Self Titled Album Discussion thread [Expect Spoilers]

[faizoff]

That solo lead on Bigger picture! around the 4 min slays! Now off to read noxon's review.

[Ħ]

First impressions:

FAS: Filler
TEI: Good
TLG: Great
EM: Stupid
TBP: Good
BTV: Nice
STR: Great
AFTR: Nice
IT: Bunch of songs throw together, but good overall.
*Easter Egg: Great... Pick this theme and make DT13 a concept album 

But isn't DT12 a concept album already?

[Zydar]

REEEESTLEEESS ANGEEEELS

[moof]

What's the Easter egg?

[mikeyd23]

What's the Easter egg?

The piano and guitar section at the very end of IT after the minute or so of silence.

[moof]

What's the Easter egg?

The piano and guitar section at the very end of IT after the minute or so of silence.

Ah, of course.

Derp.

[moof]

Btw DT>Coal>The Mountain

Best Prog release of the year.

[theseoafs]

But isn't DT12 a concept album already?

I wouldn't say that.  It's a thematic album (noxon's review is correct that there seems to be a religious-spiritual thread flowing throughout), but I don't know if it's strong enough to make it a concept album. 

The band certainly doesn't consider it a concept album.  They were asked in one of the Q&A videos whether they would make another concept album in the future, and if they considered it a concept album, they certainly would've said "oh yeah, by the way, our self-titled is a concept album".

[Elite]

In another interview JP basically said 'DT12 is NOT a concept album', so there we have it. The band said it themselves.

[Tom Bombadil]

as of right now I think I like The Bigger Picture the most. It really blew me away.

[Ħ]

Oh, good to know, cause here I was thinking that Dream Theater was the concept.

[clinks63]

Unfreakingbelievable...just....damn.

And I miss MP a lot less as of right now.

i miss MP a lot right now

The Enigma Machine sounds like a more boring version of the instrumental sections of The Shattered Fortress.

Super dissappointed with it.

Mangini was the wrong choice people, could be a drum machine for all I know.

i quite agree

more thoughts..

very mainstream except from 1 and 9. thinking should have not been self titled album? not so DT-ish. more Metallica marching beats. hehe. they really targeting to be popular as ever which is good anyway??!?!! grammy again
second safest JLB album ever (ADTOE first) saved via IT and the backup vocal towards the end of AFTR in the right channel (love it!). i really miss the like of "trap inside this octavariuummm!!"
and lastly don't compare with SDOIT, it is way too much better

OTBOA = TEI, BTS = AFTR but they are the better ones than the rest

IT rocks! = #1

[clinks63]

Btw DT>Coal>The Mountain

Best Prog release of the year.

not so really proggy.

[JohnnyLayne]

Does the riff to Enigma Machine remember anyone of Inspector Gadget's theme?

Glad I'm not the only one 

[Zook]

I agree that MP's drums had a personality, but saying Mangini was the wrong choice is a bit extreme.

I'm on Behind the Veil, and so far my only complaint is that James should be higher in the mix and clearer.

[snapple]

going to listen to this shit on my headphones. i've been doing chores all day, so it's time to sit and listen to it for realz

[mikeyd23]

Huh, opinions are funny things! I'm not sure how anyone could listen to that and say that MM didn't play well and wasn't the right choice for DT, but I guess everyone's different.

You could totally point out certain parts or sections and comment on how you didn't care for his part creation or groove, but overall I don't see how people could be so negative about his performance.  I thought he played brilliant, what a talent!!

I guess everyone will take things different ways though, like I said, opinions are certainly funny things sometimes!

[ZKX-2099]

God damn James stole the show on Illumination Theory.

[Jaq]

Illumination Theory is the best epic they've done since ACOS.

Yeah I went there.

[Elite]

Btw DT>Coal>The Mountain

Best Prog release of the year.

[Super Dude]

Preliminary post-first listen thoughts: it ain't no '90s era DT, but I'm satisfied. I kinda wish IT was arranged a little differently. I'm in agreement with most everyone here; that orchestral arrangement just about made the album for me. As a result, the part that followed made me groan a little - not that it was bad, but it was basically like TCoT all over again, and felt like an unwanted gear change from what seemed like an interesting and novel structure choice by the band. It would've been better served as being a separate song or by coming before the orchestral section, so that sort of whimper to the album's bang could've closed the endeavor out in a meaningful way.

[Zydar]

The string section in IT is so beautiful.

[Dream_Theater01]

I'm hoping to be blown away.  I remember how excited I was the first time I heard the intro to "Outcry".  I hope there are some moments like that on this album.

[AngelBack]

I'll go ahead and state the obvious.  JP will someday do a film score.

[krieger]

Too early to give any definitive opinion, but maybe:

Stand-out tracks: Behind the Veil, Along for the Ride & Illumination Theory.

The album sounds like a new beginning and it sounds original.

It's more accessible (and commercial) than any other album they have ever made.

There are some very complex parts, more complex than anything they did before - it seems Mangini is capable of things Portnoy could never do.

It seems something is missing.  Maybe the album sounds too calculated?

[Marion Crane]

I'm sorry guys....but there are times where the snare is so bad it's distracting.  Listen to the beginning of TBP.  The snare is so gated it's insane.  And most of the toms sound like Rick Allen from Def Leppard's electronic kit.  Really digging this album musically, but the drum sound is something I don't think I'll ever get over

[Kotowboy]

Only Just started and FAS sounds like a Final Fantasy Boss Theme 





p.s. Loving the new forum theme ! 

[clinks63]

Too early to give any definitive opinion, but maybe:

Stand-out tracks: Behind the Veil, Along for the Ride & Illumination Theory.

The album sounds like a new beginning and it sounds original.

It's more accessible (and commercial) than any other album they have ever made.

There are some very complex parts, more complex than anything they did before - it seems Mangini is capable of things Portnoy could never do.

It seems something is missing.  Maybe the album sounds too calculated?

yes, im thinking it's more like commercial. and maybe your right about "new beginning".

[senecadawg2]

I've always been a sucker for songs with Myung written lyrics, so it should come as no surprise that Surrender to Reason is my favorite song on first listen. Though, I'm only just now getting to IL

[Ħ]

I have to say...The Enigma Machine pretty much killed the momentum for me. I found myself bored with the songs that followed, even though you guys clearly thought they were awesome. I'll have to listen to them on their own.

I'm on Surrender to Reason though, and it's .

[7StringedBeast]

Jesus, IT is insane.  That RIFF!  Best riff on a DT album in a real long time.  Then that bass and drum rhythm after the string section.  That is what I'm talking about!!!  Bravo.

[BlobVanDam]

I'll go ahead and state the obvious.  JR will someday do a film score.

FTFY.

Oh hell, DT should just write movies scores!

[Marion Crane]

Yeah.....The Bigger Picture really did nothing for me honestly.  I hope it grows on me, but so far that's the definite skipper on my first listen

[GasparXR]

I'm going to have to listen again before giving a full insight into each song, but parts I remember as being highlights were FAS, the intro to EM, the intro to BTV, IT being really groovy and kicking in sooner than I expected for an epic, the ambient section, the orchestral section made me FUCKING CRY! James of course made me WTF all over the place. By the end, I couldn't contain myself. I NEED TO FUCKING SEE THEM LIVE OMG.

[obscure]

What the f*ck was that