Disco de Dream Theater: “Scenes From a Memory”

This CD is jaw-dropping! Hearing 5 guys play music like this is astonishing! Compare this talent to any other group and Dream Theater will blow them away. To really appreciate this masterpiece, an understanding of music and knowledge of all its complexity is beneficial. Yet those who do not fit into this category will still love every minute. Not only does the music blow you away..the storyline accompanying it is also well-written..the style of the stanzas...the mystery it leaves the listener to decipher..all truly adds to the hard work and thought put into this album. "Scenes From a Memory" (Metropolis Pt. II) continues the story left off from its predecessor, Metropolis Pt. I, which was on DT's 1992 release, "Images and Words". This isn't some "oh i bet i can play that" album that any garage band could replicate..this takes chops! Each member owns their instrument...dominates it. Mike Portnoy's "head shaking" drum patterns, John Petrucci's "eye-widening" guitar solos, John Myung's blazing bass licks, Jordan Rudess' complex, yet melodic piano wizardry, and James LaBrie's breath taking vocals all make this piece of art a must for any music lover, not just the progressive rock audience. Fans of Pink Floyd's "The Wall" will certainly appreciate "Scenes From a Memory". Albums of this caliber are few and far between.

I assume that if you are not already familiar with Dream Theater's music you wouldn't be reading this. What I can say quickly about this album is that it was the album that I always knew Dream Theater could make.

When I started listening to DT I bought "Images and Words" and immediately I was impressed with how hard it was while still being melodic. My favorite band before that was Iron Maiden and after hearing the first track of Images ("Pull me Under") I knew that after 5+ years they would be toppled. I am a guitar player who has listened to all of the shred bands, metal, etc... and I immediately fell in love with DT.

The "Awake" album is very very good, the older live album from Europe is good, "A Change of Seasons" is awesome, but I disliked "Falling into Infinity".

Scenes hits back with a ruthless vengence. The first time I listened to it I was driving to work and it made me cry for about 5 minutes. Whenever I play it on my stereo at home it makes me cry about 3-4 times per spin. It really is that good. Everything good about their previous stuff has been incorporated. On the "Awake" album the Erotomania song is similar to the overture on Scenes in that it introduces many of the main themes of the album (or song trio in the case of "Awake").

John Petrucci is awesome on the guitar. Besides being a technical wizard on the guitar his musical tastes are very similar to mine in that he likes all types of rock all the way up to thrash metal riffing like Pantera (listen to Lie from Awake). The song "Fatal Tragedy" on Scenes is incredible because it is so hard but at the same time still melodic.

The Steve Morse school of 1 note on hellaciously distorted electric guitar = 1 power chord is adhered to in many places, opening up a very different style of hard music because the typical power chord is abandoned.

The first time I listened to Dream Theater's latest offering I was a bit disappointed. I thought the band was going a bit too far into the Liquid Tension mode. On the second listen I arrived at the last track and was quite spooked by what I was hearing. I immediately logged off of Mike Portnoy's chat room and actually opened up the nice little insert with the lyrics and read as the storyline played out. What I discovered is that Scenes From A Memory maybe the most intense album I have ever heard. I really enjoy the way these guys can make the music as emotional as words. Portnoy does his best work here on the skins, Petrucci and Myung are rock solid like always and LaBrie's vocals are unmatched by anyone. New keyboardist Jordan Rudess plays excellent piano though I kinda miss Derek Sherinian's synth technique. As usual with DT, this CD has travelled with me from the car to the house to the Discman....you get the idea. After a hundred listens or so it still seems to captivate me. The only minor fault I can find is that I sometimes drift away during a few of the longer instrumental parts, but about the time that happens things get well structured again and LaBrie gets my full attention with his incredible gift. I guess that kinda explains why I can't seem to get into the Liquid Tension Experiments but really enjoy Mullmuzzler, (James Labrie's solo effort). Everyone should own this CD for sure though, no matter what part of Dream Theater you enjoy most.

In todays age of pop drivel and "bottom line - what have you done for me lately" mentality, its hard to find an artists that will make music for themselves and do it successfully. Dream Theater has done just that.

This is a true progressive metal album, and an expansion of the characters introduced in "Metropolis Pt.1" on "Images And Words". It's a story album about a man named Nicholas who is the re-incarnation of a woman named Victoria. It is a mystery about how Victoria really died.

It starts with a hypnotherapist counting backwards, hypnotizing Nicholas. An acoustic guitar comes for the song "Regression". Then the keyboard gives off a high accent, and the music takes off.

The best part about SFOM is it's balance between hard rock and soft ballads. And they are not afraid to show off their talents. Many songs have long instrumental interludes that are full of energy, and very precise and meticulous at the same time. The ending is mysterious and confuasing on first listen, but when you understand it, it makes sense (for those who don't know the meaning of the ending, e-mail me).

Dream Theater's last album "Falling Toward Infinity" was so overburdened by the record company, and such an unhappy experience for the band that Mike Portnoy went to Electra and told them to let DT make the music they want, or there won't be a band. Fortunately for us, the music execs agreed. If this is the kind of music they put out when left alone, then for goodness sakes leave them alone.

I have listened to DT since the beginning, and have always like them a lot. But this recording sets a mark which they themselves may find difficult to match, let alone any others.

To give some background, I'm 38, still have an extensive *record* collection as well as CDs, and have been a long-time Yes, ELP, Led Zep, 'Sabbath, and Metallica fan. Tastes also include Jazz and Fusion and some classical. I "Just Say No" to Country and mainstream dance crap.

Long after purchasing 'Scenes From A Memory', I still listen to it regularly. Sometimes daily. Without a doubt, I think this is the most phenominal recording ever made. Dazzling riffs, stunning vocals and wonderful songs that get better and better the more you listen. It is the answer to the question "What would happen if you put together 5 musicians, each (arguably) amongst the Top 5 in the world at their instruments, and they actually stayed together awhile?"

After listening to this CD for the first time, and after the 10th, 50th or 500th time, I still think to myself "What a ride."