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

[TheGreatPretender]

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

Slimmed down like less muscle mass? Or like, more tone, less fat?

[cyberdrummer]

The latter.

[lightbug]

do you remember a ragtime (or funny) piano moment? or a keyboard solo like octavarium?

[cyberdrummer]

There are plenty of wacky keyboard moments, though not on the piano as far as I can remember.

[ronrule]

Were most of the vocals doubled/chorused like ADTOE?

[cyberdrummer]

I was concentrating on too many things at once to notice. Sorry.

[TheGreatPretender]

What was it like? Were you all just sitting there, listening intently? Or were you chatting it up with the band members while the music was playing?

[KevShmev]

What was it like? Were you all just sitting there, listening intently? Or were you chatting it up with the band members while the music was playing?

I heard they were all gonna be tied down like Alex in Clockwork Orange, listening to the music while forced to watch footage of JP lifting weights.

[cyberdrummer]

We were sat in rows of chairs (mainly) in silence, but the atmosphere was pretty relaxed. Hearing the album was the last part of the evening, so the band sat at the back for a while but made an early departure. The Q&A was very informal, the guys were joking around, some great banter between them. For example, at one point JR said that he'd be lying if he said he wasn't sometimes affected by negative comments on the internet, and JP mumbled 'sorry about that'!

[RMGadelha]

How much is JLB present in Illumination Theory (as in time, not how good he's in it), because I remember someone saying that song was mostly instrumental. Was that an exaggerated statement?

[cyberdrummer]

How much is JLB present in Illumination Theory (as in time, not how good he's in it), because I remember someone saying that song was mostly instrumental. Was that an exaggerated statement?

Thanks for mentioning that actually - there did seem to be relatively few vocal sections. I'd say he featured in about 25-33% of the track, but I could be wildly wrong.

[Mosh]

It's also the first album in a long time that I don't think includes a song that was long for the sake of it (Outcry, ANTR, TMoLS, Sacrificed Sons).

It's about time they fix that problem. Thanks for the info, can't wait for this!

[Tis BOOLsheet]

Are there stand out/must-hear guitar solos JP had? which song if so?

[Estiui]

First of all, I want to thank you all the answers you're giving, it is very nice and comprehensive of you

I want to ask you about the heaviness vibe of the album. Is that full-of-wankery heaviness like in, for example, This Dying Soul? Are there many solos with uncountless notes per second? In the end, is that heaviness good or bad/wasteful (for example, some sections in BCASL or SC?

Also, are there lots of proggy/odd/fresh sections?

Thank you so much again, and congratulations for your listen

[cyberdrummer]

Are there stand out/must-hear guitar solos JP had? which song if so?

The Looking Glass (I think!).

I want to ask you about the heaviness vibe of the album. Is that full-of-wankery heaviness like in, for example, This Dying Soul? Are there many solos with uncountless notes per second? In the end, is that heaviness good or bad/wasteful (for example, some sections in BCASL or SC?

Also, are there lots of proggy/odd/fresh sections?

I think the heaviness comes more in the form of straightforward riffs and rhythm sections. There's one moment in IT that really stands out, almost in the vein of TGP. There are certainly Train of Thought style solos, but would we expect anything else? The heaviness, on first listen, fits the overall vibe of the album. As I have said, I don't think there were any heavy sections that felt forced.

[Tis BOOLsheet]

Do you think MM's playing in this album fits well how much it has been anticipated and built up?

[cyberdrummer]

Simple answer: yes. The man is a beast. 

[fadetoblackdude7]

During the Q&A, was it asked/mentioned who wrote what lyrics?

Thanks for all the answers!

[Jaffa]

I don't really have any specific questions, but I did want to thank you for doing this, cyberdrummer.  Very cool of you.   

[Tis BOOLsheet]

Do you agree with the writer from the first listening party that this album has a mainstream tint to it? And do you think it's more tinted than previous albums?

And I have no idea what I'm going to do until sept. 24th......

[cyberdrummer]

During the Q&A, was it asked/mentioned who wrote what lyrics?

Thanks for all the answers!

Afraid not, there was only time for 3 or 4 questions from fans. A guy from Prog Rock magazine asked a few first.

Do you agree with the writer from the first listening party that this album has a mainstream tint to it?

It's only mainstream in terms of many of the songs having a simpler structure. Having said that, I'm not sure any of these songs will be big chart hits! 

[Tis BOOLsheet]

thank you for answering these questions!

[TheGreatPretender]

Afraid not, there was only time for 3 or 4 questions from fans. A guy from Prog Rock magazine asked a few first.

You should've kicked him. Been like, "Bitch, this is MY band!"

[Tis BOOLsheet]

Where does Illumination Theory rank for you in DT's catalogue of epics?

[cyberdrummer]

1. ACOS
2. SDOIT
3. 8V
4. IT
= ITPOE
6. TCOT

Maybe?

[wasteland]

People, stop asking him to make lists and ranking this early! If I ranked LTL after my first listen it would be 40ish, and guess where it is now, instead! There's no point in wasting cyb's RAM with that, let's get him to remember the details of the songs instead!

[cyberdrummer]

Ha, I don't mind making lists as long as people realise how meaningless they are at this point.

[illusionist]

Hey cyberdrummer.Thanks for all the info you give us.I want to ask you if there were many  sections that you 've been left with the feeling that you would like to listen again repeatedly ,to fully enjoy them.Or sections so interesting at first listen that you found very intriguing.And,is the guitar more prominent than the other instruments?And finally,did you notice any lyrical moments or very sensitive parts ?Thanks in advance mate!

[Tis BOOLsheet]

I couldnt find it if someone already asked this but which ones are the ballads and are they power ballad in type or are they totally different slower songs? Can you remember anything about them?

[faizoff]

cyberdrummer, you're a real trooper man. Many thanks again for answering the questions. I really wished it was Sept 24 tomorrow. If I had listened to the album just once I don't know how i'd be able to survive for so long without hearing it again. I suppose its like going to the theater to see a movie you really liked and enjoyed but had to wait a while for the video release.

[jonnybaxy]

Hope it was a great evening

What other questions were asked that you can remember?

[Dave_Manchester]

Re: the approx 2-minute 'solo' orchestral part you mentioned in Illumination Theory - is it a kind of slow, moody section, like in The Count of Tuscany (that wasn't an orchestra, I know, but you get the part I mean), or was it lively and energetic, like Tchaikovsky on speed?

Thanks for this thread. 

[cyberdrummer]

I couldnt find it if someone already asked this but which ones are the ballads and are they power ballad in type or are they totally different slower songs? Can you remember anything about them?

The Looking Glass and Along for the Ride are the most ballady. The former is kind of Surrounded-style, as opposed to Beneath the Surface or Hollow Years.

What other questions were asked that you can remember?

Someone asked if there was anything the band would have done differently musically speaking during their career. Answer from JP: 'how long have you got?' 

I want to ask you if there were many  sections that you 've been left with the feeling that you would like to listen again repeatedly ,to fully enjoy them.

Or sections so interesting at first listen that you found very intriguing.And,is the guitar more prominent than the other instruments?Thanks in advance mate!

All of them!

The one particular section that stands out in my memory is around two-thirds(?) of the way through IT, after the orchestral 'interlude'. Some very cool rhythms going on between drum and bass, and it leads into a neat, heavy vocal section.

Re: the approx 2-minute 'solo' orchestral part you mentioned in Illumination Theory - is it a kind of slow, moody section, like in The Count of Tuscany (that wasn't an orchestra, I know, but you get the part I mean), or was it lively and energetic, like Tchaikovsky on speed?

The former.

[bosk1]

Some interesting questions here.  You guys should keep a lot of these questions in mind for future use.  In case, you know, you guys get a chance to ask the members of DT some questions some day.  Hypothetically.

[cyberdrummer]

Some interesting questions here.  You guys should keep a lot of these questions in mind for future use.  In case, you know, you guys get a chance to ask the members of DT some questions some day.  Hypothetically.