Black Clouds & Silver Linings: Reactions

[KevShmev]

Yep, it's still a really good album.  I can get past some of the lyrics being weak because the music is very strong.  I never got completely addicted to this record to where I had to listen to at least once a day for months on end, like I did with I&W, Awake and SFAM, but it is easily their most enjoyable DT record since 2002.  This CD is already aging nicely, and should settle in nicely as mid-tier DT studio record. 

[ariich]

I'm still baffled how people can even think that. Even Scenes, which I don't look too highly on, has its ambitions and goals achieved higher than what was finalized on Black Clouds.

Ambitions and goals are great and all, but quality and actual result are more important. Scenes was ambitious in terms of making a concept album, but it just isn't that well-done. Where BC&SL doesn't try much that's particularly new or outside DT's comfort zone (bar a couple of things), but what it does it does very well. I can't really see what's so hard to understand about that.

[bosk1]

I'm with those that appreciate it.  I think P.C. summed it up nicely in his post.  Not their best album, and the lyrics may not be as deeply poetic as on some earlier albums, but still and incredibly solid, enjoyable album. 

[Mladen]

I've listened to some of BC&SL with my dad in a car a couple of days ago. I think I played Wither, then The Shattered Fortress. He couldn't believe it was the same band, because the two songs are incredibly different. I guess that just shows how diverse BC&SL is, which is always good.

[cookienut]

I still listen to it regularly - I have my favorite songs being AntR and TcoT but the whole album is just so enjoyable. Like everyone said it isn't their favorite but it certainly is right up there. Nothing beats Scenes for me (and I doubt anything ever will), but they really struck gold on this record. Lyrics are cheesy but 'good' cheesy...unlike the previous record where I find it really difficult to listen to.

A couple of my friends were unable to enjoy DT until this album which they both think is quite awesome. So that's telling in itself, it makes DT more approachable while still conveying that classic DT style.

[orcus116]

There is no good cheesy.

[Perpetual Change]

Yes there is.

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Ptitlethsq3mffp09i?from=Main.SoBadItsGood

[orcus116]

Every time someone links to tvtropes, 10 other people lose 2 hours of their lives.

[bloop]

.

[ddtonfire]

Every time someone links to tvtropes, 10 other people lose 2 hours of their lives.

So true.


I think that TCoT has taken the spot of my favorite DT song. Its playcount exceeds all other songs on my iPod by 40.

[Raiden]

i love the album it sounds really great. i love the concept of the album more then any other dream theater album. i love the really emotional songs like wither, the count of tuscany, and the best of times. a rite of passage is really good as well.

[orcus116]

Sh...should we tell'em guys?

[BlobVanDam]

Tell 'em what?

[Nic35]

The album is great. But that's it. I think the main problem with it its lack of innovation. Like MP said, it's a classic Dream Theater album that includes all the elements that they've been known for, but that's the problem. It's like a blend of ToT, Octavarium and Systematic Chaos. I enjoy listening to the album, but nowhere as near as I enjoy listening to SDOIT.

That's what DT needs. Innovation.

[orcus116]

That there's no concept in Black Clouds.

[energythief]

That there's no concept in Black Clouds.

Disagree. I's the "Twist Ending" album.

[ddtonfire]

I don't think he was referring to the album as a concept album, but rather to the mentality behind the music.

[Plasmastrike]

That there's no concept in Black Clouds.

Disagree. I's the "Twist Ending" album.

[BlobVanDam]

That there's no concept in Black Clouds.

Thought so. They didn't have a concept in mind when writing it, and it sure as hell isn't a concept album (yes, I want to avoid that old debate as much as anyone), but the idea of every cloud having a silver lining is one that just happened to follow through a fair chunk of the album, hence the title. But I wouldn't really call it a concept, not even to the extent of Octavarium.
(tl;dr version - I agree, but what he said isn't entirely without basis. Just mostly)

[Perpetual Change]

Oh man.  Where this thread is going verifies my insanity regardless of the Octavarium stunt.

::gets all insecure::

Right guys!?!?!?!!?

[lateralus88]

That there's no concept in Black Clouds.

Thought so. They didn't have a concept in mind when writing it, and it sure as hell isn't a concept album (yes, I want to avoid that old debate as much as anyone), but the idea of every cloud having a silver lining is one that just happened to follow through a fair chunk of the album, hence the title. But I wouldn't really call it a concept, not even to the extent of Octavarium.
(tl;dr version - I agree, but what he said isn't entirely without basis. Just mostly)

It's a concept, but not a concept album.

It's the same way that using a film to develope a social commentary about society is a concept. It's an idea, of sorts.

inb4incomingshitstorm

[Ben_Jamin]

After more listens I find I really like the mood of the songs. from the transition in ANTR into the part where the characters crash and the sirens come in. AROP the "Bound by open honor" part, all of Wither. just the whole mood, it's like falling into infinity.

[bosk1]

It's a concept, but not a concept album.

[BlobVanDam]

That there's no concept in Black Clouds.

Thought so. They didn't have a concept in mind when writing it, and it sure as hell isn't a concept album (yes, I want to avoid that old debate as much as anyone), but the idea of every cloud having a silver lining is one that just happened to follow through a fair chunk of the album, hence the title. But I wouldn't really call it a concept, not even to the extent of Octavarium.
(tl;dr version - I agree, but what he said isn't entirely without basis. Just mostly)

It's a concept, but not a concept album.

Pardon my usual inability to articulate my thoughts, but that's what I was trying to say I'm firmly in the "DT only has one concept album" camp.

[Perpetual Change]

Score is a concept album about Dream Theater's career.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

Score is a concept album about Dream Theater's career.

Yes. Jamshied Shariffi is Kevin Moore in disguise.

[ariich]

the really emotional songs like ... the count of tuscany

This made me chuckle

[perfey]

Score is a concept album about Dream Theater's career.

Yes. Jamshied Shariffi is Kevin Moore in disguise.

Nah, Moore is the long haired guy you see standing at the very front with his hands on the stage head banging and seeming to really enjoy the show.

[orcus116]

the really emotional songs like ... the count of tuscany

This made me chuckle

Haha I missed that. And I'd definitely call Black Clouds thematic instead of conc-

* gets sniped *

[hefdaddy42]

It's a concept, but not a concept album.

It's the same way that using a film to develope a social commentary about society is a concept. It's an idea, of sorts.

inb4incomingshitstorm

No it's not.  It's an accident. 

[Mladen]

Nah, Moore is the long haired guy you see standing at the very front with his hands on the stage head banging and seeming to really enjoy the show.

Cool, looks like I'm not the only one who noticed that guy. 

[changing_seasons]

Score is a concept album about Dream Theater's career.

Yes. Jamshied Shariffi is Kevin Moore in disguise.

Nah, Moore is the long haired guy you see standing at the very front with his hands on the stage head banging and seeming to really enjoy the show.

Kind of like on the Images tour.

Oh wait..

[emindead]

Nah, Moore is the long haired guy you see standing at the very front with his hands on the stage head banging and seeming to really enjoy the show.

Cool, looks like I'm not the only one who noticed that guy. 

That guy is the equivalent of the Japanese guys having a good time in L@B.

[reneranucci]

the really emotional songs like ... the count of tuscany

This made me chuckle

Yeah it sounds weird but I think the second half of the song is pure brilliance built on sheer emotion, too bad the first half doesn´t lead smoothly and coherently to the conclusion.

[Rafael Guerra]

Well, what can I say about BC and SL today?
ANTR, TCOT and The Shattered Fortress survived until today...