Today's Listen

Dream Theater - Awake (1994)

Dream Theater's second studio album is nothing short of a masterpiece. I have listened to this many times, and with each listen its power continues to grow. Although the album tends to lean more to the metal side of things, it's still highly progressive. The three-song suite "A Mind Beside Itself" is the best highlight on the album, containing the nearly 7-minute roller-coaster instrumental opener, "Erotomania," which segues into the epic "Voices," and finishes with soft, emotional acoustic ending "The Silent Man." Mike Portnoy is in stellar form throughout (check out the odd-time-signature opening beat on "6:00"), and John Petrucci slings killer riffs with one hand (check out "The Mirror" and "Lie") and screaming solos with the other ("Erotomania," "Voices," "Scarred"). James LaBrie also delivers some of his most sensational vocals ever recorded. The album is a must have for any fan, and is a good place to start off for new listeners.