Dream Theater New Album 2011 Speculations (merged)

[Perpetual Change]

Yeah, Scenes is the only true concept record. None of the other records have anything thematically strong enough going for them to consider them concept records. 

[ZirconBlue]

I really hope they stay away from theories like evolution, reincarnation, etc. It's just a big turn off, to me anyway.

[Ben_Jamin]

Yeah, Scenes is a great Rock Opera.

Since JLB is recording in Canada, The band seems to have given him more trust in his vocals.
  If the Morphwiz is being used, I expect a soft intro or a cool Hells Kitchen-esque instrumental, a la the Hourglass video.

[Elaitch]

A concept album would be cool, but Metropolis pt. 3? Count me doubtful.

I do hope for more prog rock influences though, à la Octavarium (the song), at least musically. Feels like they've been too much on the metal side lately. However, considering the recent events, I'm still hopeful for an awesome change

Oh, and more Myung in the mixing as well

[PS Head]

Hi...new forum member here,but a long long time admirer of prob' the best band in the world.As much as i like DT's heavy side,i really feel these guys shine best when writing the more proggy stuff....epics like Count of Tuscany,Octavarium and 6DoIT are untouchable.
I hope their next album is a mix of heavy,1 instumental,2 prog epics and 1 ballard..with all the trade mark stuff that makes this band second to none.....i cant bloody wait!!

[Bone_Daddy]

Welcome PS Head! 

[Jamesman42]

I want an instrumental.

[JediKnight1969]

I want some girl on girl action on the videos.

And CD booklet also.

[Kosmo]

I want some girl on girl action on the videos.

And CD booklet also.

[FretMuppet]

I want some girl on girl action on the videos.

And CD booklet also.

G... G... G... GIRLS??


Like, REAL GIRLS???  

[JediKnight1969]

I want some girl on girl action on the videos.

And CD booklet also.

G... G... G... GIRLS??


Like, REAL GIRLS???  

Yeah...

You can put some guys in the special edition if you want. We`re open minded people

[Sparta-ll]

At least Jordan Rudess and John Petrucci saw Roger Waters' The Wall show in last November and if they were even half as blown away by that show as I was I can imagine The Wall / Pink Floyd references in the new album.

Jordan actually uploaded "Hey You" on the next day after the show

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDEEBK0KxXQ&feature=youtu.be&a

EDIT:

And this a day after that last one 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RcFQgSJ5DM&NR=1

[Raoul Sanchez]

Yeah, Scenes is the only true concept record. None of the other records have anything thematically strong enough going for them to consider them concept records. 

It depends on what you class as a concept album. Scenes is the only "rock opera" type concept album, but Octavarium has a very strong musical concept tying the album together.

On topic, I have no idea what the song lengths are going to be like this time around, but I think the songs are going to be fairly different structure wise. I also have the feeling this is going to be a very uplifting album, instead of an angry (at least for the most part).

[orcus116]

The chromatic connection in Octavarium is more of a gimmick than a concept. Nothing else ties the songs on the album together other than that.

[jsem]

At least Jordan Rudess and John Petrucci saw Roger Waters' The Wall show in last November and if they were even half as blown away by that show as I was I can imagine The Wall / Pink Floyd references in the new album.

Jordan actually uploaded "Hey You" on the next day after the show

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDEEBK0KxXQ&feature=youtu.be&a

EDIT:

And this a day after that last one 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RcFQgSJ5DM&NR=1

I wouldn't mind PF influences. 

[Jaffa]

Eh, I'm still pretty new to Dream Theater, so my speculation doesn't really count for much, but just taking the change in drummers into consideration... I'd almost think the band would be out to prove that they can still do everything DT is famous for, even without Portnoy.  So I'm half expecting to see a sort of melting pot.  An instrumental, a couple prog epics, a ballad, split focus between heavy metal and more progressive songs...

I dunno.  I'm probably way off base.

[jsem]

Eh, I'm still pretty new to Dream Theater, so my speculation doesn't really count for much, but just taking the change in drummers into consideration... I'd almost think the band would be out to prove that they can still do everything DT is famous for, even without Portnoy.  So I'm half expecting to see a sort of melting pot.  An instrumental, a couple prog epics, a ballad, split focus between heavy metal and more progressive songs...

I dunno.  I'm probably way off base.

I don't think you are. The record will probably end up being something like that.

[Raoul Sanchez]

The chromatic connection in Octavarium is more of a gimmick than a concept. Nothing else ties the songs on the album together other than that.

I'd disagree there. The title track is entirely about things moving in circles, like an octave. It's not as dominant a concept as something like Scenes, but it's enough for me to consider it at the very least a kind of concept album.

[orcus116]

That's one track. Cool. That doesn't excuse the fact that all 7 other tracks are completely unrelated without some serious overanalysis.

[TAC]

That's one track. Cool. That doesn't excuse the fact that all 7 other tracks are completely unrelated without some serious overanalysis.

Well, the chromatic thing is probably what Raoul is referring as a "musical concept". Although to be honest, I would've never even noticed or knew anything about it. But it's still a pretty cool concept.

My concern is that I think 8V is by and large a fairly weak album, and just watch JP's face light up when talking about it in the Score So Far DVD.
I hope we're not in for 8V Pt 2.

[Ben_Jamin]

So musical concepts don't count.

Its called Octavarium for a reason, TROAE is in F so is 8vm

[Implode]

I probably shouldn't encourage this argument, but personally I don't think the keys of the songs is enough to argue for a concept album. Sure, at the end of Octavarium, it ties the songs all together, but I think that's more of a just a cool thing or Easter egg they did.

[ricky]

I want an instrumental.

+1

[dongringo]

I really hope they stay away from theories like evolution, reincarnation, etc. It's just a big turn off, to me anyway.

 

I'm sure you weren't really rotfl. You were just upset that someone has a different view than you. So I don't like the concept of SFAM. So what? 

[Frosthawk]

I do think the way they arranged the chromatic progression on Octavarium, especially the way they had the accidentals be in negative time to represent the black keys on the piano, was awesome. I wouldn't really consider it a conceptual album because of it, but its cool nonetheless.

I sort of don't want this album to be a concept album. I'd be much happier if they just focus on making each individual song a fantastic on.

[wjc]

That's one track. Cool. That doesn't excuse the fact that all 7 other tracks are completely unrelated without some serious overanalysis.

What about the pre-gaps? Also the album art and all the other nuggetz

[Riceball]

Help a theoretically-challenged-brother out, whats a chromatic progression and whats it got to do with Octavarium?

Also, my speculations would be along the lines of Jaffa; they will want to blow people away and kinda show the world they've still got it (which we all know they do). Plus, with the attention surrounding the Mike-swap, I think it could lean towards really showcasing the band and what they can do. This is DT-anticipation-period number three for me, can't wait

[inoku]

That's one track. Cool. That doesn't excuse the fact that all 7 other tracks are completely unrelated without some serious overanalysis.

What about the pre-gaps? Also the album art and all the other nuggetz

to me, it doesn't make the songs in the album better.

[Raoul Sanchez]

Help a theoretically-challenged-brother out, whats a chromatic progression and whats it got to do with Octavarium?

Basically the key signature for each song is one semi-tone higher then the last. For example TROAE is in F minor, then TALW is in G minor, then These Walls is in A minor etc, until you get to the title track which brings it back into F minor. The only exception to this is the sharp/flat keys don't have songs to themselves, instead they're represented by the atmospheric bits between tracks.

[ZirconBlue]

I really hope they stay away from theories like evolution, reincarnation, etc. It's just a big turn off, to me anyway.

 

I'm sure you weren't really rotfl. You were just upset that someone has a different view than you. So I don't like the concept of SFAM. So what? 

No, I just found it hilarious that you would include evolution and reincarnation in the same sentence, as if they were in any way equivalent sorts of "theories".

[Dream Team]

I really hope they stay away from theories like evolution, reincarnation, etc. It's just a big turn off, to me anyway.

 

I'm sure you weren't really rotfl. You were just upset that someone has a different view than you. So I don't like the concept of SFAM. So what?  

No, I just found it hilarious that you would include evolution and reincarnation in the same sentence, as if they were in any way equivalent sorts of "theories".

This is the wrong sub-forum, but if evolution isn't a theory please enlighten me as to how reptiles suddenly felt the need to grow wings and take to the skies, developing flawless flight skills without dying off first, not to mention inexplicably perfect migratory instincts?

Edit: I posted this because I assumed you were saying evolution isn't a theory. If that is not what you meant, I apologize.

[Raoul Sanchez]

Because it wasn't "sudden". That kind of thing takes millions upon millions of years.

[ZirconBlue]

I really hope they stay away from theories like evolution, reincarnation, etc. It's just a big turn off, to me anyway.

 

I'm sure you weren't really rotfl. You were just upset that someone has a different view than you. So I don't like the concept of SFAM. So what?  

No, I just found it hilarious that you would include evolution and reincarnation in the same sentence, as if they were in any way equivalent sorts of "theories".

This is the wrong sub-forum, but if evolution isn't a theory please enlighten me as to how reptiles suddenly felt the need to grow wings and take to the skies, developing flawless flight skills without dying off first, not to mention inexplicably perfect migratory instincts?

Edit: I posted this because I assumed you were saying evolution isn't a theory. If that is not what you meant, I apologize.

No, it is a theory, it's just that "theory" has a very different meaning in Science than it does in colloquial English.  As used in Science, there is no "Theory of Reincarnation", but there is a "Theory of Evolution".


(Your first paragraph seems to display a profound misunderstanding of evolutionary theory, but, as you say, this is not the right sub-forum for that discussion.  I'd be happy to discuss it elsewhere if you would like.)

[JPX]

Yeah, Scenes is the only true concept record. None of the other records have anything thematically strong enough going for them to consider them concept records. 

Wrong

[Bone_Daddy]

I wouldn't mind PF influences. 

No PF. Please and thank you.