Self Titled Album Discussion thread [Expect Spoilers]

[dongringo]

I think I am.  I've just been heaping praise on the album since the stream was put up.  It's kind of embarrassing, actually, since just about everyone else has been much more reserved, but every time I listen to it I become more certain that I'll eventually view this as being on the same tier as Images and Six Degrees.

I'm glad that I'm not the only one then

You're not the only ones. 

[evz]

I think I am.  I've just been heaping praise on the album since the stream was put up.  It's kind of embarrassing, actually, since just about everyone else has been much more reserved, but every time I listen to it I become more certain that I'll eventually view this as being on the same tier as Images and Six Degrees.

I'm glad that I'm not the only one then

You're not the only ones. 

right there with you all...   

[Aythesryche]

Did my ritual road trip and listened to the album all the way through. I'm in love with it and I feel this is another great addition to DTs catalog. 

One thing I don't get is why some people get so personally offended at someone elses opinion. Whether you hate it or love it, what is the point in attacking someone that doesn't see things your way? For instance, I personally love the new album yet in no way will someone that hates it change anything for me. Like, how does someone elses opinion change what the music does for you? As if their opinion somehow changes the music itself.

Anyway, I'm gonna get tons of enjoyment from this new album and I'm genuinely grateful that DT keeps putting out new material and taking things to a new level each time.

[BFRedrocks]

The Looking Glass is my fave by far...its the "DT doing Rush" song I've been wanting to hear since I became a fan.  Every song has some really great parts and I like them all, although I still haven't completely "gotten" Surrender to Reason.  Seems like the chorus at the end drags on for an extra 2 or 3 bars and it's just not sinking in for me.  Love the rest of it though!!

[philippaopao]

I think I am.  I've just been heaping praise on the album since the stream was put up.  It's kind of embarrassing, actually, since just about everyone else has been much more reserved, but every time I listen to it I become more certain that I'll eventually view this as being on the same tier as Images and Six Degrees.

I'm glad that I'm not the only one then

You're not the only ones. 

right there with you all...   

I know this is a honeymoon period for all of us, but since the second full album listen, count me in. The experience is actually pretty much the same when I heard SFAM for the first time. At first I was like, "There's definitely something really special here, but I can't digest it all the way because it's really grandiose.", but then I just loved it more and more upon each listen.

[YtseCullen]

Ok Behind The Veil is clicking with in all of the right ways! Working its way up in this albums depth chart that's for sure!

[OsMosis2259]

Getting better with each listen

[Lolzeez]

For some reason, almost every prog album I heard this year was hard to "get" on first listen. (The Mountain,Coal and now DT12)
Oh and IT is top 3 DT for me atm.

[Sourcegamer101]

The jet sound at the end of the orchestra in Illumination Theory scared me. D:

[OsMosis2259]

IT is def growing on me. I feel like all the songs are becoming more memorable as I follow along with the lyrics as well.

I was struggling with the first three listens. ADTOE seemed easier to get into.

[chrisbDTM]

i need to say it again. the riffage in IT is amazing. oh man. OH MAN

[jammindude]

Ok...I'm going through my third listen tonight, and I have a new favorite. 

The outro to The Bigger Picture literally just made me weepy as I was trying to share it with my son.    YOU MADE ME CRY IN FRONT OF MY SON DT!!!!   ONLY BIG FISH (the movie) HAS EVER DONE THAT!!!!

This album.....this freakin album.    This is just blowing my freakin mind.   I honestly cannot even begin to convey in words how much I am loving this album!!

[dparrott]

I played SFAM for a week straight when it came out because it was so good, and to take it all in.

[dparrott]

via Imgflip Meme Maker

[jammindude]

via Imgflip Meme Maker

I still feel this way about that section of IT....but I'm starting to feel like the outro to The Bigger Picture may very well be its equal.

[chrisbDTM]

i think a band is very special when you can't wait to hear the new songs live, not just the classics over and over again.

I want the whole album live during the evening with

[jammindude]

Just did some math, and my curiosity was confirmed.    The average song length of the new album is 7 1/2 minutes long.   That is the shortest average since SFAM (which is just short of 6 1/2 min average). 

If you take out IT, and just average the remaining eight songs...it's the shortest average (5:45) in band history....the runner up would be WDADU (6:15). 

Just as an additional ripple.  Of the post-SFAM *MP* albums, the shortest average song length is Octavarium...and the average song length on that album is *9 1/2 MINUTES*....

[purzel]

I heard the album 5 times a began to like at after the third listening. that's always a great sign if the album don't klick the first times listening for me. now I can't wait to hear it again in an uncompressed sound file. this album has something special a its the first since SFAM were every song is great. I think it's one of the best DT ever made.

[eviljust]

i think a band is very special when you can't wait to hear the new songs live, not just the classics over and over again.

I want the whole album live during the evening with

Same here and I'll probably cry like that woman when I'll listen to IT. Now you can fool me.

[chwik]

Some parts of the instrumentation in The Bigger Picture reminds me of Eve. TBP is just a fantastic and emotional song from beginning to end! Goosebumps!

[me7]

Bizarrely - not only do the songs get better on repeated listens but the production does too.

Probably just acclimatising to it - but the really aggressive feel of all the instruments really works.

This album has so much punch that A Dramatic Turn... was lacking.

Really looking forward to blasting this album on CD.

Totally agree. With every additional listen I'm like "this mix really isn't bad". Somehow it just sounds cleaner with more listens. Can't explain why, though.

Maybe because it's so brickwalled that you need a lot of listens to pick up details between the noise?
Why do you try to turn it into a good thing, that you need a lot of listens to just hear what's going on? I don't meant digesting the complexity of the music, but plainly telling instruments apart.

[The Stray Seed]

The only place where I was able to find IT lyrics is in the link below, but some are wrong, as James at the end clearly sings "you'll never know that you're alive", rather than "you'll never know the joy in life".

https://songmeanings.com/songs/view/3530822107859467467/

[sylvinception]

Very first "serious" listening.

Very bad feeling  , but still listening...

Seems it demands many listenings, this album is not easily "accessible" like ADTOE was.

[theseoafs]

I still feel this way about that section of IT....but I'm starting to feel like the outro to The Bigger Picture may very well be its equal.

I know everyone's excited about Illumination Theory, but The Bigger Picture isn't getting nearly enough love imo. Some of the album's most beautiful moments are hidden on that track.

[PixelDream]

I don't see the difficulty in this record, almost every part was very cool to me on first listen.

The production is weird and has two sides to it. On one hand there's the snare sound, which I feel is ugly, but has a good amount of meat to go with the heavy guitars. This album luckily sounds more ballsy than ADTOE, which was much needed.

Then on the other it's compressed to hell. I do get ear fatigue from it. I played SDOIT after it (a fairly loud album) and didn't believe how rich and dynamic it suddenly sounded. I'm def buying the HD tracks version if it becomes available.

[The Stray Seed]

I still feel this way about that section of IT....but I'm starting to feel like the outro to The Bigger Picture may very well be its equal.

I know everyone's excited about Illumination Theory, but The Bigger Picture isn't getting nearly enough love imo. Some of the album's most beautiful moments are hidden on that track.

Actually a lot of people in this topic have strongly praised the song. Search through the thread and you'll find many superpositive comments on TBP, which I absolutely share. The song is just astounding. Fact is the level of all songs on this album is so high that it's difficult to choose which one's the best! Man I'm so impressed by this...

Here's one of the comments I was talking about =)

Ok...I'm going through my third listen tonight, and I have a new favorite. 

The outro to The Bigger Picture literally just made me weepy as I was trying to share it with my son.    YOU MADE ME CRY IN FRONT OF MY SON DT!!!!   ONLY BIG FISH (the movie) HAS EVER DONE THAT!!!!

This album.....this freakin album.    This is just blowing my freakin mind.   I honestly cannot even begin to convey in words how much I am loving this album!!

Speaking of which, I totally agree with you, jammindude!!

[PixelDream]

That little bit of JR piano in TBP with the heartbeat is very cool. He just plays those chords and doesn't even play a 32nd-note arpeggio. What a restraint! 

[nikatapi]

That little bit of JR piano in TBP with the heartbeat is very cool. He just plays those chords and doesn't even play a 32nd-note arpeggio. What a restraint! 

Υeah, that was very nice!

[me7]

Then on the other it's compressed to hell. I do get ear fatigue from it. I played SDOIT after it (a fairly loud album) and didn't believe how rich and dynamic it suddenly sounded. I'm def buying the HD tracks version if it becomes available.

I think this is the main reason why it takes multiple listens to appreciate it, listening to it is just fatiguing. Good writing (sometimes even great) but terrible mastering

[BlobVanDam]

That little bit of JR piano in TBP with the heartbeat is very cool. He just plays those chords and doesn't even play a 32nd-note arpeggio. What a restraint! 

He actually shows the same restraint most of the time.

[Bolsters]

Then on the other it's compressed to hell. I do get ear fatigue from it. I played SDOIT after it (a fairly loud album)

Yeah, it's something I'm trying to overcome with subsequent listens and this is exactly why I think it'll take a while for me (and plenty of others) to digest completely.

I'm def buying the HD tracks version if it becomes available.

You and me both.

[JediKnight1969]

Very first "serious" listening.

Very bad feeling  , but still listening...

Seems it demands many listenings, this album is not easily "accessible" like ADTOE was.

Agree. 100%

[ariich]

That little bit of JR piano in TBP with the heartbeat is very cool. He just plays those chords and doesn't even play a 32nd-note arpeggio. What a restraint! 

He actually shows the same restraint most of the time.

Agreed, and I do find comments like that a bit silly.

[Kotowboy]

The Happy riff in The Looking Glass reminds me of :

When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going by Billy Ocean
Jump by Van Halen
& Something off Permission To land by the Darkness

[RodrigoAltaf]

Very first "serious" listening.

Very bad feeling  , but still listening...

Seems it demands many listenings, this album is not easily "accessible" like ADTOE was.

Agree. 100%

We´re on different sides of the spectrum here...ADTOE took me many listens to finally get, and it´s still quite far from being my favourite album. DT12, on the other hand, gets better at every listen. Yesterday I said it was on par with 6DOIT, Awake and I&W. Scrap that, it´s much better than 6DOIT. Hopefully the hype about this album will last long.