Track Listing

1. Fortune in Lies
2. Status Seeker
3. Ytsé Jam [Instrumental]
4. Killing Hand
5. Light Fuse and Get Away
6. Afterlife
7. Ones Who Help to Set the Sun
8. Only a Matter of Time

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7804 in Music
• Released on: 1999-11-01
• Number of discs: 1

Customer Reviews

A CRIMINALLY OVERLOOKED MASTERPIECE
This is dream theaters' most overlooked album, which in my opinion is a terrible oversight. As most of the other reviews have mentioned, the production is much more primitive sounding than later releases, but for me this is a positive thing as it allows the listener to hear the sound of a legendary band in their infancy. Everyone has to start somewhere!
The signiture sound of the band is evident from the very beginning and what the album lacks in polish it more than makes up for in quality, as it contains some of DT's finest songs to date such as "a fortune in lies", "the killing hand" and the wonderfully epic combination of "afterlife" and "only a matter of time". Origional vocalist Charlie Dominici really shines on this album, hitting notes in places that James LaBrie could only dream of, and turning in performances of the songs that LaBrie has yet to equal on the live stage.
This album laid the foundations for the classic follow up album "images and words", and stands head and shoulders above laclucstre subsequent albums by the band such as "awake", "train of thought" and "falling into infinity".
If you are a Dream Theater fan then this is an ESSENTIAL PURCHASE.
Dont make the mistake that many have made before you and overlook this little beauty.

Learning curve
Dream Theater attracts a large following, and clearly in their chosen field they are one of the leading bands. For me, their music is in general terms enjoyable, but their leanings towards the metal end of prog can at times become a bit too "heavy".

With their first album "When dream and day unite", the band appear to be in the process of finding their feet, unsure whether to make straight forward metal along the lines Black Sabbath, or to venture into more complex prog territories, while retaining that metal basis. The plusses are that the band is instrumentally proficient, with searing guitar solos and fine keyboards. I also enjoy the vocal style, which is melodic and tuneful.

On the downside, the songs tend to have a similarity, which becomes tedious. Only "The killing hand" varies the pace a bit. The guitar solos don't really go anywhere, and after a while I also found I became aware of the somewhat excessive use of cymbals on many of the tracks (which I found a little irritating!).

The band was of course destined for greater things, but while this album is competent, it has few signs that Dream Theater had much to distinguish themselves from the rest of the metal crowd.

good but not great
Unfortunately i first got to listen to WDADU after the awake release. Production is very raw. I don't mind dominici's voice but the most embarrassing moment has got to be when he sings the very last killing hand lyrics. He just can't reach that last note so he turns to false setto. Just listen to La brie on the marquee version, he screams it out as if to say i can do it much better than you charlie. Highlights for me on WDADU is the killing hand, YTSE JAM (majesty backwards)fortune in lies and afterlife. I think the others drag on too much, due probably because i haven't played this cd as often as the recent classics of dream theater. Althought the production is bad, Dream Theater did re-release this a couple of yrs ago with a better mix. I can't commentate on that as i haven't heard it yet.