The Poster

Its been three months now since I've posted here on my blog. A lot has happened and a lot that I have to thank DT for.Honest to God. I would not know what I would have done or how I would have traversed that period in life without DT by my side. Thankfully here I am today hale and healthy and posting again on my Heros!! :D

Now the big announcement! All thanks to my brother, we are the proud owners of a 1 metre long Dream Theater poster!!! Hurrah!
1. I get to see them every single day
2.I get to pose with them for pictures. I mean how many people actually get to do that!?!?!!
3.I get to bug my parents by asking them who is the better looking person in the poster (ha ha!) just for kicks!

But all said, this poster was a total surprise and such a sweet gesture from my brother. Thanks bro! Love ya! And love ya DT. Until I see you guys for real, I shall see you guys on the wall! :D

Soul Searching

This post is inspired by the song 'The Answer Lies Within' from the album Octavarium. The best cure that a confused , tired mind could ask for. There are times when I feel like I've lost the whole thread of my life. Sometimes, life sucks like hell. It is one of those days today.

When life hits a low, taking some time off for yourself and indulging in some serious soul searching will help. Taking stock of what you exactly want to do and what you should be doing is a great help once in a way. Keeps me sane in this mad world. And DT has showed me what I should be actually doing instead of moping around and wasting my time. :D
To all those who can't pull themselves up and face life here is DT's mantra which might help. It did help me.

Look around
Where do you belong
Don't be afraid
You are not the only one
Don't let the day go by
Don't let it end
Don't let a day go by in doubt
The answer lies within

Life is short, so learn from your mistakes
And stand behind, the choices that you made
Face each day with both eyes open wide
And try to give, don't keep it all inside

Dream Theater = Home

You must definitely be wondering how Dream Theater can possibly be equated to home!!. Let me unravel this mystery for you without further ado.
It's simple. You stay with your parents, siblings etc.. enjoy the warm comfort of your mom's simple yet healthy cooking. Then one day its time for you to leave the nest and make a future for yourself somewhere else. You long to relive the days of peace, a simple home cooked meal from your mom and so much more else. When the day comes for you to return home, you look forward to it with all your heart. You might have visited the top restaurants everywhere you went , tasted the best food and slept on the most plush comfy springy beds et al.
What does actually satisfy you in the end? Your own bed with the soft blanket and your mom's delicious biryani or dosa or freshly brewed cup of coffee!
You listen to bands like Iron Maiden, Cradle of filth, Children of Bodom,Lamb of God,Tool and what not. No one can work the magic that DT work on you. The other bands are equal to the posh restaurants, comfy springy beds etc., Dream Theater are like your own room, your mom's delicious cooking and that freshly brewed cuppa that you can't get enough of! They are like home. :D

That is what Dream Theater are for me. Are they the same for you?

DISCLAIMER : I am NOT comparing bands here.Thank you.

25

Four months of posting on my favourite band of all time. And, I ain't tired of it at all. This is my 25th post and I have reserved it for one of the best pieces of Dream Theater's work called
'Metropolis Pt.1 - The miracle and the sleeper'



I have not heard a song so beautiful to date. You know, this is what I love about DT. Everytime I think I've heard enough songs, another keeps popping up, and the sensation just blows me apart.Everytime. Really.Metropolis is awe inspiring according to me coz Labrie's vocals simply glide through the crests and troughs so smoothly,I ended up wondering if the song was a dream. :)

Music - Awesome. Lyrics - Mind blowing. Vocals - Perfect to the last note.

CONCLUSION : This song is a miracle all by itself.

PS : I completed all my test papers last evening only with this song playing in my ears. Thanks DT.

In the Name of God

Hah! I'm back to doing what I do best.Praising DT. :D This time it is the song 'In the Name of God' from the album Train of Thought(2003). Just like the song 'Scarificed Sons' in Octavarium,this song too talks about how faith in God is twisted into violence.

Seriously why don't the lunk headed terrorists listen to Dream Theater? It should work wonders on their warped sense of purpose. Awesome lyrics as always by Petrucci and a beautiful piece of work that is extremely soulful.

Lies
Tools of the devil inside
Written in Holy disguise
Meant to deceive and divide
Us all

Listen when the prophet
Speaks to you
Killing in the name of God

Passion
Twisting faith into violence
In the name of God

Blurring the lines
Between virtue and sin
They can't tell
Where God ends
And mankind begins

Listen to DT all you violent anti social elements out there. Awake arise and realize before it is too late.

Dark Eternal Night

I had to write this today. I have been waxing eloquent about DT's brilliance and their inspirational qualities et al. But really , there is the one song from the Systematic Chaos album that I hate. 'Dark Eternal Night'. I dunno why, but it really does'nt seem right. Vocals are too jarring on the nerves especially the part where Labrie goes '....into the daaark eteernal night'.. Arrrgh.. I close my ears every time that song is played. Literally like being caught in a hellish dream! :D

Now don't go around thinking that my worship level for DT has gone down a notch. In fact the song is like a 'Drishti Pottu' on DT's brilliance. Something like a charm to ward off the evil eye. :D
Maybe someday I'll grow to like it. But, like a popular saying goes 'First impressions are the best'. The first impression from this song wasn't good.DT can do much much better than that. Yes they can. And they will. :)

As I Am

To those who understand
I extend my hand
To the doubtful
I demand
Take me as I am

The best set of lyrics written by John Petrucci that lays emphasis on the fact that one must live life according to one's own terms. Music is awesome as usual in this song and Labrie's vocals do complete justice to the powerful lyrics. When you listen, you'll headbang like there's no tomorrow.
'As I Am' celebrates the independence of a person to live on his own terms. This song rocks people and rocks hard!

The I Factor

Yesterday was one of those rare good days.One of those days where the world seems like a great place to live in. I am the proverbial lazy bum.Compare me to a sloth and you'll be suprised to see that the sloth will lose hands down.

Test papers have to be submitted by the end of Feb. And I have completed close to 65% of them. So, when I got back home,I was in this 'I-wanna-scream-out-loud-and-make-a-big-noise' kinda mood. My Mp3 player was spotted after some searching and I plugged it in. This mp3 player has a mind of its own.Seriously. I think of a song and it plays it. Mind you, the playlist is on the shuffle mode. :) I thought' This Dying Soul'.. it was played. The next was the best. I thought 'A change of Seasons'.. and lo... it was played. Hurray!

All the inspiration I needed came from my MP3 loaded with DT songs. So song after song played and DT's power worked its magic. I completed one paper! What I tried doing listening to Enrique or BSB and gave up.. DT did for me.

I dunno if DT have the so called 'X' factor, But for me they sure have the 'I' factor. What does the I stand for? Inspiration. :D.. So until tonight, when I attempt to write another paper, DT.. all I have to say is Thank You.

Are you or aren't you?

This has reference to the hype and rumor surrounding the Rock in India fest happening at Bangalore on March 14. With bands like Megadeth, Machinehead and Pentagram scheduled to perform , Dream Theater's presence will only increase the value for the rock fest!

Now the big Q. Are DT coming or aren't they? This has to be sheer torture for DT fans coz unconfirmed rumors will add misery. If DT come I am not missing this concert for sure. Scared to even hope that they will come. But praying hard for them to perform as well.Please come please come please come Dream Theater......

Just can't get enough

Its been close to 8 months now since I've discovered your brilliance. And, All I have to say is I'll probably never get over you people. Your songs are the best stress busters for me and it takes me to whole new world of my own from where coming back is not a thing I like. You guys are the best and you've got a fan for life in me. Love you Dream Theater.

Labrie - ism

Okay the truth is coming through now. I've loved James Labrie ever since I discovered Dream Theater and it was only after that , did I discover my inspiration, Petrucci. Labrie with his amazingly superb vocals provides the zing to every song that DT has produced.

His voice has been the perfect foil and the icing on each song aside from DT's technical and instrumental brilliance. Take 'Under a Glass Moon' for instance. The beginning which goes .. 'Tell me.. remind me..' .. starts off on a high scale. The ease and the panache with which Labrie sings it almost makes the song sound so divine that you will not wanna stop listening to it for a long time to come.

This song is just an example of Labrie's gifted talent. There are many others that are worthy of mention like Octavarium,A change of Seasons,Take the Time, Another Day,These Walls etc.,

For all those people out there who think Labrie is a wall flower and is the least important part of DT's line up, think again. DT's master pieces would never be complete without his vocals. Not by a long shot. No way.

Magnum Opus 23:08

'We can learn
From the past
But those days
Are gone
We can hope
For the future
But there might not be one'

Sound familiar? It has to but only if you are a Dream Theater fanatic. :P Jus' kidding.
These are a part of the lyrics from DT's mind blowing, astounding,incomparable.. (the list goes on) creation called ' A Change of Seasons'. Fondly known as 23:08 in DT fan circles.

This is the one all time favorite song for me not only from DT's stable but also from amongst all the other bands I've listened to till date. The weight will tilt in DT's favour here .There is so much in this song that moving away from it is just unthinkable. I often wonder how I haven't got tired of this master piece after innumerable times of listening to it. :)

I must say.. the start by John Petrucci , the lyrics by Portnoy, the awesome singing by Labrie and Myung's perfect bass accompaniment all topped off by Rudess' keyboards are just the things that make this song perfect in all ways. For all you people who haven't listened to this song my advice would be listen NOW. Gather ye rosebuds while ye may!

'A change of Seasons' is the most indescribable song I've ever heard. Simply because it takes you through a whole gamut of emotions in those 23:08 minutes. I will not tire of writing about this master piece. But, then words sometimes don't do justice to its greatness. Listen to it and you will agree.

In one word 'A Change of Seasons' is Incredible

PS : Don't forget to watch the video on the video bar right here.
Happy Listening!!

New year Song

Its the new year and what better way to kick start it than by listening to one of Dream Theater's addictive creations? So there I was early this morning with my MP3 player plugged into my ear. The song for the moment you ask? 'This Dying Soul' from the album 'Train of thought'.

What's great about it? Everything. Every note every lyric breathes power. Awesome. 11:27 minutes of powerful music and so much variation in speed. Lovely change in pace around the 6:31st minute. I really wonder how DT cut down so much from the fast paced music at that point. Simply mindboggling. The reduction in the pace reminds me of a race car that's speeding and has had to screech to a sudden sudden halt. :)

'This Dying Soul' is awesome in all ways imaginable. Great piece of work. DT continue to rule the roost for me.They still do.