Dream Theater self titled album discussion - [SPOILER FREE DISCUSSION ONLY]

[The Stray Seed]

This is veeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeery good news!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh man I'm super hyped!!! I especially trust in the confidence that DT members show towards this album!!! Can't wait!

[Frank]

It seems odd to me that the very aspects some reviewers seem to be praising (the sound mixing/quality, the originality and distinction from other DT works) is exactly what the more negative reviews point out as their negative points.

Perhaps it would be more odd if both "types" of reviews (negative and positive) said completely different things about the album. As it is both sides are pointing out the same things, which is perfectly normal and expected and means everybody is hearing the same album - the only difference is their varied personal reactions to it, which is good and completely expected.

Enjoyed those two blog posts. It would indeed be nice to have an album that's good to introduce to newcomers, so we'll see, although all I really (selfishly) care about is the enjoyment I personally get out of it. I'm also excited by the emphasis on Romantic "with a capital R".

[MoraWintersoul]

It would indeed be nice to have an album that's good to introduce to newcomers, so we'll see

That album for me is Images And Words but yeah I'm waiting for a proper "here's how 'new' DT sounds like at their very best"-album to show to people.

I'm kind of worried about the "orchestral ballads"-thing, with all due respect to dear, dear Eren, that was never my cuppa tea. But I'll wait and see just like everyone else

[Frank]

but yeah I'm waiting for a proper "here's how 'new' DT sounds like at their very best"-album to show to people.

Yep, sorry, that's what I meant.

As for me, I've never really been crazy about ballads to begin with, but if there's some intricate orchestral arrangement going on may make them more interesting to me. To echo the common sentiment once again, all we peasants can do is wait and see!

[Lucidity]

I'm also excited by the emphasis on Romantic "with a capital R".

Me too, definitely. I get really excited when DT have some classical elements in their music, like in Overture. I think I just might love this orchestral break in the middle of Illumination Theory.

[Big Hath]

lots of interesting things in that ADD article

"hour long"
"harkens back to the melodic, slightly more traditional songwriting of their early days"
"two of which ("The Looking Glass" and "Surrender To Reason") recall vintage Rush"
"That's bulls**t"

[The Boomr]

With two of these reviews using words like Romantic and neo-classical, I really hope they know what they're talking about. Or, more like, I hope the definitions they're thinking of are the same that come to my mind when I hear those terms.

Probably not since I don't expect any of them play classical music or have theory training....but one can hope

[425]

Okay, I am officially excited.

Good morning everyone! I have a feeling many of you are going to be pleased by what's coming up in a few hours.

Posted about half an hour ago on their Facebook page, possibly DT related?

And if this does turn out to be Dream Theater related... It's morning at DTF.

[Shadow2222]

Okay, I am officially excited.

Good morning everyone! I have a feeling many of you are going to be pleased by what's coming up in a few hours.

Posted about half an hour ago on their Facebook page, possibly DT related?

And if this does turn out to be Dream Theater related... It's morning at DTF.

I think it is about Trivium, since RRUSA twitter posted that Trivium news was coming today.

[Labrie1984]

Yeah, seemingly Trivium-related.

[BlastParadigm]

Okay, I am officially excited.

Good morning everyone! I have a feeling many of you are going to be pleased by what's coming up in a few hours.

Posted about half an hour ago on their Facebook page, possibly DT related?

And if this does turn out to be Dream Theater related... It's morning at DTF.

I think it is about Trivium, since RRUSA twitter posted that Trivium news was coming today.

Huge bummer if that's the case 

[Labrie1984]

DT single won't drop until all of us are fat and bald. I swear!

[425]

Yeah, didn't even look at the Twitter. Okay, well, we still got a bunch of FANTASTIC stuff today in the form of solid information from the listening party. So no one do anything bad to any RR employees.

[bosk1]

*snip*

I have already posted several times warning folks not to link to sources that are not authorized.  If someone who is not authorized to have a copy of the album says something they shouldn't, or even if someone who has a legitimate copy says something they aren't authorized to release, you cannot link to it.  If you aren't sure, ask before posting.  This is your official warning.  Depending on the nature of the infraction, future infractions by others are likely to result in either temp. bans until after 9/24, or perm bans.

EDIT:  And the above includes discussing, asking for information about, quoting, etc. discussions on other websites if doing so violates the rules here.  Posts in this thread that cross that line are being deleted, and future violations will result in warnings, bans, etc.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

People aren't probably conscious enough of the fact that RR has already a schedule for releasing their stuff, all of it. They're not going to cave in for some DT TODAY?! PLS WHY NO INFO AT ALL swarms.

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

I'm down for some news on Trivium, anyway.

[Flacracker]

Why are there so many people here? Did something happen?

[lyfeternl]

*snip*

I have already posted several times warning folks not to link to sources that are not authorized.  If someone who is not authorized to have a copy of the album says something they shouldn't, or even if someone who has a legitimate copy says something they aren't authorized to release, you cannot link to it.  If you aren't sure, ask before posting.  This is your official warning.  Depending on the nature of the infraction, future infractions by others are likely to result in either temp. bans until after 9/24, or perm bans.

Good, because perms are horrible...

[wolven74]

A section in a song with just bass drums and guitar? There's plenty of those on other DT releases isn't there? It must be somewhat extended to warrant a mention at the listening party.

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

Good morning everyone! I have a feeling many of you are going to be pleased by what's coming up in a few hours.

Posted about half an hour ago on their Facebook page, possibly DT related?

[erciccio]

Mangini interview

https://www.metalinsider.net/interviews/mike-mangini-on-new-dream-theater-album-i-knew-when-to-be-quiet-and-when-to-offer-something?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MetalInsider+(Metal+Insider)

[425]

Good morning everyone! I have a feeling many of you are going to be pleased by what's coming up in a few hours.

Posted about half an hour ago on their Facebook page, possibly DT related?

We've determined it's most likely Trivium.

[Dark Castle]

Maybe Trivium is releasing a single?
I mean most likely not considering their album comes out in October, but woooo.
What if... We get multi band news from RR today?

[aprilethereal]

I found it really interesting that IT is mainly instrumental

[Lowdz]

My mate Phil's initial thoughts are very different to that review so I'm not worried. And the drums "absolutley ridiculous" apparently. Hopefully in a good way. And Phil said no real ballads so hmm. And a couple of songs different to anything DT have done before.

Not worried by that review at all.

This is in line with Rich Wilson's claim that DT12 is not ADTOE part 2.

I like the fact that the songs are shorter (except the 20 min epic) on DT12. It can mean more concise songwriting and experimentation. Then again, I think Octavarium is a fantastic record from start to end (and beginning again ) and as an album has incredible stayingpower with me...I still think it is getting better with time.

Plus, I remembered norwegian newspapers giving ADTOE bad reviews to mediocre reviews and I ended up loving that album. One mans thrash is another mans treasure I guess!

Phil's exact quote was "not as subtle" as ADTOE. After 3 listens.

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

Good morning everyone! I have a feeling many of you are going to be pleased by what's coming up in a few hours.

Posted about half an hour ago on their Facebook page, possibly DT related?

We've determined it's most likely Trivium.

Oh then plz continue.... 

[MoraWintersoul]

Mangini interview

https://www.metalinsider.net/interviews/mike-mangini-on-new-dream-theater-album-i-knew-when-to-be-quiet-and-when-to-offer-something?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MetalInsider+(Metal+Insider)

"Sure. And that brings me to my next question: Dream Theater fans are pretty fanatical. What is it like dealing with that level of dedication from fans?

- It's fantastic, because what I get out of it is that they are an educated bunch. And a lot of them, when I dig in and we come, a lot of them have great senses of humor. And they call you and they recognize everything, and you get a lot of people that are genuinely good, saying things that if they maybe bust your chops here and there, it's all good. It's all good stuff. And even for the fans that haven't seen me, or won't embrace us maybe until they hear this record, that's ok with me, because even if Mike [Portnoy] is their prototypical favorite drummer, well then I applaud that, because who am I to say who your favorite musician is? It's fine. It's all good to me, because we're in forward motion, OK? We are going to the next thing, and the next thing, and the next thing. It's like creating a wig. I'm not looking too far behind me. I'm looking in front of me so I don't hit a tree. So I'm not worried about that stuff"

I love this man.

[aprilethereal]

Mangini interview

https://www.metalinsider.net/interviews/mike-mangini-on-new-dream-theater-album-i-knew-when-to-be-quiet-and-when-to-offer-something?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MetalInsider+(Metal+Insider)

"Do you know how much of the record you
are going to be playing live when you tour?

I hope we play every single stinking note."

I hope so too

[Podaar]

  Mangini is great! I think it was Rob Webster who said, "He's properly bonkers, isn't he?" Or something close to that.

Awesome.

[Joshin U]

We are going to the next thing, and the next thing, and the next thing. It's like creating a wig.

[?]

Sorry if this makes me look like a self-centered prick, but:

The bright side is that we'll probably get listening session reports and some of them may include track-by-track analyses!

I KNEW IT! Ok, we didn't get track-by-track explanations, but these two blog posts were interesting enough!

MM's comment on DT fans

[Mladen]

Nice interview. 

[The Stray Seed]

I love this man.

[425]

Sorry if this makes me look like a self-centered prick, but:

The bright side is that we'll probably get listening session reports and some of them may include track-by-track analyses!

I KNEW IT! Ok, we didn't get track-by-track explanations, but these two blog posts were interesting enough!

We got explanations of some of the tracks. One of the blog posts said that The Looking Glass and Surrender to Reason are Rush-esque and that Illumination Theory is "predominantly instrumental" with a JR-driven "neoclassical" section in the middle. Therefore you were closer to 100% right than you gave yourself credit for.

[?]

Sorry if this makes me look like a self-centered prick, but:

The bright side is that we'll probably get listening session reports and some of them may include track-by-track analyses!

I KNEW IT! Ok, we didn't get track-by-track explanations, but these two blog posts were interesting enough!

We got explanations of some of the tracks. One of the blog posts said that The Looking Glass and Surrender to Reason are Rush-esque and that Illumination Theory is "predominantly instrumental" with a JR-driven "neoclassical" section in the middle. Therefore you were closer to 100% right than you gave yourself credit for.

That's true, but sometimes reports like these include descriptions of every song on the album. Anyway, I'm happy with what we got!