My thoughts on 'Dream Theater' (***SPOILERS***)

[RoDT]

Did they serve chocolate cake to enjoy the record?

[cyberdrummer]

Did you notice any song structures-rhythmic parts that are new to DT, possible MM influence?

Do you think that the drumming is a step up from ADTOE?

Is JR prominent in the mix, and are there many keyboard solos?

Thanks!

Yes (a couple of bits where MM combines brilliantly with JM).

Yes.

Yes.

It's really awesome that you're answering all these questions. Thanks again!

Since you don't seem to mind terribly being inundated, I'll ask one more. This may be another where you can't remember well enough to say, but I do want to ask in case you do remember.

How much was the orchestra used on this album? To give a frame of reference you could maybe compare it to Octavarium, where it was used only on parts of a few songs, and say whether it was used more or less than that. Again if this is too much detail where you can't recall then obviously don't worry about it, but I figured I'd ask anyway.

I only really noticed the orchestra first time round in FAS and Illumination Theory. In the former, it was used especially well for accents, in a very Symphony X way, as I said. In the latter, it was most prominent in the 2 minute (?) entirely orchestral section. It'll be interesting to see how they do that live.

So, on behalf of all those bleeding heart audiophiles, did you petition the guys to master their next album 'more thoughtfully'? 

Haha, I thought it might have been a tad inappropriate. 

[cyberdrummer]

Did they serve chocolate cake to enjoy the record?

Sadly not: beer, Pringles and nuts. No salmon either.

[nikatapi]

Did you notice any song structures-rhythmic parts that are new to DT, possible MM influence?

Do you think that the drumming is a step up from ADTOE?

Yes (a couple of bits where MM combines brilliantly with JM).

Yes.

That sounds great, i'm so glad to read that, can't wait to hear these couple of bits 
Thank you for your answer

[RMGadelha]

Well, I love both Pringles and Beer... And Dream Theater...

[RoDT]

Did you get to hear the easter egg? how long is the silence before?

[RMGadelha]

Any atmospheric solo like in Razor's Edge? How is the solo in The Illumination Theory?

[cyberdrummer]

Did you get to hear the easter egg? how long is the silence before?

Yep. Piano-driven section, with the volume pedal guitar stuff that's in TCOT.

Silence before is probably about 30 seconds, but difficult to judge exactly.

Any atmospheric solo like in Razor's Edge? How is the solo in The Illumination Theory?

The ending of Illumination Theory itself is very atmospheric and 'epic'. There are many solos in that song!

[Nick]

Thanks for the comments dude.

I just really wish people would stop equating poor master with raw. The are =/=.

You can have an album with a raw sound that still sounds great, but usually today it's just not the case.

[RoDT]

Well this thread so far managed to make me even more excited about this album. Thanks a lot man!

Still 5 weeks or so to go though....

[cyberdrummer]

Thanks for the comments dude.

I just really wish people would stop equating poor master with raw. The are =/=.

You can have an album with a raw sound that still sounds great, but usually today it's just not the case.

Absolutely. Unfortunately I'd say the rawness on this album has come at a slight detriment to the overall mastering. But it's by no means unlistenable, and certainly subject to personal taste. It's loud, in your face, and quite possibly a reaction to the concerns regarding the sound on ADTOE. 

[Kotowboy]

Garage Inc by Metallica = Raw Sound with great production.

Death Magnetic = Raw sound with horrible production.

[RoDT]

Garage Inc by Metallica = Raw Sound with great production.

Death Magnetic = Raw sound with horrible production.

St. Anger = eh.. Sound?

[Dekost]

What did you think of JLB's vocal melodies? Are they good? Are they catchy, or memorable?

[Kotowboy]

St Anger = raw sound and brickwalled but not clipped and nowhere close to Death Magnetic.

I think St Anger sounds good despite the rawness of the instruments.

[goo-goo]

What did you think of JLB's vocal melodies? Are they good? Are they catchy, or memorable?

Are there any moments were JLB goes up in the register?

[cyberdrummer]

What did you think of JLB's vocal melodies? Are they good? Are they catchy, or memorable?

Are there any moments were JLB goes up in the register?

Yes. Probably two or three that I can remember.

[VincentMDO]

Tough question, but how you'd rank "The Enemy Inside" on the album? Bottom-tier? Is there any song that you'd classify inferior to TEI?

[bosk1]

Did you get to hear the easter egg? how long is the silence before?

Yep. Piano-driven section, with the volume pedal guitar stuff that's in TCOT.

Silence before is probably about 30 seconds, but difficult to judge exactly.

So is the "easter egg" something that flows naturally from the song, or is it completely different and unrelated?

[senecadawg2]

Thanks for the answers and recap! You've got me very excited.

I only have one question, about Illumination Theory. Given that it's long, details are too much to ask for, I get that. But in general, given the overall mood of the piece, how would you compare it to older DT epics? Does it give off more similar vibes to ACOS, 8varium, or SDOIT? Glad that it didn't feel as long as it is, that's always a good sign.

Really, thanks a lot.

[cyberdrummer]

Tough question, but how you'd rank "The Enemy Inside" on the album? Bottom-tier? Is there any song that you'd classify inferior to TEI?

Well I'll rule out FAS in the rankings because of its length.

Preliminary rankings (very early to say really, and of course subject to change):

1. Illumination Theory
2. Surrender to Reason
3. Along for the Ride
4. The Looking Glass
5. Enigma Machine
6. The Bigger Picture
7. The Enemy Inside
8. Behind the Veil

Obviously bear in mind how much more familiar I am with TEI. These rankings mean pretty much nothing right now.

[RoDT]

Tough question, but how you'd rank "The Enemy Inside" on the album? Bottom-tier? Is there any song that you'd classify inferior to TEI?

Well I'll rule out FAS in the rankings because of its length.

Preliminary rankings (very early to say really, and of course subject to change):

1. Illumination Theory
2. Surrender to Reason
3. Along for the Ride
4. The Looking Glass
5. Enigma Machine
6. The Bigger Picture
7. The Enemy Inside
8. Behind the Veil

Obviously bear in mind how much more familiar I am with TEI. These rankings mean pretty much nothing right now.

Well I guess Behind the Veil didn't click very much with you... anything about that?

[Tom Bombadil]

Thanks a lot for the info. Just 2 real quick questions from me: what would be the most comparable album in terms of JLB's vocals? And can you hear JM at all (besides his solo)?

Thanks again!

[cyberdrummer]

So is the "easter egg" something that flows naturally from the song, or is it completely different and unrelated?

It doesn't flow naturally from IT as such, but it certainly fits in with the orchestral, cinematic vibe of the album as a whole. A nice bookend.

Thanks for the answers and recap! You've got me very excited.

I only have one question, about Illumination Theory. Given that it's long, details are too much to ask for, I get that. But in general, given the overall mood of the piece, how would you compare it to older DT epics? Does it give off more similar vibes to ACOS, 8varium, or SDOIT? Glad that it didn't feel as long as it is, that's always a good sign.

Really, thanks a lot.

In all honesty, it's difficult to compare with previous epics. The ending had the epic style of Razor's Edge. The instrumental sections were kind of a mix of all DT's epics - the heaviness of ITPOE, the wackiness of ACOS, the atmosphere of SDOIT. But the use of the orchestra is so different from anything DT has done - in terms of structure, it fulfils a similar role to the volume swell section in TCOT. As I have said previously, there's something intangible that makes it different. 

[cyberdrummer]

Tough question, but how you'd rank "The Enemy Inside" on the album? Bottom-tier? Is there any song that you'd classify inferior to TEI?

Well I'll rule out FAS in the rankings because of its length.

Preliminary rankings (very early to say really, and of course subject to change):

1. Illumination Theory
2. Surrender to Reason
3. Along for the Ride
4. The Looking Glass
5. Enigma Machine
6. The Bigger Picture
7. The Enemy Inside
8. Behind the Veil

Obviously bear in mind how much more familiar I am with TEI. These rankings mean pretty much nothing right now.

Well I guess Behind the Veil didn't click very much with you... anything about that?

It certainly sticks in my memory the least, and that's probably why it sits at the bottom. But after one listen, it's pointless reading much into it. I seem to remember a heavy vocal section reminiscent of TDS, but that's about it.

Thanks a lot for the info. Just 2 real quick questions from me: what would be the most comparable album in terms of JLB's vocals? And can you hear JM at all (besides his solo)?

Thanks again!

I'd say 8V.

And yes JM is audible - obviously not on the level of WDADU, but I think more so than SC and BC&SL.

[lightbug]

Hi everyone, is my first post, so , the question... do you remember the lyrics / theme of Behind the veil? what connection would you make with the recent picture (the kid , the books and the tv) ?

thanks for the answers, you are really cool 

[Lucidity]

How much do you like Enigma Machine relative to DT's other instrumentals?

[bosk1]

thanks for the answers, you are really cool 

No he's not!  If anything, I'm really cool because I had grounded him, but I let him go anyway.    It's all about ME, not HIM!

[senecadawg2]

Hi everyone, is my first post, so , the question... do you remember the lyrics / theme of Behind the veil? what connection would you make with the recent picture (the kid , the books and the tv) ?

thanks for the answers, you are really cool 

Welcome

[lightbug]

thanks for the answers, you are really cool 

No he's not!  If anything, I'm really cool because I had grounded him, but I let him go anyway.    It's all about ME, not HIM!

haha you 're right , it's all about  YOU ! ... NOT! ....... HIM!

[cyberdrummer]

How much do you like Enigma Machine relative to DT's other instrumentals?

First impressions:

1. Hell's Kitchen
2. Ytse Jam
3. Overture 1928
4. Erotomania
5. Enigma Machine
6. The Dance of Eternity
7. Stream of Consciousness




8. Raw Dog

Hi everyone, is my first post, so , the question... do you remember the lyrics / theme of Behind the veil? what connection would you make with the recent picture (the kid , the books and the tv) ?

thanks for the answers, you are really cool 

Sorry to disappoint, but I have no recollection!

Thinking about the lyrics was the last thing on my mind to be honest.

[cyberdrummer]

I can also confirm it's not a concept album

Whatever people end up thinking about the quality of this album, I don't think anybody will be able to say they've played it safe.

[senecadawg2]

Whatever people end up thinking about the quality of this album, I don't think anybody will be able to say they've played it safe.

[cyberdrummer]

In other news, JP seems to have slimmed down somewhat.

[RoDT]

Do you think JP will need to shave his head soon? Too much metal is taking a toll