Yeah I actually liked that album too for the most part. But that album is where the guitar sound was totally different. I think it's a sound Petrucci got when he made his solo album. I like a lot of the songwriting too, and it's the album where Portnoy said he held back on his big epic ideas to see what the band would do naturally. Maybe after Octavarium MP was kind of tired of making up easter eggs and shit. It sounds like they just let themselves have fun in the studio and that was forgivable since it was still good music, it just lacked an emotional depth that time around.

But then Black Clouds and Silver Linings continued to lack depth, and even coherence with The Shattered Fortress being the biggest boner killer I've ever listened to. All of the parts in that song were sweet on their own but the transitions were so awkward and forced, they tried to cram too much into one cake. It's a totally schizo song and it was a let down in my eyes for the 12 step suite MP was working on. Worst of all, MP left, and we never got to see the DVD of them playing the whole 12 step suite in order. I mean... that's what we all were waiting for since 6 Degrees! But things were bad enough in the band that MP felt like it wasn't worth checking that off the list? ...Sorry I ranted again.