Customer Reviews

Manifesto for Futurism

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This CD really blew me away. Other reviewers on the net were really slamming this album. Now I wonder what all the fuss is about. This album is an absolute wonder.

Then again, Dream Theater are an obvious reference. You can hardly play a note in prog metal today without having the DT moniker dropped next. But it is not unfair to compare DD to their more famous brethren DT: 5 members; 1 vocalist, 1 guitarist, 1 keyboardist, 1 drummer and 1 bass player. To top it all off, DD play in the same style: syncopated rhythms, frequent meter changes and plenty of soloing. But despite the similarities, DD have released an excellent album. I think that DT fans will simply adore it, but prog and metal fans alike will love it as well. What I particularly like is that the singer, who is not in James LaBrie's (DT's singer) league, has multitracked and overdubbed the vocals to great effect. He harmonizes with himself essentially, and the effect is marvelous. I also like the melodies in the songs. the solos are not overbearing and the lyrics are good. The two short instrumentals, one on guitar and one on keyboards also score very highly.

I think Salvador Dali would be proud if he heard Dali's Dilemma. This band, just like Salvador Dali, creates art without limits. They are very expressive and constantly explore new ground. Needless to say it's a fitting name, since Dali, despite being a very good surrealist painter, had a cult following. And as Dali's Dilemma is a prog band, no matter how good and experimental they are, they will never appeal to the masses becoming a part of popular culture. And they don't have to. It's best to let those who can appreciate art beauty be exposed to this CD.

Manifesto for Futurism is their only album and an excellent one at that. I don't care about the never-ending Dream Theater comparisons; I've heard so many DT-influenced bands over the years that I feel, even if the guys in Dali's Dilemma were influenced by them, at least they managed to pull it off successfully. The worst thing you could do to a piece of art is writing it off or degrading it by naming it a rip-off, Manifesto for Futurism is so much more than that. Like many of their contemporaries they do have their influences, but it is my opinion that they have managed to blend them all seamlessly and the final outcome is the current sound of Dali's Dilemma. Furthermore not many bands come out with such strong debut albums. I feel ashamed that it took me so long to check this album out, for I feel I've missed out--a lot.

Additionally, Dream Theater is just one of the many bands that has had some impact on these talented guys. I hear a good dose of Rush, some Deep Purple and Rainbow, Yngwie Malmsteen, Pink Floyd, and even U2. It's no wonder that they played on tribute albums of two of these bands (Rush, Pink Floyd). Some old Queensryche and Fates Warning also seems to have been buried in their compositions. How can a band with such amazing influences disappoint when they each member is also technically advanced? So Manifesto for Futurism doesn't let the listener down. On the contrary it's an album that asks you to play it over and over again, cause there's something about their songs that simply demand your attention.

Drummer Jeremy Colson has fast wrists and his rolls are produced excellently, besides his neat tone, his rolls pan from left to right on the speakers, so it's a great feeling when you listen to the album with headphones. More than half of the songs kick off with his sometimes fiery and sometimes laid back drumming and they're quite central to the music. Another unusual quality is Steve Reyes' bass work. While America has always produced the best bassists, unfortunately most of the bass in prog music has usually been mixed too low (John Myung anyone?), but Reyes doesn't conform. I don't know if that's because he's a founding member or because he too realised it was about time to bring more life to the rhythm of the music. The singer has got to be one of the most underrated singers in this genre. It's hard to place the roots of his voice; all I can say is he contains a lot of passion and character. His Bono-esque vocal delivery in "Hills of Memory" is simply awesome. The keyboardist generally displays a minimalist approach but he knows when to give the song what they need. He has a slightly more updated sound than most other American keyboardists; he layers the sounds perfectly behind the music and keeps up very well with the rhythm section. His short instrumental ("Whispers") shows he isn't interested in showing off, but communicating with the listener on a deeper level. Guitarist Patrick Reyes has a tone quite reminiscent to John Petrucci's but stylistically he also does some Malmsteen-like sweeps and Morse-like picking. The fact that no matter what he retains his classic hard rock roots gives him a vibe all his own.

I've had this album for less than a week so I never had the chance to give much thought to their lyrics, but I do think they sound very cerebral and full of depth. I've barely scratched the surface of the iceberg so I know I'll give this CD many more spins to get more of it. By the way "Miracles of Yesteryear" is my personal favourite, but I don't think there's a single song here I would skip. Those who aren't into prog music may think that Dali's Dilemma sounds like every other band out there, those who can see beyond it are no doubt going to appreciate this band's endeavours. I know I do. Lemur Voice, Sun Caged, Vanden Plas, and Divided Multitude are also recommended for this kind of prog music.

This is a great album, with very good songs, sometimes it gets boring but it hits you back from time to time, they all are very talented, although I like the vocals, they are pretty much on the same level as LaBrie`s voice in I&W wich is much lower than his voice on SFAM where he did his best job for any DT album. But anyways back to DD, it's right they are a little similar to Dream Theater on Images & Words, even Patrick Reyes guitar tone is similar to Petrucci, and I picked some similarities to Petrucci`s work on some of his fast runs.

The keyboards are also very good, also very similar to Kevin Moore on Images & Words but it has variables through some tracks, it's like Kevin Moore with a more updated sound. The bass work is very good also, in this department there are very few similarities to DT.

This CD is a very good one and I suggest you buy this and see how this band evolves, wich I hope, so they gain a sound of their own.

About DT, what`s with DT being overrated or not having emotions, that`s got be one of the dumbest statements I've read, please becareful with what you say, if you dont like a band doesn`t mean it lacks feeling or they are bad, you just dont like them...

Let me get one fact out of the way before I write another word:

Yes, there are similarities between Dali's Dilemma and Dream Theater.

That said, however, I have to say there are aspects of DD that I like *better* than DT. (And that's coming from someone who has been into DT from their very first CD from its initial release back in '89.)

Dali's Dilemma retains all of DT's chops and virtuosity (well, their keyboard player isn't up to Jordan Rudess standards, but who is?), but they cast off a lot of what DT has fallen into lately: sonic bombast that renders much of their latter output unlistenable to me. In other words, the melodies and light touches are missing from DT's songs.

DD, on the other hand, offers up a solid slab of progressive metal in a DT vein, but also manages to hold onto wondrous melodies and excellent singing courtesy of front man Matthew Bradley. The songs on Manifesto for Futurism uplift and hold my attention, unlike much of DT's recent output (albeit pre Six Degrees) that merely pulverized my ear drums and turned my brain to mush.

Okay, so none of these guys can hold a candle to Portnoy, Petrucci, Myung and Rudess. But I prefer Dali vocalist Matthew Bradley to James LaBrie hands down. (And I have to say I love the band's name. I'm a huge fan of Salvadore Dali's work, and think the connection between surrealism and progressive rock/metal is a brilliant one.)

In all fairness, these guys aren't just DT clones. DD also sounds a bit like Fates Warning in some songs, and even like U2 in another ("Hills of Memory," in which Bradley does one of the best Bono impressions I've ever heard).

But none of that is to say Dali's Dilemma lacks originality and depth. Frankly, I found DD to be fresh and fun to listen to -- sort of like DT meets Fates meets U2...and becomes something unique in its own right.

This CD is well recorded and produced, with a nice balance between all instruments. The songs are intricate and powerful, and hold up to repeated listenings.

I heartily recommend Dali's Dilemma...and eagerly await CD number two. Come on guys, where is it?

This is going to be a short review.

The album is a great one, by far better than most of the prog-metal lot that is around these days.

Now to more importants matters. To those of you who call these guys Dream Theater clones... OPEN YOUR EARS.

Dali's Dilemma does not exude that air of pretension and self-indulgence that Dream Theater does. I saw Dream Theater live and was forced OUT of the theater by so many superfluously over the top guitar and keyboard solos. Dali's Dilemma has an edge on Dream Theater for their leads are more creative and melodic and not chops focused and their singer Matthew is by far a more passionate singer. James LaBrie's voice is stale and typical and his vocal melodies often difficult to follow. Matthew Bradley of DD has a nice old school sensibility to his voice and the layered harmonies make each song very accessible and memorable, whereas an entire Dream Theater album could go by and you wouldn't realize its even a different song.

Dali's Dilemma = Creativity, Originality, Excellent songwriting, Talented band... PERIOD.

When you are done spinning your Dream Theater albums, pick up this disc. There can be some comparisons to DT, but Dali's Dilemma is NOT a clone band. Matthew Brady is a very decent singer, and Matt Guillory just tears on the Keyboards (listen to Living in Fear!) Within a Stare is one of my favorite prog-metal songs of all time.

When listening to this CD, you will undoubtedly hear the influence of Dream Theater, Fates Warning, and even a bit of U2 thrown in there. Does Dali's Dilemma develop their own sound on this CD? I think after a few listenings, you will come to realize that they're starting to form the core of what they'll become.In the meantime, if you appreciate the influences listed above, you will enjoy this CD. I find myself listening to it more often, and enjoying it more each time. It is strong lyrically, musically, and conceptually. With all the right influences, they take what they've learned and keep it fresh. You won't feel like you're listening to a rip-off of another band. You'll feel like this group knows what it likes, and knows how to make their music around that framework.

This album is loaded with mixed-meter drumming and odd placements about the kit. I won't waste space going into how good the album is in general, because everyone else has already done such a fine job. I mostly want to raise a flag so drummers everywhere can come and get some odd inspiration!

Once people stop saying every progressive band is somehow an imitation of DT, I think they'd realize there are other good bands as well, well indeed why dont people compare new bands to the mighty Fates Warning, Rush or Psychotic Waltz, but only to DT?. Anyway, the musicians, as in almost all progressive bands, are talented undeniably. And being a drummer myself, I can say that drummer Colson is a fresh new breath in progressive scene (strangely yet, he reminds me sometimes the drummer of Mordred, another underrated band, imho). Vocalist Bradley is far different from LaBrie and alike, as he doesnt scream his a$$ off, he simply changes his pitch. Extrapolating his style today, I think this man will surely develop his unique style someday. Some tracks have really nice but not technically arrogant unison solo sections, where the guitarist, keyboardist and bassist show their talents almost as mature as DT learned in a long time. As pointed out by others, timings are heavily odd, syncopations are flying in the air. Though, the production should be a bit better; I mostly realize that in bridge sections.

I think they have a long way to go. Nevertheless as far as I can remember when I first discovered DT 10-11 yrs ago, I wasnt excited this much (ok, ok, I compared them to DT as well :s ).

In '99 I was constantly listening a few albums: Ozric's Waterfall Cities, the oldy The Organization, Gordian Knot, and Dali's Dilemma. Period.

Magna Carta has made another awesome discovery once again. Dali's Dilemma is yet another prog metal that is inspired by the likes of Dream Theatre and Rush, but with a touch of heaviness and equally mind-bending musicianship.

Mike Varney (of Shrapnel fame) lent a hand in the production, as did James Murphy who assisted in the recording for the guitars, keyboards and bass parts. The production on the album is average, although the drums and guitars could be a tad louder and heavier. This is the big minus point on the album, as it implies that the band could have opted for a less heavier approach to appeal to fans from a more diverse background. The drum rolls on the album were also produced with very much similarity to what Mike Portnoy loves to do, by having the rolls pan from left to right on the speakers.

Now lets get down to serious business. This album features 10 tracks and spans over 50 solid minutes of progressive music. The opening track, Within a Stare, features some funky synth work by renowned keyboardist Matt Guillory (who also played on some of the Magna Carta tribute albums). This particular piece has a strong Dream Theatre feel to it, in terms of the way the band complement each others parts. It's got a really neat and melodic chorus too. The second track, Miracles in Yesteryear features some really great guitar work, not to mention a pretty awesome jazzy bass solo ! Whispers is a nice and soothing instrumental ballad, which is followed by Ashen Days, a mid-tempo rock-ish tune. The highlight of the album would definitely be Living in Fear, the last track on the album. It begins with a very Dream Theatre like build-up, and then followed by a simple chug of the E chord, which is so well complemented by the keyboards playing parts that were taken from a Hellraiser movie ! Really cool. The songs on the album are extremely well-written. Each has a great build-up, filled with great melodic choruses and brimming with plenty of great musicianship, ranging from nasty guitar licks to weird time signatures.

Overall, the album doesn't open a new dimension to prog metal. Some of the similarities on this album is uncanny to what DT has been playing. Leaves a smirk on my face when I listen to it sometimes. :) Anyway, I really prefer Matthew Bradley's vocals over James Labrie. At least he doesn't scream for a pitch he can't reach ! The guitarist, Patrick Reyes, sounds like he graduated from the same class as John Petrucci did ! He simply burns the fretboard with his arsenal of sweeping arpeggios and speed picking. Lets not forget his brother, Steve Reyes, who plays such wonderful bass lines to bring life into the rhythm of the music. Jeremy Colson would also rival any metal drummer out there with his nifty footwork and jazzy drum techniques.

If you'd put Neil Kernon (Nevermore, Queensryche) behind the producer's seat, then perhaps you'd get one of the heaviest prog metal album ever. :) Worth your every hard earned cent.