Black Clouds and Slver Linings: Dream Theater's forgotten album?

[zappafrank2112]

(When TOT came out, the general opinion seemed to be HTF was one of the stronger tracks - after the Budokan album came out, the general opinion seemed to be it was the weakest, as it wasn't played on that show.

HTF is one of my favorites from that album!!!  I love how James keeps getting more and more aggressive with each curse to the point where he's saying, "so fucking blind" the final time around.

[hefdaddy42]

BC&SL...quite honestly, I think its been forgotten (at least for me) because it simply isn't that good.

This, for sure.

For me, Wither is the best song on the album, which says less about Wither than it does about the other songs.  Just subpar all the way around.  They definitely needed a shot in the arm after this one.

Having said that, I am glad that the band broke out The Shattered Fortress live a few years ago, and although I wasn't looking forward to a certain song on the current tour, they killed it, so I have no complaints.

[nattmorker]

I've always liked this album, but it didn't age well for me. The songs are bloated and unnecessary long, even so, I really enjoy ANTR, TSF and TCOT. For some reason, TBOT really resonates with me, I know that the lyrics are super specific but the song really moves me, makes me think of the day my father is no longer with me, so I cannot listen to that song very often.

After reading this thread I listened to AROP, I haven't heard the song in years! I enjoyed it, although it feels long in the middle.

[gzarruk]

I've posted my thoughts on BC&SL many times on the forum, so I'll just say it's on my bottom 3 DT albums. Not a "bad" album by any means, but it falls short compared to the brilliant rest of the catalog.

[TAC]

As an album, I think BC&SL is one of DT's better albums.

I feel like I don't even know you anymore.

After only 7 posts?

[Cool Chris]

Gave this a solid listen.

ANTR: There's a good 8-10 minute long song in here somewhere. MP's vocals are awful. Enjoyed seeing it live though in 2010/2011?

ARoP: The chorus is really good, the rest is not.

W: Good song, upper half of their ballady material.

SF: Great song, even if it rehashes old 12SS material. I don't like MP's vocals in the intro or the Promises part. Basically any time DT does any spoken word type vocals it isn't good.

TBoT: Better than I remembered. And I even enjoyed the lyrics. Didn't bother me at all they are very personal and specific to Mike. Had a good Sunday dinner with my parents 2 days ago and thought about my dad during the song. If the chorus was stronger it would be even better.

TCoT: Didn't enjoy as much as I did when it came out. Again there's a good ~10 minute song in here somewhere. Lyrics stood out as being poor more than I recall.

[Grizz]

Right. They did the PN09 tour, and I think originally, they intended to do a DT tour but it never came to fruition.

I think they were not planning on touring anymore, but I thought MP said they simply could not pass up the Maiden tour.


We were lucky here because I saw them in Boston on the PN09 tour, and then again in Worcester for a DT headline show in 2010 on an off night on the Maiden tour.

That Worcester show was probably one of the best nights of my life... course, I was more excitable at age 12.

BCSL was the first album that came out after I got into DT and reintroduced my Dad to them. SC never piqued my interest in particular, but when BC came out I had been listening and following for a few months so we went down to our local FYE (now it's a Moe's, I think; additions got me all confused) and I got the 3-disc edition. I wore that CD down to the groove. I saw them live for the first time at PN09 in Wallingford, and got upgraded to near-board "VIP Box" seats because we missed half the show (admittedly, half which we cared nothing about) after a drugged-up 20-something on a skateboard rammed into the side of our family friend's minivan in the parking lot. I had a damn fine time at the 2010 side-show; the set was longer and had great energy, being in a "metal phase," and the crowd was lively with all the new fans hot off of Guitar Hero and Rock Band exposure. Even the fact that the Palladium is a glorified oven could not spoil the experience.

ANTR will always be my favorite way to open a concert. Hearing them close with ToT on bootlegs makes me nostalgic as fuck. I'll remember this album if nobody else will, even though it has its flaws.

I agree that TA will probably be the forgotten, odd-man out as time goes on. At least, I try to forget it.

[PixelDream]

I still remember them playing ANTR and Count on the PN09 tour, it was awesome. It's a decent enough DT record. Wither is a good ballad and A Rite of Passage might just be my least favorite DT song. I have no interest in it at all.

[H2]

As an album, I think BC&SL is one of DT's better albums.

I feel like I don't even know you anymore.

Do you mean that literally or sarcastically? Did I once say that BC&SL was a bad album? You dig it, right?

[bosk1]

As an album, I think BC&SL is one of DT's better albums.

I feel like I don't even know you anymore.

Do you mean that literally or sarcastically? Did I once say that BC&SL was a bad album? You dig it, right?

It's...okay.  I like it.  But I also rank it at or near the bottom of their discography (not including WDADU).

[H2]

Do you mean that literally or sarcastically? Did I once say that BC&SL was a bad album? You dig it, right?

It's...okay.  I like it.  But I also rank it at or near the bottom of their discography (not including WDADU).

Worse than Awake?  That's pretty bad!

[bosk1]

I feel like I don't even know you anymore.