梦剧场合唱团 / 闇黑光明双精选 　　 　　这组1988年成军至今23年的九O年代最佳前卫金属团Dream Theater可谓金属乐界的第一把交椅、乐坛的金属传奇，20几年来，却依旧是受到众多乐迷爱戴，不但持续坚决地挑战主流趋势和善变的听众口味，不同于其他渐走下坡硬撑的老乐团，Dream Theater这乐团可是不间断地成长与进步。 　　 　　这部传奇可回溯至1989年发行的首张专辑"When Dream And Day Unite"，不过早在此几年前（1985年9月），身为Berklee音乐学院学生的Mike Portnoy、John Myung和John Petrucci便决定合组乐团【Majesty】，并找来键盘手Kevin Moore和歌手Chris Collins；而后Collins离团，由Charlie Dominici取代，这时被迫更改团名，这才将团名定为Dream Theater。他们的首张专辑"When Dream And Day Unite"即在地下前卫摇滚界造成一片回响，之后，人事再度更动，主唱由James LaBrie取代后，乐团与Atco唱片厂牌签约（后来并入Atlantic），并录制了1992年石破天惊的"Images And Words"；之后Dream Theater陆续发行多张专辑，从1994年的"Awake"、1997年的"Falling Into Infinity"、1999年的"Scenes From A Memory"，同时，键盘手Kevin Moore的位子先由Derek Sherinian，接着由Jordan Rudess取代，而后2002年的"Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence"、03年"Train of Thought"、05年"Octavarium"，到2007年的"Systematic Chaos"，这些专辑张张销售长红、首首受到歌迷推崇、受到各界媒体乐评大肆赞扬，也被金属音乐界视为重要的创作。 　　 　　此张精选是梦剧场合唱团成军23年来的第一张精选辑，从1991年至2005年所发行的七张专辑内精挑细选出的歌曲，以乐风分别归类在"闇黑盘"与"光明盘" 双CD中。在"闇黑盘"中的概念集中在较为阴沉、晦暗的风格，收录92年专辑"Images and Words"的“Put Me Under”、“Take The Time”两首Kevin Shirley（史密斯飞船、黑乌鸦）全新混音版本、亦从专辑"Train of Thought"、"Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence"、"Octavarium"内各挑取两首歌曲收录，是梦剧场长期乐迷会相当喜爱的狂飙重金属作品；"光明盘"则是选择梦剧场赋予丰富旋律性、音乐性较多的歌曲，其中不乏AMG 4颗星评价的99年专辑"Metropolis Pt. 2 : Scenes from a Memory"内的歌曲“The Spirit Carries On”、“Through Her Eyes”混音版，特别再收录先前仅出现于单曲"Lie"里的歌曲“To Live Forever”，光明盘内歌曲着重于管弦乐的大编制与叙事性较重的曲目；梦剧场合唱团将20多年来累积的音乐成果浓缩至此张首张精选，不论是闇黑盘或光明盘，皆可让您重温乐团歌曲所挟带的震撼。 　　 　　First Ever Best-Of Spanning 1991-2005 22 Songs On 2CDs Featuring Rare Radio Edits, 3 New Re-Mixes, and Liner Notes After recently celebrating the band's 20-year anniversary, Dream Theater returns with its first-ever best of collection. Spanning 1991-2005, the two-disc set contains rare single edits, B-sides, and a trio of new remixes that spotlight that band's nonpareil musicianship, complex arrangements, and amazing songwriting. Referring to Dream Theater's first and only major radio hit, "Pull Me Under," the compilation's tongue-in-cheek title is a testament not only to the band's sense of humor but also highlights the acclaimed New York-based quintet's ability to make music and cultivate a legion of fans on its own terms, without help from radio or MTV. The collection features more than two hours of progressive hard rock from James LaBrie (vocals), John Myung (bass), John Petrucci (guitar/vocals), Mike Portnoy (drums/vocals), and Jordan Rudess (keyboards). " 22 songs spanning 14 years including 3 newly remixed versions of tracks from their 1992 breakout album. " Images And Words by Kevin Shirley (Led Zeppelin). " Divided into Disc 1, "The Dark Side" (metallic) and Disc 2, "The Light Side (melodic). " "The Dark Side" stand-outs include new remixes of "Pull Me Under" and "Take The Time" plus rare single edits of "Lie," "Home," and "Misunderstood." " "The Light Side" highlights includes a remix of "Another Day," an alternate mix of "Through Her Eyes," a single edit of "Solitary Shell" and "To Live Forever," a rare U.K.-only b-side from the single "Lie."