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Rating: O God of Progressive Metal, give me the strength to properly celebrate this immortal, powerful, heartbreaking, rocky, emotional, deeply suffered MASTERPIECE.
See, if I started the review with these words, you would immediately understand you're dealing with an aficionado, an enthusiast, a fan who surely does not pretend to be objective. But we are science, not science fiction. And so, let's proceed with a calm and composed analysis of the most famous quintet in Progressive Metal and what many consider their most representative work: "Images And Words".
Mike Portnoy has been defined as the greatest drummer of all time by a large number of music critics, among whom we remember John Portnoy, David Portnoy, and Josephine Halloran in Portnoy. Charismatic leader of the group and a handsome man, Portnoy is famous for having written a song in honor of his wife's water breaking, which happened during the sessions of his seventeenth side project, involving John Petrucci on even days, Neal Morse on odd days, and the cleaning lady in the studio on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
James LaBrie, not to be confused with the namesake, delicious French cheese, is the vocalist who has most divided critics and audience. The more interlocutory fringe of fans admits to a certain limitation in vocal range and an unenthusiastic stage presence, while the hardest and purest fans just drool and utter meaningless phrases, as usual. And it's a real shame, because LaBrie actually has a certain stylistic mark, making his voice an improbable yet successful mix of Freddy Mercury, Ozzy Osbourne, and Nikka Costa. Unforgettable is his vibrato in trembling falsetto.
John Myung is a Mongolian bassist unjustly less famous than Saturnino, but from an instrumental point of view, he eats spring rolls off his head! But let's not digress, rather it's worth recalling that time when Myung tackled LaBrie on stage while he was singing, just out of his own interest. Fantastic! Let's be honest: can you imagine Saturnino tackling Jovanotti while he's singing? Certainly not.
There's no Jordan Rudess, the keyboardist whom certain strict and trendy critics have defined as "the man with the toilet brush instead of a beard." Instead, there's Kevin Moore.
Lastly, I left him, John Petrucci, the most celebrated guitar hero of the last twenty years, whatever that means. It's pointless to linger on Petrucci's technical mastery. It's enough to say that he's second only to Steve Vai, Jeff Beck, Joe Satriani, Steve Morse, Alex Skolnick, David Gilmour, Frank Gambale, Steve Hackett, Jimi Hendrix, Allan Holdsworth, Rory Gallagher, Vernon Reid... You can find the complete list in the yellow pages.
But now, for the happiness of the fans, let's move on to a telegraphic track-by-track. Let's hope DeBaser's hard disk is capacious enough.
The five boys from Boston start immediately very technically, melodically yet rhythmically with the opening "Pull Me Under". Petrucci delights with granite riffs and a solo in pure travertine. At a certain point, the power goes out in the recording studio and you can't hear a damn thing anymore.
"Another Day" is one of the group's most famous ballads, a nice slow one like a middle school dance. Exceptional solo by Petrucci that goes through all the possible and imaginable scales on his guitar. Here, as in many other albums, the slow song gives the musicians a chance to prove themselves melodic, yet always technical and rhythmic.
"Take The Time". Despite the critics, LaBrie's vocal flexibility is incredible as he perfectly imitates a twelve-year-old girl. At a certain point, you can also hear him say in Italian: "Ora che ho perso la vista, ci vedo di più". The Roman version was discarded in post-production: "Mo' che sò cecato, ce vedo deppiù. E STICAZZI!?". Remarkable Petrucci's solo.
"Surrounded" is a very sweet song, melodic with a good dose of technique and rhythm. Big riff and solo by Petrucci on joyful and sparkling keyboards like new wine. LaBrie performs a miracle with his love-stricken high schooler shrieks.
"Metropolis part.I". The favorite track by fans young and old. If they don't play it in concert, you've wasted the ticket money. Melodic and gritty theme, instrumental interlude where all five musicians prove who's got it bigger (the talent, you sillies). Petrucci stands out among all with his solo. And towards the end, it gets rather complex, with an animalistic back-and-forth of keyboards and guitar, the tumpa-tatatà of Portnoy is profuse, but then in the end... TAAC... Here comes back the very melodic and gritty theme. In this juncture, usually, the true fan gets excited and sweats. Beware of drafts.
"Under A Glass Moon", here Portnoy's metronomic precision is downright devastating, then LaBrie comes in as evocative as always (and as he seems, too) for a new emotional ride on the back of emotions. Very technical solo by Petrucci. Hang in there, we're almost at the end.
"Wait for Sleep" is another melodic moment (without giving up the technicalities and a touch of rhythm) where the piano reigns supreme. Great work by Petrucci on guitar.
"Learning to live" is definitely the most prog track of the platter, with a mood and a groove that chase infinite loops and chords but always and still melodic, extremely technical and notably rhythmic. Petrucci's guitar riffs are unmissable, crowned by a solo done with his holy little hands.
End of the album. And that's done. If you found this review too synthetic, and you want to know more about Dream Theater, try looking up DeBaser, you might find some other review of this group.
Let's conclude with a slogan that always pleases the young: Listen to your Dream, live your own Theater.
E STICAZZI.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Pull Me Under (08:14)
Lost in the sky
Clouds roll by and I roll with them
Arrows fly
Seas increase and then fall again
This world is spinning around me
This world is spinning without me
Every day sends future to past
Every breath leaves me one less to my last
Watch the sparrow falling
Gives new meaning to it all
If not today nor yet tomorrow
Then some other day
I'll take seven lives for one
And then my only father's son
As sure as I did ever love him
I am not afraid
This world is spinning around me
The whole world keeps spinning around me
All life is future to past
Every breath leaves me one less to my last
Pull me under
Pull me under
Pull me under I'm not afraid
All that I feel is honor and spite
All I can do is set it right
Dust fills my eyes
Clouds roll by and I roll with them
Centuries cry
Orders fly and I fall again
This world is spinning inside me
The whole world is spinning inside me
Every day sends future to past
Every step brings me closer to my last
Pull me under
Pull me under
Pull me under I'm not afraid
Living my life too much in the sun
Only until your will is done
Pull me under
Pull me under
Pull me under I'm not afraid
All that I feel is honor and spite
All I can do is set it right
Pull me under
Pull me under
Pull me under I'm not afraid
Living my life too much in the sun
Only until your will is done
02 Another Day (04:24)
Live another day
Climb a little higher
Find another reason to stay
Ashes in your hands
Mercy in your eyes
If you're searching for a silent sky
You won't find it here
Look another way
You won't find it here
So die another day
The coldness of his words
The message in his silence
Face the candle to the wind
This distance in my voice
Isn't leaving you a choice
So if you're looking for a time to run away
You won't find it here
Look another way
You won't find it there
So die another day
They took pictures of our dreams
Ran to hide behind the stairs
And said maybe when it's right for you, they'll fall
But if they don't come down
Resist the need to pull them in
And throw them away
Better to save the mystery
Than surrender to the secret
Whoa ohhh
You won't find it here
Look another way
You won't find it here
So die another day
03 Take the Time (08:21)
Hold it now
Wait a minute
C'mon... whew...
Just let me catch my breath
I've heard the promises, I've seen the mistakes
I've had my fair share of tough breaks
I need a new voice, a new law, a new way
Take the time, reevaluate
It's time to pick up the pieces, go back to square one
I think it's time for a change
There is something that I feel
To be something that is real
I feel the heat within my mind
And craft new changes with my eyes
Giving freely wandering promises
A place with decisions I'll fashion
I won't waste another breath
You can feel the waves coming on
It's time to take the time
Let them destroy you or carry you on
It's time to take the time
You're fighting the weight of the world
But no one can save you this time
Close your eyes
You can find all you need in your mind
Unbroken spirit, obscured and disquiet
Finds clearness this trial demands
And at the end of this day sighs an anxious relief
For the fortune lies still in his hands
If there's a pensive fear, a wasted year
A man must learn to cope
If his obsession's real
Suppression that he feels must turn to hope
Life is no more assuring than love
It's time to take the time
There are no answers from voices above
It's time to take the time
You're fighting the weight of the world
And no one can save you this time
Close your eyes
You can find all you need in your mind
I close my eyes
And feel the water rise around me
Drown in the beat of time
Let my senses fall away
I can see much clearer now, I'm blind
"Ora che ho perso la vista, ci vedo di piu"
You can feel the waves coming on
It's time to take the time
Let them destroy you or carry you on
It's time to take the time
You're fighting the weight of the world
But no one can save you this time
Close your eyes
You can find all you need in your mind
Awww awww
Yeah...
Find all you need in your mind
If you take the time
Find all you need in your mind
If you take the time
04 Surrounded (05:30)
Morning comes too early
And night time falls too late
And sometimes all I want to do is wait
The shadow I've been hiding in has fled from me today
I know it's easier to walk away than look it in the eye
But I will raise a shelter to the sky
And here beneath this star tonight I'll lie
She will slowly yield the light
As I awaken from the longest night
Dreams are shaking
Set sirens waking up tired eyes
With the light the memories all rush into his head
By a candle stands a mirror
Of his heart and soul she dances
She was dancing through the night above his bed
And walking to the window
He throws the shutters out
Against the wall
And from an ivory tower hears her call
'Let light surround you'
It's been a long, long time
He's had awhile to think it over
In the end he only sees the change
Light to dark
Dark to light
Light to dark
Dark to light
Heaven must be more than this
When angels waken with a kiss
Sacred hearts won't take the pain
But mine will never be the same
He stands before the window
His shadow slowly fading from the wall
And from an ivory tower hears her call
'Let the light surround you'
Once lost but I was found
When I heard the stained glass shatter all around me
I sent the spirits tumbling down the hill
But I will hold this one on high above me still
She whispers words to clear my mind
I once could see but now at last I'm blind
I know it's easier to walk away than look it in the eye
But I had given all than I could take
And now I've only habits left to break
Tonight I'll still be lying here
Surrounded in all the light
06 Under a Glass Moon (07:03)
Tell me
Remind me
Chase the water racing from the sky
Always beside me
Taste the memories running from my eyes
Nervous flashlights scan my dreams
Liquid shadows silence their screams
I smile at the moon
Chasing water from the sky
I argue with the clouds
Stealing beauty from my eyes
Outside the soundness of your mind
Bathing your soul in silver tears
Beneath a blackened summer sky
Praying for time to disappear
Beneath a summer sky
Under a glass moon light
Night awaits the lamb's arrival
Liquid shadows crawl
Silver teardrops fall
The bride subsides to her survival
By your hand
I've awakened
Bear this honor in my name
Outside the soundness of your mind
Bathing your soul in silver tears
Beneath a blackened summer sky
Praying for time to disappear
Outside the soundness of your mind
Bathing your soul in silver tears
Beneath a blackened summer sky
Praying for time to disappear
07 Wait for Sleep (02:32)
Standing by the window
Eyes upon the moon
Hoping that the memory
Will leave her spirit soon
She shuts the doors and lights and lays her body on the bed
Where images and words are running deep
She has too much pride to pull the sheets above her head
So quietly she lays and waits for sleep
She stares at the ceiling and tries not to think
And pictures the chain she's been trying to link again
But the feeling is gone
And water can't cover her memory
And ashes can't answer her pain
God give me the power to take breath from a breeze
And call life from a cold metal frame
In with the ashes
Or up with the smoke from the fire
With wings up in heaven
Or here lying in bed
Palm of her hand to my head
Now and forever curled
In my heart and the heart of the world
08 Learning to Live (11:31)
There was no time for pain
No energy for anger
Sightlessness of hatred slips away
Walking through winter streets alone
He stops and take a breath
With confidence and self-control
I look at the world and see no understanding
I'm waiting to find some sense of strength
I'm begging you from the bottom of my heart
To show me understanding
I need to live life
Like some people never will
So find me kindness, find me beauty, find me truth
When temptation brings me to my knees
And I lay here drained of strength
Show me kindness, show me beauty, show me truth
The way your heart sounds
Makes all the difference
It's what decides if you'll endure the pain that we all feel
The way your heart beats
Makes all the difference
In learning to live
Here before me is my soul
I'm learning to live
I won't give up till I've no more to give
No more to give
Listening to the city
Whispering its violence
I set out watching from above
The 90s bring new questions
New solutions to be found
I fell in love to be let down
Once again we dance in the crowd
At times a step away
From a common fear that's all spread out
It won't listen to what you say
Once you're touched you stand alone
To face the bitter fight
Once I reached for love
Now I reach for life
Another chance to lift my life
Free the sensation in my heart
To ride the wings of dreams
Into changing horizons
It brings inner peace within my mind
As I'm lifted from where I've split my life
I hear an innocent voice
I hear kindness, beauty and truth
The way your heart sounds
Makes all the difference
It's what decides if you'll endure the pain that we all feel
The way your heart beats
Makes all the difference
In learning to live
Spread before you is your soul
So forever hold the dreams within our hearts
Through nature's inflexible grace
I'm learning to live
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Other reviews
By petrucci
This CD is a true masterpiece that will go down in history as one of the best progressive CDs.
Forget about those who tell you they’re only technique and no substance!
By AR (Anonima Recensori)
How did they manage to release such a beautiful collection of songs?!?
With this CD, the American band has confirmed its domination in the world of progressive metal!!
By Necron
"You have to listen to this music not with your ears but with your heart."
"In my opinion, they are the best existing band and nothing will change my mind."
By BrianCrow
"Images And Words is an album from which every musician could learn something."
"In this, as in no other Dream Theater record, chilling atmospheres and unmistakably original sounds are created."
By Altra Dimensione
Pull Me Under... simply gives you goosebumps.
Take the Time... a sort of programmatic manifesto of what Theater's music is.
