Along for the Ride Discussion Thread

[GasparXR]

Are people that deaf to think this sound sounds similar to BTS?!

Like it or not it's not even close.

Agreed, not even close.  Good thing some of these folks were not around during the 70s.  ELP and Yes would never stand a chance. 

Uh...was around in the 70's and absolutely LOVE(D) and still love ELP & Yes, so there goes that wasted theory. I don't mean it "sounds" the same as BTS (which I loved, BTW), it's the breathy vocals, the same sentiment, basically NOTHING NEW!

THIS IS NOT the DT I signed up for! If I want mainstream pop ballads, there's millions of places to go for that. DT "was" one of a kind. No More!

"The same sentiment?" BTS was about a relationship getting strained between two people. AFTR is about being along for the ride. I don't see how those are the same sentiment.

[PROGdrummer]

Are people that deaf to think this sound sounds similar to BTS?!

Like it or not it's not even close.

Agreed, not even close.  Good thing some of these folks were not around during the 70s.  ELP and Yes would never stand a chance. 

Uh...was around in the 70's and absolutely LOVE(D) and still love ELP & Yes, so there goes that wasted theory. I don't mean it "sounds" the same as BTS (which I loved, BTW), it's the breathy vocals, the same sentiment, basically NOTHING NEW!

THIS IS NOT the DT I signed up for! If I want mainstream pop ballads, there's millions of places to go for that. DT "was" one of a kind. No More!

Leave then. Not to be rude but if you feel that this is the last straw then dont put up with it anymore.

If you want classic Dream Theater, go listen to Images and Words and Awake. If you want varied amounts of heavy prog listen to anything from Scenes up to Octavarium. If you want some in your face metal tunes listen to Systematic Chaos and Black Clouds. If you want some feathery ballads mixed with more upbeat keyboard-centric arrangements, listen to ADTOE and DT12.

Youre complaining about "more of the same", yet requesting a return to the old formula when the band is taking a different new direction. I don't understand that.

I hope this doesnt come off as a personal attack, Im just stating my opinion. It probably came out rather harshly though.

[Jaffa]

Youre complaining about "more of the same", yet requesting a return to the old formula when the band is taking a different new direction. I don't understand that.

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

Doesn't matter how much time or effort was put into it. If it's not good, it's not good.

of a soundcloud stream? jesus christ

I haven't heard the new song, or anything on soundcloud. My issue is when people start whining about someone who's not a sound engineer complaining about production. You don't have to be able to produce records to know what a good-sounding record sounds like.

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

Are people that deaf to think this sound sounds similar to BTS?!

Like it or not it's not even close.

Agreed, not even close.  Good thing some of these folks were not around during the 70s.  ELP and Yes would never stand a chance. 

Uh...was around in the 70's and absolutely LOVE(D) and still love ELP & Yes, so there goes that wasted theory. I don't mean it "sounds" the same as BTS (which I loved, BTW), it's the breathy vocals, the same sentiment, basically NOTHING NEW!

THIS IS NOT the DT I signed up for! If I want mainstream pop ballads, there's millions of places to go for that. DT "was" one of a kind. No More!

Well, if you want run-of-the-mill prog metal, there's pretty much millions of places to go for that, too.

[RodrigoAltaf]

Along for the Ride seems to be the kind of song that really grows live. I can picture the crowd singing along to it on a similar way to Hollow Years. And it's miles ahead of Beneath the Surface or the ither ADTOE ballad which is so bad that I can't even remember what it's called.

[fllnsprrw]

I like the song a lot. It's the way a DT ballad should be. at least how *I* like it. Beneath The Surface and that other song on ADTOE is way too slow for me.

[krieger]

THIS IS NOT the DT I signed up for! If I want mainstream pop ballads, there's millions of places to go for that. DT "was" one of a kind.

What? You have signed...?

I didn't. When they released some albums I didn't like, I just took some "time off" - and waited for a release I would enjoy (adtoe).

[Attention: Silly joke ahead]

No Moore!

Yes, yes, it's hard to overcome this. There's no keyboard player like him. But we must accept that. It has been almost 10 [edit: 20! I mean 20!] years, it's time to go on. I know, there will never be another Waiting for Sleep or SDV... 

[end of silly joke]

[RodrigoAltaf]

Funny how MP and KM both left DT. One of the two completely renegates his past with rhe band, while the other is still mortified by gaving left. And yet, who has more respect from the fans?

[TL]

It is funny how many people I've seen complaining about this song because they don't want DT making 'pop ballads'. As if DT hasn't had a ballad on every album they've made, and as if the entire album is going to be nothing but ballads based on Along For the Ride.

[rumborak]

I have no problem with DT making ballads. Most of my favorite bands made a ton of ballads.
I also have no problem with the Moog sound for the solo. It's a bold choice for a ballad solo, but bold can be good.
I also don't really have a problem with the mix. I listen a lot to bands who recorded their music on horrendous equipment, with bad mixes the result.
I plain don't connect with the song, nor with the solo. I put it on, and after about 20 second my attention wanders to something. And I only realize the song was actually on when it ends.

[Marion Crane]

Man, I really feel bad for those of you not enjoying this song.

[LKap13]

In reading the responses to this song the most striking thing is not how much negativity is floating around as some have suggested, but rather that people's negative reactions seem to all be about a select few things. To me, that's both interesting from a psychological perspective, and also suggests that those complaining aren't doing so because they're ungrateful, whiny, etc (though they may well be), but because their sentiments, which are shared by many (in reality, most) of the fanbase, have led them to have some opinion about the song. If this song were played for Nickelback fans, for example, the complaints and praises would be completely different.
I do think that excessive criticism is unsettling both because DT might be "hurt" by it, and because reading negative opinions about something has the potential to make you like it less (which I believe to be the real reason for people's complaints about the complaints). Still, negative opinions are just as valid as positive ones and particularly so when the negative opinions aren't random but clearly follow a noticeable trend.
On day 2, I'm still loving AFTR, disliking the drums, and feeling that the keyboard solo is odd. I use the word odd because JR is a master, and could have easily composed something less derivative of BTS solo, note, IF HE HAD WANTED TO. That's why it's odd. Anyone can see that the solo is out of place and almost a carbon copy of BTS, but for SOME reason (no time to write something different? unlikely; purposefully a call-back to BTS? possible; a lapse? who knows; I and many others are plainly stupid for comparing the solos? possible) that we haven't been made aware of yet   he decided to use it.

[BlobVanDam]

I have no problem with DT making ballads. Most of my favorite bands made a ton of ballads.
I also have no problem with the Moog sound for the solo. It's a bold choice for a ballad solo, but bold can be good.
I also don't really have a problem with the mix. I listen a lot to bands who recorded their music on horrendous equipment, with bad mixes the result.
I plain don't connect with the song, nor with the solo. I put it on, and after about 20 second my attention wanders to something. And I only realize the song was actually on when it ends.

I agree with the bolded bits.
As with BTS, JR's lead was actually the best part of the song by far for me by far, and I don't really mind that they use a similar sound at all. I love most of DT's ballads, but as with BTS, this one just does nothing for me.

[Implode]

Hello guys. Some people like thing. Some people don't like thing. Both are okay. That all. Thank for time.

[GasparXR]

Hello guys. Some people like thing. Some people don't like thing. Both are okay. That all. Thank for time.

TAKE YOUR THING AND SHOVE IT!



...which is what I would say if I no understand what say.

[Daso]

So what is exactly the problem with Jordan using the same patch he used in another solo for this one? He has done that many times, JUST AS MOST (if not ALL) KEYBOARDIST DO, and I've never seen a single complain, and I saw no one complain about that patch when he used it in BTS. Is it suddenly bad because he used it again in a ballad? I don't get it. If someone can explain what is exactly wrong with using the same patch, please be kind enough to tell me.

The keyboard solo was one of my favorite parts in the song. I only found similarity with BTS in that it was played pretty much in the same range. Of course the solo is going to sound similar if the same patch is used, since everything (reverb, attack, delay, bends, etc) is exactly the same, but musically it is way different. Stop the fucking whining, seriously. It's annoying when given without any reasons behind it.

[(nothing)]

Suddenly the Dramatic Turn drum mix doesn't sound so bad.

You know, I never understood why people think the drums were lost in ADTOE. I have been trying to find places in the record where the drums get lost in the mix and I have yet to find one. I guess Andy Wallace knew what he was doing after all...

mainstream pop ballads

How many "mainstream pop ballads" can you mention that have double-bass drumming and keyboard solos?

My only problem with AFTR is the lyrics, they're really cheesy for my taste. It's not the theme that I don't like, it's the actual phrasing. I don't care about the technical stuff that much as long as the music is good and I can understand what's going on musically.


(Not related to the above, just a general observation
Lately, reading comments on various sites (mostly facebook) has been making me think of how the Internet is such a bad thing sometimes. Not because I disagree with them but because of the way they are phrased and the purpose they serve (often, none). Go on any facebook post on a successful band's page and read the comments (if you want to do that to yourself). Then think of all the bandwidth and energy that's being wasted so that people can write whatever they want (literally!).

[Dacling]

The complaining about the moog solo is by far the worst. There is one moment in which the AFTR sounds similar to the BTS solo. So since JR should not use the same sound twice I think the rest of the band should not do anything they have done before either.

DT's next album should be played live in the studio and consist of JR playing the sound of someone opening a shoebox through his sample wiz except for the solos which are the sound of him scratching his head at the comments for AFTR. MM will bang on a couple of pots attached to him very slowly and occasionally tip over a dresser which will be placed all around the studio in a maze like fashion.

JP will play a recording of Alex Lifeson's stream of consciousness rants from live versions La Villa Strangiato that have been isolated and played over a loud speaker in a dog park and then re-rerecorded with an extremely sensitive mic at the end of a cup with a string attached with the other end of the cup having a single ipod headphone.

JM will be completely audible through the entire album.

JLB will randomly change which language he is singing as low as he can through the whole album without ever singing English and the lyrics are a combination of Taylor Swift lyrics and dialog from Monty Python skits put through bad translator.

The album will then be reversed and be so uncompressed that it requires 10 discs to fit the 30 minute album with 20 songs on it.

[GasparXR]

The complaining about the moog solo is by far the worst. There is one moment in which the AFTR sounds similar to the BTS solo. So since JR should not use the same sound twice I think the rest of the band should not do anything they have done before either.

DT's next album should be played live in the studio and consist of JR playing the sound of someone opening a shoebox through his sample wiz except for the solos which are the sound of him scratching his head at the comments for AFTR. MM will bang on a couple of pots attached to him very slowly and occasionally tip over a dresser which will be placed all around the studio in a maze like fashion.

JP will play a recording of Alex Lifeson's stream of consciousness rants from live versions La Villa Strangiato that have been isolated and played over a loud speaker in a dog park and then re-rerecorded with an extremely sensitive mic at the end of a cup with a string attached with the other end of the cup having a single ipod headphone.

JM will be completely audible through the entire album.

JLB will randomly change which language he is singing as low as he can through the whole album without ever singing English and the lyrics are a combination of Taylor Swift lyrics and dialog from Monty Python skits put through bad translator.

The album will then be reversed and be so uncompressed that it requires 10 discs to fit the 30 minute album with 20 songs on it.

And it will still be better than One Direction.

[LKap13]

Man AFTR feels like Images-reincarnate. If this is truly the weakest (or among the weakest) track on the album then I think we're in luck. Not sure how to reconcile this with the slightly "above average" sentiment that I've been seeing on the reviews.

[JohnnyLayne]

If I want mainstream pop ballads, there's millions of places to go for that.

If AFTR was the archetype for a "mainstream pop ballad" surely I'll listen more of them 

[LCArenas]

Yeah, it was okay. Not nothing that blew my mind completely or something.
It's kind of "This is The life II: This is still the life" but it's okay with me. I did like the Enemy Inside a lot better than this one but hey, it wasn't really bad. They keep playing it safe IMO. The keyboards were pretty sweet as well.

[chrisbDTM]

it's just okay. im not gonna say it's awesome just cause it's DT. And those lyrics are a little cringey at times.

[Daybreak at the lake]

Long time lurker, first time poster here. Personally, I don't much like the new song. I understand a lot of people do enjoy it, but I have my reasons why. People have different reasons for liking a particular song, and my reasons just don't jive with AFTR. But that's okay, everybody is entitled to their opinion.

What I love about dream theater is their attention to melody. At their best, they are the perfect combination of interesting music and great vocal melodies. There is not a single melody on SFAM or I&W that isn't memorable. Combine those with the music and you get something that is more interesting that just about any band out there.

But these two new tunes from DT12 just don't have those great vocal melodies. They seem kind of boring.

I see a lot of people blaming JR or MM or the mix for ruining this song. But to me, I see a group of musicians that have written hours of music together and on the side that are just maybe out of rocket sauce. But that's okay. Most bands struggle to write even one decent song their whole careers. Dream theater has written more great music than just about any rock band out there today. No band can keep up that level forever. It happens to every band that has played together for years.

Jordan didn't mess up the song, nor did Mangini. I think they are just out of fresh ideas. But I'm still going to buy the new album, because I am curious to hear how it all sounds. Maybe I'm wrong and there will be great melodies. But nobody's to blame.

[CodyWanKenobi]

I really like the chorus melody for AFTR. TEI's chorus melody isn't THAT great, but it's still catchy enough. Overall, these two songs have me very excited for the new album. Especially since, the few people who HAVE heard the album have listed these two songs towards the bottom of their list of favorites off it.

[JRuless]

is it just me or does JP use the same instrument as on the previous 11 albums? HEY thats in no way the innovation I SIGNED for! how dare they! Oh wait... that middle section isn't that those boring bassguitarsound? Oh my..!
All I wanted was a couple of oldschool DT  like the I&W era but just different, innovative new just old and uhmm.. don't know but know what I'm saying?   

[Drexl359]

Yeah don't really like the song. Not because it's bad, I just really don't like basic pop ballad 3 minute songs. As far as those types of songs go I think think they nailed it, just like others before have said though I seem to tune out listening to it. I don't really listen to DT for this type of music, I'm more into the technical time signature crazy instrumental metal side of DT personally.

Also don't understand all the hate for the keyboard sounds? It's a bad thing that he's used the same patch twice? No one seem to complains when he uses his snarling pig patch for example on nearly every heavy song they do. Don't get it at all.

[farsight]

One thing that makes me excited for DT12 after hearing this song is how adventurous mixing is, which I think hasn't happened in quite a while in DT's albums. The hihats at 1:20, John Myung's saturated bass, JLB's distant backing vocals in the outro; subtle, but they make listening to the song overall more enjoyable.

[wasteland]

is it just me or does JP use the same instrument as on the previous 11 albums? HEY thats in no way the innovation I SIGNED for! how dare they! Oh wait... that middle section isn't that those boring bassguitarsound? Oh my..!
All I wanted was a couple of oldschool DT  like the I&W era but just different, innovative new just old and uhmm.. don't know but know what I'm saying?   

Song update:

Day #3: still lovin' it.

[wolven74]

I don't get the "pop" references for this song. Is it because it has a christian message? is it because it's not so completely complicated that counting it is nigh on impossible? is it because you can actually sing along to the chorus? None of these things are negatives. I don't get what you're all complaining about? Or is it just that you wanted something else that you can't put your finger on and this isn't it? 

We all know that DT goes in more than one direction. People bitched when the band went in a cookie monster metal direction. Then the people who liked that side of the band bitched when they went back to a softer, more progressive direction. The first single (TEI) comes out blasting and people find fault with the mastering/recording/mixing/loudness, yet it's got both heaviness and progressiveness in spades. Now AFTR comes out and we're complaining that it's a bad song because the melody isn't to your liking, or the drums don't fit the song, or JRs tone has been used before (gasp).... over.

This song is what it is. I personally love everything about it, and it makes me uber excited for the new album. I didn't know what to expect with AFTR, but I was pleasantly surprised. It was completely different from TEI, and after about 10 spins, it's probably one of my favorite DT songs since I&W.

[eviljust]

is it just me or does JP use the same instrument as on the previous 11 albums? HEY thats in no way the innovation I SIGNED for! how dare they! Oh wait... that middle section isn't that those boring bassguitarsound? Oh my..!
All I wanted was a couple of oldschool DT  like the I&W era but just different, innovative new just old and uhmm.. don't know but know what I'm saying?   

Loved that 

Listened to AFTR with the NL link and have to say I could hear MM in a different way, but still don't like the drums' sonic at all. Maybe I just need to give it a couple more listenings, it actually grew slowly on TEI.

[Nofire]

Here is my take on all of this.

First of all, I absolutely LOVE AFTR. One of the main reasons that Dream Theater is the band I've listened to the most since I discovered them, is their ability to make such diverse music. If they only would have put out 10+ minute long songs that are incredibly complicated, I probably would have lost interest every now and then. But even in a song like this, there are lots of passages where their technical ability shines through, although you have to really listen to it to find some of them, since they aren't in your face all of the time, such as James' background vocal lines at the end. This is a song that I really think can attract some new attention to the band from people that usually don't listen to prog or metal, but still having some classic DT elements in it, which makes it a great single IMO. If you think that this is a "standard pop tune", I think you need to listen more carefully. When the entire album is released, I think the "point" of the song will become much clearer, as they usually construct the song order of their albums thoughtfully. Up until that point, I will continue to listen to this stream, loving every second of it.

On to the production. I think that the snare sound is a little too deep for my taste. My absolute favorite snare sound of all time is the one on Score, but I don't let it get in the way of enjoying the song. I think it will sound absolutely fantastic live, especially towards the end of the show, and I really hope they release a live recording of it in the future. On the other hand, I love the presence of the kick drum that really accentuates what the other instrumentalists do. I have absolutely no problem with JR's lead sound, since it fits the song perfectly (seriously, how big of a deal can it be that the sound has been used before and that a 5-note run resembles another one?), and the way that JM really shines behind the lead while JP holds back is fantastic.

I feel bad for the guys in the band that they get so much critisism from some of their fans, but I also think that the DT fanbase must be one of the toughest to please with a single release, since no song (maybe with exception from their 20-minute epics) will be able to contain something that appeals to everyone. As they say themselves, people listen to the band for different reasons. Some for the metal, some for the virtuostic elements, some for the classic prog, and some for the melodic stuff. This will generate different opinions on a single song, but I also think that people need to  and realize this before posting. Would you say this to their faces if you met them? If not, don't post it either, since you never know who reads it. The band has no obligation to please us all individually. We haven't "signed up" for anything. They make music that they love, and if we love it too, we'll buy their products. I personally trust their instincts enough to know that they will create something that will appeal to me.

I also want to add that 425's post is one of the best I've read here.

[Cruithne]

First impression: Meh.
Second impression: Actually, this is rather good.
Third impression: "I believe", "Knowing that nothing is stronger than faith". Uh-oh...

[andri_ab]

First listen: nice, but i need more listening
Second listen: hmmm, it sounds like... hmmmm... nice sing along song, o o but..
Third listen: nice song, but not as strong as the spirit carries on as someone said that it will be a new ballad anthem for DT

-andri-