I'm a huge Dream Theater fan, so I had to bring up this album eventually. Images and Words is the second studio album released by Dream Theater, and many would argue that it's their best work. This was their first and only album to go Gold, and it has their only big hit that received radio play and featured by MTV, "Pull Me Under." That being said, every track on this album is a masterpiece. If you've heard other Dream Theater songs and thought they were too heavy on the metal side, you should give this album a try. While there are still metal influences, this album is much more progressive than their later albums. Some influences include Queensryche and Rush, so if you're a fan of either of those bands, this album is a must. It is also their first album to feature lead singer James LaBrie. They auditioned over 200 people before giving him the gig, and he's been with the band ever since. I personally recommend listening to "Take the Time," "Metropolis Pt.1 - the Miracle and the Sleeper," and "Learning to Live." You may find it hard to digest at first, but if you listen enough times, you'll begin to get an appreciation for the amount of creativity and time put into the writing of this music, which is something you don't find very often in popular mainstream music.