METROPOLIS PART 2 - SCENES FROM A MEMORY

Easily a five, this album is one of the best ever recorded in ANY genre. I can't understand how anyone can give this album 1 or 2. Damn, giving it less than 4 is a crime! Yeah, I'm aware of that 'DT-hating' kind of thing. But let's be objective. First it's of course the music. 'Scenes from a Memory' features some of the most moving melodies I've ever heard. Especially it's the choruses of Home and Strange Deja Vu, Overture 1928 and some of the solos. Second, the structure. Even if you don't know it's a concept album you can easily guess it. Melody reprises here and there and amazing atmosphere give this feel. Also, structures of all songs are perfect: complex enough, with scrupulously developed guitar and keyboard solos which are NOT overextended. Third, story and lyrics. DT didn't try to create something epic and global. They just described a down to earth, touching yet rather twisted story of love and betrayal with a bit of mystery. And that's the best choice in my opinion! Fourth, the musicanship and production. Each bandmember preforms exceptionally on this record: Mike Portnoy's drumming is stunning, Rudess' and Petrucci's solos blow me away each time I hear them, LaBrie sings more emotionally and passionately than ever and Myung's bass is great, as always. The production is flawless as well. The sound isn't agressive at all, even in the heaviest parts of Beyond This Life or Home unlike, say, on Train of Thought or new Octavarium. Everything is quite delicate and gentle. The sound samples fit in perfectly making the atmosphere even more immersive. Overall, like I've already said, Scenes from a Memory is one of the greatest albums of all time. I really doubt that Dream Theater will ever surpass this masterpiece.