Along for the Ride Discussion Thread

[eviljust]

And this is probably the first song where I actually love the synth sound JR is using.  It has more of that mysterious, magical feel from I&W, rather than the haunting, gothic feel of their later albums.

Well, that was used on BTS as well though

I have to say AFTR clicked on me on levels I really couldn't imagine. I absolutely love James in there, so intense and emotional, I really have to say he's the best on these kind of balld-ish songs. I'm even getting used to hear the moog sound, just I really don't like that strange pause before JR comes in with his solo. I think some of you guys have already mentioned it. A pity, 'cuz it just sounds weird to me.
Oh and again, I don't like the drums sonically talking, a lot better on the NL link or the HD vid posted on YT but still didn't change my opinion and I think it never will.

[The Stray Seed]

And this is probably the first song where I actually love the synth sound JR is using.  It has more of that mysterious, magical feel from I&W, rather than the haunting, gothic feel of their later albums.

Well, that was used on BTS as well though

I have to say AFTR clicked on me on levels I really couldn't imagine. I absolutely love James in there, so intense and emotional, I really have to say he's the best on these kind of balld-ish songs. I'm even getting used to hear the moog sound, just I really don't like that strange pause before JR comes in with his solo. I think some of you guys have already mentioned it. A pity, 'cuz it just sounds weird to me.
Oh and again, I don't like the drums sonically talking, a lot better on the NL link or the HD vid posted on YT but still didn't change my opinion and I think it never will.

I find it interesting instead.

[jsbru]

Well, that was used on BTS as well though

As I was so reminded by reading the rest of this thread after I posted. 

I happen to like the "over-produced" sound.  I really love the drums.  I like things crisp and tight, so a triggered sound is fine with me.  The gated reverb Phil Collins uses in '80s Genesis is probably my favorite drum sound out there.  I also really like Nine Inch Nails drums...which I think are totally drum machine on the albums.  I really like how James' vocals sound on this song.  Very powerful, and he's a lot less restrained here.  The mix makes them sound very crisp...I don't care if they're auto-tuned.

I think I just have a different opinion on this than most on here.  But then again, I'm a huge fan of electronic music as well (especially minimal techno like Richie Hawtin, Derrek May, Jeff Mills, etc.), and my ear is pretty used to that crisp synthesized sound.

This song has just a really unique feel.  It's one part pop, one part ballad, one part prog, and one part UAGM.  It almost has a little bit of a U2 flavor.  The only thing it's missing is maybe a longer instrumental section, but I really think they're trying to make some of these songs more accessible to a broader audience...which is actually fine by me.  I don't care if they try to get radio play, etc., as long as it's a good song.  Fragile is one of Yes's best albums (shorter, simpler arrangements), Invisible Touch is one of Genesis' best albums (I've heard 7 of the 8 songs on the radio), and Dark Side of the Moon is Pink Floyd's best album (I think I've heard the entire album on the radio).  These albums are still fantastic progressive rock.

If the rest of this album is this well-produced, DT deserves to win a grammy.  They certainly deserve one.

[wasteland]

Yeah, I'm minimally bothered by that small pause before the solo. It would have sounded more natural had it started maybe 0.5 seconds earlier. I wonder why they chose that weird transitionò

[puppyonacid]

.....I will admit, however, that all the "IT SOUNDS TRIGGERED" comments I've read make me want to stab myself in the eye with a fork.

Why? It does sound triggered. Someone here pointed out that that level of consitency is one of MM's tricks. But there's no need for comments like that. At least substantiate why you want to kill yourself over a few people sharing a sentiment over the sound of the drums.

[eviljust]

And this is probably the first song where I actually love the synth sound JR is using.  It has more of that mysterious, magical feel from I&W, rather than the haunting, gothic feel of their later albums.

Well, that was used on BTS as well though

I have to say AFTR clicked on me on levels I really couldn't imagine. I absolutely love James in there, so intense and emotional, I really have to say he's the best on these kind of balld-ish songs. I'm even getting used to hear the moog sound, just I really don't like that strange pause before JR comes in with his solo. I think some of you guys have already mentioned it. A pity, 'cuz it just sounds weird to me.
Oh and again, I don't like the drums sonically talking, a lot better on the NL link or the HD vid posted on YT but still didn't change my opinion and I think it never will.

I find it interesting instead.

It just felt a bit unnatural to me, do you have opinion on why did they choose it?

.....I will admit, however, that all the "IT SOUNDS TRIGGERED" comments I've read make me want to stab myself in the eye with a fork.

Why? It does sound triggered. Someone here pointed out that that level of consitency is one of MM's tricks. But there's no need for comments like that. At least substantiate why you want to kill yourself over a few people sharing a sentiment over the sound of the drums.

It REALLY does, IMO.

[The Stray Seed]

The sounds used by Petrucci in this track are simply astounding.

[lyfeternl]

The sounds used by Petrucci in this track are simply astounding.

Yeah, but, I mean, I wish he would stop using that distortion sound over and over again in every song and album... Geez, it's really getting old...

[Dellers]

The snare sound is NOT a "bad" sound. It's different from the typical Dream Theater snare drum sound, but it's not "bad". I've heard bad drum sounds. This is just different - fatter and deeper - and that's throwing some folks off.

It sounds like a bucket, which is the first thing people teach unexperienced engineers to avoid. It's the most ridiculous snare sound I've heard in years. I'm sure some people dig it, but I find it funny and weird to make it sound that much like a bucket. Different taste I guess.

[Mebert78]

My fav part of this song is Petrucci's guitar at the 1:35 mark, as he plays under JLB's singing and the guitar makes this warbled sound as it peaks.  Yum!

[lithium112]

My fav part of this song is Petrucci's guitar at the 1:35 mark, as he plays under JLB's singing and the guitar makes this warbled sound as it peaks.  Yum!

YES! This is the best part of the song.

[Fiery Winds]

My fav part of this song is Petrucci's guitar at the 1:35 mark, as he plays under JLB's singing and the guitar makes this warbled sound as it peaks.  Yum!

YES! This is the best part of the song.

Noticed this on the Dutch and YouTube streams since they breathed a bit better.  Sounds like the same whammy bar flutter trick JP used in UAGM. 

WHY IS NO ONE GETTING ON JP FOR COPYING THE UAGM SOLO?!???!?111/!

[Kotowboy]

BECAUSE UAGM WAS ON I&W AND THIS IS THE AWAKE REWRITE !!!!

[Nefarius]

Big round of replies, damn work!

Seriously never got how some people hate BTS

Agreed, it's a great song. I've worked on a piano driven cover version with two friends and even after playing it multiple times in a row I enjoyed singing it again and again.

Or as my mom said "If you don't have something nice to say, say nothing at all".

The internet would be a quiet place 

It would also be the end of free speech and the beginning of censorship. Not being allowed to speak your mind - which includes negative, unpopular, and unwelcome opinions especially important in a democracy - is something that's on the rise again all over the world, including several oh so very democratic countries who'd love to claim to have invented freedom while cutting it back and trimming the edges more and more every day. That's probably a slightly more global perspective that would belong in the politics section but I would like to think this thread can handle a little freedom of speech. At least I hope so.

Hardly similar.

Compare AFTR 2:58 - 3:01 to BTS 3:27 - 3:29 and it should be audible even for the most ignorant of ears.

So, the entire solo is similar/a nod-back/whatever, just because 3 seconds of it have like, one note that makes a similar bending motion to the next note? Jordan has pitch-bending ability and he likes to use it. Doesn't bother me. And I've listened to both solos back to back and I cannot agree that there is so much similarity that this absolutely must be a call-back or anything like that. Or much similarity at all other than the fact it's a Moog.

Just to clarify, I think it's a nice solo and I like the Moog patch a lot. At the same time there are obvious similarities in the structure and flow including a run that's almost identical. There are several Brian May solo sections with similar tone, style, and runs and there's nothing wrong with that either. I just don't see why pointing out similarities would need to be attacked and denied.

I'm still not into this song. There's loads of nice stuff going on but I can't feel it at all.

After a few more times listening to it, pretty much this. Thanks for regularly posting stuff that says in two sentences what others couldn't express in two pages.

After the 12th album you'd think people would've caught on to the fact that DT has a significant amount of ballads in their catalogue, at least one or two on each album...

I wouldn't have it any other way, I can't get enough of that stuff and just love to sing epic ballads that keep growing in scale and meandering between great melodies, harmonies, and progressions.

To all the great "experts" out there: The Soundcloud Along for the Ride stream is an audio teaser and quite low sound resolution! #critic

The youtube post sounds MUCH better!!!

Both true. Yet low quality streams are still enough to estimate a case of hot mastering, even though they tend to overemphasize it. Judging by comparing SoundCloud to YouTube to official MP3 download (TEI) and of course people who have heard the actual album on CD confirming it I'd say there's no denying DT12 is very loud. I'll still be able to enjoy the music but I also think DT following that trend is disappointing.


Back to discussing the song, does anyone else get a slight TTT flash with the guitar driven rhythmic stuff going on behind the bridge part ("I will not live under a shadow of fear...")?

Greetings...
Nef

[Nofire]

After listening to this song multiple times, I find that the keyboard solo section really reminds me of the guitar solo section in Rush' "The Garden" (amazing song), especially with that gnarling bass sound in the background. I like it!

[goo-goo]

Both true. Yet low quality streams are still enough to estimate a case of hot mastering, even though they tend to overemphasize it. Judging by comparing SoundCloud to YouTube to official MP3 download (TEI) and of course people who have heard the actual album on CD confirming it I'd say there's no denying DT12 is very loud. I'll still be able to enjoy the music but I also think DT following that trend is disappointing.

I think I read somewhere in hear that the 2.0 version on the DVD was a better version than the cd itself. Also, I would love to hear the HDtracks version, since ADTOE sounded so much better.

[TL]

Both true. Yet low quality streams are still enough to estimate a case of hot mastering, even though they tend to overemphasize it. Judging by comparing SoundCloud to YouTube to official MP3 download (TEI) and of course people who have heard the actual album on CD confirming it I'd say there's no denying DT12 is very loud. I'll still be able to enjoy the music but I also think DT following that trend is disappointing.

I think I read somewhere in hear that the 2.0 version on the DVD was a better version than the cd itself. Also, I would love to hear the HDtracks version, since ADTOE sounded so much better.

I've heard this as well, and I really hope it's true. I was planning on getting the two disc version anyway, so I guess I'll find out.

[dvargas]

I don't dislike the snare as much as I dislike the bass drum ... it sounds like a hand slamming wooden furniture.  I like a deep sounding bass drum much better.

[Podaar]

I don't dislike the snare as much as I dislike the bass drum ... it sounds like a hand slamming wooden furniture.  I like a deep sounding bass drum much better.

A subwoofer cures this nicely! 

[dvargas]

I don't dislike the snare as much as I dislike the bass drum ... it sounds like a hand slamming wooden furniture.  I like a deep sounding bass drum much better.

A subwoofer cures this nicely! 

Yes - as a matter of fact I've only listened to the song once and through my iphone speaker ----

Hopefully, this gets better on a real sound system.

I won't listen to the song again, until release though.

[jsbru]

Feel-wise, another thing this reminds me of is the U2-Red Hill Mining Town cover from the fan club Christmas album back in the 90's.

And also, whoever mentioned the bass during the keyboard solo sounded Chris Squire-esque was right on.  Not only does it have the melodic arpeggios, but it has a bit of that Rickenbacker popping sound to it.

I'm really excited for the last half of this album.  The track before this had lyrics written by Myung, and similar songs have a great track record (LTL, Lifting Shadows, Trial of Tears).  So I'm expecting a proggy Myung-driven song leading into this, and then leading into another epic to finish it off.

I also like the lyrics...they're a lot more poetic and visual than what I've seen lately...similar to Awake.  The last few albums they have been too literal to be interesting.  I'm more of a fan of the stream of consciousness-type lyrics.  Yes in Close to the Edge took a great approach--the words were chosen for how they sounded over any concrete meaning.

[Outcrier]

DT12 is very loud.

O rly 
What isn't very loud these days 

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

SW

[Ben_Jamin]

I'm getting a peruvian skies vibe with the bridge, by the vocals and tone of the guitar.

[rush-signals]

I just played AFTR and TEI back to back pretty well cranked up. First thing I noticed is they both sound better cranked. But what really caught my attention was the drums in TEI are much clearler/more dynamics and less flat than AFTR. It's pretty damn obvious. So I wonder if it's the stream or just the production style for AFTR. I mean the drum on TEI kicks some major ass and yet I can live with AFTR.

[Kotowboy]

^ I agree. The drums on TEI kick so much arse and the AFTR drums just sound muddy and intrusive.

[Dacling]

My fav part of this song is Petrucci's guitar at the 1:35 mark, as he plays under JLB's singing and the guitar makes this warbled sound as it peaks.  Yum!

YES! This is the best part of the song.

Noticed this on the Dutch and YouTube streams since they breathed a bit better.  Sounds like the same whammy bar flutter trick JP used in UAGM. 

WHY IS NO ONE GETTING ON JP FOR COPYING THE UAGM SOLO?!???!?111/!

BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE HIM COPYING THE SOLO FROM LOST NOT FORGOTTEN COPYING THE ONE FROM UAGM

[Jay.Ess]

My fav part of this song is Petrucci's guitar at the 1:35 mark, as he plays under JLB's singing and the guitar makes this warbled sound as it peaks.  Yum!

YES! This is the best part of the song.

ahhh yes, I like that too! I don't think it's a whammy bar warble though like in Under A Glass Moon however, to me it just sounds like dissonance from letting two notes a semitone apart ring out on two adjacent strings...I think it sounds neat though!

[gmillerdrake]

Finally listened to this with some headphones......I have no idea what there is to complain about this song. Sure it's not a progtastic endless hurricane of notes and odd time signatures.....but What MM does on drums during this 'ballad' is phenomenal....the lyrics are heartfelt and meaningful, not to mention the guitar, keys and bass are fantastic musicianship.



Then again, I'm a DT fanboy....it'd take a lot for them to disappoint me.

[Tis BOOLsheet]

Finally listened to this with some headphones......I have no idea what there is to complain about this song. Sure it's not a progtastic endless hurricane of notes and odd time signatures.....but What MM does on drums during this 'ballad' is phenomenal....the lyrics are heartfelt and meaningful, not to mention the guitar, keys and bass are fantastic musicianship.



Then again, I'm a DT fanboy....it'd take a lot for them to disappoint me.

You just responded to your statement that you have "no idea what there is to complain about this song." I think a lot of people are not listening to this song as fanboys, but rather as music lovers. If a song is not good to someone, it doesn't suddenly become good because DT happened to write it...for most people. Even huge fans of the band (including me) do not have the ability to convince themselves a song is better than it is because of the people who wrote it.

Now, I happen to think it's a decent song for what was advertised, but I totally get why so many people are ripping it apart. The thing I don't get is why would people would think this tune were any worse than most of the DT ballads over the years, and why people expected a masterpiece. DT has a great one here and there, but most of them are just mediocre at best. Along for the Ride is slightly above that, but I have a feeling that people had way higher expectations for this song.

Plus, I think the production issues that are bothering a lot of people are making the song harder to listen to than it would otherwise be.

[rush-signals]

but What MM does on drums during this 'ballad' is phenomenal....the lyrics are heartfelt and meaningful, not to mention the guitar, keys and bass are fantastic musicianship.

Exactly, you really need to listen closely. I love music like that. Rush is like that to me. You don't hear everything even on the 20th listen, it takes time.

[gmillerdrake]

Finally listened to this with some headphones......I have no idea what there is to complain about this song. Sure it's not a progtastic endless hurricane of notes and odd time signatures.....but What MM does on drums during this 'ballad' is phenomenal....the lyrics are heartfelt and meaningful, not to mention the guitar, keys and bass are fantastic musicianship.



Then again, I'm a DT fanboy....it'd take a lot for them to disappoint me.

You just responded to your statement that you have "no idea what there is to complain about this song." I think a lot of people are not listening to this song as fanboys, but rather as music lovers. If a song is not good to someone, it doesn't suddenly become good because DT happened to write it...for most people. Even huge fans of the band (including me) do not have the ability to convince themselves a song is better than it is because of the people who wrote it.

Now, I happen to think it's a decent song for what was advertised, but I totally get why so many people are ripping it apart. The thing I don't get is why would people would think this tune were any worse than most of the DT ballads over the years, and why people expected a masterpiece. DT has a great one here and there, but most of them are just mediocre at best. Along for the Ride is slightly above that, but I have a feeling that people had way higher expectations for this song.

Plus, I think the production issues that are bothering a lot of people are making the song harder to listen to than it would otherwise be.

For the record, fanboy or not....I dislike 80% of both SC and BC&SL. I don't expect masterpieces per say, but it does take a bit for me to think one of their songs is horrible. As much as I don't like the songs on those albums I'll still listen to them because there are plenty moments of cool music.....but to me DT took a break lyrically on those two albums and I enjoy lyrics just as much as music. DTs never recovered from losing KM's lyrical contribution and whatever reason it was that kept Myung from contributing more....I think it's fair to speculate what that reason was.....I'm just glad he's back to contributing. SC and BC&SL were horrid lyrical output IMO.

ADTOE, was for me, a step back to the type of musical output that got me into them in the first place.

[Tis BOOLsheet]

Finally listened to this with some headphones......I have no idea what there is to complain about this song. Sure it's not a progtastic endless hurricane of notes and odd time signatures.....but What MM does on drums during this 'ballad' is phenomenal....the lyrics are heartfelt and meaningful, not to mention the guitar, keys and bass are fantastic musicianship.



Then again, I'm a DT fanboy....it'd take a lot for them to disappoint me.

You just responded to your statement that you have "no idea what there is to complain about this song." I think a lot of people are not listening to this song as fanboys, but rather as music lovers. If a song is not good to someone, it doesn't suddenly become good because DT happened to write it...for most people. Even huge fans of the band (including me) do not have the ability to convince themselves a song is better than it is because of the people who wrote it.

Now, I happen to think it's a decent song for what was advertised, but I totally get why so many people are ripping it apart. The thing I don't get is why would people would think this tune were any worse than most of the DT ballads over the years, and why people expected a masterpiece. DT has a great one here and there, but most of them are just mediocre at best. Along for the Ride is slightly above that, but I have a feeling that people had way higher expectations for this song.

Plus, I think the production issues that are bothering a lot of people are making the song harder to listen to than it would otherwise be.

For the record, fanboy or not....I dislike 80% of both SC and BC&SL. I don't expect masterpieces per say, but it does take a bit for me to think one of their songs is horrible. As much as I don't like the songs on those albums I'll still listen to them because there are plenty moments of cool music.....but to me DT took a break lyrically on those two albums and I enjoy lyrics just as much as music. DTs never recovered from losing KM's lyrical contribution and whatever reason it was that kept Myung from contributing more....I think it's fair to speculate what that reason was.....I'm just glad he's back to contributing. SC and BC&SL were horrid lyrical output IMO.

ADTOE, was for me, a step back to the type of musical output that got me into them in the first place.

I think the problem is that only 1-2 members wrote lyrics. JP should monopolize the lyric writing process less. I would understand if he consistently wrote amazing lyrics. But as you say, SC and BC are lyrically horrid. He contributed greatly to the horridness. I'd love to see JR or MM write some lyrics. AFTR is decent lyrically, and I actually think TEI is GOOD lyrically. Let's see what the new lyrics are like. I think ADTOE lyrics were relatively speaking very good, and that part of the reason for that is he got knocked so badly on its predecessors lyrics.

See, for me, because I&W was THE DT album for me, ADToE, and its remarkable similarity (in most spots) thereto, was a huge leap forward-- especially when you consider where the band had been previously. AFTR and TEI haven't convinced me the band is building off that momentum, but I still have very high hopes for the rest of the album....except Behind the Veil.

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

Why not Behind The Veil?

[Tis BOOLsheet]

Why not Behind The Veil?

Because of the way it's been described by the people who have heard it and because of the fact that OTHER people have no recollection of hearing it at the listening party.