Old fans vs. New fans DT12

[?]

I've been a fan for 4 years and I don't dislike the album, but I'm mildly disappointed by it.

[krands85]

I'm sort of in between on both parts of the poll. I was first introduced to the band between the releases of 8VM and SC, so I guess it's 5 albums. I also neither love, nor dislike the new album. There is only one song I don't really care for (The Looking Glass) but also only one that I think is top tier stuff (Illumination Theory). This is mainly due to the shorter song structures - I mostly prefer DT's longer songs. 2 or 3 minutes more on certain tracks and this could have been a fantastic album.

[TheGreatPretender]

Umm... I guess I've been a fan since 2008, which makes it... 3 albums by now... So I guess I'm sort of a Veteran fan? I did find out about the band way earlier on, and loved what I've heard from SFAM back in 2001, so I guess I'm more of a veteran than a newb.

Either way, I think DT12 was every bit as good as I was hoping it would be, and well deserving to be self-titled.

[Setlist Scotty]

I'm beyond veteran.

Ditto. Been a fan for over 24 years now and I like the new album, but I don't love it.

[FlyingBIZKIT]

Been a fan since DT13, and I love it!

[olddtfan51@gmail.com]

Been a fan for 21 years still loving there work. 

[425]

This is my first new album as a fan, and I love it!

[T-ski]

veteran, since "Pull me Under" was rollin' on Mtv.  Can't say it's their best effort. 

[wolven74]

Veteran, for sure. Been around since MTV played videos. I absolutely love the new music.

[PROGdrummer]

Been a fan since 2009, love the new album alot.

[Dark Castle]

Been a fan since 2009, and the new album is my second favorite, second only to I&W atm and just ahead of Awake and Scenes.

[Phoenix87x]

Been with them since Awake and I think the new album is fantastic.

and truthfully, I feel that ADTOE and DT are vast improvements over where we were in 09.

[TheGreatPretender]

Been with them since Awake and I think the new album is fantastic.

and truthfully, I feel that ADTOE and DT are vast improvements over where we were in 09.

[teclas]

Been with them since Awake and I think the new album is fantastic.

and truthfully, I feel that ADTOE and DT are vast improvements over where we were in 09.

Yes

[gmillerdrake]

This is my first new album as a fan, and I love it!

That's pretty cool. I know every band picks up fans along the way but its just neat that nearly 25 years in DT is still getting fresh new fans that enjoy their music.

[TheGreatPretender]

This is my first new album as a fan, and I love it!

That's pretty cool. I know every band picks up fans along the way but its just neat that nearly 25 years in DT is still getting fresh new fans that enjoy their music.

Yeah, but unfortunately, for every new fan, there's some jaded cynic who stops listening to them. That's pretty sad.

[GasparXR]

I don't FEEL like a new fan anymore, but after this album cycle I will be considered veteran apparently. I voted for loving it!

[black_biff_stadler]

I think you'll mesh well with us older fans.

[The Letter M]

"Veteran Fan" I suppose. I came on board the DT Train (of Thought) just before Live At Budokan was released, so DT12 is my 5th new album with them, and I have to say, there has been a steady, if not slightly up-hill climb in greatness since then! I won't say that SC or BC&SL aren't good, nor in hindsight are they masterpieces, but during the honey-moon phase of those albums, I was in love with them. And for me, they have aged fairly well. I actually tend to listen to SC or BC&SL a bit more often than 8VM lately (and by that I mean since ADTOE came out), but when 8VM came out (being my first new album with DT), I was more than in love with it - I was obsessed. Since then, however, it rarely gets played, but I did put it on a few days ago for some nostalgic enjoyment.

Anyways, as far as DT12 goes, it's got the same spirit as the last three, at least for me, in that there are a lot of great moments, some "That's just neat" moments, and a couple (currently) lackluster spots, but these are things that might, and will, change over time. I've already changed my mind on a couple songs and some spots of the album having been listening to it for a week now, at LEAST once a day if not more. It's got a lot on it, and it's that kind of depth that I appreciate on an album by bands like Dream Theater. I wasn't concerned with length - the whole "OMGZ IZ NAWT OVER SEBENTY MINUUUUTESSSZZZZ!" crowd was pretty hilarious to be honest - but this album didn't need length, it needed depth, and it has it in spades. Where as ADTOE had the length of a typical DT album, it was just that - a typical DT album. Barring any conspiracy-like connections to past songs and albums, ADTOE had that safe-zone feel, the kind of "Hey, we're still DT" feel. When JR joined, SFAM was quite a step away from FII and they took that chance to make-it-or-break-it as far as record sales and fans and such went, and they passed. Fans rejoiced, it was a return to form, so to speak...but that was a triumphant return after a slightly lackluster DT album (at the time - FII has grown on me and many other since, I'm sure).

DT12 doesn't have that luxury, though, to come in stronger after a slightly weaker album. That went to DT10...er...BC&SL. After the polarizing SC, the epic-laden BC&SL came in and knocked it out of the park, giving DT their highest charted album to date. So how do you follow up an album like that?! Well, you produce a safe album, and then, after you've reeled them in, you give them all you've got, and this is what we have - Dream Theater.

-Marc.

[King Postwhore]

Vet fan from  I & W and I love it.

[AngelBack]

Veteran, for sure. Been around since MTV played videos. I absolutely love the new music.

ditto

[Daso]

I've been a fan since SC, so I'm among the ones in the middle ground  I chose the veteran option because they're my favorite band and I get every single inner joke and so on that there can be. Oh, and I went with the "love" option.

[Lucien]

This is my first new album as a fan, and I love it!

[Progmetty]

Unfair poll IMO, veteran or new should be determined by years as fans not by albums.

[Kotowboy]

First album I enjoyed was Train Of Thought. Really loved Octavarium and the first album I bought was Systematic Chaos.

And I love DT12.

[mellotron_scratch]

I've been a fan since 2007/2008 (I'm a new fan, I guess), and like it a lot, but don't love it. But I still voted for 'love it'

[mike099]

This is my first new cd from DT.  I became a fan by accident a year ago.  I love the short song structures and love most of IT, but feel there is filler like some of the other DT long songs. 

Bring on the North American tour dates and it better be an evening with format. Take my money please.

[rush-signals]

I'm a way old veteran and I love it. It's so fresh and exciting. I'm really enjoying this post MP DT!

[Tis BOOLsheet]

Been there since ToT, although that was not the first album I listened to. My interest in the newer stuff started to fade over the course of the next three albums , and it came roaring back to a new height with ADToE. And since ADToE, I've strongly felt that the band is a more mature, more sophisticated, and all around better unit. I'm lovin' it.

[DebraKadabra]

1st option for me - been around since after Images and Words came out, and I absolutely love DT12.

[Nekov]

Veteran here. I don't know if I love the album yet, but I'm enjoying it a lot.

[gmillerdrake]

I'm a way old veteran and I love it. It's so fresh and exciting. I'm really enjoying this post MP DT!

Abso...freakin....lutely!!! Opinion Alert:

In my mind its even better because I firmly believe MP tried to take those guys hostage thinking they either couldn't or wouldn't go on without him......they called his bluff and have produced much better music in the past two albums than the previous two with MP.!

It's a joy to see them so relaxed and having fun!

[stellarnight]

Veteran here. Have been listening to them since 07. I pretty much loved every album they put out except for SC. This include DT12 which is shaping up to be a very strong album. I must have played the songs a 100 times now and i still think it is amazing.  I love how each DT album has a certain feel and i rather they keep innovating and changing their albums then say make I&W II which some youtube fans would have you believe.

Personally i am not much of a musician so if you told me mike portnoy was still the drummer, i would have believed you 
I can't hear the snare problem either. so bless my ears for ignorance:D

[Rattlehead]

Still a relatively new fan... I voted that I "love" the album because there was no option for like and I obviously couldn't go with dislike. I definitely don't "love" the album right now, but I'm hoping that I will eventually.

[zepp-head]

Been a fan since Images and Words.  Don't like it.