Dream Theater A Dramatic Turn of Events

This album won't appeal to the speed metal freaks, but thankfully it shows the versatility, depth and talent of Dream Theater. Anyone who has attented a concert of might be surprised when Rudess breaks out in a classical riff on the piano. These guys have got a lot of versatility you don't often see in a hard rock band. If you don't believe it, Check out the CD "An Evening with John Petrucci and Jordan Rudess.

Coincidence? Labrie has a voice that is strong, and Mike Portnoy is gone? The album is boring. The way to measure DT is how often you slam that CD into the player...and this album got one play from me. Mangini is buried. Musically it's a dislocated mess. "Dark Clouds and Silver Linings" was great, except listen to LaBrie destroy "The Best Of Times." With the dreadful prior two albums before that, "Train Of Thought" was the last good studio effort with laBrick really singing!!! Skip it. DT is done.

James voice is back, but new drummer Mangini is way back in the mix. Still a great album, more typical of 1999-2003 DT.