Product Description

"Metropolis Part I", a track featured on Dream Theater's breakthrough, IMAGES AND WORDS, left many progressive rock enthusiasts with what seemed like another unfinished chapter ina story never to be completed. Seven years and five albums later, Dream Theater returned to its majestic beginnings with METROPOLIS PART II--SCENES FROM A MEMORY. Keyboard virtuoso Jordan Rudess, who was a logical replacement for Derek Sherinian, revitalised the band's sound. Rudess's collaborationwith guitarist John Petrucci and drummer Mike Portnoy stolethe attention of Dream Theater fans in the instrumental project, LIQUID TENSION EXPERIMENT.
METROPOLIS PART II is anepic concept album that makes a powerful artistic statement. The band is impressive in its ability to weave a suite of pieces together that share a common thread of recurring musical and lyrical themes similar to those first presented in "Metropolis I". The heart of the tale is revealed in "Fatal Tragedy", which centres on a murder mystery. The main character, Victoria Page, sees the man she once loved turning evil and in refusing his affections, she pays with her life. The lyrical point of view shifts from character to character, bringing about powerful results.

Track Listing

1. Regression
2. Overture 1928
3. Strange Deja Vu
4. Through My Words
5. Fatal Tragedy
6. Beyond This Life
7. Through Her Eyes
8. Home
9. Dance Of Eternity
10. One Last Time
11. Spirit Carries On
12. Finally Free

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6596 in Music
• Released on: 1999-10-25
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
There's always been an element of slightly camp theatricality about progressive rock--witness Peter Gabriel dressing up as a giant hogweed--so the idea of a progressive musical isn't too much of a stretch. Dream Theater's Metropolis Pt 2: Scenes from a Memory takes the progressive rock staple of a concept album in a stagy new direction. You know they're up to something when the booklet divides the album into "Act One" and "Act Two", the lyrics are told from the point of view of a cast of characters, and the band credit themselves as "The Orchestra". In the hands of almost anyone else this would seem risibly pretentious, but Dream Theater somehow manage to carry it off (just) by virtue of their uniquely heavy metal slant on the old progressive format. Their blistering, even-louder-than-Metallica riffing takes the dainty edge off the proceedings (most of the time) as the story of dying and "learning to live" unfolds.

Both their fans and the band seem to agree that 1992's Images and Words is their finest work to date, so it's only fitting that the plot here is an extension of the track "Metropolis, Part 1" from that album. The extraordinary virtuoso musicianship of the band is, of course, abundantly on display again (amateurs can only shake their heads in despair when players this good let rip), and James LaBrie sings all the "roles" with real gusto. With a new keyboard player to fill the talent gap left by the departure of Kevin Moore, and studio production that rightly gives all the individual instruments their due, Dream Theater seem finally to have found their musical feet again. --Mark Walker

Customer Reviews

Just....Wow.
Up to this point, Dream Theater have somewhat been known as "One hit wonders". Their only siginficant song, "Pull Me Under" has brought them to the attention of many people, but as yet they have not been able to produce an album worthy of such attention.

This, however, changes everything.

"Scenes from a Memory" is by far their best album, and i will go so far as to day it is one of the definitive albums of modern Prog Metal/Rock.

No song is out of place. Each song spills into the next with such grace you're left breathless and wondering how, if possible, it could get any better.

The album deals with a man called Nicholas who keeps having the same recurring dream - he sees a strange girl in a mirror on an old house. Throughout the album this dream is explored and you discover the true story behind his dream.

Now, you would expect that an album with a story to it would be underdeveloped, with the band focussing more on music than having something for the fans to remember story wise. However, Dream Theater do not do this. The story, although not worthy of a Booker Prize, does compliment the music on the album very well.

Two songs deserve special mention for their inclusion on the album. The first one is the seventh song, called "Home". It comes directly after a soft, meliodic song that fades out with LaBrie's vocals. The song then starts off with John Petrucci playing what could be described as "Indian like". The song then becomes classic heavy Dream Theater - excellant musicians working in harmony. The lyrics are also well developed - talking about drug addiction of a man and his attempts to win a girl into his life.

The second song is "The Spirit Carries On". I won't spoil it for you - simply put, it's the song i want to be played at my funeral and Petrucci's solo in the middle part of the song it to jaw dropping proportions.

Overall - Dream Theater have produced a masterpiece of an album that will be talked about for years to come. Make no mistake, this is truely awesome.

Their very best
It's taken me 8 years to get round to writing this review, better late than never as they say.
This is definately the best album I bought in the nineties and has to rate as one of the best albums I've ever heard.
I can't say anything more than any of the other people who have written 5 star reviews on these pages. This is a truly brilliant album in concept and delivery. From the hypnotists clock ticking at the start to the ultimate twist in the story at the end this will have you hooked. Put this on for the first time and you will have to hear it all the way through.
If you're thinking of getting into progressive rock/metal start here, it's one of the very best.

Unreal
This album, Rock Opera concept album, takes the work of Dream Theater to a new level. It contains a wide range of styles within it from the heavy riffs of "Overture 1928" to the more melodic "the spirit carries on". The pace varies as the listener is brought on a musical mystery. Recommended Listening