Things You Hope the Band Will Change Up on DTXI

[Setlist Scotty]

I like the idea, but it seems that they used nearly all the ideas they come up with in the studio. Back in the days before SFAM, they wrote material and demoed it, so there was always room for more material than they needed for an album. Now a days, they'll write just enough material and call it a day...

Not true. Throughout the course of writing material for the album, they have various parts of songs they construct from various jams and ideas. Then they use these various ideas where they fit within a song. However, according to Mike, there are many ideas that end up never getting used and just get archived in Mike's library. So there's plenty of possibilities for extra songs, if only they'd be willing to stay in the studio longer to finish more of them.

[Adami]

I hope they try to gel as a band again. Which would make sense with a new drummer, just getting into a big room and writing tons of songs before going into the studio, only this time with no preconceptions (unlike ToT).

[Setlist Scotty]

only this time with no preconceptions (unlike ToT).

Ah, you mean just like SoC and BCaSL, huh?   

[robwebster]

I like the idea, but it seems that they used nearly all the ideas they come up with in the studio. Back in the days before SFAM, they wrote material and demoed it, so there was always room for more material than they needed for an album. Now a days, they'll write just enough material and call it a day...

Not true. Throughout the course of writing material for the album, they have various parts of songs they construct from various jams and ideas. Then they use these various ideas where they fit within a song. However, according to Mike, there are many ideas that end up never getting used and just get archived in Mike's library. So there's plenty of possibilities for extra songs, if only they'd be willing to stay in the studio longer to finish more of them.

If Raw Dog's anything to go by, there are tonnes of the buggers.

That said, doesn't the studio time cost them? I can see why they'd just stop at a sensible place.

[Adami]

only this time with no preconceptions (unlike ToT).

Ah, you mean just like SoC and BCaSL, huh?   

SoC? Did you mean SC? If so, it doesn't matter because neither album was written before it was recorded.

[ReaPsTA]

]If Raw Dog's anything to go by, there are tonnes of the buggers.

That said, doesn't the studio time cost them? I can see why they'd just stop at a sensible place.

That makes sense, but then why not write outside the studio so you aren't bleeding money?

[Bone_Daddy]

I'd like to see something to the likes of SFaM. Good prog. Good chunk. But please, nothing like The Dance of Eternity. And cut the length of the soloing.   

[Setlist Scotty]

only this time with no preconceptions (unlike ToT).

Ah, you mean just like SoC and BCaSL, huh?   

SoC? Did you mean SC? If so, it doesn't matter because neither album was written before it was recorded.

Yeah, I meant SC. And I missed your point about writing before going into the studio, but I see what you're saying.

[Stoneyman]

It would be nice to see a new co-producer with the band.  Maybe eliminate some of the cheese that DT tends to dip into from time to time.

No Dark Masters
No ROOOOAAARRRRRS!
No Mysteriuos Figures
No other singers than James (we know the other guys just arent up to it)

I also would like less shredding and NO long jams shoe-horned into the middle or ends of songs.  If DT is gonna keep doing nu-ish metal, then take the approach that james used on his latest cd...4 minute tunes, straight to the point.

If we are talking DT becoming more proggish, then I hope DT finds a way to combine Disc 1 of SDOIT with ITPOE Part 1 with a hint of the instrumental passages on Scenes.

I also used to dig the metal "moments" from DT rather than hearing entire metal songs.  The balls and chunk when used correctly was awesome and a cool thing to "wait for" when they played those songs.  Examples like New Millennium when the chunk comes in was what I mean.  Like the songs had different flavors like a 4 course meal.  Sadly IMO we have been getting the musical equivalent of a DT burrito lately.  We get spicey or beef & bean...no in between.

Gimme Trial of Tears/Its Raining over anything they have done since SDOIT.

[Slain]

I tried to find this thread on the forum and didn't.

I was listening to the making of FII and came across the Doug Pinnick recording sessions from LiTS. Why did DT completely stop doing that? I remember MP talking about the possibility of bringing in Mikael Akerfelt to do the growl section of ANTR. He decided against it because of the live factor, but I'm not sure I really care about that. JLB does he own thing with the Pinnick vocals that's cool live, but for the studio version it's a unique touch. Even the subtle harmonies Pinnick does add some unique flavor. What if Akerfelt just did something small like the "You're saved" moment of Repentance, which was a huge chill moment live? The album just gets a little better and more interesting. Marco Hietala's contribution's to Eclipse, Silent Waters, and Skyforger prove that a guest performer can be a subtle but important factor in the sound throughout the whole CD. I'm not saying you need to go that far, but DT brought in a string quartet and an orchestra in for Octavarium, and it made the overall album unique. Or, more subtly, John Purdell doing backing vocals on Awake, which gives the vocals just a slightly different sound than any other DT album.

And, since DT could get quite a a wide array of guest performers on the album, it would be a nice way to solidify that they're still the alpha dogs of the progressive metal scene.

Focus: Do you think bringing in guests a good idea? Bad Idea? Why? How do you wish DT would shake up the writing and recording process for the new album? Do something completely new? Bring back something they used to do from the past?

I'm such a noob. I thought that Derek Sherinian did those backing vocals for the longest time... lol. Proceed to make fun of me....

[Sixtease]

Stoneyman, you have some good points but I would definitely not like them to go back to SFAM. And Dark Masters are OK, too. As are RAWRs and others singing.
But I must agree on the New Millennium point.

[Samsara]

1. Write just as heavy, but more accessible songs. I am not talking about taking away all the musicianship. What I am talking about is playing solo sections that compliment the song, and resisting the urge to go off on a tangent, and instead, write what the song calls for and leave it at that.

2. Don't be afraid to go acoustic at times.

3. LET AND ENCOURAGE JAMES LABRIE WRITE.