DREAM THEATER - When Dream and Day Unite
1. A Fortune In Lies
2. Status Seeker
3. Ytse Jam
4. The Killing Hand
5. Light Fuse And Get Away
6. Afterlife
7. The Ones Who Help To Set The Sun
8. Only A Matter Of Time
Label: Mechanic/MCA Records
Release date: 198
Artist site: http://www.dreamtheater.net/
GRADE:
8/10
I remember coming across DREAM THEATER when I was listening to FATES WARNING's Perfect Symmetry. I saw an ad and a record review for this release in the latest issue of RIP Magazine. If memory serves correct, the reviewer wasn't too kind on then vocalist Charlie Dominici, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Geddy Lee vocally. To be honest, he's not one of my favorite vocalists, but he fits the material here better than James Labrie. I like a lot of his note choices, as well.
"A Fortune In Lies" was a live staple for a while, even with Labrie. It's a heavier track, great verses and an incredibly kick ass guitar solo from John Petrucci. John Myung's bass is very pronounced and Mike Portnoy is his usual octopus drumming self. "Status Seeker" is the more commercial sounding song found here. There's a strong sense of catchiness in the hook, verses and bridge and it still went over most people's heads. Next up is the monstrous instrumental "Ytse Jam," a very ambitious piece in the realm of RUSH's "XYZ" or any YES epic on steroids. This may be one of their defining moments, in the early days at the very least.
"The Killing Hand" is a five part epic, spanning almost nine minutes. The first part features some cool keyboard layers, courtesy of Kevin Moore (CHROMA KEY/OSI). Out of the three keyboardists they've had, Moore is probably still my favorite, with Jordan Rudess following close behind. When he and Petrucci begin soloing off of each other, it's jaw dropping, mouth watering ecstasy. Great song.
"Light Fuse And Get Away" has more changes than MADONNA does costumes at a concert. Excellent song, but it's easy to see how some of their early material went over even the heads of future DT fans. "Afterlife" is still one of my personal favorite songs, like "Status Seeker" it's very catchy, with tasty chops.
The last two songs are the best of When Dream and Day Unite. I truly wish these would find their way back into the band's live set at some point of time. I love the eerie, drawn out intro of "The Ones Who Help To Set The Sun" and the beginning verse is beautifully heavy. "Only A Matter Of Time" is just one of those perfectly paced, well written numbers that just gets the blood pumping. Very RUSH influenced.
Producer Terry Date succeeded in capturing the band pristine, somehow giving the whole thing a dark, cold feel without it coming off clinical. Kudos! To me, this album is a success and I still pull it off of the shelf from time to time, while many DREAM THEATER fans shun this record because Labrie isn't on it. Well, I've got news for 'em, the DT was mighty before "Pull Me Under." And I still have to wonder what their catalog would've ended up like if they had ended up with John Arch...
PJ
1. A Fortune In Lies
2. Status Seeker
3. Ytse Jam
4. The Killing Hand
5. Light Fuse And Get Away
6. Afterlife
7. The Ones Who Help To Set The Sun
8. Only A Matter Of Time
Label: Mechanic/MCA Records
Release date: 198
Artist site: http://www.dreamtheater.net/
GRADE:
8/10
I remember coming across DREAM THEATER when I was listening to FATES WARNING's Perfect Symmetry. I saw an ad and a record review for this release in the latest issue of RIP Magazine. If memory serves correct, the reviewer wasn't too kind on then vocalist Charlie Dominici, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Geddy Lee vocally. To be honest, he's not one of my favorite vocalists, but he fits the material here better than James Labrie. I like a lot of his note choices, as well.
"A Fortune In Lies" was a live staple for a while, even with Labrie. It's a heavier track, great verses and an incredibly kick ass guitar solo from John Petrucci. John Myung's bass is very pronounced and Mike Portnoy is his usual octopus drumming self. "Status Seeker" is the more commercial sounding song found here. There's a strong sense of catchiness in the hook, verses and bridge and it still went over most people's heads. Next up is the monstrous instrumental "Ytse Jam," a very ambitious piece in the realm of RUSH's "XYZ" or any YES epic on steroids. This may be one of their defining moments, in the early days at the very least.
"The Killing Hand" is a five part epic, spanning almost nine minutes. The first part features some cool keyboard layers, courtesy of Kevin Moore (CHROMA KEY/OSI). Out of the three keyboardists they've had, Moore is probably still my favorite, with Jordan Rudess following close behind. When he and Petrucci begin soloing off of each other, it's jaw dropping, mouth watering ecstasy. Great song.
"Light Fuse And Get Away" has more changes than MADONNA does costumes at a concert. Excellent song, but it's easy to see how some of their early material went over even the heads of future DT fans. "Afterlife" is still one of my personal favorite songs, like "Status Seeker" it's very catchy, with tasty chops.
The last two songs are the best of When Dream and Day Unite. I truly wish these would find their way back into the band's live set at some point of time. I love the eerie, drawn out intro of "The Ones Who Help To Set The Sun" and the beginning verse is beautifully heavy. "Only A Matter Of Time" is just one of those perfectly paced, well written numbers that just gets the blood pumping. Very RUSH influenced.
Producer Terry Date succeeded in capturing the band pristine, somehow giving the whole thing a dark, cold feel without it coming off clinical. Kudos! To me, this album is a success and I still pull it off of the shelf from time to time, while many DREAM THEATER fans shun this record because Labrie isn't on it. Well, I've got news for 'em, the DT was mighty before "Pull Me Under." And I still have to wonder what their catalog would've ended up like if they had ended up with John Arch...
PJ
