
improvisational Heavy Prog music IMO. I like Live At the Marquee album, but
if you do not like debut album and 2nd album, wait until the new release of 2
CD Live album with Home Video. It sounds cool. Then, there is Prog epic "A
Change of Season" I thinks ACoS is really long pieces just like YES and
Genesis did. Even though Kevin Moore (Keyboardist) left, I enjoyed this
intense prog metal. Finally, Falling Into Infinity! FiI is very controversial
album among jammers and DT fans. Around me, nobody likes this album. FiI is
kind of simpler form compare to previous albums. I think this album is
inspired by more Pink Floydish feeling and music. But still you can find
intense performance of John Petrucci and other members. I think Derek
Shrenian did fine Keyboard solos and organ solos on Just let me breathe.
Actually, I recommend someone, who is unfamiliar with DT, to listen to Images
And Words first, then Live album. If you like those, then try A change of
season (includes cover songs of Kansas, queen, led zeppelin), maybe Falling
Into Infinity must listen lastly. I think there are many DT bootlegs too.
Dream Theater is finest Prog metal band. To me, finest prog rock band is YES
and ELP. Hope enjoy Dream Theater!
From: Tetsu Hamanaka
I am very glad that you responded my thoughts. I hope you enjoy Dream
Theater's Images And Words. I read the interview of Steve Howe on the Young
Guitar Magazine. He said that "I am very glad to play with Dream Theater at
Ronnie Scott Club. Dream Theater is very excellent Prog band." Technically,
Dream Theater is categorized in the metal side. Nevertheless, undoubtedly,
Images And Words is one of best 90's Prog album ever released!!
From: "upnsm0ke" <>
Apparently Dream Theater has parted ways with Derek Sherinian, and filling
his shoes is none other than keyboard god, Jordan Rudess. Oh, man, suddenly I
can't wait for the next CD. It's gonna be a doozy!
From: "Casey Van Tieghem" <>
>E-Man already raved about [Vitalij Kuprij]... Do others above have solo
keyboard-dominated (prog metal) releases?
My vote goes to Kevin Moore, who was on Dream Theater's famous "Images
and Words" album that went gold. He probably left Dream Theater for a
more keyboard oriented sound.
From:
I don't care much for 'Awake'. I bought the cd and maybe played it twice. I
think that 'Images And Words' its predecessor is very good and 'Falling Into
Infinity' its successor is good. (Kevin Moore their keyboardist left the band
after 'Awake' and was replaced by Derek Sherinian who I feel either doesn't
quite have Kevin's skill level or maybe he's been asked to lay back and
provide atmosphere for Petrucci's guitar.) While fans seemed on a whole not
to appreciate 'Awake' they were some what satisfied with 'Falling Into
Infinity'. 'Awake' gave many of us the feeling that they floundered in
looking for a more commercial sound.) I recommend 'Images And Words'. If
you're into prog-metal or even metal you might also like Fates Warning's
'Pleasant Shade Of Gray' or you might appreciate their metal days with John
Arch on vocals and now Ray Alder (before they were considered prog-metal,) in
which case 'Chasing Time' is a good sampler with songs from both vocalists
From: RAM <>
From my experience, Dream Theater is two bands. The prog-metal band, and the
mainstream-metal band. The first two albums are my all time favorites because
I like long and complicated material. 1) When Dream and Day Unite 2) Images
and Words... But I also love the later albums for the incredible
musicianship. 3) Awake 4) A Change of Seasons 5) Falling into Infinity...
"Awake" has to be their heaviest album to date, and if you're a metalhead,
that album should be nirvana for you. "Falling into Infinity" sounds to me
like an attempt by them to reach a wider audience. It is still a killer album
if you ask me. The 4th album has live cuts of material from other bands,
which I'm not happy about. However, there is also a 22-minute original piece
on that album that is just awesome. Some of Petrucci's best guitar playing is
on that piece. Now that Jordan Rudess is the keyboardist, one can only expect
a whole new sound from the next album. It should be very interesting to say
the least.
From: "upnsm0ke" <>
Derek is an excellent keyboardist, as is Kevin. Their styles are quite
different, due to some very different influences (Derek is mainly influenced
by guitarists, not keyboardists). Derek now has his own band, Planet X - an
instrumental prog-fusion band, to boot - and their first disc is out. Anyone
who wants to check it out can order it from - ta-daaaah! - Jordan Rudess' web
site, MediusVision. Jordan replaced Derek in Dream Theater, for the one or
two people left who may not know (or care)... About 3/4 of everyone I've
talked to felt quite the opposite about "Awake" and instead panned "Falling
Into Infinity" - which is too bad, it's a good disc. Derek was also given a
bad rap by all of the Kevin Moore diehards, which is unfair. He wasn't
allowed as much compositional elbow room as Kevin, yet still played like a
motherf**ker. Plus, Derek was fired, whereas Kevin quit (and even played on
Fates Warning's APSoG). As for Dream Theater's next album - the band is
extremely excited about it, and with Jordan in the keyboard seat, we just may
get to hear an album that is not as commercial as "FiI" and nearly as proggy
as their first two. I'm really looking forward to it, since I'm a longtime
Rudess fan. Both LTE discs really kick ass - LTE2 being the better of the
two... Their first one - "When Dream and Day Unite" - is great, too!... I'd
recommend "Parallels" by FW. Also, from Italy (that country produces gobs of
good music) come Time Machine, a great DT/FW/Rush, etc.-type prog-metal band.
They change singers as often as their underwear, and their best is "Act II:
Galileo" with Folco - whom I consider the best voxman they had, IMO, with the
new guy in 2nd place.
From: Salmacis <>
I picked up DT's A Change of Seasons a week or so ago, and I am very
impressed. The covers they do are beautifully executed. "Funeral for a
friend/Love lies bleeding" has long been a favorite of mine, and to hear it
done this brilliantly is wondrous! Also nice to hear the instrumental bits of
"Carry on wayward son", and the excellent cover of "Perfect Strangers". Not
to mention, of course, DT's own "A Change of Seasons" suite, which alone
makes the album priceworthy. Did this track appear elsewhere ever? I know it
was intended for Images and Words, but never made it. Perhaps on a live
album? I know little about this band, admittedly.
From: Tony Kennedy <>
I just started getting into DT. And I really like them. Parts of 'Change of
Seasons' are on the live 'Once in a Livetime' which also has bits and pieces
of covers. It's sort of interesting listening for the 'quotes.' there's Rush,
Pink Floyd, Metallica... It's interesting that they have copyrights listed
for everything except the Rush. I would notice that, wouldn't' I? :) I'm
STILL annoyed that I missed DT in Jersey when the Deep Purple/ELP/DT show was
canceled. Most of us would have been thrilled to see just a longer DT/ELP
show.
From:
Rick Gutleber <>
> has anyone heard stuff off the new Dream Theater CD? I presume this is
the first with Jordan Rudess?
I'm listening to it right now... I made a surgical strike at Tower
Records on the way into work today. One word: WOW! It's a concept album...
picture "Images and Words" meets Shadow Gallery's "Tyranny". Jordan is
awesome and really cuts loose in track 5 (where I am now). They've been
baiting my breath for months with such excellent releases as LTE2,
Mullmuzzler and Platypus. These guys are in top form.
From: RAM <>
Dream Theater's Latest CD is pretty good. A lot of styles are mixed in it,
including Queen and Zappa.
From: David Kuznick <>
Ok, I just have to say it. HUH? :) I hear maybe 2 seconds worth of a Brian
May-sounding guitar snippet and that's it. That's the Queen influence? And
Zappa? Because of the little hony-tonk/swing bit thrown in in one spot? The
album's technical as hell, but I sure don't hear any Zappa (as opposed to any
other technical artist). Not flaming, just curious.
From: "Carlos Lima" <>
First of all, I would like to say that I have all of Dream Theatre's studio
albums since James LaBrie joined the band. It is commonly accepted that the
music from DT is classified as being "prog-metal". Since I'm new in the list
I don't know if this has been discussed before, but I'll take the risk to
pose the question: why it is considered "prog-metal" a progressive sub-genre
and not a heavy-metal sub-genre? IMHO, the music from "Dream Theater" is more
heavy-metal than progressive-rock. When hearing a new album from DT, or from
LTE, I always try to be deaf to the metal-riffs from John Petrucci's guitar,
and concentrate on the melodic keyboard layers, but it is impossible for
me... Please forgive me, but I think that Jordan Rudess could be a talented
keyboardist, even the best of the year, but he is wasting is talent on prog-metal
projects such as DT or LTE. I only ear DT's albums on those days when I'm
angry and I would like to break all the furniture, but I respect anyone who
like this kind of music...
From: RAM <>
Subject: Dream Theater, Holdsworth DVD's
I finally got to see Dream Theater's live concert on DVD, recorded at the
Roseland Ballroom in New York. I don't have my own DVD player so I saw it at
a friend's house. I actually attended this particular concert and
remember being amazed how well Dream Theater performed that evening.
I know there's a lot of people on this list who stay away from Dream Theater
because of their metal nature, but if this video recording doesn't change
your opinion about how great prog-metal can be, I don't know what
will?
On a scale of 1 to 10, the production quality of this live video is a 10.
Their performance is a 10. It is simply phenomenal. I realize now I have to
purchase my own DVD player and get this recording before it's collector's
item. [...]
From: "Surjorimba Suroto" <>
Subject: Re: Dream Theater, Holdsworth DVD's
Yep I own this DVD. No doubt for their performance. As for the production
quality, I would give this DVD a 6. Not about the mixing or sound, but I'm
very disturbed with those animation/ picture/ short
movie. Dream Theater might want us to experience some kind of short movie of
this concert (since Metropolis part II is a concept album). Some views,
pictures, etc were included as an integral part of
the songs. Something like Yes did in Keys to Ascension video (song Turn of
the Century).
Unfortunately the artwork/ art directing is very poor in DT DVD. I couldn't
describe better in words. I really hate to say this, but the artwork is one
of the worst I ever seen. This could have been done
better. Especially for a giant prog group like DT. I wish they could just
leave it and stick with the concert itself.
From: "Andrew J. Rozsa" <>
Subject: Re: Dream Theater broadcast
Of all places, Yahoo has a 2 hr broadcast of Dream Theater
Live at the Maritime Hall
"Carrying the torch for progressive rock into the 21st century, Dream Theater
remains one of the strongest, most consistent draws on the road.
Watch them perform songs from their latest album,
Scenes From a Memory, in this concert recorded at
Maritime Hall in San Francisco."
http://www.broadcast.com/entertainment_and_arts/music/genres/rock_and_pop/artists/dream_theater
RealPlayer at 80 Kbps not bad at all...
From: "Steve McAdams" <>
Subject: Re: New Dream Theater
Take my time getting it? What? If BB does not have it go down the
street to the Wherehouse, or Borders, or Circuit City, and run don't walk!
Someone said DT has gone downhill since scenes....? What?
This album is the follow up to scenes, did you expect it to be scenes part
II. Also someone said that they don't care
for this because it so different from IaW DT, like Pull Me Under etc.
Come on aren't you guys the same people who
criticize bands for just churning out the same music album after album.
Here is DT who have continued to evolve and experiment with their style and
now you don't like it. Again, What?
This is a fantastic album that is unlike anything DT has done before,
it's intense, challenging and ROCKS. But they could all play banjos and
I think they would be fantastic, so what do I know.
From: "chutch15" <>
Subject: Re: New Dream Theater
I spun it for the first time yesterday. Track 1 is fantastic ("The
Glass Prison"). "The Great Debate" stuck with me as well,
lyrically even. Overall, Disc 1 is pretty solid. The epic on Disc
2 is going to take much more time to absorb.
After all, it's another monstrous saga from DT. My first impression is
that "A Change of Seasons" and "Scenes from a Memory" will remain the better
epics... but we'll see.
From: "Dr. Scott Mosher" <>
Subject: New DT
Well, I'm waiting for the CD to arrive (seems CDNOW decided to send it to the
incorrect mailing address, and now I must adhere to the principles of
patience and virtue), but I while I enjoy James
LaBrie and his vocals (though I can understand
people being put off by his style), usually, Jordan Rudess is a little much
for me. Kind of pomposity converging with melodramatics. Though he is a
great keyboardist, I much preferred Kevin
Moore and Derek Sherinian. I'm trying to avoid reading too
many spoilers regarding the new CD until I have it safely and firmly in my
possession. Ah, well... here's to hoping I get the
CD before March, 2003.
From: "ramsrock2" <>
Subject: Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
It's been 6 days since I got Dream Theater's newset release, and I'm still
drooling at how good it is. These guys must have
been listening to a lot of Turkish and Middle Eastern music lately, because
the latest stuff is jam packed full of eastern motifs.
It's seriously good stuff. Probably their best work to date.
From: David Levkovitz <>
Subject: RE: Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
I feel the 6 minute plus symphonic intro on the second CD is a little over
the top and too long. I think it should have been a little more dark
(especially considering the subject matter) and more modern sounding. But
with this minor misgiving, it is pretty amazing.
From: "upnsm0ke" <> Subject: A Review of DT's SDoIT
For a cheap laugh, everybody should check out the following URL with a
track-by-track review of Dream Theater's SDoIT, by "Hollow Man," who bluntly
(and continuously) slams Jordan's taste for sub-par synth sounds and writes,
"Jordan is amazingly fast and unbelievably talented, but he's also captain of
the high school chess club, inventor of 17 programming languages, and owns
t-shirts in 42 different shades of 'springtime'."
http://www.mindcage.com/wwwboard/messages/4378.html [This post is
found on the Perpetual Motion newsboard.]