|
The Twelve-step Saga, also known as the Alcoholics Anonymous Suite is a series of songs written by drummer Mike Portnoy, deals with his experience of alcoholism[citation needed] in some form, and each represent a certain number of the Twelve Steps.
The songs feature a number of recurring musical and lyrical themes, and all of them (except for "Repentance") are among Dream Theater's loudest and heaviest. Gathering all songs, the suite reaches a total of 57:16 minutes. All of the current steps start with the letters "Re", a reference to the word "rehab". The final song in the suite comprising the three remaining steps will be released on Dream Theater's tenth studio album, Black Clouds & Silver Linings.
Mike Portnoy confirmed on an interview in the Eddie Trunk show on March 16 that "The Shattered Fortress" would be the final song of the suite, and stated he prefer to call it the "Twelve-step Suite" or "Twelve-step Saga" rather than "AA Suite". The band also plans to release all of the songs together on a future live album.[citation needed] All songs are dedicated to "Bill W. and his friends".
# Title Original album Length
1. "The Glass Prison"
* I. "Reflection"
* II. "Restoration"
* III. "Revelation"
Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence 13:52
2. "This Dying Soul"
* IV. "Reflections of Reality (Revisited)"
* V. "Release"
Train of Thought 11:27
3. "The Root of All Evil"
* VI. "Ready"
* VII. "Remove"
Octavarium 8:25
4. "Repentance"
* VIII. "Regret"
* IX. "Restitution"
Systematic Chaos 10:43
5. "The Shattered Fortress"
* X. ""
* XI. ""
* XII."""
Black Clouds & Silver Linings 12:49
Additionally, the song "The Mirror" (Awake) was written about Portnoy's alcoholism, and is considered by many fans to be the prologue of the Twelve-step Suite, while not actually being a part of it. The song is also alluded to in the opening lyrics of the second, third, and fourth songs from the suite. Also, the first step of "The Glass Prison" is entitled "Reflection", and is often viewed as an allusion to "The Mirror" as also the title for step IV is, which is actually a quote from The Mirror. ("Reflections of reality are slowly coming into view...".)
It could also be noted that lyrically and/or musically, each song references the preceding songs:
* This Dying Soul:
o The first 5 guitar notes of This Dying Soul are the last 5 guitar notes of The Glass Prison.
o The lines "Hello mirror, so glad to see you my friend / It's been a while" references the song The Mirror.
o The lyrics "Now it's time to stare the problem right between the eyes you long lost child" and "Spreading all your lies from coast to coast / While spitting on the ones that matter most" is similar to the lyric in The Mirror "Let's stare the problem right in the eye / It's plagued me from coast to coast / Racing the clock to please everyone / All but the one who matters the most"
o The lyric "I can't break out of this prison all alone" is also said in The Glass Prison.
o This song also shares a riff with The Glass Prison.
* The Root of All Evil:
o The starting guitar riff is similar to the last riff played in This Dying Soul, albeit slower.
o The 2nd riff is also similar to one of the opening riffs in This Dying Soul
o The "I can feel my body breaking" prechorus also features in This Dying Soul.
o The lyric "I can't break out of this prison all alone" is mentioned again.
o The lyric "Heal this dying soul" references the title of This Dying Soul.
* Repentance:
o The starting melody is identical to the one in This Dying Soul and at 4:55 in The Root of All Evil but raised from the key of A to B.
o The first lines "Hello mirror, so glad to see you my friend / It's been a while" are the same as the first lines in This Dying Soul.
* The Shattered Fortress:
o The title of the song is derived from two lines from The Glass Prison; "A shattered glass prison wall behind me" and "A long lost fortress"
o The song is a medley of the whole suite
o A drumming video of Portnoy has been released showing him playing a section that is almost identical to one in The Glass Prison.[citation needed]
o References main parts of all the previous songs in the series. Intro sections, vocal sections, and main guitar riffs.[citation needed]
o The song ends with the intro sounds from The Root of All Evil and The Glass Prison.[citation needed]
Post edited by: webmaster, at: 2009/05/29 03:11
|
