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For all its abundantly positive qualities and minor but clear distinctions from prior efforts, is still an archetypal Dream Theater album; one that's unlikely to broaden their audience all that much, but is conversely guaranteed to thrill their hardcore converts with its renewed devotion to the most exigent and stimulating facets of the band's chosen musical domain.
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Basically, Black Clouds & Silver Linings is an album that continues the band’s increased use of metal riffs combined with extended musical interludes but also brings in strong compositional skills that give the songs the kind of consistency they require in order to be truly memorable and engaging.
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Black Clouds and Silver Linings is, obviously, a mixed bag from Dream Theater. Fans like myself will enjoy it, but again, you can’t deny how familiar it all feels.
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MojoWith four tracks topping 12 miutes, it's essentially a celebration of pre-punk boffin-rock, 'The Best Of Times 'and 'The Count Of Tuscany' both prog-metal masterpieces worthy of imperial-phase Rush. [Jul 2009,p.95]
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Black Clouds and Silver Linings is a good album. It’s not great, but it’s their best in a while.
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Q MagazineThey rarely threaten to run out of steam. [Aug 2009, p.101]
User score distribution:
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Positive: 77 out of 91
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Mixed: 9 out of 91
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Negative: 5 out of 91
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Apr 21, 2012
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May 10, 2011
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JeffreyWSep 11, 2009Pleasure for the ears, probably the most complex and beautiful album of the decade.