THE ROAD HOME

Admittedly, I've been a Yes fan much longer than I have been a Dream Theater fan, but in my attempts to branch out I thought I'd give this album a try. One thing is undeniable: Jordan Rudess has incredible talent. His technical expertise is unmatched (at least in my musical forays) by any other modern keyboard player. I believe he has the chops to be up there with wizards like Keith Emerson and Rick Wakeman. However, after listening to "The Road Home", there's no doubt in my mind that Emerson and Wakeman are better musicians. This is made incredibly obvious on the solo medley of songs Rudess compiled. The technical ability is there; the musicianship is not. Part of what makes some of those songs beautiful is lost in the flourishes that Rudess inserts virtually every five seconds, to the point where towards the end of the piece it actually gets pretty irritating.

But that's not to say every song Rudess attempts comes off flat. His take on "Sound Chaser" blends perfectly into his playing style; the jazzy- fusion-esque take seems very natural and is not at all difficult to listen to. He does a particularly excellent job of layering each keyboard he adds to the mix. The guest performances are also superb; I have to extend kudos to Nick D'Virgilio for giving an excellent treatment of Jon Anderson's lyrics. "Dance On a Volcano" is also very well done; there is a great balance between the instruments and the mixing is fantastic. Overall, it's a decent album, and if you're a keyboard enthusiast there's no really good reason to pass this one up. Just don't be expecting a masterpiece, because it's not quite there.