Dream Theater's Black Clouds & Silver Linings

Mr ProgFreak wrote: http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blackclouds/

I look forward to the new album, but I won't be fussed with all the bonus stuff, like some other people said. I mean, seriously, one disc is made up of the same tracks, but just without the vocals! I fail to see the point in that.

Yeah, Portnoy really put his foot in his mouth on this one. There's not a single track on this cd that even comes close to being comparable with those songs (except maybe in song length). There are some good bits here and there, but with only six songs there should have been at least one amazing track.

The cheesy growling is in full force. The lyrics are often laughable and they're not even bothering to write new material for the ongoing 12 step program continued in "The Shattered Fortress".

"The Best of Times" is the worst song I've heard from them in years.

............I'll just leave it at that.

I love this band too much to keep criticizing. I was just hoping for something else.......

Maybe when Portnoy and Petrucci finally release the helm.

Sorry to be commenting on the basis of poor quality leaks (and hide this if I'm stepping over the line) but I feel that I should express my adoration for this album at such an early stage. It is clearly the best DT since Train of Thought, and is their most atmospheric release since Falling into Infinity. Barring "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence" (the song), it is the album with Rudess's most appropriate, restrained, and beautiful keyboard work, and I believe LaBrie's vocals are their best since Scenes from a Memory. There are no really weak songs (I believe that every song here is better than any song on Systematic Chaos). At the same time, nothing is exactly the level of Octavarium, Learning to Live, or A Change of Seasons, but I'm content with six 4/5 songs over one 5/5 song with a bunch of 2/5s. "Wither" is Dream Theater's best ballad, and though it's structure is typical, it does everything right. The album is not quite as gothic as interviews might have led you to believe. It's more serious than Systematic Chaos, relatively mature, and a very very welcome change, to me at least. Two downsides, though: the lyrics, while pretty good at times, are sometimes more than a bit silly, but in one of the songs, that just the nature of the song. Still, it will require getting used to. Also, Portnoy takes on a lot of backing vocal duties, with chants, minor growls, and whatnot. It's an interesting counterpart to Labrie, but I'm on the fence, because the chants/whatever are sometimes of an unserious lyrical nature, and the combination makes me question if the intention of his entire role is to be strangely ironic, because he just can't pull off "scary" too well with those lyrics. Anyway, it won't win any converts, though. It is a Dream Theater album, and we should know by now most of what that will entail.

I'll definitely be buying this one. Maybe even the special edition. And I will be struggling very hard not to give this album 4/5. Of course, final judgement is reserved for the physical product. :)

I suspect the production is gonna sound like ass too.
Images and Words is so much easier to listen to than their recent stuff because you're weren't being blasted non stop with maximum level compressed crud. SC had sh*t all dynamics, my guess is the new one is just as terrible mix/mastering wise.

I never ever turn down a new DT album. That band is too good to ignore.

*Running for cover while the rest of PA is throwing horse manure at me*.

Hmm... What to say? I've been waiting for this album eagerly and now when I got opportunity to hear it, I don't know what to say. The best track on the album is definitely "The Count of Tuscany". First two tracks didn't  keep my attention, there are parts from time to time, but in general... It's kinda palish. "Wither", that song was introduced as a "Space-Dye Vest" succeeder? Haha, that was really funny. Because this is for a billions years far from Awake's masterpiece. "The Shattered Fortress", as a final part of AA saga disappointed, there's nothing (so) innovative, I can't find or maybe I am deaf, so I can't link all the pieces. "The Best of Times" is good song, after the next one ("The Count of Tuscany"), the best one in my opinion.
In generally, this album left not so strong impressions on me, but the fact is that I enjoyed it more than "Systematic Chaos". Time will tell. I am wondering to hear covers, as I already listened to "Stargazer", it's good, but nothing more.
In the end, I will buy this album, just to fill my DT opus with "just another" album.

I continue to be bewildered by people who post 'reviews' of albums yet to be released, based on hearing some of the songs, or even hearing them all via an internet leak at low fidelity. I'll speak plainly: your opinions are worth next to nothing. You haven't listened to it enough times to make a valid judgment.

I'll say this though. At least you're making a judgment based on hearing something. I've been astonished how many have decided DT's new album is good/bad based on song titles or covers or the length of Petrucci's hair.

Russelk:  You are right, but you can get a good sense of what kind of thing you are listening.   I remember listening to Scenes from a memory and feeling greatness was being played from the very first listen.

I have to admit that after more than 10 listenings of "Black Clouds & Silver Linings", I'm more interested to hear those bonus disc with covers now, just as far I know the songs they left their seal on, are the huge morsel, especially from its vocal side.