bluefox4000

yea man the singles were the most ordinary part of the album. it was like you'd get those tracks if you typed pop metal-ish song into an AI. the non singles make this album great. Aside from Wish you were Dead...that song slaps hard. Scarecrow is amazing. i really Hosting the Shadow. the title Track is great. my fav song is sleep Paralysis The singles do fare better in context BUT their the most generic tunes on here. Still i'd take this album everyday over whatever they've been doing. BA and comalies shit version sounded like a band who hated being a band, lol Early score....this album is a 8/10. not my fav but miles better than the dark ages we've been getting. Mick

Lacuna Coil-Sleepless Empire To preface i'm i enjoy this band a lot but just know that i'm not Segue level. this band probably wouldn't even sniff a top 50 list. i know that's a negative start but i'm just stating my view of them over all. Saying that they have made some albums i really like and spin semi-regularly. Their last album i liked was Delierium. Black Anima wasn't for me and the Comalies re-record. If you look up the word useless that album will pop up. now to the good news. I loved this record. it see's LC coming back to their roots a bit. and by roots i mean. it's more melodic and actually fun. While being VERY melodic it has some oddball moments. Best i can describe think of this as close in Production to a mix of Broken Crown Halo and at points Delirium. This album also does away with the stupid production choices of the last two records. it feels both polished yet organic. Best LC album in a long time IMO. Mick

Dream Theater-Scenes From A Memory (10/10) Still my fav. The perfect DT album. Mick

don't forget the band was also in flux. Kevin Moore split after awake. pretty much retired from music, lol Derek Sherinian is good but looking back he's an odd choice for the band. they must have felt it cause he was gone right away. And hearing Labrie croon on a number of chart grabbing ballads just feels off. DT and pop hits doesn't add up, lol and there's like 5 of them on here. this is a band a bit lost. Mick

Dream Theater[-Falling Into Infinity (6/10) This was my first DT album and while i have incredible warmth toward iy, Due to label interference. it didn't come out the best. it has nice highlights- Hollow Years, Peruvian Skies, Hells Kitchen, Lines In The Sand. The amazing Trial of Tears. but it is weighted in filler. And it's a shame. Mick

how many times must i remind you i like AFTK now. this must be the 6th damn time unless you'd rather i hate it cause i'll oblige, lol Mick

in this case i'm not even mad......happy too, lol i don't WANT to love this album Mick

Dream Theater-Awake (7/10) Sorry guys this just isn't a fav. i'll break it down this way. The amazing Voices Scarred. The great Caught In A Web Erotomainia Innocence Faded The OK the Silent Man Lifting Shadows Off A Dream The Mirror' The i can't stand these fukking songs 6 :00 Lie Space Dyed Vest It truly is not my fav and That it's cited as a fav breaks my brain. actually my true score might be a 6 but that'd be too harsh. Mick

i actually can't stand money outside the album, lol Sheep i don't think i've EVER played it out of the album or wanted too. but that's me, lol Mick

i hear you but i look at this as a piece. think Animals, DSOTM. take the songs on their own it probably won't be as strong but i've yet to do that. aside from the singles and yes they lose a bit. top 3 for me still baby. Mick

Dream Theater-Six Degrees (10/10) This is my 2nd fav album. i can see why it took Segue forever. iit is a barrage of downer topic after downer topic. but it's done in a brilliant way damn it. is it possible i've gained more love for Dream Theater- portnoy phase 1. yes. he is the concept king. i owe this man more respect. Mick

i've told you i hear bits of Train in Parasomnia. could have been it's followup. this album honestly feels like a small retcon of SC and BC. even though there are traces of BC on here. Mick

this my third fav DT album all time. For them to bring Portnoy back and do this. this is a miracle for me i know dramatic but as a fan i feel like i got my band back. as much as i liked Mangini era. Maybe one album gave me the DT fuzzies i used to get. that was the self titled. and i just re-visited that whole era sans TA. and Again i REALLY liked that era a lot.' not dissing it. But Parasomnia is the band i was OBSESSED with as a teen. Mick

Dream Theater-Systematic Chaos (6/10) This is not a great album at all. but it has 2 amazing highlights. In the Presence of enemies. I'm counting as the one big epic it is. this piece is just so fun to me. i have to update my epics ranking cause this up there now. Ministry of Lost Souls. I have championed this song my entire fandom and it still rocks. The rest of the album..........big ol turkey. Mick

Dream Theater Bobby Caldwell MIck

A year ago i was saying i don't want Portnoy back. But it appears having him back i can admit, was the ultimate checkmate for the band. Parasomnia is OUTSTANDING my fav album they've done in a good few years. As i said i can own up when i'm wrong, lol Mick

this album took me the longest to get into. now i think it's a bit UNDERRATED. Mick

Also i thought i'd rank Dream theater Epics 1. Octavarium 2. Six Degress (the suite 3. A Change of Seasons 4. Illumination Theory. 5. In The Presence of Enemies (it's 2 parts i know but together it's one big epic) 6. A view From The top Of the World (i think this has good ideas but together it doesn't hang) 7. Count Of Tuscany (see the reason above) i was talking just songs over 20 minutes and i think i ranked 7. Didn't put the new one.....STILL digesting it, lol Mick

The suite....the fans like to argue is it one large epic. I go by the band who sais it is one song. it was performed that way live on Score so... and Blind Faith is awesome. Glad to see finally you see this album for the beast it is. Mick

Still LOVING the new record. BUT have been going through their other albums. Train of Thought is emerging as a forgotten fav. While the last two mangini records have slipped a bit. Dare i say i've done an about face and say Portnoy coming back was needed? I just think DoT is just OK and View while really good. is a bit tired sounding. I think it was the production more than anything. Mick

Segue A DUMMY, LOL He'll love Dio after we've all died Mick

1. Tom Waits 2. Bob Dylan 3. Paul Mccartney 4. Frank Zappa (he had bands but it was all his babies) 5. Captain Beefheart 6. Harry Chapin 7. Dio 8. Gordon Lightfoot 9. Springsteen 10. Leonard Cohen. 11. Elvis Costello (forgot him) Mick

Dream Theater-Train of thought (8/10. While this album has a couple of Clunkers (As I Am, Honor Thy Father) it includes a number of my fav songs (This Dying Soul, Endless Sacrifice, Stream Of Consciousness......and my very fav on here. In the Name of God) Mick

not surpringly your list is WAY more metal-ed up while mine veers prog and classic rock but that show's 1. what we grow up on 2. just tastes. it's always so cool to me. And BTW Trivium Nearly made mine. top 30 they get there. as does FM i love love them but i love other bands more. Mick

bands ok. 1. Steely Dan 2. Beatles 3. Pink Floyd 4. Queen 5. Dream Theater 6. Toto 7. Creedance Clearwater Revival 8. Iron Maiden 9. Judas Priest 10. Huey Lewis and the News 11. Journey 12. Genesis 13. Yes 14. Green Day 15. Spock's Beard 16. Enchant 17. The Band 18, Mastodon 19. Jimmy Eat World 20. Blue Oyster Cult Mick