Are there any bad/unlistenable DT studio albums?

[MasterLomaxus]

DT 12 is about as close to bad/unlistenable as they have.  Although, I've still yet to listen to WDADU.

[Zydar]

No unlistenable ones, but WDADU and TA comes close to bad. Perhaps BCSL too.

[Kotowboy]

ffs - songs you don't like are not UNLISTENABLE.



When I think of Unlistenable - I think of the retail version of Death Magnetic. Actually painful to sit through.

[Mosh]

I tried listening to SC last night, by the time I got to Prophets of War I had major ear fatigue. Finishing the album from there was a chore. So yea, unlistenable.

[Kotowboy]

I tried listening to SC last night, by the time I got to Prophets of War I had major ear fatigue. Finishing the album from there was a chore. So yea, unlistenable.

It's quite hot yes.

But compared to Death Magnetic or Purple by Baroness it's much better.

[Mladen]

That's odd. To me, Systematic chaos gets particularly interesting near the end. The last two songs are very well crafted and especially dramatic, filled with memorable melodies and choruses.

[Kotowboy]

That's odd. To me, Systematic chaos gets particularly interesting near the end. The last two songs are very well crafted and especially dramatic, filled with memorable melodies and choruses.

I would never call a SONG unlistenable. That sounds incredibly snobbish.

The only thing i'd call unlistenable on a song-based level is something awful like a novelty pop song like the Mr. Blobby song from years ago. Just Godawful. Like Agadoo by Black Lace.

" i don't like this dream theater song ergo I literally cannot listen to it ".

No.

[ThatOneGuy2112]

DT12 is near-unlistenable on the production side. Which is a shame since most of the songs themselves are completely fine. Pls no hate

Even WDADU, IMO their weakest album, I wouldn't call outright bad.

[Mosh]

That's odd. To me, Systematic chaos gets particularly interesting near the end. The last two songs are very well crafted and especially dramatic, filled with memorable melodies and choruses.

Ministry of Lost Souls is by far my least favorite DT song.

[Adami]

That's odd. To me, Systematic chaos gets particularly interesting near the end. The last two songs are very well crafted and especially dramatic, filled with memorable melodies and choruses.

I would never call a SONG unlistenable. That sounds incredibly snobbish.

The only thing i'd call unlistenable on a song-based level is something awful like a novelty pop song like the Mr. Blobby song from years ago. Just Godawful. Like Agadoo by Black Lace.

" i don't like this dream theater song ergo I literally cannot listen to it ".

No.

I wouldn't get too caught up in the hyperbolic semantics. Just read it as "songs you don't enjoy listening to".

[BlobVanDam]

That's odd. To me, Systematic chaos gets particularly interesting near the end. The last two songs are very well crafted and especially dramatic, filled with memorable melodies and choruses.

I would never call a SONG unlistenable. That sounds incredibly snobbish.

The only thing i'd call unlistenable on a song-based level is something awful like a novelty pop song like the Mr. Blobby song from years ago. Just Godawful. Like Agadoo by Black Lace.

" i don't like this dream theater song ergo I literally cannot listen to it ".

No.

I wouldn't get too caught up in the hyperbolic semantics. Just read it as "songs you don't enjoy listening to".

I interpret it as songs/albums that I absolutely can't listen through without having to stop for whatever reason. I can't listen to them, therefore they're unlistenable. Simple.

Kotowboy's definition isn't any more accurate. If it was, the entire thread would be pointless.

[Kotowboy]

Just like me.

[BlobVanDam]

You and me both, friend.

[Kotowboy]

You've made videos for Dream Theater.

I've

[TAC]

  the entire thread would be pointless.

It is.

[Kotowboy]

  the entire thread would be pointless.

It is.

[Another_Won]

  the entire thread would be pointless.

It is.

Not really, just the last couple posts.  I guess I'm biased though

I was just trying to find out if anyone thought a specific album(s) was no good at all.  Not a single track is good.  This is not the case for me.  In fact, the opposite is true - I only find one or two tracks that I DON'T like at the most.  So every album would get played again.

I have to say that I'm a bit surprised at the poll results.  I would assume that since this is a fan site, most people would find something redeemable about each album.  So with DT having a small fan base to begin with, then 40% of them would throw out one or more of their albums, that doesn't leave very many people that share my opinion.  Quite a shame actually.  People just don't have the time for (good) music anymore.

[Another_Won]

  the entire thread would be pointless.

It is.

Not sure I get the reference here.  Is that from Total Recall?

[Prog Snob]

  the entire thread would be pointless.

It is.

But that never happens here.   

[Kotowboy]

  the entire thread would be pointless.

It is.

Not sure I get the reference here.  Is that from Total Recall?

It is.

[Orbert]

It is.  In fact, that's a rather well-known scene where Arnold says "It is."  Really.  It is.

[TAC]

Is it?

[Prog Snob]

  the entire thread would be pointless.

It is.

Not sure I get the reference here.  Is that from Total Recall?

It is.

Speaking on unlistenable, that's unwatchable.

[Another_Won]

  the entire thread would be pointless.

It is.

Not sure I get the reference here.  Is that from Total Recall?

It is.

Speaking on unlistenable, that's unwatchable.

A lady with three boobs is definitely NOT unwatchable.  But seriously, I saw it in the theater when it came out and it was pretty good - by 1990 standards.

[Orbert]

I have to say that I'm a bit surprised at the poll results.  I would assume that since this is a fan site, most people would find something redeemable about each album.  So with DT having a small fan base to begin with, then 40% of them would throw out one or more of their albums, that doesn't leave very many people that share my opinion.  Quite a shame actually.  People just don't have the time for (good) music anymore.

It's more the way you phrased the question.  You didn't ask if there were any albums with songs we don't like; you asked if there were any unlistenable albums, and that is open to many different interpretations.

I almost always listen to albums all the way through.  If there's an album I really like except for one song, maybe two, there's always the Skip button.  But if I find that I really can't stand that one song, to the point where I'd rather skip it than listen to it, then the album -- as a whole -- is unlistenable.  That's my definition.  I can't just put it on and play it through.

I've been a Dream Theater fan since Kevin Moore.  Those early albums hold a special place and I can listen to Images and Words and Awake straight through.  Same with A Change of Seasons and -- yes -- even Falling Into Infinity.  But recent DT albums all have at least a track or two that just don't work for me, they're the ones I skip.  So ultimately, if I'm in the mood for some DT, I put on one of the earlier albums.  The result is that I never listen to the later stuff.  Are they truly "unlistenable"?  Again, that depends on your definition.  But I don't listen to them, so...

[Kotowboy]

It has Ronny Cox in.


Instant Win.

[Prog Snob]

  the entire thread would be pointless.

It is.

Not sure I get the reference here.  Is that from Total Recall?

It is.

Speaking on unlistenable, that's unwatchable.

A lady with three boobs is definitely NOT unwatchable.  But seriously, I saw it in the theater when it came out and it was pretty good - by 1990 standards.

I can probably find the video of just the girl with three boobs and be satisfied.  No need to watch it all.

[Another_Won]

I have to say that I'm a bit surprised at the poll results.  I would assume that since this is a fan site, most people would find something redeemable about each album.  So with DT having a small fan base to begin with, then 40% of them would throw out one or more of their albums, that doesn't leave very many people that share my opinion.  Quite a shame actually.  People just don't have the time for (good) music anymore.

It's more the way you phrased the question.  You didn't ask if there were any albums with songs we don't like; you asked if there were any unlistenable albums, and that is open to many different interpretations.

I almost always listen to albums all the way through.  If there's an album I really like except for one song, maybe two, there's always the Skip button.  But if I find that I really can't stand that one song, to the point where I'd rather skip it than listen to it, then the album -- as a whole -- is unlistenable.  That's my definition.  I can't just put it on and play it through.

I've been a Dream Theater fan since Kevin Moore.  Those early albums hold a special place and I can listen to Images and Words and Awake straight through.  Same with A Change of Seasons and -- yes -- even Falling Into Infinity.  But recent DT albums all have at least a track or two that just don't work for me, they're the ones I skip.  So ultimately, if I'm in the mood for some DT, I put on one of the earlier albums.  The result is that I never listen to the later stuff.  Are they truly "unlistenable"?  Again, that depends on your definition.  But I don't listen to them, so...

I was thinking that there was something wrong with the way I phrased it so that's why I decided to try and clarify it.  I thought my original post would have helped but perhaps not.

I see your point, you want to listen all the way through and not have to hit skip.  Sometimes it's not practical if you have it playing on home system and can't get to the button in time.

But with your approach, you would never listen to the really good songs on an album that had couple you didn't like, right?

[Orbert]

True, which is why the really good songs are all in my Dream Theater playlist on my iPod.

My problem is that I'm old and still tend to think in terms of albums rather than playlists.  I built all these playlists for my favorite bands, and still tend to just pick albums to listen to. 

[Train of Naught]

Technically not a DT album but I think Parama's EP in my roulette is just straight up unlistenable, it's so bad

[Rodni Demental]

I'm gonna go by the definition of if I can make it all the way through the album. I normally chuck whole albums on with a few exceptions. FII has a few tracks I'm likely to skip unless I'm determined to listen to the whole album. SC has a weird effect on me where while I like all the songs to some extent, when I listen to them all in a row I loose focus, I put it down to a flow thing or something. And TA; it's just too big. I still think it works the way it does and I don't exactly want to cut it short, but even still, the length is simply too much for one sitting.
None of these reasons are because I think the albums are bad mind you. 

[devieira73]

I know that it's not the focus on this thread, but anybody here knows (or listened to) if the 2009 japanese shm remasters of WDADU and I&W have improved the audio quality of these albuns? In I&W case, I'm talking about specifically the drum sound, of course. Thanks!

[BlobVanDam]

I'm pretty sure it's using the same masters, so it will sound the same.

[devieira73]

I thought that SHM CD was similar to HD flacs that it's necessary a new mastering. Thanks!

[BlobVanDam]

Neither of them require a new master, we've just been lucky they used more dynamic masters for the HDTracks versions of the DT albums (except I think The Astonishing since it was more dynamic to begin with).
SHMs are no different to regular CDs, it's just marketing really.