Self Titled Album Discussion thread [Expect Spoilers]

[cyberdrummer]

*snip*

Completely respect your opinion - you don't like the album and that's fine. I was just wondering if you could be more specific as regards what you mean when you say 'filler' (a word you use a lot). I don't see it as a word of much substance.

[jammindude]

I've just finished listening to the album all the way through. 

I've used the word "balanced" before to describe ADTOE....but that was more because of the "loud bits" and "soft bits".   It was either one or the other. 

But this album truly achieves BALANCE.   There's loud bits, soft bits AND the incredible mid-range stuff that I have loved from them from day one.   Even though I have loved nearly everything DT has done (even the detour into "metal classic" with ToT) I have missed that balance that made IAW (and actually Octavarium) so special. 

THIS ALBUM REALLY HAS BALANCE!

I really liked ADTOE on the first listen, and I still think there is not a single "skip" track on that entire album.  It's very solid, and I put it in an upper mid tier or lower top tier album, because there's no low points on the album...it's just really steady.    But it also really lacks in those *MIND BLOWN* moments.   (to me, anyway)   There are very few moments where I go "OH...NO...THEY...DIAN'T!!"

Well, I can safely say that DT12 achieved that.   I can't tell you how many times my wife started laughing because I'm sitting next to her with headphones on laughing like a schoolboy and yelling "OH...NO...THEY...DIAN'T!!!" 

The Looking Glass and Behind the Veil were BIGTIME standouts to me.   Illumination Theory is going to take awhile to digest...but it is the most enjoyable epic I've heard in a long time.    Octavarium was PERFECT, ITPOE was a huge let down (worst DT epic IMO), and CoT was much better.   But I seriously thought I was done with DT trying to do epics.    I figured they had just delivered the goods on Octavarium, and that was it.    But with IT, they may have proved me wrong.

Overall...AMAZING album.   Need a few more spins to set in.

[Kotowboy]

loved it!  IT -- the string section!      great way to start my work day!

Welcome back !

I can totally see this album having longevity.

[dparrott]

On first listen/skip through (sans IT, that has to wait until after work), it's OK.  Nothing really has "hit" me about it except the intro to BTV and Enigma Machine.  Definitely not better than SC in my opinion. 

Since MP left, they have slowly gone away from raw metal like Glass Prison and This Dying Soul and TDEN.  They still do parts of that, but I miss full songs in that style.  One reason why the last two albums aren't as high with me.

[Zook]

There's nothing cringeworthy like Prophets of War on this album. Instant winner!

did you listen to the first tracK?

he don't know me very well, do he?

[wasteland]

After the first listen my reaction was: meh
After the second listen my reaction was: fuck yes!!!

This album really needs to grow!!

This entirely! Look at what happened to noxon!

[Kotowboy]

^ I can do without full metal songs like that all the way through. That's partly why they did Train of Thought. To do songs that were all metal all the time.


I prefer DT balanced.

[Lowdz]

Judging a DT album after one listen on a stream?
Like deciding a supermodel is ugly after seeing her shoes.
Just sayin'.

Heard half of it so far and it sounds like DT to me. That's good enough for now. A headphone listen is planned for later. Saving IT for that.
The fanboy in me is happy 

[lateralus88]

LaBrie's vocals on this album are so exceedingly average it's kind of depressing.

[Super Dude]

*snip*

Completely respect your opinion - you don't like the album and that's fine. I was just wondering if you could be more specific as regards what you mean when you say 'filler' (a word you use a lot). I don't see it as a word of much substance.

No, see you gotta say it like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2y8Sx4B2Sk

[Bowlochili]

Its sound cloud, wait till you hear it without it being compressed. 

[bosk1]

Just finished and I loved the hell out of it.

To those who find D12 to be horrible: I'm glad I'm not you

Wanna fuck?

Lat, if you're only here to troll and/or bash the album (which, judging from your most recent posts in this thread, seems to be the case), I suggest you take a break before you're given one involuntarily.

[Zook]

LaBrie's vocals on this album are so exceedingly average it's kind of depressing.

They'd be better if they were clearer. Otherwise, he sounds pretty damn good.

[Nekov]

After only one listen I liked the album. Comparing it to ADTOE, it has less highs but overall seems a lot more consistent.

[KevShmev]

After one listen, I like it, but a lot of the vocal melodies did not connect with me, which gives me hope that they are growers, and those are often the best albums, the ones that don't fully hit you right away.  For example, Illumination Theory sounded totally awesome musically, but I was thinking WTF at the vocal melodies in the first half of the song, but I am sure after a few listens, they will connect with me and all will be well.  Many more listens to come...

[adamack]

Let me admit, after hearing "The Looking Glass" earlier this morning, I was extremely disappointed and almost went back to sleep. I respect the songwriting, but I've personally never been able to get into the Rush sound. Just kinda too happy for me or something. So glad that turned out to be the only thoroughly-Rush inspired song on this album.

Nah, a few of the tracks seem to be channeling Rush.  A lot of Surrender to Reason does (particularly the introduction, first verse, and instrumental section), and a bit of Along for the Ride too.

Oh gotcha. I guess I need to listen to more of their music.

[nikatapi]

Ι love the intro of Behind The Veil. This is JR at his best.

[lateralus88]

So circlejerking over the new DT is okay but criticism regarding my disappointment with the album isn't? Meh.



Sorry, I'll make up for my behavior. I was planning on stopping at 7/11 anyway. What type of donuts would you guys like most for this game of "DT Soggy Biscuit"?

[Kotowboy]

The riffs on this album are STONKING.

[Kotowboy]

So circlejerking over the new DT is okay but criticism regarding my disappointment with the album isn't? Meh.



Sorry, I'll make up for my behavior. I was planning on stopping at 7/11 anyway. What type of donuts would you guys like most for this game of "DT Soggy Biscuit"?

[theseoafs]

So circlejerking over the new DT is okay but criticism regarding my disappointment with the album isn't? Meh.



Sorry, I'll make up for my behavior. I was planning on stopping at 7/11 anyway. What type of donuts would you guys like most for this game of "DT Soggy Biscuit"?

Dude, a lot of people have been criticizing the album in this thread.  You are the only one who's been warned.

[noxon]

I have to say, the reaction to this album is MUCH more overall positive than any of DT's post 2000 albums have been... I think DT hit a nerve here. Looking forward to that tour even more now.

[Mister Gold]

Let me admit, after hearing "The Looking Glass" earlier this morning, I was extremely disappointed and almost went back to sleep. I respect the songwriting, but I've personally never been able to get into the Rush sound. Just kinda too happy for me or something. So glad that turned out to be the only thoroughly-Rush inspired song on this album.

Nah, a few of the tracks seem to be channeling Rush.  A lot of Surrender to Reason does (particularly the introduction, first verse, and instrumental section), and a bit of Along for the Ride too.

Oh gotcha. I guess I need to listen to more of their music.

Yeah dude, Rush is brilliant.

I still haven't heard the whole album yet, since I only had enough time before class to hear a couple songs. Will say that I LOVED what I heard so far. Very excited to hear the whole thing later.

[Zantera]

I have to say, the reaction to this album is MUCH more overall positive than any of DT's post 2000 albums have been... I think DT hit a nerve here. Looking forward to that tour even more now.

Even 6DOIT? That would be kinda lame.

[Kotowboy]

My first reaction is that DT is their best Roadrunner album.

I don't think it's better than Scenes or Octavarium yet.

[Perpetual Change]

After listening once, I don't really have any strong feelings on the record one way or the other. It's not bad, but nothing really struck me as being spectacular either. The record feels very "safe", even moreso than "A Dramatic Turn of Events". As usual, lyrical topics don't gel with me particularly well; lyrics and vocals are "just there" sounding. Finally, the moments which do stick out, do so for all the wrong reasons: because of how shamelessly "Rush" sounding they are. It's too bad, for as talented as the band they are, DT constantly mine so much material from the same source.



At this point,  I'd probably place it above SC and BC&SL, but not much else. Perhaps it will grow on me. Either that, or I'm just now simply getting less interested in the DT sound.

[faizoff]

noxon, I know the soundcloud stream is going to be vastly inferior to the actual CD but by how much do you think its off? In terms of presenting overall dynamics of the mix.

[wasteland]

I have to say, the reaction to this album is MUCH more overall positive than any of DT's post 2000 albums have been... I think DT hit a nerve here. Looking forward to that tour even more now.

Even 6DOIT? That would be kinda lame.

SDOIT wasn't received that well, I'm told. It gained it's current near-holy status through the years.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

In my second listen: Enigma Machine is definitely a good track. It's weird to see such a straightforward instrumental by Dream Theater, but I think it works as a heavy tune that will be a live staple.

[KevShmev]

I have to say, the reaction to this album is MUCH more overall positive than any of DT's post 2000 albums have been... I think DT hit a nerve here. Looking forward to that tour even more now.

Even 6DOIT? That would be kinda lame.

Why?  Because how dare fans react positively to a new album by a band they love?

[WheyWaffles]

The Looking Glass is easily the best song on here for me.  It sounds like a combination of Enchant (and Rush, obviously) and the better aspects of this millennium of DT.  It even has Doug Ott-style heavy tremolo usage in the solo.

Illumination Theory tries so hard it hurts.  Really, just give up on the epic thing.  It's sounded forced every time going back to Octavarium and this is certainly no different.  Best part of that track is the old-school "hidden" bonus song at the end.

[dparrott]

When I blast it in my car next week, I'll have a better formed opinion of it.  That's as "surround sound" as I get!  It's hard to feel music through headphones on a computer.

[Zantera]

I have to say, the reaction to this album is MUCH more overall positive than any of DT's post 2000 albums have been... I think DT hit a nerve here. Looking forward to that tour even more now.

Even 6DOIT? That would be kinda lame.

Why?  Because how dare fans react positively to a new album by a band they love?

Because 6DOIT is beautiful and a top3 DT-album.

[JPX]

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.

The ambient/orchestral bit that lasts almost 4 minutes was just so...lazy. Normally I defend DT's longer songs, because they flow or have substance but this was just so..."hey I've got a guitar and 20 minutes of musical ideas so...what the fuck".

Agreed, it feels very disjointed!

The whole song might be the most disjointed thing they've ever written.

[Tom Bombadil]

I really hope this album can stand the test of time. If I had to rank it now it would be in my top 5, I'm really hoping it'll be able to stay there. Love everything about it so far (except I still think JLB is too low but it's not that bad)