Product Description This is the first solo CD from Charlie Dominici. It is a completely acoustic concept album about a man who is taken from his home at a very early age and forced to train for a task that he has no prior knowledge of. He soon finds himself in a foreign country where he begins to blend in a little too well. He becomes attached to his new country and his new life when suddenly he is contacted by his former captors and told he is to do something terrible. In his research he finds the task that he is being told to do is much more sinister than he was led to believe. Now he is faced with the option of disobeying his captors and putting himself and his family at risk or following through with the plan that could destroy the world.This is a wild ride of music that is composed,played,sung and produced all by the artist Charlie Dominici. Review "literally one of the first times the acoustic singer/songwriter approach has been brought to progressive rock, setting a new standard. -- http://www.ytsejam.com online magazine. June 4th,2005 P.when('A').execute(function(A) { A.on('a:expander:toggle_description:toggle:collapse', function(data) { window.scroll(0, data.expander.$expander[0].offsetTop-100); }); }); About the Artist Charlie Dominici Bio Born June 16th, 1951, it would not be long before Charlie Dominici would know what he wanted to do. Like the rest of the musicians of his generation, "The Beatles" appearance on the "Ed Sullivan Show" in 1964 was the turning point for him. He soon got his own guitar and the rest is history. That history includes an early album with a major label as one half of the semi-acoustic duo "Billy and Charles" on Faithful Virtue records in 1969. It would not be until 1979 that he would actually see some of his work reach top 10 statuses. That was with the release of the debut album from "Franke and the Knockouts". The band enjoyed some top 10 hits and very successful touring. Charlie sang and played 2nd guitar with the band that featured the front man, Franke Previte. Franke would later co-write the hit songs "Time of my Life" and "Hungry Eyes" from the movie "Dirty Dancing". Tico Torres from the band "Bon Jovi" was the drummer and John "Skinny" Regan from Peter Frampton and Ace Frehley was the bass player. Many musical projects would follow but it would not be until the fall of 1987 when Charlie met up with the soon to be renamed band "Majesty". That alliance led to the release of the acclaimed debut album "When Dream and Day Unite", featuring Charlie on lead vocals and the band was renamed "Dream Theater". Charlie was among the bands numerous subsequent lineup changes. He spent the next 10 years in a self imposed semi-retirement from the music scene until he was asked to perform with Dream Theater again at the 15th anniversary show celebrating 15 years since the debut album was released. He accepted the invitation to sing with them once again and the show was documented on DVD, which was released this spring to a fanfare of praise from the music world. The DVD is called "When Dream and Day Re-Unite" and can be found on the Dream Theater website. Charlie has now released the first installment of his very ambitious solo project, "O3 A Trilogy." It is an acoustic solo project that shows his lyric and songwriting ability in its purest form. A "concept" work with no overdubs and completely recorded in single "live" takes, this trilogy of albums will prove to be the definitive statement from this long absent and frequently under rated artist. The rest, as they say, will be history. See more
S**E
Charlie is back...in a way you wouldn't expect.
After self imposed seclusion from the music scene, Charlie Dominici has returned in a way that has taken pretty much everyone by surprise.It all started during the build up to the 15th anniversary of Dream Theater's When Dream and Day Unite album. Charlie was asked to participate in a one off reunion celebrating the release of the album. After the album was performed in its entirety by the current lineup, Charlie Dominici entered the stage for the two encores of To Live Forever and Metropolis (performed along with both James Labrie and former keyboardist Derek Sherinian).After this event, Charlie realized how much he missed the music scene and plotted his "comeback." While Charlie likes and appreciates Dream Theater's music that he participated with, it was a lot different from his musical background. Therefore, his new CD has very little resemblance to what he was a part of with the world's best progressive metal band.03 A Trilogy: Part One, first and foremost, is a completely acoustic album performed by Charlie and only Charlie. With the exception of a harmonica and some whistling, it is just Charlie and his guitar. I believe Charlie knew the comparison to his days in Dream Theater was inevitable so he made no attempt to match or recreate that sound in any way. Instead, he stripped the sound down completely, relying on his acoustic musicianship, his voice, and his storytelling ability.The album tells the story about a boy who was stolen from his family and prepped from an early age to carry out what would be the world's worst terrorist attack. But living in his new home of the United States, he falls in love with the people and the land and struggles with his "duty" and whom he considers his real friends and family.The songs at times resemble the feeling of a broadway musical and his voice has a warm tonality that compliments that. He uses a lower register than he did in his days with Dream Theater, which is much more natural for him.His guitar playing is remarkable. Hes no shredder, but he does have an incredible acoustic style. His guitar melodies range from intense to serene and somewhat technical.In the end, this album really has four things to look at: his voice, his lyrics, his guitar, and the songwriting as a whole. All of these elements are spectacular and create an interesting and enjoyable album.For the hardcore Dream Theater fans, you must go into this album with an open mind. This has little to no resemblance of his days with DT. This much more resembles the type of music you would hear being performed at a coffee shop. Initimate, relaxed, and at times intense. It is meant to make you think and feel, and for that Charlie Dominici has accomplished an amazing feat.He has two more CDs planned in which he has stated he might even put a full band together to accomplish. I think a lot of these songs would sound great with a full band so I look forward to his experimenting with that. As it stands though, what you have here is just outstanding and original. Charlie is back, indeed, and I can't wait to hear what he comes up with next.
M**T
Charlie Dominici Creates a New Genre!
Simply put, Charlie Dominici has gone where no musician has gone before. To my knowledge there are no other acoustic solo artists that have created a bare bones concept album like this. It is rich with meaningful and sometimes politically charged lyrics and amazing acoustic guitar that sometimes sounds like Leo Kottke or John Fahey playing. Less is more... is the rule here. There are no real overdubs or "sweetening" as they say in the music business to cover up a lack of talent. No need for that here. Charlie is about to shock the music fans who know him from his days with Dream Theater.This album shows that whatever the DT fans might have thought about Charlie's abilities before, they are in for a treat (if the listener can be objective).Do not expect any cookie monster vocals or intense musical shredding here. This album is totally original and in todays music world,that is a fantastic feat in itself.That said, you put this CD in your player and off you go to a place where Charlie paints and sculpts and spins a musical tale that will leave you thinking about the meaning of your life while you try to shake off the chills and goosebumps! Buy it,and see!
M**L
Pleasant Surprise!
I'll be honest -- before I listened to this album, part of me figured that Mr. Dominici would just be trying to capitalize on the wild success of Dream Theater, and that after so many years of self-imposed exile, he'd be found somewhat lacking.I was wrong.This album is something like Bob Dylan -- excellent acoustic guitar playing, but it doesn't take center stage. What does, instead, is the singing, which is phenomenal. Mr. Dominici has not lost his touch. This album flows beautifully, and sounds phenomenal. It's very peaceful, without losing your attention, and an excellent way to make a comeback.On the merits of this album, I also bought the second one, but that's another review.
E**N
Different....But Incredible....
Big Dream theater fan here.Knowing that Charlie was the former singer of the band,I got the CD.The first couple of times I listened to it, I didnt really like it.But then I realized Charlie wasn`t a part of Dream Theater anymore, and I certainly didnt want to feel like he was trying to catch that dream theater sound after these years.So the more I listened to it, the more I liked it. It`s a very original album, incredible story, everytime I listen to it I catch something new in it.Definitely worth the money and I cant wait to hear the end of the story!!!
M**M
What is this??
I have Trilogy pt. 2 and 3, so I decided to pick up the pt. 1. BIG MISTAKE! I expected to hear what I heard on the last two in the series, good prog metal concept album, but I got Charlie Dominici playing acoustic guitar while singing and without any other instruments. This might be the biggest disappointment I've had with buying before listening. I can't believe a record company would release this. It sounds like a rough group of ideas laid down in a home studio so the rest of the band can come in and learn thier parts before actually recording. Waist of time in my opinion.
D**A
very surprised
I had heard many cuts from trilogy part two and like them well. This cd is vocal and acoustic guitar only. Not what I am interested in.
T**R
What a great bunch of songs
Simply Brilliant!
C**S
Charlie Dominiciファンなら絶対に押さえておきたい一枚
Dream Theaterの元シンガーとして知られるCharlie Dominiciのソロアルバムでありコンセプト三部作の一作目です、2005年リリース。二作目以降はバックにバンドメンバーを従えてプログレッシブパワーメタル路線の作風となるのですがこのアルバムは全編Dominiciの歌と彼の手によるアコースティックギター＆ハーモニカの演奏のみという実にシンプルな作品になっています。結構ギターの腕前も達者です。恐らくこんなCDを手に取るような人は、ほぼ全て熱心なDominici好きでしょうから問題なく最後まで楽しめることでしょう。ちなみに音楽のみならず詩のコンセプトもDominiciの手によるものであり当然のことながらプロデューサーもDominiciが担当。写真担当だけDominiciの奥様です。
