500 RPM

Dream Theater’s Mike Portnoy displays a penchant for ‘concept’ albums in his choice of favourite CDs

All-time Top 5: “I would say number one on the list would have to be Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, by the Beatles. When I was a kid, that was the first album that really, really influenced me and really brought me into music and everything. And all the production techniques and everything used on that album were so ground-breaking and incredible – on a four-track, which is what we do our home demos on! That’s the album that broke all the rules in every respect.

“Number two... I guess I would have to say The Wall, by Pink Floyd. I think that in many similar respects to Sgt Pepper... the production techniques on that album are astounding. And that album has always hit an emotional nerve with me. Every time I listen to that album from start to finish I’m like emotionally drained. I think Roger Waters’s lyrics and the whole concept behind it is just incredible. Yeah, I was always a Pink Floyd fan. I grew up listening to Dark Side Of The Moon, Animals and Wish You Were Here, and even the early stuff, like Meddle and Atom Heart Mother.

“Number three... let me see... I guess I would have to mix some metal albums in here. I’ve gotten metal albums and all-time albums, but because metal is so new I have trouble incorporating it with the classics. But I guess if we’re gonna put them together I would have to put Queensrÿche’s Operation: Mindcrime on the list. Actually, it’s strange, because these all almost have ‘concept’ album feels, to them. Maybe I’ve always considered ‘concept’ albums as ‘ultimate’ albums – openly artistic expression. I think Operation: Mindcrime was pretty much the peak of Queensrÿche creatively; probably the ultimate ‘concept’ metal album of the eighties.

“This is tough, because usually my all-time favourite albums are ones that I’ve listened to thousands of times, so you get a bit burnt on them. I mean, I’d have to put Metallica’s Master Of Puppets up there, but I don’t think I could because I’ve listened to that album to death, and I don’t think I could ever put it on for enjoyment unless I was away from it for like a coupla years.

“Number four... Once again I think I’ll have to go with a ‘concept’ album, and go for Misplaced Childhood, by Marillion. I think they’ve always been an incredibly underrated band, especially in America. I think Misplaced Childhood was Fish’s lyrical masterpiece. He is my all-time favourite lyricist. He’s just a poetic genius as far as I’m concerned. Musically, too, it’s just an incredible album. Very similar to with The Wall, it really struck an emotional nerve with me.

“I wanna include some metal albums, but when I think of all-time albums... mmm, what would be the fifth... I’d have to choose, er... why don’t we say Metallica’s Master Of Puppets. I briefly mentioned it before, but I think that would have to be on there. I think that was the ultimate metal album of all time; it really defined the whole genre and I think that it was Metallica’s peak. it was Cliff Burton’s last album and everything... When we heard that Cliff died, me and the rest of the guys sat in my room and we listened to ‘Orion’, which has the bass solo, and it sent chills down our spines.”

First album bought: “it’s weird, because my dad was a disc jockey, so I grew up listening to the Beatles and the Who and Led Zeppelin... and by the time I was 10 years old I had this tremendous record collection. But as far as the first record I ever bought, I think it was Tommy, by The Who – here we go again with the ‘concept’ albums!”

Last album bought: “Actually I just got the new Primus album, Pork Soda. Primus are an incredibly weird band and great musicians, and Pork Soda is weirder than ever, which is great. I think the thing that people appreciate about them is their uniqueness and their weird sense of humour and weird approach to their instruments.”

Favourite driving album: “Actually, I guess the one cassette I always find myself listening to while driving is Public Enemy’s Fear Of A Black Planet. Wow, that album is somethin’ else. I’ve always been a big rap fan, and I listen to Public Enemy, Ice Cube, the Beastie Boys... But as far as I’m concerned, Fear Of A Black Planet was the ultimate rap album. And for anybody that doesn’t listen to rap, I think this would be the album to listen to. The production techniques are so incredible. When I’m in the car, that’s the one album that always gets me going – crank it up and just take it all in. It really gets my adrenaline flowing. The only other album that can almost cause me to have an accident while I’m driving is Pantera’s Vulgar Display Of Power. To me that’s the ultimate adrenaline rush. Pantera have become what Metallica was years ago.”

Album most likely to buy next: “Probably the new Anthrax album. I’ve got the advance cassette here and I was just listening to it for the first time. That’s the one I’m most looking forward to getting on CD. I’ve always been a big Anthrax fan. When most of the ‘thrash’ bands were coming out – Metallica, Anthrax, Slayer, Megadeth, Testament- I always felt really attached to Anthrax for some reason, maybe because they’re from New York and we’re from New York. I could always relate to them. It seems that all of their interests are my interests. The last couple of Anthrax albums I had trouble with though, probably because of the vocals. So I think changing to John Bush was a great move for them.”

Favourite non-metal/hard rock album: “Well I guess I named a bunch of them in my all-time favourites. But if I had to pick one outside of what I listed there... er... maybe Yessongs. Yes have always been one of my favourite bands, but I’ve always had trouble choosing one album. I mean I think the best studio album is Close To The Edge. But if there was any one Yes collection, that triple live album was it – all the material from Close To The Edge, Fragile and The Yes Album. The live versions are great, because Yes always jammed and expanded on the arrangements live. it really is the definitive Yes collection.”

—Paul Henderson