SYSTEMATIC CHAOS

With Systematic Chaos, Dream Theater confirmed a level of technical brilliance and inspiration impossible to match by any other group in the genre. In fact, in my opinion, not only they are the best, but between them and the second best group are some 10 blank places. So it goes like this: DT - first place, then places 2 to 10 - not taken, then probably Fates Warning (DT are their fans), then the rest of them... Some fans and anti-fans probably wonder why their albums are so diverse, why an album is mostly prog, the next is heavy, the next is symphonic, with Octavarium Orchestra, etc. The answer is BECAUSE THEY CAN. They can play anything if they want to, even jazz, I suspect. From the first notes, it's like they take you by the hand and show you how it's made... Their music is no chaos, it's organized (pun intended) and structured. You can listen the first song and then go home saying: "OK, another perfect album..." Their music is not easy, although they make it look so easy. You need to have some musical background, to have an idea of the theory, the work behind the music, etc. Otherwise, you don't understand it. I'm pleased to see though that even the anti-fans bothered to write a review, allbeit a bad one. That says something. Until now, 125 people reviewed this album, making comments on the music of DT, comparing it with the music of other groups. That says something, too. If I consider that an album is not worthy, I don't bother to write about it... Now returning to Systematic Chaos, I will not analyze each song, many other reviewers have done that. I will only say that DT are back with another stellar album and I'm thinking seriously to place them on par with Yes, Genesis, Pink Floyd, ELP and the other classics (in my book, of course). So 6...(oops, I did it again, sorry)...err, only 5 stars, that's all I am allowed.