Well this is interesting....

[JediKnight1969]

I don't think the critics of the album art are saying anything about the music of the album.

Yeah, I know... Whatever.

[Madman Shepherd]

Ya know what I just realized?  I don't think I've ever liked a DT album cover.  Well, Change of Seasons was kind of cool....Live Scenes From New York was cool, but unfortunate....

The rest were always just sorta....eh....I guess thats why I'm not too concerned about this weird cover

[jayvee3]

Goodness. I really am surprised that people who have been fans of DT for this long and are still around, that are as concerned about something like this enough to be so vocal about it.

Odd statement.  I can't decide whether or not you're trying to imply that because we've been fans for a while we automatically have to like the artwork and shouldn't be vocal if we dislike it.  If so, that's rather sheepish.

If you're just (by virtue of being new around here and diving right in) genuinely surprised that the topic's received this much discussion, look at it this way:  we're big enough fans that we're members of an Internet forum dedicated to the band.  There are threads in here that are actual polls on some of the most granular, idiosyncratic, trivial, and just plain off-the-wall topics related to Dream Theater.  It shouldn't be surprising in the least that artwork from their newest album has vocal critics and supporters throughout the fanbase.

It appears you really like it, awesome.  I think a middle school student could have put together something much more inspiring and apropos.

I'm simply surprised that some fans who have been around for a while, and would be used to every facet of a new album being dissected every time a release approaches, are still letting things like covers and song titles create an expectation, good or bad in thier minds. After being  fan for the best part of 20 years, I try to take everything with a grain of salt. Simply put, I quite lke the new artwork, as do I for some of thier other albums, and some not as much. Of course people are entitled to not like it, or have another view - but I like to let the music define the album, and just dont get too worked up about things i'll rarely see when I will likely have it on my ipod these days anyway. If you don't like the artwork - all the power to you. But as a fan which you obviously are, it would be a shame if that puts you in a negative frame of mind toward the music. Not saying that is the case, but when you see comments like 'worst title, worst cover and worst opener', it seems a little premature to be quite so negative when the most important part - the music - is still over a month away from being released. Still , to each thier own..

[BlobVanDam]

Ya know what I just realized?  I don't think I've ever liked a DT album cover.  Well, Change of Seasons was kind of cool....Live Scenes From New York was cool, but unfortunate....

The rest were always just sorta....eh....I guess thats why I'm not too concerned about this weird cover

I like some, and I dislike some, but I don't consider DT a band known for amazing album covers. SDOIT is my favourite DT album, and it's never bothered me one tiny bit that the album cover is just scribbles on plain white.

[Pinga]

Goodness. I really am surprised that people who have been fans of DT for this long and are still around, that are as concerned about something like this enough to be so vocal about it.

Odd statement.  I can't decide whether or not you're trying to imply that because we've been fans for a while we automatically have to like the artwork and shouldn't be vocal if we dislike it.  If so, that's rather sheepish.

If you're just (by virtue of being new around here and diving right in) genuinely surprised that the topic's received this much discussion, look at it this way:  we're big enough fans that we're members of an Internet forum dedicated to the band.  There are threads in here that are actual polls on some of the most granular, idiosyncratic, trivial, and just plain off-the-wall topics related to Dream Theater.  It shouldn't be surprising in the least that artwork from their newest album has vocal critics and supporters throughout the fanbase.

It appears you really like it, awesome.  I think a middle school student could have put together something much more inspiring and apropos.

I'm simply surprised that some fans who have been around for a while, and would be used to every facet of a new album being dissected every time a release approaches, are still letting things like covers and song titles create an expectation, good or bad in thier minds. After being  fan for the best part of 20 years, I try to take everything with a grain of salt. Simply put, I quite lke the new artwork, as do I for some of thier other albums, and some not as much. Of course people are entitled to not like it, or have another view - but I like to let the music define the album, and just dont get too worked up about things i'll rarely see when I will likely have it on my ipod these days anyway. If you don't like the artwork - all the power to you. But as a fan which you obviously are, it would be a shame if that puts you in a negative frame of mind toward the music. Not saying that is the case, but when you see comments like 'worst title, worst cover and worst opener', it seems a little premature to be quite so negative when the most important part - the music - is still over a month away from being released. Still , to each thier own..

No one is drawing any conclusions about the music based on the artwork. We are simply pointing out a terrible Photoshop work.

[jayvee3]

No one is drawing any conclusions about the music based on the artwork. We are simply pointing out a terrible Photoshop work.

Actually, I was more refferring to comments made in this thread such as :

"I care about album artwork in the first place because to me it's a huge part of the overall expression the musicians are delivering.  It's a graphical representation of the theme, inspiration, etc. that ties everything together.  I care about THIS particular album artwork because this album represents a LOT more for this band than arguably any other album since Scenes From a Memory (when Jordan joined) or even since the start with When Dream and Day Unite (when Portnoy and company first laid anything down).

This album is MONUMENTAL in the history of this band and the cover is anything but.  Not only is it anything but monumental in concept, but there are even photoshop snafus and stock photos. 

My question is "why isn't EVERYONE scratching their heads, demanding more out of this artwork given the nature of the album?"

This is an opinion, and I actually respect the fact that people make strong opinions, wether I agree or disagree. However , there are comments of this nature, which are clearly more involved than just simply pointing out some shoddy photoshop work. Some people are really taking the artwork as a part of defining the album - thats perfectly fine, just in my view, I let the quality of the music define the album. Im just fortunate that I happen to like the artwork on this album too..

[Kotowboy]

Bad quality of artwork does not equal bad quality of music.


Just look at the white album.

[BlobVanDam]

Bad quality of artwork does not equal bad quality of music.


Just look at the white album.

Or Smell The Glove.

[7StringedBeast]

Not or smell the glove.  ESPECIALLY Smell the Glove 

[ghostnotes]

No one is drawing any conclusions about the music based on the artwork. We are simply pointing out a terrible Photoshop work.

Actually, I was more refferring to comments made in this thread such as :

"I care about album artwork in the first place because to me it's a huge part of the overall expression the musicians are delivering.  It's a graphical representation of the theme, inspiration, etc. that ties everything together.  I care about THIS particular album artwork because this album represents a LOT more for this band than arguably any other album since Scenes From a Memory (when Jordan joined) or even since the start with When Dream and Day Unite (when Portnoy and company first laid anything down).

This album is MONUMENTAL in the history of this band and the cover is anything but.  Not only is it anything but monumental in concept, but there are even photoshop snafus and stock photos. 

My question is "why isn't EVERYONE scratching their heads, demanding more out of this artwork given the nature of the album?"

This is an opinion, and I actually respect the fact that people make strong opinions, wether I agree or disagree. However , there are comments of this nature, which are clearly more involved than just simply pointing out some shoddy photoshop work. Some people are really taking the artwork as a part of defining the album - thats perfectly fine, just in my view, I let the quality of the music define the album. Im just fortunate that I happen to like the artwork on this album too..

And you were completely in the right by using my example, because for me the issue is of course much more than shoddy photoshop work.  For others it isn't.  For others still, the album could be completely lacking artwork and it wouldn't matter at all.  Now of course I subscribe to "don't judge a book by its cover," mantra that's on display here, I'm just saying (for the billionth time, I know - this horse is WAY DEAD now) as the primary way of visually expressing what the new Dream Theater has for the world, I expected better.

Ok, the horse has now been minced up.

[bosk1]

Goodness. I really am surprised that people who have been fans of DT for this long and are still around, that are as concerned about something like this enough to be so vocal about it.

Odd statement.  I can't decide whether or not you're trying to imply that because we've been fans for a while we automatically have to like the artwork and shouldn't be vocal if we dislike it.  If so, that's rather sheepish.

If you're just (by virtue of being new around here and diving right in) genuinely surprised that the topic's received this much discussion, look at it this way:  we're big enough fans that we're members of an Internet forum dedicated to the band.  There are threads in here that are actual polls on some of the most granular, idiosyncratic, trivial, and just plain off-the-wall topics related to Dream Theater.  It shouldn't be surprising in the least that artwork from their newest album has vocal critics and supporters throughout the fanbase.

It appears you really like it, awesome.  I think a middle school student could have put together something much more inspiring and apropos.

First off, please leave the modding to the mods.  You don't need to tell someone how to behave because they are new.  Just because you got to flip the calendar from July (the month that YOU joined) to August doesn't mean your n00b-dust has worn off yet.  And given that you've already been warned about your own posting habits in being here less than a month, I suggest you take some time to reflect on the forum rules and your own posting habits before lecturing someone else.

Besides all that, there's nothing wrong with Jayvee's post.  While people are certainly entitled to their own opinions and are welcome to discuss anything and everything about DT on this forum, opinions that simply boil down to "this artwork does not meet my own personal expectations of what the album art should be" really are silly, and he is entitled to respectfully question those kinds of ideas as he did.

Second, and not nearly as important, "sheepish" doesn't mean what you think it means.  Look it up.

[ghostnotes]

I had a big response going to you bosk, but I'll send you a PM to avoid derailing the thread any further.  I hope those who participate in this thread can see past bosk's personal opinion of this "new guy" and see where I was coming from.  I think I've clarified it pretty well.

[Jarlaxle]

 

[SystematicThought]

Let me join you Jarlaxle
Those quotation marks around a word. He must be MP

[Jarlaxle]

Let me join you Jarlaxle
Those quotation marks around a word. He must be MP

[fps]

The cover looked pretty lazy before, now even more so. They haven't had a good album cover since ToT, and I also appreciate great artwork that ties into a concept, it makes it seem like a band really has something to say. Then again, unfortunately, I haven't felt that about DT for a while. What's more, a lot of people I know feel the same, which is why this album is so make/break in terms of how we see the band. Which makes it a shame the artwork isn't a little better, the attention paid to it a little deeper.

[Elaitch]

So much fuzz over a simple artwork. I don't see the point in complaining over something so trivial. What's most important are the colours really, and so far it seems to be in tune with the sound of the music released from it.

[Perpetual Change]

Ya know what I just realized?  I don't think I've ever liked a DT album cover.  Well, Change of Seasons was kind of cool....Live Scenes From New York was cool, but unfortunate....

The rest were always just sorta....eh....I guess thats why I'm not too concerned about this weird cover

Yea, pretty much this. Few metal bands can say they've put out 10 good or, at least, decent albums in a row like Dream Theater have. However, no metal band has ever had as many terrible album covers in a row as Dream Theater either.

[Super Dude]

So much fuzz over a simple artwork. I don't see the point in complaining over something so trivial. What's most important are the colours really, and so far it seems to be in tune with the sound of the music released from it.

Totally this.  The colors exactly match the mood I get from these songs.

[Millais]

So much fuzz over a simple artwork. I don't see the point in complaining over something so trivial. What's most important are the colours really, and so far it seems to be in tune with the sound of the music released from it.

THIS.

i'm pretty surprised at the response. despite, yes it's simplicity, i really really like it and it works well with what has been said about it so far. plus, it stands out a bit more than previous cover art

[Arnold Layne]

Bad quality of artwork does not equal bad quality of music.


Just look at the white album.

Or Smell The Glove.

Gold!!!   

[Ytse2112]

Now I'm pissed!   That's the same clown I had at my wedding! Damnit Dream Theater!   I'm not buying the album now.

[FallTempest]

Not sure if it was mentioned... I believe that's also Rush's Counterparts font on ADTOE. It doesn't really bother me at all, just seems funny! 

[atalkingfish]

The album covers are, for me, just an easy way to remember which album a song is on. Like someone's avatar on the forum. I see the avatar as a quick and easy way to see who's posting without reading the name. And that's kind of automatic. And there are certainly a lot of avatars on here that are worse than ADTOE's cover.

But, in reality, I think the covers do a good job at describing the music in the album. At least so far they have. Falling Into Infinity, I think, perfectly describes the song in it. Smooth, quiet, interesting.

Systematic Chaos is a pretty good cover for the songs. All of them, I think, are perfect for their songs. And I think this album will follow suit.

[wolven74]

So much fuzz over a simple artwork. I don't see the point in complaining over something so trivial. What's most important are the colours really, and so far it seems to be in tune with the sound of the music released from it.

I totally agree with this.

Have you noticed that the last few albums have all had dark, I wanna call them brooding, covers? SC had a darker, sepia sorta tone over an interstate interchange, with a stoplight being watched over by ants. Or, if you got the special edition, more sepia overtones laid over storm clouds and the stop sign. Pretty dreary. Then BC&SL is almost all black or dark grey, with a moon in one corner, a partial lunar eclipse and the only bright spot (which i think is the lead in to ADTOE) the door opening into a sky filled with sunlight.

My thought is that both of these albums are dealing with much darker themes, both lyrically and in some cases musically. An example from both albums? ANtR: The song is about a horrific car accident, and with the exception of the beautiful agony passage it's pretty damn depressing, I think. On SC: There are a few that come to mind. ItPoE as a whole is about a guy selling his soul to the devil, granted he gets out of the deal by the end of part 2, but still. TDEN: lot of demons = very dark. Dark artwork for dark themes.

Now, ADTOE has a clown balancing in a bright blue sky over clouds and the DT plane. While the artwork was photoshopped and borrowed, who cares? The music on this album (from what we've heard so far) is much more light hearted. Every song we've had a sample of so far has us all in a tizzy to get the album NOW... The music on this album suggests to me that the band is having fun, breathing fresh air into their musical lungs. The album artwork seems lighter, more fun. So too the music seems lighter in tone, more whimsical and proggy than the last albums.

Album art reflects the music on the album.

[wolven74]

Wow..... I did that last post completely wrong.   

[Frosthawk]

I'm going to choose to believe that Hugh Syme and Dream Theater did this on purpose so people could debate about pictures of unicyclists on the internet.   

[tgstk2]

i like the artwork so far, but i think i like the greenish one or the one on the rocks better than the one they used for the album cover
that said i norrmally listen to music on mp3 without a booklet in my hand, probably onle the fist to listens to get the lyrics and that's it
so mehh for discussing artwork.

[TheMiika]

Am I the only one that went and wrote "clown on unicycle back" on google and found this https://farm5.static.flickr.com/4055/4716728244_400e4c5e6c.jpg and looked at that clowns legs?

[Zook]

No all we have to do is find out where he got that pesky airplane!

[BlobVanDam]

Am I the only one that went and wrote "clown on unicycle back" on google and found this https://farm5.static.flickr.com/4055/4716728244_400e4c5e6c.jpg and looked at that clowns legs?

And the hat too!

[TheMiika]

This thread just froze after my brutal first post

[Outcrier]

Ya know what I just realized?  I don't think I've ever liked a DT album cover.  Well, Change of Seasons was kind of cool....Live Scenes From New York was cool, but unfortunate....

The rest were always just sorta....eh....I guess thats why I'm not too concerned about this weird cover

Awake, Scenes and 8varium have very cool covers(IMHO)