Customer Reviews

Rhythm of Time

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

 

 

Rudess's new solo album has a certain quirkiness, but delivers a large progression of music. Some songs are soft rock, some are more prog metal, while some even are really jazzy. The drumming and keyboards are excellent. However, I thought Rudess should have kept this album totally instrumental. The two tracks with singing are a bit weaker than the other songs. Besides that, I really liked the songs "Insectamongus," "Ra," and "Barhopping with Mr. Picky." Rudess may have been a little rushed when producing this CD, which could have hindered its potential to be better. If you're a huge Jordan Rudess fan or love Derek Sherinian's work with Planet X and would love to hear a CD that's practically all keyboard work, I highly recommend this album. Otherwise, if you're just a Dream Theater fan, you may dislike some of the songs.

Out of the door with blazing speed and technique (as to be expected with anything Rudess is involved with). The hook on the first song is pretty catchy. A lot of synth (of course), pitch bend, and orchestral-esque bridges. Lots of crunch, here.

Having listened to Wheel of Time (Rudess' first release), I can't say I was exactly thrilled with the type of music he played on that CD. So, for me to buy this CD... well - it was somewhat of a gamble. I definitely do not regret this purchase.

Being familiar with Rudess' work because of Dream Theater, I was interested in hearing what his work would sound like outside the confines of the band. The arrangements presented here are very well structured (to be expected by anyone trained at Julliard), and also have nice dynamics and contrast.

The CD has plenty of quirky sounds, patches, and music. So, if you like that, you'll be content with parts of this CD. Overall, I would say the disc is an all-out rocker (give or take a few odd-ball sections).

My favorite thing about this CD, as with all of Rudess' works, is trying to fathom how one individual can pull off so many things at once. His ability is bar-none... and this CD is a good testament to that.

Something else that sort of struck me as odd is that there are vocals on this CD. I don't know why that's particularly odd to me; maybe because I expected all instrumental music. Anyhow, there is certainly nothing wrong with the vocals. They just caught me off guard. The vocals are on a more mellow song, and certainly add a nice touch.

Lastly, I feel like I need to comment on the track "Bar-Hopping with Mr. Picky" [track 5]. This track is, in my opinion, the oddest of the lot. That's really all I can think to say about it, as it defies explanation. Not particularly one of my favorites on the disc.

4-star rating because of some of the quirky aspects of the disc. Aside from that, 5 all the way!!

3 1/2

Technically there are no complaints here. Rudess is of the intellectual overkill school of thought for progressive musicians, saturating nearly every segment in a frightening mastery. The keyboardist can become lost in mathematical melody, appearing fragmented and overly ambitious, but for the most part this is compositionally sound and blazingly potent, balanced out just enough with a pair of vocal-driven slower songs.

Upon hearing the first notes of this incredible album, the listener is swept up on a rocking good ride thanks to Jordan and a few of his friends. I have to say that as fantastic Jordan's playing is, Rod Morgenstern really shines on this CD. Rod's drumming is some of the best I have ever heard! There are a couple of vocals on this CD which I am on the fence about. They are sung by Kip Winger from the band Winger. Kip sings in a much lower register now days and it is an acquired taste, but those songs do feature some outrageous piano playing which will astound the listener. If you like progressive rock, classical rock, jazz fusion or just plain rock and roll, this is a sure bet. This is sure to be a treat for any keyboard player as well. I am going to make room on my CD shelf for more Jordan Rudess CDs. - Ciao

On Rhythm of Time, Jordan Rudess collaborates with some of the more accomplished guitarists working; Steve Morse, Greg Howe, Vinnie Moore, and Joe Satriani. There is technique galore on this CD. Rudess is a keyboardist of stunning technique and astonishing musical breadth and depth. Rhythm of Time contains the expected elements: tricky time signatures, complex arrangements, and high level virtuosity. What separates this CD from many other chops-fests is Rudess' overall musical sense. Despite the often monstrous displays of pure virtuosity on songs like Time Crunch and Screaming Head, the music never degenerates into a display of technical excercises, the musical integrity is always maintained. Rudess uses his fluency with different kinds of music to create a new kind of 21st century fusion. In addition, any chance to hear Joe Satriani, Steve Morse, and Greg Howe is always welcomed.

I'm a drummer. I like most of this album better than "Feed the Wheel" and it's mostly because of the drummer. I've never heard Morgenstein before so this was a good first impression. The thing about Bozzio is that despite haveing a different brain for each limb, he doesn't mic himself well. He always sounds mono and far away. Check out the Explorer's Club "Raising the Mammoth" album and compare it to "Age of Impact", where he's a little more up front and personal, and you'll know what I mean. An the constant ridding on those5-deep cymbal stacks instead of a real hi-hat work just steals something form the whole rhythm thing. Rod came on the scene and was realy agressive, and really tore it up I thought...hi-hat on one side and ride on the other...you can feel it.
As far as Jordan himself is concerned, he shreds and then puts you in some type of emotional state with melody and chord progressions that makes you want more. As far as the debate about who is the best DT keyboardist... gimme a break. Live scenes from a memory was the best concert I ve ever seen or heard recorded and it wasn't just the album stuff and John's improvisations. Jordan really added alot to their previous material. he approached it with his own flare tempered with respect for the originals. After hearing his solo and seeing "learing to live" and the first Metroplois, I was sold. He's a true classical musician with a love to contributing to the music community as a whole. "An evening with John p. and Jordan R." was actually a benefit concert for whatever venue they were playing at. In this album, Jordan gives an unknown guitarist guy his first shot on a disc and says that he is pleased to introduce this new talent. He even gives the unpopular, old guy Kip Winger the chance to sing again. This kind of selflessness is unheard of!
Somehow, I don't picture Derrek as that kind of contibutor. Don't get me wrong, I love His stuff too. I have a couple of planet X albums (admitedly because of Virgil Donnati) and I don't blame him for "Falling into Infinity" (per Mike P, it was the producer that they had to compromise for --read the insert for "the Making of Scenes from a Memory). Derrek is awesome too, just give an ear to his one DT offering and "Black Utopia". I think people prefer him to Jordan because he has the cocky arrogant attitude approach that we all want to see in Prog metal. There's a place for that. Jordan is a severely talented keys man that, it seems, is painfully intellecutal musically, and is unattractively not a devil to the common metal mainac. DT as a whole is a bunch of borring married guys that tie pop and jazzy elements into songs and are entirely anti-four-minute-ear-candy.
conoseurs of fine music won't be dissapointed even though horns wont grow out of your head. Plus, drummers, give Rod Morgenstein a listen, you'll like.

In the movie Amadeus, Salieri criticized Mozart's music as having "too many notes". I'm sure Salieri wouldn't approve of this CD, either. Rudess certainly has the chops, but not at the detrement of the music. Compositionally, his work is much more interesting and fluid than most other recent prog rock out there. I like his solo work better than his work with Dream Theater or Liquid Tension Experiment.

Great album, I enjoyed it. Lot of different layers to listen to, and it takes a few cycles through before you catch all of it.

I'm a pretty big fan of some of Jordan Rudess's other projects (i.e., Dream Theater, and especially Liquid Tension Experiment), so I was a little disappointed in this album because it wasn't quite what I was expecting, considering who the guest artists are. I tend to lean more toward the "rock" side of "progressive rock", and this album definitely leans very heavily toward the "progressive" side. The performances are great, though, so if you're more into the "progressive" side than I am, you'll probably love this album.

this album is very good to expand your muscial skills and thinking and feeling in terms of time and scales. On the homepage of rudess, you will find an online magazine, which talks sometimes about one or two songs on this cd, even with transcription!
For me, the grooviest one is track #5 for which I don't actually get the rhythm. It's something like 15/16 or 5/8, 6/8, 4/8 but there is missing on 16th note. Try to jam along - it's not so easy! Who cracks this nutshell?
Because of this, I think the album is too complex for many people and also too nervous...