Mike Portnoy described Black Clouds & Silver Linings as, "a Dream Theater album with 'A Change of Seasons', 'Octavarium', 'Learning to Live', 'Pull Me Under' and 'The Glass Prison' all on one album."
Mike Portnoy menggambarkan Black Clouds & Silver Linings sebagai "sebuah album Dream Theater dengan 'A Change of Seasons', 'Octavarium', Learning to Live', 'Pull Me Under' dan 'The Glass Prison' dalam satu album."