Got my copy the other day. Jordan's stuff is hit-or-miss for me, so after reading a few mixed reviews, I decided to put the disc in and listen to it at least once all the way through before looking at the credits. I haven't even looked at track titles and song lengths, although the titles come up on the CD player in my car. No preconceptions, just listen to the album, let it unfold.
Not bad! It goes without saying that Jordan is a gifted player, and he has enough interesting musical ideas to keep my attention most of the time. One downside is his tendency to wander from one musical idea to another seemingly without a lot of thought going into the overall structure. I kinda like the unpredictability of it, but I guess only so far. I don't literally want to feel like we're going from place to place without a map. These are compositions, so structure matters, even if it's an unconventional structure. But it's cool and proggy, so he gets points for trying.
The opening track was cruising along very nicely, going through a few themes, then there were vocals several minutes in. Interesting. I didn't really pay attention to the lyrics; maybe next time. Then the rest of the track. The vocals weren't bad, not great, and they fit the song, but it was unexpected. Then Part 2 (or maybe it was Part II) and it's kinda more of the same. Good-sounding jams, great playing, interesting enough compositions. Then the vocals which aren't horrible, but are just kinda there. If this is Jordan (someone else mentioned that most of the lead vocals are him?) then I applaud his decision to go ahead and do some lead vocals. It's his album, he can do whatever he wants. If I ever made an album of some kind, I would probably do vocals somewhere. Just to do it. I don't have a great voice, but I can sing in tune and have some range, so I'd do it. My album, my rules. Jordan clearly feels the same way, so kudos to him. Doesn't change the fact that to me, they spoil what would otherwise be some pretty cool instrumental tracks. Turns them into cool instrumental tracks with some mediocre vocals.
I've five or six tracks into it; haven't finished the first spin yet and don't actually know how much is left, which is kinda cool. It's in the car, but I ended up working from home today, so I've only had a couple sessions so far, about 20 minutes each.
Other than being a stubbon, eternally optimistic fan and buying every Dream Theater album on physical media, I don't buy many CDs. This is a rarity, so I'm having some fun with it.
Topic: Jordan Rudess - Wired for Madness to be released april 19, 2019 (Read 4873 times)