Special Edition includes the Black Clouds & Silver Linings CD, plus a CD of 6 cover songs, and a CD of instrumental mixes of the entire Black Clouds & Silver Linings album. 'This album's a musical and emotional rollercoaster, but most of our albums are,' Mike Portnoy says of Black Clouds & Silver Linings, Dream Theater's tenth studio album and second Roadrunner release. Black Clouds & Silver Linings marks another milestone on Dream Theater's iconoclastic musical journey, which began two and a half decades ago and now encompasses a hugely impressive body of music that's established the durable progressive metal outfit as a one-of-a-kind creative force with a fiercely devoted international fan base. The new album - produced by band members Mike Portnoy and John Petrucci, who also serve as the group's main lyricists - offers a vibrant manifestation of the world-class musicianship, vivid lyrical scenarios and ambitious, multi-leveled compositions that have established Dream Theater as a uniquely compelling creative force.

2009-07-01 -- 2/5:: Dismal
While Dream Theater remain in top form technically, they have seriously dropped off in their song and lyric writing with this CD - I'm only reviewing the 1st CD here. While I hate to call their work boring, that word does come to mind with this release. For reference, I'm comparing this work to Scenes from a Memory, Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence, Train of Thought, and Octavarium - all of which I consider to be relatively spectacular CDs.

2009-07-01 -- 5/5:: Give this band the credit it deserves
I can't beleive some of the negative reviews that some people are giving this great new album. But; the positive reviews will always outweigh the negative in the long run. DT have been around for a long time and deserve a lot of credit for what they have done over the years. These are some of the best and most creative Musicians in the world today. Give them the credit they deserve for their continued dedication to MUSIC. I'm not a very good "Review" person, but I will just say that I truely love this new album.

2009-07-01 -- 3/5:: black clouds & silver linings = lame
this album is musically and lyrically lame. it sucks! any 'listener' who rates it beyond three stars are being silly and dishonest - fan or no fan! i would say more, but i see there are enough negative sentiments on it already. is this what a mike portnoy 'solo' album sounds like? i doubt i'll ever listen to it again. i just can't. it's a shame really, especially hearing how he had described it in the beginning. what a waste! well, back to the older albums. at least we still have those...

please, please bring in a real producer. if not for yourselves - for your fans!! beau

2009-06-30 -- 2/5:: More Recycling
I've been a huge DT fan since I&W. They are an amazing band, especially for their musical mastery and great skill. With that said I've seen a decline in recent years. It seems the same ideas are being rehashed. The new album is a perfect example. It's made of recycled riffs and chord progressions, mundane bridges that lead to anticlimactic choruses and slow-paced songs that are more boring than inspiring. The Count of Tuscany is the one bright spot on the album.

All of DT's albums through Metropolis go down in my book as some of the best music ever recorded. Unfortunately I've only heard recycled albums since then. Maybe that's why they felt they had to do some covers. I'm not giving up on the band but I'm certainly disappointed with the recent efforts.

2009-06-30 -- 5/5:: who knew
..they would come out with their best album ever at this point in time? I bet the band think the same too. I am familiar with most of their catalogue and this CDis by far the highlight of thei rlong career. After octavarium I thought they had lost it, who knew...pity those who will miss BCSL because of prejudice...