Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence

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Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence cover
Studio album by Dream Theater
Released January 29, 2002
Recorded 2001 - BearTracks Studios, New York
Genre Progressive Metal
Length 96:22
Label Elektra Records
Producer(s) Mike Portnoy and John Petrucci
Professional reviews
Dream Theater chronology
Live Scenes From New York
(2001)
Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
(2002)
Train of Thought
(2003)


Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence (often abbreviated to SDOIT or 6DOIT) is the sixth full-length studio album by progressive metal band Dream Theater. It was released on January 29, 2002 by Elektra Records.

The first disc consists of five tracks of 6-14 minutes in length, and the entire second disc is occupied by the 42-minute title song broken into 8 tracks.

Fans' reactions to the album were mixed, with many pointing to the obvious differences between the two CDs as two different types of Dream Theater style. The first disc is generally seen as experimental and heavy while the second disc is seen to be more in line with the previous Scenes from a Memory.

The first track of the first disc begins with the white noise that ended Scenes from a Memory, while the last track, Losing Time ends with a long chord played by (synthesised) strings, which was also used as the intro to their next studio album, Train of Thought.

Contents

[edit] Track listing

Disc 1: The first track of the album, "The Glass Prison," tells Mike Portnoy's story of rehabilitation from alcoholism. "The Glass Prison" is comprised of three parts and Portnoy intends to extend the song into twelve parts that mirror the twelve steps of the AA program by Bill W. for rehabilitation of alcoholics. This song is continued in tracks on the next two albums ("This Dying Soul" on Train of Thought and "The Root of All Evil" on Octavarium) and is expected to appear in the one after as well. The Great Debate is a non-partisan song dealing with the topic of stem-cell research.

  1. The Glass Prison – 13:52 (music by Dream Theater, lyrics by Portnoy)
    • I. Reflection
    • II. Restoration
    • III. Revelation
  2. Blind Faith – 10:21 (Dream Theater, LaBrie)
  3. Misunderstood – 9:34 (Dream Theater, Petrucci)
  4. The Great Debate – 13:43 (Dream Theater, Petrucci)
  5. Disappear – 6:46 (Dream Theater, LaBrie)

Disc 2:

  1. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence – 42:04
    • I. Overture – 6:50 (Dream Theater, instrumental)
    • II. About to Crash – 5:51 (Dream Theater, Petrucci)
    • III. War Inside My Head – 2:08 (Dream Theater, Portnoy)
    • IV. The Test That Stumped Them All – 5:03 (Dream Theater, Portnoy)
    • V. Goodnight Kiss – 6:17 (Dream Theater, Portnoy)
    • VI. Solitary Shell – 5:48 (Dream Theater, Petrucci)
    • VII. About to Crash (Reprise) – 4:05 (Dream Theater, Petrucci)
    • VIII. Losing Time / Grand Finale – 6:01 (Dream Theater, Petrucci)

The recording is a type of concept album wherein the five songs which comprise the first disc explore different themes of lifetime struggle, such as Alcoholism, Loss of Faith and Death. The sixth song—-that is, the complete second disc—-explores the stories of six individuals suffering from various mental illnesses. Particularly represented are manic depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, delusions of grandeur, autism, psychosis, post-partum depression, and major trauma resulting in blackouts.

The musical styles of each section of the title track are direct reflections of the band's large variety of influences. Indeed, classical, folk and metal styles combine effortlessly within the track. Additionally, certain parts of the track are direct nods to specific songs from influential artists. The end of "Goodnight Kiss" bears unquestionable resemblance to Kansas's "The Wall" from their Leftoverture album. "Solitary Shell" is a nod to Peter Gabriel's "Solsbury Hill" both in name and in musical style.

[edit] Personnel

[edit] Chart performance

Billboard 200:

  • Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence - #46

Billboard Top Internet Albums:

  • Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence - #1

[edit] External Links

Dream Theater
James LaBrie | John Myung | John Petrucci | Mike Portnoy | Jordan Rudess
Chris Collins | Charlie Dominici | Kevin Moore | Derek Sherinian
Discography
Albums and extended plays: When Dream and Day Unite | Images and Words | Awake | A Change of Seasons | Falling into Infinity | Scenes from a Memory | Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence | Train of Thought | Octavarium
Live albums: Live at the Marquee | Once in a LIVEtime | Live Scenes from New York | Live at Budokan | Score
Videos and DVDs: Images and Words: Live in Tokyo | 5 Years in a Livetime | Metropolis 2000: Scenes from New York | Live at Budokan | Score
Songs: Pull Me Under | Another Day | A Mind Beside Itself | The Glass Prison | Stream of Consciousness | Instrumedley
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