Next Dream Theater Album: What Would You Like To See?

[ronrule]

Someone posted a thread with their own ideas of what they wanted from DT12. I thought I'd take a bunch of those suggestions and other things people have talked about around here and put them up for an informal poll, with the option to pick multiples. If there are other popular suggestions I can add them.

I realize none of this stuff really matters unless the songs are great. And we all want them to have fun and write from their hearts and do what they think will make the best record. But they seem genuinely interested in fans' desires so maybe this can be a place to make those known.

[Zydar]

More positive, happy, and energetic-sounding music.
More bass (solos, overall busyness, mix)
A long epic.
More prog.
Mangini involved in songwriting.
Older sound.
Demo-ing of songs before entering studio.
More high notes from JLB.

[JimmyJava]

First, I'd love it if Mangini was involved in the writing process. I really wanna hear what he can bring to the table.

As for musical direction, I really have no preferences but I'd love some more of those energetic-sounding songs like Breaking All Illusions, The Best of Times, About to Crash etc. It's a style that DT really masters to a T and it sounds so good.

[Kotowboy]

More along the lines of ADToE 

But more actual songs rather than length if possible.

My biggest problem with BC&SL was that there was so little choice in which track to put on..

With 9 or more songs - it's easier to decide which song to listen to. . .

We don't need 15+ minute songs on every album. SFAM didn't have any .

[Nekov]

More positive, happy, and energetic-sounding music.
More Prog.

On the second one, I don't think ADTOE was lacking prog at all but that super fast, super technical prog they play is uninteresting to me. Unfortunately I think that with MM on board they will tend more to that side simply because they can.

[BlobVanDam]

Out of those I voted-

A long epic
More metal
Mangini involved in songwriting
More high notes from JLB

But I would really like them to get a better person to mix next time around. Makes a huge difference to the sound of the album, and whether or not I want to listen to it repeatedly.

But really there's no formula for what will make an album good or bad. I just want a good album by whatever means DT want.

[ronrule]

Should I maybe add something like "Less fast unison lines"? It's definitely something I think is kinda overdone, but they sure seem to enjoy writing them?

[Syzzle]

More instrumental music
A long epic
More Prog
Mangini involved in the songwriting

[serrano]

A double album.

1 extreme long Epic.

Polyrythms.

More Mangini going wild.

1 Instrumental.

Maybe another concept album.

[Mind Trail]

A double album.

1 extreme long Epic.

Polyrythms.

More Mangini going wild.

1 Instrumental.

Maybe another concept album.

30-40 minutes would've been swell. 

[serrano]

30-40 Minutes is not exreme long for DT... 

[Blackfield]

A beautiful mix of happy, energetic songs like Surrounded and Take The Time with more mellow, mysterious songs like Lifting shadows. I'd also love to hear more acoustic Dream Theater, songs like Hollow years.

[wasteland]

30-40 Minutes is not exreme long for DT... 

It would be if they came up with a single 30+ minutes long song, which they never did, à la The Sky Moves Sideways...

[Ruba]

I chose everything except the first and the fourth option.

At least a shorter album and more uplifting stuff.

Me, an ungrateful bastard?

Well, there's always Awake.

[Tomislav95]

ADTOE is perfect IMO, but I would like to have instrumental, more Myung overall and Mangini. Mangini is great drummer and I would like to see him in writing, lyrics maybe

[Jarzombek]

More instrumental music
Mike Portnoy back

[RuRoRul]

A long epic.
More metal.
More prog.

Of course I'll be happy with anything as long as it's good, those are just things I feel like I'd be excited to hear were going to be in the next DT album. Would say Mangini in songwriting but to be honest I don't really know what he will bring to it and the rest of the band seem perfectly capable without him.

[Ruba]

More instrumental music
Mike Portnoy back

I'm sorry. I agree.

[Sigz]

A shorter album, with demos before they enter the studio.

[antigoon]

more subtlety; less bombast.

[lithium112]

I'd like them to be a bit more experimental with their song structures than they were on ADTOE. Don't get me wrong - I think ADTOE had some great stuff but somehow a lot of the songs felt like they followed the (verse-chorus)-bridge/solo-(chorus). Especially while listening through the album the first time I kept getting the feeling that the placement of the next verse or chorus section was very... expected. Safe almost.

BAI didn't do this but I got that expected structure sense from pretty much every other song.

I dunno maybe I'm alone in this. Did anyone else get this feeling while listening to ADTOE?

[Millais]

more happy is my main points.
more prog as a plus.


moar CONCEPT album would be nice.

[Blackfield]

More prog and metal is probably the last thing DT should be focusing on.

They should focus on melody like they did in the past, it seemed to work.

[voncorn]

-

[wolfking]

Outside producer
More metal
More high notes from James

[snapple]

Funny, the outside producer category isnt resulting in as many votes as I would have anticipated.

[Lowdz]

Haven't voted for any of those options. I'm happy to trust DT to follow up ADTOE in style.
I would prefer that the drums are a bit more forward in the mix next time but other than that, just bring it on.

[reneranucci]

More instrumental music: yes, this would be playing on the band's strenghts.
Shorter album: No. I don't see why.
More positive, happy, and energetic-sounding music: Nah, their dark/dramatic edge is quite good and I don't think they've ever lacked "happiness" in their music.
An outside producer: I don't think it would improve things dramatically, and I've always liked them not having an outside producer, so no.
More bass (solos, overall busyness, mix): JM stopped playing interesting bass parts consistently decades ago, so it doesn't matter. Moreover, with the horrible tone/distortion he uses nowadays, more bass could actually ruin a good album.
A long epic: Yes, please
More metal/More prog: they always find the right balance so I don't have any prefference. Although I really like the more metal elements they've been introducing since SFAM.
Mangini involved in songwriting: I don't have any elements to base my judgement on, but I don't think it could do any harm.
Older sound: at this point, "older sound" can mean a lot of things. If it means going back to I&W, hell no.
Demo-ing of songs before entering studio: Whatever they find suitable.
More high notes from JLB: nope. More good melodies, please, the last album was disappointing in that regard.

[snapple]

Pffft ^

This guy.

ADTOE was chocked full of wonderful melodies. I'm starting to think you picked up the A-Mob EP and not ADTOE.

[Super Dude]

I think the number one thing for me is I want an instrumental already. It's been like four albums since we've had one, and there was a time when that used to be the exception, not the rule. I really miss DT instrumentals.

[snapple]

I think the number one thing for me is I want an instrumental already. It's been like four albums since we've had one, and there was a time when that used to be the exception, not the rule. I really miss DT instrumentals.

I don't.

[Super Dude]

Well, to each their own.

[snapple]

Except ur wrogn

[darkshade]

An instrumental would be cool, but it should be something like 3 minutes long. If not, then 20 minutes, like When The Water Breaks.

[Super Dude]

Except ur wrogn

Pshh.