How would you feel if DT was going to release an album of only ~20 min songs?

[GasparXR]

I would like an album with new recordings of unreleased songs. Another Won, To Live Forever, some unused FII stuff. Yay.

I would hold judgement until I hear it, but I'd rather have a variety of song lengths, the shorter songs always build up to the epics.

To Live Forever was released on the Greatest Hit CD.

Yes, true, but a new recording would be awesome.

[TheGreatPretender]

I would like an album with new recordings of unreleased songs. Another Won, To Live Forever, some unused FII stuff. Yay.

I would hold judgement until I hear it, but I'd rather have a variety of song lengths, the shorter songs always build up to the epics.

To Live Forever was released on the Greatest Hit CD.

Yes, true, but a new recording would be awesome.

Well like I said, I frankly wouldn't mind a new recording of Metropolis. Not that there's anything wrong with the old one, but hearing a new recording of it... Just new sound, more powerful... If only.

[bosk1]

Black Clouds seems to have their longest songs on average and, honestly, I felt like that record was kinda pushing it. So I probably wouldn't want it, but I'd wait to hear it of course.

This.  

Even band's like Transatlantic that do multiple epics per album (or in the case of The Whirlwind, an epic that fills up an entire CD), they have a couple of short songs to give the album some flow and diversity of feel aside from the diversity within a particular epic.  I would of course reserve judgment until I heard the album.  But I would feel a bit of trepidation for sure.

[King Postwhore]

So when will they release The Whilewind bosk?!  I've been waiting for new Transatlantic.

[bosk1]

SHUT UP YOU JETS FAN!

[King Postwhore]

I really didn't think I'd get payback in only 12 hours.

[Gadough]

I wouldn't want that by choice, but it would be cool. I think they could make it work.

[pmahoney1337]

I feel like I would be excited, but I'll never know until it actually happens.

[Frosthawk]

I'd withhold judgment until I heard it but I'd be a little afraid. I think DT's at their best when their longest epics occur in the midst of little 'uns.

[Jaq]

I'd withhold judgment until I heard it. It would greatly depend on how organic the epics were, as opposed to the band sitting down and saying "hey, let's write some 20 minute long songs!" If it was an album of ideas that deserved the length, I'd be all for it.

[darkshade]

Black Clouds seems to have their longest songs on average and, honestly, I felt like that record was kinda pushing it. So I probably wouldn't want it, but I'd wait to hear it of course.

This.  

Even band's like Transatlantic that do multiple epics per album (or in the case of The Whirlwind, an epic that fills up an entire CD), they have a couple of short songs to give the album some flow and diversity of feel aside from the diversity within a particular epic.  I would of course reserve judgment until I heard the album.  But I would feel a bit of trepidation for sure.

Not to mention, making grand epics is Transatlantic's thing. It's also Neal's thing... And Roine's thing...

But you're right, there's at least one shorter song on the first 2 albums, and The Whirlwind CAN be looked at as a concept album, with average track length of 5-7 minutes.

[VioletS16]

I bore easily. I wouldn't like it.

[PetFish]

I'd be pissed.

Why are people so obsessed with 'epics' and many even feel like just cuz it's a long song it's a good song?  It's like every month or so someone starts a thread of "A Night of DT Epics" with a super-original idea consisting of a concert of only the long-ass songs and blah blah blah.  And just cuz a song is long doesn't make it epic.

How about an album of only ~5 minute songs?  Now THAT would be something different and interesting.

[ibosmiley]

Length of a song doesn't really grab me as much as the quality of a song.  Yes it's cool that DT has a lot of longer songs, but an album full of uber long "epics" wouldn't make me anymore excited than an album full of short songs or a more balanced album.  In the end, I'd probably prefer an album with more diversity in the song length department... some short and some long.  My question of the album would be... are the songs all naturally 20 minute long songs or did they put some filler in them to have a gimmicky album of "epics"?

In the end though, I'd listen and reserve judgement until I heard the songs.  Could work.  May not.  Who knows until it's done and we've heard it.

[darkshade]

I'd be pissed.

Why are people so obsessed with 'epics' and many even feel like just cuz it's a long song it's a good song?  It's like every month or so someone starts a thread of "A Night of DT Epics" with a super-original idea consisting of a concert of only the long-ass songs and blah blah blah.  And just cuz a song is long doesn't make it epic.

How about an album of only ~5 minute songs?  Now THAT would be something different and interesting.

Honestly for every 2 awesome epic songs I've heard, there is 1 that isn't that great. It's just that DT write awesome epics every time, so it's no wonder people obsess over them

[Metabog]

Sounds exciting and 'new' to me.

[Jamesman42]

Black Clouds seems to have their longest songs on average and, honestly, I felt like that record was kinda pushing it. So I probably wouldn't want it, but I'd wait to hear it of course.

[The Dark Master]

It could be cool.  Going by past precedent, 20-ish minute songs by Dream Theater have typically been highlights of their career thus far, so doing a Topographic Oceans type album would probably be cool.  If I were to pretend that ACOS, 8VM, ITPOE and TCOT was an album, they average out to make a pretty damn good record overall.  

The thing is, DT writes so many epics as is, I'm not really certain an album like this would really be all that necessary.  After all, every record from 2000 onwards has an average track length of approx. 10 minutes or longer, plus they already did two albums of epics: Six Degrees and Black Clouds.  Dream Theater writes so many epics anyways, I'm not really convinced an record like Yes' TFTO would really be anything new for DT.  Don't get me wrong, I really think an album like this could be a cool thing for DT to do, but considering DT's penchant for protracted song lengths, I'm just not certain it would really be as extraordinary as people assume.  More likely then not, the overall quality of the record probably would not be significantly higher or lower then the average DT album.  

[Tsev Eyd Ecaps]

I'm happy with whatever they put out.  New Dream Theater is always a good time!

[LieLowTheWantedMan]

I would be happy. I tend to love DTs epics a lot so I'd have high hopes.

[MasterShakezula]

I would be happy. I tend to love DTs epics a lot so I'd have high hopes.

I'd be quite happy, should they all be up the the standards of Octavarium and such.

I would like to know, how would y'all feel if they did a 12/13 song album with all songs being under 8 minutes, and all being rather mellow, if still proggy, just much more subdued than usual?

[TheGreatPretender]

I would be happy. I tend to love DTs epics a lot so I'd have high hopes.

I'd be quite happy, should they all be up the the standards of Octavarium and such.

I would like to know, how would y'all feel if they did a 12/13 song album with all songs being under 8 minutes, and all being rather mellow, if still proggy, just much more subdued than usual?

As long as it was a one time thing, I'd enjoy it. If they just said, "Okay, we're gonna become a soft pop band now, and that's all we're gonna do." I think I'd be a little disappointed in the long run.

[Moonchild]

if 20 minutes song meant something like:~

Octavarium
A Change of Seasons
The Count of Tuscany


I could live with it but It would feel empty for me because when I'm in my car the routes don't take more than 10 minutes and I would  have to pause in the middle.   

[TheSilentHam]

I really don't care what the song lengths are, it probably wouldn't affect my enjoyment of the album at all.

The only negative to such an album: Yet more ammunition for posters to rip DT a new one.

[Zantera]

One of my biggest 'problems' with Dream Theater is the direction they've taken more and more with songs being long for the sake of it, with very little of it actually hanging together.
So if they were about to release an album with only songs over 20 mins, I'd be pretty bummed out about it.
I'd probably give it a listen, but no high hopes.

[Jaffa]

My initial gut reaction would be negative.  If I saw an album full of songs with that length, it would seem obvious that they were AIMING for that length.  And if they were specifically aiming for long songs, I'd be very worried about the music dragging on and containing a lot of filler. 

[EpicCookie]

I would be happy, but I don't know what it's going to sound like so I would wait till I hear the album

[E.S.]

It would probably be a good album, but that's a very un-progressive thing to do.

[Jamesman42]

One of my biggest 'problems' with Dream Theater is the direction they've taken more and more with songs being long for the sake of it, with very little of it actually hanging together.
So if they were about to release an album with only songs over 20 mins, I'd be pretty bummed out about it.
I'd probably give it a listen, but no high hopes.

Though I love 8VM and TCOT (and TSF), some of their other more recent long songs (TMOLS, ITPOE, SS, ANTR) contain some good stuff, besides TMOLS, but could use some serious editing for the fat on the songs. I'd rather get more songs with less time on each track.

[weirdo]

Rather only 20 min songs than only 3-5 min songs that end before you get into them. IMO. I don't mind if there are some shorter songs, but I'd like that there would be at least 2 or 3 +10min songs.

[Adami]

Why in gods name would a lack of 20 minute songs equal a plethora of 3 minute songs?


And if DT can't write a 5 minute song that people can get into.....that's their fault and a lack of good writing skills. You shouldn't need 20 minutes to get someones attention.

[Jaffa]

And if DT can't write a 5 minute song that people can get into.....that's their fault and a lack of good writing skills. You shouldn't need 20 minutes to get someones attention.

THANK YOU. 

As far as I'm concerned, if it takes someone 20 minutes to get into a song, then the first half of it was probably superfluous anyway - what was the point in listening to those ten minutes which you weren't into?

[weirdo]

Why in gods name would a lack of 20 minute songs equal a plethora of 3 minute songs?


And if DT can't write a 5 minute song that people can get into.....that's their fault and a lack of good writing skills. You shouldn't need 20 minutes to get someones attention.

I didnt say that not having 20min songs equals only 3 min songs, did I? If I say I rather eat a sausage than eat dog poo, it doesnt mean that I necessarily must eat dog poo if I dont eat sausage! well, kinda stupid example but you got the point xD

Ok maybe I put it a wrong way... ofcourse DT has a lot of good and great short songs and they definetly don't lack good writing skill. I guess what I meant was that most of their long songs are great and awesome (once again in my opinion) in a whole new level. but idk anything anymore shudup! 

[CrimsonSunrise]

I'm going to say Happy.  Mainly because DT's track record with epics is awesome for me.  So, I really wouldn't fear a bunch of shitty songs