Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

I like the album overall, Petrucci and Rudess are amazing musicians. Myung is the same as he's always

been, and LaBrie can still put solid studio performances... But I DON'T like Mangini. Sure, the guy's

a machine, an incredible drummer with amazing speed and technique, who plays more complex stuff than

Portnoy... But as a musician (at least for DT, for obvious reasons), Pornoy's better. Every riff that

Portnoy played sounded the best it could... Every riff that Mangini plays in, could be a lot better.

Portnoy played what was best for the song or for individual parts, and I sometimes hear that lacking

in Mangini. This is my favorite band, but I really think they should take a break... And come back

with Portnoy. Unlikely, though. "False Awakening Suite", "The Looking Glass", and "Illumination

Theory" are the best songs, by far.

lol DT

Album Rating: 3.0

Dude

seriously, I've listened to these guys so many
times over the years.

Lots of respect for learning how to fap their
instruments in synchopated rhythms together but
I'll be damned if I can find a single shred of
humanity in this mess.

Yeah I understand if you've only heard their latest albums
But dude, I&A and Awake...

Awake I do enjoy, yeah

That's good because you don't really need to enjoy them outside those two
If you think there's no humanity in their music then listen to I&A again, a lot of emotion in there

oh yeah, I forgot about that one too, just checked their page.

Seriously LaBrie just drives me up the wall tho dude.

Yeah LaBrie sucks hard now he hasn't been good for ages, but back in the day man could he hit the notez

Album Rating: 2.5

Love Illumination Theory. Prob should lower to a 2.5

Album Rating: 3.0

Can't decide which one is worst, this or ADTOE. Both are painfully average though.

Album Rating: 3.0

Between those two I'd say this one but overall Systematic Chaos.

Album Rating: 3.5

no humanity in this?



So the orchestral part in Illumination Theory did not make you feel anything?

Album Rating: 3.0

"Between those two I'd say this one but overall Systematic Chaos."



As of yet, I haven't listened to SC, so I can't express an opinion.

Album Rating: 3.0

Best DT since never.

nerd-rage sound track.

Album Rating: 2.5

all the complaints about "lacking soul" are unfounded and silly, thats one of those bogus music complaints employed by the likes of christgau and his cronies



say what you mean, which is, "they play well but it bores me"

Album Rating: 4.5

If you hate Dream Theater don't come here and tell us you hate them. Most people come to find out whether the album is good or not. I don't go post hateful comments to Justin Bieber reviews because it's pointless.



That being said, as a lifelong Dream Theater fan who is not a "fanboy", I can attest that this is a great album that grows on you with each listen. I must emphasize that this is a real grower. Some person favorites would be The Looking Glass, The Bigger Picture and Illumination Theory. The latter is a masterpiece that gives me chills every time I listen to it. The musicianship stands out as always, but in particular James LaBrie really sings his heart out on this album. A noticeable improvement over the last few albums.



And to add the the comments about their music lacking soul, I defy you to listen to Petrucci's guitar solo in The Best of Times and not feel something (I know, different album).



To sum up in a sentence, if you like Dream Theater, buy the album you'll love it. If you don't like them, give it a try anyway. You never know, you might realize there's a whole other world of music out there

Album is not that bad, but the DT standards are high and most of this material is more bland than a
big part of petrucci and co previous works. Album is good but nothing more, anyways, the last track is
a diamond in rough.

as a lifelong Dream Theater fan who is not a "fanboy"