then there's the songwriting. don't get me wrong, there are some great tracks on "awake," like "6:00" and "the mirror." but there are also some forgettable moments, like "innocence faded" and "a mind beside itself: iii. the silent man." it's not that these songs are bad per se, but they just don't reach the same level of complexity and emotional depth that we've come to expect from dream theater.another issue that some fans have with "awake" is the lyrics. they can be a bit on the cheesy side at times, and it feels like the band was trying a bit too hard to be profound.
I really can't follow what you're saying right there. To me, Awake has a couple of their most emotional lyrics by a mile, with The Mirror, Voices, Scarred and Space-Dye Vest as absolute stand-outs. As being their third album, which lyrical themes were touched before - or even after until Honor Thy Father - that shares the same vulnerable reflections?
perhaps most interestingly enough, "awake" came at a time when the progressive metal scene was really starting to take off, with bands like tool and opeth pushing the boundaries of the genre. in comparison, "awake" feels a bit safe and formulaic. it's almost like dream theater was trying to fit into a mold rather than breaking new ground.
Here you lost me also... Awake is much darker overall than the debute and Images and Words were and the complexity, riffs, themes and lyrics were definitely different to all the work until then. I would follow you if you feel this way about the far more safe 'mainstream' Falling Into Infinity, but Awake... surely not.
In the DT albums countdown that Kev did a year ago (link below), Awake clocked in at #4. Awake received 8 first place votes and, like all of the top 6 albums in the countdown, Awake received ZERO last place votes. It's average ranking was 4.5. For anyone who's interested, the consensus produced this list:
I was one of those who ranked Awake at #1. I think it is an absolute masterpiece which low-tier songs aren't as low as Systematic Chaos, When Dream and Day Unite or Falling Into Infinity by a wide margin. And the highs are just unbelievable high, Voices, The Mirror / Lie, Scarred and Space-Dye Vest. I'll think Awake sets the foundation for Train of Thought being build on almost a decade later, were darker themes became more expelled. And even in 2021, Answering the Call has that same feel, same touch and reminds me of Awake from the first time the vinyl touched the needle.
In terms of criticisms, I really struggle with albums bordering on 80 minutes these days. Even though it's a great song, I wonder if maybe removing Scarred would have helped. At the same time... JP clearly had some important things to say lyrically with that one.
My problem with albums lengths is never that there's too much, but they let some beauties out in the official released versions. I would have loved it if Images and Words was a double disc with A Change of Seasons, that Eve or Raising the Knife would never have to fall off.
So basicly, Hovering Sojourn, I do understand the variety of ranking or in feelings about albums or individual songs, but neither that the lyrics are cheesy or that it doesn't reach to that emotional depths as other albums, are points to comprehend, I would say.
Topic: my most controversial take: awake is the worst DT album (Read 5962 times)
