Dream Theater - Metropolis, Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory CD

Metropolis, Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory songs TRAIN OF THOUGHT continues the legacy of the progressive metal legends, with all the requisite superhuman metallic musicianship that their fans have come to expect. This outing continues in the heavier mode that began with 2002's SIX DEGREES OF INNER TURBULENCE, reaching even further into darker, personal lyrical themes. Guitars are the dominant expressive voice here, with keyboards scaled considerably back from the signature Dream Theater sound. Band members Mike Portnoy (drums) and John Petrucci (guitar) continue their do-it-yourself production approach, opting for recording venues on their native Long Island (much of the band's album work has taken place in upstate New York at Bear Tracks and Little Bear Studios). "As I Am" and "This Dying Soul" at times borrow generously from Metallica, featuring that band's well-known use of tri-tones, and vocalist James LaBrie even tries his hat at some Hetfield-isms. Possibly due to Petrucci's tenure on the G3 Tour (with Joe Satriani and Steve Vai), TRAIN finds him returning to Dream Theater wielding an even more lethal guitar soloing style. Of all the new tracks, the instrumental "Stream of Consciousness" sounds in closest proximity to the band's earlier material, and, for longtime fans, this bodes well for their future efforts. 2003 progressive metal masterpiece from Dream Theater, featuring 'As I Am' plus put this disc in your CD-rom for access to material you can't find anywhere else. Elektra. Recorded at Cove City Sound, Pie Studios, Glen Cove, New York and Beat Street, New York, New York between April & September 2003. Dream Theater: James LaBrie (vocals); John Petrucci (guitar); Jordan Rudess (keyboards); John Myung (bass); Mike Portnoy (drums, percussion). Personnel: James LaBrie (vocals); John Petrucci (guitar); Eugene Friesen (cello); Jordan Rudess (keyboards); Mike Portnoy (drums). Audio Mixer: Kevin Shirley. Recording information: Beat Street Studios, New York, NY (04/2003-09/2003); Cove City Sound Studios, Glen Cove, NY (04/2003-09/2003). Unknown Contributor Roles: Derek Kemp; Steve Martin. This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files.

Metropolis, Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory buy CD music On this, Dream Theater's seventh studio effort, the heavier elements of the band's music come to the forefront. Although the masterful balance of rhythmic interplay, jazzy arrangement, and catchy melodies is ever-present on this two-disc offering, the strong, crunchy guitar sound and powerhouse percussion are pushed more into prominence, helped along by the crystal clear production of drummer Mike Portnoy and guitarist John Petrucci. The first disc is comprised of five tracks, averaging about 10 minutes each and the second disc is a 42-minute opus complete with overture and finale. The length of the songs, rather than being a hindrance, allows for both a sense of completeness and an improvisational element to the tracks, making them fun to listen to. The virtuoso skills of each instrumentalist are shown in running keyboard lines, pounding bass lines, and finger-twisting guitar solos. This mastery is expressed even more through the control heard in the slow, moving moments, especially the disc one closer "Disappear." Vocalist James Labrie solidifies his status as one of progressive metal's finest voices, hammering home strong, mid-range vocal lines with comfort and feeling. Definitely a worthy listening experience. Recorded at Bear Tracks Studios and Little Bear Studios, Suffern, New York between March & August 2001. Dream Theater: James LaBrie (vocals); John Petrucci (guitar, background vocals); Jordan Rudess (keyboards); John Myung (bass); Mike Portnoy (drums, percussion, background vocals). Additional personnel: Howard Portnoy (percussion).

Metropolis, Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory album for sale While continuing to improve its musical chops and explore more progressive territory, Dream Theater reached its mainstream apex with 1992's Images and Words. Here the group capably combined prog rock high-mindedness with metal crunch and commercial accessibility on the opening track "Pull Me Under," helping to snare an audience big enough to push this album past gold sales status. What makes Images and Words stand out is the fluid marriage of shred tactics, soaring vocals, and catchy hooks, all wrapped up in a polished studio sound. Fans can argue whether this is the band's best, but there is no denying the power of epic, engaging songs like "Take the Time," "Under a Glass Moon," and "Metropolis, Pt. 1," a track that foreshadowed the 1999 outing Scenes from a Memory. Following Images and Words, Dream Theater became increasingly complex in its approach, to varying degrees of success, but this album represents a time when the ensemble brought progressive metal to the masses with little compromise. Recorded at Bear Tracks Studio, Suffern, New York and The Hit Factory, New York, New York between October & December 1991. Personnel: James LaBrie (vocals, background vocals); John Petrucci (guitar); Jay Beckenstein (soprano saxophone); Kevin Moore (keyboards); Mike Portnoy (drums, percussion). Audio Mixers: David Prater; Doug Oberkircher. Recording information: Bear Tracks Studio, Suffern, NY (10/1991-12/1991); Hit Factory, New York, NY (10/1991-12/1991). Photographer: Dan Muro. Dream Theater: James La Brie (vocals); John Petrucci (guitar); Kevin Moore (keyboards); John Myung (bass); Mike Portnoy (drums, percussion). Additional personnel: Jay Beckenstein (soprano saxophone).

Metropolis, Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory CD music Dream Theater's web of metal and progressive elements comes roaring out of the speakers at full throttle like some manic coupling of Frank Zappa, Guns & Roses and Yes, a garish torrent of virtuoso chopsmanship, classical flourishes and good old fashioned nosebleed metal. With his snaking, syncopated lines, complicated rhythmic variations and crunching tone, Dream Theater's John Petrucci is a guitar hero for the '90s, and string slingers who admire the likes of Alan Holdsworth and Steve Vai will find much to admire in his unhinged extended flights on "Voices" and "Erotomania." And singer James LaBrie possesses the kind of classic tenor pipes that distinguish singers like Robert Plant, Steve Perry, Geddy Lee and Axl Rose from the rest of the pack: the kind of powerhouse squawk that can push through the guitars and keyboards--hey, you can hear him in Antarctica. The songs on AWAKE constitute a richly orchestrated suite of moods, and tend towards the kind of mystic parables and epic gestures that used to so fascinate Jimmy Page. It's a nightmare world of spiritual crisis, lost innocence, fractured identity, fatal temptation and stifling paranoia. The music reflects this tension in its grand gestures and intricate ensemble passages, to particular effect when the lyrics tend more towards personal rites of passage, as on "Scarred" and "The Silent Man." Recorded at One On One Studios and Devonshire Studios, North Hollywood, California between May & July 1994. Personnel: John Petrucci (guitar); Kevin Moore (keyboards); Mike Portnoy (drums, percussion); Rich Kern (programming). Audio Mixers: Duane Baron; Ed Miller ; Ryan Arnold; John Purdell. Recording information: Devonshire Studios, North Hollywood, CA (05/1994-07/1994); One On One Studios, North Hollywood, CA (05/1994-07/1994). Photographer: Dennis Keeley. Dream Theater: James LaBrie (vocals), John Petrucci (guitar), Kevin Moore (keyboards), John Myung (bass), Mike Portnoy (drums, percussion).

Metropolis, Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory buy CD music Dream Theater's specialty is atmospheric metal, at times heavy, at times sinister, with a sharp techno edge. "New Millennium," the disc's opening cut, defines the sound: ringing guitars, a driving beat, start-stop dynamics and rolling drum crescendos. There's a bit of a Rush influence at work here, as well as ELP and even some Metallica. "Hollow Years" is a quieter track, replete with gentle acoustic guitar, soothing vocals and an inspirational theme about the lifting of old curses and the possibility for redemption. Lead singer James LaBrie has a slightly nasal, but otherwise pleasing modern pop/metal vocal attack, which he exercises with passion throughout. If you like your metal melodic and even, at times, introspective, you should enjoy a visit to this Dream Theater. Recorded at Avatar Studios, New York, New York in June & July 1997. Personnel: James LaBrie (vocals, background vocals); Doug Pinnick (vocals); John Petrucci (guitar, background vocals); Derek Sherinian (keyboards, background vocals); John Myung (bass guitar, Chapman stick); Mike Portnoy (drums, percussion, background vocals). Audio Mixer: Kevin Shirley. Recording information: Avatar Studios, New York, NY (06/1997-07/1997). Photographer: Tony May. Arrangers: Desmond Child; Dream Theater. Dream Theater: James LaBrie (vocals); John Petrucci (guitar, background vocals); Derek Sherinian (keyboards, background vocals); John Myung (bass, Chapman stick); Mike Portnoy (drums, percussion, background vocals). Additional personnel: Doug Pinnick (vocals); The Del Fuvio Monks. Award Winner

Metropolis, Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory songs A Change of Seasons is a strange disc. There are only five tracks but with a total time that approaches an hour anyway. The first track, the 23-minute, seven-part epic "A Change of Seasons," is one of the most impressive pieces of music ever written in the progressive metal vein. With the same heavy sound that marked Awake, but with many other styles mixed in, the track features incredible playing, dramatic, complex instrumental arrangements, and soaring vocals. New keyboardist Derek Sherinian (formerly of Kiss and Alice Cooper) adds his own stamp to the Dream Theater sound as if he'd always been with them. The remainder of the tracks are live cover tunes, recorded from the band's "Uncovered" gig at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club; the material varies widely and includes Elton John's "Love Lies Bleeding" and Deep Purple's "Perfect Strangers." The final track, "The Big Medley," has to be heard to be believed; Dream Theater shift musical styles on a dime to cover Pink Floyd, Kansas, Queen, Journey, the Dixie Dregs, and Genesis all in ten minutes. ~ Phil Carter Recorded at Bear Tracks Studio, Suffern, New York in May 1995 and live at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, London, England on January 31, 1995. Includes liner notes by Dream Theater. Personnel: James LaBrie (vocals); John Petrucci (guitar); Derek Sherinian (keyboards); Mike Portnoy (drums, percussion); David Rosenthal (keyboard programming). Audio Mixers: David Prater; Doug Oberkircher. Recording information: Bear Tracks Studio, Suffern, NY (05/1995); Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, London, England (05/1995). Photographers: Jake Wyman; Arthur Cohen ; Joseph Cultice. Dream Theater: James LaBrie (vocals); John Petrucci (guitar); Derek Sherinian (keyboards); John Myung (bass); Mike Portnoy (drums, percussion). Additional personnel: David Rosenthal (programming).