DT11: Predictions

RoeDent · January 03, 2011, 03:13:32 PM

Don't know if it's too soon to start this, but it's a fun idea anyway.

Predict how you think the new DT album will turn out. Things to predict:

No. of songs?
No. of epics?*
Any Instrumental(s)?
How many lyrics penned by band members other than Petrucci

*For the purposes of this thread, 'epic' is defined as 'over 14 minutes'.

Metabog · January 03, 2011, 03:17:57 PM

There's not really much to go on right now to make an educated guess.

I can only say what I hope it'll be:

6-7 moderately (around 9 minutes) long songs. I think it would be cool to take a break from the epics on this one. I'd also really like to have an instrumental song, especially since there's a new drummer, and the other songs wouldn't need to have "yet another instrumental solo break".

Jamesman42 · January 03, 2011, 03:35:06 PM

I am hoping for 39 songs that can fit on 1 CD, and all of the songs, but 3 of them have nothing to do with each other.

robwebster · January 03, 2011, 03:39:00 PM

Quote from: RoeDent on January 03, 2011, 03:13:32 PM
Don't know if it's too soon to start this, but it's a fun idea anyway.

Predict how you think the new DT album will turn out. Things to predict:

No. of songs?
No. of epics?*
Any Instrumental(s)?
How many lyrics penned by band members other than Petrucci

*For the purposes of this thread, 'epic' is defined as 'over 14 minutes'.

RIGHT. I'm not going for what I reckon is the most probable outcome - I think chances are it won't be too far from BCSL structurally. Sort of a bit of a wildcard. But this is where my money's gonna be...

No. of songs: Ten.
No. of epics: None.
Any instrumentals?: Possibly. But I'm gonna go for no.
How many lyrics: Four! As many as.

10 feels just sliiiightly wrong, as a number of tracks. 11 or 12 feels more comfortable. But I'll stick with ten.

TAC · January 03, 2011, 03:40:12 PM

There will be 11 songs.

ronnibran · January 03, 2011, 03:44:14 PM

I'll predict one epic, with the album having a format similar to Octavarium (in terms of song lengths and # of songs). I'm basing this prediction on a couple of things. I think they'll want to listen to the most criticisms of the last couple of albums (possibly "too metal", or "needs better lyrics"). And they'll try to please everyone with having a really varied album (soft and heavy, fast and slow type songs like on 8V). Not that it's remotely likely to happen, but what I'd really love is a double concept album with a sound that's new to DT. Not sure how to even make that happen. . .

Number of songs: 8
Epics: 1
Lyricists: 2 (Labrie and Petrucci, 6 songs by JP and 2 by JLB)
Instrumentals: zero
Producer: Dream Theater (as opposed to just Petrucci)

Remco · January 03, 2011, 03:44:59 PM

There will be DT's interpretation of Godspeed You! Black Emperor on it.

The Dark Master · January 03, 2011, 04:08:06 PM

If I had to make a guess:

9 songs total, 1 epic with the other 8 tracks ranging from 2 to 12 minutes in length, with maybe one of the mid-length songs being an instrumental. Mostly Petrucci lyrics with a few by LaBrie and at least one by Myung (not sure if Jordan has any desire to write lyrics, or if the new guy can/will be allowed to write any either). Musically running the gamut from As I Am heavy to Anna Lee balladry to Dance of Eternity prog mash-up to A Change of Seasons epic mastery.

So there it is. And now we play the waiting game.............

jsem · January 03, 2011, 04:19:05 PM

Prediction: JM steps up to the plate as a lyricist again. On one song only. And it will also be the best song on the album, as usual

orcus116 · January 03, 2011, 04:40:33 PM

I would love a 4-5 minute instrumental to kick off the CD.

tjanuranus · January 03, 2011, 04:42:19 PM

10 songs. But i can hope for a double disc right?

manticore999 · January 03, 2011, 04:59:41 PM

I'll be happy if they just take a break from the DT 'formula'. I haven't really 'loved' any of their releases since 6DOIT - it seemed every one after that was just repetitive (riff, repeat, riff, repeat, long drawn out solos that don't match the rest of the song, lather, rinse, repeat). If they just break that cycle for this album I'll be thrilled!

blackngold29 · January 03, 2011, 05:05:26 PM

It would be cool to hear the answer to ToT. ToT was the big metal

album, they should do the big prog

album now. ELP sprinkled with heaviness.

bloop · January 03, 2011, 06:07:41 PM

A one track album that blows the Whirlwind away! (Pun very intended)

But seriously, I'm looking forward to an album of about 9-11 tracks, most of them being rather "short" songs, with maybe one 10 minute longer track. Hopefully we get some lyrics from Myung/Rudess. Maybe an instrumental with a lot of elaborate drum work.

ronnibran · January 03, 2011, 06:29:55 PM

I gotta be honest. . . I was never a huge fan of the Myung penned lyrics, but today during work I made a playlist of good DT songs. . . I was floored at how awesome Trial of Tears was. It's been a few albums (in my opinion) since lyrics of that magnitude.

Adami · January 03, 2011, 06:31:23 PM

Quote from: ronnibran on January 03, 2011, 06:29:55 PM
I gotta be honest. . . I was never a huge fan of the Myung penned lyrics, but today during work I made a playlist of good DT songs. . . I was floored at how awesome Trial of Tears was. It's been a few albums (in my opinion) since lyrics of that magnitude.

Which DT songs do you feel have great lyrics?

Jamesman42 · January 03, 2011, 06:32:55 PM

One thing I have thought about is this:

If JP and JM both penned great lyrics in the past. Myung stopped a long while ago (I think FT was his last one?). Everyone raves about JM's lyrics being great and that they'll probably be great again. What if they turn out to suck badly.

I would lol.

ronnibran · January 03, 2011, 06:56:30 PM

Quote from: Adami on January 03, 2011, 06:31:23 PM
Quote from: ronnibran on January 03, 2011, 06:29:55 PM
I gotta be honest. . . I was never a huge fan of the Myung penned lyrics, but today during work I made a playlist of good DT songs. . . I was floored at how awesome Trial of Tears was. It's been a few albums (in my opinion) since lyrics of that magnitude.

Which DT songs do you feel have great lyrics?

My favorites (based on lyrics alone): Blind Faith, Glass Prison, I Walk Beside You, Trial Of Tears, Innocence Faded, This Dying Soul. . . I love the lyrics in many songs but these are the ones that come to mind first when thinking through the albums. I've often thought about who my favorite lyricist is, and it is usually a toss-up between Labrie, Petrucci, and Portnoy. Nothing off of the last two albums have very great lyrics (to me), that's probably why I don't care for the last two albums as much, as I'm a lyric man. My comment (about Myung lyrics) was mostly based on the fact that I've always thought that JMX lyric songs (Learning to Live, Trial of Tears, etc) were extremely over-rated. I guess I had a listening experience today that made me reverse that train of thought. Shalom,

Thom

LCArenas · January 03, 2011, 08:32:07 PM

Quote from: Jamesman on January 03, 2011, 06:32:55 PM
One thing I have thought about is this:

If JP and JM both penned great lyrics in the past. Myung stopped a long while ago (I think FT was his last one?). Everyone raves about JM's lyrics being great and that they'll probably be great again. What if they turn out to suck badly.

I would lol.

I have been thinking about this a lot.

Ben_Jamin · January 03, 2011, 08:36:24 PM

8-11 songs seems reasonable. Don't matter what it sounds like at all, will still have the DT tone. Raw Dog is a good example of the tone id be glad to hear. It has a thick crispiness that sounds metal. But I also want more breathing room in the atmosphere. Black Clouds was a step in the right direction, esp. In the swell part in TCOT.

kirbywelch92 · January 03, 2011, 09:09:05 PM

Quote from: Ben_Jamin on January 03, 2011, 08:36:24 PM
Raw Dog is a good e....

That's about where I stopped. I wouldn't combine those words IMO.

I don't like to speculate about albums, leaves great opportunity for disappointment. I trust DT to make the right decision, but I also won't be heartbroken if they make the wrong one.

Aniland · January 03, 2011, 09:12:52 PM

12 tracks.
9 regular-to-lengthy songs.
1 epic.
2 "transition" songs (a la Regression and Through My Words)
5 Petrucci.
3 LaBrie.
1 Myung.
1 instrumental.

Adami · January 03, 2011, 09:19:22 PM

I hope there's no epics. Seriously, it's not cool anymore when they're common place.

Also, I'm hoping for songs that are mostly less than 13 minutes long. I know they seem to feel the need to jam in every single song and solo a lot, but it's really not needed.

Luckily Petrucci has been writing the shorter songs, so let's hope he keeps it up.

SystematicThought · January 03, 2011, 09:25:21 PM

I just REALLY hope that the predictable guitar-keyboard solo trade-offs disappear or become less and less throughout the songs. Those get very tiring

Overall, I'm hoping that the album fits a Awake or Falling Into Infinity structure where there are some really rocking songs and songs that feel as if they are epics, but aren't

atmyne · January 03, 2011, 09:38:57 PM

8 tracks (1 "single"), no instrumentals (definately instrumental sections for sure though), 2 epics (no longer than 15 min though), 2 songs with lyrics by Labrie and the remainder being done by Petrucci, particularly the epics.
In terms of a new musical direction, I'm sure we will hear some elements of djent (e.g. Periphery, Petrucci's nephews band, and Labrie was really digging it according to his twitter posts) along with various other elements found in other popular acts (hopefully some animals as leaders). But on the most part it will be the same DT (similar to their most recent works), maybe slightly "heavier" here and there, and hopefully more "proggy" in parts.

YtseJamittaja · January 03, 2011, 10:05:48 PM

Quote from: orcus116 on January 03, 2011, 04:40:33 PM
I would love a 4-5 minute instrumental to kick off the CD.

When I read this, I started wondering that this could be kick-ass opener for the album!!!

8-9 songs, 1 epic (about 16-19 mins), 2 songs with lyrics by Labrie and one song by Myung and others by Petrucci

Jamariquay · January 03, 2011, 10:27:06 PM

Album will be a 79-minute drum solo, 45 second voice solo, and 15 seconds of noodly chaos from everyone else.

rumborak · January 04, 2011, 12:08:24 AM

An acoustic song. That would be nice.

rumborak

Fiery Winds · January 04, 2011, 12:17:51 AM

Quote from: rumborak on January 04, 2011, 12:08:24 AM
An acoustic song. That would be nice.

rumborak

This. With JR on acoustic piano as well.

SnakeEyes · January 04, 2011, 12:19:41 AM

I think instead of the "everyone has to have a completed song" rule, they should have a "Jordan can't play anything faster than an 8th note" rule. LOL

edit..

Oh, and the "Jordan can't use the pitch bender on his keyboard" rule.

edit #2....

Plus the "Jordan has to actually use his left hand meaningfully" rule. LOL

edit #3..

I think DT should do a "Pull Me Under ending" on this album. Have James sing all the songs completely a capella, but all the intros and instrumental sections will still be there - just muted. So, you'll be listening to a song and it'll be silence for about five minutes, then James suddenly comes in with the words. And, people will be like, "Uh, is my copy of [insert album name here] broken? There's no music, only singing!"

Metabog · January 04, 2011, 01:58:23 AM

Quote from: SnakeEyes on January 04, 2011, 12:19:41 AM
I think instead of the "everyone has to have a completed song" rule, they should have a "Jordan can't play anything faster than an 8th note" rule. LOL

edit..

Oh, and the "Jordan can't use the pitch bender on his keyboard" rule.

edit #2....

Plus the "Jordan has to actually use his left hand meaningfully" rule. LOL

edit #3..

I think DT should do a "Pull Me Under ending" on this album. Have James sing all the songs completely a capella, but all the intros and instrumental sections will still be there - just muted. So, you'll be listening to a song and it'll be silence for about five minutes, then James suddenly comes in with the words. And, people will be like, "Uh, is my copy of [insert album name here] broken? There's no music, only singing!"

Come on, edit 2 is not fair. His left hand stuff permeates the album, he beefs up the bass and adds lots of counterpoint even if you can't hear it. Just listen to The Dance of Eternity keyboards or any of the piano stuff.

rumborak · January 04, 2011, 02:07:30 AM

I think the only thing Jordan really needs to look into is to get a better lead tone. It's just so dense and effects-overloaded that you can't tell what he's playing.

rumborak

pianoman · January 04, 2011, 05:07:53 AM

I think this will be Jordan's best DT album to date. If Minnemann is the drummer, I'd think Jordan will utilize the piano much more. No matter who the drummer is, I HOPE he does that. I'd say Jordan is the "best" musician out of the bunch, so he should be utilized much, much more.

Mladen · January 04, 2011, 05:16:49 AM

Eight tracks. One of them being an epic, 17 minutes long. The rest will be four to eight minutes in length. Five songs will feature lyrics written by Petrucci, two by James and one by John Muyng. The album will contain some metal bits, but it will be a bit more proggy, experimental and commercial in places.

Now I'm starting to make an ideal album out of it instead of predicting what will happen.

Lowdz · January 04, 2011, 05:22:22 AM

I'm more concerned about the mix really. Not bothered how many songs there are or how long they are, I just want to hear everything clearly. I want to hear all the awesome things JR does that have been buried in the mix in recent albums and I want to hear the bass as a seperate instrument and not as the poor cousin to JP's guitar.
I'd like a variety of pace and style, light and shade, and I want it now!

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DT11: Predictions