Transatlantic - More Never Is Enough CD

More Never Is Enough CD music As the sole major-label progressive-metal act, Dream Theater invariably set the standard as the flagship band of the genre. With the numerically themed OCTAVARIUM (including eight tracks signifying the band's eighth release) the shred-rock quintet continues to challenge themselves creatively. Opening track "The Root Of All Evil" picks up the thread that began with "The Glass Prison" (SIX DEGREES OF INNER TURBULENCE) and carried forward to "This Dying Soul" (TRAIN OF THOUGHT). Drummer Mike Portnoy's lyrics for these songs read like a set of deeply personal journal entries documenting his painful recovery experience, further disclosed by a footnote nod to Alcoholics Anonymous co-founder Bill Wilson. OCTAVARIUM chiefly finds Dream Theater stepping back from elaborate fretboard acrobatics, focusing on vocal-based, song-oriented material ("I Walk Beside You," "The Answer Lies Within"); much in the spirit of AWAKE and their breakthrough album IMAGES AND WORDS. "Sacrificed Sons" captures the heartbreak of the 9/11 tragedy, while the grandiose title track showcases a melodic, Styx-inspired keyboard solo by Jordan Rudess (better known for a blisteringly frenetic style). Twenty years since their inception, Dream Theater prevails as the benchmark of modern prog metal. Audio Mixer: Michael Brauer. Recording information: Hit Factory, New York, NY (11/2004-02/2005). Illustrator: Hugh Syme. Photographer: Colin Lane. Dream Theater: John Myung (bass instrument); James LaBrie, John Petrucci, Jordan Rudess, Mike Portnoy . Personnel: John Petrucci (vocals, guitar); Mike Portnoy (vocals, drums, percussion); James LaBrie (vocals); Jordan Rudess (lap steel guitar, keyboards); Anne Lehmann, Laura McGinnis, Catherine Ro, Elena Barere, Carol Webb, Katherine LiVolsi Stern, Katherine Fong, Yuri Vodovoz (violin); Karen Dreyfus, Vince Lionti (viola); Richard Locker (cello); Pamela Sklar (flute); Joe Anderer, Stewart Rose (French horn).

More Never Is Enough songs Considering their cinematic scope, it's fitting that the songs on DEADWING were actually inspired by a film script written by Porcupine Tree mastermind Steven Wilson. Not that this should come as any surprise to longtime fans who know the UK act's reputation for churning out epic progressive rock so sonically descriptive that it's practically visual. Porcupine Tree creates works with complex structures that do not alienate or obscure the songs themselves, pieces that are dark and psychedelic without being sinister. On the 12-minute opening title track, weighty guitar riffs and spacious synths immediately recall Nine Inch Nails, but swooping melodic changes give way to ambient passages, making it plain that this is no industrial-rock rip-off. "Arriving Somewhere But Not Here" begins with processed backwards guitar, building into a harmony-fueled crescendo before dropping off completely to reveal sparse picking over loops and clicks. Guests Mikael Akerfeldt (Opeth) and Adrian Belew (King Crimson) contribute vocal harmonies and guitar, respectively, and the disc comes enhanced with behind-the-scenes video footage as a bonus feature. Live Recording Audio Mixer: Steven Wilson. Recording information: Astoria, England (??/2003-10/2004); Bourne Place, The Artillery (??/2003-10/2004); Livingstone, England (??/2003-10/2004); New Rising, England (??/2003-10/2004); No Man's Land, England (??/2003-10/2004); Rak, England (??/2003-10/2004); The Artillery, England (??/2003-10/2004). Photographer: Lasse Hoile. Porcupine Tree: Steven Wilson (bass instrument); Gavin Harrison, Richard Barbieri, Colin Edwin. Personnel: Steven Wilson (vocals, guitar, hammer dulcimer, piano, keyboards, bass guitar); Mikael Åkerfeldt (guitar, background vocals); Adrian Belew (guitar); Richard Barbieri (keyboards, synthesizer); Colin Edwin (bass guitar); Gavin Harrison (drums, percussion).

More Never Is Enough album for sale On the continuation of 2003's Testimony Neal Morse further explores his spirituality and pushes his musical abilities to the hilt with the enigmatically titled ?. This 12-song offering surrounds itself thematically around the Tabernacle, the biblical dwelling place of God. Drawing from references of mythology, Christianity, archeology, and history, Morse weaves a captivating narrative that is complemented by a solid stable of some of prog rock's elite. Mike Portnoy and Jordan Rudess of Dream Theater, Steve Hackett, and fellow Spock's Beard alumnus and sibling Alan Morse all make guest appearances and contribute outstanding performances to a score that is complex in technicality and a rich tapestry of cultural vocabulary. It's a refreshing release in a CCM genre filled with formulaic, pedestrian music and trite songwriting. ~ Rob Theakston Additional personnel: Jordan Rudess, Alan Morse, Roine Stolt, Steve Hackett, Mike Portnoy , Randy George.

More Never Is Enough buy CD music Even IQ's most dedicated fans don't expect the group to top its third-period crowning achievement, Subterranea, but does Dark Matter ever get close! This album makes The Seventh House (IQ's previous album, released three years earlier) appear very, very average. The melodies are catchier and more moving, the writing stronger, the arrangements more varied. The album's strength mostly resides in the 24-minute closing epic, "Harvest of Souls," surely IQ's best epic song, arguably their best song, period. After the oblique meanders of the cluttered "The Narrow Margin" (from Subterranea, that album's weaker point), "Harvest of Souls" offers a much clearer structure, a generous number of memorable themes, and a dark political subtext referring to American politics post-9/11. In fact, in its melodic immediacy, theatricality, and choice of themes, the song sharply brings to mind Genesis' "Supper's Ready," especially its sections "How Dare I Be So Beautiful," "Apocalypse in 9/8," and "As Sure as Eggs Is Eggs" -- down to the anthemic finale and slow fadeout. Peter Nicholls reaches a new level of vocal confidence, John Jowitt throws in some mean wah-wah basslines -- the whole band simply sizzles throughout the piece, delicate and fast-paced passages alike. The song occupies exactly half of Dark Matter and presents no weak moment, a real tour de force. Four songs share the remaining 25 minutes. "Red Dust Shadow" is a potent neo-prog ballad. "Born Brilliant" has a good riff, but little to dress it up. "You Never Will," on the other hand, is a stunner -- drummer Paul Cook has never added complexities and flourishes to a rather basic pattern like this before. But if there is a highlight beside "Harvest of Souls," it is to be found in "Sacred Sound," a track that could be hailed as the typical IQ song: lush keyboard intro, medium tempo, yearning chorus, gripping vocals. It may be a little too predictable, but it features IQ in top songwriting shape, doing what they do best. All in all, Dark Matter is one of IQ's very best albums. ~ François Couture Live Recording Recording information: Aubitt Studios, Southampton, Hampshire, England (01/2004-04/2004); Worm Studios, Darwen (01/2004-04/2004). Illustrator: Peter Nicholls. Photographer: Tony Lythgoe. IQ: Mike Holmes (guitar); Martin Orford, Paul Cook , Peter Nicholls, John Jowitt. Personnel: Peter Nicholls (vocals, background vocals); Martin Orford (keyboards, background vocals); John Jowitt (bass guitar, background vocals); Paul Cook (drums, cymbals, percussion).

More Never Is Enough songs A Dramatic Turn of Events, the 11th studio long player from progressive hard rock act Dream Theater, is understandably among the most anticipated in their decades-long career. Founding drummer Mike Portnoy -- long considered, with guitarist John Petrucci, to be DT -- left the band and was replaced with veteran Mike Mangini. This is the set that answers the question about his impact on their sound. Interestingly enough, it's not that much. Mangini is as much a complex, intricate drummer as Portnoy was, though he is more an ensemble player; he plays more on the beat than behind it. A Dramatic Turn of Events is a much more keyboard-driven offering, though there is plenty of good old-fashioned prog metal here, too. Given its nearly 80-minute length, there is something here for virtually every fan -- or detractor -- to grab hold of. Singer James LaBrie doesn't indulge his high metal screech here that often, and prefers to sing plainly -- a good thing. Three tracks -- "Outcry," "Breaking All Illusions," and "Lost Not Forgotten" -- feature wildly long instrumental segments with more odd time signature changes than you can likely count. The latter of these sounds almost like Meshuggah with keyboards and stacked with multi-part harmonic vocals. Opening track and single "On the Backs of Angels" contains all the DT trademarks: disciplined drumming, intricate seven-string guitar riffs that grow increasingly more explosive, a Gothic chorale, and John Myung's insistent basslines, which are nearly buried in the mix. Jordan Rudess' keyboards counter Petrucci's guitar and Mangini's drums for dominance and come out on top. That said, the melodic structure of the tune harkens back to DT albums previous to the last decade's. As melodic as it is, it's almost knotty compared to the sheer melodicism of "Build Me Up, Break Me Down" that follows it. One does have to wonder about the inclusion of the ballads "Far from Heaven" and the string-laden "Beneath the Surface," which have clunky, trite lyrics, sappy instrumentation, and feel like filler; it would have been better to have trimmed them to keep the album a reasonable length. In sum, a Dramatic Turn of Events, while not a perfect offering, has enough of what makes Dream Theater attractive to make it a necessary purchase for fans. ~ Thom Jurek This special edition CD/DVD Set includes bonus DVD of 60-minute documentary, "The Spirit Carries On" which chronicles the band's search for a new drummer. A Dramatic Turn of Events is an album born from transition, crafted with studied persistence and possessed by new-found freedom and free-flowing invigoration. The album strikes the perfect balance between Dream Theater's intimate history with all that is heavy, progressive and melodic with each element fully realized. Longtime fans of the band intrigued by the speediness of the notes on display from Dream Theater have much to study on the album, while fans of melodic hooks will find equal pleasure within the songs. Recording information: Cove City Sound Studios, Glen Cove, NY; Mixland, Midhurst, Canada. Illustrator: Hugh Syme. Photographer: Michael Lavine. Personnel: James LaBrie (vocals); John Petrucci (guitar); Jordan Rudess (keyboards); Mike Mangini (drums). Audio Mixer: Andy Wallace.

More Never Is Enough album for sale The Whirlwind is the third studio record by progressive rock supergroup Transatlantic, featuring members of such legendary acts as Spock's Beard, Marillion, and Dream Theater. It was issued in 2009 and marked a return of the band from a nine-year hiatus. The Whirlwind was presented as a double disc: the first disc featured the title track -- a 12-part disc-long prog rock symphony -- and the second consisted of four new Transatlantic songs and four cover versions. ~ Sergey Mesenov Personnel: Roine Stolt (vocals, electric guitar, Mellotron, mini-Moog synthesizer, percussion); Pete Trewavas (vocals); Chris Carmichael (strings). Audio Mixer: Richard Mouser.