Dream Theater Black Clouds & Silver Linings CD

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 An Epic Masterpiece
I don't think there's any such thing as a bad Dream Theater album, some are just greater and more significant than others. Black Clouds & Silver Linings certainly must be considered the most creative, original, musically daring and important album this band has released since Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence. This one grabs you right from the ominous opening notes of 'A Nightmare to Remember' and does not let go. All the elements that make this band special are present here in abundance. Power, technical virtuosity, melodic sensibility, intricate song structures that continue to redefine the prog-rock/prog-metal genre, and of course flawless musicianship. The album has much better thematic and structural balance than Systematic Chaos, and marks the return of what this listener considers the 'trademark' DT sound - strong melodies, solid complex arrangements and the more up-tempo feel of their earlier works. The album is heavy, yes, but also delicate and intricate in the way only DT can be. Lovers of a more progressive Dream Theater (like me) will embrace this album as strongly as those who enjoy their heavier side. The band is adventurous on this one, with more backing harmonies than on any previous album (and good ones too, I might add), and lyrics that are unusually personal (which give the songs an intimacy and honesty that was sorely lacking on Systematic Chaos). The songs do not feel quite as formulaic as they did on the previous two albums. There is an organic flowing quality to this album, the songs all have life and energy and yet in no way is the band's technical prowess diminished. Once again there is a lot of brilliant crazy keyboard work from Jordan Rudess. Look for a particularly breathtaking Continuum solo on 'The Count of Tuscany'. Amazing and beautiful. JP has worked the acoustic guitar back into his repertoire and it is featured heavily on several songs. A nice and surprising touch which further proves his mastery of his instrument. Mike Portnoy is superlative on drums as always, and the conclusion of his AA Suite is about as perfect as one could hope for. Fans of John Myung will be blown away by the power and presence of the bass on this one. The quietest member of the band has his stamp all over this album in a huge way. The biggest and most welcome surprise however is James LaBrie. He's taken a lot of heat over the last few years from DT fans, some of it justified, some of it not, but there is not doubt that the voice of Dream Theater is back with a vengeance on this album. His voice has not sounded this clear, this strong, this complete, probably since Scenes from a Memory. LaBrie is a major part of why this album is so spectacular. (I have the 3 CD special edition with the instrumental mixes, and while they are fun and interesting in their own right, I frankly can't imagine these songs without LaBrie's vocals. Yes, he is that good. Again. Finally.) He uses his full range to great affect throughout the album and his vocals on "Wither", "The Best of Times" give me shivers. His singing on the closing minutes of 'The Count of Tuscany' may well be his finest moment with Dream Theater. As far as the individual songs go, all of them are strong and remarkably well conceived. 'A Nightmare to Remember' seems to be the most daring and experimental. At the other end of the album, the finale, 'The Count of Tuscany' is a classic DT progressive epic and likely the best song on the album, and one of their best efforts ever. Black Clouds & Silver Linings is Dream Theater at their very best, truly their finest hour. As with all DT albums, the more one listens, the more one will discover new things, but even after a few plays, I think this one is going to go down as their masterwork, the album DT fans will look back on and say, 'Yes, this is the one.'
Submitted by istari_olias (Lehigh Valley, PA)
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