Dream Theater: The Astonishing (now with moment of betrayal!)

[emtee]

Understood and I applaud that reasoning.

Soon

[goo-goo]

Understood and I applaud that reasoning.

Soon

emtee

You mean  

[Panar]

Today is the day??

[RoeDent]

Today is the day??

It is indeed the day. The day of Wednesday 6th January, 2016, to be precise. Although in some parts of the world, it's probably the night.

[Panar]

Today is the day??

It is indeed the day. The day of Wednesday 6th January, 2016, to be precise. Although in some parts of the world, it's probably the night.

Oh, ok.

[hefdaddy42]

I wouldn't be concerned about the quality of the songwriting at all. Beautiful stuff.

If the version I've heard is the same as what's on the CD, it would be their most dynamic album since the '90s.

I am loving you so hard right now.

[zmazar]

I have to say this is the most excited I've been for a DT album in a long time.  Now I just have to set aside the time to sit down and listen to the whole thing.

[ericoml]

Why there are two overtures? For me this can be afforded by only one in a conceptual album. Unless the two acts are very distinct musically - like Opeth's Deliverance and Damnation. Otherwise I see no meaning in doing two overtures.

[rab7]

Why there are two overtures? For me this can be afforded by only one in a conceptual album. Unless the two acts are very distinct musically - like Opeth's Deliverance and Damnation. Otherwise I see no meaning in doing two overtures.

This is a Rock Opera. In the style of many classic musicals, operas, and plays, there is usually an Intermission (Entr'acte in French). Music usually plays during Intermission, which I'm 99% sure is what "2285 Entr'Acte" is supposed to represent.

[ericoml]

Why there are two overtures? For me this can be afforded by only one in a conceptual album. Unless the two acts are very distinct musically - like Opeth's Deliverance and Damnation. Otherwise I see no meaning in doing two overtures.

This is a Rock Opera. In the style of many classic musicals, operas, and plays, there is usually an Intermission (Entr'acte in French). Music usually plays during Intermission, which I'm 99% sure is what "2285 Entr'Acte" is supposed to represent.

Cool. I'm still thought that would be amazing if the two Acts will be kind of distinct musically but I do not think it's the case.

[zmazar]

I think it would depend on how the story progresses, and if the setting/mood changes from one half to the other.

[ericoml]

Makes more sense. Also, it would be interesting if there will be "Gabriel's songs", I mean, songs not dedicated to the storyline itself, but rather focused on Gabriel's role as composer...

[bosk1]

Why there are two overtures? For me this can be afforded by only one in a conceptual album. Unless the two acts are very distinct musically - like Opeth's Deliverance and Damnation. Otherwise I see no meaning in doing two overtures.

Why does there need to be a limit?  Neal Morse's Testimony album had like 17 overtures.

[RoeDent]

As this looks likely to be one of the longest albums I've ever heard, then I'll probably want to take a short intermission at the end of Act 1. The 2nd overture will then serve to transport me back into the world of the story, which is one of the purposes of operatic overtures.

[Kotowboy]

The CD will sound better, as it doesnt have the watermark. The watermark is quite intrusive at times.

I'm hearing it without the watermark, but the watermarks are annoying, like a big ol' notch filter basically.

How do you watermark a CD ? is there like a constant sound on it or " THIS CD IS PROPERTY OF ROAD RUNNER RECORDS AND THEIR ASSOCIATED PARTNERS AND AFFILIATES IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA " every 5 seconds ?

[Mark Levinson Jr.]

As this looks likely to be one of the longest albums I've ever heard, then I'll probably want to take a short intermission at the end of Act 1. The 2nd overture will then serve to transport me back into the world of the story, which is one of the purposes of operatic overtures.

Wow, there are so many interesting influences of classical music. As opposed to rock music that is influenced by blues.

[RMGadelha]

The CD will sound better, as it doesnt have the watermark. The watermark is quite intrusive at times.

I'm hearing it without the watermark, but the watermarks are annoying, like a big ol' notch filter basically.

How do you watermark a CD ? is there like a constant sound on it or " THIS CD IS PROPERTY OF ROAD RUNNER RECORDS AND THEIR ASSOCIATED PARTNERS AND AFFILIATES IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA " every 5 seconds ?

Afaik, there's some specific sound or frequency or w/e and it's different on every promo copy so that the company knows who leaked it (incase it leaks).

[bosk1]

^Exactly.  Pre-release promos almost always have digital watermarks nowadays.  It isn't a "DT thing," or even a "Roadrunner thing."  A friend of mine in the media gets promos all the time for a lot of bands, and they always have a digital watermark.

[CDrice]

How do you watermark a CD ? is there like a constant sound on it or " THIS CD IS PROPERTY OF ROAD RUNNER RECORDS AND THEIR ASSOCIATED PARTNERS AND AFFILIATES IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA " every 5 seconds ?

Whenever there is a reference to water in the lyrics, water will be splashed out of nowhere on anybody in the vicinity. And since DT likes to refer to water in their lyrics, the album is sure to make us wet

[Kotowboy]

Also DT like to use the word "dream" in their lyrics - so the CD will expel Diazepam in gas form upon every utterance.

[CDrice]

Mmm... wet and dream... I feel like there's a dirty joke to be found somewhere in this....

[noxon]

It's not just promos that get watermarked.

Here's a listening test so you can see if you can hear the watermark.

https://mattmontag.com/audio-listening-test/

[jsbru]

Hmmmm....maybe if the direction of conversation on this thread keeps heading downward, it will get so low to the point where DT will feel sorry for us and just release the album a week ahead of schedule. 

[RMGadelha]

Hmmmm....maybe if the direction of conversation on this thread keeps heading downward, it will get so low to the point where DT will feel sorry for us and just release the album a week ahead of schedule. 

Yeah, let's talk a bit more about wet dreams 

[Kotowboy]

Hmmmm....maybe if the direction of conversation on this thread keeps heading downward, it will get so low to the point where DT will feel sorry for us and just release the album a week ahead of schedule. 

Yeah, let's talk a bit more about wet dreams 

I once had a dream I was swimming.

[RMGadelha]

I constantly have nightmares of being overwhelmed by gigantic ocean waves.

[Nearmyth]

But I have stated that the songs do not "flow" into each other. Each song excepting one has a clear beginning and a clear end. There is silent between almost all tracks, but like two or three has a small connecting sound effect that persists from the end to the next - but remove that sound effect and it's a completely separate song. It's a very dynamic and diverse album.

This is mostly what I meant anyway, thank you for clarifying. My worries are put to rest

[BlackInk]

I constantly have nightmares of being overwhelmed by gigantic ocean waves.

I used to have those, until I learned to push them back with the Force because I'm awesome. Now I don't have wet dreams any more.

[Kotowboy]

I constantly have nightmares of being overwhelmed by gigantic ocean waves.

My nightmares involve rollercoasters and lifts ( elevators ) even though I am scared of neither.

[lucasembarbosa]

WHERE. ARE. THE. UPDATES?

[Thematt202]

It's probably gonna be Friday.  That's why those in the know posted a couple of teasers Monday AM - to manage the inevitable bitching when the usual character update fails to materialise.

[RMGadelha]

I constantly have nightmares of being overwhelmed by gigantic ocean waves.

My nightmares involve rollercoasters and lifts ( elevators ) even though I am scared of neither.

I'm not terrified of oceans either, just a little bit of fear and respect.

[Awaken]

Were there teasers?  I had read that this would be a fun week, but I kind of took that as no updates may have been scheduled and they knew people would be getting restless.  Next week seems to be inevitable with listening parties being scheduled.

[RMGadelha]

The fun week that was mentioned is the teaser.

[Thematt202]

Yeah, that's what I meant by teasers.  There's got to be something this week.  Lots of content to reveal on the site and not that much time left.