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.

Now the other songs:
'New Millennium'; reasonably heavy but quite slow. Definitely a decent song to open the album up has some really nice keyboard work in it. I find that this song is a little too long, it's only 8 minutes, not long by DT standards, but it and tends to drag slightly.
'Peruvian Skies'; this song breaks you in gently, with some soft eerie singing, and a soft but sinister riff. Halfway through a heavy riff breaks out in the background, and you can hear LaBrie's voice starting to get more and more angry. Petrucci unleashes a good solo, which fits the song perfectly (not mindless shredding like some guitarists). We then get another great heavy riff and more keyboard work and LaBrie resumes where he left off in an angry fashion until the end. This song really is a great piece, listen to this, then you'll be out buying this album within 1 hour!
'Burning My Soul'; after hearing 'Hollow Years' you're already expecting something monstrous to follow, a couple of gongs go and a nice little bass riff get's underway, and the rest of the band gradually kick in, very nice intro. This ends up with a chugging riff with LaBrie slowly going along in the verse. The Chorus is ace, and very catchy. This is repeated, then the well known DT instrumental before we hear another chorus and verse. Superb song.
'Hell's Kitchen'; this would have been nice to have Gordon Ramsey making a guest voice (probably before his time mind) but DT manage without him. Anyway they've made this launch from 'Burning My Soul' in a rather excellent way, although this isn't much like BMS as that was dark and heavy, this is a gentle instrumental, of course it has some shredding in it too. If it didn't it just wouldn't be Dream Theater.
'Lines in the Sand'; yet another song which ties straight in from the previous. A really really nice intro, starts off slow once again, very sow drumming and plenty of long guitar notes, then it starts going. The opening verse has a very gentle LaBrie, his voice sounds very different to other songs. The song is very catchy on the chorus, but not radio friendly catchy somehow, needs to be heard, very difficult to explain this song the structure is odd too, but you can trust me that it's good! Solo's are exceptional.
'Just let me breathe'; once again we have a very light intro, when it gets going it's a very quick song, I'd like to say chirpy, except for the lyrics, which are quite dark, so I'll say it's frantic. One of my favourite songs on the album. As always, great solo! Another that I'd suggest listening to, makes the album worth buying alone!
'Trial of Tears'; well they really have saved the best for last. Now I'm not normally a fan of Ballad type pieces (not sure if this is one or not), but this isn't just any Ballad. It's probably my favourite Ballad of all time, and probably my favourite solo of the album, it just fits so superbly into the song. This album also contains my favourite bass note in any song, listen out for it! (The actual note is on 10:52 if you're interested, but you really need to listen to the entire song before hearing it, or it doesn't really work, make sure you have a sub, and your system is cranked RIGHT up)