| CD Reviews Last updated: 11.8.05 Dream Theater Octavarium Tracklist: 1. The Root of All Evil (8:07) (Lyrics: Portnoy, Music: Dream Theater) VI. Ready VII. Remove 2. The Answer Lies Within (5:20) (Lyrics: Petrucci, Music: Dream Theater) 3. These Walls (6:59) (Lyrics: Petrucci, Music: Dream Theater) 4. I Walk Beside You (4:29) (Lyrics: Petrucci, Music: Dream Theater) 5. Panic Attack (7:16) (Lyrics: Petrucci, Music: Dream Theater) 6. Never Enough (6:33) (Lyrics: Portnoy, Music: Dream Theater) 7. Sacrificed Sons (10:42) (Lyrics: LaBrie, Music: Dream Theater) 8. Octavarium (24:00) I. Someone Like Him (Lyrics: Petrucci, Music: Dream Theater) II. Medicate (Awakening) (Lyrics: LaBrie, Music: Dream Theater) III. Full Circle (Lyrics: Portnoy, Music: Dream Theater) IV. Intervals (Lyrics: Portnoy, Music: Dream Theater) V. Razor�s Edge (Lyrics: Petrucci, Music: Dream Theater) Total: 1:15:46 Introduction: Dream Theater�s previous album, Train of Thought, was undoubtedly the band�s heaviest and darkest release to date. It was rather well received by most fans. However, some have criticized the album due to one-dimensional nature; the album was nearly an all-metal record, with few progressive elements. Nevertheless, the album was very successful in terms of sales. After releasing a live album, Live at Budokan, in late 2004, the band went to work on their eighth studio album, titled Octavarium. The album fittingly features eight songs, including the song �Octavarium�, which clocks in at exactly 24 minutes, making it their longest stand-alone track to date. Synopsis: Octavarium starts off with �The Root of All Evil�, which is the third part of the AA 12-step program-influenced songs, with �The Glass Prison� and �This Dying Soul� being the first two parts, respectively. And just like the last three albums, �The Root of All Evil� begins with the same note that ended their previous album, Train of Thought. Okay, with those trivial bits aside, here�s the analysis of the song. Like the two parts before it, �The Root of All Evil� is a rather heavy song. The lyrics deal with dark themes related to alcohol, again, like the first two songs in the series. The beginning has the main riff from �This Dying Soul� played on the drums, as weird as it may sound. The song is as heavy as the previous two parts, and thankfully doesn�t have any of those weird, muffled voice effects like in �This Dying Soul�. Overall, I really like this song. It's a great opener. �The Answer Lies Within� is a slow, ballad-type song. In a lot of ways, it reminds me of �Anna Lee� from the Falling Into Infinity album, in the sense that it is heavy on keyboards. James�s singing on this song is top-notch. The lyrics of this song are also very good. There�s also a string section that was added in to insert some extra emotion to the song, and it worked. �These Walls� opens up with some really weird, almost Tool-like guitar effects. But the actual song sounds nothing like a Tool song. It�s more of a slow paced song that really demonstrates LaBrie�s vocal skills. The lyrics are pretty good too. Petrucci�s song writing went downhill a bit with some of the songs on Train of Thought, in my opinion, but on Octavarium, his lyrics have improved a lot. The guitar riffs are a little more distorted than they should be, but other than that, this is another song that I�ve been impressed with. A lot of fans think that �I Walk Beside You� sounds U2-inspired, and, well, I think they�re right. It�s mainly the guitar riff during the chorus that makes it seem that way. But comparisons aside, this is an okay song. It�s not nearly as good as the previous three songs, but it�s decent and is certainly a listenable track. An awesome bass solo opens up the next song, �Panic Attack�. Myung certainly took a backseat in nearly all of the songs on Train of Thought, but with this song, he has stepped back into the forefront. Well, at least for a moment. The song is about, well, a panic attack. The lyrics of this song aren�t as good as those on previous tracks on the album, but in this case, I don�t think it�s a big deal. The fast guitar and bass riffs, double-kick drumming, haunting keyboards, and interesting vocals certainly make it seem like a panic attack is occurring. This is probably the heaviest song on the album, and is probably one of their heaviest songs in the band�s catalogue. �As I Am� from Train of Thought was a song John Petrucci wrote about those who want Dream Theater to go into their desired direction and do what they want them to do. On Octavarium, a song in the same vein exists: �Never Enough�. Portnoy directed the lyrics to the song to those who are never pleased with whatever Dream Theater does. Musically, some have pointed out that this song sounds like a song by the band Muse. I didn�t believe it at first, but once I heard the song, I really do think this sounds a bit like Muse. This shouldn�t come as a big surprise, as John Petrucci and Mike Portnoy are huge Muse fans. This song is queite. It�s not one of my favorites on the album, but like �I Walk Beside You�, it�s a song that you can listen to. Petrucci and Rudess deliver excellent guitar and keyboard solos, respectively. The lyirics are harsh and clearly deliver their message: "Sacrifice my life/Neglect my kids and wife/All for you to be happy". The opening to �Sacrificed Sons� includes some weird chatter, as well as sound samples from various news sources describing the tragic events of September 11th. This song was written about the events of 9/11, and those who lost their lives in the attack. LaBrie does a tremendous job of singing the well-penned lyrics. There�s also a great instrumental section about 4 and � minutes into the song that leads up to a kick ass keyboard solo followed by a fitting guitar solo. I like this song, but not as much as I liked �In The Name of God�. The album comes to a close with the epic �Octavarium�. The song clocks in at exactly 24 minutes, making it their longest stand-alone song to date. �Octavarium� consists of five parts, the first of which is titled �Someone Like Him�, which begins with a long instrumental section that slowly builds up momentum. This includes a flute solo! Anyway, once the vocals come in, the song shifts into an acoustic tune. The next part, �Medicate (Awakening)� has some electric guitar riffs, and has some very audible bass lines during the verses. This part then goes into a cool keyboard solo, which then segues into part III, �Full Circle�. This part is a particularly enjoyable one, because the lyrics make several different references, mainly to song lyrics and titles the band likes, as well as other musicians and the like. This section definitely has to be heard. The song then shifts into a very cool instrumental section that has some strange, but intriguing keyboard effects and guitar riffs. Next up is part IV, �Intervals�. This is the heaviest part of the song, with some heavy guitar riffs and faster paced drumming. LaBrie sings the lyrics of this part, all of which recall the themes of the previous seven songs, with aggression, and does a hell of a good job at it. His scream during the lyric �Trapped inside this Octavarium� is particularly outstanding. The song then comes to a climactic close with the fifth and final part, �Razor�s Edge�. A great guitar solo and string section highlights this part. The song comes to a close with the same note at which the album began, making it �a perfect sphere�. Highlights: �The Root Of All Evil", "These Walls", �Octavarium� Overall: Octavarium is an album that is basically Dream Theater�s evolution. Some will like this album, some won�t (and there's a song directed at those people). I particularly enjoyed Octavarium; it has excellent songs and is their most ambitious and established album yet. Very recommended. Final Score: A- Any questions, comments, submissions, or anything related to the site should be e-mailed to me: shadowdragonxx [at] hotmail [dot] com. Don't take anything from the site without permission. |
| Octavarium Album line-up: James LaBrie � Vocals John Myung � Bass John Petrucci � Guitars and Vocals Mike Portnoy � Drums, Vocals, and Percussion Jordan Rudess � Keyboards, Continuum, and Lap Steel Guitar Additional Personnel: Orchestra on tracks 7 and 8: Elena Barere � Concert Master Katherine Fong, Ann Lehmann, Katherine Livolsi-Stern, Laura McGinniss, Catherine Ro, Ricky Sortomme, and Yuri Vodovoz � Violins Vincent Lionti and Karen Dreyfus � Violas Richard Locker and Jeanne LeBlanc � Celli Pamela Sklar � Flute Joe Anderer and Stewart Rose � French Horns String quartet on track 2: Elena Barere � First Violin Carol Webb � Second Violin Vincent Lionti � Viola Richard Locker - Cello Release Year: 2005 Label: Elektra Produced by: John Petrucci and Mike Portnoy |
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