What Are Your Thoughts On "The Gift of Music?"

[Kotowboy]

A great song with more  come. 

[lanemeyer]

LaBrie killed it on the vocals! It reminds me of the work he did for Frameshift, or something from his Mullmuzzler albums.

I had the exact same thought as I was listening to it, and it made me very happy.  Definitely solo-album level quality, which I always thought was somehow better than his DT recordings. 

[JediKnight1969]

This is my thought:

[Nomaniac]

Almost 100 votes! Wow . . .

[jjrock88]

I really like it

[CDrice]

I just listened to it and must say it was quite disappointing.














Wait... I meant it was astonishing! 

[adace]

Awesome song! This album can't come out soon enough!

[Nomaniac]

I just listened to it and must say it was quite disappointing.







Wait... I meant it was astonishing! 

Astonishing indeed. I haven't been able to stop listening!!!

[Train of Naught]

I just listened to it and must say it was quite disappointing.







Wait... I meant it was astonishing! 

Astonishing indeed. I haven't been able to stop listening!!!

Really? Even my all time favorite songs I can't listen to for more than 2-3 times in a row before getting bored with it, usually not even twice.

[James.v6]

There is something different. I guess The Astonishig album need more time to grow on you.

[Nomaniac]

If you haven't noticed already, I am a really obsessive person

It's not even healthy at this point

[CDrice]

Really? Even my all time favorite songs I can't listen to for more than 2-3 times in a row before getting bored with it, usually not even twice.

I'm sorry to tell you this, but you need to find yourself some better favorites songs. 

[Train of Naught]

Really? Even my all time favorite songs I can't listen to for more than 2-3 times in a row before getting bored with it, usually not even twice.

I'm sorry to tell you this, but you need to find yourself some better favorites songs. 

Or you need more music 

[Flacracker]

Really great. This is what I have been wanting from Dream Theater. Lyric heavy songs and upbeat. Love the guitar tone too. My all time favorite guitar tone is About to Crash Reprise and this is similar.

[DragonAttack]

Anyone think this could be an edit (like with Home) and TGOM is actually around 7 minutes? Or it just goes into the next track like predicted?

There are two or three great melodies that SHOULD be repeated, so I hope so.  Or those melodies appear earlier/later in other tracks.  Geez, how many DT tracks are there that you wish were four minutes LONGER?!?!? 

Choir sounds sweet on a very, very well done song.

[mrrct]

For me, the best first impression for a new DT album since Six Degrees.

[DeanTheater]

Option 2 for me.  LOVE the solo and instrumental ending.  Cannot wait to hear more!

[erwinrafael]

The drum composition is so Mangini, syncing melodically with what the other instruments are doing, cymbals played with stereo effect, not doing many drum fills, and the bass drums really integrated in the orchestration. The cymbals are still quite low for me. 

[ThatOneGuy2112]

Went with "It's not the best song in the world, but I like it.

I'll try to refrain from commenting too much on the production considering it's a YouTube vid, but it's definitely more easy on the ears than DT12 was. It's got a familiar SDOIT vibe about it; a lot of the verses really scream "About to Crash" at me, which isn't a bad thing cause I love that song.

The song itself was good, but I didn't really expect it to be a masterpiece or anything going into it since it's a single. Some of the vocal melodies were rather lackluster while others were surprisingly solid. I found myself enjoying the instrumental passage quite a bit. It may have a definitive beginning and end, but I can see this track fitting really well into a larger narrative for sure. Regardless, it's leaving me waiting for more.   

[Implode]

After my first listen, it had me wanting to hear more, which is a really good sign. It felt light and fresh, something that I feel like I haven't heard much of from them in a long time. I feel a bit less worried now. 

[Randaran]

Let's just say that I am no longer worried about the 4.5 minute average track length.

[KevShmev]

Good song; I liked it.  I thought the ending went off the rails a bit, after the first 2 1/2 minutes had a nice riff and uplifting, catchy feel to it, but this is DT we are talking about , so I am sure it won't bother me after another listen or two.

[TheOutlawXanadu]

Loved it. I am so pumped for the new album!

[wolfking]

Not the best song in the world but I like it.

[N4Player]

Petrucci shines the most on this one. Find it bland otherwise. Too small a piece in the context of such a large release. Doesn't sway my excitement to hear The Astonishing, but I will say as a "single" it is disappointing IMO.

[seasonsinthesky]

They did justice to the chocolate cake, I can hear everything Mangini is playing, everybody is on fire. I am very optimistic!

[GasparXR]

Does anyone else get a "Don't Look Past Me" vibe from this? That was the song I first thought of when I heard it the first time.

[Nearmyth]

It will be better in context of the album I think, but I really like the direction of it... More complex compositions, that "proggy progression," if you will, that DT is best at and that I sorely missed in DT12. I really believe this will be an enjoyable album.

[gmillerdrake]

Loved it. I am so pumped for the new album!

They did justice to the chocolate cake, I can hear everything Mangini is playing, everybody is on fire. I am very optimistic!

I'm far from an audiophile and am certain if I paged through the comments I'd find plenty of folks here who think 'the sound is horrible....can't believe they did that or this....blah blah blah...."  but if this song is any indication as to how the rest of the album will sound...I'd be happy with it.

Once again, even in this relatively 'simple' song....Mangini's footwork is incredible. That aspect of his drumming alone outshines the last few efforts of DT's previous drummer.

[TheGreatPretender]

Am I the only one who can't help but appreciate how appropriate it is that we got "The Gift of Music" from Dream Theater this holiday season? 

[erwinrafael]

I'm far from an audiophile and am certain if I paged through the comments I'd find plenty of folks here who think 'the sound is horrible....can't believe they did that or this....blah blah blah...."  but if this song is any indication as to how the rest of the album will sound...I'd be happy with it.

Once again, even in this relatively 'simple' song....Mangini's footwork is incredible. That aspect of his drumming alone outshines the last few efforts of DT's previous drummer.

Yeah, Mangini's footwork has always been great especially in how it integrates in the orchestration of the songs. Wish the cymbals are higher in the mix, but it's much improved than the previous two albums.

I wish there would be a fatter bass sound, but then again, maybe it's because I am not using my in-ears right now.

RIP Replay button. Must have listened to this song more than ten times already. 

[Nomaniac]

Am I the only one who can't help but appreciate how appropriate it is that we got "The Gift of Music" from Dream Theater this holiday season? 

that's true!!! Best Christmas Present EVER

[Nomaniac]

RIP Replay button. Must have listened to this song more than ten times already. 

Ten Times? Slacker . . . I've been pressing the replay button all evening long

[Nomaniac]

It will be better in context of the album I think, but I really like the direction of it... More complex compositions, that "proggy progression," if you will, that DT is best at and that I sorely missed in DT12. I really believe this will be an enjoyable album.

to that! DT12 was a good record imo, but this song really is reminiscent of that classic SDOIT/SFaM DT that I love!

[Nomaniac]

Let's just say that I am no longer worried about the 4.5 minute average track length.

Dude I said the same exact thing earlier! Amazing they can fit that much prog epicness into 4 minutes