Dream Theater, “Words And Images”, Atco/East West....

The saga finally finds completion, as you should all soon have in your possession, one of the most sonically perfect albums of the year. Dream Theater are a high tech storm of immense beauty exorcised with consummate skill. Amidst the tremendous deluge of alterna-metal type bands, these five musicians stand out like a sore thumb, and all the better for them. They may embody a mesmerizing and precise fusion of progressive tendencies born of other renowned prog-rockers (Yes, Rush, Floyd), but they still respect the art of singularity, (amply stamping their songs with their own brand of melodic finesse not to mention a definitive ‘90’s edge not unlike Queensrÿche, Fates Warning, King’s X and others have done). Youth and musical virtuosity combine to create some of the most stunning and headstrong music you will come across for some time. Not the bullheaded angst of grunge or grind however, but rather a more fluid (beautiful), thought provoking and emotional style despite the complexity. It’s been a long road for Kevin Moore (keys), Mike Portnoy (drums), John Myung (bass), John Petrucci (guitar) and their most recent addition, the very talented singer James LaBrie. From the start, they have striven for a level of excellence that instantly set them on the outer tracks of what the radio world was looking for. But, now having overcome label and management obstacles (a time consuming reorganization), the band is ready to get down to business once again. And with “Images And Words” they should find themselves (finally) on the inner track, headed for the top. An album lush with impressive musicianship, but far from short on ear catching hooks and melody – metal blends easily with jazz, fusion, rock, etc... All in all, a gleaming mixture produced to sheer refinement by David Prater. From the 8 minutes plus lead single, “Pull Me Under”, the power of “Take The Time” (“You can find all you need in your mind... if you take the time”), the emotive weaving of “Surrounded” and “Another Day”, to the breathtaking intricacy of “Metropolis-Part I”, the ultra-lengthy “Learning To Live” and on and on. The record is a piece of art. “Images And Words” indeed, conjured up by a brilliant band. Adds this week landed at WDHA, WXCI and WZRC, and the single keeps swirling away at WCWP, WXDR, WNHU, WRIU, WHMH, KNGX, WCWP, WKDU, KWUR and WLFR (with top phones at WHMH, WNHU & WXDR). Don’t wait on this one. “Let the light surround you...” (“Surrounded”).