DT11: Which of these options do you think is most likely?

[Dream Team]

Tough call for me between vocal melodies and instrumental, I went with instrumental.

[Bertielee]

Vocal melodies I'd say. Apparently, JLB is recording in Canada, so we could say he's given free rein on his vocals this time around. And he's capable of very good things in that case. Hear SI for example.

B.Lee

[ResultsMayVary]

Vocal melodies I'd say. Apparently, JLB is recording in Canada, so we could say he's given free rein on his vocals this time around. And he's capable of very good things in that case. Hear SI for example.

B.Lee

This is what I voted for as well, although I think the record will be overall improved over previous records.

[Nekov]

They said that JMX wrote some new lyrics. That means the lyrics will improve.

[Aniland]

Both the vox and words.

[Sixtease]

They said that JMX wrote some new lyrics. That means the lyrics will improve.

this

btw, OP: great poll! 

[jamhet]

This should've been a multi-choice poll.

Anyway, the first two things:
"The vocal melodies will be improved, The lyrics will be improved"   
...are beyond their will. They always try to make the vocals/lyrics the best they can. Whether they will pull it off or not - we'll see.
Chances are that the recent turmoil within the band has been a source of inspiration for the lyrics (regardless of the actual lyrical themes, which may not have any direct link to the situation), which would mean an improvement at least in that department. People see the JM's supposed larger involvement in the creative process as having potential of affecting the lyrics positively.
Prognosis: Lyrics may get better. Vocals may or may not.

But this is different:   
"There will be no out-of-place soloing"
...because it's up to their conscious decision if there will be a lot crazy soloing or not.
The slack they received after Systematic Chaos caused obvious results on BBSL, which may lead to an assumption that the same will happen on DT11.

"There will be an instrumental" - I don't think there are any factors that determine there being/ not being one that we could know beforhand.

"The drum performance will be a let down" - there are 3 main cryteria upon which the fans will decide if they are pleased or displeased with the drum performance:
1. Similarity to Portnoy's drumming:
- If for someone Portnoy's style was the perfect drumming for DT, then the more MM's drumming strays away from it stylistically, the more let down might they be, and vice versa if someone wasn't a huge fan of MP's style.
Prognosis: MM's drumming will be vastly different than MP's. That's a given.
2. The element of surprise and meeting expectations:
- Many fans expect a huge influx of freshness in the sound of the band due to the presence of a new drummer, and their expectations are very high. Whereas, others won't be fond of DT sounding "different".
3. The actual quality of drumming.
Prognosis: The drumming will be very good at the least, but I don't think MM can match MP's quality.

[yorost]

I find it odd how people think that Myung writing lyrics means they will automatically improve.  In all we've seen his lyrics for what, 4 songs and never more than 1 song on an album?  Yes, greatly done ones and I never liked the idea that he was forced out by what seemed from the outside a weak rule, but I wonder how much of the quality boiled down to him pulling his most inspired lyrics out and shared.  We don't really know what' will happen if he tries to handle half the songs on an album(not saying he is).  I'd love to see, but maybe we've only seen his good attempts so far.

--------------

I'm not sure what I think of LaBrie recording in Canada.  I guess it's probably a lot more comfortable for him being with his family, but isn't that odd to do the bulk of recording separate when the band rented a studio out?   Based on all his side projects I really hope they just let him loose on vocals to do whatever the Hell he wants.

[?]

Both the vox and words.

[Fran521]

I hope there's an instrumental.

[The Silent Cody]

I went with instrumental. It has been a long time since it was on DT's album...

[bosk1]

Yeah, these choices are just kind of odd.

"The vocal melodies will be improved" - Honestly, I don't see where there is room for any noticeable improvement.  The vocal melodies have been great.  Not sure why this choice is here.

"The lyrics will be improved" - Personally, I feel almost the same way about the lyrics as I do the vocal melodies, but I know there are some who disagree.  But still, even for those who feel there is room for significant improvement, I don't see anything that has changed within the band that would suggest a change in what they have been doing, other than that Myung has said for awhile now that he would contribute lyrics again.

"There will be an instrumental" - Well, DT are known for doing instrumentals, so this isn't beyond the realm of possibility.  Probably pretty likely, in fact, IMO.  But, really, at this point, we're just guessing since there hasn't been anything to suggest that they are or aren't doing one.

"The drum performance will be a let down" - Highly improbable, unless by letdown you mean "I am such a diehard MP fan that MP's drumming and only MP's drumming in DT can make me happy."  Not that there's anything wrong with that, but still--that shouldn't diminish anything Mangini does.

"There will be no out-of-place soloing" - Are you kidding me?  Out of place soloing is a DT trademark.  


So I guess we're left with the only realistic option being the instrumental, and we're basing that completely on speculation.  So, again, this poll seems a bit odd to me.

[tgstk2]

cant i add the option, .....a call for no JR solo spot ?


anyway a instrumental would be killer....

[mrjazzguitar]

Yeah, these choices are just kind of odd.

"The vocal melodies will be improved" - Honestly, I don't see where there is room for any noticeable improvement.  The vocal melodies have been great.  Not sure why this choice is here.

"The lyrics will be improved" - Personally, I feel almost the same way about the lyrics as I do the vocal melodies, but I know there are some who disagree.  But still, even for those who feel there is room for significant improvement, I don't see anything that has changed within the band that would suggest a change in what they have been doing, other than that Myung has said for awhile now that he would contribute lyrics again.

"There will be an instrumental" - Well, DT are known for doing instrumentals, so this isn't beyond the realm of possibility.  Probably pretty likely, in fact, IMO.  But, really, at this point, we're just guessing since there hasn't been anything to suggest that they are or aren't doing one.

"The drum performance will be a let down" - Highly improbable, unless by letdown you mean "I am such a diehard MP fan that MP's drumming and only MP's drumming in DT can make me happy."  Not that there's anything wrong with that, but still--that shouldn't diminish anything Mangini does.

"There will be no out-of-place soloing" - Are you kidding me?  Out of place soloing is a DT trademark. 


So I guess we're left with the only realistic option being the instrumental, and we're basing that completely on speculation.  So, again, this poll seems a bit odd to me.

this is what I was thinking... especially with regard to the melodies - that has never been an issue. I voted for it, however, because the lack of Portnoy's horrendous yelling could be considered improvment in the vocal melody department...

[Dream Team]

Yeah, these choices are just kind of odd.

"The vocal melodies will be improved" - Honestly, I don't see where there is room for any noticeable improvement.  The vocal melodies have been great.  Not sure why this choice is here.

"The lyrics will be improved" - Personally, I feel almost the same way about the lyrics as I do the vocal melodies, but I know there are some who disagree.  But still, even for those who feel there is room for significant improvement, I don't see anything that has changed within the band that would suggest a change in what they have been doing, other than that Myung has said for awhile now that he would contribute lyrics again.

"There will be an instrumental" - Well, DT are known for doing instrumentals, so this isn't beyond the realm of possibility.  Probably pretty likely, in fact, IMO.  But, really, at this point, we're just guessing since there hasn't been anything to suggest that they are or aren't doing one.

"The drum performance will be a let down" - Highly improbable, unless by letdown you mean "I am such a diehard MP fan that MP's drumming and only MP's drumming in DT can make me happy."  Not that there's anything wrong with that, but still--that shouldn't diminish anything Mangini does.

"There will be no out-of-place soloing" - Are you kidding me?  Out of place soloing is a DT trademark.  


So I guess we're left with the only realistic option being the instrumental, and we're basing that completely on speculation.  So, again, this poll seems a bit odd to me.

Fine, lock it then. I repent for the lameness.

[bosk1]

No, if there's one thing I'm willing to stand up for, it's people's right to be lame. 

[Perpetual Change]

Lyrics. Myung writing lyrics will be an improvement. Even if they're not his best work.

[Jamesman42]

Prediction (from an unnamed forum administrator): Myung will write a song about Starbucks. srsly.

[Aniland]

Yeah, these choices are just kind of odd.

"The vocal melodies will be improved" - Honestly, I don't see where there is room for any noticeable improvement.  The vocal melodies have been great.  Not sure why this choice is here.

"The lyrics will be improved" - Personally, I feel almost the same way about the lyrics as I do the vocal melodies, but I know there are some who disagree.  But still, even for those who feel there is room for significant improvement, I don't see anything that has changed within the band that would suggest a change in what they have been doing, other than that Myung has said for awhile now that he would contribute lyrics again.

"There will be an instrumental" - Well, DT are known for doing instrumentals, so this isn't beyond the realm of possibility.  Probably pretty likely, in fact, IMO.  But, really, at this point, we're just guessing since there hasn't been anything to suggest that they are or aren't doing one.

"The drum performance will be a let down" - Highly improbable, unless by letdown you mean "I am such a diehard MP fan that MP's drumming and only MP's drumming in DT can make me happy."  Not that there's anything wrong with that, but still--that shouldn't diminish anything Mangini does.

"There will be no out-of-place soloing" - Are you kidding me?  Out of place soloing is a DT trademark.  


So I guess we're left with the only realistic option being the instrumental, and we're basing that completely on speculation.  So, again, this poll seems a bit odd to me.

Fine, lock it then. I repent for the lameness.

Relax bro. This is better than my last ten threads combined. And it's all interesting speculations.

[JasonScandopolous]

"The lyrics will be improved" - Personally, I feel almost the same way about the lyrics as I do the vocal melodies

You don't think ANTR or CoT could have been better lyrically?  They're both kind of terrible at parts, even overall (nonsensical placement of I-dont-wanna-die choruses and everyone-survived-rororo, extremely literal and unimaginative elsewhere).

[Aniland]

Agreed. "The Count of Tuscany" legitimately has the worst lyrics of any song I've ever heard (and I like pop punk). To know that it's written by the same man who did "Under a Glass Moon" makes me think that hey, we are putting way too many eggs in the basket of Myung. His first song seen in twelve years does not have to be a thing like his past work.

[orcus116]

Gonna play the optimist and go with instrumental.

[bosk1]

"The lyrics will be improved" - Personally, I feel almost the same way about the lyrics as I do the vocal melodies

You don't think ANTR or CoT could have been better lyrically? 

No, not really. 

[Lowdz]

Vocal melodies I'd say. Apparently, JLB is recording in Canada, so we could say he's given free rein on his vocals this time around. And he's capable of very good things in that case. Hear SI for example.

B.Lee

This for me
I'm sure there will be lots of out of place noodling. It's DT. 

[j]

Agreed. "The Count of Tuscany" legitimately has the worst lyrics of any song I've ever heard (and I like pop punk).

They're hardly great lyrics, but this is going waaaaay overboard.

To know that it's written by the same man who did "Under a Glass Moon" makes me think that hey, we are putting way too many eggs in the basket of Myung. His first song seen in twelve years does not have to be a thing like his past work.

I think this is a legitimate point though.  I'm wary of being too optimistic, because not only is our sample size very small (as yorost pointed out), but it may have been 15 (or whatever) years since he's written anything.  Still looking forward to hearing 'em though.

-J

[psychdoc]

Agreed. "The Count of Tuscany" legitimately has the worst lyrics of any song I've ever heard (and I like pop punk). To know that it's written by the same man who did "Under a Glass Moon" makes me think that hey, we are putting way too many eggs in the basket of Myung. His first song seen in twelve years does not have to be a thing like his past work.

I actually kind of agree with this point (the first sentence and a half anyway). I love TCOT musically, but the lyrics, particularly the "I Don't Want to Die..." choruses really seemed silly and non-sensical (actually, I have found the lyrics of the entire song somewhat non-sensical and too literal) just rub me the wrong way. The same goes for ANTR during MP's scream section with it's silly "Huah!!!" at the end. 

Overall, more lyrics from JP (what I said about TCOT above notwithstanding) and JM is a good thing in my book. However, to stay on the topic of the poll, overall, an instrumental is the most probable thing, and also the only option that isn't a "in the eye of the beholder" concept.

[perfectchaos180]

OMG DT IS PERFECT NOWWWWWW

actually they have been far from it

There is no way for the lyrics to be worse than they have been, so I will go with that.

[tartarus250]

everyone keeps lambasting the lyrics for the count of tuscany but i quite like them 

[The Presence of Frenemies]

Three things about the vocals:

1.) We know that LaBrie's non-DT work tends to utilize more of his range than his current DT work.
2.) We know he's being given freer reign to do what he wants with them as far as recording them separately is concerned.
3.) DT may well make a big push to sound "fresh" with this album, and since LaBrie is the frontman, he's an important part of that.

All of which means I think we'll get more diverse vocals on the album. Not an airtight conclusion by any means, of course, and it's also debatable whether "more diverse" means necessarily "better," but I think we may well see it. Same thing with Myung's bass parts, honestly.

I'm with Bosk on the lyrical aspect. I forget which thread it was that there was a big long thing he wrote about the greatness of the TCoT lyrics, but it was excellent. So I don't see much room for improvement there.

Instrumental is about as likely as the vocal stuff, IMO. On one hand, it's been eight years since the last one, so it's "overdue," but on the other, well, they haven't done one in eight years, so who's to say they will now?

Mangini's drumming will own. Book it.

I actually think there is a decent chance that there's little out-of place soloing on the album. After all, there are a bit more checks and balances in the band now (in that JP alone doesn't wield as much power and MP/JP combined did), which means that people may speak up more to rein it in.

Plus, BCSL was pretty good about that, actually. I wasn't a fan of Petrucci's soloing on the first two tracks, or Rudess' ridiculous Bebot part on AROP (one of DT's worst moments ever), but TBOT was great, Wither was obviously restrained, TSF's soloing was oddly structured but passable, and overall, I thought Rudess (who's usually the biggest culprit for these things) was totally fine for everything except that Bebot stuff.

No out-of-place soloing? Doubtful. But less than we might expect? Quite probable.

Voted vocal melodies, but there are reasonable arguments to be made for everything but the drumming.

[orcus116]

"The lyrics will be improved" - Personally, I feel almost the same way about the lyrics as I do the vocal melodies

You don't think ANTR or CoT could have been better lyrically? 

No, not really. 

I hope you're referring to the fact that Petrucci's diminishing skills with the pen wouldn't have allowed him to write any better lyrics.

[Jaffa]

"The lyrics will be improved" - Personally, I feel almost the same way about the lyrics as I do the vocal melodies

You don't think ANTR or CoT could have been better lyrically? 

No, not really. 

I hope you're referring to the fact that Petrucci's diminishing skills with the pen wouldn't have allowed him to write any better lyrics.

For my part, after I first listened to TCoT, I almost posted a thread asking what was so wrong with the lyrics.  They're not brilliant, but I don't see anything terrible about them, either.  So I'd have to agree with bosk.

[bosk1]

Orcus, quit trolling.

[orcus116]

I know your definition of trolling is incredibly loose but I wasn't.

[ariich]

I know your definition of trolling is incredibly loose but I wasn't.

Even so, there's no need to belittle other opinions. I like the lyrics to TCOT and especially ANTR (apart from the "day after day" section, although interestingly I don't mind the vocals at all, I just think the lyrics in that section are weak).

[RuRoRul]

I understand The Count Of Tuscany's lyrics aren't as great as some others and a few parts of them are really bad (the brother verse) but I actually like them as a whole... it kind of fits with the song as well since the story is kind of about how a random encounter and a bunch of stupid stuff being said made him really feel something even though it wasn't a big deal, and the music makes a lot of people really feel something too despite the lyrics sometimes being silly and the story not really being something to make a big deal out of anyway.

A Nightmare To Remember has Ok lyrics for the most part but I think the lyrics and vocals in Peaceful Sedation are some of their best ever.

I'd probably take TCOT's lyrics over Under (lol) A Glass Moon, anyway. Under A Glass Moon just non-sensical but poetic lyrics, which there's nothing wrong with, but I get more from the lyrics to TCOT than them, despite them being laughable in places.