Dream Theater's 8th studio album: Octavarium

[vince56]

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I just got Octavarium at a midnight sale at the Zia records in Chandler. Holy crap is this a great album. I've been listening for the last 2 hours straight... this is the best album they've had since Awake, especially the first 4 songs. I felt let down on their last two albums, as I think there's only an album's worth of good material between the three discs (the 2 CDs of 6 Degrees and the 1 CD of ToT). I wasn't expecting much when I picked up Octavarium tonight, and I'm honestly and absolutely blown away.

"These Walls" is their best song since Trial of Tears in my opinion, and one of the top Dream Theater songs of all time. What an incredible piece of music. The two songs on either side of it (tracks 2 & 4) are masterful works of art as well.

The song "Octavarium" is a HUGE detachment from what they've done before. I like it a lot, it reminds me quite a bit of Deep Purple, Yes, Rush, and a lot of other 70s music. It's no Change of Seasons, but it's still incredible and it's good to see them branching out and trying new ideas.

Jordan Rudess seems to have taken control of the band, and he sounds incredible all over this album. There are a ton more keyboard solos on this disc than guitar solos, and even though I haven't liked the sounds he's used much in the past, he really kicks some ass on this disc.

The production quality is back where it should be. No more dry vocals and LaBrie wailing against silence. James has beautiful, touching, sorrowful, and impressive vocals all over this disc, and they produced his vocals in much the same way they did on their mid 90s releases.

Petrucci went to more of a hardcore sound on this album, as opposed to a tighter metal sound. His tone is still terrific and the sounds he uses throughout seem just right for the songs they're playing. I would've liked to hear more soloing from him on this disc, but he makes up for it with some absolutely SICK duet runs that he and Rudess string together.

Portnoy and Myung are the same as always, and on top of their game. Myung has a killer song intro (I think "Panic Attack" but I could be wrong) and Portnoy steals the show on the slower songs in much the same way he always has (see "Take the Time" off Images & Words for example).

All in all, one hell of a disc, and I'm really looking forward to seeing them on tour this summer with Megadeth and Symphony X!!

 

[boisesuns]

Very cool. I'll have to check it out. I've always liked their stuff, but leaned more towards the liquid tension stuff, since it was all jamming and no singing. How is the singing on this one?

Thanks for the reveiw Vince. Hope your music is going well.

 

[vince56]

Thanks

I'm in that startling minority that loves James LaBrie's voice. He sounds as good on this album as he did in the Images & Words and Awake days. The vocals are produced well, and LaBrie really hits the notes and conveys emotion well. He also does a mean Dave Mustaine impression near the end of the title track. It's pretty cool how that song comes together. It's 24 minutes long.

 

[boisesuns]

I though his voice has gotten better on recent albums, i'm just a guitar player and want to hear John go for it

I love the long songs, but i defenatly need to make sure i'm prepared for listening to one all the way through. 24 mins? man, i might need a water break

I've always loved Pettrucci's Tone, and i've liked it more since he went to ernie ball guitars.

 

[Divide Et Impera]

Bought it last night....

It's a good album, but it doesn't hold a candle to MII: SFAM. MII is DT's master-opus and one of the greatest albums of all time, up there with Wish You Were Here, The Wall and Operation: Mindcrime. This album has really good parts in spots, but it's just not their best. Train Of Thought also ranks higher than this album. Overall, it's a good purchase and I like the album, but I was really expecting a lot better based on your review, so there's a bit of a letdown on that end....

 

[vince56]

You see, SoH, that just shows a difference in taste. I was thoroughly bored by the last 2 DT albums and I thought Scenes from a Memory was a decent album, but by no means as good as Awake, I&W, or FII.

The best DT songs, IMO are Change of Seasons, Scarred, Lines in the Sand, Trial of Tears, and These Walls (from the new album). None of their other songs even come close IMO.

 

[Divide Et Impera]

You see, SoH, that just shows a difference in taste. I was thoroughly bored by the last 2 DT albums and I thought Scenes from a Memory was a decent album, but by no means as good as Awake, I&W, or FII.

The best DT songs, IMO are Change of Seasons, Scarred, Lines in the Sand, Trial of Tears, and These Walls (from the new album). None of their other songs even come close IMO.

Absolutely. I would recommend all DT albums to everyone, but I would just recommend MII: SFAM first....

Whatever the case, I'll see you at Gigantour....

 

[vince56]

Whatever the case, I'll see you at Gigantour....

Yep

Hopefully both Arizona shows. This is gonna be fun.