Dream Theater - The Looking Glass

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I am a big fan of DT since Images and Words, but there was something missing in this album. I really enjoyed several of the tracks (Enemy Inside, Behind the Veil, and Bigger Picture and the epic Illumination Theory is just cream), but there were a couple that sounded cheesy/ Falling into Infinity cheesy. I listened to the album several times via the streaming set and finally opted to order the whole album (mostly because Illumination Theory was well worth it). You can hear bits of old album sounds throughout this record and definitely a distinct difference between Portney w DT days (arguably a better sound and song set). With the last couple with Portney, I would really enjoy one or two of the tracks and the rest were ok. This album and Dramatic Turn of Events have maybe one or two tracks that are ok with the rest being stocked with as some call it "chocolate cake". There is much here to enjoy from heavy metal, real prog metal, musicianship, strong arrangements and more.

Again Musically DT can't be beat, & this album is head & shoulders above the last. I have come to peace with the fact that Mike is gone, & the other Mike is adequate, however i still think the album would be better without James LaBrie. His vocals made the last album unlistenable. Obviously he has gotten some direction, I would still prefer the option of an all instrumental version though. Listen to Raw Dog & it will remove all doubt that Mangini isn't fit to hold Portnoy's sticks.

What I have learned from years of listening to DT is that most people will criticize every note, every measure, every time signature simply because the album does not sound like SFAM or I&W. the fact is that these guys are the professionals. When Portnoy was the drummer, everyone criticized his growling, his lyrics and the fact that he was too much influence in the style the ban had taken. In my opinion MM has given DT a renewed approach - this album is just a good old Prog/Metal record. Classic? Maybe not but definitely worth a listen and a great follow up to ADTOE. If you want a variety of styles and a change of pace from all the pop of today's music industry - this is great album.

First of all, I'm can't play music (just a few chords on guitar), so I'm not a music critic. I like what I like and I like this album. Some of it sounds a bit "Rush-y" in my opinion - not a bad thing. It also sounds a ton like their last album - also not a bad thing. There's also some "Inner Turbulence" on here too, I believe (epic last song - 22 minutes)! All I know for sure is these guys are talented out the wazoo and I feel really, really good listening to their music, It's spiritual without being religious, and hopeful without being foolish.

This album is amazing!! Mangini is a monster!

If ever there were a perfect example of "style over substance", this release is it, and that's not something I'd have ever imagined saying about this band. John Petrucci described the new album in an interview with Guitar magazine. He says, "We wanted to show what the band was all about." I'm sorry John, but if that's what you were going for I don't think this was it -- not by a country mile. Certainly not when you consider the discography before this. The new release sounds more like a hodgepodge of average songs tossed together to attract a wider fanbase of more mainstream rock afficianados as opposed to cutting-edge music reflective of an evolutionary skillset by some of the world's most talented progressive rock / metal musicians. Could it be that Mike Portnoy had a valid point about the level of creative burnout in the band back in 2010? Expanding on what MT said below regarding Mike Mangini -- it could very well be that Mike M is the perfect choice for replicating what Portnoy wrote, but there might be something lacking insofar as what he can (or maybe allowed to) contribute to future creative space writing in his new role. On a pure proficiency level he's one of the best drummers I've ever heard, and I am still enamored of his work on James Labrie's 2005 Elements of Persuasion solo release with Marco Sfogli and Matt Guillory. THAT was a truly inspiring performance by a drummer in my opinion and sounded like the drumming of someone who had the latitude to unleash and show what he was about. That aspect of Mangini is missing in this release. Whether or not the band finds itself back in sync with their previous styles / efforts, or whether they've chosen to develop into more "mainstream" songster band remains to be seen. I think it was absolutely delusional of Mike Portnoy to expect the band to take a hiatus for years. At the same time it COULD be that what he brought to the party is irreplaceable if this new effort is an indication of his former influence over the creative substance of the music.

난 진짜 당신들이 너무 좋아 진짜 짱이야!!

I have not heard another album that rivals the musicianship of this. They are in a class by themselves.

It's good to see a new DT album, but their just not the same without Portnoy. Ever since Magnini came in the songs just feel off. The songwriting remains stellar, with Labrie on vocals and Petrucci on guitar. All the elements are there, it just seems like without Portnoy it's hard to connect them all. Harder-stuff like this is ok, but I miss the progressive sound from albums like Falling Into Infinity, Octavarium, and Six Degrees.

As another reviewer stated, I won't bore you with my historical affection for this band and their entire catalog to this point. I think I can sum this up for Dream Theater fans. It is what I expected for the first album where Mike Mangini was involved in the writing. It is missing the organic imaginative qualities that Mike Portnoy brought to the band. Mike P. was an OCD control freak with a quirky personality. It might have been hard to work with him, but his magic imagination is missing. It's not that the songs are bad per-se, but they lack the edge and unpredictability that their songs often had in the past. Looking back to Mike P.'s last album with the band and comparing a song like Count of Tuscany or Nightmare to Remember to these is all it takes to hear the difference in attack and production-- the new songs are a bit lifeless. They don't really build or wander, they just go to places that the listener might expect. There is a lack of rawness and clarity that gets lost in the over compression, especially of James' vocals. James' voice actually sounds good, but unfortunately, it sounds the same in each song with the same "lustre." Last, the drumming that Mangini lays down isn't bad. He's hugely proficient, but his playing is not noteworthy. There is nothing he plays that will stick in your head for a long time as some of the old patterns like Metropolis or Under a Glass Moon have. To be honest, I can see why Steve Vai moved on and has a kid like Jeremy Colston as opposed to Mangini. Undoubtedly, Mike M. can play anything, but he is not inventive at all. He sounds overly mechanical. So to sum it up, this album is best described as an example of work by a band who lost one of the critical components of the chemistry that created their signature sound.

I want it to be clear that I'm not hating on DT as I write this review. I love them, have all their studio work, and have seen them live. Having said that I can safely say this is my least favorite DT cd. I totally agree w/Revamished. While listening I have more than once not even realized one song ended and another has begun. The songs sounded like one big jam session w/little definition. I've gotta give them a break though as this is their first disc w/Mike.

This album is a great masterpiece for any long time DT fan. I love the song Behind the Veil!

Illumination Theory is mind blowing. An absolutely amazing album on every level. Worth a Grammy win, not a nomination. This should be album of the year. There is nothing out there in music like Dream Theater. Mangini and members have done a fabulous job. All these 1-2 star reviews are Mike Portnoy fan club members who hate the fact he isn't in the band anymore. Get over it!

The total package! This album shows the talent, versatility and writing skills this band has. My favorite album to date, they get better and more mature every album and this is coming from a long time DT fan. I listen to all genres but favor prog and if I was to have only one album in my library it would be this one. Only other band/album I'd compare this to is Circus Maximus.

So much throwback sound with a much more melodic focus, many of the tracks remind me of Images and Words or Scenes from a Memory. The epic 20+ minute track, "Illumination Theory," ranks right up there with their best, in my opinion. If you dug "Octavarium" (the song), you'll love it. I dig Mike Mangini's contribution, but it IS much more noticebly different on this album since he had a hand in a lot of the writing...that's NOT a bad thing. He's great at what he does and I think the fit with the other DT guys is perfect. As always the guitars and keyboards are mindblowing. From the beginning to end, this album is worthy of its predecessors and I am sure, come tour time, the fans will be begging for these tracks live.

Again DT comes up with great progressive compositions. I don't know how they keep coming up with great songs. It's just amazing. If you are not familiar with DT, you appreciate more when you listen to the songs at least 3-5 times. Flawless writing. Songs are written like classical music, made up of sections. I think they are keep getting better. I am happy to see that this album has more emphasis on base guitar. If you are DT fan, you won't be disappointed.

Amazed after a few listens.

I've been a huge fan of DT for years now, and they have never disappointed me! I love every song that they have written. My favorites in this album would be The Looking Glass, Illumination Theory, and Enigma Machine. The downside, though, is Mangini's snare. I do NOT like it at all. There are some parts where it sorta fits in, like in certain phrases in Enigma Machine, but then that awful fat sound just gets shoved in your face again. I don't know how to describe it, but whenever I hear it, i think of a techno kit. I absolutely LOOOOOOVE Portnoy's snare in Train of Though. Compare the two, and you will see what I'm talking about. Compare "The Bigger Picture" on this album, and "As I Am" on Train of Thought. If Mangini's had that sound, I think I would just explode! That would just be amazing!!!

The best since SFAM. Really really good.

Well produced and deserving of praise for studio mastery. The story line is PTSD and powerful. When I first listened to it I thought it lacked something. Now after hearing it on my audio system I must say it's fantastic. Put your good ears on and listen carefully. Thanks DT for nice job on this one.

I don't know many bands that can do what these guys do. Just makes me wonder where it all comes from. Every dollar I spend on them is worth it. Greatest band on the planet hands down.

Scenes from a memory will always be my favorite probably or Images and Words but for any Dream Theater fan this is a must have. For all of you who enjoy their older work more than the recent stuff this is a good album to jump back on the bandwagon. I believe it's the best since Scenes From A Memory or Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence. Mangini isn't as technical as Portnoy but really fits in with this bunch of outstanding musicians. It's nice to actually hear Myung in the tracks instead of being drowned out and James' voice sounds really crisp. Petrucci is great as always maybe a little turned down from the outlandish solos of the past but that's not a bad thing. Once again Rudess shows he's a keyboard god. Great CD really well produced, get it you won't be disappointed. Along for the ride and The Bigger Picture are my favorites.

5-star band, 4-star album. Buy it. Rating 5 stars with the review because the band's entire catalogue rounds it up for me. Whenever there's a change in the line-up, DT's albums go through a major sound transition (obviously). I can definitely feel Mike Portnoy's absence in the writing. He was one of the most prolific contributors. I met these guys a few years ago and Portnoy was also most assuredly the MC of the group, making his departure an even bigger personality shift for the 'family'. Musically you can hear what's happened socially in the band... it's sweet & sour. This feels like the Falling into Infinity album in some ways, which took a few more listens to appreciate. Die-hard fans will probably wake up to the talent here after a few weeks of listening. Massive respect for Portnoy. And welcome to Mangini. They can still rock your face off.

Has its moments, but it feels a bit sterile. Not one song on here compares to most of the songs on Black Clouds. Love the band, but I need to be objective here. Compared to the rest of the DT catalog, this one is lower on the list.

Everyone thought on the stream it was all compressed, well I gotta tell ya, it's not and sounds great. I can't stop turning my cars stereo up almost as loud as it will go and I've got a 8 speaker in the SUV and it ROCKS LOUD! I agree with alot of comments that Mangini's kit can take a listen or 2 to get used to, but you have to understand it's his kit....not Portnoys. I've enjoyed them branching out and being the same creative band that I've listened to since 89' on cassette tape. Take that in young people.....analog tape since 89'. I'm proud of where DT is today and am glad to have been a fan and listener for this long.

I could tell from the first few seconds of the demo from the first track that I'd enjoy this. Turns out I did. Pretty solid piece of work for anyone who enjoys a good guitar anthem. There are some really enjoyable power melodies hidden hear and there to be plucked by our waiting ears.

This is easily the best work the band has done since Train of Thought, and one might even argue that it's the best work they've done since Scenes From a Memory. Like all DT records, it has a plethora of great moments, but what sets this record apart--and puts it beside Images and Words, Awake, and SFaM--is the incredible unity. Don't get me wrong. There are some great moments on Systematic chaos (I rather like the return to heavy DT), and Black Clouds and Silver Linings . . . well, it's very hit and miss at best (even a great song like A Nightmare to Remember is ruined because Portnoy thought he'd like to sing death metal, and even among death metal vocalists where talent isn't exactly a prime requisite, Portnoy's vocals are cringe-worthy). i've listened to this record about four times already and look forward to many more. BTW, all the songs are great, but DT has made a history of lengthy compositions, among the more notable, Change of Seasons and Octavarium. And let me tell you, Illumination Theory stands right up there with both of those. What a marvelous and beautiful song. It's ultimately true that there's no accounting for taste, but this self-titled record is a masterpiece. In my humble opinion, of course.

This is the first DT album I’ve given five stars since 6DoIT. What I like about this new album is that it is fresh and different, yet still classic DT. JM's bass shines here as well as MM. There are no insipid lyrics, Portnoy raps or George Michael styled breathy vocals. The last few Portnoy releases were becoming a bit stale and uninspired. The whole band seems re-energized and it shows here. ADToE showed some real promise. I did, however, have some issues with it. Three ballads are 'two' too many and the drums seemed under recorded, but an overall improvement. This time out they have returned to what I expect from this band. Great songs performed at a level few if any could match. No song by song narrative, I liked them all at first listen. But I do have to give a shout out regarding “Illumination Theory”, it’s a monster!

While the drumming is awesome,the snare sounds so 80's. The vocals...well, you can barely understand James, he's buried under everyone else. Sorry i was expecting more.

This CD has it all. Progressive, melodic metal crafted in the spirit of Dream Theater. Their last album along with this self titled one, are the best CD's since Metropolis Part 2. Why are you reading? Buy immediately!

Just bought it since I am DT lover!

I listened to it the first time today from start to finish. It's kinda just another "meh" DT album for me. I really liked the last song "Illumination Theory" but that's about it. In the illustrious words of an engineer I once worked with "Ok guys, that was a great take... really tearing it up in there. I'm gonna roll it back and let's try it one more time from the top, and maybe this time you can PLAY A SONG." It's like.... if 5 guys could get their mouths on the same harmonica, at the same time, and try to play it. I thought Portnoy was a busy drummer but the guy could lay down a stone groove. Mangini seems to overplay at every opportunity, they ALL do I guess. Don't get me wrong, these guys are all MASTERS of their instruments, virtuosos in every sense, but they should really "order out" for GOOD SONGS and build these opuses... opii? around them instead of all this insane shredding and then try and shoe-horn lyrics into it (which I know is what they do). Maybe I'm old now. I just get no emotional connection on any level to this record (other then Illumination Theory) and pruduction-wise it's all an over-compressed blur that seems to lack bottom end. I don't know what else I can say.

Is it Images and Words? No. But so what, this thing (prog) rocks! They don't have that 'portnoy is making us metal all the time' thing any more, which is a MUCH needed change, to my ears anyway. All members have a lot more room to breathe, which makes this record diverse and a lot of fun to listen to from front to back. Mangini is a BEAST.. the drums are way complicated but he manages to make them compliment the songs very nicely. Do not let a lineup change deter you from getting this (same goes for A Dramatic Turn of Events)… This is a really, really good DT record!

I'm quite possibly Dream Theater's biggest fan. When I heard the first two singles of this album, I wasn't impressed. Petrucci described this album as very technical - like Awake - and he nailed it. It's a very complex album that gets better every day. Now, I can't put it down, and because of its complexity, I hear something new every time I listen.

I thought ADTOE would be the lower point in DT discography, but selftitle DT is. However last track, 22+ minutes Illumination Theory is a masterpiece!

Best DT album ever

im the biggest fans of this band, but honestly this album is lil' bit different , too many slowest songs (except "the enemy inside" looks like the ORI "DT" band) im still missing DT + MIKE PORTNOY pattern until now :( .. thanks

Can't believe the whiners. Listen to the album, it is a wonderful album! Great craftsmanship. The whiners who say it lacks imagination...SHUT UP. It has a ton of imagination and if you can't find it you are deaf. Great album from a great band. Rock on and enjoy the music!

Another great production. I've followed these guys from the days of Images and Words and I will always love them. Looking forward to the tour. Amazing band.

These masterful musicians have outdone themselves. After having listened to this new release many, many times now (the latest with Illumination Theory blasting in 5.1 mix in the basement), I can honestly say that this band knows no equals. The master musicianship that is evident in every track on this CD is stunning. Having seen DT on their last tour, I can say that Mangini has added tremendously to this band, layers of new complexity, and, well, I am so pleased with the sound of all of these musicians. Great, complex work on the keys from Rudess, who never fails to astound . Myung shining in many, many moments on the bass, Petrucci on a truly fiery guitar, and LaBrie in what is clearly the best voice I have ever heard him. Of course that last epic tracks is magnificent, but so is every song on this recording. This is DTs first release that I can honestly say I wish they would play in its entirety in the second half of their upcoming concert tour. Simply stunning music, gentlemen.

I really want to love this album but just can't get there. Their style is beginning to feel like a cliché (stop already with the 80's style pinch harmonics). The songs sound more like long extended guitar scales that lack melody or inspiration. It almost feels like the songwriting was manufactured and calculated and the musical themes and ideas seems to never really go anywhere.

I have been listening to DT since 1989. I've been to 27 concerts on 3 continents. I am trying to gather myself after my first listening. I can't put my finger on it. There is something missing. it's a little too perfect for them, a little too rehearsed, a little too predictable. What was the motive for this album? Part of me feels like this was an answer to everything I wanted from them, part of me feels like that wasn't such a good thing since no story is being toldm-mno part of me was saved with this album - Subdivisions by Rush saved me from something, this did not save me, it just gave me an extra fan item. Listening to this album was like watching a Star Trek where the Enterprise has warp 20 capabilities and cloak and is able to fabricate weapons without end and the shields never give out. With Portnoy there was a sense of imperfection that made you feel like the underdog was going to win for the nerd boy at home not being invited to the cool kid’s party. Previous albums were like BWM suspensions, they give a little in the corners so that more weight hits the tires making you drive even bettter, this was just an F1 car. Dream Theater doesn't sound like a secret any more, they sound ...instead, perfect. One perfect lick after another. This doesn't feel like DreamTheater, it just sounds like them. I have no idea what that means. I will give it 5 starts because no band on earth except the Jarzombek brothers could pull something like this off...no one. I'm just wondering who made them this way, age, Mangini? Did this album really need to be made like IAW and Octavarium had to just eventually be made? While I grapple with my own 6 degrees of separation I will listen in submission and accept that the next 20 years will be a version of this album. I miss Portnoy, is that bad?

I think it's pretty good (: it really surprised me (:

It doen´t matter to me I was just awaiting the release date to buy it.

This is the first DT album since probably Metropolis 2 that has that classic, majestic, effortless sound of Images & Words. With a few exceptions (False Awakening being the major one), gone are the extremely cheesy neoclassical passages from the last few albums. The mix is cohesive and the tones from everyone are thick and polished. Mangini is a revelation. Myung sounds amazing! Lyrics are hit or miss, but Looking Glass (especially) and Surrender to Reason are instant DT classics. Great return to form!

Buy it. You won't be disappointed!

As (another) big fan of DT, I'm seeing a pretty wide range of reactions to this album, so I thought I'd put out my middle-ground opinion. First, a bit of background: Black Clouds and Silver Linings was a huge disappointment for me, the songs seemed (to put this visually) very grey and desaturated. I felt like that album, while heavy and full of solos, leaned too much towards the (nu-)metal side Portnoy was pushing the band towards (and not in a good way, like Train of Thought), and lacked the magical quality of earlier albums. When Dramatic Turn of Events Came out, I was immediately impressed and amazed by it. Gone were all my complaints about the previous album (stifling of bass and vocals, lack of imaginative parts, musical maturity, color, etc.), and after first listen, I remember thinking this was their best work. I soon changed my mind afterwards, as I noticed there were several major differences that set it apart. The most noticeable change the band has undergone recently is the drummer. What I think most people don't understand is that Mike Mangini isn't an aggressive drummer like Portnoy. The role he has in the band is more of an accompanist than a soloist (or, in Portnoy's mind, front man). You can see this in interviews; Mangini is almost annoyingly humble, but he obviously cares much more about blending with the other members of the band than sticking out as a soloist. Coming from Portnoy, this is a huge change, and one that I think is very appropriate for DT. Another big difference with DToE is that it seemed less risky than previous efforts. Everything was very tight and rehearsed, with seemingly no chance of error. DToE was an incredibly imaginative and technical album, it was just more focused on ensemble virtuosity as opposed to individual virtuosity. I can understand and appreciate this difference, but this was my biggest complaint with the album. This new self-titled record, as an improvement, is much more daring and virtuosic than DToE. The band takes more substantial risks in their music, which is what I think makes them exciting to listen to ("wait, did he/they really just do that?"). The solos, especially, have a much more improvisational quality to them (a lot of them were even done in the first take!). There are a lot of great moments in this album where each member shines brightly, and their musicianship is as good as ever. The songs, while shorter than I would like, are very diverse and well-balanced. At first listen, I wasn't too impressed with this album. Maybe it's just a slight difference between the this and DToE, but I felt that each song wasn't cohesive and was made of lots of little pieces that didn't really fit. After multiple listens, though, I'm pleased to say that the album started to make more sense, and as I got used to it, I enjoyed it more. Is this their best work? No, I don't think so. But it's still a very good album, one that I don't think anyone should dismiss. I do have one minor complaint about this album. The string section in the middle of Illumination Theory, while being an actual acoustic orchestra, sounds like a keyboard. This makes sense, since Jordan wrote the part, but I wish the orchestra members would have played with better phrasing and dynamics. Playing it like they did really undermines the value of using a real orchestra. An important thing to keep in mind when comparing this to other albums is that DT is still in a transitional period. The guys are still very focused on making a "good" album as opposed to an experimental one. Once they've firmly established who they are, and Mangini's role in the band, I'm sure they'll start to experiment again like the old DT we all love. In the meantime, this is a very good start.

Based on their past work, I can't believe they would actually release this. Those that like it must never have listened to any of their other stuff. Like so many things now a days, it's an empty box.

Dream Theater has always delivered nothing but the best to their fans and this is just the next chapter in a continuing stream of pure awesomeness and talnet! Thank you for being a band that creates music worthy waiting gor and listing to!

This album seems to have a bit of a different feel from what I've gotten from previous DT albums, but it's a great one to be sure. It feels a little bit more accessible, but still has some of the heavy passages, complex passages that I love. I hope they gain some new followers with this!

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Love " The enemy inside". Progression of the greatness and true DT sound we've grown up on.

Giving it 5 stars already coz these guys never do anything below that! Although the album is now available on torrents now but i am still waiting for it to be available on iTunes!

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