DREAM THEATER; "Falling Into Infinity" (EastWest Records). * * *
Dream Theater owes a lot to Pink Floyd - all the way down to Storm Thorgerson's surreal album designs. But instead of rehashing the music, the band has created its own niche with progressive rock and heavy metal listeners.Dream Theater's newest, "Falling Into Infinity," continues the group's progressive evolution. There are shades of Emerson, Lake & Palmer; Queensryche and Rush.
Still, like the Pink Floyd situation, the band manages to stay true to its artistic integrity and style. "Falling Into Infinity" is the band's most sophisticated album to date.
Tunes that run an average of seven minutes, with topics that run from the coming century ("New Millennium") to mind manipulation ("You Not Me") to losses due to time ("Take Away My Pain").
The music, while not as catchy as Floyd or ELP (which is a good thing), is mixed with crystal-clear accuracy. However, there are times when the songs sound a little too produced. It's just too perfect.
GENESIS; "Calling All Stations . . . " (Atlantic). * * 1/2
Well, the classic-rock band reunions keep on marching. This time it's Genesis that heeds the "all for one" call, albeit sans past vocalists Peter Gabriel or Phil Collins.
But it's not as bad as that makes it seem. Guitarist Mike Rutherford and keyboardist Tony Banks are still in the band, and the drums have been taken over by two guest percussionists. Regardless of what people might think, it's still a majority of the classic '80s lineup.
So what's the big deal?
First, new vocalist Ray Wilson manages to mix Gabriel's earthy prowess and Collins' sometimes surreal, most times pop sensibilities together.
The music is a combination of old and new styles. And there's even a nod to Rutherford's former project, Mike & the Mechanics.
Genesis fans will find the similarities fitting. But this is an album that will divide the camp. Some will like it and others will most definitely not.
The choice cuts include the exotic percussion of "Congo," the mellow "If That's What You Need" and the driving "The Dividing Line."
In addition to the tunes, the CD is also equipped with a CD-rom drive that will connect fans to an exclusive Genesis Web site.
But that novelty is beside the point. If the band can convince its fans the new vocalist can fill the former supervocalists' shoes, Genesis may be in line for a well-deserved career boost.
VARIOUS ARTISTS; "Ozzfest Live" (Red Ant). * * 1/2
Since there is no confirmation of the Ozzfest - the multiband metal assault festival created by Ozzy Osbourne and his manager wife Sharon - coming to Salt Lake City, there's the next best thing, a live, 48-minute CD called, "Ozzfest Live."
Since this album was recorded during a couple of shows last year, the infamous Marilyn Manson and the Black Sabbath reunion are not on the album.
Instead, there are such metal revolutionaries as Slayer ("Angel of Death"), Biohazard ("These Eyes") and Fear Factory ("Replica"), who are mixed with newer metal, grind-hop artists such as Coal Chamber ("Loco"), Earth Crisis ("Broken Foundation") and Powerman 5000 ("Organized").
The various bands' sounds are raw, grinding and sound extremely tight for a live album. The odd thing, however, is hearing Osbourne's "Perry Mason," one of his least brutal cuts, close out the album.
On a local note, the inner sleeve shows Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman wearing a Heavy Metal Shop jersey.