The bright side of Portnoy's departure: let's talk about it

[antigoon]

I think Rudess will be let loose. It's gonna be real interesting.

[orcus116]

Let loose in a "hey check out this wacky thing I just bought!" way or a sweet grand piano way?

[Sigz]

Rudess needs to do more piano work like on Insurgentes.

[tri.ad]

Rudess needs to do more piano work like on Insurgentes.

Oh God yes!

[antigoon]

Let loose in a "hey check out this wacky thing I just bought!" way or a sweet grand piano way?

I don't know -- that's why it's going to be interesting

[orcus116]

Actually if it's anything like An Evening With with a little added bass and some vocals on a few tracks I'd love the crap out of it.

[antigoon]

That sounds amazing. My only gripe with An Evening With is that I think JP's tone would have been WAY better had he used an actual acoustic guitar for some of the songs.

He just loves the shit out of that MusicMan.

[orcus116]

Considering some bits had "acoustic" going straight to electric w/ effects I couldn't imagine him tossing his guitar off at random and grabbing an acoustic within a half second, however sweet that may sound.

[tri.ad]

JP has a guitar effect that simulates the acoustic guitar sound, so there's no need for him to make hasty switches.

[KevShmev]

JP has a guitar effect that simulates the acoustic guitar sound, so there's no need for him to make hasty switches.

True, but the acoustic guitar pickup on an electric never sounds as good as an actual acoustic guitar.  But I agree that it is easier to do live, rather than having to constantly switch back and forth.

[tri.ad]

I was mostly walking about the live setting only. In a studio, of course JP can utilise electric and acoustic guitars equally.

[antigoon]

Considering some bits had "acoustic" going straight to electric w/ effects I couldn't imagine him tossing his guitar off at random and grabbing an acoustic within a half second, however sweet that may sound.

Yeah, I know it wouldn't really work in a live setting.

I think it would sound better if he used thicker strings. It sounds kinda floppy at times.

[Aniland]

Holy shit guys, I didn't think of the Myung factor: his bass will no longer be produced over the bass drum. THE RETURN OF MR. MYUNG.

[quickmind]

This is my first time posting here. As a brief introduction, I listen to a lot of music and have a wide range of tastes.

As far as MP's departure is concerned, frankly I think it will be a good thing. One of the biggest detractors of the last 5 albums that has made me turn from a diehard fan to a more casual listener has been their lyrics.  I found their blandness to be distracting from the overall scope of the band's music. For a band that is so creative, you'd think the lyrics would be stronger.

I don't mind the heavier sound, but a lot of their newer stuff was starting to run together. I think having a new outside influence could really reinvigorate the band. I'm more excited about their future than before. I like to see contributions from all the members, and MP seemed to control a lot of the band's sound and direction.

[Moonchild]

no 10+ minute long songs? no more ROOAR or awkward chorus next to JBL, no more strange lyrics.


It's a guessing game. Dammit.

[John94]

Myung lyrics
Myung basslines

[EPICVIEW]

well, it will add some mystery and intrigue going forward as far as who will step up and who will gain more control as far as the creative direction.

[Octavawake]

This is very exciting news. Mike, as far as I've gathered, seems to influence the metal side. Does anyone recall the Making of Train of Thought videos, where after Petrucci plays a riff Portnoy says something like "THAT's what we've been needing in our music!!". Yes, the elaborate shows and vast merchandise may deplete a little but let's not forget Petrucci and Myung, and even LaBrie . . . We'll hopefully see them contributing more now!

John, if you're reading this, please whip-out the old Ibanez JPM and bring back the REAL DT! 

[EPICVIEW]

As depressing as this is, I'm far more exited for the new album than I was before.

I agree.. either way it will be interesting to see what the new album brings

[Metabog]

I can't wait to see where this leads.

I really really really hope they don't break up. Remember each time they changed members before, the band got better and better. This can only be for the better.

I hope JR shines through more, and they go back to doing proggier stuff. And I hope they get an external producer.

[Moonchild]

each time they changed members before, the band got better and better.

that is profoundly questionable

[robwebster]

each time they changed members before, the band got better and better.

that is profoundly questionable

Deffo not. It's questionable - question it all you like - but it's not profoundly questionable, nor dubious, nor anything.

For starters, CD gave way to Images and Words. KM gave way to A Change of Seasons. DS gave way to Scenes from a Memory.

But, more pointedly, both critically and commercially, they've only improved over time. They're continuing to gain reams and reams of accolades and sales and everything. The idea that they're getting worse is mainly confined to internet fans, who are notorious for overreacting to any change.

[orcus116]

Well ACOS was pretty much done when Kevin left from my understanding.

[Octavawake]

Well the band used to go through keyboardists like toilet paper, and that gave us IW and Awake, ACoS and FII, and SFAM and SDOIT. Hopefully this time around we get something fresh as well.

. . . Dude, as fresh and exciting as the potential new album will be, I'm still struggling to get my head around MP's exit.

MIKE F*****G PORTNOY!

I have mixed feelings about this man.

[7StringedBeast]

Now that I have had time to sit on this for a bit and the shock is subsiding, I think musically this will return DT into a style that I would prefer to hear from them.  I think Mike has been running them into a rut with all the METAL METAL METAL mentality.  Maybe it isn't all Mike who has been causing that, but evidence kind of points to it.  So I think this will change.  They now have a great reason to return to doing more prog heavy rock instead of straight up metal that is proggy.  Cause when you think about it, Scenes wasn't really a heavy album, but its brilliant.  And I think now they can take a step back from the Metal.

At the same time, it just sucks to see this lineup not exist anymore.  It sucks not to have Portnoy behind the kit for all he adds on the drums.  I don't care about anything else besides what he does behind the kit.  (and his producing/ direction of the band).  But I really won't miss his producing.  I will greatly miss his drum style and innovation behind the kit.  This is where he truly shined in the band and fit it like a glove.  

I do have this nervous excitement for what the next album will be.  Cause now I know it def won't sound like SC or BCSL.  I'm excited that we could hear a true progression in their music to a new yet rooted sound.  

Plus more TA would be really really awesome.

[Octavawake]

each time they changed members before, the band got better and better.

that is profoundly questionable

Deffo not. It's questionable - question it all you like - but it's not profoundly questionable, nor dubious, nor anything.

For starters, CD gave way to Images and Words. KM gave way to A Change of Seasons. DS gave way to Scenes from a Memory.

But, more pointedly, both critically and commercially, they've only improved over time. They're continuing to gain reams and reams of accolades and sales and everything. The idea that they're getting worse is mainly confined to internet fans, who are notorious for overreacting to any change.

I was thinking about this earlier. I mean when CD left who'd of THOUGHT such a miracle as LaBrie would come along! Then, when Moore left, who'd of thought they'd get DS, and THEN someone like Jordan Rudess!

Same applies here, member leaves and a new member comes in. I have a small niggling doubt though and I'm worried that on this occasion, due to Mike being such a key member, the lineup change won't quite feel right . . .  

[antigoon]

So I must admit.

I haven't been this excited about DT side threads in a while.

[Gorille85]

So I must admit.

I haven't been this excited about DT side threads in a while.

[bodiesinflight]

Seeing how it's been mentioned several times that JP is just as into teh Methul as Mike is, I don't expect anything drastic.

But at the same time I expect the band to me more of a democracy now and JP isn't going to go "we have to play really heavy music all the time".

The main bright side for me, and I'm sure others, is the fact that we won't get any of MP's growls

[Aniland]

Once again, I must say, a drumless song would be an epic way to end the final album.

[Moonchild]

They could use drum machines like Genesis did back in the early 80's eheheh

[Yazman]

 

DO NOT EVEN SUGGEST that DT11 will be the final album

[Yazman]

 

DO NOT EVEN SUGGEST that DT11 will be the final album

[razorsedge]

i believe this sort of shake up will completely change the writing dynamic.  it's not going to be as straight forward a process as it has been recently.  the lyric policy might be lifted.  JP might lean on JM more now that his other longest term writing partner is gone.  i also sort of imagine the metal prog line will be more defined ie; we will get some metallica type songs and 7-string riff fests from JP but that style might not invade more proggy rock songs. 

I have high hopes for lyrics; i would love to see JM and JLB contribute at least half the lyrics.

my concern is that I imagine it would be very simple for JP to simply state "this doesn't change anything" and then simply follow the same writing routine.


so i really hope they look at this as an opportunity to completely shake up the routine and put a new, less rigid system in place.

[EPICVIEW]

Im having trouble finding the brightside for the fans..
for the band and Mike it will be ok, but for the fans this is tough