Along for the Ride Discussion Thread

[adastra]

Whoa! Nice song! Wonderful guitar playing!  I didn't like the Keyboard solo though :3

[cyberdrummer]

the drums sound worse with each additional listen.

I didnt mind the snare sound on TEI, but I was hoping they would go after getting a different sound for tunes that are more chill like this one, after 2 listens, it sounds like pretty much the same or similar snare sound. 

I agree, it doesn't sound great on this track, but I'm trying to keep in mind its a Soundcloud stream, I feel like the snare sound and drum sound on the final album won't sound bad enough to actually hinder my ability to enjoy the tune.  Are they the best sounding drums for this style track? Probably not, but they arent that bad either, IMO.

The drums sound pretty similar on the actual album...

[Mebert78]

I like the track a lot.  The intro is gorgeous and gives me chills.  The drum sound is cringe worthy, in my opinion.  It's a shame, because Mangini's wonderful playing is going to be overshadowed by whatever weird things they decided to do with the drum sound.  It sounds triggered and dry, no juice to it.  Portnoy's probably shaking his head.

Also, not a fan of Jordan reusing old key sounds on the solos.  He re-used the circus sound on The Enemy Inside, and now this sounds from Beneath the Surface.  I guess he's purposely revisiting old sounds for this self-titled release and revisiting some of his favorite sounds, but I'm not a fan of it.

But, this drum sound issue is going to be a MAJOR discussion point amongst fans IMO, similar to how the mastering issue on the new Queensryche release has dominated discussion there.  The DT drums, like the QR mastering, are taking away enjoyment of my listening experience.

[Bolsters]

the drums sound worse with each additional listen. 

The toms stood out as being particularly strange on my last play through the song. Almost like they are made of paper or something.

The intro really strongly reminds me of something, the sound, but I can't figure it out. Anyone else being reminded of something by it?

Shadows Fall - Prelude To Disaster

Never heard of it, I'm thinking of something else. Quite similar though I agree.

Now I'm getting strong familiarity from the vocal melody on "I believe we're along for the ride", too. 

The mix doesn't help this song, at all. The guitars come in way too loud, as well as the drums (of which the snare I'm not a fan of), but hey it seems they were aiming to achieve this type of sound. I think the chorus is really powerful and the song is super concise, something I missed off Dream Theater in their pre-ADTOE releases.

Yeah, I am really hoping for another HDTracks-type release this time aswell. I really would like to hear these songs with less compression at mastering, even moreso than I wanted to with ADTOE.

[Marion Crane]

Only thing that bothers me about it is the running water sample in the beginning.  You can clearly hear it looping

[The Stray Seed]

I can see why some people talked about a concept album, I really get a concept atmosphere in this track!! And even though it's just a feeling, I really like it!

[TL]

Most Online Today: 981
Most Online Ever: 981 (Today at 11:46 AM ADT)

[morkie]

Nice guitar work but no guitar solo, I actually do like the Moog solo - it's not crazy and fits just right.

I like it, very pretty but it's going to have to grow on me a bit. Excited that I got to hear it!

The mix and/or soundcloud quality was dreadful. Please God don't let them be all distorted like that on the actual release.

[mikeyd23]

The drums sound pretty similar on the actual album...

Ah, good to know... I was assuming the actual drum sound wouldn't really change but Soundcloud can be such a bad sonic representation of quality at times, I try to hold out until I hear the album version to make final judgement obviously. Little things like how the drums interact in the mix can change my view of them and sometimes Soundcloud seems to alter the quality of the overall mix of tracks. 

[Dellers]

Better than TEI to my ears. I still don't like that really deep bucket sounding snare drum, and on this track it sounds particularly out of place. The guitars don't sound as loud as in TEI, but I still think they are a little too much. I can definitely say that I will not like the sound of the album, with two singles that IMO sound weird, have balance problems between instruments and are too compressed.

[TheDodo]

Liked the song except for Manginis drumming. He has done too much and this complex drumming doesn't fit a ballad at all. But this is just my opinion.

Nice guitar work but no guitar solo, I actually do like the Moog solo - it's not crazy and fits just right.

I like it, very pretty but it's going to have to grow on me a bit. Excited that I got to hear it!

The mix and/or soundcloud quality was dreadful. Please God don't let them be all distorted like that on the actual release.

The music on Soundcloud is compressed to hell. The actual release will sound better.

[Dark Castle]

I figured fuck it, and listened even though I said I wouldn't 

[Octavaripolis]

I am not too fond of the vocal melodies on this one.. But John Myungs bass-playing is fucking excellent. Especially during Jordans solo.

[The Stray Seed]

Only thing that bothers me about it is the running water sample in the beginning.  You can clearly hear it looping

I really do think it's on purpose.

[dparrott]

The drums MAKE this song.  Lots of odd beats, love it.  It could have been very boring without that.  Also nice to clearly hear JMX for once!    Funny how they gave us a "safe" song, saving the better stuff for the album release!

[jingle.boy]

In the words of the legendary badass, Emil M. Antonowsky

IIIIIII LIKE IT!!!!!

One of the better 'mellow' tracks they've had this millenium.

[jingle.boy]

"....and 645 guest are reading this topic"

Even better ....
"Most Online Today: 981. Most Online Ever: 981 (Today at 10:44:41 AM)"

New record.... here's pushing for 1000!!!!

[Dark Castle]

Agreeing with the Jingle, I really enjoyed this song, and with that I shall not listen again until I have the album in hand

[dparrott]

Also it's a nice break before the overload that is IT.....

[wolven74]

Nice guitar work but no guitar solo, I actually do like the Moog solo - it's not crazy and fits just right.

Guitar solo @ 2:09

[Bolsters]

"....and 645 guest are reading this topic"

Even better ....
"Most Online Today: 981. Most Online Ever: 981 (Today at 10:44:41 AM)"

New record.... here's pushing for 1000!!!!

The former record was from the ADTOE release IIRC too, not a single release. So the DT12 release will probably be break it again. Possibly spectacularly.

[Jaq]

I'm liking this, though I barely get why people keep getting a Beneath The Surface vibe from it, other than Jordan using the Emerson sounding synth patch on the solo. It's more like This Is The Life Mark 2. Personally I love how busy MM is on the song-people said he kept it too basic last time, he certainly isn't basic this time.

[Zydar]

First listen now, I'm liking this. Probably needs many more spins though. And I'm not bothered by the drums at all.

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

"....and 645 guest are reading this topic"



Damn.....




Happy fucking birthday to me, thanks DT!!!!

Yep they're all here for you man, I invited them! 

[TheOutlawXanadu]

Really liked "The Enemy Inside" but I feel like something's missing with this one.

[mikeyd23]

Personally I love how busy MM is on the song-people said he kept it too basic last time, he certainly isn't basic this time.

Yep, I agree! I think the drum parts are interesting and are creative 

[atmyne]

The drums MAKE this song.  Lots of odd beats, love it.  It could have been very boring without that.  Also nice to clearly hear JMX for once!    Funny how they gave us a "safe" song, saving the better stuff for the album release!

Agreed, especially about the drums. Maybe it's trendy to call things out as being of bad production?
I'm just listening to this for the second time now, paying extra attention to the drums, and they sound GREAT.
And wow strong I&W vibe up until the keyboard solo it's amazing.

[nikatapi]

The song is cool, but i have to say this is probably the worst drum sound on a DT album. Sounds really triggered and out of place, no dynamics at all.

It's a pity really, because MM is doing a lot of cool things on this song.

[chwik]

Love the track! For me it's got this 90'sh I&W vibe to it that I love. This album is going to rock bigtime! 

[GasparXR]

Without commenting on the song yet, as I'm still absorbing it, I'm wondering if tomorrow it will be released on iTunes and whatnot in higher quality, like they did with TEI.

[morkie]

Nice guitar work but no guitar solo, I actually do like the Moog solo - it's not crazy and fits just right.

Guitar solo @ 2:09

You know I think you're right but it kind of felt initially like a small filler melody leading to the next section. It is really nice though!

[JiM-Xtreme]

My thoughts on the new track immediately after hearing it for the first time.

I think it's pretty, with plenty of instrumental colour going on. If that makes any sense. I like the lyrics, suitably poetic and general enough to be meaningful to lots of people. I think that given time, this may become a live favourite on future tours.

Digging the tone of JM's bass here - nice for it to not be buried in the mix anymore! I'm a bit put off by JR using the exact same lead sound as for Beneath the Surface, but to be honest I loved it in that song and it sounds really nice here too.

Hello everyone, by the way! My name is Jim... long time lurker, first time poster 

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

Welcome back JM!!  Goddamn the last chords with JP and JM blew my speakers away, dat bass sound!!!! 

[ToT-147]

Mike Portnoy's Spirit Carries On.. He's just still there..

Nothing new on the drums... MM

Nice Bass-Key section.. But JR is using the same BTS solo.. Just THE SAME.. JR  .. JM 

The rest: good enough...

[emtee]

I'll reserve judgement on sonics until I have the album in my hands...except to say that from that source and on my
computer, there seems to be almost no seperation in sound between kick, snare and toms. They are almost equal
in sound. Hits on a drum head that don't seem tuned. But I won't know until I get the CD.