Black Clouds & Silver Linings
by Dream Theater
Metascore
68

Generally favorable reviews - based on 6 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. Delusions of Adequacy
    60
    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.
  2. Mojo
    60
    With 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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  3. PopMatters
    60
    Black Clouds and Silver Linings is a good album. It’s not great, but it’s their best in a while.
  5. Q Magazine
    60
    They rarely threaten to run out of steam. [Aug 2009, p.101]
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User Reviews

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User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 91 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 77 out of 91
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 91
  3. Negative: 5 out of 91
  1. lordjrs
    Apr 21, 2012
    9
    Probably the best album of Dream Theater. A Nightmare to Remember, The Best of Times and The Count of Tuscany are the best songs of the album,Probably the best album of Dream Theater. A Nightmare to Remember, The Best of Times and The Count of Tuscany are the best songs of the album, with a lot of emotions, lyric and instrumental speaking... Wither is a good but sold-out song, A Rite of Passage it's good and The Shattered Fortress it's basically a remix of the other 4 songs on the Twelve-Step suite that serve as the grand finale. So, this album deserves a 10.… Full Review »
  2. Ikarus14
    May 10, 2011
    10
    Probably the best album of their career thus far. Sort of builds on what made them successful into one monsterous masterpiece that mixes inProbably the best album of their career thus far. Sort of builds on what made them successful into one monsterous masterpiece that mixes in both dark and light themes perfectly. Awesome stuff.… Full Review »
  3. JeffreyW
    Sep 11, 2009
    10
    Pleasure for the ears, probably the most complex and beautiful album of the decade.
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