OFFICE OF STRATEGIC INFLUENCE (LIMITED EDITION)

I've been a huge fan of Mike Portnoy side projects and always wanted to know what OSI was like. luckily enough i was able to get their debut album but more importantly i got the special edition of the debut. At first listen i was kinda confused i guess you could say about how experimental each song was but now that i've given it some time and though i love it especially the second disc. Basically we got some very fine musicians with Kevin Moore a former bandmate of Dream Theater who i've always been a fan of his early work with DT but this was different for me as Kevin Moore's style of this Cd was alot of loops, samples, and even some neat techno like stuff. At first i didn't like it that much but now that i've given it some time its not that bad in fact Kevin does some groovy sections here. In fact its weird i don't like Chroma Key but the work that he does with this band is really good i guess its cause we have real drums, guitar, etc. on this disc. Then you have another one of my favorite guitar players Jim Matheos the metal monster from the great Fates Warning. Here you kinda have a laid back version of Jim sure you have his great riffs and cool solos but you also have some programming work by Jim as well as some great acoustic work by Jim. Then you have the rhythm section of Mike Portnoy who always and has been known to give a great performance and he does that in this album but not only displaying some outrageous moves but in some tracks does well by play more of a groove rock drummer which to me is just fine he still is the best prog metal drummer. Sean Malone also does a great job its just at time i can't hear him but he does great with THE NEW MATH (WHAT HE SAID) and OSI. Steven Wilson also does guest vocals for SHUTDOWN which is a great epic and he really does bring some great porcupine tree likeness to the song. Overall all the songs display something great as they display some heaviness and also some cool groovy beats and real catchy lyrics. Then you have the second disc which i say could have been better but there is some good stuff. the pink floyd and neil young covers didn't really catch my eye but THE THING THAT NEVER WAS is really good i just wish this song was on the original disc. Anyway overall another great side project by Mike Portnoy even though Jim Matheos decided to make it become his baby but still if you like experimental metal like stuff this is the disc for you.