Prog Flamenco!
For those of you not yet enlightened, Dream Theater are releasing an album this year. Normally, a new DT album puts every other album down a notch, but what about when Tony Levin, bass virtuoso who worked alongside three Dream Theater members on their side project "Liquid Tension Experiment", releases his?
The answer is, the "Best album of the year" award becomes a tie. Instead of wasting time showing off his ability, Tony blasts out exceptionally complex and technically genius work, letting his fingers do the talking. Unfortunately, Levin doesn't have Labrie's emotion on his side, but fortunately that really doesn't matter. Liquid Tension Experiment didn't need emotion to be one of the greatest side projects in existence, and Levin sure as hell doesn't, either!
Progressive artists normally come up with something new and wierd on a bizarre timescale and for Levin, it's the flamenco breakdown in 'Another World'. Even the most apt of progressive listeners didn't spot that one coming. The same goes for the incredible 'T&T Vignette', which has the most spectacular ending in existence. Want a challenge? Try noting out the last minute of that song. You should be done sometime next year.
Magna Carta, whilst not Portnoy's best friend anymore, still provides us with an astounding amount of fresh progressive work. Regardless of your standing with Dream Theater, Symphony X or any other progressive bands, be absolutely sure to check out Tony Levin before writing off the genre as too complex.