DREAM THEATRE IS:
James LaBrie--Voices
Mike Portnoy--Drums and percussion
Kevin Moore--Keyboards
John Myung--Bass
John Petrucci--Guitar
AWAKE is Dream Theatre's 3rd studio Album. It was released in 1994. They have an all star lineup of some of the greatest musicians of our day.
James LaBrie is a great vocalist (who at times sounds like Geddy Lee) He has great range and is an all around great singer. Mike Portnoy is one of the greatest drummers of his generation. John Petrucci is an amazing guitarist, enough said. Myung and Moore are excellent at their respective instruments as well, and all combine to form Dream Theatre.
~Track by Track~
6:00-one of the best songs to kick of an album ever. riught from the opening note it's full of energy. Awesome work from Petrucci, Myung, Moore and Portnoy! Labrie comes in and just amazes me. A High Energy track, one of the greatest I've ever heard.....but wait...the album gets better!
4.5/5
Caught in a web--
opens with a great bass riff and keyboards! great teamwork by Myung and Moore. This track has high energy also, but the speed is slowed considderably from 6:00. The song I think, is about someone who just can't fit in, no matter what he does to try. He is caught "in a web" of fear and lies. Doesn't realize that he'd fit in better if he would just be himeslef and not try to fit in.
4/5
Innocence faded--
Best song intro ever, albeit short. Even better than Sweet Child O' Mine. the song is slowed considderably. the energy isn't as high as in the previous 2 songs, but the pace is great for this song. This song fits in the album perfectly. Ends with an awesome instrumental portion.
4/5
Erotomania--
Awesome instrumental. Everyone is great. perfect cong for this point in the album (4 songs in) haha
5/5
Voices--
this song opens with a great instrumental portion, high energy, low speed, that dies almost completely when the voice kicks in. During the verse, the music is very slow and quiet. a perfect slower song, and never losing the spirit of Dream Theatre or the album. The music picks up, and gets faster and harder during the chorus however, and during the (not totally musical) interlude [Dialogue by rap artist Prix-mo reading from the book "Cultural Revolution".] then the pace slows down for a new verse. This song runs 9:53.
5/5
The Silent Man--
This is the shortest songh on the CD running only 3:48. This song runs for about 1:00-1:15 with just a [acoustic] guitar and vocals, then soft drums kick in for a little bit before fading, and keyboards come in, soft and only for a limited time. This is the shortest song, and slowest song on the cd. Still great, emotional.
4.5/5
The Mirror--
this opens with much more power than the previous song, but it's not as emotional, and doesn't carry the same power [even though it's louder and faster]. Has lots of energy though, and that counts for a lot.
4/5
Lie--
More melodic singing than the previous songs, one of the hardest rocking songs on the album. bass driven, drums and guitar carry the beat well, and keyboards are evident also. excellent vocals, and singing and musicianship. One of my favourites on the album.
4.75/5
Lifting shadows off a dream--
slow bass intro, great for the song; set's the pace nicely. the vocals are soft and smooth, the songs is emotional, and peaceful, and great all at the same time. Not the best on the album, but great all the same.
3.75/5
Scarred--
this is the longest song on the CD running at 11:00, opens to an almost jazz sounding bass/drum riff, and then a guitar piece that sounds like it could be David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) and the song as a whole gets louder, and pace slows and just a great all around song. keeps you interested the whole way through. even if you hate long songs, you'll like this one!
5/5
Space Dye Vest--
this opens with a lone piano. quiet undominant drums come in here. There is a sample of Julian Sands from the film "A Room With A View" and quiet melancholy vocalsset the tone nicely.guitar and bass, although evident are over powered by the piano, which is (obviously) the main instrument in this song.
5/5
OK, here we go.....
this the the first Dream Theater CD I owned. They are a very very underrated band (at least where I live), and they deserve much more credit than they get. this CD is amazing in all aspects, and anyone can enjoy it at one point or another.
5/5
