 This is one of Dream Theater's most melodic and memorable albums. The songs have not only powerful melodies, but penetrating lyrics as well.
Appropriately named "Images and Words," this album is full of lyrical metaphors and imagery. The first song, "Pull Me Under," which is about dealing with the confusion and difficulties of life without fear, sets the tone for the rest of the CD. The lyrics of each song are positive and hopeful, providing an insightful take on life.
The powerful lyrics are backed up by great melodic tracks that are also wonderfully produced. The mix of bass, guitars, keyboards, drums, and vocals is so smooth, it almost sounds like one instrument. My favorite song, "Another Day" has a beautiful sax part -- yes, a saxaphone, that is gracefully woven into the song. "Metropolis - Part 1" is the most technically impressive song on the CD, as numerous time signature changes and multiple instrument solos keep the song interesting -- for all nine and a half minutes.
This CD is one of Dream Theater's more melodic albums, as each song has an easy-to-follow theme and there is only one song over ten minutes. It is also less technical than some of the band's other releases that showcase the band members' masterful musicianship. This combination makes the album more similar to other rock albums and therefore probably more appealing to the general public.
But Dream Theater fans will still appreciate the artistic elements that are inherent in all of the band's music. As I mentioned earlier, the lyrics in these songs are very well-written and meaningful. And yes, there are still a number of sections where John Petrucci and Mike Portnoy "show off" their talent. There are many songs that require multiple listens to truly appreciate them.
Whether you are a Dream Theater fan or not, this is a powerful and moving CD. The variety of the songs keep the album interesting from start to finish and the artistic songwriting makes it enjoyable to listen to time and time again. |
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