Things you've discovered/realized/appreciated about DT's music recently...

[hefdaddy42]

In the past couple of years I realized that DT is much more derivative in their earlier years than I thought they were. Obviously, I've been a vocal opponent of just how contrived and ridiculous DT is when it formulates its songs to sound like "X" band. Sorta like how Mike was telling James to sing a certain way to sound like Freddie Mercury to capture a Queen vibe, or how they stole that riff from Metallica's "Blackened."

But I was shocked a few years back when I bought Fates Warning's Perfect Symetry for the first time...and immediately heard the same vibe from Images and Words. Not necessarily rips of the songs or anything, but an overall vibe and how the songs were constructed and presented. It was glaring. HUGELY glaring.

So I went and looked to see when both records came out. Sure as shit, PS came out well before I&W ever did.

I know a lot of folks don't care about this sort of thing, but it was really devastating to me as a fan. I knew that latter era DT really wore its influences on its sleeves and I didn't like it being so blatant. But I mistakenly thought that was just something that happened post-FII. Guess not.

Well, Kevin Moore did play keys on Perfect Symetry, so some similarities should be expected.

AFAIK, he only played on one song, and didn't have an active role in actually writing any of the songs.

But at any rate, Samsara, I listened to Perfect Symetry again this morning, and I must say, I don't really get your reaction.  I can't believe that you were devastated.  The albums don't really sound anything like each other, except that they are products of the same genre, so there are certain superficial similarities.  But no more than with, say, the early Queensryche albums.

[Marvellous G]

I somehow only just realised the Metropolis riff slipped into the middle of Home, and I smiled.

I assume you noticed the heavy E metrop riff being played on hi hates right before the verse on home too?

[zxlkho]

Through time spent browsing DTF, I have discovered that Dream Theater apparently blows. Sure, they all have immense talent, but they could greatly improve by doing the following:

1) Remove instrumental breaks
2) Play fewer notes
3) Write better lyrics
4) More prog
5) Less metal
6) Shorter songs
7) Longer songs
8) Something about epics
9) SUCKING ON HIS PIPE
10) Do another concept album
11) Never do another concept album
12) Hide MP's mic
13) Better setlists
14) Kevin Moore

You forgot the new thing.
LaCake.

[LCArenas]

You forgot the new thing.
LaCake.

Also it may not be a musical thing but it wasn't until this past Friday that I realized that the Dream Theater's Once in a Livetime cover... Actually represented a Dream Theater.



Facepalm is me.

[Ben_Jamin]

Disappear on Live At Budakon is extemely fast and feels rushed. It loses all the emotion it had on the studio version. Even Hell's Kitchen in the instrumedly sounds rushed. They need to learn how to play in a slower tempo, maybe they have now, but it's annoying that the only live version of one of my favortie songs is sped up too much.

[toro]

Also it may not be a musical thing but it wasn't until this past Friday that I realized that the Dream Theater's Once in a Livetime cover... Actually represented a Dream Theater.



Facepalm is me.

HOLY SHIT!
Facepalm is me too.

[?]

Also it may not be a musical thing but it wasn't until this past Friday that I realized that the Dream Theater's Once in a Livetime cover... Actually represented a Dream Theater.



Facepalm is me.

HOLY SHIT!
Facepalm is me too.

ME TOO! 

[Jarlaxle]

I still don't see it

But I have discovered just how beautiful and amazing their music is. I usually notice this about every second day

[FinkPloyd]

I realized that James uses screaming voice in the background of In The Name Of God. That's pretty impressive.

[LTE3]

Blind Faith is way better then I gave it credit for. Jordan's first solo is one of his best sounding. I wish he would use that sound more often.

Also, I just realized that I have basically listened to DT everyday for the last 10 years. No wonder my wife thinks I'm crazy.

[LudwigVan]

In the past couple of years I realized that DT is much more derivative in their earlier years than I thought they were. Obviously, I've been a vocal opponent of just how contrived and ridiculous DT is when it formulates its songs to sound like "X" band. Sorta like how Mike was telling James to sing a certain way to sound like Freddie Mercury to capture a Queen vibe, or how they stole that riff from Metallica's "Blackened."

But I was shocked a few years back when I bought Fates Warning's Perfect Symetry for the first time...and immediately heard the same vibe from Images and Words. Not necessarily rips of the songs or anything, but an overall vibe and how the songs were constructed and presented. It was glaring. HUGELY glaring.

So I went and looked to see when both records came out. Sure as shit, PS came out well before I&W ever did.

I know a lot of folks don't care about this sort of thing, but it was really devastating to me as a fan. I knew that latter era DT really wore its influences on its sleeves and I didn't like it being so blatant. But I mistakenly thought that was just something that happened post-FII. Guess not.

Well, Kevin Moore did play keys on Perfect Symetry, so some similarities should be expected.

AFAIK, he only played on one song, and didn't have an active role in actually writing any of the songs.

But at any rate, Samsara, I listened to Perfect Symetry again this morning, and I must say, I don't really get your reaction.  I can't believe that you were devastated.  The albums don't really sound anything like each other, except that they are products of the same genre, so there are certain superficial similarities.  But no more than with, say, the early Queensryche albums.

Samsara, I'm fairly familiar with Perfect Symmetry and I have to agree with hef, I don't see how/why it would work to diminish your enjoyment of I&W.  Bearing in mind that I have Dream Theater and Fates Warning ranked pretty equally in my personal band-rankings book.  

PS vs I&W.

The only real similarity to me was the outstanding drumming. I&W has a heart and soul that PS could only dream of. There's a grace that I&W brings that FW has never really been able to duplicate. The only things that FW has done that really has any heart to it is Parallels. I mean I like Inside Out (a lot!) and APSOG, but similarly to Shadow Gallery, Dream Theater just seems to have that authentic soul to it.

 TAC, I'll give you that I&W trumps PS any day of the week, but you kill me when you use words like "heart" and "soul".  Is Dream Theater the more polished band with highly-accomplished musicians and a more heightened sense of their finished product?  Most definitely, but I don't know that I'd use such nebulous terms as "heart and soul" when describing the difference between 2 bands.  What exactly does it mean to have "authentic soul"?  If anything, even though I'd consider Images & Words the better album (your word "grace" works perfectly here), I'd argue that Perfect Symmetry actually has more "soul".  

Yeah, they wear their influences on their sleeves for sure. As far as Queen goes, when Brian May says DT has done the BEST Queen cover he has ever heard..that's saying something!

Umm.. what exactly does that say?  That DT are superb at playing the chameleon?    

[TL]

Also it may not be a musical thing but it wasn't until this past Friday that I realized that the Dream Theater's Once in a Livetime cover... Actually represented a Dream Theater.



Facepalm is me.

HOLY SHIT!
Facepalm is me too.

How have I never noticed that before?

[Orbert]

I still don't see it

It's a theater, in someone's head.  A dream theater.

[LCArenas]

I HAVE BLOWN YOUR MINDS

[Adami]

I HAVE BLOWN YOUR MINDS

You definitely blew the guy on the covers mind.

[The Letter M]

Songs that have been released after "6:00" and been played live more than it: "Panic Attack", "Just Let Me Breathe", "As I Am", and "Constant Motion".

Something's amiss here... I think it's time to bring it back.

-Marc.

[TAC]

@LudwigVan... It's been a little while since I've played PS, but for the most part it just doesn't grab me. When I think of heart and soul, I think of the goosebumps it gives me and the fact that it derives real emotion. I guess that's how I qualify it. That kind of things happen when I hear Learning To Live, Metropolis, and Surrounded.
PS is extremely well played, but I find it void of emotion. Maybe I'll bust it out this week...

BTW, what's a chameleon?

[TAC]

Sorry for the double post, but I wanted to address the thread topic..

I just went on vacation and played a ton of DT boots on the way down. I would like to officially announce that after 30 years of listening to music, that John Petrucci is the greatest guitarist I have ever heard.

[LudwigVan]

BTW, what's a chameleon?

A chameleon is a lizard that can change its skin color to match that of its surroundings.

[FinkPloyd]

I just realize that (kinda)  how sweet James said; ohhhhhhh here we go" on LSFN DVD. 

[Mladen]

Two things:

1. LaBrie's showmanship improved a lot
2. The way they construct their set lists these days is much better than they used to back in say '95

[TAC]

BTW, what's a chameleon?

A chameleon is a lizard that can change its skin color to match that of its surroundings.

You have Chameleons in your photobucket account?
I KNOW what a chameleon is, I just didn't understand what you said!

[FinkPloyd]

Two things:

1. LaBrie's showmanship improved a lot
2. The way they construct their set lists these days is much better than they used to back in say '95

You are right here, no doubt.

[bosk1]

I just realize that (kinda)  how sweet James said; ohhhhhhh here we go" on LSFN DVD. 

[FinkPloyd]

I just realize that (kinda)  how sweet James said; ohhhhhhh here we go" on LSFN DVD. 

Metropolis-The Miracle and the Sleeper, after the ins section. James came and said "ohh here we go" I like his speaking style. He is fucking Canadian. 

[bosk1]

I know he says it, but I'm not sure what the big deal about him saying it is.

[FinkPloyd]

 

[bosk1]

And that doesn't really shed any additional light either.

[TAC]

And that doesn't really shed any additional light either.

[Adami]

And that doesn't really shed any additional light either.

Dude, he says ohhh here we go.


What is there not to get? Don't you get that it's a nugget linking that performance to the eventual constantion motion song? Get it? Going? Motion? LaCake? Portnoy? Jewish?

[FinkPloyd]

Adami wins. 

[bosk1]

Adami wins.  

I beg to differ.  Every time I ban you, SeRoX, we all win.  Bye now.

[Jarlaxle]

Recently Dream Theater's lyrics have been exponentially better when written about topics that need at least minimal research(ie: A Rite of Passage, In The Presence of Enemies) than they have been when written about past experiences(ie:A Nightmare To Remember, The Count of Tuscany)

[ACID_FOX]

I think I'm out of the loop with this "LaCake" thing, explain?

[Gadough]

I think I'm out of the loop with this "LaCake" thing, explain?

https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=15860.0

Oh god I hope I started an awesome trend of reffering to him as LaCake.

Yeah, not much to explain. It's just something stupid Adami said in that thread and it's slowly catching on. Hopefully, it will catch on for good and he will forever be known as LaCake.