(Hard Rock) Dream Theatre--Awake

[robnathanson]

DREAM THEATRE IS:

James LaBrie--Voices
Mike Portnoy--Drums and percussion
Kevin Moore--Keyboards
John Myung--Bass
John Petrucci--Guitar


AWAKE is Dream Theatre's 3rd studio Album. It was released in 1994. They have an all star lineup of some of the greatest musicians of our day.

James LaBrie is a great vocalist (who at times sounds like Geddy Lee) He has great range and is an all around great singer. Mike Portnoy is one of the greatest drummers of his generation. John Petrucci is an amazing guitarist, enough said. Myung and Moore are excellent at their respective instruments as well, and all combine to form Dream Theatre.

~Track by Track~

6:00--

one of the best songs to kick of an album ever. riught from the opening note it's full of energy. Awesome work from Petrucci, Myung, Moore and Portnoy! Labrie comes in and just amazes me. A High Energy track, one of the greatest I've ever heard.....but wait...the album gets better!
4.5/5

Caught in a web--

opens with a great bass riff and keyboards! great teamwork by Myung and Moore. This track has high energy also, but the speed is slowed considderably from 6:00. The song I think, is about someone who just can't fit in, no matter what he does to try. He is caught "in a web" of fear and lies. Doesn't realize that he'd fit in better if he would just be himeslef and not try to fit in.
4/5

Innocence faded--

Best song intro ever, albeit short. Even better than Sweet Child O' Mine. the song is slowed considderably. the energy isn't as high as in the previous 2 songs, but the pace is great for this song. This song fits in the album perfectly. Ends with an awesome instrumental portion.
4/5

Erotomania--

Awesome instrumental. Everyone is great. perfect cong for this point in the album (4 songs in) haha
5/5

Voices--

this song opens with a great instrumental portion, high energy, low speed, that dies almost completely when the voice kicks in. During the verse, the music is very slow and quiet. a perfect slower song, and never losing the spirit of Dream Theatre or the album. The music picks up, and gets faster and harder during the chorus however, and during the (not totally musical) interlude [Dialogue by rap artist Prix-mo reading from the book "Cultural Revolution".] then the pace slows down for a new verse. This song runs 9:53.
5/5

The Silent Man--

This is the shortest songh on the CD running only 3:48. This song runs for about 1:00-1:15 with just a [acoustic] guitar and vocals, then soft drums kick in for a little bit before fading, and keyboards come in, soft and only for a limited time. This is the shortest song, and slowest song on the cd. Still great, emotional.
4.5/5

The Mirror--

this opens with much more power than the previous song, but it's not as emotional, and doesn't carry the same power [even though it's louder and faster]. Has lots of energy though, and that counts for a lot.
4/5

Lie--

More melodic singing than the previous songs, one of the hardest rocking songs on the album. bass driven, drums and guitar carry the beat well, and keyboards are evident also. excellent vocals, and singing and musicianship. One of my favourites on the album.
4.75/5

Lifting shadows off a dream--

slow bass intro, great for the song; set's the pace nicely. the vocals are soft and smooth, the songs is emotional, and peaceful, and great all at the same time. Not the best on the album, but great all the same.
3.75/5

Scarred--

this is the longest song on the CD running at 11:00, opens to an almost jazz sounding bass/drum riff, and then a guitar piece that sounds like it could be David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) and the song as a whole gets louder, and pace slows and just a great all around song. keeps you interested the whole way through. even if you hate long songs, you'll like this one!
5/5

Space Dye Vest--

this opens with a lone piano. quiet undominant drums come in here. There is a sample of Julian Sands from the film "A Room With A View" and quiet melancholy vocalsset the tone nicely.guitar and bass, although evident are over powered by the piano, which is (obviously) the main instrument in this song.
5/5


OK, here we go.....

this the the first (and to date) only Dream theatre CD I own, and the reason for that is that the storeds here sell them for no less than 25$ per cd, and I don't have atht kind of money. after I get my next paycheck, I will definatley be buying another couple of cd's by them, and I know I won't regret it. They are a very very underrated band, and they deserve much more credit than they get. this CD is amazing in all aspects, and anyone can enjoy it at one point or another.

5/5

[Aes820]

The opening bars of "The Mirror" are just incredible. Have a good listen, the guitar riff stays the same (or at least very similar) yet the drumming pattern and time signature change around that guitar riff to create a whole new flavour and feel to the song. Brilliant stuff from Portnoy.

The guitar solo in "Lie" ( at 5:30 I think it starts) is mind blowingly fantastic.
Class work from Petruicci, really great stuff!

[Kaden]

I'd just like to point out that it's Dream Theater, not Theatre:)

I really love this album. Not their best, but still extremely good. I think the best song is Space-die Vest, it's completely orgasmic the whole way through (proving once again that Kevin Moore was the most talented songwriter DT ever had). In case you don't know, Erotomania, Voices, and the Silent Man are really all the same song called "A Mind Beside Itself", it's just separated into the three tracks. This is one of the most connected albums that I've ever heard (For example: Erotomania contains musical themes from many song in the album, The Mirror contains the keyboard riff from Sppace-Die Vest, Lie contains the riff from the Mirror, and many song such as 6:00 and Caught in a Web, and The Mirror and Lie flow together, so you don't even realize it's a different song.

definitely a 5/5

To threadstarter: Be sure to pick up Images and Words, definitely a great DT album (Read my review of the album for more info)

[Scythe404]

You did a review? I've been looking for one. One of my absolute favorite DT albums :thumb:

[manuscriptreplica]

theater is spelt theatre in australia, so yeah. like favorite and favourite.

i picked up 2 dream theater CDs for $25 (images + words, a change of seasons) and they are cool and i heard this album is their best so im going to buy it.

[/rant]

[Animus Light]

"Theatre" is spelled "theatre" in America, as well. I don't know why they changed it to "Theater", but that is the name of their band. Dream Theater. So.. ::shrugs::

In anyc ase, this album is excellent. I love Space-Dye Vest. Just great album in general.

[Kaden]

"Theatre" is spelled "theatre" in America, as well. I don't know why they changed it to "Theater", but that is the name of their band. Dream Theater. So.. ::shrugs::
I've never seen in spelled Theatre here in America. It's always Theater.

[robnathanson]

the americanized way of spelling it is theater.

Americanized words=
favorite (favourite)
color (colour)
center (centre)
humor (humour)

thats all I can think of

[wheelz]

i think centre is a canadian thing actually....

i think theatre might be too...

[Distorted Vision]

It doesn't matter where you're from, the band's name is Dream Theater. It doesn't change with region.

Anyway, yeah it's a great album, not the best but up there at the top nonetheless. Lie and Erotomania are probably my favourites on there, but I do have a soft spot for Innocence Faded even though some people write that one off.

[savarious]

Distorted Vision, I have always like Innocence Faded as well. I don't understand why so many do not like it.

My favorites are:
6:00
A Mind Beside Itself
Scarred
Space Dye Vest

[Kaden]

Distorted Vision, I have always like Innocence Faded as well. I don't understand why so many do not like it.

My favorites are:
6:00
A Mind Beside Itself
Scarred
Space Dye Vest
I think Scarred is the worst song on the album. Not very exciting.

[DTrules26]

I think "theatre" is for plays, and "theater" is like movies and stuff, but I'm not sure at all. But yea, this album is great. The Piano intro to Space Dye Vest is beautiful. Silent man is amazing. Good review, I agree.

[Greendaynofx]

I've never seen in spelled Theatre here in America. It's always Theater.

I'm taking a class in high school and it's called "Intro to Theatre Arts"

*lives in Illinois*

[knifeparty]

Space Dye Vest is what proned me to buy this album i havent gone into any of there other stuff but if they have other albums out there like this can you give me the names of some?

[Kaden]

Space Dye Vest is what proned me to buy this album i havent gone into any of there other stuff but if they have other albums out there like this can you give me the names of some?
If you're looking for the best Dream Theater album, I have some suggestions.

Images and Words is the best for individual songs.

Scenes from a Memory is the best as an overrall album.

[DimebagDarrell]

i was a bit dissapointed with awake because i heard there new album train of thought which is excellent and then i bought awake thinking it was gona be like the new one

[robnathanson]

Awake was from 1994...

maybe compared to their new one it wasn't great, but compared to nothing (which is what I heard from dream theater before this album) then I think it's awesoem

[humanflaw]

"Theatre" is spelled "theatre" in America, as well. I don't know why they changed it to "Theater", but that is the name of their band. Dream Theater. So.. ::shrugs::

In anyc ase, this album is excellent. I love Space-Dye Vest. Just great album in general.



true space-dye vest is the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dieseldrummer018]

erotomania is probably thier best songs ever and the most fun to play on drums...voices is good...and lifting shadows off a dream is amazing

[el doctor]

This album is arguably the peak of their career. Incredible album. It really grows on you. This album really was progressive metal, while still maintaining the classical influence (Erotomania especially I think) found in Dream Theater's earlier career. Although Moore may not be as technically dazzling as Rudess, his impact was very present. When you look at Space-Dye Vest, you can see some of the incredibly ability of Kevin Moore. The song is clearly different than the rest of the album and the rest of their other material for that matter, so you can see where the "creative differences" arose.

6:00 is such a great opener that really helps to set the tone. Caught in a Web is just a hard rocking song that will really grow on you after a while. It's incredible live too. Innocence Faded just does everything right. The song has such an appeal to it with a catchy chorus, but it still has top notch instrumentals that are equally as notable. That whole A Mind Beside Itself trio is amazing. Erotomania is a classic instrumental, Voices is good - a bit strange, but overall pretty good, and Silent Man is such a great acoustic song.

As for a rating, I'd give it a 4/5. The album definitely seems to lack slightly near the end a bit. I can't say it was an incredibly ground breaking album either. However, I do think Awake appeals to a lot of people that might not normally listen to Dream Theater. It's darker than a lot of their material, but at the same time it has tons of emotion that goes from deep, dreary lows to incredible soaring highs.

[mexicanfloydian]

This is a great album, But I prefer Images and words.
Space die vest is my fav. song from this album. It's so depressive .

I give this album a 4.5/5

[GibsonPyro]

Good review, I love this album. Except I really don't like the intro to Innocence Faded, it seems kinda corny to me.

[GarinStone]

How can you not give space dye vest a 6/5? Best piano backed DT Ballad there is. Scenes from a Memory has a song called Through Her Eyes that tops it as the best ballad ever, though. This album is definatly a 5/5.

[Aes820]

I love cranking up Space Dye Vest and listening to the guitar tracks just throb through the speakers...
John's got a fantastic sound right there. A bit fat 'wall of sound' tone. I love it.

[Kaden]

Voices is my all-time favorite DT song.

[GarinStone]

I love cranking up Space Dye Vest and listening to the guitar tracks just throb through the speakers...
John's got a fantastic sound right there. A bit fat 'wall of sound' tone. I love it.

have you heard his tone on some of the slower LTE songs? Its perfect. Right up there with Starry Night Satch tone.

[Aes820]

I've never heard any of LTE. Or any of their other numerous side projects actually.
I was talking to a bloke from a CD store about this the other day.. And it seems anything apart from Dream Theater themselves, the Australian music market really isn't interested in it.. Sucks..

[el doctor]

Voices is my all-time favorite DT song.
It took a bit for me to like the whole song, it had to grow on me. The intro to it though is awesome.

[RoaRing_Roach]

DREAM THEATRE IS:

They are a very very underrated band, and they deserve much more credit than they get.


I don't think they are underrated.At least here in Greece they are praised like Gods and their work is totally apreciated.Also in worldwide magazines that I read I cant say they don't gain acceptance.But tell me what makes you say they are underrated?

By the way it's a nice album but won't make me bang my head. I will just listen carefully to the talented musicians...that's why I like way more the train of thought which makes me jump from wall to wall!
4/5

[MP3]

\m/ !

[robnathanson]

I don't think they are underrated.At least here in Greece they are praised like Gods and their work is totally apreciated.Also in worldwide magazines that I read I cant say they don't gain acceptance.But tell me what makes you say they are underrated?

By the way it's a nice album but won't make me bang my head. I will just listen carefully to the talented musicians...that's why I like way more the train of thought which makes me jump from wall to wall!
4/5
I think they are underrated because nobody who lives around me has ever heard of them

[The JoZ]

Bump time, sorry guys

I just bought this today along with Six Degrees...and while I haven't heard all the songs yet, I must say I'm totally in love with 6:00 and Caught in a Web...

[TojesDolan]

I got this CD and the Change of seasons CD as well for $10 each, so I guess I can't complain. The Covers...well, i haven't heard all the original versions, but the Pink Floyd cover is OK, and the Funeral for a friend... Was THE song i couldn't stop playing, but... Anyway, they were cheap, and German! what can i complain about!

[Mekkalayakay]

I just bought this album today, along with Images and Words. Haven't listened to it yet, I'm just about to pop it in. I'm expecting nothing short of a masterpiece. This is Dream Theater we are talking about. :cool:

[robnathanson]

after listening to this album (in it's entirety) again, I've decided to change a few of my ratings...most haven't changed at all, and the one's that did, didn't change by more than .5

[The JoZ]

I can't believe you rate Lifting Shadows so low, and Innocence Faded so high...

Lifting Shadows is quite possibly the best soft song they have ever done. Innocence Faded...should fade away :thumb:

The album does deserve the 5/5 it gets though.

[mprules]

theater is spelt theatre in australia, so yeah. like favorite and favourite.

[/rant]

more like everywhere but america

americans love there stupid spellings

i bought this album a few days ago and i enjoy it, i think i prefer images and words but this is great, more softer and slower paced

i like caught in a web, just that bit where he sings "Caught in a webbbbb" good ****

[The Depressed]

Lifting Shadows is quite possibly the best soft song they have ever done.:thumb:

If they hadn't done Hells Kitchen, I would have agreed with you.

LSOAD is their best vocal song, it even beats Surrounded in my book (and I f'in love Surrounded.) The intro is :eek:ly good, all those harmonics *yum* and the final chorus is their best chorus, period.

Strangely, Awake is my least favourite album of theirs (yes, including WDADU), but it has some of my favourite tracks on there (Erotomania, LSOAD.) I've never understood all the fuss about Space Dye Vest. It's good and all, but it's not the be all and end all like some people make it out to be. Actually, all the songs are good, just not on the standard of the other albums.

By the way, it's Theater. No matter where you live or whatever, it's Er. Just because someone's name is Peter doesn't mean they'll be called Pierre in France, does it? Same case with DT. It's a name, not a noun. Name's don't change, nouns do. (I think that makes sense.)

[The JoZ]

I haven't heard Hell's Kitchen, so I honestly can't argue with you on that.

Awake is my second favorite out of 4 DT albums, only behind ToT, because of the good blend of heavy (Caught in a Web, Mirror/Lie, 6:00) and soft (LSOAD, Scarred, SDV).

SDV is a good song...it's not the end all of anything, but it's a good song nonetheless :thumb:

[el doctor]

Go download Hell's Kitchen right now then. :eek:
Voices is my all-time favorite DT song.
It took a bit for me to like the whole song, it had to grow on me. The intro to it though is awesome.
After listening to Awake the other week for the first time in awhile, I've realized that song is absolutely amazing.

[RNR]

This was my first DT album. It's my second favorite as well. Good review ;)

[Kaden]

After listening to Awake the other week for the first time in awhile, I've realized that song is absolutely amazing.
:p told ya

[Det_Nosnip]

The opening bars of "The Mirror" are just incredible. Have a good listen, the guitar riff stays the same (or at least very similar) yet the drumming pattern and time signature change around that guitar riff to create a whole new flavour and feel to the song. Brilliant stuff from Portnoy.


Yeah, I believe that what they do during that part is called a "permutation."