Illumination Theory... (let's call it appreciation thread)

[maximumrocker]

Sorry to bother with this, but it just made me cry, I'm serious, i cant tell what happened, i was just listening to it for the first time, and suddenly, tears, melody, instrumentation, sections, lyrics, mix, everything, JL, JP, JMX, MM, JR thanks for such a glorious moment in my life.

Did something similar happen to you guys?

YES!!! I'm so glad that you created this thread. This has actually happened to me twice now upon listening to it. It always happens at the part where James is singing:

To really feel the joy in life
You must suffer through the pain
When you surrender to the light
You can face the darkest days

I don't know if it's the lyrics, the instrumentation, or a combination of both, but I just start sobbing uncontrollably.

Passion glows within your heart
Like a furnace burning bright
Until you struggle through the dark
You'll never know the joy in life

When this part comes up I start to tear up....

I just imagine youre telling someone that they can be so good at something, but they just dont choose to do so. And because they can't take that path you have to say good bye forever. 

[lonestar]

A few manly tears were she'd.

[Prog Snob]

Many beautiful pieces of music have moved me to tears. Seeing The Spirit Carries On during the Luna Park theater showing definitely did. The middle part of Illumination Theory definitely gives me chills.

[mooshinator]

What brings tear to your eyes is such a personal experience.  Some songs that people find incredibly moving just make me want to punch people.  And other songs that aren't moving to most people make me want to cry.  My emotional DT experience is The Spirit Carries On; I loved DT in the early 90s but didn't like FiF so I stopped listening until somewhere around 2007-2008, not sure exactly when.  At that point, I was listening to random music on Pandora and The Spirit Carries On came on.  I was blown away that DT recovered from FiF and instantly became a fan again.  And then very shortly after I found that a good friend of mine's wife, sweethearts since high school, died suddenly in her late 20s from a freak incidence of pneumonia.  And at that point I had just discovered TSCO and was listening to it over and over, and all of a sudden that song just took on a new meaning for me...  Ever since, that song brings tears to my eyes; good lord, I'm dripping tears now.

Music is amazing.  IT doesn't make *me* cry, but it's a beautiful song and it has that sort of potential.  No doubt that some folks right now are developing their own personal attachment to it.

[wolfking]

Rebels for their freedom
A tyrant for the prize
Cowards for salvation
Money, love, and faith

FFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKK YYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!

Just heard this for the first time!!!

[Knguro]

What brings tear to your eyes is such a personal experience.  Some songs that people find incredibly moving just make me want to punch people.  And other songs that aren't moving to most people make me want to cry.  My emotional DT experience is The Spirit Carries On; I loved DT in the early 90s but didn't like FiF so I stopped listening until somewhere around 2007-2008, not sure exactly when.  At that point, I was listening to random music on Pandora and The Spirit Carries On came on.  I was blown away that DT recovered from FiF and instantly became a fan again.  And then very shortly after I found that a good friend of mine's wife, sweethearts since high school, died suddenly in her late 20s from a freak incidence of pneumonia.  And at that point I had just discovered TSCO and was listening to it over and over, and all of a sudden that song just took on a new meaning for me...  Ever since, that song brings tears to my eyes; good lord, I'm dripping tears now.

Music is amazing.  IT doesn't make *me* cry, but it's a beautiful song and it has that sort of potential.  No doubt that some folks right now are developing their own personal attachment to it.

Wow

[Tis BOOLsheet]

Sorry to bother with this, but it just made me cry, I'm serious, i cant tell what happened, i was just listening to it for the first time, and suddenly, tears, melody, instrumentation, sections, lyrics, mix, everything, JL, JP, JMX, MM, JR thanks for such a glorious moment in my life.

Did something similar happen to you guys?

The last section of the song almost did that to me. It's a great climax, with great melody, lyrics and instrumentation.

[adamack]

Im currently going through the worst heartache i can imagine, and Illumination Theory is so helpful to me. Its so therapeutic, and I can relate to all the lyrics. "The bridges we built to connect, the distance that makes us forget. Hate dividing us - love reminding us of our shared humanity" especially. like, i fucking feel the anger in those words and relate so well. Surrender Trust and Passion is still actually too hard too listen to right now, and truth be told I end up cutting the song short right there. I get a sick feeling in my stomach when the instrumental section ends and trasintions into the final part. I know that if i continue listening any further i'll end up going on a feels trip that i really dont want to go on right now. But the few times i did listen to that part, it was a healing experience, a painful healing experience, if that makes sense. In fact, this whole album is really a very therapeutic experience for me and every song seems to give me a little bit more encouragement every day to get through the struggle.

I'm so sorry for your troublesome times. I can absolutely relate, as there have been hundreds of times when I wanted to listen to a song that I loved so much, but I just couldn't because of the emotional baggage and pain that was attached with it. And whenever I did have the courage to listen, I would get that sick, nauseous feeling in my gut.

You're right about this sensation having the capacity to be a healing experience. I believe that it is unhealthy to suppress these emotions all of the time, and sometimes you just need to let them run wild despite the pain.

"The Luckiest" by Ben Folds is a song that I love, but to this day it is extremely difficult for me to listen to. However, a couple times a year, I revisit it and just let the pain breathe.

I really hate to sound cliche, especially in trying to comfort someone going through difficult times, but time is absolutely the best remedy for pain, and surely you will begin to heal. And you will be stronger at the end of it all. I always thought that when people said this, they were just BS'ing me. But you really will gain strength as you deal with whatever has been causing you so much pain.

I hope this helps, even just a tiny bit.

[keys76]

I just read a great interview with John & James in dutch magazine called Aardschok. The interviewer googled Illumination Theory and came with this...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illuminationism

Check  Augustine's left hand! 

[Zydar]

[Whatsername]

[Lowdz]

I just read a great interview with John & James in dutch magazine called Aardschok. The interviewer googled Illumination Theory and came with this...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illuminationism

Check  Augustine's left hand! 

Mind blown.

[?]

[wasteland]

Why is that surprising? Christian iconography is pretty much dripping with flaming hearts 

[Lowdz]

Why is that surprising? Christian iconography is pretty much dripping with flaming hearts 

The world is full of 5s and 8s too but we don't let that get in the way of a good 

[wasteland]

Why is that surprising? Christian iconography is pretty much dripping with flaming hearts 

The world is full of 5s and 8s too but we don't let that get in the way of a good 

Speaking of which, yesterday I saw an old license plate (the ones with just progressive numbers) reading CA (my city) - 586666. The Octavarium Of The Beast.

[Lucien]

If I get a vanity license plate, it will have 8VM somewhere in it.

[Prog Snob]

If I get a vanity license plate, it will have 8VM somewhere in it.

I could easily fit ProgSnob.   

[The Letter M]

If I get a vanity license plate, it will have 8VM somewhere in it.

You could do...

8VM DT or DT 8VM

OR...

8VARIUM (most vanity plates allow 7 characters)

-Marc.

[Scrub206]

This song feels ... I'm not sure. It doesn't feel like a "DT epic" but it feels exactly like a "DT epic" .... I'm not sure if I absolutely love the song or just like it a lot.

[Phoenix87x]

IT starts out as a pretty cool song, but when it hits the instrumental orchestra section and from that point forward that's when it turns into a true epic.

Excellent song overall though. 

[JRuivo]

Is it just me, or the first notes of Illumination Theory sound like ABBA's Dancing Queen?   

[JonesyAZ]

On first listen, late at night...with headphones....when the orchestral section started up after the meditative soundscape prior to it, I was brought to tears.  The first time this has happened with a new DT song since SDOIT.

Lovely tune!

[wolfking]

The riffs in this song are absolutely insane.

[emtee]

It's a very special song. Really connects. It's up there with DT's best and yeah, during the middle section it can really tug
on the heart strings.


I feel sorry for the people that can't connect with it like many of us can.

[TAC]

..... and it seems to come together more with every listen.  What a fantastic song.

This!

[Kotowboy]

The riffs in this song are absolutely insane.

This album is full of " F--- Yeah ! " moments.

[theanalogkid7]

Just finished my first listen - need a few more to really get it I think.  Absolutely one of the killer tracks of their recent albums.

However, what's with the last couple minutes?  Either the silence is too long, or I'm missing something...

[Kotowboy]

Just finished my first listen - need a few more to really get it I think.  Absolutely one of the killer tracks of their recent albums.

However, what's with the last couple minutes?  Either the silence is too long, or I'm missing something...

It's supposed to be a surprise moment.

Illumination Theory finishes at 19 minutes or so. The final few mins are just an added little treat.

[volwrath]

I really like IT except for the 30 secs of JR circus music that is a requirement nowadays at the 6:00 mark or so

[theseoafs]

I really like IT except for the 30 secs of JR circus music that is a requirement nowadays at the 6:00 mark or so

Ugh, the "circus" criticism of DT has to be the most meaningless criticism of a band I ever hear, and I hear it so often, too.  DT has never made any music that sounds remotely like a circus.

In this case, the part you're describing is supposed to be reminiscent of baroque music.

[Lucien]

I really like IT except for the 30 secs of JR circus music that is a requirement nowadays at the 6:00 mark or so

Ugh, the "circus" criticism of DT has to be the most meaningless criticism of a band I ever hear, and I hear it so often, too.  DT has never made any music that sounds remotely like a circus.

In this case, the part you're describing is supposed to be reminiscent of baroque music.

<3 baroque

[volwrath]

I really like IT except for the 30 secs of JR circus music that is a requirement nowadays at the 6:00 mark or so

Ugh, the "circus" criticism of DT has to be the most meaningless criticism of a band I ever hear, and I hear it so often, too.  DT has never made any music that sounds remotely like a circus.

In this case, the part you're describing is supposed to be reminiscent of baroque music.

Apparantly I am not the only incorrect person out there:
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Rudess

[Lucien]

 

That's just urbandictionary trolls

[FlyingBIZKIT]

Great source!