Stuff I’ve been listening to lately:

Dream Theater - Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence: DT’s new album isn’t officially out yet, but has been leaked to various newsgroups and places like AudioGalaxy. I’ve downloaded a copy and have listened to it a few times. A few songs, like “Misunderstood”, have made an impact, but for the most part, it’s been pretty yawn-inducing. It’s a two-disc album, and the entire second disc is one 40 minute title track suite. So far, it’s pretty boring. :(

Yes - Magnification: Here’s another boring album. I don’t much want to talk about it (let’s put it this way - I’ve only made it to the end of the album once so far). I will say, though, that anyone that wants to hear what strings and horns in a prog-rock band can sound like when done WELL needs to hear Townscream’s Nagyvárosi Ikonok.

Fates Warning - Disconnected: Surprisingly good. I liked A Pleasant Shade of Gray, of course. This one’s different - a bit faster and louder. But it’s still outstanding. Descriptions like “a less-dark Tool” would not be too far off the mark.

Dream Theater - When Dream and Day Unite: A naive, charming album. I actually like Charlie Dominici’s “mini-Geddy” vocals. And while the whole band look like dorks in their pictures on the back of the CD, there’s some cool tunes here. “Ytse Jam” is nice, of course, but “Status Seeker” kicks as well. Not a great album, but a decent one, and it’s fun to listen to sometimes.

Halifax Pier - The Halifax Pier: Oy. I’ve been saying that Global Communication’s 76:14 is the best CD I’ve bought this year, but maybe this one is. Violin, cello, and dual guitars create sweet, depressing soundscapes. Me likey.