What are some things you think will be on the next DT album and why?

[RuRoRul]

1) Start writing about real-life issues again and move away from fantasy etc.

You mean like they did on SFAM? 

Or like they actually did on Black Clouds & Silver Linings, with its very unpopular lyrics?

[PetFish]

1) Start writing about real-life issues again and move away from fantasy etc.

You mean like they did on SFAM? 

Or like they actually did on Black Clouds & Silver Linings, with its very unpopular lyrics?

It's not the subject matter of songs (reality vs fantasy) that has bothered me lately... it's the literalness of them.  For example:

"Tell me does this hurt you?"
Said the faceless man.
"Can you move all of your fingers?
Can you try your best to stand?"
I asked about the others
Is everyone OK?
He told me not to worry
As he turned and looked away.

It's so boring to be told exactly what's going on, not to mention unimaginative.  Give me lyrics that convey a general feeling or them but ones that I can interpret specifics for myself.

[RuRoRul]

Yeah that's exactly what I think makes some of the lyrics on Black Clouds not so great - the literalness or bluntness of them (although I don't think the ones you posted were that good an example, those are lyrics where being told something does leave a lot to the imagination. The Peaceful Sedation part has better lyrics than the rest of the song).

I just think it's stupid when people say they need to move away from fantasy lyrics, when 1. They did them on SFAM, essentially, and it's one of their most acclaimed albums and 2. They only did them recently on one album, and it was quite clear they were deliberately doing different lyrics for that album. Black Clouds is about as un-fantasy as you can get.

Ministry Of Lost Souls, pretty much all of Scenes From A Memory and even ITPOE in my opinion, show that they can write good lyrics even if it's not about realistic stuff, while the fact that ANTR, TBOT and TCOT's lyrics are hated (though I quite like The Count Of Tuscany's lyrics)despite being thoroughly grounded in reality shows that it's not being realistic that makes their lyrics good, just how imaginitive or expressive they are.

[robwebster]

I think the contemporary metal influences are going to go. That means the Muse and Opeth stuff. If I remember right, Mike was always more into the current music scene than the other guys.

Think John actually recommended Muse to Mike.

[Ħ]

JP says that he finds himself listening to satellite radio more than complete albums.  He's probably almost as musically broad as MP.

Not to mention JLB listens to a lot of contemporary stuff as well.

[As I Am]

My first post on DTforums  (long time poster as pullmyfinger over at MP.com), Personally, I'm thinking along the lines of a "Falling Into Infinity" type release. Lots of songs, NO 20 minute EPICS, some prog (ala, New Millennium, Trial of Tears & Lines In The Sand), some rock (like, You Not Me & Just Let Me Breathe), some heavy rock (ala, Burning My Soul & Peruvian Skies), some ballads (like, Hollow Years, Anna Lee & Take Away My Pain) and of course, an instrumental (ala, Hell's Kitchen). IMO, FII is DT's most "well rounded" cd to date. NOT their best, but definitely most across the board. Without any outside interference, I think they could record this new album in the vein of FII and it could be a masterpiece!

[ReaPsTA]

The drumming on the album will very probably be like Rudess's keyboard work on SFaM.  JR definitely left his stylistic mark on the album, but it felt very much like a transition point between the old school DT keyboard style and what DT's keyboards would become on 6DOIT.

A couple people have compared the circumstances surrounding this album to SFaM, and I agree.  The band has something to prove, and they're going all bring what they perceive as their A-game.  JP in particular sees every DT album as an attempt at making their best work, but the pressure is on to make something more iconic to show DT is very much alive.

I think we can tell the difference between songs where JM is motivated (8vm, ITPOE) vs. songs where he's unmotivated (ANTR, seriously, it's like he did the basslines in one take), and this time around he seems more motivated than he's been in a while.  I don't know if this will result in lyrics or not, but the odds are higher than any other DT album. 

[Vivace]

I don't think we are going to see much in the way of change except for perhaps a few "structure" changes like bosk mentioned. MP was a heavy contributor to shaping the songs so now I have a feeling the format is going to be more like FII or 8V. I think JM might return to write lyrics as I always thought the main complainer was MP when it came to the structure. I don't think JR will write lyrics. Why on earth does he need to when you already have 3 others who have easily proven up to the task. Past that, I doubt much will change.

[bodiesinflight]

I'll say one thing, if the other guys have had a chance to listen to JLB's new album Static Impulse, I'm almost positive they would let him contribute more to the next album.  SI is awesome and all the songs are around 5 mins or less.

Oh God I hope not.

For what it's worth I expect freer song structures on this record. Whilst I have enjoyed lots of DT's post-6DOIS work I am of the opinion that their songwriting has settled into a very definite structure on the majority of songs since then (to do with the length of songs, amount of solos, etc) I think that may change, partly because of the increased amount of influence I expect JR to have.

I'm probably completely wrong about that though. 

[mentalny]

My first thought about new album...
I connect it with last album-I respect Portnoy a lot, without him who knows will it be DT in superb form BUT I will not miss him involving in songs which I literally hated. Best example is The Count of Tuscany-masterpiece song ,excluding Portnoy's singing

I hope Myung is going to start writing more songs- TRIAL OF TEARS respect !

[Aniland]

I demand expect a 12 track album.

[bodiesinflight]

1) Start writing about real-life issues again and move away from fantasy etc.

like they actually did on Black Clouds & Silver Linings?

(see The Count of Tuscany)