I've known about Dream Theater since the release of their very first album "When Dreams And Day Unite", and from that moment until now I've been a follower of the band more or less staunch depending on the moments. When the second album "Images And Words" was released introducing the new singer James LaBrie, the band took a giant step with one of the best prog metal albums ever. Although the new singer wasn't the key factor in the achievement, in that moment I thought he was all right. It was when some live stuff of the band appeared when I realized the long distance between James Labrie and the others members of the band concerning quality, technique and skill. In fact, they are one of the best rock bands ever in that matters. Since them, He has never been up to what the band deserve. Dream Theater is an absolutly exceptional band, but otherwise, the voice would be a reason for me to forget about them.
Even with this, as the years went passed by, James Labrie has come improving until get a level "almost" correct and now, when I've got used and started to swallow him, he comes with an album like this of the True Symphonic Orchestra. In a word: Ridiculous. The worst prog metal album ever and the more pretentious one too. The reference in the art and the title of the album to the one of the true 3 tenors (Domingo, Carreras and Pavarotti) seems a kind of a killing joke or they are pulling your leg. I say this for many reasons. The other two singers in the album are real tenors (Bad or good, but they can be called that way), but what about James? is he trying to fool somebody singing like a slit throated chiken? Is this album real or just somebody kidding me?.
This album is a huge absurdity from the first note to the last one. Riffs are silly and repetitive and the strings arrangements completely childlike. Everything is stupid from the beginning to the end. The repertoire they have chosen is silly and inappropriate. But even when the full album is a huge mistake, the worst comes every time James open his mouth... you can die of embarrassment or double up with laughter. This album doesn't deserve to waste 1? in buying or 1 minute in listening, but if somebody wants a little sample he can't miss James singing in spanish (by the way, my homeland language) "Granada" or "Cielito Lindo" . Some years ago, along a short season a man (mentally handicapped) appeared in spanish TV singing that kind of songs, he's nickname was "Cañita Brava" and his memory came back to me inmediately when I listen to James here.
Beside rock and metal, I'm into other musics like jazz or classical and sometimes I discuss with people in those worlds defending the music values of some rock and metal bands. Now I wonder what shall I do if they know about this album. It would be the biggest shame in my life.
Just pathetic. Among the bad ones, this is the worst, Among the worst ones, this is the lower. An album that never should have been made.