What Does Dream Theater Need to Do? (Musically)

The T wrote: Epignosis wrote: They're almost old enough to qualify for social security.  Very few old men can pull of the bad ass thing.   Precisely... now how many old men have you ever seen change their ways?   They will never change.... what we have is what we'll have....   If people really want to waste their time thinking how artists should change their styles (because is not that they listen to us anyway), at least do so for younger bands who may actually have change still as a possibility in their bloods....

You do realize my whole post was a joke, right?

Well, except the "only a few old men can pull of the bad ass thing."  That's true. 

In all seriousness, I find Dream Theater to be precisely what I want in a prog metal band (at least since 1999).  We'll see how I feel when the new album comes out, but I think their latter work is TONS better than their goofy Images & Words business. 

I think you're being quite a bit extremist T, well at least from my point of view. Concerning your example about Zappa, he never played hip-hop nor black metal, while Dream Theater has played some jazzy things, which is something people would like to expect more from DT, and it's not something outrageous like asking black metal or hip-hop from Zappa.

Maybe I'm not a expext on DT, but I know albums by them, and I know they did some jazzy stuff mixed with metal of course. I would really like if they once developed that side a bit more, or at least do that again. I'm not asking for them to do stuff ala Gentle Giant nor Magma, no, just wished if they could go a bit deeper in territories they once touched.

Bring in the London Philharmonic! That solves every band's low point in their careers.

In all seriousness:

1. Turn up their Bass player's amp
2. Stop thinking about making quick cash on "Hit singles"
3. Get back to wicked ass keyboards like in "THE DANCE OF ETERNITY!"

Woooo!

I think they need to start playing for the music instead of their own egos. You could say that I haven't heard much of them, and that would be true, but The Dance Of Eternity is all I need to hear.

OzzProg wrote: Bring in the London Philharmonic! That solves every band's low point in their careers. In all seriousness: 1. Turn up their Bass player's amp 2. Stop thinking about making quick cash on "Hit singles" 3. Get back to wicked ass keyboards like in "THE DANCE OF ETERNITY!" Woooo!

You know what?  A plus right there.

Myung is a fantastic bassist, but you'd almost never know it.  Portnoy drowns him out every time.

Dream Theater does not need singles if they're making solid albums (and they are).

And yes, Rudess is excellent, especially when he uses various tones (instead of the electric guitar clone).

Epignosis wrote: And yes, Rudess is excellent, especially when he uses various tones (instead of the electric guitar clone).

At times if you are just causally listening, you can mistake keyboards for guitar.

I also think they should ditch the whole "Bad ass Metal Band" attitude. Many (no, not all) Metal heads dismiss Dream Theater as poppy fluff. Even if they are good, they shouldn't try and be like that crowd, they are distinctly different. (did you see that promo picture they released just before this new album! AHHH!)


Edited by OzzProg - June 08 2009 at 19:20

KingCrimson250 wrote: The Quiet One wrote: I think you're being quite a bit extremist T, well at least from my point of view. Concerning your example about Zappa, he never played hip-hop nor black metal, while Dream Theater has played some jazzy things, which is something people would like to expect more from DT, and it's not something outrageous like asking black metal or hip-hop from Zappa. Maybe I'm not a expext on DT, but I know albums by them, and I know they did some jazzy stuff mixed with metal of course. I would really like if they once developed that side a bit more, or at least do that again. I'm not asking for them to do stuff ala Gentle Giant nor Magma, no, just wished if they could go a bit deeper in territories they once touched. I can't really think of any jazzy things that DT played, unless you count Another Day, their tribute to Kenny G. What songs were you thinking of?

Derek Sherinian-era: Falling into Infinity has some slightly jazz touches, which are magnificent, though would be greater if they were levelled-up in the mix.

OzzProg wrote: Epignosis wrote: And yes, Rudess is excellent, especially when he uses various tones (instead of the electric guitar clone). At times if you are just causally listening, you can mistake keyboards for guitar. I also think they should ditch the whole "Bad ass Metal Band" attitude. Many (no, not all) Metal heads dismiss Dream Theater as poppy fluff. Even if they are good, they shouldn't try and be like that crowd, they are distinctly different. (did you see that promo picture they released just before this new album! AHHH!)

Well, that's what I mean.  Is that dark, bad ass image really necessary?  Every metal band almost tries to pull it off...what if you're just a meek computer programmer with acne but can shred your grandmother's head off?

Obviously the whole point of the thread is not to argue whether arguing about how a band should change they're style is pointless to argue or not. The point of the thread is each person's opinion of what musical direction the band should go.

I personally agree that adding some jazz-fusion or textural metal influences would be a good way to spice up their music, if it worked out alright in the end. I think their getting a bit static in their music, not horribly, but enough to feel like I'm hearing mostly the same stuff repeated.

But then again, the whole point of Dream Theater (as much as I like their music) seems to be to combine prog stereotypes with metal, period. There's nothing truly experimental about their music, even if they've changed their sound a bit over the years. I would even argue they've made some of the greatest metal in history. But they're not developing today's musical landscape, they're rolling in the doe, and good for them.