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

[hefdaddy42]

In fact, very little of what has been posted in the last couple of pages has been relevant to this thread.  Move it along, please.

But Surrounded is awesome.

[ariich]

ToT-147 I think that you are in the minority and nothing is wrong with that it just shocks most fans on this board.

It really shouldn't though. Pretty much every possible opinion has been posted here at some point, so anyone who is still shocked by someone having a different opinion to them or even to the majority is really just being childish.

[wasteland]

ToT-147 I think that you are in the minority and nothing is wrong with that it just shocks most fans on this board.

It really shouldn't though. Pretty much every possible opinion has been posted here at some point, so anyone who is still shocked by someone having a different opinion to them or even to the majority is really just being childish.

I'm shocked every time Blob speaks of LTL, and it's been years since already 

[eviljust]

ToT-147 I think that you are in the minority and nothing is wrong with that it just shocks most fans on this board.

It really shouldn't though. Pretty much every possible opinion has been posted here at some point, so anyone who is still shocked by someone having a different opinion to them or even to the majority is really just being childish.

I wouldn't use "shock" in this case, but it's the first time I've been reading that kind of opinion, so it surprised me a bit. Obviously it doesn't mean I don't respect it, we're here to share thoughts and having someone that differs from opinions to say, the majority, is pretty cool for me. I wouldn't say it's a childish attitude. 

[ariich]

Yeah don't get me wrong, I wasn't referring to mild surprise, of course that will always happen. And of course plenty of people joking exaggerate as well. But occasionally people do act like they are genuinely shocked and appalled at some opinions, which is what I was talking about.

[Zydar]

But Surrounded is awesome.

This is a good post.

[Thematt202]

LTL is the weakest song on I&W, in my opinion.  By a considerable margin too. 

Hopefully we'll get some samples from DT12 this week.  You guys have done a great job of building anticipation.

[eviljust]

See? Never heard someone sayin LTL is weak Didn't think there was a lot of I&W detractors

[Dream Team]

See? Never heard someone sayin LTL is weak Didn't think there was a lot of I&W detractors

100% of I&W detractors are ones that got into the band recently.

[XJDenton]

You mean Mangini?

[Dark Castle]

You mean Mangini?

Nah, he's been through the trial period, he's cool.

[Thematt202]

I love the rest of I&W though.  Particularly Surrounded and Metropolis part 1.

[eviljust]

See? Never heard someone sayin LTL is weak Didn't think there was a lot of I&W detractors

100% of I&W detractors are ones that got into the band recently.

This isn't completely true. I know a lot of fans that started with SC and love I&W, even more
I think it's just a matter of musical tastes, which is strictly personal.

[robwebster]

See? Never heard someone sayin LTL is weak Didn't think there was a lot of I&W detractors

100% of I&W detractors are ones that got into the band recently.

Not even slightly true! The bloke who got me into Dream Theater hated Images and Words, and I've been a fan for almost ten years now, so we're talking roughly half a career ago.

[puppyonacid]

See? Never heard someone sayin LTL is weak Didn't think there was a lot of I&W detractors

100% of I&W detractors are ones that got into the band recently.

Haha. I totally read that as meaning Mangini had said something about I&W!

[Whatsername]

See? Never heard someone sayin LTL is weak Didn't think there was a lot of I&W detractors

100% of I&W detractors are ones that got into the band recently.

Untrue. I've only been a fan a few months and IAW is one of my favorite albums of all time.



I want to get a high-quality digital format of DT12 to put on my iPod, but I'm not sure what would be the best way to get it. Should I be looking to purchase a physical copy or is there a digital version that would work better?

[Shine]

Not really a question directed towards anyone that has listened to the album already, but do we know if Mangini will be writing any lyrics for this album?

[robwebster]

See? Never heard someone sayin LTL is weak Didn't think there was a lot of I&W detractors

100% of I&W detractors are ones that got into the band recently.

Untrue. I've only been a fan a few months and IAW is one of my favorite albums of all time.

Other way round! He's saying everyone who hates Images and Words is a new fan, not that every new fan hates Images and Words.

It's nonsense either way, but reverse-nonsense!

[BlobVanDam]

Dream Team is not saying that 100% of fans who got into the band recently dislike IaW, he's saying 100% of people who dislike IaW are fans who got into them recently.

Myung'd by rob.

Personally, I don't think there's a large enough sample size of IaW detractors to make any such generalizations.

[Whatsername]

100% of I&W detractors are ones that got into the band recently.

Untrue. I've only been a fan a few months and IAW is one of my favorite albums of all time.

Other way round! He's saying everyone who hates Images and Words is a new fan, not that every new fan hates Images and Words.

It's nonsense either way, but reverse-nonsense!

Bah, I need to make sure I'm fully caffeinated before getting on here! As you were!

[puppyonacid]

Is there a notion then that I&W has dated? Or is it just because it sounds so different to their more recent output?

I'd argue against it sounding dated, certainly in a negative way. I think it has a timeless element to it.

But if it sounds dated at all sonically there can only be one reason. Impossibru triggured drumzzz

[BlobVanDam]

Is there a notion then that I&W has dated? Or is it just because it sounds so different to their more recent output?

I'd argue against it sounding dated, certainly in a negative way. I think it has a timeless element to it.

But if it sounds dated at all sonically there can only be one reason. Impossibru triggured drumzzz

I think it sounds a bit dated, and a product of its era, so I can fully understand if people don't like that sound.
Personally, I love it because of that particular sound, and the songwriting is just excellent. Great music will always be timeless.

[Whatsername]

I think it sounds a bit dated, and a product of its era, so I can fully understand if people don't like that sound.

It definitely sounds like the era it was released, but I think that's what I love about it. I'm not sure I'd like it so much if it was released now. It has a certain charm to it.

[jayvee3]

I think it sounds a bit dated, and a product of its era, so I can fully understand if people don't like that sound.

It definitely sounds like the era it was released, but I think that's what I love about it. I'm not sure I'd like it so much if it was released now. It has a certain charm to it.

I have been a long time fan, and was introduced to the band just after Awake was released, and was given I&W and Awake at the same time to listen to. I didn't mind I&W, but loved Awake - and that still holds true. I&W is okay to me, and I like it a lot from Metropolis onwards - and, it is probably where I fell in love with Jimmy LB'S voice - but I always felt, and still feel, it is somewhat overrated, and thats from a long time fan. I still find some parts of it kinda corny and 'meh', and the sax in Another Day just kills the song and makes me cringe, detracting from what could have been a much better song in my mind. I found Awake was just more daring, menacing and cohesive, and i far preferred it, and still do - containing some of my very faves to this day..

[iamtheeviltwin]

I have been a long time fan, and was introduced to the band just after Awake was released, and was given I&W and Awake at the same time to listen to. I didn't mind I&W, but loved Awake - and that still holds true. I&W is okay to me, and I like it a lot from Metropolis onwards - and, it is probably where I fell in love with Jimmy LB'S voice - but I always felt, and still feel, it is somewhat overrated, and thats from a long time fan. I still find some parts of it kinda corny and 'meh', and the sax in Another Day just kills the song and makes me cringe, detracting from what could have been a much better song in my mind. I found Awake was just more daring, menacing and cohesive, and i far preferred it, and still do - containing some of my very faves to this day..

This is similar to my feelings about I&W.  I found Dream Theater through Pull Me Under on the Radio and was really impressed with the band.  Bought I&W and really liked the album, but I never played it for days in a row.  A few of the songs I really enjoyed, in fact I know I am in the minority around here that feels Metropolis pt I is highly overrated.  It wasn't until Awake was released that I became a Dream Theater FAN.  Awake was the album that I wanted from the band, heavy and complex, melodic and technical.  I spun Awake almost daily for years.

Over time I&W has been pushed further down by other albums and probably ranks #4 or #5 out of the DT albums in my list.  Discounting the opinions of those who are not HUGE fans of I&W  or assuming they are "newbie" or "uninformed" is foolish and ignores the reality that art is subjective and what makes something wonderful in your eyes can distract or annoy another.

[puppyonacid]

I whole heartedly agree with that.

But your opinion about Metropolis is factually wrong in my opinion

[hefdaddy42]

Having been a fan since 1992, I would say that it is without question that it is more likely that an I&W disliker would be a newer fan rather than an older fan.

Obviously there will be exceptions, I am only talking about likelihood.

For that matter, the reverse is also true.  More recent fans are more likely to rank their recent albums higher than long-time fans.  Doesn't mean there aren't exceptions, of course there will be.

[Tom Bombadil]

I whole heartedly agree with that.

But your opinion about Metropolis is factually wrong in my opinion

Haha, "factually wrong in my opinion".. I like that

[eviljust]

I think it sounds a bit dated, and a product of its era, so I can fully understand if people don't like that sound.

It definitely sounds like the era it was released, but I think that's what I love about it. I'm not sure I'd like it so much if it was released now. It has a certain charm to it.

This. Also Awake has this 90s sound, so clean and powerful at the same time. It really got me at the very first listening.

[Meatrose]

Not really a question directed towards anyone that has listened to the album already, but do we know if Mangini will be writing any lyrics for this album?

Nope, sorry.

[Tis BOOLsheet]

Not really a question directed towards anyone that has listened to the album already, but do we know if Mangini will be writing any lyrics for this album?

Nope, sorry.

And I have a feeling that he won't write lyrics for a very long time if at all.

[ToT-147]

Not really a question directed towards anyone that has listened to the album already, but do we know if Mangini will be writing any lyrics for this album?

Nope, sorry.

Wait!.. How do you know that?...

Do you know who are the lyric writers on the album?...

'Cause that would it be a nice one...

[wolven74]

Not really a question directed towards anyone that has listened to the album already, but do we know if Mangini will be writing any lyrics for this album?

Nope, sorry.

Wait!.. How do you know that?...

Do you know who are the lyric writers on the album?...

'Cause that would it be a nice one...

I don't know this for a fact, but I think it's safe to assume that JP wrote most of the lyrics, while JM and JLB each wrote a lyric.
Ok....

Interesting information about the lyrical content of the album. Also revealed is that JMX wrote "Surrender to Reason," and James did not write any lyrics this time around.

I stand corrected.

[wasteland]

James confirmed in his recent interview that he decided to step back from the lyric-writing job for this album because of his heavy involvement with writing the words for his studio album.

[eviljust]

James confirmed in his recent interview that he decided to step back from the lyric-writing job for this album because of his heavy involvement with writing the words for his studio album.

Which was a bit disappointing to me, but clearly predictable.
Happy to know that Surrender To Reason was written by JM, which was a highlight for both cyberdrummer and noxon if I'm not wrong.