Biggest DT-Related Positive Surprise

[wasteland]

Because why not?


For me, one of these was definitely yesterday's concert. I was expecting myself to be not so much involved in the show since I had already attended an identical one six month ago. At the same time I expected the heavy rain and the streak of technical problems before the show (no soundcheck was held) to somewhat result in an average at best show.

It turned out I couldn't have been more wrong in either assumptions. I enjoyed the concert just as much if not more than last January, and the band delivered just the best performance of all those I witness in person, despite the rain on stage. A night to remember!


What about you?

[Zook]

The fact that they didn't need Portnoy to still make good music.

[TheAtliator]

F5 on the new album comes to mind.

[TAC]

Since FII was the biggest disappointment, the biggest surprise was really how good Scenes was. It was really a relief that DT was back. It was great to know that FII was just a bump in the road as opposed to a new path taken.

[mirko_metal_88]

DT12!

the first new album that i REALLY loved since the release of ToT...the one that definitely brought me again "close" to this band as i was nearly 10 years ago and most of all after BC&SL and ADTOE (which i really dislike)

[Siddhartha]

Hearing SFAM, and Octavarium (Score version) for the first time.


Finding and buying on the second hand market a pristine new Petrucci Music Man JP6 limited edition for 1200$. That was a really good day.

[cramx3]

Seeing them perform Repentance live with Mikael Akerfeldt and not just that they only played it once and it was an awesome surprise, but they had a quest singer as well and to even top that off, he sung the whole verse with the mic off and never noticed until he finished singing and then the band never stopped playing and went right back into the verse so he could sing it again with the mic on.  That was such an awesome surprise and made that concert very memorable.

[rumborak]

The fact that they didn't need Portnoy to still make good music.

Yeah, this.

[hefdaddy42]

Since FII was the biggest disappointment, the biggest surprise was really how good Scenes was. It was really a relief that DT was back. It was great to know that FII was just a bump in the road as opposed to a new path taken.

Probably this.

[TAC]

The fact that they didn't need Portnoy to still make good music.

Yeah, this.

You guys were actually surprised at this? Knowing Zook, I would have to think he's being sarcastic.

[rumborak]

Let me put it this way, up to the split it was impossible to actually know what MP's influence on the music was, since all we had to go by was his statements. I was pleased to find out that in that case he had bent the truth somewhat.

[GentlemanofDread]

The fact they brought Trial of Tears back for the tour I went to go see DT! 

[Zook]

The fact that they didn't need Portnoy to still make good music.

Yeah, this.

You guys were actually surprised at this? Knowing Zook, I would have to think he's being sarcastic.

No, I'm actually serious. Not everything I say is sarcasm.

I don't doubt the other guys' talent, but a major change like that can seriously alter a band, and DT are different now, but are still kicking ass, and still DT. And even though I'm not the biggest fan of ADTOE, it's still better than SC and BCSL by miles.

[mirko_metal_88]

maybe it could be a little OT but one of the biggest DT-related positive surprise for me was the amazing "majesty demo"...i really LOVE those tracks

[KevShmev]

I can't say Scenes being as great as it is was a surprise because a) I liked FII a lot at the time, and b) the two LTE albums were so awesome that when Rudess joined the band, I was not at all surprised that their first album with him was a total beast.

I'll go with the "new" songs that were on 5 Years in a Livetime.  I loved both Cover My Eyes and Speak to Me right away and was thrilled to have two "new" great DT songs, which I was not expecting when buying that video.

[ThatOneGuy2112]

Can't say Scenes considering I got into it along side a bunch of other great DT albums as I was really getting into the band for the first time (though it's sheer amazingness did catch me off guard, even for DT).

First thing that comes to mind? DT12!

I wasn't necessarily let down by ADTOE. It was a good album, but I didn't want to over-hype the next album for myself so I was only expecting something that matched ADTOE in quality. DT12 ended up exceeding my expectations by a pretty good margin, and every time I go back to listen to it, it's also a surprise how well it's aged.

[yeah_93]

Space Dye Vest finally live.

[Enalya]

Score

[Tom Bombadil]

Discovering Cleaning out the Closet. If I were to consider it a studio album, it would rank 3rd for me- higher than anything post Awake. It really blew me away.

[TAC]

Discovering Cleaning out the Closet. If I were to consider it a studio album, it would rank 3rd for me- higher than anything post Awake. It really blew me away.

Wow!

[emtee]

1) SDoIT - I had no clue what to expect but was totally blown away by how diverse/heavy/beautiful this album was.

2) The recent Christmas CD that was given to us fans. Awesome.

[TAC]

2) The recent Christmas CD that was given to us fans. Awesome.

That's a good call. Completely unexpected.

[kirksnosehair]

Since FII was the biggest disappointment, the biggest surprise was really how good Scenes was. It was really a relief that DT was back. It was great to know that FII was just a bump in the road as opposed to a new path taken.

Same here.  In fact, after FII I kind of wrote them off and moved on to other stuff.  Then it was something like a year after they released it, I found SFAM in the Dream Theater section of FYE and decided to give it a shot.  I was FLOORED by how awesome it was!

[hefdaddy42]

Oh, I've got a good one for biggest positive surprise: Scarred.

I first got Awake in 1994, on cassette (remember those, kiddies?).  Due to running times, Scarred wasn't included on the cassette, so I had no idea it even existed.  I didn't get the album on CD until much later, maybe 99 or 2000, which meant I got to listen to a song I didn't know had existed until then.

 

[wolven74]

For me the biggest positive surprise had to be the first listen of DT12. The drums were a huge improvement over ADTOE. Not necessarily the playing, at least, that didn't become clear on first listen, but the fact that they were more up front in the mix. I could hear the cymbals. It was made clear that Mangini wasn't a mistake; that he had staying power in the band.

[Sacul]

I didn't expect IT to be THAT awesome - nor the beauty of the strings section . These guys still can make awesome music.

[TheGreatPretender]

The fact that they didn't need Portnoy to still make good music.

I knew they didn't need Portnoy to make good music. What WAS a pleasant surprise for me was how well they handled all the OTHER aspects of running the band without Portnoy. Updating the fans, keeping recordings of all their live shows, doing more interviews, being in the spotlight. Really proud of them!

[Madman Shepherd]

2) The recent Christmas CD that was given to us fans. Awesome.

That's a good call. Completely unexpected.

Indeed. 

I would say, other than this, it would be Dominici performing with them in 2004...and kicking ass. 

I always heard he was a horrible frontman and even though I hadn't really heard WDADU at that point (I was also in between the casual fan stage and diehard) I always felt bad for the guy.  When they had the reunion with him and out comes this short dude with short hair looking like he just came from a wedding reception, I thought it was cool they said "Hey, he didnt work out with the band but we still appreciate his time with us" and allowed him a chance to sing again.  I was blown away by how good he sounded and became a big Dominici fan.  He used a more natural voice at that show than he did when he was first with the band which accounts for a big reason why he sounded so good but it gave me the inspiration to give WDADU a shot and I actually liked it (and his voice) quite a bit. 

Love his solo band too. 

[Rodni Demental]

I find it interesting how the biggest surprise and disappointment thread, both have had DTXII mentioned possibly more than anything else. Glad to see the positive side aswell because I was pleasantly surprised by it aswell.

Actually I'm probably just gonna echo a couple of things people have said that I feel a similar away about:

2) The recent Christmas CD that was given to us fans. Awesome.

That's a good call. Completely unexpected.

Indeed. 

I would say, other than this, it would be Dominici performing with them in 2004...and kicking ass. 
*snip*
Love his solo band too.

Happy Holidays release was amazing, we're definitely a tad spoiled and expect a lot from this band but I hope they keep up more awesome stuff like this.

Was also very surprised when I heard the 'Dominici' albums. Whoever this Dominici band is, they clearly love Dream Theater and take many cues from them as players and songwriters, and CDs voice is very powerful in the second and third album. (First one being a solo acoustic album, so it's got a bit of a different vibe to the other ones).

[Tunnel Vision]

I really enjoyed a selection of songs from the Along For the Ride tour:
Scarred
The Dance of Eternity
Trial of Tears
Breaking All Illusions
The Mirror + Lie

Can't go wrong with those songs in the setlist...The holiday cd was great as well.

[wolfking]

Discovering this band.

But seriously, probably DT12.  ADTOE was my biggest DT related disappointment, so I was very happy with DT12.

[?]

Space-Dye Vest finally getting played live

[nikatapi]

Octavarium - the song. After TOT, my first DT album, i didn't expect such a radical difference on the follow up. And man, what a song. Gives me chills even today. To be honest i did not expect that they had such a song in them, after all those years.

[ariich]

The Count of Tuscany.

[Onno]

James' live vocals from the ADTOE tour onwards, the setlist on the AFTR tour, the Christmas CD, MM's drum solo during the ADTOE and AFTR tours and JP's guitar solo during The Best of Times.