Tag: Dream Theater

The Fire Garden of Infinite Delights

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock music3 Comments

[The first of at least two reviews of Fire Garden, Sound of Majestic Colors (Fire Garden Music, Chicago, IL, 2014).  Official Website for the band and label: 

Home

.  Kevin Williams will also be reviewing the album.  Frankly, I’m not qualified enough re: prog metal to review this.  But, my love of the album kind of forced my hand.–BjB]

 

Fire Garden's SOUND OF MAJESTIC COLORS comes out, officially, tomorrow, June 10. Order now!
Fire Garden’s SOUND OF MAJESTIC COLORS comes out, officially, tomorrow, June 10. Order now!

***

With no intention of being jingoistic, I’m very happy to see a nice resurgence of progressive rock in America.  The English and the Scandinavians currently provide the touchstone, but I would hate to see the Americans not compete at all!

Of course, when it comes to North America, we’ve had some great prog bands and individuals in for the long haul: Rush, Glass Hammer, IZZ, Dream Theater, John Galgano, Kevin McCormick, 3RDegree, Neal Morse, Spock’s Beard, and a few others.  Recently, we’ve seen the rise of Hour of the Shipwreck and Astra as well.

Now, we have Fire Garden, a new progressive rock/metal band from America’s third largest city, Chicago.

The brainchild of professional photographer Zee Baig, Fire Garden will release its first full-length album, Sound of Majestic Colors, tomorrow.  This closely follows the band’s first EP, The Prelude, which came out at the beginning of the year.  Three songs overlap: “Time Machine,” “Far from Grace,” and “Forsaken,” though the former two appear in slightly different versions on the EP and the LP.  Certainly, each of these releases from Fire Garden is well worth owning.

When I first heard the Sound of Majestic Colors, I wrote my thoughts down quickly:

Confident, melodic, intense, moving, driven.  Fire Garden is the present and the future of progressive metal.  Sound of Majestic Colors is a triumph in every way.

Additional listens have only added to my wonder and astonishment regarding this album.

First, let me discuss the superficials, that is, the appearances of things.  Visually, Sound of Majestic Colors is an incredible package.  The CD case (very important to me) provides a fascinating mix and incorporation of black and white photography, psychedelia, Macintosh imagery (a play on the spinning beach ball of doom—at the center of the cover photo), and weapons of mass destruction.

If I had to compare it to anything, I would compare it to the best packaging Dream Theater ever produced—that for Train of Thought LP.  But, frankly, Train of Thought’s artwork tried to be a little too psychedelic., little too Floydish.  The eyeball on the cover has failed to age well, and it now appears far less creepy than it does derivative.  Fire Garden avoids the clichés, creating its own vision for the album.  Far from contrived, its psychedelia comes from the heart and the soul.

My copy of Sound of Majestic Colors arrived with business cards, bumper stickers, circle window stickers, a full-size poster, and bookmarks (see photo below).  All of this is done with absolute class, and I welcome such things greatly.  Indeed, I will be keeping these things in a very safe place accompanying similar items I’ve collected and received from Rush, North Atlantic Oscillation, Porcupine Tree, etc.

Second, instrumentation, performance, and ability of the musicians.  My first reaction to my even asking this is simply: “Holy Schnikees!  Are you kidding me?”

Though these guys are young, they sound so very, very good.  I am not a huge fan of Dream Theater, as I feel they really have little soul and more or less write music to chase notes, all of it trapped in a graceless cycle.  I have always, however, respected the talents and abilities of the individual musicians in Dream Theater.  Imagine that same ability, but augmented by and with real story telling strengths and melodic overrtones and undertones.  Combine Dream Theater’s skills with some serious artistic class, and you have Fire Garden.  Kevin Pollack—vocals.  Perfect.  Zee Baig—guitars.  Sheesh.  Beyond perfect.  Frank Lucas—keyboards.  Perfect.  Barry Keliber—Bass.  Perfect.  Chuck White—Drums.  Holy Moses.  More than perfect.

Production and mastering—perfect.  The depth to this recording is astounding.  Everything is clear, everything is deep, and everything is layered.  Again, imagine Dream Theater’s production, but even more top notch.

Third, lyrics.  I’m a huge fan of good lyrics, and I consider them essential to the success of any album.  Lyrically, this album is as layered and dark as its production.  Lots of angst, guilt, and questioning in the lyrics.  In the end, though, the lyrics exist for a real and meaningful purpose, a poetic one.   Song titles such as “Alone,” “Endless Memories,” “Redemption,” “Forsaken,” and “Far from Grace” reveal everything about the seriousness and intent of the album.  That Baig offers his greatest thanks in the booklet to Almighty Allah says about everything that needs to be said.  Baig is a serious man, and he takes his art as seriously as he takes his faith.  If you’ll permit some Aramaic—Amen, Zee.

If you’re looking for something well done, something taken seriously, and something that—in terms of style—varies from heavy to metal to prog to AOR to arena and back to prog metal, look no further.

Fire Garden is not just the present and future of American prog metal, the band is the present and future of all prog metal.

 

Fire Garden Extras.
Fire Garden Extras.

 

 

 

How Mike Portnoy helped revive Bigelf

On By carleolsonIn progressive rock music1 Comment

Over on the LAWeekly blog, Jason Roche writes of how the former Dream Theater drummer—currently in about fifty-eight bands or so—helped inspire Damon Fox to revive Bigelf and finish the recently released Into The Maelstrom:

Bonkers and Retro
The newest release from Bigelf

When Los Angeles prog-rock group Bigelf released their 2008 album Cheat The Gallows, momentum seemed to be on their side. After 15 years of slogging it out in the local scene, the group was gaining support slots on arena-rock tours thanks to their brand of catchy pop-rock melodies filtered through ’70s psychedelia.

The truth? “The band was coming apart,” says Bigelf leader Damon Fox, in conversation at the Canyon Country Store.

The band were dealing with financial difficulties and offstage tension. Fox’s marriage was coming apart, and longtime guitarist Ace Mark left the group in 2010 after the death of his father and birth of his child.

With all of these outside factors coalescing, Fox disbanded Bigelf.

“When you get real low, real dark, and the mojo fades away, you’re not feeling your purpose in life,” Fox says. “The Bigelf purpose went away. At that time, I wasn’t interested in what Bigelf had to offer and there was conflict inside the band.”

Elsewhere, drummer Mike Portnoy was simultaneously going through band friction, a very public departure from Long Island prog-rock greats Dream Theater. Portnoy and Fox had bonded when the more well-known group took Bigelf on the road with them, and stayed in touch during the rough times.

A phone call between the two helped Fox revive Bigelf for Into The Maelstrom  – the group’s newest album, which came out yesterday.

Read the entire piece on LAWeekly.com. I’m not very familiar with Bigelf, but will be checking out the new album.

Berklee Along for the Ride

On By Time LordIn ProgarchyLeave a comment

Dream Theater has invited the Berklee College of Music onstage with them in Boston. The March 25th concert will be recorded and include “the Berklee World Strings and the Berklee Concert Choir for the second half of the set“:

DREAM THEATER was founded in 1985 when founding members—guitarist John Petrucci, bassist John Myung, and former drummer Mike Portnoy—attended the Berklee College of Music. Also adding to the significance of this collaboration: Mike Mangini (drums), who joined the band in 2010, is a former faculty member of the Berklee College of Music.  This special homecoming will be captured and recorded for a later release. DREAM THEATER will be joined by special guest ensembles the Berklee World Strings and the Berklee Concert Choir for the second half of the set. The ensembles will layer distinct dramatic elements to DREAM THEATER’s production. The World Strings are an international group of creative improvisers who play with rhythmic qualities seldom heard from string instruments. The Concert Choir stretches its repertoire from traditional and contemporary music through a wide range of genres.

Four Years Ago Today: Recollections

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock music2 Comments

More reflections from the past.  This one from four years ago today, January 1, 2010.  Still lots of love for Steven Wilson.

***

mobile_pic1A Steven Wilson solo albums can only come out every so often, sadly.  Technically, “Insurgentes” came out at the beginning of 2009.  But, for us Wilson nerds who follow his career way too closely, “Insurgentes” came out in 2008, even only in Wilson’s self-proclaimed hated MP3.  According to my iTunes stats, “Insurgentes” remains my most played cd of this past year.

It was closely followed, again according to my iTunes stats, by Guilt Machine, “On This Perfect Day,” Oceansize, “Frames,” and Riverside, “ADHD.”

Like the cat who adopted us in the summer of 2009 and with whom/which I fell in love, Guilt Machine has been a constant for me since its release in the summer.

There were however, two really, really disappointing CDs.  So disappointing in fact that I’m embarrassed I own them:

  • Dream Theater                      “Black Clouds and Silver Linings”
  • Pure Reason Revolution       “Love Conquers All”

Not sure what either group was thinking in the direction taken.

And, finally, a fun and novel album, but almost assuredly nothing that will stick with me for years to come:

  • Muse                           “The Resistance”

Lyrically, a great album, and moments of absolute musical genius can be found everywhere.  But, excess whimsy mars the album, and everytime I doubted how serious the musicians were about this, I doubted my interest in their project.

 

[Additional note found: “Thus far, 2009 has been bleak.  Dream Theater’s new album, “Black Clouds and Silver Linings,” serves as an incoherent exercise in notes chasing notes and embarrassingly written lyrics.  Pure Reason Revolution’s “Amor Vincit Omnia” offers nothing but miserable sexual decadence and ridiculous Euro dance-type music.  The title should’ve been Lust Conquers All, not Love Conquers All.  How this could be the same band that released the captivating “The Dark Third,” I have no idea.”]

Top Ten… or Top Thirteen?

On By Time LordIn 20131 Comment

For my personal Best of 2013 list, I have just posted (over the last few days) an alphabetical listing of my Top Ten:

Big Big Train: English Electric Part Two

Deep Purple: NOW What?!

Dream Theater: Dream Theater

Haken: The Mountain

Holy Grail: Ride the Void

Kingbathmat: Overcoming the Monster

Sound of Contact: Dimensionaut

Spock’s Beard: Brief Nocturnes and Dreamless Sleep

Steven Wilson: The Raven That Refused to Sing and other stories

The Winery Dogs: The Winery Dogs

But, as promised, I am now going to add three more to the list, as three bonus additions, and thus make this a Top Thirteen list.

Why? Well, because this is the year 2013, and also because Black Sabbath released 13 this year (which also happened to be one of Mike Portnoy‘s favorites).

So, stay tuned for #11 on my Top Thirteen of 2013…

Dream Theater special Holiday 2013 release

On By Time LordIn ProgarchyLeave a comment

Download free music as a Christmas present from Dream Theater:

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM DREAM THEATER

TO OUR FANS ALL OVER THE WORLD!
It is because of all of you that “A Dramatic Tour Of Events” was such a success. We enjoyed playing to you all each and every night on the road!
As a special “Thank You” we are releasing a compilation of live tracks that were not included on “Live At Luna Park.” With these now being available, you have a complete documentation of all the songs that were played during the tour (with the exception of cover songs.)
Happy Holidays, and we look forward to having you “Along For The Ride” in 2014.
~Dream Theater

Kids Writing Music in a Basement

On By Time LordIn ProgarchyLeave a comment

Loudwire recently caught up with John Petrucci of Dream Theater. An excerpt from their exclusive interview:

In your opinion, not just of the Grammys, but of other award shows, do you think they really matter?

There’s successes you have in your career. For me, for example, as a guitar player, as somebody in a band putting out albums, the success that we have in our field and how we’re viewed by our fans; that type of success means more than anything to us. The Grammy recognition is cool, as well, because that’s something different. Now, here is a situation where your song or album is being considered and voted on by members of the Recording Academy. It’s all professional; a wide range of professionals in the music industry. So, it could be different engineers, producers, musicians and songwriters in that pool of people who are doing the same thing that you are doing and think enough of your music that among hundreds and hundreds of submissions to pick, they say, “Hey, that song is deserving.” That has a really special meaning as well. It’s very cool, you feel a sense of honor and you’re humbled by that, from people making that kind of choice.

When you look at your history, Dream Theater are one of those bands that’s always been very critically acclaimed. For you, the Grammys is a new type of critical acclaim. Do you ever get used to the amount and of praise that Dream Theater receives?

It’s always surprising. In fact, we talk about this a lot. For example, me and John Myung, we met when we were in middle school / junior high. We were teenagers, we’ve been playing together for so long. We have so much history and the band has been through so many different things together professionally and personally. We’ve seen our families grow up together. It’s a very private thing when you have these strong relationships with these guys, you’re writing music with these guys behind closed doors.

It’s a really personal and private career that all of a sudden gets exposed in a very public way as soon as you put music out, play live and everything else. The innocence of it never goes away. We still feel like we’re the same kids writing music in a basement. [Laughs] Next thing you know, there are people out there that appreciate it and want to see it and want to get it, and in the case of the Grammys, want to recognize it. It’s all very surreal, it’s a strange feeling. You never get used to that kind of praise. It keeps us pushing to do better. You want to do better, to keep upping our game. That’s what great about choosing music as a career, you can do that.

Dream Theater (Best of 2013 — Part 3)

On By Time LordIn 2013Leave a comment

Coming in the #3 slot (in alphabetical order) on my Best of 2013 list is this self-titled splendor:

Dream Theater

Back in August, we got excited when we first heard the preview of “The Enemy Inside” (which has gone on to receive a Grammy nomination).

Then, in September, the band treated us to a full album stream.

My favorite tracks include the glorious “Along for the Ride” and the amazing “The Looking Glass” and the scintillating “Surrender to Reason“…

But let’s be real. Whatever track you are listening to at the moment becomes your favorite!

This is a powerfully good album. Surely everyone who knows and loves Rush can recognize the unmistakable musical excellence at work here.

What a thrill to hear Dream Theater at the top of their game, showing us their very best!

Exactly the sort of prog metal that I like best is found here on this upper-echelon release.

Congratulations, gentlemen.

With your musical panorama, you have given us what prog gives best.

Namely, the bigger picture.

Dream Theater Top Ten

On By Time LordIn 2013Leave a comment

Check out the Top Ten Albums of 2013 of James LaBrie, John Petrucci and Jordan Rudess.

For more Top Ten Lists, visit http://top2013.roadrunnerrecords.com/

The Musical Excellence of Dream Theater

On By Time LordIn ProgarchyLeave a comment

Dream Theater’s “The Enemy Inside” has been nominated for a Grammy: “Best Metal Performance”

Check out Shred King John Petrucci in Guitar World on how to visualize melodic shapes on the fretboard.

It’s the latest installment of his excellent instructional column over there.

There’s a cool video to go with it, as bonus video content related to the magazine’s January 2014 issue.