Self Titled Album Discussion thread [Expect Spoilers]

[ResultsMayVary]

The middle of IT makes me want to cry myself to sleep.

[GandL]

A very, very entertaining album for me. Very old school, and very modern, catchy. I'm following them since their begining, and I like very much this effort.

Can't wait to be back home and take my guitar... 

[CodyWanKenobi]

This album is fantastic! Holy shit, the whole ending part of The Bigger Picture - SO MANY GOOSEBUMPS! And Illumination Theory.. jesus christ monkeyballs..

Can we get a boner emote?

[ResultsMayVary]

Do I hear some JP backing vocals at the end of IT?!



And this is actually a very cool mix. Been a while since I could say that!

[Metropolis1928]

I love this album.

On the first listen I wasn't so thrilled about it (except for IT) but now I'm in love with this.

Although I have to agree with some of you that I feel a little disappointed by Enigma Machine, I don't know what I was expecting, but this was not it  . It's a nice song and maybe it's only a problem with me, so since that is the only problem I have with the album, I have to say that the DT guys did an awesome job.

And of course, those two moments on IT (the orchestra awesomeness in the middle of the song and the "LaBrie owning everything" part) I am sure will be regarded as two of the best things DT has ever done.

My favourite since Octavarium (and maybe even since 6DOIT) 

[BlobVanDam]

Do I hear some JP backing vocals at the end of IT?!

I think it's JLB. A bit hard to tell at stream quality.

[lateralus88]

I feel like the album should have just cut out the middle man and been named "Safe with a Side of Nothing Memorable".

[ResultsMayVary]

I knew I was going to hear DT by the numbers in Enigma Machine. I just knew it was going to be a "See what we can do!" type song and I'm totally cool with that.

The bells at the end of IT remind me so much of Finally Free.

[CodyWanKenobi]

Do I hear some JP backing vocals at the end of IT?!

I also hear him in the last line of The Bigger Picture.

[Kotowboy]

Illumination Theory up next ! :O

[Marion Crane]

I clearly hear an 8 string in IT as well

[Kotowboy]

Come on Illumination theory ! You've got Octavarium looking at you. Be awesome !

[Metropolis1928]

I knew I was going to hear DT by the numbers in Enigma Machine. I just knew it was going to be a "See what we can do!" type song and I'm totally cool with that.

The bells at the end of IT remind me so much of Finally Free.

You're right. It's more like an actually good version of Raw Dog, than... I don't know, a mediocre Erotomania, which was what I was expecting. But as you said, I agree that a "DT by numbers" was much more likely.

But anyway, the rest of the album does it for me so, no problem there 

[snapple]

the whole fucking album. i love every track. even adtoe, which I rank as #4 in their disco, wasn't this good.

[Kotowboy]

I loved Enigma Machine !

[lateralus88]

I hate when musicians say "this is our best work to date" when what they mean is "here is something safe and familiar, please still listen to us".


Illumination Theory barely makes sense as a full 20 minute song.

[lyfeternl]

Do I hear some JP backing vocals at the end of IT?!

I think it's JLB. A bit hard to tell at stream quality.

I don't know if it's at the end of IT but JP definitely does some backing vocals on one of the tracks... I was pleasantly surprised as well! 

[noxon]

I'm so relieved that people seem to really dig this. I was worried that maybe I just had brainwashed myself into liking this album, considering how my first reaction was. There was literally a point after the first listen I said "worst DT album ever".

[wasteland]

The Bigger Picture is incredibly heartwarming

[jayvee3]

I hate when musicians say "this is our best work to date" when what they mean is "here is something safe and familiar, please still listen to us".

Because that would be just ideal to say when promoting a new album.. 

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

I hate when musicians say "this is our best work to date" when what they mean is "here is something safe and familiar, please still listen to us".


Illumination Theory barely makes sense as a full 20 minute song.

So I suppose you don't care for it?

[Kotowboy]

I'm so relieved that people seem to really dig this. I was worried that maybe I just had brainwashed myself into liking this album, considering how my first reaction was. There was literally a point after the first listen I said "worst DT album ever".

This is light years better than Systematic Chaos !

[wasteland]

I'm so relieved that people seem to really dig this. I was worried that maybe I just had brainwashed myself into liking this album, considering how my first reaction was. There was literally a point after the first listen I said "worst DT album ever".

This was my initial reaction to the album. It lasted the time to hit the replay button.

[emtee]

I'm so relieved that people seem to really dig this. I was worried that maybe I just had brainwashed myself into liking this album, considering how my first reaction was. There was literally a point after the first listen I said "worst DT album ever".

I think your descriptions were quite accurate. It is very cimenatic. It reminds me of early DT which is a very good thing. And yet it
does have a new modern feel to it.

[chrisbDTM]

FAS is pretty sick. it's nothing compared to what Symphony X can do but still cool

[nikatapi]

I'm so relieved that people seem to really dig this. I was worried that maybe I just had brainwashed myself into liking this album, considering how my first reaction was. There was literally a point after the first listen I said "worst DT album ever".

Well i had a mixed reaction 1st time through. Damn you loundess. Also, the album is very complex i think so it needs multiple listens to reveal itself.

Also, despite my gripes with the mix (especially the drum sound) i have to appreciate that Myung is quite loud this time, he is present even when JP does some heavy stuff. I don't remember an album from DT where JM is so prominent in the mix and playing.

[lateralus88]

I hate when musicians say "this is our best work to date" when what they mean is "here is something safe and familiar, please still listen to us".

Because that would be just ideal to say when promoting a new album.. 

Yes but like...where's the honesty?

I hate when musicians say "this is our best work to date" when what they mean is "here is something safe and familiar, please still listen to us".


Illumination Theory barely makes sense as a full 20 minute song.

So I suppose you don't care for it?

Your reading comprehension is impeccable.

[BlobVanDam]

I'm so relieved that people seem to really dig this. I was worried that maybe I just had brainwashed myself into liking this album, considering how my first reaction was. There was literally a point after the first listen I said "worst DT album ever".

This is light years better than Systematic Chaos !

It's about on par for me, I may even rank SC slightly higher. An underrated album.

[theseoafs]

the whole fucking album. i love every track. even adtoe, which I rank as #4 in their disco, wasn't this good.

Yep, agreed with all of this (even the ranking of ADTOE).  This album is wayyyyy better than I was expecting (and my expectations were pretty high after the singles).

[mrjazzguitar]

Ok listening now. Half through Enemy Inside. False Awakening Suite is embarrassingly bad. I already know how how I feel about Enemy Inside - recycling. Its almost over...

[faizoff]

I've listened to the stream 3 times back to back now and I really need to stop. I don't want to get used to the quality of the webrip. But this album is so enjoyable. Argh

[Kotowboy]

I'm so relieved that people seem to really dig this. I was worried that maybe I just had brainwashed myself into liking this album, considering how my first reaction was. There was literally a point after the first listen I said "worst DT album ever".

This is light years better than Systematic Chaos !

It's about on par for me, I may even rank SC slightly higher. An underrated album.

Am I to infer that you rate DT 12 quite low - or quite high ?

[MetalJens]

This album is fantastic! Holy shit, the whole ending part of The Bigger Picture - SO MANY GOOSEBUMPS! And Illumination Theory.. jesus christ monkeyballs..

Can we get a boner emote?

This 

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

Stand-out tracks for me: Illumination Theory, Surrender to Reason and The Bigger Picture. False Awakening Suite is a great opening track, and definitely sets the mood for the entire album. I need to spin this more times so I can have a good opinion on this, but it surpassed all my expectations. This is great stuff, I don't know if it will rank higher than ADTOE but it does beat SC and BC&SL easily.

[Dimitrius]

I hate when musicians say "this is our best work to date" when what they mean is "here is something safe and familiar, please still listen to us".


Illumination Theory barely makes sense as a full 20 minute song.

Right? I thought it was over twice when there was just a long silence with nothing, nooothing in between! And that final piano thing didn't "felt" like it should be there.