Dream Theater's Black Clouds & Silver Linings
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Bands, Artists and Genres Appreciation
Forum Description: Discuss specific prog bands and their members or a specific sub-genre
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=57643
Printed Date: December 02 2024 at 19:40
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Dream Theater's Black Clouds & Silver Linings
Posted By: Baoshi
Subject: Dream Theater's Black Clouds & Silver Linings
Date Posted: May 03 2009 at 12:56
|
who's getting it?I know I'll get the limited edition. How about you guys? ------------- Take me on the ride |
Replies:
Posted By: Pekka
Date Posted: May 03 2009 at 13:48
|
I've got to listen to it first, don't want another similar disappointment as the previous two albums. ------------- http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=42652" rel="nofollow - It's on PA! 
|
Posted By: Lucent
Date Posted: May 03 2009 at 13:51
Fixed.
|
Keppa4v wrote:Posted By: The Quiet One
Date Posted: May 03 2009 at 13:52
| ^if you didn't like the previous, I doubt you'll like this one... |
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: May 03 2009 at 14:16
|
It's on Roadrunner - I think I'll wait 'till next year and buy the super bonus extra special limited edition. ------------- What? |
Posted By: Pekka
Date Posted: May 03 2009 at 14:19
|
^A good point. But on the other hand, SC was a Roadrunner release as well, and there hasn't been any re-releases of that yet I think? ------------- http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=42652" rel="nofollow - It's on PA!
|
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: May 03 2009 at 14:28
^ that is true, but it's early days.  ------------- What? |
Posted By: darksideof
Date Posted: May 03 2009 at 14:53
I hear ya! buddy their last album was a real big disappointment and extremely boring, however I might buy before hearing the whole thing because it will be necessary for my DT collection.   I will tell this opportunity to invited you guys to take a look of my coming collage dedicated to DT finish by next week..  ------------- http://darksideofcollages.blogspot.com/ http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/ https://www.facebook.com/pages/Darksideof-Collages/ |
Posted By: Petrovsk Mizinski
Date Posted: May 04 2009 at 04:04
|
Probably pass on this album to be honest. This coming from a guy who paid a fair whack of money to see the band live 14 months ago too.
------------- 
|
Posted By: Diaby
Date Posted: May 04 2009 at 04:36
|
I'll get it...if the special edition is not too expensive, that'll be my choice. ------------- yeah |
Posted By: MovingPictures07
Date Posted: May 04 2009 at 05:39
|
I'm definitely getting it. Unlike most people here, I enjoyed the last few releases, but I'm hoping for something even better.
------------- 
|
Posted By: darkshade
Date Posted: May 04 2009 at 12:46
|
ive enjoyed all their albums (except the first, the live Reunite is better) so ill be getting it
------------- http://www.last.fm/user/MysticBoogy" rel="nofollow - My Last.fm 
|
Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: May 04 2009 at 13:00
|
I wonder who will be getting the special limited edition for $130 ...
------------- https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike |
Posted By: LiquidEternity
Date Posted: May 04 2009 at 13:32
|
I'll probably just wait till I see the regular edition in stores and buy that. No preorder, no bonus features, because to be honest, very rarely have I ever cared about these bonus features, and never in the case of DT. I'm interested in it, but it's not that high on my list.
------------- 
|
Posted By: Roland113
Date Posted: May 04 2009 at 18:56
|
eh, I went for the pre-order, signed up today as a matter of fact. I Loved Octovarium and Score, Really didn't like Systematic Chaos. In my mind, it seems they've been alternating albums, Prog then Metal then Prog then Metal. This one should be Proggy so I got the special edition (not the $130 version, just the $21 version). ------------- -------someone please tell him to delete this line, he looks like a noob------- I don't have an unnatural obsession with Disney Princesses, I have a fourteen year old daughter and coping mechanisms. |
Posted By: darkshade
Date Posted: May 05 2009 at 03:11
by this logic, SFAM was metal, and not prog but i know what you mean judging by the new songs that were leaked, this is probably whats going to happen ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/MysticBoogy" rel="nofollow - My Last.fm
|
Posted By: Roland113
Date Posted: May 05 2009 at 08:59
*grin* I was just referring to the last few studio albums. Six Degrees - Proggier Train of Thought - Metalish Octovarium - Proggier Systematic Chaos - Metalish Black Coulds - Proggier? We (I) can hope can't we? ------------- -------someone please tell him to delete this line, he looks like a noob------- I don't have an unnatural obsession with Disney Princesses, I have a fourteen year old daughter and coping mechanisms. |
Posted By: The T
Date Posted: May 05 2009 at 09:55
|
Not pre-ordered. I'll buy it on-site the day it's released. I want it that day. ------------- 
|
Posted By: Nightfly
Date Posted: May 05 2009 at 14:11
| I pre-ordered the 3 disc version but i don't remember seeing anything about this $130 version. What do you get for your money there? |
Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: May 05 2009 at 14:17
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blackclouds/ - http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blackclouds/  
------------- https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike |
Posted By: Padraic
Date Posted: May 05 2009 at 14:18
really? how do you know? have you heard some of the new material? if that's true, then I probably won't like the new one either, but I'll probably still grab it. |
Posted By: Nightfly
Date Posted: May 05 2009 at 14:39
Oh right, thanks Mike....that looks very nice but i don't think i could stretch to that expense in this current economic climate. The 3 disc version will have to do.
|
Posted By: Krunier
Date Posted: May 15 2009 at 08:48
Although http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Portnoy - Mike Portnoy described Black Clouds & Silver Linings as, "a Dream Theater album with " http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Change_of_Seasons_%28song%29 - A Change of Seasons ", " http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octavarium_%28song%29 - Octavarium ", " http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learning_to_Live - Learning to Live ", " http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pull_Me_Under - Pull Me Under " and " http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Glass_Prison - The Glass Prison " all on one album.", I think that actually Black Clouds & Silver Linings will be equal to the last two albums, which ones I hate so much... 
------------- "Now the Miracle and the Sleeper know That the third is love Love is the Dance of Eternity" |
Posted By: Fieldofsorrow
Date Posted: May 16 2009 at 08:08
|
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. ------------- Groovy teenage rock with mild prog tendencies: http://www.myspace.com/omniabsenceband |
Posted By: npjnpj
Date Posted: May 17 2009 at 07:22
|
I'll get it as soon as it's available.
And I'll also get the 10-CD live set that's inevitably going to follow it 2 to 3 months later.
|
Posted By: methodic_progression
Date Posted: May 19 2009 at 02:25
|
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. |
Posted By: Jegheist2009
Date Posted: May 19 2009 at 02:54
|
dont listen to the post above got promo in for mroadrunner i have offical cd in full not stupid internet leak. anyways this is there best cd since scenes from an memory hands down!!! |
Posted By: stonebeard
Date Posted: May 19 2009 at 03:56
|
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. :) ------------- http://soundcloud.com/drewagler" rel="nofollow - My soundcloud. Please give feedback if you want! |
Posted By: E-Dub
Date Posted: May 19 2009 at 06:03
|
I'm getting it. I've heard two tunes and like 'em, so no reason for me not to get it. I'm just getting the standard edition, though. Don't see the point for me to have a disc of the instrumental version of the album, nor a disc of covers. E ------------- 
|
Posted By: Petrovsk Mizinski
Date Posted: May 19 2009 at 06:43
|
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. -------------
|
Posted By: StyLaZyn
Date Posted: May 19 2009 at 07:11
That's it...I'm out. Dream Theater continues to disappoint.
|
Posted By: toroddfuglesteg
Date Posted: May 19 2009 at 07:55
|
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*. |
Posted By: LiquidEternity
Date Posted: May 19 2009 at 10:09
|
People like to complain about how awful they are, but the truth is that they are a phenomenally consistent band. My current ratings of their stuff need some trimming, but I'd say the great majority of their albums are pleasantly average. They get a bit redundant and usually are a bit heavy on the choppy soloing and stuff, but each studio release they've put out has been up to the standard. In my opinion, of course. But one of the bigger prog bands of today draws lots of fans, so slightly dissatisfied people tend to exaggerate and complain about how awful and worthless their new stuff is because it isn't Images and Words or Six Degrees, their two strongest releases.
-------------
|
Posted By: AstralliS
Date Posted: May 19 2009 at 15:37
|
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. ------------- |
Posted By: topofsm
Date Posted: May 19 2009 at 23:23
|
Just one question. Are the growls truly growls, or just distorted vocals from TDEN that people have been labeling as growls to confuse the people who actually know what they're talking about? ------------- 
|
Posted By: russellk
Date Posted: May 20 2009 at 00:13
|
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. |
Posted By: juanvalverde
Date Posted: May 20 2009 at 00:15
|
Just finished listening let me tell you that im a hard core dream theater fan since A Change of Seasons, and haven't been disappointed with any of the previous 7 albums they have released (after ACOS), even the ones that are the most criticized (octavarium, Falling in to infinity) i always find good reasons to like them. My first listen of this album resulted in the most disappointing feeling i had ever had out of a DT album. Even though is not bad, its not that good, it feels repetitive, rushed and mostly out of originality. Im not saying it doesn't have a good song in it, it just felt that way at first. Now with a couple of listens, i have to say that two songs really stand out, and i think most of you will be calling them classics in the long run. The Count of Tuscany is really a masterpiece, from my first listen i could tell. You just can. The sound, the way the music flows, it feels new and fresh. The other one (with which i was veeeeryyyy disappointed at first) is The Best of Times. When i first heard the first melody in the lyrics it reminded me of a poor mans version of I walk beside you (Yeah, you read right), i was in awe that they would make SUCH a song. But then, as i was working out in the gym and hearing the whole album again, i started to listen to the lyrics, and it all clicked. Its such a moving song, long time i hadn't felt this from a song made by them. Knowing that its about the passing of Mike Portnoy's dad, i felt it, and got what he was trying to achieve with this song. Wow, i loved those two songs, A rite of passage is also good, though not great. The Shattered Fortress as many have said lacks originality, it really is a lame effort by Portnoy, it seems he wanted to finish the AA saga as soon as possible. Wither, is another DT ballad. Not much to say about that. And A nightmare to remember drags for too long. Its good, but not great. Overall i say its a 3 star, the two last songs save it from being the worst DT album ever, but its down there. ------------- Dream Theater made me listen to Rush,Yes, ELP, Genesis.. That must count for something! |
Posted By: juanvalverde
Date Posted: May 20 2009 at 00:17
|
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. The same happened when i first heard the first words a capella by Peter Gabriel in Selling england by the pound. So im guessing it does have some sort of value the opinions of some of us real dream theater fans, not an opinion from a basher. ------------- Dream Theater made me listen to Rush,Yes, ELP, Genesis.. That must count for something! |
Posted By: progkidjoel
Date Posted: May 20 2009 at 04:07
Can I buy you a drink or something? You deserve it, and perhaps a firm handshake! ------------- 
|
Posted By: AstralliS
Date Posted: May 20 2009 at 04:27
|
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.
------------- |
Posted By: russellk
Date Posted: May 20 2009 at 04:40
Before you label me a Dream Theater basher, take a look at my NINE carefully written Dream Theater reviews on this site, including a five-star review. I'm "bashing" (not the word I'd use) the foolishness of people who think they can review an album after seeing the cover, or hearing a few tracks once. This has nothing to do with the quality of the album. |
Posted By: rpe9p
Date Posted: May 20 2009 at 07:45
My friend played 'A nightmare to remember' for me and the growls on that song were actual growls. The part with the growls was pretty short and also pretty hilarious because portnoy is not very good at it.
|
Posted By: StyLaZyn
Date Posted: May 20 2009 at 08:22
| Will this be the most over-hyped DT release? |
Posted By: juanvalverde
Date Posted: May 20 2009 at 10:24
|
Russelk: I didnt mean YOU are a basher, i was making reference to bashers, that im not here to bash the album because im a hater. What im saying is, the previous 6 albums by DT impressed me since day 1, none of them left me disappointed. This is the first time after a first listen that i felt underwhelmed. ------------- Dream Theater made me listen to Rush,Yes, ELP, Genesis.. That must count for something! |
Posted By: AstralliS
Date Posted: May 20 2009 at 11:58
|
Today, I was listening to "Awake" and "Matropolis 2", and with this new release, it's like two different bands. I can't understand what so "crucial" happened to them, so they started to ride for a fall. They just started to release albums by some inertia, there's no place for any progressive momentum and that's the thing which really disappoints me, just because I am a huge fan of the band and someone who grew together with Dream Theater. ------------- |
Posted By: darkshade
Date Posted: May 20 2009 at 12:43
|
im at the 4th song, and it's definitely easy to say it's better than SC. and better than Octavarium. it may be better than ToT as well! I like this final part of the AA series. it recaps the previous parts so well and once im familiar with the song, and the rest of BCSL, i will listen to the suite as if it were one long album, which is what DT are going to do live. THAT will be awesome, and something ive been looking forward to since The Root of All Evil on Octavarium. there's more atmostphere here, and personally i hear a lot of progress in their music, i dont know what to say to the naysayers... other than  ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/MysticBoogy" rel="nofollow - My Last.fm
|
Posted By: darkshade
Date Posted: May 20 2009 at 13:04
|
actually my only complaint so far is how far back the keyboards are pushed. When Rudess joined, he was all over the place, yes, but you could hear him, and his playing complimented Petrucci. now, he's more in the backround, more subtle, and holds back a lot. At times, I feel like im listening to The Petrucci and Portnoy Duet with Special guest James LaBrie (Myung is again seemingly mostly absent in sound) it may on purpose, i do like that Rudess has been restraining himself since after ToT, but i feel he's been pushed back too much, and there's too much guitar getting the lead melody, or the overpowering guitar riffs drown out the keys. Again, let me say, they are there, and you dont have to strain to hear them, but if you hear this album, you'll know what i mean BTW The Count of Tuscany is the best track by far! any DT haters wont be able to not like this song (Kind of like Octavarium, Learning to Live, etc..) BTW II, The keys are all over The Count of Tuscany!!! BTW III, did anyone else know one of the covers they are doing is Larks Tongues In Aspic Pt. 2? ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/MysticBoogy" rel="nofollow - My Last.fm
|
Posted By: stonebeard
Date Posted: May 20 2009 at 13:18
|
I gathered up all the AA tracks and made the suite, but it obviously does not transition too well. I can't wait for a live performance/re-recording with all of them and smooth transitions. It will be very good.
------------- http://soundcloud.com/drewagler" rel="nofollow - My soundcloud. Please give feedback if you want! |
Posted By: TheProgtologist
Date Posted: May 20 2009 at 13:26
Supposedly,this is the track listing for the covers disc:
1. Stargazer - RAINBOW 2. Tenement Funster/ Flick Of The Wrist/ Lily Of The Valley -QUEEN
3. Odyssey - DIXIE DREGS
4. Take Your Fingers From My Hair - ZEBRA
5. Larks'Tongues In Aspic Pt.2 - KING CRIMSON
6. To Tame A Land - IRON MAIDEN -------------  |
Posted By: Abstrakt
Date Posted: May 20 2009 at 13:41
Stargazer?  AWESOME!  |
Posted By: StyLaZyn
Date Posted: May 20 2009 at 13:41
Covering Zebra!?! Wow! It's not the song I would have picked, but still, that is awesome. Per your Count of Tuscany recommendation...yikes! I may have to buy the CD just for this. I hate spending cash on a CD for one song. <grumble> ------------- 
|
Posted By: russellk
Date Posted: May 20 2009 at 14:45
Ah, OK, my apologies. I misread your post. |
Posted By: J-Man
Date Posted: May 20 2009 at 14:59
|
I'm buying without a doubt, and probably the special edition as well. I can't understand all the criticism about Systematic Chaos and Octavarium. Th mentions of gothic metal scare me a little bit, but it still will end up in my collection. ------------- 
Check out my YouTube channel! http://www.youtube.com/user/demiseoftime" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/user/demiseoftime |
Posted By: Drew
Date Posted: May 20 2009 at 15:02
|
I pre-ordered the 3 disc set- not sure why though- I rarely give DT spins anymore. They just get kind of boring. BTW, I wonder what James thinks of the disc that is all instrumental? ------------- |
Posted By: rpe9p
Date Posted: May 20 2009 at 16:07
"I'm going to make money for doing nothing"?
|
Posted By: Stooge
Date Posted: May 20 2009 at 16:25
| I was surprised to see Larks' Tongues on the covers list. I'll be curious to hear their take on it, but my honest initial reaction to this was laughter. |
Posted By: topofsm
Date Posted: May 20 2009 at 18:25
Haha. I rather like Portnoy's voice when he's singing. I'm kind of curious. As well as curious to hear "Larks' Tongues in Aspic Pt. II". -------------
|
Posted By: darkshade
Date Posted: May 20 2009 at 18:30
Yes  ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/MysticBoogy" rel="nofollow - My Last.fm
|
Posted By: Petrovsk Mizinski
Date Posted: May 29 2009 at 07:57
|
Oh man, why do they have to use Paul Northfield as the sound engineer again? For some reason I only just noticed this now. This guy totally ruined the dynamics on Systematic Chaos, I only imagine he's back to make sure everything is nice and compressed, BECAUSE HEY DYNAMICS AREN'T IMPORTANT. Goddamn idiot, I've heard guys with jack sh*t all budget and few less gear than this guy must have access to that can mix and master better than that, christ. I don't understand why anyone involved feels the need to have to conform with the trend of louder and more compressed, it's Dream Theater, not radio hits. I know to some it's a non issue, but it seriously does piss me off that bands become more reliant on production trends that is really the domain of pop instead of actually embracing dynamics in their music more with a mix and mastering job to match. -------------
|
Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: May 29 2009 at 08:10
|
I'm going to get it. After hearing the free download track it seems from this that DT are treading water. It sounds like something from Systematic Chaos. I'm dissapointed. Otherwise its a great track though. I mean it has all the Dt ingredients of recent releases. I just had hoped they might move on, rather than playing safe. They seem to have found the style and sound they want to stick with, and leave more diverse stuff to side projects maybe. I''ve rambled enough, but as I said. I will be buying thier newe "safe" release, becuase it will be good too......and I'd love to hear the covers. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow"> 
|
Posted By: wizardian37
Date Posted: May 29 2009 at 09:14
|
I likewise was a bit disappointed by this new DT album, as the progression from Systhematic Chaos wasn't to my liking. On the other hand I'm really pleased by the new "Songs From The Liar's Lair" -album by Ageness from Finland, that really made my summer :) Sound clips at www.myspace.com/ageness |
Posted By: StyLaZyn
Date Posted: May 29 2009 at 09:16
|
I have broken down and found myself able to listen to the CD. Three times so far. It's looking like 3.5 stars only because the new ideas are decent. -------------
|
Posted By: angelmk
Date Posted: May 29 2009 at 09:42
| when i've first listen to new DT i got that ''i ve heard this already feeling'' , nothing new , their sound doesn't evolve anywhere , lack of ideas or ?? anyway it is not that album is bad, The Count of Tuscany and The Shattered Fortress are very good songs , but overall i may rate it with 3 stars .. |
Posted By: ProgRockFanatic
Date Posted: May 29 2009 at 15:08
| Well I was disappointed again with it. The last good DT CD in my opinion is "Awake". The last great one is "Images and Words". It has been pretty much down hill ever since. |
Posted By: LiquidEternity
Date Posted: May 29 2009 at 15:20
|
Yeah, not too much longer to wait. I am going in with full expectations that I will be expecting exactly what is there. They are, for the most part, a really predictable band. They fill a nice niche in my playlist, but they don't capture my imagination anymore. As for the comments that "Awake is the last good one" that was said up there but has been repeated like a mantra for fifteen years, that's just silly. Aside from it being "classic DT," Awake is really hardly different from anything after it, except that it hardly has any keyboard input. Is that what you are looking for? Less keyboard work? I think their songwriting has matured (some of their best songs are from FII, the title track Octavarium, some of the Six Degrees tunes). Of course, I am going to go in and rerate what I rated kind of skewily before. I think a lot of them got fours, when for the most part they are a three star band. Six Degrees, Images and Words, and Falling into Infinity are likely the only ones above three. Awake hasn't aged well with me, despite being my favorite for a long time, Scenes is just a touch overrated..., and everything after that has been pretty samey. So I hope that Black Clouds bucks this samey, average sort of trend, but I know it won't. Dream Theater are not a band to reinvent themselves, not a band to really try anything new. I don't mind, but I'm not at all wowed by them any longer. -------------
|
Posted By: StyLaZyn
Date Posted: May 29 2009 at 15:28
I would say SFAM is where the slide began for me. I like Sherinian better than Rudess, but Moore was the man. -------------
|
Posted By: Staker
Date Posted: June 01 2009 at 14:23
|
I'm not one to throw a tantrum about their recent albums - they might not be as good as the first ones but they're still good albums. This recent album is great. It's got obvious flaws but you have to dig the last track, particularly the ending. ------------- I > You. |
Posted By: darksideof
Date Posted: June 02 2009 at 09:42
|
In my opinion their last great was Octavarium. All the tracks were great. ------------- http://darksideofcollages.blogspot.com/ http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/ https://www.facebook.com/pages/Darksideof-Collages/ |
Posted By: topofsm
Date Posted: June 02 2009 at 18:45
|
I really don't know what to expect for this one. The album started with some five star fanboy-ish reviews, and then there are some two and three star DT-hater reviews. Maybe it'll just turn out to be a good album to have. I'm just waiting for the album to come in the mail, I'd rather not download a leaked version. -------------
|
Posted By: KingCrimson250
Date Posted: June 03 2009 at 00:08
Hahahaha no surprise to me. I discovered Dream Theater before I discovered KC, so the first time I heard the opening bit to Larks Tongues 2 I remember thinking "Wow, this sounds like the inspiration for about half of Dream Theater's riffs." So what I'm getting out of this thread, and out of everything I've heard so far about the album, is download Count of Tuscany and forget the rest? |
Posted By: Alitare
Date Posted: June 03 2009 at 01:08
| I wouldn't even recommend that one. I absolutely despised the album. It took every ounce of my being just to give it two stars. I feel it is bland and doesn't live up the the high quality Dream Theater moniker. Ugh... |
Posted By: Queen By-Tor
Date Posted: June 03 2009 at 02:31
| good thing you stole it instead of waiting for it to come out! You could have had a real problem there, wasting a couple $12 on it. |
Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: June 03 2009 at 06:47
 "Hi guys...check out our new album! It's totally rad!" ------------- https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays" rel="nofollow - https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays |
Posted By: Marlon
Date Posted: June 03 2009 at 06:51
|
Pre ordered the 3CD edition from Amazon
------------- 
|
Posted By: progkidjoel
Date Posted: June 03 2009 at 07:30
haha I love that pic I've seen it in the wiki entry Actually best hair on Petrucci! -------------
|
Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: June 03 2009 at 10:32
|
Admin note - post implying illegal downloading/stealing of copyrighted material deleted.
Take note. ------------- 
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: June 03 2009 at 10:38
In my opinion it was a very poor album. I thought that Systematic Chaos was much improved.
------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow">
|
Posted By: KingCrimson250
Date Posted: June 03 2009 at 11:00
|
Is it just me or are they suffering from "Pink Floyd Syndrome?" It just seems to me that with every album, Mike and John take more and more creative control, and the quality ends up suffering. I think what made IAW and Awake so great was they had solid contributions from all four members. And James was there too. I mean, Learning to Live was, IIRC, a Myung song. Sure John and Mike had a lot of say on those albums, but Myung and Kevin balanced them out a bit. Myung's been pretty stifled and Ruddess has never really had much of a creative presence in the band |
Posted By: StyLaZyn
Date Posted: June 03 2009 at 11:01
Octavarium had some excellent Progressive moments, IMO. It was SC that was poor, unless you are talking from a metal standpoint. -------------
|
Posted By: StyLaZyn
Date Posted: June 03 2009 at 11:03
True! I&A and Awake were more cohesive. Really sounding like a group effort. Anymore it's just taking turns soloing or showing off. -------------
|
Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: June 03 2009 at 11:18
Octavarium was the first DT album I bought since 'Six Degrees...' & even though it took me longer to get into, once I had, I loved it - not sure about later works though, as someone else said earlier, in my opinion the output is suffering from DT becoming the Petrucci/Portnoy show. Just my opinion you understand. -------------
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: sleeper
Date Posted: June 03 2009 at 11:37
Personally I thought Octavarium had no excellent moments of any description, with one decent song in Scarificed Sons and the rest being rubbish. I agree with Ian in that SC was a much better album, regardless of how prog it was. ------------- Spending more than I should on Prog since 2005 
|
Posted By: The T
Date Posted: June 03 2009 at 22:28
I think Octavarium was a lesser album than SC, though The Root of All Evil beats anything on SC. -------------
|
Posted By: topofsm
Date Posted: June 04 2009 at 00:07
I feel Sacrificed Sons was the only 'really bad' track on Octavarium. Granted, nobody seems to have admitted that they like "The Answer Lies Within" or "I Walk Beside You" and there's really no inspiration in "Never Enough", but the rest of the album seems great from my point of view. Just chop the album in half, call it Quadrivarium and you have some of DT's best work yet. -------------
|
Posted By: StyLaZyn
Date Posted: June 04 2009 at 07:19
I quite like "I Walk Beside You". It is a great tune, even if it has hit single qualities. But I am a big fan of the title track. I think Sacrificed Sons is a good song but the lyrics are cheesy as heck. But BC&SL will suffer because DT yet again did not reach into new territory. -------------
|