A Dramatic Turn of Events - Review Thread

[cyberdrummer]

I thought it would be good to compile reviews by critics and the press, seeing as they are now beginning to emerge, and eventually it can be used for fan reviews.

Rich Wilson (DT biographer, and writer for Classic Rock magazine):
https://www.rich-wilson.com/news-blog/

noxon (leading member of DTNorway):
https://www.dtnorway.com/2011/08/review-a-dramatic-turn-of-events-english-version/

Rocking.gr
https://rocking.gr/reviews/album/Dream_Theater_-_A_Dramatic_Turn_Of_Events/3662/ (translation here)

[IdoSC]

I find it quite weird. noxon's review makes it sound like this album has everything it takes to be a top 3 DT album, except for the first 2 sentences, which make it seem like it's a strong album but far from their best (kinda like BCSL I suppose).

[noxon]

Just for clarification; i'm not founder of dtnorway, but I'm one of the lead people behind it...

Also, ive updated the review on dtnorway.com for some clarifications within the review itself.

Regarding the "not best" - with such a catalogue as dt has, reaching the very top can be extremely hard. ATM this may be my fourth fav album by dt, but that doesn't mean it's bad

[jdprsaga]

there is another review by some greek website which is interesting too. you should put it here. https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?PHPSESSID=ab71987f9b15d113cea01206bf0bc58c&topic=25405.msg984236#msg984236

[cyberdrummer]

Thanks.

[senecadawg2]

Not a long review by any means, but still gets my blood pumping a bit faster. I'm so excited!

https://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/News/dream-theater-0815-2011/

[JediKnight1969]

Not a long review by any means, but still gets my blood pumping a bit faster. I'm so excited!

https://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/News/dream-theater-0815-2011/

I can't wait!

[Psy]

This feels more like the Dream Theater of SFAM/SDOIT period...

YESH!

[jdprsaga]

Thats pretty cool.. i like the falling into infinity mix feel, i  thought that FII sounds like the most professional mix in DT catalog!

[jonny108]

https://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/dream-theaters-a-dramatic-turn-of-events-full-album-preview-488940/2

Another track by track review from JP

[OsMosis2259]

https://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/dream-theaters-a-dramatic-turn-of-events-full-album-preview-488940/2

Another track by track review from JP

Awesome thanks!

[tri.ad]

Great find, jonny, thanks a lot!

Also, it sounds very exciting. I'm very interested in that Genesis-like atmosphere of Beneath The Surface.

[jacksmash]

Drums. Machines guns. Yes!

[jonny108]

Also great to hear that there's some proper moog solos 

[tgstk2]

i love track by track reviews.....make this thread a sticky?

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

Drums. Machines guns. Yes!

  BLAST BEAT?!

[Dreamer81]

"Actually, right at the end is one of the sickest drum parts I've ever heard. It's like a machine gun, the intensity. When he would play it, I would be watching and listening to him, and I was in awe. 'How is this even happening?' I said to myself. 'How is a human being doing this?' He's remarkable."

I mangini'ed!!!

[jdprsaga]

'Spine-tingling' is a term that can be applied to the whole of the album, MusicRadar can report after hearing an advance preview of Dream Theater's stunning new masterpiece, which sees the band - Petrucci, LaBrie, bassist John Myung, keyboardist Jordan Rudess and new drummer Mike Mangini - performing at the top of their game. Mixed by Grammy Award winner Andy Wallace (Nirvana, Rage Against The Machine), it's a sonic wonder that keeps revealing surprises even after multiple spins.

Pretty cool short way to review an album .

[yesrushdt]

Not a long review by any means, but still gets my blood pumping a bit faster. I'm so excited!

https://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/News/dream-theater-0815-2011/

The album features some of the band's most intricate unison solo work ever, and some utterly finger-pretzeling riff workouts.

Finger pretzeling riff workouts.  I like the sound of that.

[BlobVanDam]

These arpeggios are making me thirsty!

[atmyne]

Drums. Machines guns. Yes!

  BLAST BEAT?!

probably more in the vein of this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sz_tSrYq4Ww

[kartmaze2]

https://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/dream-theaters-a-dramatic-turn-of-events-full-album-preview-488940/2

Another track by track review from JP

Based on this, I'm freakin' excited about Lost Not Forgotten, Outcry and Breaking All Illusions!

[wasteland]

New review!

https://www.theaureview.com/albums/dream-theater-a-dramatic-turn-of-events-2011-lp

[nikatapi]

New review!

https://www.theaureview.com/albums/dream-theater-a-dramatic-turn-of-events-2011-lp

These reviews make the wait for the album so difficult for me.
It seems we are about to discover a new masterpiece from DT.
Thanks for posting this wasteland!

[pogoowner]

New review!

https://www.theaureview.com/albums/dream-theater-a-dramatic-turn-of-events-2011-lp

I love that the reviewer has such a positive take on the album, but man does he sound like a fanboy. Definitely have to take this with a grain of salt.

[BlobVanDam]

I thought that was a pretty good (and funny) review. I'm glad I'm not the only one hearing the UAGM comparison for Lost Not Forgotten.

[robwebster]

Ok, I gotta admit. The first time I heard the title of the new Dream Theater album – I immediately thought of the Dramatic Hampster, with it's 'Duh-duh-Daaaaa!' in the background. And to be honest, it was probably fair close to the reactions of the fans when Portnoy left, all that time ago. However, the album's name, as I found out on Monday night, was to be given no thought when deciding on the album's contents. And by contents I mean the songs.

I don't like to be a bastard, but this is not a well-written review. Which doesn't mean it's not an interesting review! Just a little difficult to read in places.

[nikatapi]

I thought that was a pretty good (and funny) review. I'm glad I'm not the only one hearing the UAGM comparison for Lost Not Forgotten.

Are you going to do a review or are you just happy teasing us? 

[BlobVanDam]

I don't like to be a bastard, but this is not a well-written review. Which doesn't mean it's not an interesting review! Just a little difficult to read in places.

They're pretty minor issues. Hampster is a very common mispelling, as is using an apostrophe to denote ownership in those situations when one shouldn't. I'm not sure if the "deciding on" is actually wrong, or just slightly awkward.
Either way, kind of nit picking a review that gives some good information. It's up to the reader to determine what to take from each review, regardless of spelling errors.

[Jirpo]

I thought that was a pretty good (and funny) review. I'm glad I'm not the only one hearing the UAGM comparison for Lost Not Forgotten.

*orgasms*

Under a Glass Moon is one of those songs that just has this magical feeling about it, something they haven't been able to capture since Awake IMO.

[BlobVanDam]

I thought that was a pretty good (and funny) review. I'm glad I'm not the only one hearing the UAGM comparison for Lost Not Forgotten.

*orgasms*

Under a Glass Moon is one of those songs that just has this magical feeling about it, something they haven't been able to capture since Awake IMO.

I'm not sure it's something you'll listen to and instantly be reminded of UAGM, but in the details it uses a lot of similar ideas. I don't want to give any spoilers though.

[m0hawk]

That review...... was almost too perfect. IMO, this is just "new album mania" that the reviewer is experiencing. Let's just settle our expectations back down to Earth, shall we? That way, if the album really is as good as that reviewer claimed, our faces would collectively melt.

[Jirpo]

I thought that was a pretty good (and funny) review. I'm glad I'm not the only one hearing the UAGM comparison for Lost Not Forgotten.

*orgasms*

Under a Glass Moon is one of those songs that just has this magical feeling about it, something they haven't been able to capture since Awake IMO.

I'm not sure it's something you'll listen to and instantly be reminded of UAGM, but in the details it uses a lot of similar ideas. I don't want to give any spoilers though.

Yeah, I understand, I'm trying to keep my expectations as low as possible

[Millais]

i personally didn't think it was that badly written, despite a few grammatical errors.

certainly a VERY interesting review - it gets me pretty excited for the whole of the album now! it looks like each track is going to have something special about it and there's not just going to be a few tracks which stand out. good stuff 

[robwebster]

I don't like to be a bastard, but this is not a well-written review. Which doesn't mean it's not an interesting review! Just a little difficult to read in places.

They're pretty minor issues. Hampster is a very common mispelling, as is using an apostrophe to denote ownership in those situations when one shouldn't. I'm not sure if the "deciding on" is actually wrong, or just slightly awkward.
Either way, kind of nit picking a review that gives some good information. It's up to the reader to determine what to take from each review, regardless of spelling errors.

It's more that I don't think it means what the reviewer thinks it means. Like I say, it's interesting enough! It's just - it reads like a first draft. I guess I'm a bit of a writing snob. It's a bit like watching a kid try to force the circular block into the square hole. Even if they manage it, you're dying to swoop in and go "oh just give it here, you're doing it all wrong."

That said, I've seen similarly iffy writing in profit publications, so you know! It's no biggie. There's a lot of passion. It's just a bugbear.