What's the obsession with Kevin Moore?

[YtseJam]

Why is he still a hot topic for DT fans? I've never understood why so many still compare him to JR or even DS? I've never heard anything KM post DT that did anything for me. What did I miss that made him so missed?

[Pols Voice]

[Blackfield]

Why.... hwat... you say what? 

[Mebert78]

Why is he still a hot topic for DT fans? I've never understood why so many still compare him to JR or even DS? I've never heard anything KM post DT that did anything for me. What did I miss that made him so missed?

I don't really think he's a hot topic.  But he does come up in most I&W and Awake discussions since most people consider those to be the quintessential DT albums and he was a major creative force musically and lyrically in those albums.  As for his post-DT work, I love it and I love his voice.  Some people don't.  

[rumborak]

People simply appreciate what he brought to the band, something that many of us perceive as having been lost since then.

rumborak

[robwebster]

Why is he still a hot topic for DT fans? I've never understood why so many still compare him to JR or even DS? I've never heard anything KM post DT that did anything for me. What did I miss that made him so missed?

I don't really think he's a hot topic.  But he does come up in most I&W and Awake discussions since most people consider those to be the quintessential DT albums and he was a major creative force musically and lyrically in those albums.  As for his post-DT work, I love it and I love his voice.  Some people don't.  

Not the first time I've said this, but he was a major creative force musically in Images and Words. Awake? Conspicuous by absence.

[IdoSC]

KM is mostly referred to as a forum troll thing, with a few exceptions of serious discussions of course

[YtseJam]

KM is mostly referred to as a forum troll thing, with a few exceptions of serious discussions of course

Yeah cuz this post was trolling.  Go fry ice

[Mebert78]

Not the first time I've said this, but he was a major creative force musically in Images and Words. Awake? Conspicuous by absence.

I've heard people mention before that KM wasn't a large part of Awake.  I don't get it.  I know the "Lifting Shadows" book says he wasn't huddled together with the guys during songwriting and was off reading a magazine.  But regardless, I hear keyboards in every song on the album, including some tasty keyboard solos in "6:00" and "Scarred," and he was the sole contributor to the final song on the album and also write lyrics to two other songs.  I'm not sure how one can say he was absent.  

[IdoSC]

KM is mostly referred to as a forum troll thing, with a few exceptions of serious discussions of course

Yeah cuz this post was trolling.   Go fry ice

Nah, actually I wasn't talking about this thread (sorry that it came off that way). I seriously mean it, KM is actually mentioned just for trolling most of the time. Look at any poll you want, you'll see "Kevin Moore" as one of the options along with "Zombie Mike Portnoy" and "Mangini's O face". But it's mostly just "Kevin Moore".

[robwebster]

Not the first time I've said this, but he was a major creative force musically in Images and Words. Awake? Conspicuous by absence.

I've heard people mention before that KM wasn't a large part of Awake.  I don't get it.  I know the "Lifting Shadows" book says he wasn't huddled together with the guys during songwriting and was off reading a magazine.  But regardless, I hear keyboards in every song on the album, including some tasty keyboard solos in "6:00" and "Scarred," and he was the sole contributor to the final song on the album and also write lyrics to two other songs.  I'm not sure how one can say he was absent.   

I think KM was as much the keyboardist on Awake as DS was the keyboardist on ACoS. Or, more saliently, as much the keyboardist on Awake as JMX was the bassist on BCSL. Lights are on but no-one's home. Autopilot. And operating under detailed instruction.

Let's just say he wasn't the brains of the operation, and had no real influence on how the album turned out.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

He's got a giant ass.

[Ben_Jamin]

Two Words..

Memory Hole.

[The Presence of Frenemies]

Like the OP, I've never found any of Moore's post-DT stuff to be interesting at all. It's obviously not really prog metal, being much more atmospheric and restrained.

Two things, though:

1.) Back when he was in DT, Moore was into prog metal. At least, from what I understand, it wasn't until his later disillusionment that he went off toward his other style.

2.) The real restraint in his songwriting and playing really served as a big "check" on the whole band's wankery that's really been missing with Rudess. Moore provided great atmosphere, and while his solos weren't as technically monstrous as Rudess', they also never descended to the point where they became just blurs of notes. The final keyboard solo in LtL, right before the unison, for example, is a pretty easy bit technically, but it's got a really cool groove to it that most Rudess solos just never capture (Beyond This Life's comes close, though).

Therefore, with Moore, DT's songs never really ran the risk of collapsing under their own weight. You could have a four-minute instrumental section like in LtL and not worry about pointlessly overreapeated riffs (a la The Reckoning) or out-of-place soloing.

To me, in that sense, Moore was really perfect for Dream Theater, because he gave every single song he played on a great grounding that kept it from falling off the tracks in the way that, say, TMOLS does with the overlong instrumental section.

That said, given the fact that he ultimately became interested in a different style of music (one that I do not care for, but respect his choice), there's no way I'd want DT to have, like, persuaded him to stay or something. I'm glad they ultimately moved on, and they've written some fantastic music since, in my opinion.

So, to sum it up, he was a great fit at the time, but stuff happened and once he left it was clear that he shouldn't be in the band anymore. Like Portnoy, actually.

[tri.ad]

I'm not obsessed with KM in any way. Granted, he was a driving force for I&W and, to a lesser extent (how much less isn't of importance, I guess), on Awake, and I really like all his work on these albums. He's a great player, and despite his questionable way of leaving the band, I don't hold any grudge against him (and frankly, I don't see why I should). Still, he's not even my favourite keyboard player for DT, let alone my favourite keyboard player overall.

PS: I've never listened to any of his Chroma Key stuff, and only two or three OSI songs (all are on 'Blood').

PPS: Great points by TPOF.

[MasterShakezula]

What TPOF said.  Plus, Kevvie's a really smokin hunk-o-man.  Er, I mean his solo stuff's really enjoyable, and probably my favorite DT side dish, aside from LTE. 

[reo73]

Like the OP, I've never found any of Moore's post-DT stuff to be interesting at all. It's obviously not really prog metal, being much more atmospheric and restrained.

Two things, though:

1.) Back when he was in DT, Moore was into prog metal. At least, from what I understand, it wasn't until his later disillusionment that he went off toward his other style.

2.) The real restraint in his songwriting and playing really served as a big "check" on the whole band's wankery that's really been missing with Rudess. Moore provided great atmosphere, and while his solos weren't as technically monstrous as Rudess', they also never descended to the point where they became just blurs of notes. The final keyboard solo in LtL, right before the unison, for example, is a pretty easy bit technically, but it's got a really cool groove to it that most Rudess solos just never capture (Beyond This Life's comes close, though).

Therefore, with Moore, DT's songs never really ran the risk of collapsing under their own weight. You could have a four-minute instrumental section like in LtL and not worry about pointlessly overreapeated riffs (a la The Reckoning) or out-of-place soloing.

To me, in that sense, Moore was really perfect for Dream Theater, because he gave every single song he played on a great grounding that kept it from falling off the tracks in the way that, say, TMOLS does with the overlong instrumental section.

That said, given the fact that he ultimately became interested in a different style of music (one that I do not care for, but respect his choice), there's no way I'd want DT to have, like, persuaded him to stay or something. I'm glad they ultimately moved on, and they've written some fantastic music since, in my opinion.

So, to sum it up, he was a great fit at the time, but stuff happened and once he left it was clear that he shouldn't be in the band anymore. Like Portnoy, actually.

This, exactly this.

[Chrissalix]

Less is moore.

[KevShmev]

I think KM was as much the keyboardist on Awake as DS was the keyboardist on ACoS. Or, more saliently, as much the keyboardist on Awake as JMX was the bassist on BCSL. Lights are on but no-one's home. Autopilot. And operating under detailed instruction.

Let's just say he wasn't the brains of the operation, and had no real influence on how the album turned out.

He might not have been as involved as he was on the first two DT albums, but his contributions were still mostly fantastic.  He had three lyrical contributions (two of which, 6:00 and Space Dye Vest, were terrific, and the other, Lie, was maybe not great, but still good), and I refuse to believe that he had no musical input into the album.  If he was still "with it" enough to contribute lyrics for 3 of the 11 songs, then he had to have had a fair amount of musical input as well.  Maybe not as much as on I&W and WDADU, and maybe not as much as the others, but still enough that his stamp is on the album.  Maybe he wasn't the brains of the operation, but does any DT album really just have one brain of the operation?

[Zydar]

Less is moore.

Even Less is.... Porcupine Tree.

[orcus116]

Who is usually quoted as saying Moore was more aloof and didn't really contribute on Awake? I could definitely see that being something Portnoy would say since he'd usually consider anyone that's not 100% excited and full-on with everyone to be distant and not as involved, regardless of whether or not they actually are.

[jsem]

Less is moore.

Even Less is.... Porcupine Tree.

[rumborak]

Who is usually quoted as saying Moore was more aloof and didn't really contribute on Awake? I could definitely see that being something Portnoy would say since he'd usually consider anyone that's not 100% excited and full-on with everyone to be distant and not as involved, regardless of whether or not they actually are.

Looking at how, for once, we recently saw both sides of an event we would only ever see the Portnoy perspective of otherwise, I am now viewing a lot of past statements of his with big suspicion.

rumborak

[Daso]

Moore's stuff was amazing imo. You see, it may not be as technically amazing as what JR plays, but it was amazing. Listen, for example, to Take the Time's solo, then to Wait for Sleep and then 6:00. It's really different stuff, but Moore knew how to do it in a way he took a lot of weight of the song on his shoulders but didn't try to have everyone looking at him all the time, or have them be like  from the point he played something good until the song ended.

This said, I prefer Jordan over Moore because Jordan is... He's Jordan Rudess. Enough said.

Also

Less is moore.

Even Less is.... Porcupine Tree.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLy6jAsArWo

[Chrissalix]

Moore's stuff was amazing imo. You see, it may not be as technically amazing as what JR plays, but it was amazing. Listen, for example, to Take the Time's solo, then to Wait for Sleep and then 6:00. It's really different stuff, but Moore knew how to do it in a way he took a lot of weight of the song on his shoulders but didn't try to have everyone looking at him all the time, or have them be like  from the point he played something good until the song ended.

This said, I prefer Jordan over Moore because Jordan is... He's Jordan Rudess. Enough said.

Also

Less is moore.

Even Less is.... Porcupine Tree.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLy6jAsArWo

So Moore = Rudess? wat.

[Daso]

Moore's stuff was amazing imo. You see, it may not be as technically amazing as what JR plays, but it was amazing. Listen, for example, to Take the Time's solo, then to Wait for Sleep and then 6:00. It's really different stuff, but Moore knew how to do it in a way he took a lot of weight of the song on his shoulders but didn't try to have everyone looking at him all the time, or have them be like  from the point he played something good until the song ended.

This said, I prefer Jordan over Moore because Jordan is... He's Jordan Rudess. Enough said.

Also

Less is moore.

Even Less is.... Porcupine Tree.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLy6jAsArWo

So Moore = Rudess? wat.

No, Rudess is better than Moore imo, but Moore was a great keyboard player as well. And,  forgot to mention, he is also my favorite DT lyricist.

[ricky]

I love kevmo. if i was a woman, i would move to turkey and marry him.


SPACE DYE VEST <3

[RaiseTheKnife]

As a fan since '92. you get used to a lineup and their chemistry together.  His complete unwillingness to discuss or be a part of anything  DT related elevates him to a figure of mystery.

[Gadough]

KM is mostly referred to as a forum troll thing, with a few exceptions of serious discussions of course

Yeah cuz this post was trolling.  Go fry ice

WTF, are you serious?

[ACID_FOX]

I'm glad he left. If he didn't, we wouldn't have Chroma Key, OSI and his other solo stuff, all of which are some of my favourite music of all time.

[pogoowner]

People simply appreciate what he brought to the band, something that many of us perceive as having been lost since then.

rumborak

Indeed. Also, OSI is fantastic, and they've been releasing better music than DT lately.

[zipporaid]

for me, I honestly like moore and sherinian a little bit better than rudess...

Not saying I dislike him, but it's more of just an overplaying issue for me.

He'll play some beautiful little passage, and then a 5 octave run just to
make sure you know he's not f'ing around...

I think Moore in particular made the band a little more cohesive and added more
of a texture than Rudess usually does...

I guess I would say;

Moore is to Rudess
as
David Gilmour is to Steve Vai

And honestly, this is one of the things I LOVE about JP - is that he
marries the needs of the song and just blistering lead work very well.

He's kindof like David Gilmour, Steve Morse, and Paul Gilbert's love child.

[KevShmev]

Who is usually quoted as saying Moore was more aloof and didn't really contribute on Awake? I could definitely see that being something Portnoy would say since he'd usually consider anyone that's not 100% excited and full-on with everyone to be distant and not as involved, regardless of whether or not they actually are.

Looking at how, for once, we recently saw both sides of an event we would only ever see the Portnoy perspective of otherwise, I am now viewing a lot of past statements of his with big suspicion.

I've viewed just about everything he said with big suspicion for about 10 years now.

This said, I prefer Jordan over Moore because Jordan is... He's Jordan Rudess. Enough said

I, on the other hand, prefer Moore over Rudess because Moore is... He's Kevin Moore.  Enough said.

[j]

His complete unwillingness to discuss or be a part of anything  DT related elevates him to a figure of mystery.

I think this, more or less, is the answer to the question in the OP.  His actions and few words since leaving DT, coupled with the conditions under which he left and the veritable 180 in the style of his subsequent musical output, have made him an enigma in a lot of ways thanks in large part to unanswered questions.  It's ironic, since it was his insistence on separating himself and cutting himself off from everything DT that ultimately led to his being renowned by DT fans and prog fans in general.

Personally, I prefer DT's early work to their more recent stuff, but I have no idea how much of it actually has to do with Moore.  But given that he was present on what are usually considered the band's two best albums, it's only natural that some people assume (right or wrong) that he had a lot to do with their quality.  I also love Chroma Key and OSI, but then again I'm not first and foremost a fan of "prog metal" like a lot of DT fans.

I do agree with Frenemies in that Moore provided a check for the sometimes over-the-top tendencies of the band, and I would say that that (along with his lyrical contributions) are what I find DT have missed most, along with--secondarily--his knack for creating atmospheres and even some of his solos (even though I'm generally not a fan of keyboard solos).

-J

[Bill Carson]

He brought balance to DT, there's no doubt about that in my mind & part of me still wishes he was in the band but.....his tastes/approach is so different to the other guys that it could never work now.
And for that reason JR is perfect for the band.
However it doesn't stop me from wondering what DT would sound like if KM was still in. I guess the closest thing we have in way of comparison is how KM contributes keyboards to the heavier sections in OSI, very understated.