Marco Minnemann

Opinions from what one sees, has nothing to do with respect for the artist's choices. I respect the choices, however, I think that from a REHEARSING PERSPECTIVE found in theater and film, there is a certain kind of "invisible" togetherness that tends to define the work at hand ... and DT is unusual in that one piece it shows, and the next piece it doesn't, and it's hard to tell if it is the music definition and its parts, or the lyrics that do not quite fit. That's my seeing ... but this one is harder for most "readers" of the post, that are not aware of the details and fine eye required for a DIRECTOR to see things properly and a production to show its beauty, without confusing the audience ... sometimes I think that this is the part that folks do not like about a lot of things I write ... I see a rather lackluster lack of continuity now and again ... and it kinda makes you wonder if that is where the part where something else was added/subtracted, that changed the continuity of what was there before ... however, sometimes this works, and sometimes it doesn't ... a joke in between George and Martha will get you two black eyes, so to speak, specially if you get Liz and Rich!  This is ... what is hard for you folks to see, and the only constant is that each music piece has this or that and, of course ... a solo or two! 

The design itself could be the issue, not the parts in it. The sequencing does not sound like it is in tune ... and this is the objective part of what I say ... 

I like DT, and have 6 of their CD's, including one "after" with the new drummer ... it has lost a lot of "personality, and obviously with a new player it would try to create a new personality ... and for me, it didn't ... it tried hard to depend on the other 4 musicians to carry the band, and I think it suffered for it ... I have not bought the later stuff (on SS you have to be more selective), but what I heard (tube -- in its entirety) did not really impress me, like they had before ... c'mon, even if they were on stage with tux's ... or not ... it didn't matter ... the music was not "alive" like it had been before, and yeah, you are right, this could be the new DT that I don't see, but what folks are suggesting here, is the same I am ... it has faded and its star has long lost its brightness.

So, if I may extrapolate a little on your comments ... DT decided to take a bean counter for a drummer, instead of an intelligent and versatile drummer with a record already?

Let me rephrase that ... DT was looking for another graduate of the bad school of music that can only teach 4/4 and conventional rock drumming ... so they would finally get a drummer that shut up and played instead of thinking he was a song writer and producer! Sadly, the new guy's playing is really sad and has not elevated DT's music at all ... it's made it even more boring compared to previous stuff.