Office of Strategic Influence [Enhanced] [Limited Edition]

Office of Strategic Influence [Enhanced] [Limited Edition]

Track Listings

1. The New Math (what he said)

2. OSI

3. When You're Ready

4. Horseshoes and B-52's

5. Head

6. Hello, Helicopter!

7. shutDOWN

8. Dirt From a Holy Place

9. Memory Daydreams Lapses

10. Standby (looks like rain)

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Full title - Office of Strategic Intelligence. 2003 album from Dream Theater's Mike Portnoy & Kevin Moore. Guests include members of Fates Warning (Jim Matheos), Cynic (Sean Malone), Chroma Key, Gordian Knot & Porcupine Tree. Includes limited edition bonus CD featuring 'Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun', 'New Mama', 'The Thing That Never Was' & Video Documentary. Deluxe digibook. SPV.

Tracks:

The New Math (what he said)
OSI
When You're Ready
Horseshoes and B-52's
Head
Hello, Helicopter!
shutDOWN
Dirt From a Holy Place
Memory Daydreams Lapses
Standby (looks like rain)

Album Description

Full title - Office of Strategic Intelligence. 2003 album from Dream Theater's Mike Portnoy & Kevin Moore. Guests include members of Fates Warning (Jim Matheos), Cynic (Sean Malone), Chroma Key, Gordian Knot & Porcupine Tree. Includes limited edition bonus CD featuring 'Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun', 'New Mama', 'The Thing That Never Was' & Video Documentary. Deluxe digibook. SPV.

Customer Reviews:

Uber-Wow........2007-06-26

This was one of those rare & beautiful instances in my life where I chose to unceremoniously damn my torpedoes and buy a CD merely because A: I just happened upon it at a Fry's Store in San Diego and it looked interesting, and more importantly, B: Because it mentioned a guest appearance by Porcupine Tree's Steven Wilson.

That letter B option should qualify as "enough said," but that's never been known to stop me before.

I'll confess to all reading this that the only band I'm even remotely familiar with as regards this conglomeration is Dream Theatre, having heard their (debut?) CD that featured "Pull Me Under." However, I am one of the legions of latecomer P-Tree fanatics and, being the proud owner of almost everything available in their catalog, the mere mention of Steven Wilson on the back of this disc was enough to spur me into spending the $$ to own it. Thank God, this disc is a definite prog/metal masterpiece, in the grand & glorious traditions of P-Tree's DEADWING and their recently-released FEAR OF A BLANK PLANET. I feel confident in saying that if you have a soft spot in your heart for either or both of those discs, then this one belongs in your library, without any further delay.

Others more knowledgeable than yours truly here can tell you in better detail what makes this release SO worth having, but I was particularly taken with the bonus disc....their covers of Floyd's "Set the Controls...", Neil Young's "New Mama," and the 17-minute instrumental tour-de-force "The Thing That Never Was" amount to icing on an already spectacular cake. So grab yer knives, forks, paper plates and eat it up, kids. You WILL be glad you did.

A New Era for Progressive Music.......2006-08-10

OSI's self-titled debut album is the epitome of what progressive music should be. A brilliant fusion of electronic music with the the tradtional use of heavy guitar riffs and odd timings. Kevin Moore's voice is eerily beautiful (even though he only has about a 1 1/2 octave range :P) and he certainly doesn't fail his faithful listeners with OSI. Jim Matheos flexes his versatility muscles on this album breaking away from the traditional prog metal sound of Fates Warning. A great buy for anyone who feels bored with traditional progressive metal like Dream Theater or Symphony X.

Music for the Age of Global Military Camp.......2006-04-22

What if Kevin Moore (Dream Theater, Chroma Key), Jim Matheos (Fates Warning) and Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater) would play "Set Controls For the Heart of the Sun" (included on limited edition bonus CD) by early Pink Floyd? Result would be - OSI. Metallic riffs, ambiental keyboards, sometimes - melodic acoustic guitar and singing in style of early Roger Waters by Kevin Moor:
Hey! You in the tank!
Hey we gonna need that you know
Who to thank... (When You`re Ready)
Album depicts the feelings of Global Terror Era, music creates an atmosphere - so it is music for the listener in a little bit dark mood. My real rate of this album - 4 stars, because there is no true hit. With some songs with more bright, more pop feeling - album would be much interesting. There is no analogue of "Shine On You Crazy Dimond" or (if you will) "Enter Sandman". I gave it 5 stars, because this record could be first step to something new and more interesting. As project Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe for Yes.
So if your taste accepts Pink Floyd, Dream Theater, Fates Warning - this album could be interesting for you. Truely, it is one of the most original rock albums recorded in the last years.

ambient electronic neo prog metal masterpiece!.......2006-04-06

Take a teaspoon of Porcupine tree, chopped up Chroma Key, a smidgeon of Fates Warning mixed in with some chunky bits of Dream Theatre and you have OSI. This is a wonderful meditative relaxing neo prog masterpiece. Dont expect a showing off of chops , expect more of a solid backbone of songwriting and layered textures that put you in a trance. A wonderful unexpected delight. I am looking forward to their new album due out the end of April!

Awesome.......2006-03-13

I bought this CD mainly because of other reviews I'd read. If you're thinking about buying this CD, do it! It's one of the best CD's I've purchased in the last 10 years. I was blown away on the first listen, and I've enjoyed it even more each time I listen to it.

Average customer rating:

Sophisticated, Intelligent Progressive Rock Classic
Step in to my office...
The Thinking Man's Progressive Music
So good that it's hard to believe
Beyond Belief

Office of Strategic Influence
O.S.I.
Manufacturer: Inside Out U.S.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000089GH6
Release Date: 2004-09-13

Tracks:

The New Math (What He Said)
OSI
When You're Ready
Horseshoes And B-52's
Head
Hello, Helicopter!
Shutdown
Dirt From A Holy Place
Memory Daydreams Lapses
Standby (Looks Like Rain)

Customer Reviews:

Sophisticated, Intelligent Progressive Rock Classic.......2007-03-07

O.S.I. is a progressive music collaborative project, the brainchild of former Dream Theater member Kevin Moore, and including Jim Matheos (Fate's Warning), Sean Malone (Gordian Knot), and Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree), all superb musicians and giants in the genre-possibly the highest pedigree of any recent "side-project" out there. From this one would expect it to be some crazy shred-fest, but happily, this is not the case. It's tasteful, intelligent modern progressive rock with a hypnotic, neo-ambient style all it's own.

This album is original, moody, and alternately heavy and atmospheric. Full of Moore's and Wilson's warm, ethereal vocals, driving guitars, and spacey, mesmerizing loops and programmed textures, this disc is dark, brooding and smart. Lyrically, the album is full of social commentary, mostly dealing with a sort of post-modern sense of anomie in contemporary society and themes of political corruption and abuse of power. Those who are familiar with the above mentioned musicians and their respective bands will find much to enjoy here, as well as in O.S.I.'s recent follow-up, "Free", which is also excellent.

Step in to my office..........2005-09-22

Let me start out by saying that Neal Morse is one of the greatest progressive rock artists of our time, and while his decision to leave Spock's Beard was his own, his work with them was unbelivable. That being said, this is not one of my favorite Neal Morse projects. While it is extremely inspired and way beyond anything I could ever hope to accomplish, it's a little too experimental for my taste. The first big dissapointment for me was Mike Portnoy's part. While I know he is a phenominal drummer from his work with "Dream Theater" and "Liquid Tension Experiment," it's like Neal took his audio track, sliced it up, threw it on the ground, then glued it all back together again. Portnoy can do a good enough job without all of those effects. The second big dissapointment for me was the track "standby" which, in my opinion, is the best track on the CD. That being said, it's also one of the shortest with only 4 or so lines of lyrics. I had to put my CD player on repeat and listen to that track over and over just to feel like I had heard a full song.

So, all that being said, it's still a VERY good CD and if you're a prog rock fan, hell, even if you're not, pick up the CD. It's a real walk from anything you've ever heard.

The Thinking Man's Progressive Music.......2005-02-27

OSI is a side project of Dream Theater's long time drummer, Mike Portny and former DT Keyboardist (now with Chroma Key) Kevin Moore. The music they perform is a wonderful confluence of murky atmospheric progressive rock and driving boisterous progressive heavy metal. Sounds scary doesn't it? Well don't worry, it's wonderful. In addition to Portny and Moore, we have Fates Warning Guitarist, Jim Matheos, whose idea it was for this production, Bassist, Sean Malone (Gordian Knot, Chroma Key) and guest singer Porcupine Tree's Steve Wilson on track seven - "Shutdown". Wilson also wrote the lyrics for the unique "Shutdown", which comprises both styles in the same song All outer vocals were competently handled by Moore. Not surprisingly, three of the ten songs on disc 1 are instrumentals and vocals are somewhat sparse in the others (except "Shutdown").

Highlight Songs

"The New Math" (instrumental) For me "The New Math" has a strong Dream Theater flavor. Not surprising considering the roots of the drummer and keyboard player. This is Heavy Progressive Metal plain and simple. This song has voice samples of Dan Rather throughout and doesn't miss a beat as it segues into "OSI", the same song, same melody, the same beat but with light vocals added. In fact Moore's vocals are so mellow and lacking emotion that they remind me of Steve Miller.

"Head" starts out fairly mild, though with heavy guitar accents but it also has an industrial essence and does in fact sound like a Tool or Deadsoul Tribe song throughout. It goes back and forth then ends as it starts.

"Shutdown" This ten plus minute number is the song that Steve Wilson guests on. It resembles "Head" somewhat with the first half is strongly atmospheric and mellow with a couple heavy guitar interludes. Wilson's vocals are certainly more emotive than Moores and Moores backs the vocals with melancholy synth harmonies. The second half is like a different song with heavy Tool sounding guitars and bass, drums too in a semi Eastern refrain!

Conclusion

If you don't buy the Limited Edition version of this you don't get the twenty eight minute killer bonus disc with three great Progressive songs plus a twenty minute behind the scenes video documentary. Usually I don't feel bonus tracks or bonus CDs are worth while but this one is a Grande exception. You relly should look into the limited edition version before you buy.

Yes there are a couple so so tracks but the preponderance of the music is exciting and so fresh that one overlooks an itsy bit of mediocrity. If You are a Progressive rock fanatic or a progressive metal aficionado, this is an essential album. It's a lttle of what your used to but it's also way different. I haven't dealt with the lyrics much because in a way they are insignificant to the music. They tend to deal with corruption and incompetence in government.

So good that it's hard to believe.......2004-06-05

I'm listening to it right now. This is so good that is hard to believe. At least a new wave of ideas and style to the progressive genere. A totally different concept from DT, Symphony X and so others. Of course, the musicians are superb.

Beyond Belief.......2004-02-16

If you like Pink Floyd This is as close as youll get to anything new that is out right now. Very Space and very musical I am very impressed. Great Disk. Its as if Tool and Pink Floyd had a baby

Average customer rating:

Free
O.S.I. , and Office of Strategic Influence
Manufacturer: Inside Out UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Tracks:

Osidea 9 [*]
Set It on Fire [*]
Communicant [*]
When You're Ready [*][Demo Version]
Remain Calm [*]
Old War [*]

Album Description

Japanese pressing scheduled to include 6 bonus tracks 'Osidea', 'Set It On Fire', 'Communicant', 'When You're Ready' (demo), 'Remain Calm' & 'Old War'. OSI are a prog/prog-metal 'supergroup' consisting of members and former members of FATES WARNING, CHROMA KEY, DREAM THEATER, GORDIAN KNOT, and TRANSATLANTIC. Originally this project included Daniel Gildenlöw of PAIN OF SALVATION however as the project matured Gildenlöw decided that the musical direction was not consistent with his interests. Avalon. 2006.

Album Details

The Second Opus from the Duo of Fates Warning's Jim Matheos and Chromakey and Dream Theater's Kevin Moore. Carrying on from Where their First Outing Left Off, Matheos and Moore have Created a Modern Prog Rock Masterwork with Excellent Compositions Where Moore Shines Brightly with his Incredible Vocal Abilities. This Special Japanese Edition Includes Six Tracks that Do Not Appear on the Us Equivalent, Including a Demo Version of "When You're Ready" (Originally on their Debut).

Average customer rating:

3.5 expected much more
1984 Big Brother is watching...
It's all right...but not mind-blowing.
Buy the one with bonus cd
Incredible Visceral Gut-gnawing

Office of Strategic Influence
O.S.I.
Manufacturer: Avalon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00007KL0Y
Release Date: 2003-01-27

Tracks:

New Math (What He Said)
OSI
When You're Ready
Horseshoes and B-52's
Head
Hello, Helicopter!
Shutdown
Dirt from a Holy Place
Memory Daydreams Lapses
Standby (Looks Like Rain)
Horseshoes and B-52's [Video Clip]

Tracks:

Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun [*]
New Mama [*]
Thing That Never Was [*]
Enhanced CD Video Documentary [*]

Album Description

Full Title - Office Of Strategic Influence. Japanese edition of 2003 album from Dream Theater's Mike Portnoy & Kevin Moore is scheduled for earliest release (German release is scheduled for 2-17-03). Guests include members of Fates Warning (Jim Matheos), Cynic (Sean Malone), Chroma Key, Gordian Knot & Porcupine Tree. 13 tracks including three bonus tracks, 'Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun', 'New Mama' & 'The Thing That Never Was'. Marquee.

Album Details

The Debut Album featuring the Duo of Jim Matheos of Fates Warning and Kevin Moore from Chromakey and Dream Theater, as Well as Dream Theater's Mike Portnoy.

Customer Reviews:

3.5 expected much more.......2007-06-10

yea i was kind of dissapointed in this band. yet this album is not half as awful as their new album, but it is still pretty avarage. with these musicians i was expecting much more. but it seems it goes no where. the songs have ALLOT of potental but just dont quite go anywhere.....thank god rudess is in dream theater now. kevin may have destroyed that band with his current infuences.

1984 Big Brother is watching..........2005-03-09

Excellent progressive music from talented musicians, more dynamic than Chroma Key material though. Good balance between hard pieces of music and nostalgic ballads. People who liked Liquid Tension Experiment (One or Two) will appreciate this special release. Set the controls for the heart of the sun is a good remake, Floyd fans won't be disappointed.

It's all right...but not mind-blowing........2004-05-21

Since I like Dream Theater. I was curious to hear what this band might sound like, having Sean Malone from Gordian Knot on bass.The drum work is as crisp as ever, and Kevin Moore's keyboard lines seem well placed. However,someone needs to tell the bass players in this band that they are part of a rhythm section, tho. Too many bass players today seem content to act like a guitar player with four strings, and play the exact same thing as the guitarist. Bo-ring!!! Do something different! It's a PROG band!!!!

Buy the one with bonus cd.......2003-11-14

I was hesitating between the regular album and the one with the bonus tracks. I finally picked up the most expensive and I am glad I did. That Pink Floyd song is amazing through my home speakers (wow! it is blowing wind and the hole house vibrates). I would have also missed the gorgeous "The thing that never was" (a 17:21 minutes of "The new math" song with more extravaganza).

There is one thing and a half that I don't like on this album. Song "Dirt from a holy place" and the first half of "Shutdown". Re-edit about shutdown: Now I understand more the beginning of the song what I did not hear at the first. There's a lady whispering things in french (she says: I tought there was more, I bet I bet, I always wanted to dance Arita Franklin, I can do better, I hide, where do you hide, stand my love stand, because you travel).

Kevin Moore is a talented keyboardist, I really like his style and singing. They are all exceptional musicians anyway.

Favorite song is "When you're ready" with that echoing wooo wooo wooo wooo and the acoustic guitar.

A must have

Incredible Visceral Gut-gnawing.......2003-11-13

I havn't been able to get this album outta my head since I started listening to it, it's simply incredible. It sends me on a quasi-industrial, cyber-punk futuristic surrealistic voyage into realms of political angst, and future shock. Fits well into a Post 911 world and is definitely cutting edge. I can picture Terminator-like scenes with hovering robotic ships, hunter-killers roaming a desolate post-apocalyptic industrial wasteland, the sound effects being the lasers and other futuristic scanning devices - not for the faint of heart! Anyone looking for something to fill that ever-gnawing empty space while waiting between Porcupine Tree or Dream Theater CD's will gobble this down like a starving refugee. It begins with "The New Math(What He Said)"snippets of Dan Rather obviously trying to get info on some world event and he is getting nowhere which lends the song a paranoid-out of control feel, not to mention the heavy riffs(my girlfriend always tells me to turn this CD DOWN!).Then we get "When You Are Ready" and "OSI", which for me give off a real sense of foreboding and caution for what the States foreign policy is lately. Interspersed, so you can catch your breath, we get dreamy, mellow acoustic songs such as "Hello Helicopter" and the understated "Standby(Looks Like Rain)" which seems a metaphor for saying troubled days are forecast for the near future. Disregard the reviews that pan this CD and give it a spin to decide for yourself, and try to keep all expectations aside, as that always ruins the experience. When we listen with preconceived ideas the listening experience always suffers. This CD seems to me ahead of its time and has it's finger firmly on the pulse of the world situation today and is boldly forging new paths musically. Should be listed in a new genre called "cyber-punk industrial angst"

Average customer rating:

Office Of Strategic Influence
OSI
Manufacturer: Inside Out
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000LWZSHM