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The reason for the wildly varying opinions of Train of Thought, is because with this CD, Dream Theater is entering a new phase on their musical evolution. They have prudently and rightly ascertained that to keep recording, what is basically the same material, is effectively a death sentence.

So, What do we have here? Well it looks like about 20 % of the reviewers (one and two stars) who professed to be die hard fans were shocked by the new Dream Theater and subsequently hated TOT. Obviously if you as a potential buyer are dogmatic and are looking for the same old (but still very good) sound, you shouldn't buy TOT.

The next group we have (Three stars) is the ones who don't know what to make of TOT. They don't seem to rushing to judgement (though they've written reviews) and are somewhat ambivilent. About 15% of our reviewers felt this way and I was one of these people at first but after multiple listens became a fan. That's right, I think TOT takes multiple listens to appreciate but let's face it isn't DT worth multiple listens. What else are we going to listen to, Beyonce? So if you are this kind of person, you should go ahead and buy TOT. Worse case, it won't grow on you and you end up with a mediocre album but the upside is worth it.

Next (four stars) at about 25% is the group that appreciates TOT and DT's latest endeavor and their need to experiment and grow and voice opinions that although TOT is not DT's best or second best or even third best album it is a very good album in it's own right. Again if I may be redundant, what are your options, Janet Jackson? OOPS!

Lastly of course we have the true die hard DT fans (five stars), about 40%, who think TOT is great, one of their best and can't for the life of them, understand how anyone could not love this album and say so in their reviews. I kinda side with them but I can understand where the other groups are coming from. I guess I'm in between groups three and four at about 4 1/2 stars.

SUMMARY:

If you like the old Dream Theater just fine, thank you, and do not wish to experiment on a newer and slightly heavier DT - PASS

If you are not as rigid but think you may like the old DT better - IT'S YOR CALL, it's still Dream Theater!

If you are flexible and open to new stuff, especially from DT - ABSOLUTELY!

If you are an extreme, die hard Dream Theater fan. You probably have it already.

MY BOTTOM LINE:

Dream Theater is the most visable, most revered and best known of all PROG ROCK/METAL bands. By being the number one progressive band in the world they have been annointed to carry the torch through the dark passages of mundane popular music. Though they are not my personal favorite Progressive band, I do love them and feel for them as they carry a heavy burden. Long Live Dream Theater. You may not like the alternative.


Best Dream Theater Yet   November 11, 2003
 45 out of 54 found this review helpful

Let me start by saying I have every DT album and bootleg,and have seen them live numerous times.Most of the time it takes a few listens of the album to gauge it.After 20 or so listens(It's so good I can't stop listening)I've decided that this is their best work to date.Being a huge metal fan, I must say this is the album I've been waiting for since "AWAKE".This album has an in your face,take no prisoners vibe to it.From beginning to end it is a non stop roller coaster of brutal riffs,insane drums,keys and solos.The only breather here is the song "Vacant"which is a slow melodic track.There is no weak point on this album.So,if you like the metal side of DT most of you will love this.If not,don't rip them for being too heavy because it was DT's intent to produce a classic metal album,and that they have done,brilliantly.
"Don't Cross The Crooked Step"


Huge disappointment!!   November 12, 2003
 25 out of 89 found this review helpful

Their is not much to say, I am a long time fan of Dream Theater and have seen them live several times. This album only sounds like Dream Theater on some songs. It's heavy and lacking feeling, other than anger. I am extremely disappointed. If I wanted to listen to old Metallica, Pantera, or Joe Satriani I would put their cd in. Two stars is very generous in my opinion.


Big, dumb, explosive and fantastic!   December 16, 2003
 22 out of 27 found this review helpful

I first heard DT back in the early 90's when the only saving grace to the crap hairband stuff coming out was Marillion. I really remember how impressed I was with the playing ability of the band - from musicianship standpoint they were just amazing. But I really was annoyed with how they took the crap cheezy hairband melodies and then inserted the brilliance... I gave that album away since I couldnt listen to the whole thing just the instrumental sections.

Ok, so flash forward to 2003 and I read a guy's post on a PF here at work:
-new Dream Theater album, very very heavy and excellent!
Intrigued, I ask to borrow the disk for a day of listening. Probably the best hour of listening to new material I've had in 5 years.

DT does kinda go back to the NuMetal genre to grab the heavy grooves and chunka chunka guitar sounds that are so popular, but I dont think Limp Dickstick or others in that genre could ever put together a NuMetal song in 12/8 or mixed time sigs that DT succeeds in doing. Yes it's a bit derivative but they take it and extend it past anything out there right now. LaBrie's vocals were always a source of issue with me just because they're too pretty for the music, but with the production they definitely have grown on me. He's tried to toughen them up and for the most part succeeded. Especially the layered minor 7th and minor 3rd harmonies a la Alice In Chains, LaBrie is finally coming up to the rest of the band in his presentation. To be succinct: John Petrucci is just freaking amazing!! With sections where Portnoy and Myung are right in the speed metal groove a la Master of Puppets and Kill Them All, Petrucci just flies on the guitar making everyone else in metal look to be a pale pretender to the craft. I wish I could play like that but I would need about 10 cups of coffee every hour just to hit that intensity level.

Portnoy and Myung are typically brilliant, with Portnoy playing that big huge stupid work of art Siamese Monster kit of his and Myung chugging out ripping bass work supporting Petrucci and Rudess. You cant have a decent piece of music without solid rhythm track, and these guys give it everything and more.

Probably the only criticism I could have would be Jordan Rudess' playing seems hidden by the fact that his lead key sounds all sound like guitar - too close to Petrucci's sound to make it out on first listen. But after a few listens I found to my astonishment that what I thought were guitar lines were key solos and ... well that's all needs be said.

Bottom line: excellent musicianship, only one song seems weaker than the rest otherwise a brilliant concept album from start to finish. Any Prog Rock or Metal freak needs this in their collection.


Blah... I'm losing interest in these guys. Time to move on   January 3, 2004
 22 out of 41 found this review helpful

I can't bear to listen to this band anymore, much as I like their overall thing, and what used to be their approach to music. They have stopped growing, and their music has become cliche and boring. I have every one of their albums and have seen them live many times, but I think it is over for them. I thought when Jordan Rudess joined they would have a resurgence in creativity, but alas, they are going backwards/sideways to some place that is not good for me at least.

Scenes and part of Degrees was bordering on brilliance, but the rest of Degrees started the downward decay toward shredding for shredding's sake. Petrucci is a fantastic player, but he no longer tries, and Portnoy has become so eccentric (OSI was pathetic) that his bass drumming has taken over his life. And LaBrie simply cannot sing live, it takes a studio to cover the awefulness of his screaching. If they let Jordan play and write some more, maybe they might come back to making real music, but in general, I am done with these guys.

Stale is not the word... this album is simply aweful. These guys have gone from the most influential music makers in the progressive genre to shear noisemakers and thrashers. They have become producers of product, instead of feelers of music. Oh well.... it was fun while it lasted