This is Dream Theater's 4th full length studio album, released in 1997. Dream Theater decided to go mainstream with this album, but this album is still very progressive and is a good one to go for if you're new to Dream Theater.
The album kicks off with the psychadelic keyboard intro of ... Read review
Advantages: Mainstream whilst keeping their progressive sound Disadvantages: Some duff tracks
This is Dream Theater's 4th full length studio album, released in 1997. Dream Theater decided to go mainstream with this album, but this album is still very progressive and is a good one to go for if you're new to Dream Theater.
The album kicks off with the psychadelic keyboard intro of New Millenium. This is a good song - Fairly upbeat, not very heavy. Takes a few listens to appreciate it more, but a nice start to the album.
... ...You Not Me. This is my least favourite Dream Theater track. It's mainstream grunge rock and is not what Dream Theater are like.
Peruvian Skies is actually my favourite on the album. It starts off in clean, drums kick in after a bit, then after the second chorus, there's a big build up into an incredible solo then the intro riff, once played in clean, now in full distortion, very Metallica-esque. This is a brilliant song. Not typical ... more
This is Dream Theater's 4th full length studio album, released in 1997. Dream Theater decided to go mainstream with this album, but this album is still very progressive and is a good one to go for if you're new to Dream Theater.
The album kicks off with the psychadelic keyboard intro of New Millenium. This is a good song - Fairly upbeat, not very heavy. Takes a few listens to appreciate it more, but a nice start to the album.
Don't get put off by the nest track, You Not Me. This is my least favourite Dream Theater track. It's mainstream grunge rock and is not what Dream Theater are like.
Peruvian Skies is actually my favourite on the album. It starts off in clean, drums kick in after a bit, then after the second chorus, there's a big build up into an incredible solo then the intro riff, once played in clean, now in full distortion, very Metallica-esque. This is a brilliant song. Not typical Dream Theater, but still awesome.
Hollow Years was released as a single. This a lovely soft track, no distortion, which is very memorable. One of my favourites.
Burning My Soul is probably my second worst Dream Theater track. The lyrics are pretty bad in this song. It's fairly heavy, but nothing special.
Hell's Kitchen is the instrumental on the album. This is beautiful. You just get lost in the music with this one. This track then fades into the masterpiece of the album, Lines In The Sand.
Lines In The Sand has a very funky, yet heavy riff after a minute and a half long atmospheric keyboard intro. Funky verse and headbanging chorus, featuring Doug Pinnick from Kings X on backing vocals, which adds a really nice touch to it. The middle section, which is quiet has one of the best John Petrucci guitar solos ever. Beautiful, atmospheric stuff. It then kicks into the chorus again for one last time. Great song.
Take Away My Pain is quite similar to Hollow Years in style. Another soft song, probably not as good as Hollow Years, but still very nice. A soft song is needed after Lines In The Sand
Just Let Me Breathe is heavy, funky prog metal. Not a big fan of the lyrics. Failry bad attampt at trying to be mainstream. It's just not what Dream Theater are. Besides the lyrics, this is a really good song actually. Excellent instrumental section. Petty good.
Anna Lee is a piano-based ballad with some wonderful chords. I love this one, but not mad keen on the middle section when James LaBrie sings really high. It doesn't ruin it, but I think it should be left instrumental. Lovely modulation at the end.
The album finished with quite a Rush-esque song, Trial Of Tears. The intro is almost identical to Xanadu. Wonderful song. I haven't listened to it that much so I can't comment too much on it but it's brilliant.
Overall, this is a good album. It's the first Dream Theater album I got. I didn't see what all the hype was about aftre I got it, but fortunately, I gave them another chance when I bought Images And Words. This album is now one of my favourites though.
I wouldn't get this if you're new to Dream Theater. I thought it was OK when I first heard it, but that's cause I was expecting shredding solos and crazy tempo changes, but this album is excellent. If you're used to mainstream rock, you could well like this and it might be a nice place to start. If you're into metal or prog-metal, I wouldn't start with this. Great album.
Advantages: Some great tracks. Has Trial of Tears on it. Disadvantages: Some radio friendly, not so good songs.
This album has always had a hard time from critics and fans alike. It's an attempt at radio friendly songs 'apparently', and even the band themselves say this. Personally I like this album, it took a couple of listens to get into it, and it has a couple of poor songs, but some really shine through.
The poorer songs on the album are:
'You Not Me'; it's not too bad, but it lacks heaviness for my tastes, very radio friendly and commercial! 'Hollow ... ...a tad generic. It picks up a little bit at the end. 'Take Away my Pain'; similar comments to above, I like the solo and centre part of it, but the rest drags on a lot, and seems a bit long.
The above songs are very lightweight compared to a lot of DT stuff, having said that it's not like they ruin the album or anything like that, in fact it does all fit together nicely, but don't judge the album on the above songs.
Now the other songs:
'New Millennium'; ...
Tsportmat 17.01.2009
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Advantages: Great first track, a refreshing change from prog Disadvantages: Can get slow and boring, mainly covers.
- Guitar and Backing Vocals
Jordan Rudess - Keyboards and Synthesizers
Overall, a good quality album, but the only track really worth listening to is the title track. It's available in most good music stores from £10.99, but can be found in Martian Records for around £8 and the same sort of price on the internet.
The lyrics for the first track are in the inlay, but no other lyrics are included, just recording details. This is because all the other tracks are cover off other artists so dreamtheater aren't allowed to print their lyrics.
Other albums: I would highly recommend Awake, FallingIntoInfinity and Metropolis Part Two: Scenes From A Memory. The best album to buy first is Awake, as it will enable you to get used to DreamTheater's diverse sound (from prog metal to power ballads). Once you're sure you like their music, then I ...
Advantages: Improved live versions of 'Train of Thought' material. Disadvantages: A confusingly unsatisfying mix of old and new.
favourites,' the distinctly retro sound makes them stand out against the more modern, heavier material, and the contrast would have been more effective and less jarring if some of the more experimental and notable songs from those early albums had been chosen instead (but of course, there's the issue of the rotating set-list!)
The next stage of evolution that is charted is rather oddly the black sheep of DreamTheater releases, 1997's 'FallingintoInfinity.' Rather than focusing on its excellent
predecessor 'Awake,' which arguably perfected the fusion between classic heavy metal and prog, this album was produced under the scrutiny of a record label that wanted something more radio-friendly, so it's quite a surprise to see three songs ('Hollow Years,' 'Trial of Tears' and 'New Millennium') celebrated here. If the purpose is to contrast starkly ...
Product Information for "Falling Into Infinity - Dream Theater" »
Product details
Title
Falling Into Infinity
Performer
Dream Theater
Genre
Rock & Pop
Sub Genre
Progressive Rock
Release Date
20/10/1997
Recomended Retail Price
10.99 GBP
Original Release Year
1997
Label / Distributor
Elektra / Cinram Logistics
Engineer
Kevin Shirley
Producer
Kevin Shirley
Pieces in Set
1
Studio / Live
Studio
Stereo
Stereo
Format
Performer
EAN
75596206020
Catalogue Number
7559620602
Additional notes
Album Notes
Dream Theater: James LaBrie (vocals); John Petrucci (guitar, background vocals); Derek Sherinian (keyboards, background vocals); John Myung (bass, Chapman stick); Mike Portnoy (drums, percussion, background vocals). Additional personnel: Doug Pinnick (vocals); The Del Fuvio Monks. Recorded at Avatar Studios, New York, New York in June & July 1997. Dream Theater's specialty is atmospheric metal, at times heavy, at times sinister, with a sharp techno edge. "New Millennium," the disc's opening cut, defines the sound: ringing guitars, a driving beat, start-stop dynamics and rolling drum crescendos. There's a bit of a Rush influence at work here, as well as ELP and even some Metallica. "Hollow Years" is a quieter track, replete with gentle acoustic guitar, soothing vocals and an inspirational theme about the lifting of old curses and the possibility for redemption. Lead singer James LaBrie has a slightly nasal, but otherwise pleasing modern pop/metal vocal attack, which he exercises with passion throughout. If you like your metal melodic and even, at times, introspective, you should enjoy a visit to this Dream Theater.
Titles on disc 1
1.
New Millennium
2.
You Not Me
3.
Peruvian Skies
4.
Hollow Years
5.
Burning My Soul
6.
Hells Kitchen
7.
Lines In The Sand
8.
Take Away My Pain
9.
Just Let Me Breathe
10.
Anna Lee
11.
Trial Of Tears
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