Self Titled Album Discussion thread [Expect Spoilers]

[faizoff]

I frickin have goosebumps now on my 2nd listen.

[Elite]

Oh my gosh, TEI is freakin epic

It is in the context of the album! Damn.

[rumborak]

Surprising number of Rush influences. Like, Moving Pictures Rush.

[kevinpwrs]

First listen and I think its just ok. Hope it grows on me. Was actually bored in a couple of spots. As I sit here now, I'd say that Lost Not Forgotten, Bridges in the Sky and Breaking All Illusions are better that anything on this album.

[Ultimetalhead]

I frickin have goosebumps now on my 2nd listen.

Yeah, this album is pretty "chilly." Particularly Illumination Theory has a lot of moments that just bleed emotion (The ambient section and the outro especially). I can already tell The Bigger Picture's chorus is going to stick for a long time.

[JPX]

Starting now. Holy crud, FAS is freakin epic

It's completely unoriginal however. Not good when SX already wrote the same thing 6 years ago.

[FlyingBIZKIT]

Starting now. Holy crud, FAS is freakin epic

It's completely unoriginal however. Not good when SX already wrote the same thing 6 years ago.

I don't remember Symphony X writing False Awakening Suite?

[Elite]

OH SHIT THE INTRO TO ILLUMINATION THEORY

YEAAHAAAAAAHAHAHAAAA

[Öxölklöfför]

Starting now. Holy crud, FAS is freakin epic

It's completely unoriginal however. Not good when SX already wrote the same thing 6 years ago.

Nah, arrangementwise there are similarities. But the core, i.e. the melodies, are completely different.

[wasteland]

Starting now. Holy crud, FAS is freakin epic

It's completely unoriginal however. Not good when SX already wrote the same thing 6 years ago.

I don't remember Symphony X writing False Awakening Suite?

I don't know why, but this really cracked me up 

[MajorMatt]

Up to Behind The Veil. So far, not bad...not bad at all.

[eviljust]

Starting now. Holy crud, FAS is freakin epic

It's completely unoriginal however. Not good when SX already wrote the same thing 6 years ago.

I know it didn't click on you but that's a bit mean 

[Ultimetalhead]

>2013
>Complain about DT wearing influences on their sleeves
>k

[Ħ]

I'm on The Looking Glass now and it's freakin epic

[mikeyd23]

Just got through my first listen, and I think this album is beautiful!! Its going to take several more listens to wrap my head around it, but a few quick thoughts:

1. JP is unreal, just when I think the guy can't get any better, he does! Great all around performance!
2. MM was great, the drum sound didn't really bother me at all listening through the whole album, and this was stream quality.
3. JMX standout performance, his bass lines were great and memorable in many places, tone was great and he sat really well in the mix, best impression I have had of his work since SDOIT.
4. JR used a lot of great taste on this album, he let loose when he needed to, and held back when he needed to.  Also the parts he wrote for the orchestra were simply stunning.
5. JLB sounded great as well, good melodies and tone.  I really thought there were a lot of good catchy vocal sections, and his high verse in IT was great!!

Overall first impression is positive, I think this album is strong.  Now to listen more!! 

[AbstractPhenom]

Illumination is no theory. It's fact! First impressions:
Great!

Can't wait to hear the album some more, I'm very impressed. The order of the tracks had a nice flow to it. Vocally, LaBrie really saves the best for last in IT.

[eviljust]

I'm on The Looking Glass now and it's freakin epic

I can predict that Enigma Machine will be freakin epic as well for you 

[faizoff]

I cant wait to listen to this on 5.1 hopefully the mix is fantastic on that.

[lyfeternl]

First listen... My God.

I'm pretty sure I said that during every song and phrase (as well as some previous posts  )

[JPX]

Starting now. Holy crud, FAS is freakin epic

It's completely unoriginal however. Not good when SX already wrote the same thing 6 years ago.

I know it didn't click on you but that's a bit mean 

I wasn't trying to be mean or insulting. It's just a fact. It sounds very similar and it starts the record like it does on Paradise Lost.

[Ħ]

I actually really like the mix. It sounds like IAW. Which actually works with what they're trying to go for here.

[theseoafs]

Holy FUCK does JLB kick ass during The Pursuit of Truth.

[7StringedBeast]

So on second listen now, and TBP is really great.  That whole ending section is fantastic.  Great riffs and grooves in the whole song.  And the I AM HOOOOME with those harmonies to end the song is brilliant.  Great transition into the next song btw.

[Hayden]

Wow, "The Bigger Picture" is SO much better on the second listen. It didn't grab me at all when I first heard it, but damn is it a pleasant song once you give it the chance to sink in.

Just got through my first listen, and I think this album is beautiful!! Its going to take several more listens to wrap my head around it, but a few quick thoughts:

1. JP is unreal, just when I think the guy can't get any better, he does! Great all around performance!
2. MM was great, the drum sound didn't really bother me at all listening through the whole album, and this was stream quality.
3. JMX standout performance, his bass lines were great and memorable in many places, tone was great and he sat really well in the mix, best impression I have had of his work since SDOIT.
4. JR used a lot of great taste on this album, he let loose when he needed to, and held back when he needed to.  Also the parts he wrote for the orchestra were simply stunning.
5. JLB sounded great as well, good melodies and tone.  I really thought there were a lot of good catchy vocal sections, and his high verse in IT was great!!

Overall first impression is positive, I think this album is strong.  Now to listen more!! 

Yep, I think I agree with all of this. Especially with the points you made about JP and JR. They both displayed great showmanship and great discipline.

[mikeyd23]

I actually really like the mix. It sounds like IAW. Which actually works with what they're trying to go for here.

Yep I agree, even on a Soundcloud stream I thought the mix was pretty good!!

[Anguyen92]

Pretty solid on 1st listen. The 8th rock album of 2013, I've listened to, and it's pretty good.  Everyone on their game as per usual.  I enjoyed the Looking Glass and the nods and bits that is similar to Limelight.

Illumination Theory is the usual epic-long enjoyable journey.  Overall, this album is a good winner.

[Hayden]

So on second listen now, and TBP is really great.  That whole ending section is fantastic.  Great riffs and grooves in the whole song.  And the I AM HOOOOME with those harmonies to end the song is brilliant.  Great transition into the next song btw.

Wow, "The Bigger Picture" is SO much better on the second listen. It didn't grab me at all when I first heard it, but damn is it a pleasant song once you give it the chance to sink in.

Well, it's nice to know that we've got a bit of a consensus forming .

[Fnejk]

Yep, the string section in IT is pretty much the best thing ever. 

[N4Player]

TEI, BTV, STR are stand-outs for me. I love them.  Illumination Theory has its moments at times but the orchestrations are horrible and way too Disney for my taste. Really poor compared to TCOT, 8va, ACOS and others. John Petrucci is the strongest on this album both tonally and musically. He absolutely shines above everyone else. Overall, you cannot judge a DT album on 1 pass, but compared to their other albums on 1 pass I will say that I am really disappointed by a lot of the songwriting and the styles on this album. There are highlights in many places but very little makes we want to come back for more.  Time will tell what grows on me what becomes a permanent skipper. I almost feel as if this album was over thought out.

[7StringedBeast]

I have not had this reaction to a new DT album yet since becoming a fan.  The first new album that came out since I started listening was SC.  This album is easily right up with 8v for me and FAR surpasses the last 3 albums.

I'm seriously fucking excited to keep listening to this over and over right now.

[Polarbear]

So its my first post here, and what would be better subject than this! First impressions on the new album: pretty good but i was expecting something even more awesometacular. None of the songs really blew me away, not even illumination theory, but i guess this album will take a few spins to sink in properly. 

Favs right now are illumination theory and the bigger picture!

[Ħ]

Noooooo! My internet went down right in the middle of Enigma Machine! My first impression of the album is RUINED!

[Outcrier]

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 

[Progmetty]

Listened to the first two tracks, couldn't wait but I can't go further at work heh
So if I get this right False Awakening is made with concert intro in mind, as in the music that plays before we see the band like Dreaming is Collapsing, JP or JR said that in some interview, but that song doesn't really work that way to me, it kicks ass but I wanna see them play it, not as an intro tape..
We'll see how it plays out. can't wait for U.S tour dates.

[Ħ]

I'm on The Looking Glass now and it's freakin epic

I can predict that Enigma Machine will be freakin epic as well for you 

hm, yes I'd give it a freakin epic/10 as well