DREAM THEATER — Images and Words (review)

DREAM THEATER — Images and Words album cover

Album · 1992 · Progressive Metal

4/5 · 2012-11-02
Sinkadotentree

It has to be 4 years since i spun this one but i quite enjoyed listening to it this morning. My opinion is still the same though. Yes it's an influencial album no doubt, and one that put this band on the musical map but there are these sappy moments throughout that really turn me off. It's mostly when James is singing in a ballad-like manner and the music follows suit. Still how can you not be impressed with the complexity and power of the ground-breaking release. "Pull Me Under" gave the band some huge exposure on MTV and certainly many fans of this heavier styled music jumped on board. "Another Day" is a disappointment because of the ballad-like style and Kenny G-like sax. The next two tracks don't do much for me either but then we get some power with "Metropolis-Part I", "Under A Glass Moon" and "Learning To Live". So a mixed bag for me but i'm giving it a low 4 stars because of how influencial this was back in 1992.

more than 2 years ago
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Sinkadotentree wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Hey Warthur ! I almost quoted you on this one because you said it so well. "...the music here regularly threatens to cross the line into unappealing schmaltz". There's even more of that sap on "Falling Into Infinity" .

Warthur wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I seem to be the Bizarro World DT Fan: I think When Dream and Day Unite is brilliant, think I&W was OK but not quite as good - like you, I think it's too much of a mixed bag to get more than 4 stars or so - and the stuff after that all leaves me cold. This seems to be the opposite of the general fan consensus so it's nice to see someone else articulating how this one isn't necessarily a classic.

Sinkadotentree wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Maybe i shouldn't listen to you but i am(haha). After doing some reading of people's opinions i remembered why i didn't buy it at the time. Some even call it a Falling Into Infinity part two which is enough to make me run to the hills.

UMUR wrote:

more than 2 years ago

If you ask me the latest one is rather boring, but I´m definitely in the minority with that opinion, so you probably shouldn´t listen to me LOL.

Sinkadotentree wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Oops i already reviewed A Change Of Seasons on here. I may get DT's latest as the ratings have been consistantly high for that one. I had decided not to bother whan i heard Portnoy was gone but...

Sinkadotentree wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I prefer Awake and a several others to Images And Words but then i have no history with I&W as i got it around 2006. I have more nostalgia for A Change Of Seasons but i'll talk about that when i review it.

UMUR wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I still think this is a fantastic album. Gives me goosebumps from nostalgia. Sadly I´ve kind of lost interest in Dream Theater over the years. I still think this one and Awake are masterpieces though.