Metallica's S&M; just so-so // Dream Theater's 6DOIT; great!

[3-LockBox]

Funny thing, I saw this on PBS a few years ago and found it intriguing, but it doesn't come across that well on CD (got it used). Maybe its better viewed than listened to, but there are a few good moments on it. I was surprised that the older, thrashier stuff came across better in this incarnation than the newer stuff. I never was a fan of speed metal. But the older stuff predating <i>...and justice for all?</i> seems more realized as orchestral pieces, at least in the hamds of this particular conductor/composer.

Maybe the next time a band tries their hand at something like this, they should employ the use of several guest conductors, rather than just one.

Not that the stuff was bad, but the newer material seemed clumsy. And its not the genre. DT's <i>Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence</i>, disc two, is a great example of orchestral metal done well. But like I said before, it was good to see a metal band being taken seriously for a change.

BTW: DT's <i>6DOIT</i> is quite possibly prog's finest moment in the last five years. The first disc is ok, but it pales in comparison to the the last two albums that followed. But the 2nd disc is stellar and really holds up well as a concept whereas the first one just sounds like a weak cousin to better albums like <i>Train Of Thought</i> and <i>Octavarium</i>. I think that maybe prog bands with a yen for concept albums should explore the shorter CD as an artistic statement. <i>6DOIT</i>' s disc two clocks in at just under 43 minutes and seems shorter. Any longer and it may have gotten long-in-the-tooth.

I guess I need to find a copy of <i>Scenes From A Memory</i>. Kinda funny, it seems that every summer I find a new (old) band to obcess. Last summer it was King Crimson; year before that, it was Yes. Ah well...maybe I need a life.

[kingcrim05]

Whoa, you haven't heard SFAM yet?

Their later albums (ESPECIALLY ToT) are junk compared to it.....

Octavarium is about a 7 compared to SFaM being a 10....ToT is somewhere around 5-6....

[kexodusc]

Interesting, I know kingcrim05 and a few of us have had this discussion before...Most rank SFAM as their best so far, but that's where opinions differ. I much prefer the slightly leaner, and darker theme from ToT than Six Degrees. kingcrim05 gives it a 5-6, I give it a 7-8. Octavarium is a step up again.

The fact that different albums have received such widely opposing views among fans is actually a testament to DT's ability to mix it up.

[MasterCylinder]

Well 3lock...........you are really coming around lately.

When I saw Dream Theater last September in Albuquerque, their tour was actually called TRAIN OF THOUGHT .....but......their set consisted of 2 songs from ToT, about half of SFaM and, to my sheer delight, most of the second half of 6DOIT.

Sorry you were not there with me.......but, at the time, you would have had no appreciation for the set list.

I also agree with the other posters -- you need to RUN (not walk) to the nearest CD store and buy SFaM......you won't regret it.......it IS a concept album & well done.

[Hyfi]

Just posted about this disk a few weeks ago here. I happen to like it more than the heavy metal style and screaming.

Can't say I have heard much by Dream Theater

Hyfi

[MasterCylinder]

Dream Theater Discography (recommended releases have this ***)



Dream Theater - When Dream And Day Unite [1989]

01 - A Fortune In Lies
02 - Status Seeker
03 - The Ytse Jam
04 - The Killing Hand
05 - Light Fuse And Get Away
06 - After Life
07 - The Ones Who Help To Set The Sun
08 - Only A Matter Of Time

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Dream Theater - Images And Words [1992]***

01 - Pull Me Under
02 - Another Day
03 - Take The Time
04 - Surrounded
05 - Metropolis - Part I
06 - Under A Glass Moon
07 - Wait For Sleep
08 - Learning To Live

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Dream Theater - Another Day [1992]

01 - Another Day
02 - A Fortune In Lies (Live)
03 - Another Day (Live)

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Dream Theater - Live At The Marquee [1993]

01 - Metropolis
02 - A Fortune In Lies
03 - Bombay Vindaloo
04 - Surrounded
05 - Another Hand - The Killing Hand
06 - Pull Me Under

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Dream Theater - Lie [1994]

01 - Lie (Edit Version)
02 - Space-Dye Vest
03 - To Live Forever (Non Album)
04 - Another Day (Live)

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Dream Theater - The Silent Man [1994]

01 - The Silent Man (LP Version)
02 - Take The Time (Demo Version)
03 - Eve (Non Album)

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Dream Theater - Awake [1994]

01 - 6:00
02 - Caught In A Web
03 - Innocence Faded
04 - Erotomania
05 - Voices
06 - The Silent Man
07 - The Mirror
08 - Lie
09 - Lifting Shadows Off A Dream
10 - Scarred
11 - Space-Dye Vest

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Dream Theater - A Change Of Seasons [1995]

01 - A Change Of Seasons
02 - Funeral For A Friend
03 - Perfect Strangers
04 - The Rover
05 - The Big Medley

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Dream Theater - Hollow Years [1997]

01 - Hollow Years (Radio Edit)
02 - Hollow Years (LP Version)
03 - You Or Me
04 - The Way It Used To Be (Non Album)

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Dream Theater - Falling Into Infinity [1997]***

01 - New Millennium
02 - You Not Me
03 - Peruvian Skies
04 - Hollow Years
05 - Burning My Soul
06 - Hell's Kitchen
07 - Lines In The Sand
08 - Take Away My Pain
09 - Just Let Me Breathe
10 - Anna Lee
11 - Trial Of Tears

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Dream Theater - Once In A Livetime [1998]

01 - A Change Of Seasons I
02 - A Change Of Seasons II
03 - Puppies On Acid
04 - Just Let Me Breathe
05 - Voices
06 - Take The Time
07 - Keyboard Solo
08 - Lines In The Sand
09 - Scarred
10 - A Change Of Seasons IV
11 - Ytse Jam
12 - Drum Solo
13 - Trial Of Tears
14 - Hollow Years
15 - Take Away My Pain
16 - Caught In A Web
17 - Lie
18 - Peruvian Skies
18 - Guitar Solo
19 - Pull Me Under
20 - Metropolis
21 - Learning To Live
22 - A Change of Seasons VII

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Dream Theater - Scenes From A Memory [1999]***

01 - Regression
02 - Overture 1928
03 - Strange Deja Vu
04 - Through My Words
05 - Fatal Tragedy
06 - Beyond This Life
07 - Through Her Eyes
08 - Home
09 - The Dance Of Eternity
10 - One Last Time
11 - The Spirit Carries On
12 - Finally Free

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Dream Theater - Through Her Eyes [2000]

01 - Through Her Eyes (Radio Edit)
02 - Through Her Eyes (Alternate Album Mix)
03 - Home (Live)
04 - When Images And Words Unite (Live Medley)

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Dream Theater - Live Scenes From New York [2001]

01 - Regression
02 - Overture 1928
03 - Strange Deja Vu
04 - Through My Words
05 - Fatal Tragedy
06 - Beyond This Life
07 - John & Theresa Solo Spot
08 - Through Her Eyes
09 - Home
10 - The Dance Of Eternity
11 - One Last Time
12 - The Spirit Carries On
13 - Finally Free
14 - Metropolis Part I
15 - The Mirror
16 - Just Let Me Breathe
17 - Acid Rain
18 - Caught In A New Millennium
19 - Another Day
20 - Jordan Rudess' Keyboard Solo
21 - Erotomania
22 - Voices
23 - The Silent Man
24 - Learning To Live
25 - A Change Of Seasons

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Dream Theater - Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence [2002]***

01 - The Glass Prison
02 - Blind Faith
03 - Misunderstood
04 - The Great Debate
05 - Disappear
06 - Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence

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Dream Theater - Train Of Thought [2003]***

01 - As I Am
02 - This Dying Soul
03 - Endless Sacrifice
04 - Honor Thy Father
05 - Vacant
06 - Stream Of Consciousness
07 - In The Name Of God

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Dream Theater - Live At Budokan [2004] (Live at Budokan DVD***)

01 - As I Am
02 - This Dying Soul
03 - Beyond This Life
04 - Hollow Years
05 - War Inside My Head
06 - The Test that Stumped Them All
07 - Endless Sacrifice
08 - Instrumedley
09 - Trial Of Tears
10 - New Millenium
11 - Keyboard Solo
12 - Only A Matter Of Time
13 - Goodnight Kiss
14 - Solitary Shell
15 - Stream Of Consciousness
16 - Disappear
17 - Pull Me Under
18 - In The Name Of God

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Dream Theater - Octavarium [2005]***

01 - The Root Of All Evil
02 - The Answer Lies Within
03 - These Walls
04 - I Walk Beside You
05 - Panic Attack
06 - Never Enough
07 - Sacrificed Sons
08 - Octavarium