I always acknowledged Octavarium, but never really gave it enough respect until recently. I passed it off as being too mainstream sounding, which on the surface it was. It's not until you actually take the time (hurrdurr) to really listen to it that you start to understand how much more complex it is.
And yes, These Walls was one of the first tracks on that album that made me take notice.
Although, I gotta say, a lot of Dream Theater's latter day stuff didn't grab me at first. Train of Thought, Octavarium and Systematic Chaos took a while for me. So did Six Degrees (despite The Glass Prison being my favourite DT song).
My absolute number 1 is still Awake though. That to me is probably the most encompassing album, and the strongest in terms of songwriting and performances. It was heavy, it was dark, but it was still melodic and it pushed their sound further outwards.
Then it's Images & Words, and then Scenes From a Memory.
You and I are in agreement about Awake. It's definitely one of their strongest efforts. And I did happen to listen to Learning to Live earlier today. I agree with you on the point that it's beautifully written. Not sure I would call it their best written song, but that might just be me. Lyrically, I really like The Silent Man. And Glass Prison, now that you mention it, was really well-written, I must say.
Also, anyone here fans of Machine Head? I had mentioned in a previous post that I wasn't really into much metal(or good music) in my early teens, but I found them(along with a couple of other bands) through some friends and youtube. They are a band that I find you either love them or hate them In my case, I went up and down on that particular roller coaster. Some of their studio album efforts were great and others not so much. Unto the Locust is definitely my favorite effort from them. Track-to-track, that album didn't waver. To be quite honest, I think it got better as it went on. I am Hell and Who We Are are definitely the strongest tracks off that record for me.
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