Released: July 2009
Format: standard album (CD or download)
Songwriting: 6
Performance: 9
Recording: 5
First Impression: 6
Staying Power: 5
Don't get me wrong. Dream Theater remains one of the most talented "progressive metal" bands in existence. The problem with such talent is that there is an expectation of consistently high quality. Stray too much from the formula and fans get upset. Stick too much to the formula and fans get bored. Unfortunately "Black Clouds and Silver Linings" falls into the latter category. Though it is flawlessly executed, all the musical talent in the world does not make up for tired songwriting.
There is also a three CD "special edition" of the same album. The second CD is a set of covers. Some are good. Others are boring. One is particularly painful (who sang that song? Freddie Mercury? Well then why don't you let him sing it!). The third CD is a set of instrumental versions of songs on the first CD. Two extra CDs of filler. Say it with me: "meh."
Suggested Sample Track: "The Count of Tuscany"
Recommendation: Unless you're a diehard fan, skip this one. Listen instead to Dream Theater's stellar back catalog ("Images and Words" and "Awake" in particular").
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Ben Folds - "Way to Normal" and "Stems and Seeds"
Released: September 2008 and February 2009, respectively
Format: standard album (CD or download), latter with bonus DVD-ROM
Songwriting: 7
Performance: 8
Recording: 4 and 7, respectively
First Impression: 6
Staying Power: 7
In "Way to Normal", Ben Folds rocks the keys again with a collection of very catchy pop songs. Though it is not quite comparable to some of his outstanding back catalog, it should appeal to anyone who likes their rock with a generous helping of grand piano and grandstanding. The only major drawback is the horrid, loud recording. The fans were brutally scathing in their complaints about this. But of course Ben was too sexy to care, right?
Wrong! Ben actually listened to his fans, going back to the studio to produce a "demastered" version of the same album, with a much higher recording quality. He also included a collection of Internet releases and B-sides as a bonus CD. In case that wasn't enough, he threw in a DVD-ROM containing multitrack session recordings of all the songs from "Way to Normal", so that fans with audio mixing software such as Garage Band could remix them to their hearts' content. The result is "Stems and Seeds".
Suggested Sample Track: "Dr. Yang" (make sure it's the version from "Stems and Seeds")
Recommendation: If you're not familiar with Ben Folds, but enjoy older Elton John or Billy Joel recordings, then you would do well to give "Stems and Seeds" a spin, along with the excellent back catalog of Ben Folds Five (note the longer name).
Format: standard album (CD or download), latter with bonus DVD-ROM
Songwriting: 7
Performance: 8
Recording: 4 and 7, respectively
First Impression: 6
Staying Power: 7
In "Way to Normal", Ben Folds rocks the keys again with a collection of very catchy pop songs. Though it is not quite comparable to some of his outstanding back catalog, it should appeal to anyone who likes their rock with a generous helping of grand piano and grandstanding. The only major drawback is the horrid, loud recording. The fans were brutally scathing in their complaints about this. But of course Ben was too sexy to care, right?
Wrong! Ben actually listened to his fans, going back to the studio to produce a "demastered" version of the same album, with a much higher recording quality. He also included a collection of Internet releases and B-sides as a bonus CD. In case that wasn't enough, he threw in a DVD-ROM containing multitrack session recordings of all the songs from "Way to Normal", so that fans with audio mixing software such as Garage Band could remix them to their hearts' content. The result is "Stems and Seeds".
Suggested Sample Track: "Dr. Yang" (make sure it's the version from "Stems and Seeds")
Recommendation: If you're not familiar with Ben Folds, but enjoy older Elton John or Billy Joel recordings, then you would do well to give "Stems and Seeds" a spin, along with the excellent back catalog of Ben Folds Five (note the longer name).
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