Listening Parties for The Astonishing ***SPOILERS***

[EraVulgaris]

It it a big question and it's just too difficult to answer. For me, yes it will probably have staying power - the album suits my taste in music. For the average DT fan, if you are not in the either or camp with regards to metal, prog, pop etc, it will have staying power. The album is long, which might negatively impact the staying power, but it was a clever move to divide the story into individual songs thus increasing the enjoyment of the album without allocating 2h10 minutes of your precious time.

So basically it's not like Ayreon's The Theory of Everything, which has 42 tracks but it's really 4 long 20 minutes songs glued together... I agree, without having heard the album however, that it should be easier to digest the single tracks than whole "epics"...

Hah, I just logged in and wanted to ask "So, how much is it like Ayreon's The Theory of Everything?" 

[V_R11]

This thread makes me so hyped

[RMGadelha]

Are there many songs that you can just choose and listen randomly as a standalone track, without the context of the album?

[palmeiras]

So on a scale of complexity ranging from The Silent Man to Outcrys instrumental section, how complex does the album get?  Do they go on any 2-3 minute long instrumental breaks (other than the overtures)?

The whole range; from simple arrangements to really complex instrumental parts. But, my initial reaction is that they definitely wrote the music to fit the story. There are no complex instrumental breaks for the sake of delivering expected complex instrumental sections to the fans. The balance between pure simplicity and complex arrangements is so well thought out that nothing feels redundant - as I have said before; the album flows really well, 130 minutes feels like an hour.

I am disappointed now. I love complex instrumental sections

[RMGadelha]

Full of whahibrido pickingant.

[noxon]

Sure, you can pick up most of the songs and play them, and enjoy them. But the impact comes from the context.

Me, I come back to A new Beginning a lot.

[chwik]

So on a scale of complexity ranging from The Silent Man to Outcrys instrumental section, how complex does the album get?  Do they go on any 2-3 minute long instrumental breaks (other than the overtures)?

The whole range; from simple arrangements to really complex instrumental parts. But, my initial reaction is that they definitely wrote the music to fit the story. There are no complex instrumental breaks for the sake of delivering expected complex instrumental sections to the fans. The balance between pure simplicity and complex arrangements is so well thought out that nothing feels redundant - as I have said before; the album flows really well, 130 minutes feels like an hour.

I am disappointed now. I love complex instrumental sections

No need to be disappointed, there are many complex instrumental sections - there is a big difference between redundant complex instrumental sections for the sake of "showing off" and mature/clever complexity as a part of the grander scope (like in this album).   

[Viking of the Sagas]

Any parties held in Helsinki?

[noxon]

Not to my knowledge.

[erwinrafael]

Well, he does already sound like a drum machine on TGoM, but the parts themselves are well written I suppose.

I always say that people should try to program MM's drums in a drum machine and see if they can ever make it sound like MM.

That's... so not the point.

What is the point of saying he sounds like a drumachine when you can not make a drum machine sound like his playing?

[BlobVanDam]

Well, he does already sound like a drum machine on TGoM, but the parts themselves are well written I suppose.

I always say that people should try to program MM's drums in a drum machine and see if they can ever make it sound like MM.

That's... so not the point.

What is the point of saying he sounds like a drumachine when you can not make a drum machine sound like his playing?

Because whether or not MM sounds like a drum machine isn't dependent on a forum user's ability to use a drum machine? Or maybe because it entirely misses the point of the criticism in the first place?

[Viking of the Sagas]

If MM sounds like a drum machine, then the programmer must be a genius. Because I've used a drum machine, and I can't get even the sixteenth part of awesome that I hear in MM's drum tracks

[Enigmachine]

Because whether or not MM sounds like a drum machine isn't dependent on a forum user's ability to use a drum machine? Or maybe because it entirely misses the point of the criticism in the first place?

I think I know what erwinrafael is trying to get at here. He's not trying to get BlackInk to make a drum machine sound like MM on TGoM, but rather questioning if MM in the song has the qualities of a drum machine in the first place. Within his playing in TGoM, I can hear some subtle nuances in the hits like some reverberations lasting longer than others and some ghost notes, the former of which is impossible in a drum machine (from my experience, at least) while both aren't present on MP's kick and snare on IaW due to the triggers (which people generally don't seem to mind).

If MM sounds like a drum machine, then the programmer must be a genius. Because I've used a drum machine, and I can't get even the sixteenth part of awesome that I hear in MM's drum tracks

This too.

[Marion Crane]

How difficult is it to listen to an album like this without the lyrics?

To rephrase: How easy is it to understand the story without reading the lyrics while listening?

Yeah that's better. I have to have the lyrics when listening to a DT record. When I first heard I&W, I thought it was just a pretty damn good album. When I sat down with the lyrics and listened to it, THAT put it over the top for me.

That's probably also why I don't like DT12

[chwik]

Sure, you can pick up most of the songs and play them, and enjoy them. But the impact comes from the context.

Me, I come back to A new Beginning a lot.

A new beginning, is that the one with the JP outro solo? That bass groove and drums plus solo is somerhing that stuck in my mind after the listening party. Soundwise i got this falling into infinity vibe.

[erwinrafael]

Because whether or not MM sounds like a drum machine isn't dependent on a forum user's ability to use a drum machine? Or maybe because it entirely misses the point of the criticism in the first place?

I think I know what erwinrafael is trying to get at here. He's not trying to get BlackInk to make a drum machine sound like MM on TGoM, but rather questioning if MM in the song has the qualities of a drum machine in the first place. Within his playing in TGoM, I can hear some subtle nuances in the hits like some reverberations lasting longer than others and some ghost notes, the former of which is impossible in a drum machine (from my experience, at least) while both aren't present on MP's kick and snare on IaW due to the triggers (which people generally don't seem to mind).

If MM sounds like a drum machine, then the programmer must be a genius. Because I've used a drum machine, and I can't get even the sixteenth part of awesome that I hear in MM's drum tracks

This too.

Thank you. If you program a drum machine to play the TGOM drum parts, you would not get how MM actually sounded on the record.

I heard these types of comments before on his playing in IT and I just laughed.

[noxon]

Yes, that's the one. That groove...

[The Stray Seed]

Just wanted to say thanks to Chwik and Noxon, for all the insights you are providing us with. I've never been this thrilled for a new album!! Thank you guys, you've been very helpful to us. I really liked Chwik's posts, they are so well phrased and so informative, I could never speak as clearly and remember so much after a single listening party! Also, can't wait to read Noxon's review! Feels like you are putting so much effort in that, I will be honored to read through it.

[chwik]

Just wanted to say thanks to Chwik and Noxon, for all the insights you are providing us with. I've never been this thrilled for a new album!! Thank you guys, you've been very helpful to us. I really liked Chwik's posts, they are so well phrased and so informative, I could never speak as clearly and remember so much after a single listening party! Also, can't wait to read Noxon's review! Feels like you are putting so much effort in that, I will be honored to read through it.

You're welcome and thank you for your kind words! Let me be the first to say that there is so many parts of this album I do not remember, but somehow I feel that I got the overall picture, the blueprint you might say. But please remain skeptical of my comments/reflections - remember; I called the swingjazz blastbeat section for the tangometal section, and we know that was wrong

[ariich]

That's ok, we have noxon, Blob and bosk to correct you.

[MirrorMask]

But please remain skeptical of my comments/reflections - remember; I called the swingjazz blastbeat section for the tangometal section, and we know that was wrong

Even the fact that there is such a thing on a DT album as a swingjazz blastbeast section that could be mistaken for a tango metal section makes me excited! 

[chwik]

That's ok, we have noxon, Blob and bosk to correct you.

DTF - the correction facility; when you're wrong we damn sure make it right!

[chwik]

But please remain skeptical of my comments/reflections - remember; I called the swingjazz blastbeat section for the tangometal section, and we know that was wrong

Even the fact that there is such a thing on a DT album as a swingjazz blastbeast section that could be mistaken for a tango metal section makes me excited! 

That section is soo cool and so unexpected, but fitting none the less. Can't wait to hear it again.

[RMGadelha]

But please remain skeptical of my comments/reflections - remember; I called the swingjazz blastbeat section for the tangometal section, and we know that was wrong

Even the fact that there is such a thing on a DT album as a swingjazz blastbeast section that could be mistaken for a tango metal section makes me excited! 
[/quote

If I understood correctly, there's both in two separate tracks. One in Lord Nafaryus (tango).

[chwik]

Yep. Lord N - tango, Tree Days - swingjazz

[RMGadelha]

Do you remember which track has the bagpipes?

[mike099]

Hey Chwik.  Love your Avatar.  When I realized it was a band, I was expecting a metal band.  The music from the cd with your avatar is really soothing.

[chwik]

Do you remember which track has the bagpipes?

No, unfortunatly not, but I am pretty certain it was in the middle/late middle in the first act.

[RMGadelha]

Hey Chwik.  Love your Avatar.  When I realized it was a band, I was expecting a metal band.  The music from the cd with your avatar is really soothing.

Ulver and Garm are great. Among my favorite Norwegian stuff

[chwik]

Hey Chwik.  Love your Avatar.  When I realized it was a band, I was expecting a metal band.  The music from the cd with your avatar is really soothing.

Thank you! I love that kind of ambient soundscape that Ulver creates. They started out as a grim norwegian black metal band, but metamorphosed into movie soundtrack area - talk about progression.

Btw, I have a soft spot for movie soundtrack music; probably why I am so excited about the Astonishing.

[obelix5150]

Hey Chwik.  Love your Avatar.  When I realized it was a band, I was expecting a metal band.  The music from the cd with your avatar is really soothing.

Thank you! I love that kind of ambient soundscape that Ulver creates. They started out as a grim norwegian black metal band, but metamorphosed into movie soundtrack area - talk about progression.

Btw, I have a soft spot for movie soundtrack music; probably why I am so excited about the Astonishing.

Me too (both about Ulver and about soundtrack music). Frankly the thing that makes me the most hyped about this upcoming CD is that my favorite part of post-Portnoy DT is how much more they've embraced the cinematic and epic (yeah yeah I know that word sucks but you know what I mean). Seeing them make a whole album out of that mindset is really awesome.

[The Stray Seed]

Hey Chwik.  Love your Avatar.  When I realized it was a band, I was expecting a metal band.  The music from the cd with your avatar is really soothing.

You should give Perdition City a spin.
Absolute masterpiece of an album.

[thosava]

Does Jordan use the dirty organ-sound from TGOM more on the album? (Snarling pig, or what it's called?) I just love that kind of sound.

[YtseJamittaja]

Any parties held in Helsinki?

Just like the shows, Norway gets 3, Sweden gets 2 or 3, whatever, Finland gets none....

[noxon]

The most prominent sound from Jordan is actually the piano. Even during heavier sections there's a lot of piano. And the second most prominent sound is the hammond organ, with a leslie.

What is almost non-existant is keyboard solos. I don't think there are more than 3-4...