Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence

Infobox Album | Name = Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
Type = Album
Artist = Dream Theater


Caption = Cover art by Dung Hoang
Released = January 29 2002
Recorded = 2001 - BearTracks Studios, New York
Genre = Progressive metal
Length = 96:13
Label = Elektra Records
Producer = Mike Portnoy and John Petrucci
Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:48o20r8ai489 link]
* "Rolling Stone (Not Rated) [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/dreamtheater/albums/album/132342/review/5945686/six_degrees_of_inner_turbulence link]
* Sea of Tranquility Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.seaoftranquility.org/reviews.php?op=showcontent&id=133 link]
* ProgArchives Rating|4|5 [http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=1623 link]
Last album = "Live Scenes from New York"
(2001)
This album = "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence"
(2002)
Next album = "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.

History

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 "".

ongs

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

* The entire second disc is occupied by the 42-minute title song broken into 8 tracks.

* The first track of the album, "The Glass Prison," tells Mike Portnoy's story of rehabilitation from alcoholism. "The Glass Prison" is composed 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 albums ("This Dying Soul" on Train of Thought, "The Root of All Evil" on "Octavarium" and "Repentance" on "Systematic Chaos").

* The Great Debate is a non-partisan song dealing with the topic of stem-cell research.

* 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 bipolar, post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, post-partum depression, autism, and dissociative personality disorder. Furthermore, the title of the album may also allude to the fact that each song on the album could be seen as a different form of inner turbulence, with the six tracks making another reference to the six degrees.

* 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 main theme, which appears in the "Overture", at the end of "Goodnight Kiss," and in the "Grand Finale," bears an 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. Some fans see this as a citation, but others claim it's pure copying. Also, parts of "Solitary Shell" bear strong resistance to Billy Joel's song "The Entertainer," mainly due to the unique synth-organ which sounds alike in both songs, played over acoustic guitar.

* Influences for the album's writing and recording include Metallica's "Master of Puppets", Tool's "Ænima", Radiohead's "The Bends" (and also a Radiohead bootleg Mike brought in), Pantera's "Far Beyond Driven", Megadeth's Rust in Peace, U2's "Achtung Baby", Nine Inch Nails' "The Downward Spiral", Soundgarden's "Superunknown", Alice in Chains' " Dirt", Kevin Gilbert's "Thud", King's X's "Faith Hope Love" and Galactic Cowboys' "Space in Your Face" a Béla Bartók CD, Rage Against the Machine's "The Battle of Los Angeles", Maria Tipo's "Chopin Nocturnes". [ [http://www.mikeportnoy.com/about/mpfaq/showquestion.asp?menu=about&faq=1&fldAuto=251 What did Dream Theater use for inspiration during the writing and recording of Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence?] ]

* "The Great Debate" was originally titled "Conflict at Ground Zero". "Disappear" was originally titled "Move On" [ [http://www.mikeportnoy.com/about/mpfaq/showquestion.asp?menu=about&faq=1&fldAuto=252 What was the original title for The Great Debate?/What was the original title of Disappear?] ] .

* In the song, "Misunderstood," John Petrucci wrote and played the guitar solo, and then reversed it. He then learned how to play this reversed sound, and after recording it reversed it once more. This resulted in a solo that sounded like his original solo, but with a unique twist to the way the notes played. [ [http://www.johnpetrucci.com/ The Official John Petrucci Web Site ] ]

Track listing

Disc one

tracklist
lyrics_credits = yes
music_credits = yes

title1 = The Glass Prison"
*I. "Reflection"
*II. "Restoration"
*III. "Revelation
lyrics1 = Mike Portnoy
music1 = John Petrucci, John Myung, Jordan Rudess, Portnoy
length1 = 13:52

title2 = Blind Faith
lyrics2 = James LaBrie
music2 = Petrucci, Myung, Rudess, Portnoy
length2 = 10:21

title3 = Misunderstood
lyrics3 = Petrucci
music3 = Petrucci, Myung, Rudess, Portnoy
length3 = 9:34

title4 = The Great Debate
lyrics4 = Petrucci
music4 = Petrucci, Myung, Rudess, Portnoy
length4 = 13:43

title5 = Disappear
lyrics5 = LaBrie
music5 = Petrucci, Myung, Rudess, Portnoy
length5 = 6:46

Disc two

tracklist
lyrics_credits = yes
music_credits = yes

title1 = Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence"
*I. "Overture"
*II. "About to Crash"
*III. "War Inside My Head"
*IV. "The Test That Stumped Them All"
*V. "Goodnight Kiss"
*VI. "Solitary Shell"
*VII. "About to Crash (Reprise)"
*VIII. "Losing Time"/"Grand Finale
lyrics1 = Petrucci, Portnoy
*(instrumental)
*Petrucci
*Portnoy
*Portnoy
*Portnoy
*Petrucci
*Petrucci
*Petrucci
music1 = Petrucci, Myung, Rudess, Portnoy
length1 = 42:04
*6:50
*5:51
*2:08
*5:03
*6:17
*5:48
*4:05
*6:01

Chart performance

Billboard 200:
* "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence" - #46

Billboard Top Internet Albums:
* "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence" - #1

Personnel

*James LaBrie – lead vocals
*John Myung – bass
*John Petrucci – guitar, backing vocals
*Mike Portnoy – drums, backing vocals
*Jordan Rudess – keyboards

References

External links

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXTp2pFj9dg The Making of Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence Part I]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFw6INV6xmo The Making of Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence Part II]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrgpgfWy-fw The Making of Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence Part III]