Outcry and Breaking All Illusions are one of my favorite DT songs ever , this album is better than things octavarium and systematic chaos

Album Rating: 4.0

Outcry is so good

Outcry is awesome, Bridges In The Sky is easily the best here
Breaking All Illusions is great until Rudess plays the gayest, crappest keyboard solo I've ever heard, after Petrucci's amazing solo
Octavarium>>>Systematic Chaos>This

Album Rating: 4.0

I think the best is On the Backs of Angels

On the Backs of Angels is a really cool song

Album Rating: 4.0

^ this

Also, @Willie, u know that the drum parts were actually Portnoy's; Mangini stepped in to play them and hasn't written any of his own yet?

Album Rating: 4.0

Actually I think Petrucci wrote the drums, not Portnoy

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

This is way better than both Octavarium and Systematic Chaos.

Album Rating: 3.0

no way - not better than systematic chaos

yawn

only 1 good dream theater album & that's blackwater park

Album Rating: 3.0

you idiot, you're getting confused with pink floyd

Album Rating: 3.5

you guys are obviously all wrong and Beneath the Surface is the best song

Album Rating: 3.0

This album is so boring compared to BC&SL. Still solid but it lacks some of the moments that made their other albums interesting.

Album Rating: 3.0

Finally bought this album and was pleasantly surprised after a lot of what I had originally heard suggesting it was weak. I really like most of the songs but I can't help to think the only purpose of writing Build Me Up Break Me Down was just to get a song on the radio. The chorus is decent and catchy but it's just not DT... and the rest of the song is weak. Other than that good album... BC&SL is still so much better though, I agree with the IMZA.

Album Rating: 3.0

Also I'd like to add (and agree with many here) that the drums are nearly invisible in some of the songs at times... and that's not a shot at Mangini either because I do like him. Portnoy was just better for this band... (notice how I didn't say a better drummer like so many people)

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

^The drums were written before he joined the band in case you didn't know, but I agree with them being mixed really low, I don't see how Petrucci was satisfied with the outcome as he said he was. After letting it sink in for a few months, BC&SL is still better. ADTOE is musically very balanced, but it did lack something, the chorus to Bridges is amazing though and Breaking All Illusions absolutely slays.

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

Excellent review, but I think the difference between your 3.5 and my 4 is the following: John Petrucci is actually the one who wrote the drum parts, which is a common thing when a new drummer joins a band. I'm not saying that Mangini has the power Portnoy had, but next album is gonna show off his skills a lot more. "This Is The Life" is the best ballad on the album IMO, and "Bridges In The Sky" took my heart when I saw them live in Montreal, Canada, a couple of months ago. It was simply mindblowing. And, on a last note, I&W can't be beaten.

Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off

This is better than BC&SL based solely on the fact that there's no Portnoy growls on here.

Album Rating: 3.2

Build Me Up Break Me Down was just to get a song on the radio.

John Petrucci is actually the one who wrote the drum parts,