Dream Theater

Just saw their show in Salem, OR last night. I gotta say that it was excellent. The song selection was definitely not what I expected (outside of the new material), but it was still quite welcome. Only negatives were Myung was still low in the mix (what's new there) and LaBrie screwed up the lyrics multiple times. He sounded as good as ever though. There was some nice variation in the songs too, not just a copy/paste from the albums. The crowd was just a tad boisterous though. It was DT's first time in Salem, and I think the crowd was expecting a more thrashing show than what was put on. During the mellow/ambient sections of some songs, there were some jeers and catcalls. Oh well, still a great show.

They did play Space-Dye Vest. Not sure what to think about the new rendition yet, but I won't spoil it for those going to see them this tour. I'm sure they'll be playing it at every venue.

At the risk of sounding like an old "it was better back than dude,"  I haven't been digging a whole album since Octavarium. Stuff since has some good songs but I haven't enjoyed an album in its entirety. I don't think the talent of most of the band has declined but I don't find them as innovative as they used to be.

Catcher10 wrote: I almost went to the show in Seattle this past Monday....but really was not feeling it, I have been saying this since the tour was released. It would been cool to hear the older songs for sure. The last tour was good and I went mainly to see how Mangini would contribute. I much prefer Portnoy behind the kit though.... I am not sure they will get any better going forward, I will still buy their music, but something is missing.

I also didn't do much to go see them this year. I think they will be near here next month... but it's about a 3 hr trip and just don't feel like doing it. I went to see Transatlantic a few months ago and didn't want to go to another concert so soon (in any case, perhaps I would have prefered to see Haken instead of Transatlantic, but Transatlantic was great still). And indeed something's missing. I'm sure Portnoy's idea of the band having a break would have been the best... perhaps 5 years seemed like a long time, but I guess by now that time would almost have passed already, and perhaps it wouldn't have been that long anyway.

Dellinger wrote: Catcher10 wrote: I almost went to the show in Seattle this past Monday....but really was not feeling it, I have been saying this since the tour was released. It would been cool to hear the older songs for sure. The last tour was good and I went mainly to see how Mangini would contribute. I much prefer Portnoy behind the kit though.... I am not sure they will get any better going forward, I will still buy their music, but something is missing. I also didn't do much to go see them this year. I think they will be near here next month... but it's about a 3 hr trip and just don't feel like doing it. I went to see Transatlantic a few months ago and didn't want to go to another concert so soon (in any case, perhaps I would have prefered to see Haken instead of Transatlantic, but Transatlantic was great still). And indeed something's missing. I'm sure Portnoy's idea of the band having a break would have been the best... perhaps 5 years seemed like a long time, but I guess by now that time would almost have passed already, and perhaps it wouldn't have been that long anyway.

Wow.......I would love to see Haken!!

Catcher10 wrote: I almost went to the show in Seattle this past Monday....but really was not feeling it, I have been saying this since the tour was released. It would been cool to hear the older songs for sure. The last tour was good and I went mainly to see how Mangini would contribute. I much prefer Portnoy behind the kit though.... I am not sure they will get any better going forward, I will still buy their music, but something is missing.

Sadly, a big mistake on your part.
The Along For The Ride tour has been absolutely amazing. Would've been worth it for you to see/hear Space Dye-Vest performed live alone!

progbethyname wrote: rdtprog wrote: I was listening to the album Black Clouds and Silver ... yesterday the instrumental disk and i was surprised to see that i enjoy the best this version without Labrie singing. Sometimes, his vocals make me cringe. Wouldn't be good to see the band in the future make only instrumentals albums? This, I totally agree with! LaBrie gone on Black clouds is actually so much better. I love Wither without the vockills! What a difference. Definitely have more of an appreciation for the album. The only track that I prefer vocals with is The Count Of Tuscany. I like the way LaBrie sings on that one. Above all. Good point man!

I was actually very interested in the instrumental disc of the album when I got it, and thought I might like it better, given that I do find LaBrie somewhat annoying. But somehow I felt it was missing something indeed (of course, the singing and the melody that goes with it). The one song that was almost better in it's instrumental form was "The Best of Times", for there the singing was a kind of more cheesy than on the other songs, and somewhat poppier, but for some very strange and annoying reason, the instrumental version of that song misses the awsome guitar solo at the end of the song. If only they had kept that solo... and perhaps added more of that nice violin to make for the missing vocal melodies, that version would have been really awsome.

Yes a band... I`ve not been to any show`s or purchase any album`s since MP left the band... so if I wish to get back into the new music, which one.......

I now its not 10yrs ago, but its only two albums if I buy the album which to me is wronggggggggggggggggg, than about weather to buy the 2nd one....

I think the first album with Mangini has more good songs (or rather, average songs), while the second album has better songs (or, at the very least, it has Ilumination Theory, which is better than anything on the first album).

Dellinger wrote: I think the first album with Mangini has more good songs (or rather, average songs), while the second album has better songs (or, at the very least, it has Ilumination Theory, which is better than anything on the first album).

After many listening of the second CD, the first one seems better. There's too much "trash metal mettalica" influence on it, but still "illumination theory" is the best song of both CDs. Since the last DT albums with Portnoy, i got a feel of deja vu in the music of the band. I  just hope they can comeback with a more original release next time.