Self Titled Album Discussion thread [Expect Spoilers]

[lovethedrake]

Wow, I just listened to the album with my headphones on a different computer and it sounds amazing! 

I totally take back what I said about JLB on this album... he actually sounds fantastic.   

Also, enigma machine is starting to click a bit.   

This album is a grower and not a shower folks..... that may be the best compliment I can give to this album.

Starting to rise up the ranks quickly for me!   

[eviljust]

Does anybody else think that IT from around 15:15 till the end may end up being the most beautiful piece of music ever written by DT?

Maybe not the best, but very close to me.

I'm loving Enigma Machine so much and I can't stop singing "someone save me, look behind the veil" 

[evz]

Does anybody else hear a weird phasing effect on James's voice at times? Seems like a possible side-effect of pitch correction, but I'm not sure.

So far the fx I've heard have been deliberate, but that doesn't mean I'm hearing the same parts as you.  This is the most fx laden disc probably since Awake.  I love it

[evz]

Does anybody else think that IT from around 15:15 till the end may end up being the most beautiful piece of music ever written by DT?

Maybe not the best, but very close to me.

I'm loving Enigma Machine so much and I can't stop singing "someone save me, look behind the veil" 

Me too!

[me7]

I just realized how best to describe my feelings about the album: I don't actually think any of the music is bad; it holds together...in a very improvised way. But part of that haphazardness and lack of truly standout moments (IT orchestral section excepted) means the whole album just kinda blurs together. I put it on from the beginning, I listen to the music for 70 or so minutes, and before I know it I'm already at the last track. The whole rest of the album is basically like white noise to me.

I have a similar problem and I think it's mainly due to the loudness. I tend to lose concentration a lot while listening to it, a lot more than with other albums. I'm very certain that the constant wall of sound I'm exposed to makes my mind drift away.

Am I the only one getting strong Count of Tuscany vibes from 3:42 of Enigma Machine?

No, that's deliberate, just like the Octavarium vibe at 18:12 of Illumination Theory.

[Kotowboy]

Surrender To Reason is the Breaking All Illusions of this album for me.

Good - but my least favourite from each respective album.

[Zook]

Update: I'm still loving the album. Don't know if it will stand the test of time, but as of know, I'm happy.

EDIT: Am I the only one getting strong Count of Tuscany vibes from 3:42 of Enigma Machine?

It's the same exact thing. If you didn't I'd be concerned.

[evz]

catching on to some of the awesome stuff Mangini brings to the table - the drum fill in IT at 15:50 where he just smacks the bejeesuz out of the octabons or whatever those are - it just feeds into the next part so magnificently...   

[Orthogonal]

catching on to some of the awesome stuff Mangini brings to the table - the drum fill in IT at 15:50 where he just smacks the bejeesuz out of the octabons or whatever those are - it just feeds into the next part so magnificently...   

or how about the monster fill before the main verse comes in at 3:29. Mangini killed it!

[Dark Castle]

Last two or so minutes of Surrender To Reason  so beautiful

[7StringedBeast]

The more I listen to the album, the better it gets.  This album has so much great stuff going on, it needs a lot of listens.  I'm really impressed with it. 

I think people saying they can't remember anything need to keep listening.  Because I kind of felt that way after a couple listens and still do.  The more I listen more stuff starts to stand out and I'm starting to get familiar.  Actually, this feels exactly how it felt when I heard SFAM for the first time.  I listened to that album and it just confused the shit out of me.  This album is kind of like that.

I really feel like this album is going to grow on me immensely.  I just keep wanting to listen to it more and more which I never ever felt for the last two albums.  I think there is definitely something special about this album.

[Benedettosoxfan]

Well, I just finished Illumination Theory and another outstanding album. I don't think I can possibly be disappointed by a Dream Theater album. Everything they do is magnificent and every song is great. I honestly thought I was going to be let down by IT, but now I'm looking at one of the all time greats. The orchestral part about 9 minutes in blew me away. I can't recall ever being so genuinely moved by a piece of music. I cried and I didn't even realize I was crying. I didn't feel like I was in my own body. And then when the band got going again, a big part of me thought "This is great, but I wouldn't mind if the orchestra never went away." Life is good. Thank you, DT 

[Kotowboy]

Bizarrely - not only do the songs get better on repeated listens but the production does too.

Probably just acclimatising to it - but the really aggressive feel of all the instruments really works.

This album has so much punch that A Dramatic Turn... was lacking.

Really looking forward to blasting this album on CD.

[philippaopao]

I just absolutely adore JLB's varied vocal passages in IT, especially the sequence of "Hate dividing us, love reminding us" and "Hope can be a shadow fleeting", he's really on fire in this album!

[Orthogonal]

This album brings an element that has been light or missing on several previous albums, good old-fashioned piano. The few times JR uses it really elevates the song in a way I haven't heard since About To Crash, this needs to become more prominent in the future.

This album also has the least amount of "wankery" in a long time, IT and EM are the only tracks that really have anything that could fall under that label and it's tastefully done and shorter on average.

[hefdaddy42]

This album brings an element that has been light or missing on several previous albums, good old-fashioned piano. The few times JR uses it really elevates the song in a way I haven't heard since About To Crash, this needs to become more prominent in the future.

There is actually a lot of piano on every single DT album that JR has played on.

[farsight]

While I think Roadrunner is doing a great job promoting DT, how they picked AFTR and TEI as singles and totally miss the most catchy and the best standalone track in the album (The Bigger Picture) is beyond me. It's probably the most congruent thing the band has done in a while (except the weird intro and end, maybe it used to be a much longer song?). Everybody gets to stand out at least once in the song. Love MM and JR's work in this one.

[Tom Bombadil]

Bizarrely - not only do the songs get better on repeated listens but the production does too.

Probably just acclimatising to it - but the really aggressive feel of all the instruments really works.

This album has so much punch that A Dramatic Turn... was lacking.

Really looking forward to blasting this album on CD.

Totally agree. With every additional listen I'm like "this mix really isn't bad". Somehow it just sounds cleaner with more listens. Can't explain why, though.

[ResultsMayVary]

Dream Theater is clearly brain-washing you into loving the mix.

[Scorpion]

Update: I'm still loving the album. Don't know if it will stand the test of time, but as of know, I'm happy.

EDIT: Am I the only one getting strong Count of Tuscany vibes from 3:42 of Enigma Machine?

It's the same exact thing. If you didn't I'd be concerned.

Well, good that you don't have to be concerned then, Mister.

[7StringedBeast]

Bizarrely - not only do the songs get better on repeated listens but the production does too.

Probably just acclimatising to it - but the really aggressive feel of all the instruments really works.

This album has so much punch that A Dramatic Turn... was lacking.

Really looking forward to blasting this album on CD.

Totally agree. With every additional listen I'm like "this mix really isn't bad". Somehow it just sounds cleaner with more listens. Can't explain why, though.

I think the mix is pretty good.  It's mastered too hot though.  Too compressed.  I do enjoy the mix though.

[Progmetty]

First listen to Enigma Machine, the first riff -that returns later- is pretty awesome and totally promises a tense instrumental but then the song kinda wanders off and loses my attention for some reason, pretty sure it will grow on me though.

[Zook]

Bizarrely - not only do the songs get better on repeated listens but the production does too.

Probably just acclimatising to it - but the really aggressive feel of all the instruments really works.

This album has so much punch that A Dramatic Turn... was lacking.

Really looking forward to blasting this album on CD.

Totally agree. With every additional listen I'm like "this mix really isn't bad". Somehow it just sounds cleaner with more listens. Can't explain why, though.

That's only until you listen to.. Anything else.

[cookienut]

The best thing? The way Mangini and Myung lock in so well. I've never heard such a great sync between drummer and bass since FII. Being a drummer myself, nothing beats hearing the rythym section play off each other so well. IT has me kind of gobsmacked actually.

[Lucidity]

This album brings an element that has been light or missing on several previous albums, good old-fashioned piano. The few times JR uses it really elevates the song in a way I haven't heard since About To Crash, this needs to become more prominent in the future.

There is actually a lot of piano on every single DT album that JR has played on.

I feel the exact opposite. I feel like there's substantially less real piano on this album than just about any previous ones... And also just much less JR presence, which I feel takes a bit of the DT element out of the music...

[hefdaddy42]

Not sure what you mean, JR is all over the place.  He's just doing less wheedly-deedly than usual.

[aXygnus]

I have to say after 10 listens, everything after the 15:50 mark of Illumination Theory is the most epic part of any DT song ever written.

The last choruses of Surrender to Reason are annoyingly catchy and I can't help but hum the melody everytime I'm not listening to anything.


This might break the Holy Trinity for me.

[evz]

I have to say after 10 listens, everything after the 15:50 mark of Illumination Theory is the most epic part of any DT song ever written.

The last choruses of Surrender to Reason are annoyingly catchy and I can't help but hum the melody everytime I'm not listening to anything.


This might break the Holy Trinity for me.

Holy Quadrupoly?

[King Postwhore]

Not sure what you mean, JR is all over the place.  He's just doing less wheedly-deedly than usual.

The most perfect description ever!

[theseoafs]

Got another listen in tonight.  I officially do not understand why any Dream Theater fan would dislike this album.  If you do not like this album, we are on different wavelengths.

[Dark Castle]

Got another listen in tonight.  I officially do not understand why any Dream Theater fan would dislike this album.  If you do not like this album, we are on different wavelengths.

This, although I'm not sure if you're in the "FUCKILOVETHISALBUM" camp like me

[theseoafs]

I think I am.  I've just been heaping praise on the album since the stream was put up.  It's kind of embarrassing, actually, since just about everyone else has been much more reserved, but every time I listen to it I become more certain that I'll eventually view this as being on the same tier as Images and Six Degrees.

[Dark Castle]

I think I am.  I've just been heaping praise on the album since the stream was put up.  It's kind of embarrassing, actually, since just about everyone else has been much more reserved, but every time I listen to it I become more certain that I'll eventually view this as being on the same tier as Images and Six Degrees.

I'm glad that I'm not the only one then

[BlobVanDam]

This album brings an element that has been light or missing on several previous albums, good old-fashioned piano. The few times JR uses it really elevates the song in a way I haven't heard since About To Crash, this needs to become more prominent in the future.

There is actually a lot of piano on every single DT album that JR has played on.

Yep. It may not always feature prominently and upfront, but there's piano on a lot more than people realize, although DT's music is so dense, and JR's keyboards so layered (and often mixed low), that a lot of people probably miss it. Looking at their recent few albums, these are the songs there is some form of piano in (I may even be missing some)-

ToT - every song but As I Am, and HTF, and that's on the balls to the wall heavy album.
8V - every single song
SC - every single song, again on a pretty heavy album overall
BCASL - all but AROP
ADTOE - OTBOA, LNF, TITL, Outcry, FFH, BAI (surprisingly not on BTS that I could spot)

[hefdaddy42]

Not sure what you mean, JR is all over the place.  He's just doing less wheedly-deedly than usual.

The most perfect description ever!

Let me be clear that I am in no way anti-wheedly-deedly.