what is the first thing you pay attention to when listening to a new DT record?

[tgstk2]

i was going thorugh a bunch of threads here, regarding solo's, JMX etc etc.

so i was wondering when you have popped in a new DT record for the first time, what's your focus?
mine is always the drums and the guitar solos.
after this i spin it again and than listen to the riffage
after a while i will just listen and observer the whole song, but the fist listen is always the thing that stands out the most. the drums and the guitar (Solos).

so what has got your attention when you listen to a DT record for the first time?

[ReaPsTA]

Sounds dumb, but the song.  Inevitably I focus on certain things in certain moments, but I want to feel the vibe of the piece and what it's conveying before I start listening and inevitably fall into hearing the individual elements.  I have one chance to hear it completely fresh and I want to embrace that.

On the other hand, I'm really intellectually focused on the song structures.  After The Reckoning, I'm scared shitless of another moment where the music careens into a momentum destroying instrumental section.

[chknptpie]

I agree Reapsta, I can't just focus on one aspect until I really ingest a song. I'm sure I focus on the melody and vocals together and the solos are probably a bit separate. Once I wrap my head around the song, then I can focus in on certain parts of songs that I like. Not necessarily by instrument. 

[nikatapi]

I voted for Devin Townsend, because the option "Production" is missing.

[Tomislav95]

I can't wait to hear bass from a new album

[MetropolisxPt1]

Being a drummer i always tend to listen to the drums but i am also attentive to the vocal melody's not mention the sheer musicianship each member possesses.

[stryker]

I agree Reapsta, I can't just focus on one aspect until I really ingest a song. I'm sure I focus on the melody and vocals together and the solos are probably a bit separate. Once I wrap my head around the song, then I can focus in on certain parts of songs that I like. Not necessarily by instrument. 

+1

[Knguro]

It will be a lie if i say that it wont be the drums, it will be unavoidable.

[Nekov]

I chose Devin Townsend but only because I didn't see there was a song option  . Anyway, the first couple of listens I'll just pay attention to the songs as a whole, then I will start paying attention to each specific instrument (except LaBrie, I really don't pay a lot of attention to him). And for the lyrics I tend to read the booklet.

[Dublagent66]

*points to avatar*

[GasparXR]

What about your avatar? All I see is proof of God, kind of irrelavant to the topic don't you think?

[Dublagent66]

What about your avatar? All I see is proof of God, kind of irrelavant to the topic don't you think?

  Good one.

[Vajra]

I first focus on whether the song sounds good or not, but my main focus is on vocals/riffs. They can make a break a song for me. For example, JLB sounds beautiful on Never Enough, but I don't care for the actual riffs, so the song goes nowhere for me. In The Dark Eternal Night, I like the riffs, but I don't care for how JLB's vocals are distorted, so it really lessens my appreciation for the song.

[Jamesman42]

I just embrace the music. Details come after. That's why I feel like I can enjoy a lot of the music I hear.

[VioletS16]

OK--it'd be a lie if I said it's not the vocals...I'm a huge James freak. He is like my #1 favourite person in the world...so I normally indulge myself in him.

But that doesn't mean I can't appreciate the music--I normally go after the song as a hole. But good or bad vocals really shape the song for me--songs with less great vocals and lyrics, I tend to not like as much. But songs with great vocal performance, are typically my favourite. It's not like that's the only thing I pay attention to--it just helps make the song 10x better IMO.

But it'd also be a lie if I said that's going to be my main focus THIS album...this album is all different, and I'm going to probably be listening to each of the songs like 5x each just to get a taste of each instrument alone

[GasparXR]

I certainly would have to listen to the album multiple times to digest it fully (it'll be easier to for me to remember exactly which songs I loved and songs I loved more ).

[Jirpo]

Pretty much what Reapsta said, though the things that usually hit me first are guitars/keyboards/vocals. Bass and drums come after.

[LieLowTheWantedMan]

Pretty much what Reapsta said, though the things that usually hit me first are guitars/keyboards/vocals. Bass and drums come after.

The opposite of this. Except with DT the bass hitting first is hard cause it's barely there.

[champbassist]

The opposite of this. Except with DT the bass hitting first is hard cause it's barely there.

It's been the case with most DT albums since SFAM (with 8VM just slightly better off, IMHO)

I'm hoping this album will bring a change. I have a feeling that with this album there will be considerable change in the overall sound of the band, in terms of definition of the individual instruments as well as w.r.t how they sit in the mix.

[mittinagus]

Always the song...

Tin

[D_Halco]

I agree with ReaPsTA.

I'm a drummer but I have that tendency to grasp the whole thing at first and then I start picking and dissecting all the musical nuances the song has. Dream Theater has alot of layers and texture.

[Nic35]

Drums.

[wolfking]

Song.

[Infinite Cactus]

Usually just the songs in general. I hardly ever focus on just one aspect unless I'm learning a song on a specific instrument.

[?]

Song.

[PS Head]

 Inevitabley...it will be the song,especially as it will be the first time of hearing.From there on i tend to pick out individual instruments to follow during the course of a song,but being a keyboard player myself it usually the keys that get most attention.The great thing about DT though is because they write such cleverly crafted songs,and theyre all virtuoso's on their individual instruments,it doesnt matter what part you listen to.......it is all brilliant.

[Metabog]

I have to say vocals, because I always cross my fingers JLB will sing all high and operatic like in the olden times.

[EpicCookie]

I listen to the music, nothing in particular. Just enjoying

[Kosmo]

I guess vocals and vocal melodies.

[Bombardana]

One of the things that's always forefront of my mind when listening to a new prog album is the time signatures, the song structures and how the sections fit together, if there is referencing back to previous musical themes, things like that.

[setrataeso]

Drums. I can't not focus on them.

[Heretic]

I definitely agree with ReaPsTA, once I've taken in the entire song, I can start listening for other things more in-depth.

[Apricot]

Man I forgot what it was like to listen to a Dream Theater song for the first time...which makes the anticipation for next week when they play a new song live even stronger!

[Mosh]

I pay attention to everything as a whole. I just breakdown and let the story guide me.

[pmahoney1337]

Ive only listened to one new DT album which was BC&SL, but ever since I became interested in DT my main focus has been the instruments (drums mostly).