Yes, they are pretentious. Yes, they have undergone almost as many cast changes as Menudo. Nevertheless, Dream Theater continues to maintain a firm and compelling grip on mainstream progressive-rock/metal since Awake, their breakthrough album. Scenes from a Memory, their eighth record, demonstrates the band's relentless ability to evolve despite holding onto many elements of the same old same old: heavy riffs, ambitious solos, and tender moments disintegrated by explosions of prog power. The album unabashedly flaunts its rock theatrics, with tracks divided into acts and scene. There's even a cast of characters. Although some tracks like "Overture 1928" and "The Spirit Carries On" reek of Rush's 2112 and Pink Floyd's The Wall respectively, the surprisingly original collection of musical scenes relates a hypnotic story that is enthralling, terrifying and satisfying when examined as a complete, work. Each member of this incredibly talented ensemble contributes considerably, along with the additional sumptuous, inviting and quivering vocals of Theresa Thomason on two of the most emotional tracks. Scenes from a Memory is not gentle, inconsequential, one-hit-oriented contemporary rock but rather a cohesive composition that must be deciphered in order to be appreciated. A-