After watching When Dream and Day Reunite

[Frost134]

I have a new found appreciation for how good the album actually is. I feel like a lot of the hate on it is unwarranted. Aside from the lackluster production and Dominici's vocals (which aren't that bad in most cases), the album is pretty good.

[MarkFitDT]

I agree. Its what got me into DT in the first place. I love the songs and CD's vocals dont bother me at all in fact some of the songs I think his voice suits more than JLB.

[darkshade]

I had a similar realization a couple of weeks ago, but just from listening to the REunite album. It really is a good, energetic album, with some fun stuff throughout. It's still on the bottom of my list of DT albums, but I appreciate it more.

[BlobVanDam]

WDARU made me realize that the problems with WDADU go well beyond just the production or the vocalist. A couple of decent songs aside, most of that album just isn't good.

[KevShmev]

Oh, I'd say it is more than just pretty good; it is really good!  Despite being a little rough around the edges at times, their songwriting abilities, from writing riffs and melodies to arrangements, were already really good, and the level of musicianship the four were showing at such a young age was impressive, to say the least.  The album's main flaws - the production/sound and a vocalist that isn't JLB - are obvious, but that doesn't take away from what an impressive debut it really was!

[Shadow2222]

^ Agreed! I love WDADU for what it is.

[bosk1]

Oh, I'd say it is more than just pretty good; it is really good!  Despite being a little rough around the edges at times, their songwriting abilities, from writing riffs and melodies to arrangements, were already really good, and the level of musicianship the four were showing at such a young age was impressive, to say the least.  The album's main flaws - the production/sound and a vocalist that isn't JLB - are obvious, but that doesn't take away from what an impressive debut it really was!

I'm somewhere in the middle.  I agree with everything you said.  It is very good, and it is impressive, espeically as a debut album.  But as with most debut albums, it is flawed, and it is obvious the band were still finding themselves.  As such, it is (and probably always will be) my least favorite DT album.  But still a good album?  Yup.  And I have to admit, I never gave it the credit due or even really paid attention to it until WDADRU.

[TheGreatPretender]

I don't know if anyone actually 'hates' on it, though. I haven't spoken to many people who don't like it. It's a good album, but it doesn't quite measure up to the rest of their discography.

[kirksnosehair]

I like it.  I rarely listen to it, mostly because the production is really, really distracting, but musically it's pretty incredible for a debut album.

[gmillerdrake]

I like it.  I rarely listen to it, mostly because the production is really, really distracting, but musically it's pretty incredible for a debut album.

This. I like the album a lot...love the music......the beginning of 'The Ones Who Help to Set the Sun' is one of my Favorite DT intro's.....it's the sub par production that keeps it out of my 'regular' rotation. 'Afterlife' on SCORE is incredible and shows what that song 'should' have sounded like. Actually I guess WDADRU demonstrates what those songs 'should' have sounded like.

[Ryzee]

I've always really dug WDADU.  I've listened to enough punk rock that poor production doesn't really ruin good music for me.  I just always figured that was the best they could do with the budget they had at the time.  No biggie.  The tunes all kick ass and the playing is phenomenal.  The thing that bugged me the most about it was how stupid they all look in their photo on the back.  I love Kevin's facial expression and hair though, he looks like a caveman. 

Also- I was at the WDADRU gig!    When Mike announced at the start of the second set that they were going to do WDADU in full it was a bonerrifc moment for me for sure.

[Dublagent66]

I don't think the songwriting was ever a major issue.  At least not with most people.  The production was an issue.  WDADRU was better produced, so yeah there ya go.

[Ħ]

The songs from WDADU are easily my least favorite out of DT's catalog. They are amateur and unprofessional, IMO.

[TAC]

I love WDADRu! In fact, I consider THAT my #4 DT album.

[SeRoX]

Even with bad production and Charlie on the vocal I rank them bottom of the my list. Though I love many vocals by Charlie, especially A Fortune In Lies is great. The only song that suffers absence of James' vocal is The Killing Hand. Others are just fine how they are.

But I feel, if this album had had great production and James on vocal I would have ranked it in the top, at least in top 3. I like lyrics, musics and arrangements. It's a classic album for sure.

[Phoenix87x]

I really love the debut album.

From the first listen it immediately clicked and I was so impressed by how much they pushed themselves. Definitely one of my favorites.

    And it was recorded 20 minutes away from my house, so it has that bit of sentimental value going for it too.

[bosk1]

The only song that suffers existence of James' vocal is The Killing Hand. Others are just fine how they are.

Really?  I LOVE James' voice on that song.

[SeRoX]

The only song that suffers existence of James' vocal is The Killing Hand. Others are just fine how they are.

Really?  I LOVE James' voice on that song.

OH GOD! Silly of me, sorry.  I mean absence of James' vocal. I fixed it and let's pretend you never read my post. 

[Nick]

I was going to say, The Killing Hand is the only song from WDaDU on which I actually prefer James on vocals. Don't get me wrong, James is clearly the more talented vocalist, but on that first album I think it just suits Charlie better, which is odd consider he himself complains about much of it not being in his range.

[Setlist Scotty]

Oh, I'd say it is more than just pretty good; it is really good!  Despite being a little rough around the edges at times, their songwriting abilities, from writing riffs and melodies to arrangements, were already really good, and the level of musicianship the four were showing at such a young age was impressive, to say the least.  The album's main flaws - the production/sound and a vocalist that isn't JLB - are obvious, but that doesn't take away from what an impressive debut it really was!

Totally with you Kev. WDaDU is what got me into the band way back in 1989, so it will always hold a special place in my heart, and I will rank it much higher than the vast majority of people (probably 3rd or 4th). Great album (even with the production and CD) that gets slagged too much on this forum, IMO.

[Nick]

FTR, it's probably 4th or 5th for me.

[The Dark Master]

It's an amazing album in it's own right, and I definitely rank it in the top half of their discography.  Production aside, I actually like the "immaturity" of the song writing; the band had so much passion for their music back when they were that young, and they were obviously very happy to be making their first real album.  While a bit of compositional maturity certainly helped them on I&W, Awake and Scenes, they also lost a lot of their enthusiasm and spontaneity, and starting with 6DOIT, their albums gradually became more and more sterile and clinical, until the line-up change necessitated by MP's departure and the subsequent shift in the internal creativity of the band rejuvenated their musicality a bit.  Overall, I absolutely love the album for what it is; a snapshot of the band in their most immature, and therefore most creatively fertile and energetic, form.

[Infinite Cactus]

My third favorite Album by DT. I fell in love with AFIL and Status Seeker right off the bat, but now my favorites are LFAGA (So delicious prog) and TOWHTSTS (SO DELICIOUS PROG METAL). I love Charlie as a singer and really enjoy what he brought to the band.

[Jay.Ess]

I love the uniqueness of their compositional style on WDADU. Top 5 album for me.

[wolfandwolfandwolf]

WDARU made me realize that the problems with WDADU go well beyond just the production or the vocalist. A couple of decent songs aside, most of that album just isn't good.

Like the ridiculous vocal acrobatics.  The phrasing on that record is really awesome, but impossible for anyone to sing.  Light Fuse and Get Away?  C'mon.

[The Dark Master]

Like the ridiculous vocal acrobatics.  The phrasing on that record is really awesome, but impossible for anyone to sing.  Light Fuse and Get Away?  C'mon.

That's an issue with early DT in general.  The Majesty Demos, UDADU, I&W, and Awake all have very impractical vocal parts on many tracks, I suspect because the band wrote many of those songs (except on Awake) without a singer actually in the band to tell them while they were writing the songs that they were nuts.   They cut back on that after Awake because of James' food poisoning incident, but up until then, they were writing some pretty insane vocal lines that would challenge any singer.

[seasonsinthesky]

really enjoy WDADR, but i'll take the Live at the Marquee performances (studio vocals or not) over them any day, especially "The Killing Hand" (which really benefits from having "Another Hand" in front of it, imo).

[YtseCullen]

I was going to say, The Killing Hand is the only song from WDaDU on which I actually prefer James on vocals. Don't get me wrong, James is clearly the more talented vocalist, but on that first album I think it just suits Charlie better, which is odd consider he himself complains about much of it not being in his range.

I think the reason that the songs suit Charlie more is because the vocal melodies were all him, sure the instrumental stuff was written and the melodies were composed by Charlie to compliment that, but I'm sure James' interpretation would've been different and it probably would've suited more his style and therefore James' vocals would probably be a better with the music if he was around for this album.

[Jaffa]

I kind of have an odd relationship with WDADU.  I consider it my least favorite DT album, but whenever I actually listen to it, I love it to pieces.  I think part of it is just that for me, James Labrie (love him or hate him) is a very important part of Dream Theater, and therefore WDADU doesn't feel like Dream Theater to me at all.  It's not that I find the album bad, because I don't.  I just consider it a fun album made by a bunch of kids before they found their correct vocalist and became the band they were meant to be.  No matter how hard I try, I have a tough time considering it to be a proper DT album. 

So I have this issue where when I'm ranking DT albums, WDADU pretty much slips my mind entirely.  But when I do listen to it, I have a hard time figuring out why I don't listen to it more. 

That being said, I think I actually prefer WDADU to WDADRU.  Maybe if they did a proper remake, a polished studio album with JLB on vocals, it would be different.  But just having heard the live version... I don't know.  Don't get me wrong, I consider JLB to be the superior vocalist, but CD's vocals suit most of the songs better, in my opinion.  Especially on Afterlife.  I honestly find it difficult to listen to the WDADRU version of Afterlife. 

[Cable]

I ONLY listen to WDADR for WDADU. JLB's voice makes it good (plus I LOVE Rectifier guitar tones), so it is a win for me. My friend also enjoys WDADR better, citing many things already said about WDADU.

That said, the songwriting was a little rough yes. But there still some great moments.

[darkshade]

I ONLY listen to WDADR for WDADU. JLB's voice makes it good

Same here. The production doesn't bother me on the original album. I just can't get behind Charlie's voice; I don't feel like I'm listening to Dream Theater, but in actuality, Majesty.

[Mladen]

I'm not a fan of LaBrie's singing on WDADRU, therefore I rather listen to the original versions.

[Lowdz]

Oh, I'd say it is more than just pretty good; it is really good!  Despite being a little rough around the edges at times, their songwriting abilities, from writing riffs and melodies to arrangements, were already really good, and the level of musicianship the four were showing at such a young age was impressive, to say the least.  The album's main flaws - the production/sound and a vocalist that isn't JLB - are obvious, but that doesn't take away from what an impressive debut it really was!

Totally with you Kev. WDaDU is what got me into the band way back in 1989, so it will always hold a special place in my heart, and I will rank it much higher than the vast majority of people (probably 3rd or 4th). Great album (even with the production and CD) that gets slagged too much on this forum, IMO.

My thoughts exactly. It blew me away at the time and I love it still. I like it's niaivity and the strange arrangements and songwriting. Many have criticised the "formulaic" approach of recent DT songwriting- well, this is the antidote.

[Sketchy]

WDADU is arangementally insane, I love it. Infact, I'll listen to it now.

[KevShmev]

That being said, I think I actually prefer WDADU to WDADRU.  Maybe if they did a proper remake, a polished studio album with JLB on vocals, it would be different.  But just having heard the live version... I don't know.  Don't get me wrong, I consider JLB to be the superior vocalist, but CD's vocals suit most of the songs better, in my opinion.  Especially on Afterlife.  I honestly find it difficult to listen to the WDADRU version of Afterlife.

I sort of see what you are saying, but my beef with WDADRU is JR overplaying some of the keyboard parts, which takes away from the melodic nature of them.  I get him wanting to put his own spin on them, but Moore's original parts were so perfect that I just hate seeing them messed with at all.