Hello from a completely new Dream Theater fan!

red barchetta · April 24, 2016, 08:34:27 PM

Quote from: Tony From Long Island on April 21, 2016, 01:02:49 PM
you'll quickly notice that DT fans have diverse opinions of what you should listen to next! However, the guy who suggested Scenes From A Memory makes a great suggestion. It's not my favorite DT album (Awake is) but it's a great intro for a DT fan. Great songs, great story, great playing....

My personal suggestion is to NOT listen to The Astonishing until you have gotten through everything else.

Welcome!

i would rather think to go first with TA. He might enjoy it much better than hearing it after the rest of the band catalog. BTW, SFAM was my very first DT album and I liked it right away.

Outcrier · April 24, 2016, 11:49:51 PM

Awake should be a great option for you since there's only two really long songs there.

erwinrafael · April 25, 2016, 12:37:21 AM

Quote from: Outcrier on April 24, 2016, 11:49:51 PM
Awake should be a great option for you since there's only two really long songs there.

I don't think Scar has a problem with long songs per se (he liked IT and BAI). I think he has more of a problem with noodling instrumentals.

Outcrier · April 25, 2016, 12:52:26 AM

Quote from: erwinrafael on April 25, 2016, 12:37:21 AM
I don't think Scar has a problem with long songs per se (he liked IT and BAI). I think he has more of a problem with noodling instrumentals.

Could be that but he didn't liked Learning to Live either.

Scar · April 28, 2016, 05:21:03 PM

Listened to The Astonishing today.....

IT WAS AMAZING!!!

erwinrafael · April 28, 2016, 07:18:34 PM

Told you. Melodies galore.

Scar · April 28, 2016, 08:11:40 PM

Yes, thank you.

Though, I enjoyed the plot most of all. It was amazing.

Enigmachine · April 29, 2016, 07:57:44 AM

Favourite so far?

Scar · April 30, 2016, 08:00:09 PM

Definitely. I'm in love with it.

jsbru · May 01, 2016, 11:33:36 PM

You mentioned it in your OP, and it hasn't gotten much follow-up discussion, but since you mentioned "guitar solos," and since you really seem to like DT's piano ballads, I'd very highly recommend listing to Vacant/Stream of Consciousness off of their Train of Thought album. From what you've said you've liked so far, I'm not sure the rest of the album would be up your alley, but these two songs go together and use the same melody.

Stream of Consciousness is an instrumental, but it's pretty focused and riff-based. And it has, IMO, the most jaw-dropping guitar solo in a catalog of jaw-dropping guitar solos. Vacant is kind of the prequel to Stream of Consciousness, and is piano, cello? and vocals only. If you liked Wait for Sleep and Far from Heaven, I think you would like this one.

Scar · May 02, 2016, 04:06:38 PM

Thank you for your response. I guess I can try Train of Thought next. Who knows, I might enjoy it. It can't be that bad, right?

bosk1 · May 02, 2016, 04:12:40 PM

It isn't bad at all. But it is a very dark, and mostly very heavy (even for DT) album, so it is very different from the others in that regard. And the song structures drive some people bananas because, perhaps more than any other album, there are long, crazy instrumental sections that may sound like they have little if anything to do with the song they are part of. But that said, I think it is still a fine album, and many people like it a lot. I rank it toward the bottom of DT's discography, but I still like it a lot.

Scar · May 02, 2016, 04:16:01 PM

Now that you say that, I really want to try it out right now.

And just a quick recap.

Albums I listened to (in order, not rank. Rank is after the album.):
1. Images and Words (#3)
2. Dream Theater (#4)
3. A Dramatic Turn of Events (#2)
4. The Astonishing (#1)

Next album, Train of Thought! Thank you for your opinion Bosk, I will listen to it right now.

fadetoblackdude7 · May 02, 2016, 08:43:35 PM

Scar, as I mentioned before, I really think you'd enjoy Octavarium. Much lighter atmosphere, shorter songs (except for the title track) and kinda the yin to Train of Thought's yang, if you will.

mike099 · May 03, 2016, 10:49:22 AM

Quote from: Scar on May 02, 2016, 04:16:01 PM
Now that you say that, I really want to try it out right now.

And just a quick recap.

Albums I listened to (in order, not rank. Rank is after the album.):
1. Images and Words (#3)
2. Dream Theater (#4)
3. A Dramatic Turn of Events (#2)
4. The Astonishing (#1)

Next album, Train of Thought! Thank you for your opinion Bosk, I will listen to it right now.

I like Train of Thought. Will see what you think of Honor Thy Father - Don't cross the crooked step

Scar · May 03, 2016, 03:40:27 PM

Hmm, thoughts? This might actually surprise you.

Favorites:
1. This Dying Soul
2. Vacant
3. Stream of Consciousness

Meh:
1. Endless Sacrifice
2. Honor Thy Father
3. As I Am

Maybe later:
1. In the Name of God

Will go with Octavarium next.

Enigmachine · May 03, 2016, 04:04:16 PM

Quote from: Scar on May 03, 2016, 03:40:27 PM
Favorites:
1. This Dying Soul

It is a fantastic song. Probably my favourite off of the album too.

Scar · May 03, 2016, 04:17:24 PM

I mean, actually, it was amazing! First time a long song made me feel like this from Dream Theater.

darkshade · May 03, 2016, 06:17:10 PM

I suggest listening to Six Degrees before Train of Thought, so the impact of **SPOILER ALERT** the Glass Prison riff is more powerful. Also, I've always described ToT as like an album of Glass Prisons, so to speak, both in production, execution, and balls to the wall riffage.

*EDIT* seems I'm too late...

Then I say Six Degrees before Octavarium, again, the latter will have more impact having heard the former.

Enigmachine · May 04, 2016, 07:10:22 AM

Quote from: darkshade on May 03, 2016, 06:17:10 PM
I suggest listening to Six Degrees before Train of Thought

Too late.

News:

Hello from a completely new Dream Theater fan!