Album Black Clouds & Silver Linings

History

Dream Theater began to work on the album in October 2008.^[4] Mike Portnoy described Black Clouds & Silver Linings as, "a Dream Theater album with 'A Change of Seasons', 'Octavarium', 'Learning to Live', 'Pull Me Under' and 'The Glass Prison' all on one album."^[6] Jordan Rudess later explained during a demonstration at the NAMM Show for Spectrasonics software (which he used heavily on the album), "We've been entering into the Gothic domain quite a bit on this album."^[7] but as he was at a Music Industry trade show speaking about a specific piece of software at the time, debate exists whether he was making an overarching statement about the sonic or lyrical tone of the album or simply the keyboard sounds when using said software.

Lyrical themes

The album's lyrics were written by John Petrucci and Mike Portnoy, and all except one concern personal experiences about disturbing or difficult moments of their lives. Though most songs were written by Petrucci, "A Nightmare to Remember" was based on a childhood car incident. "The Count of Tuscany", about an actual encounter he had in Tuscany, and "Wither" about the process of songwriting for him.^[8] "The Best of Times" was written by Mike Portnoy about his father, who died from cancer. "I just wanted to write something that was a tribute to our life together," said Portnoy, who played the song for his father prior to his death.^[9] "The Shattered Fortress" is the final part of Portnoy's Twelve-step Suite, reprising and concluding themes and motifs from the suite that began on 2002's Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence album. The remaining song, "A Rite of Passage", concerns Freemasonry; a video of the edited single was released on May 8, 2009.
"Wither" was released as a single on September 15, 2009. In addition to the album version of the song, the single contained an alternate version featuring only a piano and vocals, a demo version with John Petrucci on vocals, and a demo version of "The Best of Times” with Mike Portnoy on vocals. There was also a video to follow it which was released on November 18, 2009.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[10]
Blistering	[11]
The Metal Forge	[12]
Metal Hammer	(positive)[13]
Metal Review	[14]
Metal Storm	[15]
PopMatters	6/10[16]
Record Collector	[17]
Sputnikmusic	4.0/5[18]
411mania.com	9.5/10[19]

Initial critical response to Black Clouds & Silver Linings was generally favorable. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has received an average score of 68, based on five reviews.^[20] Rich Wilson, author of Lifting Shadows, previewed the album for Metal Hammer, calling the album "Dream Theater’s finest and most balanced album in a decade."^[21] Eduardo Rivadavia of Allmusic gave the album four out of five stars writing, "Black Clouds & Silver Linings is still an archetypal Dream Theater album; one that's unlikely to broaden their audience all that much, but is conversely guaranteed to thrill their hardcore converts with its renewed devotion to the most exigent and stimulating facets of the band's chosen musical domain."^[10] Similarly David Buchanan of Consequence of Sound, an online music magazine, said: "that this release will not necessarily bring in new fans but will also not disappoint the current flock, and this is very true. There are no improvements, but no sheer letdowns, either." He gave the album four and a half stars out of five.^[22] The album was named as one of Classic Rock‘s 10 essential progressive rock albums of the decade.^[23]
The album debuted at #6 on the Billboard 200 selling 40,285 copies.^[24] It was the first time in the band's history that they had cracked the Top 10 on that chart, and is currently the band's highest single week sales of an album. The album also debuted at #1 on Billboard Top Internet Albums, and #2 on Billboard Top Rock Albums.^[25] The album also marked the first time that the band came at the number one spot in Finland.

Track listing

All music written by John Petrucci, Mike Portnoy, John Myung and Jordan Rudess except where noted.

No.	Title	Lyrics	Length
1.	"A Nightmare to Remember"	Petrucci	16:10
2.	"A Rite of Passage"	Petrucci	8:36
3.	"Wither" (music: Petrucci)	Petrucci	5:25
4.	"The Shattered Fortress" "X. Restraint" "XI. Receive" "XII. Responsible"	Portnoy	12:49 5:25 3:58 4:26
5.	"The Best of Times"	Portnoy	13:09
6.	"The Count of Tuscany"	Petrucci	19:16
Total length:			75:25

Special edition tracks

The 3-disc Special Edition also included a bonus disc of six cover tracks, entitled "Uncovered 2008/2009". These tracks were originally released separately, one per week, in the weeks leading up to the album's release.

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Original artist	Length
1.	"Stargazer"	Ronnie James Dio, Ritchie Blackmore	Rainbow	8:10
2.	"Tenement Funster"/"Flick of the Wrist"/"Lily of the Valley"	Roger Taylor Freddie Mercury	Queen	8:17
3.	"Odyssey"	Steve Morse	Dixie Dregs	7:59
4.	"Take Your Fingers from My Hair"	Randy Jackson	Zebra	8:18
5.	"Larks' Tongues in Aspic - Part II"	Robert Fripp	King Crimson	6:30
6.	"To Tame a Land"	Steve Harris	Iron Maiden	7:15
Total length:				46:29

Also included in the three disc special edition are instrumental tracks of the songs. All tracks have been altered from their original versions.^[26]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"A Nightmare to Remember"	15:39
2.	"A Rite of Passage"	8:36
3.	"Wither"	5:29
4.	"The Shattered Fortress"	12:47
5.	"The Best of Times"	13:20
6.	"The Count of Tuscany"	18:48
Total length:		74:39

Deluxe collector's edition box set

A deluxe collectors’-edition boxed set of the album was also released. Packaged in a silver foil embossed black velvet box the set includes the 3 Special Edition CDs, a 180-Gram Double LP, a DVD with isolated audio tracks for each instrument, a lithograph of the album cover, with only 100 being signed by Hugh Syme, and a mouse pad. Those who pre-ordered were able to download a newly recorded cover song each week beginning on May 19, 2009 until the album's release. 100 box sets contained a "silver ticket" entitling the purchaser and one guest to a meet-and-greet with the band.^[27] This version was also a Limited Edition release, only 14,000 were made.^[28]

Lagu Octavarium

 lagu ini berdurasi 23:59 menit

[I. Someone Like Him]

[Lyrics: John Petrucci]

I never wanted to become someone like him so secure
Content to live each day just like the last
I was sure I knew that
This was not for me
And I wanted so much more
Far beyond what I could see
So I swore that I'd
Never be someone like him

Seseorang yang ambisius dengan hidupnya
Tidak ingin menjadi orang lain dengan jalan hidup orang itu.
Walaupun dengan keberlangsungan hidupnya yang aman.
Ia lebih memilih hidup dengan caranya sendiri

So many years have passed
Since I proclaimed My independence
My mission My aim And my vision So secure
Content to live each day like it's my last
It's wonderful to know That I could be
Something more than I dreamed
Far beyond what I could see
Still I swear that I'm
Missing out this time

Dengan jalan hidupnya sendiri, ia mencapai mimpinya.
Mendapatkan keberlangsungan hidup yang aman.
Tapi ia merasakan sesuatu yang hilang

As far as I could tell There's nothing more I need
But still I ask myself Could this be everything
Then all I swore That I would never be was now
So suddenly The only thing I wanted To become
To be someone just like him

Walaupun semua tercapai dia merasa kehilangan,
Dan ia sadar yang ia inginkan menjadi seperti orang itu.

Gerakan ini melambangkan sikap John Petrucci terhadap influencenya.
Salah satu contoh adalah pandangan JP terhadap U2.
Di mana dulu sangat tidak menyukai jika U2 menyinggung politik dalam lirik mereka.
Namun sekarang ia menyadari bahwa politik itu adalah isu yang menarik
Untuk dijadikan sebuah lagu. Dan sekarang ia pun mencoba melakukannya.



[II. Medicate (Awakening)]

[Lyrics: James LaBrie]

A Doctor sitting next to me
He asks me how I feel
Not sure I understand his questioning
He says I've been away a while
But thinks he has cured me
From a state of catatonic sleep

For 30 years
Where have I been
Eyes open
But not getting through to me

Medicate me
Infiltrate me
Side effects appear
As my conscience slips away

Medicate me
Science failing
Conscience fading fast
Can't you stop what's happening

A higher dosage he prescribes
But there's no guarantee
I feel it starting to take over me
I tell him not to be ashamed
There's no one who's to blame
A second shot
A brief awakening

I feel the relapse
Can't break free
Eyes open
But not getting through to me

Seseorang terbangun dalam catatonia selama 30 tahun.
Dokter merasa dia berhasil menyembuhkan orang itu.
Namun dia mulai kehilangan kesadarannya lagi.
Usaha sang dokter ternyata gagal.
Walaupun gagal orang tersebut mengatakan ini bukan salah sang dokter,
dan ia pun akhirnya kembali ke catatonia.

Kejadian ini sama seperti film Awakenings yang dibintangi Robin Williams dan Robert De Niro.



[III. Full Circle]

[Lyrics: Mike Portnoy]

Sailing on the seven seize the day tripper diem's ready
Jack the ripper owns Wilson Phillips and my supper's ready
Lucy in the sky with diamond dave's not here I come to save the
Day for nightmare cinema show me the way to get back home again

Sailing on the seven seas - Queen Seven Seas of Rhye.
Seize the day - A Change of Seasons
Day Tripper - Beatles
Jack the Ripper - Morrissey
Tim "Ripper" Owens - ex-Judas Priest
Owen Wilson - actor
Wilson Phillips - band
Supper's Ready - Genesis
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds - Beatles
Diamond Dave - David Lee Roth
Dave’s Not Here – Cheech and Chong
Here I Come to Save the Day – Mighty Mouse
Day for Night - Spock's Beard
Nightmare Cinema
The Cinema Show - Genesis
Show Me The Way - Styx
Get Back - Beatles


Running forward
Falling back
Spinning round and round
Looking outward
Reaching in
Scream without a sound

Leaning over
Crawling up
Stumbling all around
Losing my place
Only to find I've come full circle

Flying off the handle with careful with
That axe Eugene gene the dance machine
Messiah light my fire gabba gabba
Hey hey my my generation's home again

Flying off the Handle - Peter Blegvad, King Strut
Handle with Care - Travelling Wilburys
Careful With That Axe, Eugene - Pink Floyd
Gene the Dance Machine - The Gong Show
Machine Messiah - Yes
Light My Fire - The Doors
Pinhead (Gabba Gabba Hey) - The Ramones
Hey Hey, My My - Neil Young
My Generation - The Who
Home Again - Time,  Pink Floyd

Running forward
Falling back
Spinning round and round
Looking outward
Reaching in
Scream without a sound

Leaning over
Crawling up
Stumbling all around
Losing my place
Only to find I've come full circle

Ini melambangkan perputaran influence yang dimiliki Mike Portnoy
Dimana semuanya saling terkait dan memberi pengaruh terhadapn music DT

[IV. Intervals]
bagian ini menjelaskan inti dari tracklist 1-8
[Lyrics: Mike Portnoy]

[First]
Our deadly sins feel his mortal wrath
Remove all obstacles from our path

Inti dari lagu The Root of All Evil
VI. Ready : “Menggali ke dalam diri untuk mencari penyakit moral kita”
VII. Remove : “Pengakuan kepada Tuhan dan kepada sesama akan penyebab kerusakan diri kita”


[Second]
Asking questions Search for clues
The answer's been right in front of you

Inti dari lagu The Answer Lies Within
Keraguan kita dalam hidup dijawab dengan terus menghadapi hidup ke depan

[Third]
Try to break through Long to connect
Fall on deaf ears and failes muted breath

Inti dari lagu These Walls
Jika ingin berubah tidak akan berhasil
Jika kita tetap tidak mau mendengar dan tidak mau berbicara

[Fourth]
Loyalty, trust, faith and desire
Carries love through each darkest fire

Inti dari lagu I Walk Beside You
Kepercayan membawa cinta melewati kegelapan.

[Fifth]
Tortured Instanity A smothering hell
Try to escape but no avail

Inti dari lagu Panic Attack
kepanikan yang tidak kunjung ada akhir

[Sixth]
The calls of admirers Who claim they adore
Drain all your lifeblood while begging for more

Inti dari lagu Never Enough
Fans yang tidak pernah merasa berkecukupan
Selalu meminta lebih tanpa apresiasi

[Seventh]
Innocent victims of merciless crimes
Fall prey to some madmen's impulsive designs

Korban tak bersalah berjatuhan akibat ulah seseorang

[Eighth]
Step after step
We try controlling our fate
When we finally start living it has become too late

Inti dari lagu Octavarium
Jangan mengatur takdir kita, karena semakin sibuknya kita mengatur takdir
Kita sudah tidak sempat lagi merasakan kehidupan.

Trapped inside this Octavarium
Trapped inside this Octavarium
Trapped inside this Octavarium
Trapped inside this Octavarium

Teriakan James Labrie dalam bagian ini melambangkan pemberontakan dalam batas dirinya.
Dimana ia berusaha melebihi note F# yang selama ini merupakan note tertingginya.

[V. Razor's Edge]

[Lyrics: John Petrucci]

We move in circles
Balanced all the while
On a gleaming razor's edge

A perfect sphere
Colliding with our fate
Whos story ends where it began

Bagian ini menjelaskan semuanya.
Bahwa semua berakhir disaat berawalnya.
Menjelaskan semua maksud dari setiap bagian dari lagu Octavarium ini
.

.
by AGA IDTFC