I think people need to get back into this now that the holidays are done.
Because I know my writeup will be appearing first, I figured I'd share what I wrote to give people ideas, and to remind them of what they signed up for.
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Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence is perhaps Dream Theater’s album that draws the most varying opinions. Split into two vastly different discs (one a 5-song disc of mostly experimental songs, and one a disc featuring a 42 minute song following a more traditional prog metal style), there was sure to be some fans at odds with each other over what songs were “good”. Appropriately enough, The Great Debate is all about split opinions. Detailing one of the great debates of our time, stem-cells, lyricist John Petrucci takes neither side. Instead he opts to simply show both sides of the argument, all the while aided by samples from left and right-wing figures. As a side note: the right wing samples are played through the right speaker, and vice-versa.
The standout player here is easily drummer Mike Portnoy. Delivering what I believe to be his finest work in Dream Theater, Mike does not stop for a moment in this song. The layers of complex cymbal work, the creative fills, and the unconventional time signatures would have made this song a nightmare for any other drummer. James Labrie also proves to be a very adaptive vocalist. The verses are mostly distorted or sung with a sharper edge, while the choruses fit his more traditional high-register style. Jordan Rudess and John Petrucci both get to trade solos, as well.
Despite being among the top 40 Dream Theater songs, The Great Debate has a very split opinion among the fanbase (indeed). Common criticism is that the song becomes very sample-heavy during the intro and outro, which some find drags on for too long. I, for one, enjoy the different feel to the song, which is only heightened by being among the varied songs on the first disc of Six Degrees.