Self Titled Album Discussion thread [Expect Spoilers]

[hefdaddy42]

Come on Hef.  I think you can say worse.  I'm begging you.  

No, not trying to say worse, or anything bad at all, really.

I respect his opinion on the album (although I don't share it).  I've just heard it.  Many people seem to post glowing things about new things they discover on the album, and it just isn't working for him, for whatever reason.

[Implode]

OK, so since the album obviously has no redeeming value for you, and we all now know your opinion about it, can I expect to see you stop posting in threads about the album?  Just curious.

This.  I don't begrudge your opinion, but you've been griping about the refs, the offensive line play, the turf, the running game and the announcers for the entire 1st quarter.  Can you pretty please let us enjoy the rest of the Super Bowl?

Would you like us to make a thread where we can complain and give criticisms of the album? I feel like that wouldn't go over well.

With all my respect to all those who do not connect with this album (after all it is a matter of tastes), but are you sure your problem is not with the genre itself? I do not see how a person expecting a DT prog metal album is not liking this one? What were you expecting, what else can they do?
You go to the best 5 stars italian restaurant in town, they serve you the best pasta ever, and you don't like it ! Are you sure you like pasta in general?  Just my thoughts.

It's definitely not the genre. Haken just put out the album of the year.

*disclaimer: I don't hate the album nor am I disappointed. Maybe that's because I've lowered my expectations after seeing what they've put out for the past 8 year. First listen, I rated it 4/5, second and third listen, I rated it 3/5. I'll keep listening and see if it's a grower.

[commanderbob]

This.  I don't begrudge your opinion, but you've been griping about the refs, the offensive line play, the turf, the running game and the announcers for the entire 1st quarter.  Can you pretty please let us enjoy the rest of the Super Bowl?

Would you like us to make a thread where we can complain and give criticisms of the album? I feel like that wouldn't go over well.

Actually.......yeah.  And I'd have a few things to contribute myself.  Just because I love this doesn't mean I don't have my nitpicks.  I think that is important to be able to be critical.  But I feel like it's XMAS evening and everyone has had a second plate of the ham, and you have members of the family still trying to butcher the pig.  It's deeeeeeeeeaaaaaaad!

[Implode]

Also, someone said that it was mostly newer members showing hate. I was just going to say the opposite. I think I know what's really going on here. Most of all the people posting in the DT section are newer members.

[ariich]

I think this is the first time I can remember where it's hard to pick out any distinct groups among those who love or dislike the album. All the "oh the new/old fans will love/hate this one" doesn't seem to exist.

[commanderbob]

I think this is the first time I can remember where it's hard to pick out any distinct groups among those who love or dislike the album. All the "oh the new/old fans will love/hate this one" doesn't seem to exist.

Well I'm a 21-year fan, and I'm shocked to my socks that I love it THIS much.

[ariich]

I think this is the first time I can remember where it's hard to pick out any distinct groups among those who love or dislike the album. All the "oh the new/old fans will love/hate this one" doesn't seem to exist.

Well I'm a 21-year fan, and I'm shocked to my socks that I love it THIS much.

But yeah that's what I mean, most old fans and most new fans are liking/loving the album, and some older fans and some newer fans are not digging it. Same goes for any other major groups of people - I can't distinguish any trends or demographics at all, which I think says a lot for the universal appeal of the album. Of course some people just won't like it, and that's cool, but it's nice that there are no particular groups like that.

[emtee]

Two of the most beautiful sections of music I've ever heard have been released this year. Sections that hit me hard.

Middle section of Luminol
Middle section of IT

They both take you away someplace else.

[GasparXR]

Two of the most beautiful sections of music I've ever heard have been released this year. Sections that hit me hard.

Middle section of Luminol
Middle section of IT

They both take you away someplace else.

What

[toro]

Two of the most beautiful sections of music I've ever heard have been released this year. Sections that hit me hard.

Middle section of Luminol
Middle section of IT

They both take you away someplace else.

What

What's so funny?

[Implode]

Yeah!!! I can't believe that

Edit: Curse you, Bosk!

[emtee]

I'm lost. Announcement about?

Halp..

[commanderbob]

Wut.

[Bear Report]

I have been a DT fan of various levels over the last decade (from "this is cool", to fanboy, to ambivalent, back to fanboy) and I'm also in the "shocked I like it this much" category.  I love this band, but figured I had listened to them so much, know their tricks, preferences, and styles so well, that their ability to inspire and leave me shocked would have diminished - but no.

This album displays in the spades the two qualities I always admired most about Dream Theater - a love of music of great breadth and depth and a commitment to always forging their own identity.  The cutting-edge of prog metal is elsewhere now, but Dream Theater, as a band and a body of work, is stronger and more certain than ever.  I can't wait for DT13 already...

[Ħ]

And bosk's post mysteriously vaporizes into thin air. oooo magic.

[Cygnus17]

Broke down and finally listened to the stream.  Four words: Illlumination Theory Holy Sh$t. 

Simply amazing.

[metrojam]

Can't believe the number of rude/ignorant people in here who have to make "clever and sarcastic" comments to anyone who dares not to think this is the greatest album ever released!!...Those people must be so full of themselves and so much up their own backsides that they can't possibly accept that a) different people have different opinions b) this is a forum where you are allowed to express your own opinions and c) that they can NEVER EVER be wrong with their own opinion. Its like 8 years olds in a school playing ground! Just grow up and accept the fact that not everyone has to agree with your own opinion and just because they don't, doesn't then give you the right to start acting the "Big man" and start being abusive. Jeez, I though DT fans were meant to be grown up!

[FourthHorseman]

The Looking Glass lyrics are actually about Portnoy.

[lyfeternl]

The Looking Glass lyrics are actually about Portnoy.

[rush-signals]

Wow I just found the EQ adjustment on the my PC, didn't know I had one LOL Anyways I boosted the low end and the high end a bit, what a difference in sound quality. 

[ariich]

Can't believe the number of rude/ignorant people in here who have to make "clever and sarcastic" comments to anyone who dares not to think this is the greatest album ever released!!...Those people must be so full of themselves and so much up their own backsides that they can't possibly accept that a) different people have different opinions b) this is a forum where you are allowed to express your own opinions and c) that they can NEVER EVER be wrong with their own opinion. Its like 8 years olds in a school playing ground! Just grow up and accept the fact that not everyone has to agree with your own opinion and just because they don't, doesn't then give you the right to start acting the "Big man" and start being abusive. Jeez, I though DT fans were meant to be grown up!

Wait, who are you addressing with this post?

[Podaar]

Can't believe the number of rude/ignorant people in here who have to make "clever and sarcastic" comments to anyone who dares not to think this is the greatest album ever released!!...Those people must be so full of themselves and so much up their own backsides that they can't possibly accept that a) different people have different opinions b) this is a forum where you are allowed to express your own opinions and c) that they can NEVER EVER be wrong with their own opinion. Its like 8 years olds in a school playing ground! Just grow up and accept the fact that not everyone has to agree with your own opinion and just because they don't, doesn't then give you the right to start acting the "Big man" and start being abusive. Jeez, I though DT fans were meant to be grown up!

metrojam,

It might be helpful if you quoted specific posts that have you upset. There were a couple of slightly snide comments on the last page but the discussion quickly moved on. I see no point in upsetting the apple cart at this point.

[edit] Myung'd by ariich[/edit]
[2nd edit] I believe you are using 'ignorant' inappropriately.[/2nd edit]

[Lucien]

[Prog Snob]

Can't believe the number of rude/ignorant people in here who have to make "clever and sarcastic" comments to anyone who dares not to think this is the greatest album ever released!!...Those people must be so full of themselves and so much up their own backsides that they can't possibly accept that a) different people have different opinions b) this is a forum where you are allowed to express your own opinions and c) that they can NEVER EVER be wrong with their own opinion. Its like 8 years olds in a school playing ground! Just grow up and accept the fact that not everyone has to agree with your own opinion and just because they don't, doesn't then give you the right to start acting the "Big man" and start being abusive. Jeez, I though DT fans were meant to be grown up!

Lighten up there. There's a difference between giving a conflicting opinion with constructive criticism and outright bashing something because either you are just miserable and need to criticize everything or you can't come with something thought provoking to explain why you dislike something other than say, "That just sucks" or "That's just horrible" or "That song is stupid."  I'll listen to someone say they dislike Dream Theater all day long as long as they are being intellectual about and not just using their vast monosyllabic vocabulary.

[jyoung320]

Coolest Nugget so far for me is The Looking Glass throwing back to Limelight with the intro and the lyric content. Whereas Limelight was about the pain of living in the public eye, TLG is about those who admire themselves for how popular they are, and the ways fame has inflated their ego to the point where they can't associate with the world when their 15 minutes are up.

[ariich]

TLG is about those who admire themselves for how popular they are, and the ways fame has inflated their ego to the point where they can't associate with the world when their 15 minutes are up.

Almost, but not quite - JP explained that the song is about the way people can become famous just by making vids of themselves and putting them online, and how there is a culture of people doing things like that purely for fame rather than for any sort of actual achievement.

[Lucien]

TLG is about those who admire themselves for how popular they are, and the ways fame has inflated their ego to the point where they can't associate with the world when their 15 minutes are up.

Almost, but not quite - JP explained that the song is about the way people can become famous just by making vids of themselves and putting them online, and how there is a culture of people doing things like that purely for fame rather than for any sort of actual achievement.

In other words, a modern Limelight.

[dparrott]

via Imgflip Meme Maker

[PROGdrummer]

My dad just described Surrender to Reason as being lyrically weak.


Hes also an avid DT hater though

[jyoung320]

TLG is about those who admire themselves for how popular they are, and the ways fame has inflated their ego to the point where they can't associate with the world when their 15 minutes are up.

Almost, but not quite - JP explained that the song is about the way people can become famous just by making vids of themselves and putting them online, and how there is a culture of people doing things like that purely for fame rather than for any sort of actual achievement.

Yeah I remember him saying that, but I got my view from the lyric

"Some will not admit that 15 minutes have expired/
Too much attention much too soon/
Don't see you walking on the moon/

You are caught up in your gravity/
Bathing in the spotlight/
Imitating fame/"

But I don't disagree with Petrucci. That would be inane, his vision is ultimately the one we have to go with. I can only interpret further from it.

[bosk1]

Can't believe the number of rude/ignorant people in here who have to make "clever and sarcastic" comments to anyone who dares not to think this is the greatest album ever released!!...Those people must be so full of themselves and so much up their own backsides that they can't possibly accept that a) different people have different opinions b) this is a forum where you are allowed to express your own opinions and c) that they can NEVER EVER be wrong with their own opinion. Its like 8 years olds in a school playing ground! Just grow up and accept the fact that not everyone has to agree with your own opinion and just because they don't, doesn't then give you the right to start acting the "Big man" and start being abusive. Jeez, I though DT fans were meant to be grown up!

Considering that yours is probably the rudest post in the thread, I'm not sure what you are talking about.

[wolfking]

Can't believe the number of rude/ignorant people in here who have to make "clever and sarcastic" comments to anyone who dares not to think this is the greatest album ever released!!...Those people must be so full of themselves and so much up their own backsides that they can't possibly accept that a) different people have different opinions b) this is a forum where you are allowed to express your own opinions and c) that they can NEVER EVER be wrong with their own opinion. Its like 8 years olds in a school playing ground! Just grow up and accept the fact that not everyone has to agree with your own opinion and just because they don't, doesn't then give you the right to start acting the "Big man" and start being abusive. Jeez, I though DT fans were meant to be grown up!

This post is hilarious.

[Sycsa]

TLG is about those who admire themselves for how popular they are, and the ways fame has inflated their ego to the point where they can't associate with the world when their 15 minutes are up.

Almost, but not quite - JP explained that the song is about the way people can become famous just by making vids of themselves and putting them online, and how there is a culture of people doing things like that purely for fame rather than for any sort of actual achievement.

In other words, a modern Limelight.

In more ways than one. Love it.

[Nearmyth]

Two of the most beautiful sections of music I've ever heard have been released this year. Sections that hit me hard.

Middle section of Luminol
Middle section of IT

They both take you away someplace else.

Agree

[King Postwhore]

Come on Hef.  I think you can say worse.  I'm begging you.  

No, not trying to say worse, or anything bad at all, really.

I respect his opinion on the album (although I don't share it).  I've just heard it.  Many people seem to post glowing things about new things they discover on the album, and it just isn't working for him, for whatever reason.

I've read him bash it in every post.  I get it. but to see it over and over just like someone praising the same thing over and over is just annoying.