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REVIEWS: LIQUID TENSION EXPERIMENT Liquid Tension Experiment 2 back to artists page Discography • Audio • Tour Dates • Links Released June 15, 1999 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Every once in a while a recording comes out, and from the first moment you hear it, you're captivated. Not a moment passes while you listen that you aren't overwhelmed by the sheer excellence of the music. A fine mixture of talent and experimental nature blend together to produce a masterpiece. Liquid Tension Experiment 2 is one of those rare pieces. LTE2 is John Petrucci on guitar and Mike Portnoy on drums, both of Dream Theater. Tony Levin, who is best known as Peter Gabriel's bassist, is on bass, and Jordan Rudess is on keyboards. Jordan got his name while playing with the Dixie Dregs, and has recently joined the ranks of Dream Theater. Regardless of whether or not you like any of the aforementioned bands, if you're a fan of progressive instrumental rock, this is the cream of the crop. It is easily one of the best CD's I've ever listened to. This CD doesn't just peak your interest, it reaches out and grabs you by the throat, and doesn't let you go until the extravaganza is completed 73:59 minutes later. I let a friend borrow it, as the first song entitled "Acid Rain" started, a smile grew across his face. Before the stranglehold captured him, he was able to murmur, "oh Yeah, wow, WOW". If you are a true fan of shred, this CD demands your undivided attention within the first seconds of the first song. LTE2 is a collection of 8 songs, which were basically improv in the studio. When you put talent of this stature together, an improv jam session easily turns into a complex overture. I found myself trying to discern whose "turn" it was to let it rip, only to go crazy realizing that they all rip through the entire CD. I would also like to slip in a comment about the mixer, Kevin Shirley. He deserves recognition. For anybody who has ever worked in a studio before, you how difficult it can be to mix the good from the bad. But everything is great; it gets even harder to mix without losing essence. Hats off to the effort of everyone involved with the final production of this CD. – House of Shred –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– LTE2 marks the return to the studio of Dream Theater's John Petrucci, Mike Portnoy, and Jordan Rudess along with bass legend Tony Levin. This foursome has cranked out another impressive album of beyond-progressive music. Of course, my favorite track is opening rocker "Acid Rain," a 6:35 burst of frenetic energy. This song gives last year's LTE opener "Paradigm Shift" a run for the money. From there, things slow down considerably, as the rest of the album is mostly one long mid-tempo instrumental piece after another. In fact, three of these tracks clock in at over ten minutes in length ("When the Water Breaks" falls just shy of 17 minutes!). Most songs seem to be led by and revolve around solos from Rudess and/or Petrucci. I think the first LTE album is a little easier for most people to get into, as LTE2 is more melodic and introspective. This disc is filled to the brim with great performances and even better music, but it takes an awfully long time to digest. Still, fans of Dream Theater, progressive, or instrumental rock in general will do well to examine LTE2. Fans of the first album will want to pick it up too, of course. – Joel Ansier for detritusweb.com –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– This second experiment comes out with better results with then the first and that is for sure, sporting more focus and some of the finest performances ever put to tape. 'Acid Rain', 'Biaxident', 'When the Water Breaks', and 'Chewbacca' feature tremendous solos and melodies. While tracks like '914', 'Another Dimension', 'Liquid Dreams', and 'Hour Glass' go for a more atmospheric approach. Petrucci does his best playing ever here. The opening of the album with 'Acid Rain' sets the stage and Petrucci lets everyone know its him at about 1:50 when he introduced an insane melody and asks Jordan to follow. The blues/jazz solo in 'Biaxident' is perhaps the greatest solo he has ever done, not too flashy and some sweet note choices. In 'Another Dimension' he injects more sweet solos around 2:28 and 6:58. In 'When the Water Breaks' he rules starting at 1:03 and ending some sixteen minutes later. Additionally, there are other spots around the album where he achieves limited god hood. Jordan Rudess shines especially when using a basic piano. The main themes of 'Biaxident' and 'Hour Glass' show the full range of his emotional expression with the medium. But Rudess can also surprise with the ending of 'When the Water Breaks' or his accordion solo in 'Another Dimension'. Just by keep up with some of the movements and riffs portrayed on this album should make Mike Portnoy eligible for some kind of reward. He not only laughs at odd time signatures, free time movement and general chaos, but he also adds his own stylistic approach under each. He gets along just fine with Tony Levin and lays down tight groove lines in '914' and 'Chewbacca'. Tony Levin has been in this business long enough to have left his mark on lots of other bassists, but he still shows the youngsters new tricks with crazy effects and Chapman Stick madness. 'Another Dimension', and 'Chewbacca' showcase his flare with the instrument. But with a line up like John Petrucci, Mike Portnoy, Tony Levin, and Jordan Rudess can you go wrong? Well, Portnoy and Levin provide a cohesive bond for Rudess and Petrucci to experiment. Briefly they take a jump into the spotlight but these times are fleeting and leave us wanting this to be a more equal relationship. Could it hurt to have had a moment where the bass and drums experimented more and the guitar and keys did some support. If there was to be a Liquid Tension Experiment 3 I would like equal time on all the instruments, not only for solos, but for general experimentation. Highlights: "Acid Rain," "Biaxident," and "When The Water Breaks" Rating: 9 / 10 – Statusseeker –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– If you liked the first installment of Liquid Tension, this is the album for you. Blazing guitar/keyboard unsion parts, incredible bass lines from Tony Levin, and a powerful performance on drums by Mike Portnoy. "Acid Rain" is on a level with "Universal Mind" from LTE 1, and "When The Water Breaks" is unparalleled. If you are a fan of prog, buy this album. You won't be disappointed. – Joe Guarr –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Click here to order Liquid Tension Experiment and/or Liquid Tension Experiment 2! Also check out Magna Carta releases from Jordan Rudess & Bozzio Levin Stevens! |
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LIQUID TENSION EXPERIMENT Liquid Tension Experiment 2 Catalog # : MA-9035-2 |
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