DISTORT - New CD reviews

The new "Dream Theater" album( Scenes from a memory ) is finally released. I haven´t had time to listen through it really seriously, but here is some of what I´ve discovered browsing it:

No doubt, there have never been a band with so extremely skilled musicians around. Technically, they play anything off anyone. The album features a virtually complete exhibition of every rock/hard rock/metal/jazzfusion riff ever produced. And some almost new, of course. Should be a real goldmine for any aspiring musician just to learn from. But what about the music itself ? Not so original as one might suspect, the musical identity of the band is firmly cemented in the sound from their bestselling album "Images & words".The thing that mostly identifies the band, is the riffs and songparts obviously borrowed from the same album. In the middle of the "DT"-sound is numerous influences from legendary symphonic rock/hardrock acts woven. They very clearly display to the audience what their influences from scratch where.
Nothing particularly wrong with that, many aha-experiences lay ahead for the seasoned progrock listener. The biggest "star" in the band is without doubt the guitarist; John Petrucci, not many contenders challenging him on the title "most versatile hardrock guitarist in the world". The biggest weakness in the band, is that they can t help but displaying their skill too much. The arrangements very seldom come to rest, and the songs to life, sometimes it is a constant battering. The most annoying thing being the drummer/bandleaders lack of taste as to the drum arrangements. It is often really too much to be good. What I am saying is that this album could have been a much better one, having a producer who could ironhand the band. None of the songs really stand out musically, the greatest riffs borrowed from their own earlier works, even though there is some pleasant voicings here and there. I liked the last song "Finally Free", but otherwise it s mostly parts of songs here and there that fits my taste.

For the newcomer: no recommendation, buy "Images & words" instead.
For the fan: What the heck, you ll buy it anyway...
For the Guiness Record Bookier:
The worlds most complicated but exactly played rock album ever . Buy it !

HAVE FUN/See Ya Per