Now there's going to be a novel for "The Astonishing"???

[gzarruk]

'It works' is my least favourite musical term. the bassist in my last band used it so he could play in F even though the song was in F#

I don't get how that "works" 

[IDontNotDoThings]

'It works' is my least favourite musical term. the bassist in my last band used it so he could play in F even though the song was in F#

I don't get how that "works" 

Depends. One of my songs is in the key of E minor & in the pre-chorus, the chord pattern is B-C-D-D#. The D# just acts as a chromatic to bridge the two together while also giving off a dissonant/heavy sound.

Edit: Oh, you meant that he played the whole song in the wrong key? Yeah, nevermind, that definitely doesn't work.

[Sycsa]

'It works' is my least favourite musical term. the bassist in my last band used it so he could play in F even though the song was in F#

It works just as well as "sympathy," as that doesn't rhyme with anything either, and it doesn't have to. "Bay" rhymes with "day," that's it. Also, don't let your silly bassist ruin the expression, since what he did definitely didn't "work."

[Evai]

But sympathy is a much more natural fit because it does rhyme He uses an ay vowel, which fits with the ay vowels in day and bay

[Sycsa]

But sympathy is a much more natural fit because it does rhyme He uses an ay vowel, which fits with the ay vowels in day and bay

Not really. It's a pseudo-rhyme at best ("ee" and "ay," even though James does play around with it bit, like you said). Whether it rhymes or not is not really relevant anyway. Lyrics don't have to rhyme, they just need to have the right flow, accent, percussive value, etc. In this regard "mercy fuck" works just as fine. If MP wanted it to rhyme, he would have made it rhyme perfectly (like he made "day" rhyme with "day" so many times in The Best of Times).

If you look at the entire section:
I'm sick of all
You hypocrites
Holding me at bay
And I don't need
Your sympathy
To get me through the day

Seasons change
and so can I
Hold on Boy
No time to cry
Untie these strings
I'm climbing down
I won't let them push me away

Most of it doesn't rhyme, only the parts in bold are clear rhymes. Regardless, you can argue that "sympathy" fits better for many reasons, and I'd probably agree, but rhyming isn't one of those reasons.

[Sycsa]

I'm more surprised that JP wrote "holy fucking shit." Swearing seems rather uncharacteristic for JP to me. Maybe that's a sign this is gonna be really good after all 

Nah, he swears. https://youtu.be/vHVILKOCsfo?t=3m12s

He just did it again! https://www.facebook.com/johnpetrucciFB/posts/1644008745651131:0

[gzarruk]

I'm more surprised that JP wrote "holy fucking shit." Swearing seems rather uncharacteristic for JP to me. Maybe that's a sign this is gonna be really good after all 

Nah, he swears. https://youtu.be/vHVILKOCsfo?t=3m12s

He just did it again! https://www.facebook.com/johnpetrucciFB/posts/1644008745651131:0

[Mladen]

That reminds me of those good ol' JR videos of stores that featured candies like breik and daim. 

[The Walrus]

 

[Peter Mc]

I'm more surprised that JP wrote "holy fucking shit." Swearing seems rather uncharacteristic for JP to me. Maybe that's a sign this is gonna be really good after all 

Nah, he swears. https://youtu.be/vHVILKOCsfo?t=3m12s

He does, indeed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lQrustGJq4

Don't forget about "wish I weren't so fucked"

Regarding that line, I remember JLB saying in Lifting Shadows about A Change of Seasons that he wasn't comfortable with the original "I don't need your mercy fuck" line, because he felt like DT isn't the type of band that swears, so they changed it to "sympathy." They had a bit of an argument over the whole thing. Fast forward a few years, and we got As I Am.

Haven't read the book in a long time but my recollection was that Prater was strongly against that line as well.  I'm very glad MP was outvoted here as it would've made me cringe every time I heard the song, not because I have a problem with swearing, just because it's an awful line imo.

[Ben_Jamin]

In the context of the song, that "fuck" line in ACoS doesn't work. I read it as "I don't need your mercy. For fucks sake." "Sympathy" just fits better overall.

In As I Am, "Fuck" fits due to the context of the song. Its an all out agressive middle finger song.

[MirrorMask]

He sings "I wish I weren't so fat" anyway 

So, on topic: an except from the Prologue of the book!

https://www.facebook.com/notes/dream-theater/the-astonishing-by-peter-orullian-prologue-preview/10154769333897181/

[Mladen]

He sings "I wish I weren't so fat" anyway 

It would be fantastic if he did. 

[bosk1]

So, on topic: an except from the Prologue of the book!

https://www.facebook.com/notes/dream-theater/the-astonishing-by-peter-orullian-prologue-preview/10154769333897181/

I like the content.  But I hope it hasn't gone through final editing yet.  Typos detract a bit.

[The Walrus]

Is it really going to have breaks like that? I hope not. It looks like fan fiction that way. I'm still planning on reading it and I'm excited, but that price (looks like it's $75!! I don't see a cheaper option, just the one) is really off putting.

[Ben_Jamin]

That was nice. Good prologue on Evangeline and the Birth of Xander. Its going to be a great read.

[ariich]

So, on topic: an except from the Prologue of the book!

https://www.facebook.com/notes/dream-theater/the-astonishing-by-peter-orullian-prologue-preview/10154769333897181/

I like the content.  But I hope it hasn't gone through final editing yet.  Typos detract a bit.

Hasn't been through any editing yet, I think. It was only a few days ago he said his first draft was finished.

[bosk1]

So, on topic: an except from the Prologue of the book!

https://www.facebook.com/notes/dream-theater/the-astonishing-by-peter-orullian-prologue-preview/10154769333897181/

I like the content.  But I hope it hasn't gone through final editing yet.  Typos detract a bit.

Hasn't been through any editing yet, I think. It was only a few days ago he said his first draft was finished.

Oh, okay, good.  Wouldn't want anyone to have egg on their face for typing "yolk" instead of "yoke."

See what I did there?

[SystematicThought]

That reminds me of those good ol' JR videos of stores that featured candies like breik and daim. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_aMH9BstBg
&
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6t4KauxgSg

I really miss JR videos. He did them during the Black Clouds and Silver Linings album sessions and almost everyday on tour and had fun clips like this. A lot of them feature the band going out to dinner and hanging out at the airports, which is cool and sad at the same time because apparently they weren't hanging out as a band a lot. The clips from that tour are awesome though and had some fun lighthearted moments like MP eating McDonald's at the airport and giving his review of the Quarter pounder he just ate as well as a breakdown of JP's and JR's sandwiches, just a random moment on tour captured and posted forever.

I wish JR would do those short studio updates for the next album as well.

[BlobVanDam]

I didn't really enjoy the writing style of that. Too many really short sentences that broke the flow for me. Also, being the start of the book, the exposition felt a bit too blunt, but I'm sure that would improve as the book gets further in.
Not that I'd judge a whole book on a brief unedited intro, although I wasn't planning on getting the book anyway.

[Adami]

Didn't find the writing very good. It was just very plain and ordinary. Feels like something you'd get as an assignment from college freshman.

Maybe it's just not for me.

[Logain Ablar]

I have to agree about the writing. I do like fantasy novels, but I didn't particularly like the "choppy" style of it. I haven't read any of his other stuff to say whether that's his typical style or not.

Still, it's a draft, and perhaps the style of the prologue will be different than the rest of the book.

I'll still give it a chance when it comes out in a cheaper format.

[mikeyd23]

I don't mind the writing style, I found it to be interesting. I'll definitely be checking this out.

[nattmorker]

I enjoyed reading that intro, i liked the writing style. I hope ir gets released in a cheaper formar. There's no way I can afford it.

[Ben_Jamin]

It's like listening to a demo. I'm sure it'll be more readable in the final print.

I have a feeling I'll enjoy it. What's funny too, as I read it again, Ravenskill came up on shuffle.

[|KirK|]

I enjoyed this first chapter and the fact that we had the opportunity to "meet" Evangeline for a while... Maybe there will be some flashbacks to know better this character... It'd be nice!!!
The sensation was more or less like when you watch a movie and then after read the book.
It's a bit strange cause you know what's going to happen and I think this aspect won't let the reader, or at least me, enjoy it at 100%...
Anyway, I'm pretty excited and I'll probably buy it!!! A cheaper version of course!!! 

[Ben_Jamin]

I guess no one else but me wants those unused song demos.

[The Walrus]

I guess no one else but me wants those unused song demos.

Me me me me me.

[MirrorMask]

I guess no one else but me wants those unused song demos.

Me me me me me.

Seconded

[Ben_Jamin]

I guess no one else but me wants those unused song demos.

Me me me me me.

Seconded

Plus, one Astonishing song progress, from Iphone demo to finished product. I don't really need the poster again. I'll have 3 including the one with this book.

[The Walrus]

I guess no one else but me wants those unused song demos.

Me me me me me.

Seconded

Plus, one Astonishing song progress, from Iphone demo to finished product. I don't really need the poster again. I'll have 3 including the one with this book.

I'll take one or two off your hands 

[Ben_Jamin]

I guess no one else but me wants those unused song demos.

Me me me me me.

Seconded

Plus, one Astonishing song progress, from Iphone demo to finished product. I don't really need the poster again. I'll have 3 including the one with this book.

I'll take one or two off your hands 

Its weird actually. Got one when they relased the vinyl of the boxset and then another one when they released the actual boxset. So I got two maps and two cds of The Astonishing

[OpenYourEyes311]

I guess no one else but me wants those unused song demos.

Yeah, the sole reason I bought the book. I'll probably read it, but I really wanted the exclusive music.

[Logain Ablar]

The cover of the novel is up on the DT facebook page:

[The Walrus]

Lots of people have been ripping this thing on Facebook since it was first announced. It's pretty sad to me honestly. God forbid a band put out a novel to accompany their 2-disc concept album with its own world and characters. Fuckin' rubes.