Planet X

by Steve HueyDream Theater and ex-Alice Cooper keyboardist Derek Sherinian grabs the spotlight with Planet X, leading his own band through a set of instrumentals, mostly co-written with drummer Virgil Donati. The album is more prog rock than progressive metal, although the compositional influence of Steve Vai pop up here and there, along with King Crimson and other progressive luminaries given to complex, shifting time signatures. Sherinian has chops to burn, but he plays tastefully and creates textures just as well as he solos; guitarist Brett Garsed and bassist Tony Franklin also turn in fine performances.