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

[hefdaddy42]

Maybe I've got the meaning of "cheesy" wrong

Yeah, maybe so.

[Ħ]

Why does it matter if the title of the song is the centerpoint of the chorus? It's the standard, unproggy way of doing things but what's in a name? So long as it's not something ridiculous (.....a dramatic turn of events)

[Mosh]

I still maintain that the album should have been named "Bridges In The Sky" and the song named "The Shaman's Trance".

Bridges in The Sky would be an awesome album title.

[Dark Castle]

I still maintain that the album should have been named "Bridges In The Sky" and the song named "The Shaman's Trance".

Bridges in The Sky would be an awesome album title.

It also wouldn't have spawned all of the "OHMYGERD, THEY'RE REFRENCING PORTNOY LEAVING AND JABBING AT HIM?" comments that A Dramatic Turn of Events did 

[Ħ]

Seriously, that is by far one of the dumbest album titles I've ever heard. I'm so familiar with the album that I often forget how stupid the title is. DT, I love ya, but seriously, lol.

[Jaffa]

I remember when we first found out that it was going to be called A Dramatic Turn of Events, I called bullshit and vowed not to buy the album if it was actually called that.   

[Ħ]

A lot of people did that.

[robwebster]

I still maintain that the album should have been named "Bridges In The Sky" and the song named "The Shaman's Trance".

Bridges in The Sky would be an awesome album title.

Also matches the album art a little better - seem to recall that was the intention back when Hugh Syme was googling clowns.

[jayvee]

Having seen the Enemy Inside video, I'm prepared to say that DT has something extremely interesting up their sleeve.

First off, unless I'm very much mistaken, the video has a mirror at 0:54. We all know about mirrors in these forums. And the new album contains a song called The Looking Glass. Nuff said about that. Also the lyrics seem to support the idea of an evil buried inside the person; and finally, a lyric like this one: "Over and over again, I relive the moment"; might -- just might -- suggest reincarnation. (I said might!!)

Also, it was pointed out to me that the typeface font used in the video is reminiscent of the one used on Six Degrees (SDOIT), and that the sound of the song is kind of reminiscent of that album as well. I'm not too sure about that, so I post it here for discussion.

I personally believe that this album is going to extend DT's previous mythologies, whether from Six Degrees or from Metropolis 2, or both. Do song titles like "False Awakening", "Live, Die, Kill" and "Embracing Circle" suggest that a Metropolis Part 3 might be on the way? I'm very sorry to speculate, but I find this type of thing fun.

I also have a feeling that the vocals were low in the mix so that the words could not be heard, and so any lyrical references would be kept secret.

Disclaimer: It should go without saying that this is all 100% pure speculation. I have zero inside information. This is all back-of-the-envelope conspiracy theory stuff here. I just wanted to have some fun with it and see what others felt.

I saw what looked like a mirror in the video, I noticed song titles that sounded mythological and also consistent with the insanity theme of Six Degrees and possibly the reincarnation theme of Metropolis 2, I heard others point out that the font and sound of the video are similar to Six Degrees, and I also feel that the sound is not far from that of Metropolis 2. I put all of this into a blender, and I added the fact that the listening party was conducted in such a way that the lyrics were effectively obscured, and I came away with the hare-brained notion that DT has something very big up its sleeve. So I'm posting it here to see what y'all think!

[bosk1]

Do song titles like "False Awakening", "Live, Die, Kill" and "Embracing Circle" suggest that a Metropolis Part 3 might be on the way?

No.

[BlobVanDam]

If I had a dollar for every time there was a theory that the new album was either Metropolis pt 3, or had references to every past album, I could pay DTF's server costs for the rest of eternity.

[hefdaddy42]

I don't think it's a continuation of anything other than there various themes and images to which the band occasionally returns.

Or, it could be a concept album about the Hulk.

[Whatsername]

Or, it could be a concept album about the Hulk.

This. I'm so hoping it's this.

[jayvee]

I don't think it's a continuation of anything other than there various themes and images to which the band occasionally returns.

Sure. They might even be pulling our legs. Dunno. I just thought it might be fun to discuss something meaty.

"Enemy Inside" is more interesting to me than just about anything from the previous album. I've probably listened to it more this week than any of Dramatic Turn's tracks in the past year. I mean, there were some good tunes on the last album -- and quite possibly James LaBrie's absolute best singing ever -- but my heart just didn't love it. Enemy Inside seems to have more soul, and the track listing for the new album suggests more intellectual depth is on the way, no matter what.

So even if my idle speculation above is complete nonsense, I still think it's worth something that the band is thinking in terms of epic material -- yes, agreed, the various themes they often return to -- rather than a simple collection of disconnected and relatively shallow songs, which is what I felt of the previous album.

[noxon]

i -wish- the band was as that, to leave all those crazy hints that nobody ever would discover. the closest we'll get is probably the eat my ass and balls morse code...

[illusionist]

Oh,and how would you describe JP playing on the album?Does it have new elements or is it something noteworthy?

Noxon,which song has the best perfomance of each of the band members-in your opinion-?

[hefdaddy42]

Or, it could be a concept album about the Hulk.

This. I'm so hoping it's this.

I know, right?

It's about time they had a follow up to Awake.

[Whatsername]

I know, right?

It's about time they had a follow up to Awake.

Hef you are perfect.

[hefdaddy42]

[Whatsername]

How many emoticons do you have?

[ariich]

How many emoticons do you have?

It must be more than two, surely? A divine being such as Hef must have more than us mere mortals.

[Zydar]

Don't call her Shirley.

[bosk1]

Hef's emoticons have their own emoticons.

[noxon]

Oh,and how would you describe JP playing on the album?Does it have new elements or is it something noteworthy?

Noxon,which song has the best perfomance of each of the band members-in your opinion-?

I can't really answer any of these questions properly...

[illusionist]

That's ok.Thank you anyway.

[Tis BOOLsheet]

I don't think it's a continuation of anything other than there various themes and images to which the band occasionally returns.

Sure. They might even be pulling our legs. Dunno. I just thought it might be fun to discuss something meaty.

"Enemy Inside" is more interesting to me than just about anything from the previous album. I've probably listened to it more this week than any of Dramatic Turn's tracks in the past year. I mean, there were some good tunes on the last album -- and quite possibly James LaBrie's absolute best singing ever -- but my heart just didn't love it. Enemy Inside seems to have more soul, and the track listing for the new album suggests more intellectual depth is on the way, no matter what.

So even if my idle speculation above is complete nonsense, I still think it's worth something that the band is thinking in terms of epic material -- yes, agreed, the various themes they often return to -- rather than a simple collection of disconnected and relatively shallow songs, which is what I felt of the previous album.

What do you mean by this? 

[JRuless]

I don't think it's a continuation of anything other than there various themes and images to which the band occasionally returns.

Enemy Inside seems to have more soul,

What do you mean by this? 

i agree with the 'soul' thing. As TEI has some 'DT root flavour' to it. It's not just playing, it is more 'bringing' the music or something and that's soul...

[hefdaddy42]

How many emoticons do you have?

They're like tribbles.  I don't keep up.

[aprilethereal]

Do song titles like "False Awakening", "Live, Die, Kill" and "Embracing Circle" suggest that a Metropolis Part 3 might be on the way?

please kill me now

[serrano]

If they were ever to make Metropolis part 3, and i hope they don't, why would thy make it a self titled album?

Metropolis part 3 discussion on every release =

[ToT-147]

in every one except illumination theory and the instrumentals, the song names are prominently displayed as the centerpiece of the chorus.

Damn. I hate how DT always does that.

Why? Isn't that what most bands do?

Yeah, maybe it's what most bands do... but DT is not just a regular band... They not ALWAYS do that..
They don't in these songs:

       - Scarred
       - A Change of Seasons
       - Regression
       - The Great Debate (first called "Conflict at Ground Zero", so it would be the opposite case to BitS/TST)
       - Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence (or, if you want: About to Crash and About to Crash (reprise))
       - Honor Thy Father
       - Panic Attack
       - In the Presence of Enemies
       - Repentance
       - Prophets of War
       - The Ministry of Lost Souls
       - In the Presence of Enemies
       
And now we should also add to the list "Illumination Theory"... But, I have another question.. since I don't know if False Awakening Suite it also counts as a song... Is it a song, or an instrumental piece?.. I mean, it has lyrics?... I still have this doubt....

[theseoafs]

We've known for weeks that False Awakening Suite is an instrumental on the order of 3 minutes.

[ToT-147]

Meatrose called it a "song", he wasn't much sure about that though .. Anyway, my doubt it's mostly due to this comment I read on "The Shaman's Blog":

<<False Awakening Suite: (...) It's almost instrumental, if it wasn't for the James' background voice, which sounds through an odd effect that makes his words intelligible (...)>>

Cyberdrummer/Noxon/Meatrose... Would you confirm this?...

[theseoafs]

Meatrose called it a "song", he wasn't much sure about that though ..

No one on this board is strict about the definition of "song".

[noxon]

James doesn't sing on False Awakening, unless he's a part of the choir patch...