Dream Theaters – Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory
I talked about this album in the “Me” section. So I just thought it would be right for me to post a review or “thoughts” of the record!
And just for the disclaimer portion of the post; I don’t write for The Rolling Stones or anyone so cut me some slack.
The idea of Dream Theaters Scenes From A Memory (SFAM) came from the song “Metropolis, Pt. I: The Miracle and the Sleeper” from the oh-so-80s-metal album Images and Words. You’ll hear key parts of that song, not only in “Overture 1928″, but through the whole thing. It’s the first concept album that last a good seventy-seven minutes. Basically it’s 1 song that is a little over an hour long! Though they did have one concept song called “A Change of Seasons” a few years before this. Which is an epic twenty-three mins!
Compared to their past records; “Awake”, “A Change of Seasons”, “Images and Words”; this one is a masterpiece. Musically, they took progressive rock and threw in the kitchen sink along with all the fine china! John Petrucci’s guitar parts and solos are amazing. He pretty much took the phrase “balls to the wall” and applied them to the writing process. “Fatal Tragedy”, “Beyond This Life” and “Home” are great examples. Not to mention his gracefully shredding work in “The Spirit Carries On” and the technical art-work in “Dance of Eternity”.
Enhancing John’s part is Jordan Rudess, which in my opinion, might be one of the best pianists/keyboardists to grace our ears. The ability to solo in a different time signature than the rest of the band and then do a synchronized solo with the guitar in “Beyond This Life” will blow your mind every time. You’ll rewind it about twenty times. Though he might have parts on the album that I don’t really care for, the intro of “One Last Time”…you’ll become a believer.
Sometimes bass players get lost in the mix when talking about a band. Or their work on the album. This guy not one of those bass players. People give him his props. Which you should. John Myung teases your ear with unbelievable bass lines and riffs in “Strange Deja Vu”. This ever so silent man has an insane solo in “The Dance of Eternity” too. You have to pick the man out whenever listening to the album. And in “Through Her Eyes”, he’ll make you want to go buy a fretless bass. SO GOOD!
Now it’s time for James LaBrie. Some are turned off by his vocals, and I am not going to lie, I was too. Reason being, I was an ignorant radio friendly lover. Listening to the record over and over made me appreciate his vocals. This man is capable of reaching notes as low as the C♯ above low C, or C♯2, and the A below soprano C, or A5. Come on, he’s the vocalist of Dream Theater. That all you have to know!
As a man, Mike Portnoy stands out; as a drummer, he is a god. The drum fills that incorporate using hands and feet opened doors on how to view your drum-set, not just as a back-bone for the band, but making them part of the songs. So much that he has drum sections from M:P1 in this album. The drum solo at the end of “Finally Free” is tastefully done. There is a reason why he has been voted “Progressive Drummer of the Year” 12 years in a row! Come on! (and this is off the topic but I am going to say it anyways…Lars sucks!)
As a concept album, lyrics are the most important part of what makes SFAM memorable. The story is pretty much straight forward. You really just need to pay attention rather than thinking. You won’t have to do a google search for the meaning. Just listen closely and you’ll get it. The music makes it really hard to do so! But there are songs that you’ll sing over and over again; no matter how cheesy; like “Through Her Eyes”, “Home”, “The Spirit Carries On” and “Finally Free”. Pretty much the last 1/2 of the album.
I don’t know what made the band make this album so different from their past albums, but I am glad they did. This set the bar for fans and for the band themselves. If it weren’t for this record, the future records wouldn’t be what they are. That in itself makes it an must have for any Dream Theater fan. But, like I said, that’s what I think.
Give this bad boy a A+
I’m out!