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JS19
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Location: Lancaster, UK
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Topic: Dream Theater Posted: February 25 2011 at 11:14 |
Now Dream Theater are my favourite band, but I never felt that they really fitted in with the rest of my prog collection. it was only yesterday when I realised why this was.
From the start, they have been both Metal and prog, symbolised almost, by the appearance of Mike Portnoy. A long haired, troglodytic, metalhead, but so dedicated to prog, he has a King Crimson tattoo. I think that up until now, Dream Theater have been incredibly dedicated to prog and to metal, whereas most bands have 'splashings of this', and a 'bit of that'. I also believe that if one of these was removed, and the band could focus solely on one of the two, they would astound.
With the departure of Mr Portnoy, I wondered where they would go from here. It's almost certain that they won't abandon one of the two completely, but if they maybe just toned down the metal side of it, they may find themselves rather better received on this here website.
Thoughts?
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The T
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Posted: February 25 2011 at 11:18 |
They are what they are. Like them or leave them. At this point in their careers I doubt they'll change to please a little bunch of prog fans. They have a big fan base whom they work for. Portnoy's departure might ignite a little change in sound, but I doubt it'll be too radical.
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lazland
Prog Reviewer
Joined: October 28 2008
Location: Wales
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Posted: February 25 2011 at 11:44 |
To be fair to them, they have definitely introduced a lot of younger fans to the prog genre as a whole, and that can only be praised.
I've started to listen to them a little bit more recently, and I am definitely enjoying a lot more than when I stopped a few years ago.
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Catcher10
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Posted: February 25 2011 at 12:50 |
My only fear with them going forward is to make records like LaBrie's last solo effort Static Impulse, which was not good IMO. Too much screamo type metal for my taste, it just seems that is what James likes right now.....and if they end up with a serious metal drummer, we could see more of that.
Versus them recording stuff like SDOIT or songs like Octavarium.....I just wonder if they will ever try to create material like Scenes From A Memory, not the concept but the material.
That to me is Dream Theater. Even like Train of Thought, one of my favorite albums would be great.
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Sargasso
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Posted: February 25 2011 at 12:56 |
Somehow I don't think it's likely that DT will pick up a new drummer who is more metal oriented than Mike Portnoy.
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Andy Webb
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Posted: February 25 2011 at 14:12 |
lazland wrote:
To be fair to them, they have definitely introduced a lot of younger fans to the prog genre as a whole, and that can only be praised. |
That's me
And the direction, as people above me have stated, is entirely dependent on the new drummer. If Dave Lombardo is the new drummer (which for god's sake I hope he's not) DT will morph into a prog-related thrash metal band. If Virgil Donati is the new drummer, DT will morph into a jazz based metal band. If Marco Minnemann is the new drummer (which I suspect he is), the band will morph into a more a more thrash based prog metal band.
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Sargasso
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Posted: February 25 2011 at 14:33 |
Dave Lombardo? They wouldn't.
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Earendil
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Posted: February 25 2011 at 16:07 |
I would love to see them step away from the metal. I feel like all they can contribute metal-wise has been done by them years ago.
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ExittheLemming
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Posted: February 25 2011 at 16:22 |
Everyone just knows where this thread is gonna go.....I heartily loathe DT but am going to take the T's advice and leave them (alone)
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CCVP
Prog Reviewer
Joined: September 15 2007
Location: Vitória, Brasil
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Posted: February 25 2011 at 16:38 |
DT > life.
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Bonnek
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Posted: February 25 2011 at 17:05 |
Sargasso wrote:
Dave Lombardo? They wouldn't.
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Dave Lombardo? He wouldn't. I respect Dream Theater but I don't like them much. When I think of them I'll try to keep their album Awake in mind and forget the many disappointments I had with them.
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CCVP
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Posted: February 25 2011 at 17:09 |
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JS19
Forum Senior Member
Joined: October 10 2010
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Posted: February 25 2011 at 17:28 |
I fully know where this thread's going Hopefully it can manage to be interesting, before being completely run into the ground... Anyway Marco Minemann for me - Jazz DT would be brilliant (never going to happen)
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Sargasso
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Posted: February 25 2011 at 19:21 |
That may be true, but replacing Portnoy is the best possible first step
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Repner
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Joined: September 16 2007
Location: Scotland
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Posted: February 25 2011 at 22:41 |
andyman1125 wrote:
lazland wrote:
To be fair to them, they have definitely introduced a lot of younger fans to the prog genre as a whole, and that can only be praised. |
That's me
And the direction, as people above me have stated, is entirely dependent on the new drummer. If Dave Lombardo is the new drummer (which for god's sake I hope he's not) DT will morph into a prog-related thrash metal band |
Unless he goes in the direction he used for Fantomas, which would be amusing to hear DT try to perform
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rogerthat
Prog Reviewer
Joined: September 03 2006
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Posted: February 25 2011 at 22:57 |
While DT members love prog, most of their work to date slots in metal music and I am not sure that's going to change. Actually, the best example of what JS19 described is, for me, The Perfect Element, one foot each in prog rock and metal. Not getting into full blown prog except for maybe Her Voices but say the intro of Morning Glory points to a different approach from DT. DT evoke prog more for some elements of jazz rock/fusion in the instrumental sections, maybe that might get more prominent again in the wake of Portnoy's exit.
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TLM170
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Posted: February 26 2011 at 05:45 |
I always considered DT as a fisherman sitting between to lakes... reeling out fish from the metal lake and releasing them in the prog lake.
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Gerinski
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Joined: February 10 2010
Location: Barcelona Spain
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Posted: February 26 2011 at 06:40 |
I'm very much afraid their new sound will be more metal and less prog.
I'm not so much wondering about what DT will do as to about what will Portnoy do. DT will have to more or less stick to their formula, it's Mike who has become free, and given his very wide musical interests, from Yes to trash metal, one can only wonder which path will he follow.
Edited by Gerinski - February 26 2011 at 07:15
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Catcher10
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Posted: February 26 2011 at 14:11 |
I am one who believes Portnoy leaving DT is not a good thing...long term. I think they eventually will loose a lot of the creativity that got them where they are. Hopefully Myung will keep them in check......I know most do not like MP but I do like him, I certainly do not care for his singing, that needs to disappear......he needs to stick to the "sticks" and writing.
I would like to see more Transatlantic, LTE and hopefully some OSI if he will do that......but this Beatles cover band stuff he is doing...mehhh....I just hope he does not try and record any of that and spend time touring on that.
My hope is within 2-3 yrs they will get back together and create some great stuff again before they all call it quits...
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JS19
Forum Senior Member
Joined: October 10 2010
Location: Lancaster, UK
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Points: 1321
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Posted: February 26 2011 at 15:16 |
Catcher10 wrote:
I am one who believes Portnoy leaving DT is not a good thing...long term. I think they eventually will loose a lot of the creativity that got them where they are. Hopefully Myung will keep them in check......I know most do not like MP but I do like him, I certainly do not care for his singing, that needs to disappear......he needs to stick to the "sticks" and writing.
I would like to see more Transatlantic, LTE and hopefully some OSI if he will do that......but this Beatles cover band stuff he is doing...mehhh....I just hope he does not try and record any of that and spend time touring on that.
My hope is within 2-3 yrs they will get back together and create some great stuff again before they all call it quits... |
In the meantime, Myung can right everything... Whoever thought it was a good idea to stop him writing was a moron.
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