Train of Thought (Dream Theater album)

Last updated

Train of Thought
Dream Theater - Train of Thought.jpg
Cover art by Jerry Uelsmann
Studio album by
ReleasedNovember 11, 2003 (2003-11-11)
RecordedMarch 10 – September 2003
StudioCove City Sound Studios, Pie Studios and Beat Street Studios in New York City
Genre Progressive metal, heavy metal [1]
Length69:21
Label Elektra
Producer
Dream Theater chronology
Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
(2002)
Train of Thought
(2003)
Live at Budokan
(2004)
Dream Theater studio album chronology
Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
(2002)
Train of Thought
(2003)
Octavarium
(2005)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [2]
IGN Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Louder Sound Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Metal ReviewStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]

Train of Thought is the seventh studio album by American progressive metal band Dream Theater, released on November 11, 2003 through Elektra Records.

Contents

Inspired by the audience response to Dream Theater's heavier songs while on tour, [5] in the Chaos in Progress documentary, Portnoy says that they wanted Train of Thought to be a "balls to the wall" album with heavier, darker riffing, exposing them to a number of new metal fans. The album was written in three weeks. [6] It was engineered by Doug Oberkircher and mixed by Kevin Shirley. [7] Most of the album was played in concert for the Live at Budokan DVD. All songs from it have been played live to date.

Writing

As mentioned in videos of the recording/writing sessions, which were filmed by Mike Portnoy, the band "cooped themselves in a rehearsal studio" in New York, and wrote the full album from March 10 through April 3, in a record time of three weeks, after which they began recording, starting with the drum tracks and ending with the vocals.

Songs

Track listing

All music composed by John Myung, John Petrucci, Mike Portnoy and Jordan Rudess except where noted (per album liner notes).

No.TitleLyricsLength
1."As I Am"Petrucci7:47
2."This Dying Soul"
  • "IV. Reflections of Reality (Revisited)"
  • "V. Release"
Portnoy11:27
3."Endless Sacrifice"Petrucci11:24
4."Honor Thy Father"Portnoy10:14
5."Vacant" (music: Myung, Rudess) James LaBrie 2:57
6."Stream of Consciousness"(instrumental)11:16
7."In the Name of God"Petrucci14:16
Total length:69:21
Selections from Live Scenes from New York (Korean Special Edition bonus disc)
No.TitleLyricsLength
1."Overture 1928"(instrumental)3:36
2."Strange Déjà Vu"Portnoy5:04
3."Home"Portnoy13:34
4."The Spirit Carries On"Petrucci7:41
5."Just Let Me Breathe"Portnoy4:03
6."Acid Rain" (music: Tony Levin, Petrucci, Portnoy, Rudess)(instrumental)2:35
7."Caught In a New Millennium"LaBrie, Petrucci, Portnoy6:01
Total length:42:31

Personnel

Dream Theater

Additional personnel

Production

Chart performance

Chart (2002)Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [12] 66
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [13] 76
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [14] 21
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) [15] 9
French Albums (SNEP) [16] 24
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [17] 16
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ) [18] 25
Italian Albums (FIMI) [19] 11
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) [20] 9
Portuguese Albums (AFP) [21] 21
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [22] 9
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [23] 44
US Billboard 200 [24] 53

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References

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  5. As discussed by John Petrucci in the 20th Anniversary Documentary The Score So Far, found on the Score DVD
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