Did DREAM THEATER Rewrite 'Images And Words' Songs For Latest Album? MIKE PORTNOY Comments

September 10, 2011

Former DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy has commented on an article written by a longtime fan of the band which points out the alleged musical and structural similarities between DREAM THEATER's new album and the group's breakthrough 1992 release, "Images And Words".

Thiago Campos, the Brazilian guitarist/producer/mixer/editor of "VRA! Split-Screen Covers", an online collaborative project where different artists record cover performances and post them on YouTube, penned his article after arriving at the "wonderfully shocking conclusion" that the entire "A Dramatic Turn Of Events", album or "at least six songs" was "written based off the charts of 'Images And Words' songs." He writes, "I know this might come across as an absurd accusation to many of you, but I wouldn't be coming out in public with this information if I hadn't done my homework, and if I wasn't confident this approach to writing the new album was a conscious/intentional decision, maybe even humorous, by the band."

He continues, "When I say the songs were 'written off the charts,' I mean arrangement-wise, their structures, sometimes even orchestrations and nuances that make the parts what they are, and their roles within the songs. This doesn't mean they will sound alike at all, because within a given guideline for arrangement, you could write virtually an infinite amount of different songs, and mainstream/pop has been doing so for decades to back me up on this statement. :)

"Some of these songs are so equal in terms of arrangements that I'm surprised more people didn't catch on to this nugget yet. Others just follow a rougher guideline (or so it seems to me at this point)."

After reading Thiago's article, Portnoytook to his own forum to write, "Well done, Thiago.... Great post and spot-on! I *immediately* noticed everything you wrote about upon my first listen... and found it all incredibly strange... If they are indeed intentional 'nuggets,' then I guess that's a pretty cool idea... However, if they were desperate attempts of secretly re-writing the past... hmm, maybe not so much... I guess only they [presumably referring to the current members of DREAM THEATER. Ed.] will know the real reason for it..."

"A Dramatic Turn Of Events" which marks new DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Mangini's recorded debut will be released in North America on September 13 via Roadrunner Records.

Portnoy, who co-founded DREAM THEATER more than 20 years ago, abruptly quit the band last summer while on tour with AVENGED SEVENFOLD.

Photo credit: Joe LaRusso

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