CD Review
This review was originally written by Jose Bernardo for www.theweeklyriff.com between 2008 and 2010.
These were Jose’s first impressions of the songs and were not written after multiple spins.
Artist: Dream Theater
Album: Black Clouds & Silver Linings (2009 RoadRunner Records)
Tracks: 6
Artist website: http://www.dreamtheater.net
OVERVIEW
What have the gods of progmetal in store for us this time? Black Clouds and Silver Linings: An absolutely crazy ride through so many sonic landscapes with a heavier than usual twist in places while really pretty and serene melodies are abundant! Everything that Dream Theater is known for is in this album. The musicianship, the long song format, the musical theme development, counterpoint. It would not be possible to do what Dream Theater does in a 3 minute radio friendly format.
I wish that musicianship on this level would be welcomed and taken more seriously by the mainstream media. While Dream Theater’s fan base has seen a steady growth over the last decade and they are reaching new audiences, they still lack the acceptance of the mainstream media.
We feel that this release is more focused than 2007’s Systematic Chaos. All in all a very good effort!
HIGHLIGHTS:
Wither, The Shattered Fortress, The Best Of Times
PLAY BY PLAY
Track 1 – A Nightmare To Remember
Awesome way to start this album!
Track 2 – A Rite Of Passage
This has got to be one of the catchiest Dream Theater songs. The riffs are memorable and the the chorus has a very radio friendly melody.
Track 3 – Wither
This is the shortest track on the album. It also has “hit single” written all over it! It is one of the prettiest songs Dream Theater have penned. Bravo!
Track 4 – The Shattered Fortress
This is the final movement of what has been dubbed “The 12 Step Suite” which chronicles the 12 steps of the Alcoholic’s Anonymous recovery program. The first part was started during 2002’s Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence and has been subsequently continued on every album since. They’ve injected some new themes and mixed in previous themes to make this track. Musically, this is a great example of masterful arranging skills. (Though the “whoas” in the end could have probably be been filled in with more words.)
Track 5 – The Best Of Times
The opening themes here are possibly my most favorite in DT’s catalog. They definitely rival Octavarium and some moments in Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence and Scenes From A Memory. The song goes on to unfold into an energetic song that definitely has hit potential. The melodies through out the song are very beautiful. This was built to be a singalong for live shows! The big ending would work very well to close out a show! Brilliant!
Track 6 – The Count Of Tuscany
There are some very interesting moments in this song. The chorus is catchy.
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
UPDATE 2016: When I reviewed this album, I didn’t know that this would be the last album the band would make with Mike Portnoy. It was very sad for me as a fan to see him leave. I remember at the time thinking that they there was still more to investigate with this direction. Systematic Chaos had been weak, in my opinion. This was leaps and bounds better.
The post Portnoy era Dream Theater has been interesting, but ultimately the band lost its heaviness. As a fan of their heavy side, I have yet to hear an album I truly enjoy in the post Portnoy era. There are a couple of songs from the new era that I like, but I wish they would do something really heavy again like “The Count of Tuscany” which is a song I’ve come to LOVE a lot.
I seldom listen to the songs listed in the “Highlights” of the original review. I listen to “A Nightmare to Remember” and “The Count of Tuscany” often. Go figure! 1st impressions don’t always last.