I would have thought I would be hard-pressed to put together a column at this time of year. It seems that the summer is not the drought of review material I previously thought. Then again a right stinker found its way into my pile.
CD reviews
Dream Theater: Systematic Chaos
I delayed reviewing this for a week or so; so I could continue to listen to it in the normal batch of review material. This has to be DT's most accessible album for at least a decade, maybe even longer. Its just absolutely, stunningly good. While there might not be anything as mainstream as "Pull me Under" and the songs are not exactly short, that does not mean it's as turgid as some of them. Of course, I have the special edition with a DVD with the full album in 5.1 surround sound which makes the listening even more of a treat. There is an interesting 90 minute documentary on the making of the album as well.
The most accessible track for non-DT fans is "The Dark Eternal Night" which is Metallica if they went to Berklee College of Music instead of learning it on the road. Needless to say this is essential for all fans of DT, power-prog or even just good metal. A definite contender for album of the year.
(Hed)pe: Insomnia
Rap metal when at its best can bring something interesting to the table whether in the form of Faith no More or daftness from Anthrax. Alas, there are a whole bunch of bands that jumped on the bandwagon. This is one of those. This lot combine all that is bad about metal and gangsta rap. You have a nice selection of brain dead paranoia, misogyny, violence towards women and a liberal dose of expletives. It's unmitigated shite that is so bad it beggars belief. No redeeming features whatever.
At one point the rapper wonders if he is surrounded by idiots, while ranting about conspiracies, I think he only needs to look around the studio.
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