Self Titled Album Discussion thread [Expect Spoilers]

[JPX]

First reaction to the album: Worst DT record.

There's no way this album is worse than WDADU!

I'd rank this in the lower half of their discography, but it's by no stretch their worst album.

Hopefully it grows on you after more listens.

WDADU is just dated. But the songs stand the test of time.

[aprilethereal]

First reaction to the album: Worst DT record.

There's no way this album is worse than WDADU.

I'd rank this in the lower half of their discography, but it's by no stretch their worst album.

This album is clearly better than SDOIT without even trying...    (but seriously...it might actually be...)

Shouldn't be too hard

[eviljust]

OMG Illumination Theory is one of the greatest things they've EVER done!

It is my favorite 20+ minute song from DT right after ACOS

FTFY

[Elite]

DAT BASS UNDER THE SOLO ON THE LOOKING GLASS. 

There was a bass solo on The Looking Glass?

[lyfeternl]

After one listen I can only say: self-titling this was an excellent choice. Any gripes I may have with it are useless, because this record is totally 'Dream Theater', both old and new era. I couldn't possibly want more out of it. If I don't want to hear badass riffs, epic chord progressions, sick solos and soaring melodies, I'm gonna have to listen to something else.

My thoughts exactly! They touched upon almost everything I could even imagine in terms of their strengths and signature "DT" passages, etc. A truly solid album. I can't wait to "spin" this again in a few minutes after I re-collect the pieces of my blown mind

[BlobVanDam]

First reaction to the album: Worst DT record.

There's no way this album is worse than WDADU.

I'd rank this in the lower half of their discography, but it's by no stretch their worst album.

This album is clearly better than SDOIT without even trying...    (but seriously...it might actually be...)

I don't want to drag down the new album, but nothing since SDOIT has even been in the same league as it. There's a reason the phrase "best album since SDOIT" has become so common. SDOIT is a high point that will never be topped again.

[aXygnus]

DAT BASS UNDER THE SOLO ON THE LOOKING GLASS. 

There was a bass solo on The Looking Glass?

He means the bass under the guitar solo, silly 

[Jaq]

DAT BASS UNDER THE SOLO ON THE LOOKING GLASS. 

There was a bass solo on The Looking Glass?

No, talking about the bass under JP's solo.

[FlyingBIZKIT]

First reaction to the album: Worst DT record.

There's no way this album is worse than WDADU.

I'd rank this in the lower half of their discography, but it's by no stretch their worst album.

This album is clearly better than SDOIT without even trying...    (but seriously...it might actually be...)

I don't want to drag down the new album, but nothing since SDOIT has even been in the same league as it. There's a reason the phrase "best album since SDOIT" has become so common. SDOIT is a high point that will never be topped again.

I agree. SDOIT is by far my favorite DT album.

[Viking of the Sagas]

I actually would rank this lower than most albums DT have recorder from the first impression alone. I think this album is a grower, though. I'm still not digging the cliche melancholy feel and sentimental religious undertones.

[lyfeternl]

I don't want to drag down the new album, but nothing since SDOIT has even been in the same league as it. There's a reason the phrase "best album since SDOIT" has become so common. SDOIT is a high point that will never be topped again.

I've personally always had a really tough time ranking their albums, with the exception of WDADU which I barely include in the discography.

[gentaishinigami]

The keyboard riff at 12:20ish in IT totally sounds like Legacy by Vince DiCola.  I love Vince's music so that's awesome! 

Legacy:
https://youtu.be/QS9m9aCsPxI?t=2m24s

Love the album, i can tell its going to be one that grows on me as well.

And yet you didn't mention the intro of BTV using basically the main melody of the Transformers soundtrack. Shame on you.
Which explains why I like that intro so much.

Huh, totally didn't hear that in BTV.  Are you talking about the quiet part at the beginning?

[BlobVanDam]

WDADU is just dated. But the songs stand the test of time.

WDADU didn't even stand the test of the time it took to listen to it.

[Elite]

I think the sound quality of the stream is pretty awful. Then again, I can quite listen through it and I think it will sound absolutely awesome when I can play it in my CD player.

[Hayden]

I don't want to drag down the new album, but nothing since SDOIT has even been in the same league as it. There's a reason the phrase "best album since SDOIT" has become so common. SDOIT is a high point that will never be topped again.

In my mind, 'SDoIT' was the best possible follow-up to their high point.

[Elite]

I don't want to drag down the new album, but nothing since SDOIT has even been in the same league as it. There's a reason the phrase "best album since SDOIT" has become so common. SDOIT is a high point that will never be topped again.

In my mind, 'SDoIT' was the best possible follow-up to their high point.

Their high point being Images & Words, obviously.

[Siddhartha]

First listening finished.

I liked a lot  Enigma Machine,  The Bigger Picture, Surrender To Reason and Illumination Theory.

Mangini playing is superb in this album, and I enjoy having Myung "back" in the band


Still I´m not enjoyng at all how the album sounds.

I´m going to start listening once again now.

[Tomislav95]

Great album, like it very much on first listen. IT is definitely highlight for me but I heard many cool moments.
Bass is audible but I would like it to be cleaner. Petrucci is beast and James is unleashed after safer play with ADTOE

[BlobVanDam]

The keyboard riff at 12:20ish in IT totally sounds like Legacy by Vince DiCola.  I love Vince's music so that's awesome! 

Legacy:
https://youtu.be/QS9m9aCsPxI?t=2m24s

Love the album, i can tell its going to be one that grows on me as well.

And yet you didn't mention the intro of BTV using basically the main melody of the Transformers soundtrack. Shame on you.
Which explains why I like that intro so much.

Huh, totally didn't hear that in BTV.  Are you talking about the quiet part at the beginning?

0:47 of BTV
2:27 of Death of Optimus Prime (or any other part that uses the same melody)

For a few notes, it's similar.

[Outcrier]

Six Degrees of Illumination Theory 

[Hayden]

I don't want to drag down the new album, but nothing since SDOIT has even been in the same league as it. There's a reason the phrase "best album since SDOIT" has become so common. SDOIT is a high point that will never be topped again.

In my mind, 'SDoIT' was the best possible follow-up to their high point.

Their high point being Images & Words, obviously.

That was the staircase to the high point. What followed was just transcendent, though.

[Tom Bombadil]

First Impressions:

#1. It was really good.
#2. See #1 again.

[BlobVanDam]

I don't want to drag down the new album, but nothing since SDOIT has even been in the same league as it. There's a reason the phrase "best album since SDOIT" has become so common. SDOIT is a high point that will never be topped again.

In my mind, 'SDoIT' was the best possible follow-up to their high point.

Let's not split hairs, friend! SFAM and SDOIT are both high points. Which of the two you put first is trivial when dealing with perfection.

[gentaishinigami]

0:47 of BTV
2:27 of Death of Optimus Prime (or any other part that uses the same melody)

For a few notes, it's similar.

Ah, indeed it is veeeeeeery close up until where JR goes low with the notes.   I do things to hear them play Attack on the Shuttle, but I digress!

I actually think FAS, BTV and TBP are my favorites so far.  Everything else needs to soak in still (wasn't very warm on TEI at first but like it a lot now).

[SystematicThought]

IT will be really cool live. That silence and then JR and JP come back in will be really cool... maybe they'll expand it live. I wonder how they'll handle the orchestra live. Just a tape?

[Metabog]

Not a fan of the mix, also, where's the bass?

You can't hear the bass?! It's unbelievably loud!

[Crash]

That didn't suck....

[Ħ]

Starting now. Holy crud, FAS is freakin epic

[gentaishinigami]

Man, the chorus is so damn good on BTV.  JPs riffing behind James' wonderful delivery just sets it off.

[Petruccinator12]

Wow!! What a freaking powerhorse this album is!!! So much energy! Probably the most balanced rollercoster
Unfortunately, I am a bit disappointed concerning the bass....
Guitars are absolutely god-like (really, really!), as well as the drums and the keys even though I think that they were even more diverse on ADTOE
I cannot exactly clarify what I think about JLB..I thought he had amazing parts in ADTOE which were a bit missing here..so overall I'd say: mediocre-good!

[theseoafs]

So I've heard everything except for IT, and assuming IT is as good as the other non-ITPOE Dream Theater epics, this is shaping up to be one of the best DT albums ever.  Incredible, tight songwriting.  Great, catchy choruses, probably the best I've heard on a DT album. 

Not sure if it'll be good enough to knock SFAM out of the top 3 spot for me, but we'll see.

[Zydar]

First listen... My God.

[mocool13]

Stream quality better than I expected

STR and IT are my favorites. Love the melody in STR; the instrumental part starting in 2:32 mark is great.
and IT is amazing all around, especially the orchestra part and the second half of the song.

The second half of the album outshines the first so far

Enigma Machine didn't click with me and so did a few other songs. This album should be a grower

Bass is audible, drums sound much better now

[Ultimetalhead]

I think I'm going to do a preliminary ranking of the songs on the album just to see how radically my opinions change as I explore it further.

1. The Bigger Picture
2. Illumination Theory
3. Surrender to Reason
4. Behind the Veil
5. The Looking Glass
6. Enigma Machine
7. The Enemy Inside
8. Along For the Ride
9. False Awakening Suite (It's great, but it could use to be expanded a bit more I think)

[Ħ]

Oh my gosh, TEI is freakin epic