Along for the Ride Discussion Thread

[Kotowboy]

Along For The Ride YouTube version sounds a lot better in 1080p !

Can hear cymbals and snare is less muddy.

Definitely warming to the production a lot more.

The one thing I can't unhear though...

Does JR's moog solo come in a 16th note too late

[ariich]

Along For The Ride YouTube version sounds a lot better in 1080p !

Can hear cymbals and snare is less muddy.

Agreed with this, and I'd also say that JLB's counter-melody in the final chorus is also much more prominent sounding.

[Kotowboy]

Along For The Ride YouTube version sounds a lot better in 1080p !

Can hear cymbals and snare is less muddy.

Agreed with this, and I'd also say that JLB's counter-melody in the final chorus is also much more prominent sounding.

But I can't NOT hear Rudess' moog solo coming in a 16th too late ? If he meant to do it like that - it just sounds off.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

Along For The Ride YouTube version sounds a lot better in 1080p !

Can hear cymbals and snare is less muddy.

Agreed with this, and I'd also say that JLB's counter-melody in the final chorus is also much more prominent sounding.

But I can't NOT hear Rudess' moog solo coming in a 16th too late ? If he meant to do it like that - it just sounds off.

Yeah, this is something quite weird. Doesn't sound right.

[rush-signals]

It's funny though listening to both new songs side by side at 1080p TEI is still much crisper/clearer in the drum department.

[Kotowboy]

It's funny though listening to both new songs side by side at 1080p TEI is still much crisper/clearer in the drum department.

It is. I'm obviously expecting it all to be uniform on the final CD.

[rush-signals]

It is. I'm obviously expecting it all to be uniform on the final CD.

Absolutely! I watch the lyric video probably twice a day, love it BTW. The songs grows on me each time, if the rest of the album is better than this, well I'll just ..... 

[rush-signals]

Yeah, this is something quite weird. Doesn't sound right.

I don't hear it, he comes in right when JLB stops singing, perfect match IMO.

[Kotowboy]

I hear him coming in a 16th after the downbeat of beat 3 or 4 of the bar.

[lithium112]

But I can't NOT hear Rudess' moog solo coming in a 16th too late ? If he meant to do it like that - it just sounds off.

This is Jordan Rudess we're talking about here. How can there be any doubt that what you're hearing is what he intended?

[rush-signals]

This is Jordan Rudess we're talking about here. How can there be any doubt that what you're hearing is what he intended?

So you mean like the rest of the album too? I agree, it all sounds right to me.

[BlobVanDam]

Along For The Ride YouTube version sounds a lot better in 1080p !

A 1080p Youtube video apparently supports 192kb/s AAC, so that should be fairly close to the album version in theory.

[Blazinarps]

Along For The Ride YouTube version sounds a lot better in 1080p !

Can hear cymbals and snare is less muddy.

Agreed with this, and I'd also say that JLB's counter-melody in the final chorus is also much more prominent sounding.

But I can't NOT hear Rudess' moog solo coming in a 16th too late ? If he meant to do it like that - it just sounds off.

It's for the portamento, you hear the note gliding very quickly to the pitch. It's a keyboard lead sound option. Think of first note at the end of Octavarium Moog part before the strings come in at the end...

[jsbru]

First thing my friend said was that the Moog Solo/Squire-esque bass reminded him of the solo from And You And I.

[LieLowTheWantedMan]

The Moog solo is the best part of the song by far. Both for the keys and the bass.

[CodyWanKenobi]

Pretty sure the guy who chooses the snare sound (when it's a triggered snare) is the mixer, guys. I know that Chris-Lord Alge (one of the top mixers on the planet) uses the same snare sound for everything he mixes. The guy who made it for him is a buddy of mine. I used to work in studios doing maintainance on recording consoles and outboard gear and other various bits of equipment (not to mention custom wiring, and console installation/decomissioning), and we did TONS of work at Mix LA (Chris's studio).

[me7]

Along For The Ride YouTube version sounds a lot better in 1080p !

Can hear cymbals and snare is less muddy.

Agreed with this, and I'd also say that JLB's counter-melody in the final chorus is also much more prominent sounding.

Both 720p and 1080p use 192kbps AAC and sound better. This should represent how the CD will sound.
The 360p version that youtube defaults to however uses a 96kbps AAC stream.

Real difference there, no placebo. That said, the 192kbps version still leaves a lot to be desired.

[YtseJamittaja]

Does JR's moog solo come in a 16th note too late

I definitely hear this now!!!!! 

[The Boomr]

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.

All of this, pure gold, folks

[Dellers]

Speaking of Myung, after the kb solo part it almost sounds like he disappears. I feel that he should have been given a little more space throughout the song. Even though he's audible, I feel that he's a little buried. His playing is pretty tasteful, and I wouldn't mind having Myung a couple of dB up in the mix and Petrucci a couple down.

Does JR's moog solo come in a 16th note too late

I definitely hear this now!!!!! 

Count me in. I never noticed it before since I was always focusing on other things, but it definitely sounds weird. Well, they are a prog band after all.

[Tis BOOLsheet]

By the way, this song has zero longevity. Only 6 days and 6 plays later, and I have absolutely no desire to listen to it again. This will not be a go-to song on the album for me. I can only envision listening to it if going from Surrender to Reason and then onto Illumination Theory.

My favorite part of the song is JR's solo.

[Sycsa]

Pretty much their best "ballad" from recent years, although I'm glad it's the only one on the album. DT's ballads always tend to get a bit too cheesy for my liking. The highlight of the song is definitely Jordan's solo (classic Moog, ELP - Lucky Man, lively and organic, all in all good stuff). Can't understand all the criticism, would you rather prefer guitar-like, characterless leads, á la ToT period? As for the other controversial subject, the snare and the kick drum reminds me a lot of I&W and I like its uniqueness. The day after tomorrow can't come soon enough.

[Cable]

Pretty much their best "ballad" from recent years, although I'm glad it's the only one on the album. DT's ballads always tend to get a bit too cheesy for my liking. The highlight of the song is definitely Jordan's solo (classic Moog, ELP - Lucky Man, lively and organic, all in all good stuff). Can't understand all the criticism, would you rather prefer guitar-like, characterless leads, á la ToT period? As for the other controversial subject, the snare and the kick drum reminds me a lot of I&W and I like its uniqueness. The day after tomorrow can't come soon enough.

Agreed. I enjoy this already better than any similar styled songs from ADTOE, and Wither. I may take this over TEI also.

[BelichickFan]

By the way, this song has zero longevity

That's your opinion I guess.  It's gotten better and better for me.  Probably heard it 50+ times now and I like it as much as ever and definitely more than I did the first ten times.

[mdietr1ch]

I have no desire to listen to this again, and I've only listened to it twice. It's not terrible.

[KevShmev]

Along For The Ride YouTube version sounds a lot better in 1080p !

Can hear cymbals and snare is less muddy.

Agreed with this, and I'd also say that JLB's counter-melody in the final chorus is also much more prominent sounding.

But I can't NOT hear Rudess' moog solo coming in a 16th too late ? If he meant to do it like that - it just sounds off.

Yeah, this is something quite weird. Doesn't sound right.

I've noticed that, too.  I am sure there is some intelligent-sounding, musical reason as to why it was done that way, but from a casual listening standpoint, it just sounds off.

[Tis BOOLsheet]

By the way, this song has zero longevity

That's your opinion I guess.  It's gotten better and better for me.  Probably heard it 50+ times now and I like it as much as ever and definitely more than I did the first ten times.

This isn't a song I have to listen to 50+ times in the hopes of it clicking. It's a very direct tune that is decent, but it has the replay value of a 4 minute pop radio song.

[BlobVanDam]

Along For The Ride YouTube version sounds a lot better in 1080p !

Can hear cymbals and snare is less muddy.

Agreed with this, and I'd also say that JLB's counter-melody in the final chorus is also much more prominent sounding.

But I can't NOT hear Rudess' moog solo coming in a 16th too late ? If he meant to do it like that - it just sounds off.

Yeah, this is something quite weird. Doesn't sound right.

I've noticed that, too.  I am sure there is some intelligent-sounding, musical reason as to why it was done that way, but from a casual listening standpoint, it just sounds off.

It sounds like the MIDI performance was quantized, and it snapped the wrong way, so I think it was probably unintentional. I didn't notice it on first listen, but it's one of those "once you hear it" kind of things.

[MarkFitDT]

By the way, this song has zero longevity

That's your opinion I guess.  It's gotten better and better for me.  Probably heard it 50+ times now and I like it as much as ever and definitely more than I did the first ten times.

This isn't a song I have to listen to 50+ times in the hopes of it clicking. It's a very direct tune that is decent, but it has the replay value of a 4 minute pop radio song.

and whats wrong with that? there are plenty of decent 4 minute pop tunes about.

[Tis BOOLsheet]

By the way, this song has zero longevity

That's your opinion I guess.  It's gotten better and better for me.  Probably heard it 50+ times now and I like it as much as ever and definitely more than I did the first ten times.

This isn't a song I have to listen to 50+ times in the hopes of it clicking. It's a very direct tune that is decent, but it has the replay value of a 4 minute pop radio song.

and whats wrong with that? there are plenty of decent 4 minute pop tunes about.

There ARE a ton of decent-- even good-- 4 minute pop songs that have no replay value. But that is not why I got into Dream Theater, and it is not why I continue to  be a fan of their music, and it's not why I paid $100 for this album. If you are happy to compare Dream Theater's output to a 4 minute pop tune with no lasting appeal, you are more than welcome to; but I expect more out of DT than that.

[MarkFitDT]

By the way, this song has zero longevity

That's your opinion I guess.  It's gotten better and better for me.  Probably heard it 50+ times now and I like it as much as ever and definitely more than I did the first ten times.

This isn't a song I have to listen to 50+ times in the hopes of it clicking. It's a very direct tune that is decent, but it has the replay value of a 4 minute pop radio song.

and whats wrong with that? there are plenty of decent 4 minute pop tunes about.

There ARE a ton of decent-- even good-- 4 minute pop songs that have no replay value. But that is not why I got into Dream Theater, and it is not why I continue to  be a fan of their music, and it's not why I paid $100 for this album. If you are happy to compare Dream Theater's output to a 4 minute pop tune with no lasting appeal, you are more than welcome to; but I expect more out of DT than that.

lol, 4 minutes out of 68?! DT has always been about variety from WDADU to the present date and that is what I am expecting from the latest album. There are plenty of 4 minute pop songs that have lasting appeal - I might not like them but it doesnt mean they arent good songs. you are coming off as a bit of a prog snob tbh.

[BelichickFan]

By the way, this song has zero longevity

That's your opinion I guess.  It's gotten better and better for me.  Probably heard it 50+ times now and I like it as much as ever and definitely more than I did the first ten times.

This isn't a song I have to listen to 50+ times in the hopes of it clicking. It's a very direct tune that is decent, but it has the replay value of a 4 minute pop radio song.

That's fine,just saying that it's not a matter of fact that it has zero longevity.

When I first listened it was "nice".  6-10th listens it was OK, fine, a nice breather.  Upon further listening the beauty of the song and the poetry of the lyrics struck and stuck with me.

[jayvee3]

By the way, this song has zero longevity

That's your opinion I guess.  It's gotten better and better for me.  Probably heard it 50+ times now and I like it as much as ever and definitely more than I did the first ten times.

This isn't a song I have to listen to 50+ times in the hopes of it clicking. It's a very direct tune that is decent, but it has the replay value of a 4 minute pop radio song.

and whats wrong with that? there are plenty of decent 4 minute pop tunes about.

There ARE a ton of decent-- even good-- 4 minute pop songs that have no replay value. But that is not why I got into Dream Theater, and it is not why I continue to  be a fan of their music, and it's not why I paid $100 for this album. If you are happy to compare Dream Theater's output to a 4 minute pop tune with no lasting appeal, you are more than welcome to; but I expect more out of DT than that.

Possibly, it's your expectations that are more an issue then..

[Tis BOOLsheet]

By the way, this song has zero longevity

That's your opinion I guess.  It's gotten better and better for me.  Probably heard it 50+ times now and I like it as much as ever and definitely more than I did the first ten times.

This isn't a song I have to listen to 50+ times in the hopes of it clicking. It's a very direct tune that is decent, but it has the replay value of a 4 minute pop radio song.

and whats wrong with that? there are plenty of decent 4 minute pop tunes about.

There ARE a ton of decent-- even good-- 4 minute pop songs that have no replay value. But that is not why I got into Dream Theater, and it is not why I continue to  be a fan of their music, and it's not why I paid $100 for this album. If you are happy to compare Dream Theater's output to a 4 minute pop tune with no lasting appeal, you are more than welcome to; but I expect more out of DT than that.

Possibly, it's your expectations that are more an issue then..

Maybe you're right.

[rush-signals]

Possibly, it's your expectations that are more an issue then..

Maybe you're right.

Maybe go into a new album with no expectations