Dream Theater - Greatest Hit (... & 21 Other Pretty Cool Songs)

Первый официальный сборник лучшего материала группы, своим названием отсылающий к их единственному серьёзному радиохиту "Pull Me Under" (1992), представленному здесь, как и ещё пара номеров в новых ремиксах, выполненных нынешним студийным звукорежиссёром Dream Theater Кевином Ширли. Первый диск сборника - более агрессивный материал, на втором преобладают баллады и то, что сами музыканты почитают за лирику. Оформление альбома осуществлено не нуждающимся в представлении "мастером фотоиллюстраций" Хью Саймом.

Greatest Hit (… and 21 Other Pretty Cool Songs) comes at a pretty good time in Dream Theater's career. While the compilation mercifully does not feature anything from Charlie Dominici-era When Dream and Day Unite (1989) or 2007's Systematic Chaos, the two-album anthology does an excellent job incorporating every single studio album. In this regard, Greatest Hit would be an ideal introduction to Dream Theater. Some of the band's defining songs are located on one central compilation, and new listeners can take baby-steps figuring out if they can handle the mannerisms that define Dream Theater, from LaBrie's vocals to the elongated song lengths to the solos (some of which have been cut down or completely removed). If new listeners can stomach the single edits on this record, it stands to reason that they can graduate to the original recordings… In summation, Greatest Hit (… and 21 Other Pretty Cool Songs) is not going to change your mind about Dream Theater. While the new remixes courtesy of Kevin Shirley are superior to the original recordings, the bottom line is that fans will still be fans, non-fans will still be antagonistic, and people on-the-face will more than likely remain planted there if this assortment does not push them one way or the other. What the compilation does a marvelous job of, though, is showcase some of the most representative Dream Theater tracks into one centralized double-disc. In this fashion, Greatest Hit comes strongly recommended for new listeners, but only a "collectors only" recommendation for everybody else. It goes without saying that Dream Theater detractors would do well in avoiding this, save for possibly smirking at the album cover and using the case as a coaster.

Disc 1 - The Dark Side:

01. Pull Me Under (2007 Remix) #
02. Take The Time (2007 Remix) #
03. Lie (Edited Version) #
04. Peruvian Skies +
05. Home (Edited Version)
06. Misunderstood (Edited Version)
07. The Test That Stumped Them All
08. As I Am
09. Endless Sacrifice
10. The Root Of All Evil
11. Sacrificed Sons

Disc 2 - The Light Side:

01. Another Day (2007 Remix) #
02. To Live Forever #
03. Lifting Shadow Off A Dream #
04. The Silent Man #
05. Hollow Years +
06. Through Her Eyes (Alternate Album Mix)
07. The Spirit Carries On
08. Solitary Shell (Edited Edition)
09. I Walk Beside You
10. The Answer Lies Within
11. Disappear

keyboard on # by Kevin Moore
keyboard on + by Derek Sherinian

all songs written by Dream Theater. Compiled by Dream Theater.
Remastered by Ryan Smith at Sterling Sound

Three songs from their album "Images and Words" remixed by Kevin Shirley
also features the song "To Live Forever", from the Images and Words sessions
and B-side of the "Lie" single, which was previously unreleased on studio albums
Several single edits are also featured on this compilation.

• James LaBrie - lead vocals
• John Petrucci - guitar, vocals
• John Myung - bass
• Mike Portnoy - drums, vocals
• Jordan Rudess - keyboards

Release Date: April 1, 2008
Number of Discs: 2
Catalog No.: 8122-79938
Label: Atlantic / Rhino Ent.