Images and Words
Images and Words is the second studio album by American progressive metal band Dream Theater, released in 1992. It was recorded in late 1991 at BearTracks Studios in Suffern, New York. The album is the first Dream Theater release to feature James LaBrie on vocals. The album maintains its position as the band's most commercially successful studio album to date, and the song "Pull Me Under"'s status as the only Top 10 (radio or otherwise) hit the band has ever had. This particular song has also had more recent success as it has appeared in the video game Guitar Hero World Tour. On release the album was met with universal acclaim and many critics and fans cite this album as a landmark release for the progressive metal genre. Although there is no title track on this album, the phrase images and words appears in the song "Wait for Sleep".
History
After Charlie Dominici's departure from the band, the band auditioned nearly 200 people across the nation before James LaBrie sent the band an audition tape. LaBrie was formerly in the Canadian glam metal band Winter Rose, but saw potential in the band, and thus decided to audition. After a short jam session, the band chose him as their lead singer, and he has been the band's lead singer ever since.
With LaBrie on board, the band was signed to a seven album contract by Atco Records, and shortly after began recording their new album. The lead single, "Pull Me Under", gained the band considerable commercial success with its airplay on MTV and radio, garnering them a Top 10 hit on the radio charts. When the album was released, it sold at a steady pace, helped by their relentless touring across the world.
Images and Words was played in its entirety, on several occasions, during the European leg of the "Chaos in Motion" tour, in celebration of its 15th anniversary.[1]
Reception
| Professional ratings |
| Review scores |
| Source |
Rating |
| Allmusic |
[2] |
| The Dwarf |
(Positive) [3] |
| Metal Storm |
[4] |
| Metally |
[5] |
| Revelationz |
[6] |
| Sea of Tranquility |
[7] |
Images and Words is currently ranked #2 on Digital Dream Door's list of the top 100 progressive metal albums of all time.[8] Music critic Piero Scaruffi includes the album at number 8, just after Fear Factory's Demanufacture and before Sepultura's Roots, in his classification of the best metal albums of all time.[9] The song "Under a Glass Moon" was awarded the 98th best guitar solo by Guitar World magazine.[10] In October 2011, Images and Words was ranked number 7 on Guitar World magazine's top ten list of guitar albums of 1992.[11] Sea of Tranquility reviewer Murat Batmaz praised the album for the influence it has exerted on the progressive metal genre describing it as a "cornerstone."[12]
Trivia
- Before the Kansas City Royals took to the field at the start of home game in 2011, the song Metropolis, Pt. 1: The Miracle and the Sleeper was played.
Track listing
Personnel
Dream Theater
Additional musician
Production
- Produced by David Prater
- Recorded and engineered by Doug Oberkircher; assistant engineer: Steve Regina
- Mixed by Doug Oberkircher and David Prater
- Mastered by Ted Jensen
RIAA certifications
These statistics were compiled from the RIAA certification online database.[13]
Chart performance
- Singles
Billboard 200:
Top Heatseekers:
References
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