I’ve been listening to this album for over 3 weeks now, off and on, just taking in all the words, cords, and notes that create this great project.  Just like Nightwish’s “Imaginaerum“, I was fervently waiting for this to be released.  Wondering what magic was going to be weaved into the music of Dream Theater…

For “The Astonishing”, it is a 130-minute epic.   Would I rate it as high as 1992’s “Images and Words” or 1999’s “Metropolis pt 2: Scenes from a Memory“?  Not really.  Would I put in the top 5, possibly.

One can’t just list off one song to listen too like “Pull Me Under” or “Repentance”, although “A New Beginning” and “Gift of Music” are close.  This album has to be heard all the way through.  One has to allow the music to take them in enjoy the ride.  There are many great parts in the album.  For example, when the instrumental section of “A New Beginning“, in the middle of the song, takes off…what a ride!

I, like many fans, when I first started to listen to the album, started to think, what is this junk?  This isn’t Dream Theater.  Then, I remembered that this is a concept album, a “Rock Opera”, (Think Jesus Christ Superstar or even Phantom of the Opera).  A story similar to Rush’s 2112, the hero has music and the antagonist don’t like it.  Someone dies.  A little of Star Wars, the Empire is the bad guys and the Rebel’s are the good guys.  So, you have to listen to it like you are watching an Opera, you have to take the whole thing in.  Once you start to hear the piece for what it is…then the album starts to make sense and you truly start to enjoy what the band has weaved.

Although it is a great album to listen to and enjoy, it still has its disappointments.  The story is not too original as Operation Mindcrime or 2112, as mentioned earlier.  The plot is similar to many stories.  Also, it seems like Dream Theater will not take the next step to be the greatest Prog Rock band on the planet.  They stick with what is comfortable.  They have been doing this since “Octavarium“.  Same sound and even playing same parts from different songs on their previous albums.  For example, you can hear “Scenes from a Memory” in “Losing Fayth”.    This has been happening for many of their albums.  This, I believe is a large complaint with DT fans.  We love the music, just give us something that we haven’t heard yet!

Overall, I would give this four stars.  I’m still listening to it and enjoying it more and more.

Lopaka