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Rating: When you start hearing the first notes of Regression and you realize they closely resemble the flow of Pigs on the Wing by Pink Floyd, you begin to have some doubts and ask yourself: "What on earth am I listening to?" The problem, however, comes later, as you continue with the album and those doubts turn into certainties: you really are facing a group so outdated and derivative that it seems at the very least irritating. And the point is, many have fallen for it, mesmerized by the celebrated super-technique of the group's four musicians, some even going so far as to rank them among the greatest bands in the history of music.
The problem with Dream Theater is that beneath the technical flourishes, beneath the pompous arrangements, beneath the now-famous tempo changes, there's absolutely nothing; despite having emerged from the famous Boston school, they literally can't write songs: the compositions border on ridiculous simplicity, and the arrangements aren't, as they should be, complementary to the composition part; instead, they are the center and the climax of the piece, which is consequently structured to have no substance, no content, but to be pure form, total speculation on what should be merely the framing of the piece itself.
And even this frame fails to be particularly convincing: much has been said about the greatness of the musicians, but where is the personality? John Petrucci, in the parts closer to progressive rock, dangerously approaches both Robert Fripp and Gilmour, while in the ballads he's almost indistinguishable from Brian May; Mike Portnoy is a bit John Bonham, a bit Ginger Baker, with an injection of Pete Gill from Saxon, but with a tendency to overdo it typical of Glam, very Roger Taylor, so to speak; Kevin Moore and John Myung are no less anonymous. Let's not even go there with James LaBrie, a singer no different from millions of others.
So even the more complex songs are nothing but a string of references: Overture 1928 or Beyond this life echo King Crimson and Rush, not forgetting Pink Floyd or Queen, and Home, with its Oriental riff, is just a pathetic attempt to seem more original; but with Dream Theater, there's never a true positive intent to innovate; everything halts at the surface, even the few interesting insights never touch the essence of the track; the ballads, relatively sparser from an arrangement standpoint, are an example of the band's total lack of creative nullity: Through my words or Through her eyes are just slightly puffed up and irregular renditions of the '80s ballads from non-essential bands like Bon Jovi or other horrible Glam Metal bands, while with The spirit carries on, the "theater of the dream" probably hits rock bottom: alongside a bland melody, comes a chorus of female voices that seems directly stolen from Dark Side of the Moon, and a little further in the piece here's Petrucci's solo that's at some points PRACTICALLY IDENTICAL to David Gilmour's in Shine on you crazy diamond. You decide, but for me, great musicians are a different story.
Tracklist and Lyrics
12 Act II: Scene Nine: Finally Free (11:59)
You are once again surrounded by a brilliant white light.
Allow the light to lead you away from your past and into this lifetime.
As the light dissipates you will slowly fade back into
consciousness, remembering all you have learned.
When I tell you to open your eyes you will return to the present,
Feeling peaceful and refresh.
Open your eyes Nicholas.
Friday evening
The blood still on my hands
To think that she would leave me now
For that ungrateful man
Sole survivor
No witness to the crime
I must act fast to cover up
I think that there's still time
He'd seem hopeless and lost with this note
They'll buy into the words that I wrote
"This feeling inside me
Finally found my love, I've finally broke free
No longer torn in two
I'd take my own life before losing you"
Feeling good this Friday afternoon
I ran into Julian
Said we'd get together soon
He's always had my heart
He needs to know
I'll break free of the Miracle
It's time for him to go
This feeling inside me
Finally found my love, I've finally broke free
No longer torn in two
He'd kill his brother if he only knew
Their love renewed
They'd rendezvous
In a pathway out of view
They thought no one knew
Then came a shot out of the night
One last time
We'll lay down today
One last time
Until we fade away
One last time
We'll lay down today
One last time
We fade away
As their bodies lie still
And the ending draws near
Spirits rise through the air
All their fears disappear, it all becomes clear
A blinding light comes into view
An old soul exchanged for a new
A familiar voice comes shining through
This feeling inside me
Finally found my life, I'm finally free
No longer torn in two
I learned about my life by living through you
This feeling inside me
Finally found my life, I'm finally free
No longer torn in two
Living my own life by learning from you
We'll meet again my friend someday soon
"News in London, France, Russia and Italy have deleted their lead story, all anticipating the outcome of the man considered to be a member of American nobility. And as you can imagine, as the skies have grown darker here over Washington, the mood has grown darker as well and people here are beginning to resign themselves to the possibility that they are witnessing yet another tragedy in a long string of misfortunes. Reaction from everywhere, from Washington and certainly from around the world has gues..."
"Open your eyes, Nicholas."
"AAAH!"
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Other reviews
By splinter
Following the song 'Metropolis pt.1' found in 'Images And Words,' this stunning concept marks, as desired, a return to their roots.
Here is another masterpiece from Dream Theater, this 'Scenes From A Memory'!
