FALLING INTO INFINITY

This is the first record with Derek Sherinian with Dream Theater as a creative force (A Change of Seasons was written in the Moore-Era) and the result was better than what the most people would think. Dream Theater went for it, experimented with different kinds of music and they got a nice final product. This was also the very first time they've recorded the instrument tracks separate for the final mix. Dream Theater reflects a big Pink Floyd influence in contrast to their two first; in which they recalled Rush and Yes. Unfortunately, they were dealing with some troubles with the label and they had to make some tracks to please them.

"New Millennium" has one of the best lyrics this band (Mike Portnoy wrote this one) has ever made, and this is also the first song in which John Myung used the Chapman Stick, the progression are great, the way the band interacts and give every single instrument shine by itself.

"You Not Me" has some kind of Rage against the Machine style, starting with some heavy drums and wah guitar. I've heard the demo version of this song with the original lyrics and opposite to what many people think Desmond Child's contribution is cool, the arrangements just suited fine to the rhythm of the song.

"Peruvian Skies" is one of the highlights of this release, the dramatic feeling fits with the topic of the track, and suddenly it goes harder, letting all for the guitar solo; which is one of the best John Petrucci has ever played.

"Hollow Years" is an acoustic ballad, this was chosen for being the single to be released, they even made a video. This is one of the songs to please the label, and I think this reduced the quality, because it sounds like they were not feeling it, it doesn't sounds authentic.

"Burning my soul" is for the Metal heads, a heavy bass line, the double bass, and the power in the voice of James LaBrie prove it. Derek Sherinian has a decent contribution, but if you listen carefully you'll find some elements that enhance the sound.

"Hell's Kitchen follows the tradition of including an instrumental piece from their previous studio release; this one is not as complex as "Erotomania" but it works OK for the rhythm of the album. It has a very strong guitar influence, which leads most of the melodic line of the track until the end of the song.

"Lines in The Sand" is the awakening of Derek, when he proves that you don't need to play ten thousand notes per minute if you have a balance of instrumental ability and the right feeling to transfer it on your playing. With a simple fusion scale, he leads one of the most progressive songs this band has done. The contribution in the vocals by Doug Pinnick is awesome, when he sings it seems he's the main guy. Then, it's followed by a fantastic instrumental section and before they return to the main theme.

"Take Away My Pain" is a pop oriented song, in which John Petrucci says goodbye to his dead father, musically there is nothing to discuss.

"Just Let Me Breathe" almost kills the album; this is the most awful thing Dream Theater has done in their whole career, the lyrics are very simple and plain: this is another track where the label hand is visible, trying to search for a "hit single".

"Anna Lee" is another ballad like "Hollow Years", but in this time the orchestration is far better since the beginning to the end.

"Trial of Tears" is simply the best song in the album, it's the longest one. The lyrics by John Myung (in my opinion, the best lyricist in the band) are almost poetry. Everything is on its right place, the vocals, the instruments, everything makes this perfect.

If you read this review since the title to the end, you'll ask yourself why could this album kill Dream Theater and if that's true, why I rated it with four stars. This album nearly killed Dream Theater because of the risk they faced when they included poppy songs on it, and for a band like them, that's a deadly sin. Then, why four stars? There are only two bad songs out of eleven; I think there's the answer.

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