Dream Theater

zumacraig wrote: That pic is pretty cool.  What an awesome background with the clouds etc.  Mangini fits in perfectly.   As far as DT music goes, they tend to beat a dead horse.  The 12 step suite in particular is difficult to get through.  At the same time, I think Best of Times, Count of Tuscany and Lost Not Forgotten are classic prog up there with the best.  They have yet to make a perfect album, as far as I'm concerned, but the last two are pretty close.  I know there's a case to made that several of the earlier albums are masterpieces.   Anyway, looking forward to the new one.

Another update. You guys know the orchestral conductor/arranger that helped work on the Jordan Rudess Explorations Project, and performed a concert in Venezuela of Jordan's compositions in 2011? Well, that guy, Eren Başbuğ, posted this on his twitter.

Eren Başbuğ wrote: From his Twitter: "recording the parts I arranged for Dream Theater's new album. one of the most amazing moments of my life so far."

darkshade wrote: Another update. You guys know the orchestral conductor/arranger that helped work on the Jordan Rudess Explorations Project, and performed a concert in Venezuela of Jordan's compositions in 2011? Well, that guy, Eren Başbuğ, posted this on his twitter. Eren Başbuğ wrote: From his Twitter: "recording the parts I arranged for Dream Theater's new album. one of the most amazing moments of my life so far."

http://www.emp-online.co.uk/dream-theater-live-at-luna-park-2-dvd/art_260414/

Didn't really understand the ADTOE hate. I think it's their best albums since Six Degrees, easily. I'm quite excited for the next record now that they've got a tour to get acquainted with Mike better.

I've read a number of "this is their worst album" reviews on different websites which made me think it was hated.

I was pleasantly surprised by the efforts they made to pull away from the metal-on-metal approach they had recently. Breaking All Illusions, Outcry, Bridges in the Sky, On the back of angels sounded great on the album imo. The weakest stuff were the ballads.

Haven't seen them live, that's a fair point.

I thought everything on ADTOE was absolutely brilliant, epics, ballads, and all.  And now I'm afraid the new album won't be as good and I'll be disappointed.  Guess I'll just have to wait and see!

I guess I just don't get all the disappointment surrounding the album (although a lot of people loved it, too).  If you analyze it musically the compositions are easily some of the finest the band has ever done.  The lyrics are waaaay better than anything since Awake, Labrie sounds like himself and not like James Hetfield, you can actually hear Myung sometimes, the performance is really emotional without being cheesy, the album flows emotionally remarkably well (you can easily imagine it as a companion album to a movie or something), the ballads are intimate, poignant and heartfelt instead of big, cheesy, and overdone (*cough* Wither *cough*).

For instance, just think about the sprawling compositions on Six Degrees (remember the incoherent and choppy overture?), an album which was brilliant but flawed, and then consider how much more coherent, mature, and concise these compositions are.  The band develops themes better.  They structure their songs better.  The solos sound like integral parts of the compositions and not just moments to show off.  Sure, the band let themselves go on Outcry a bit, but in that context, where the interlude is supposed to represent a war, the endless chaos makes sense.

I don't hate that album, but perhaps I was a bit dissapointed. I kind of feel they did rush into the album, as if they wanted to release it extra fast just because Portnoy had wanted to take too much time. I did like the music, but I feel they didn't get anything to rival their best moments, everything was just a bit below what they chould have achieved. Kind of nothing particularly memorable. I'm hoping the new album will do better, perhaps the input from Mangini might give them some new fresh ideas. Oh yes, and I do hope Rudess would use some more piano on the album, he sounds wonderful on piano and I believe it works nice on DT... but usually the few piano parts are way too short. Plus, perhaps doing some jazzy piano as he used with Steven Wilson would be great too. He can be so versatile, yet sounds very similar on all DT albums... at first I guess it was fresh what he did, but I guess it's time he did something more, and sure he can do more.

I don't  like the last album  and have no desire to  play it again. I  expect I will though just to remind  me how dismal it is. I love Six Degrees though  and  the overture isn't  "incoherent and choppy" The whole thing is damn  near the  best thing they  ever did.

Edited by Snow Dog - May 22 2013 at 05:26

darkshade wrote: I have high hopes for the band's new album. They've taken almost double the amount of time to develop the music, and  Mangini is involved this time. I kinda know what you guys mean about the band rushing ADTOE, and maybe they did to keep up with the hype and controversy surrounding Portnoy's departure, but I think they made their best album since Six Degrees, and I believe they're going to top ADTOE with DT12.