DT15: A View From The Top Of The World (Timeline for DT15)

[Wim Kruithof]

Beatrice, red your post with much interest. Although I've not autism myself, I am both through personal life and profession very familair with the spectrum. I can understand what you're saying, though for me it's nearly the opposite. I do not have the knowledge to understand songs on a deep level, for me it's almost all 'bout the emotion in the track. The more that emotion is regocnizable, the more I love it.

And emotion can come in so many ways, due to the energy (Honor Thy Father), the rytm (Glass Prison), the riff, the melody (Barstool Warrior) or the lyrics (Shattered Fortress).

[BeatriceNB]

Beatrice, red your post with much interest. Although I've not autism myself, I am both through personal life and profession very familair with the spectrum. I can understand what you're saying, though for me it's nearly the opposite. I do not have the knowledge to understand songs on a deep level, for me it's almost all 'bout the emotion in the track. The more that emotion is regocnizable, the more I love it.

And emotion can come in so many ways, due to the energy (Honor Thy Father), the rytm (Glass Prison), the riff, the melody (Barstool Warrior) or the lyrics (Shattered Fortress).

I try to soak in theory knowledge because I think it's the easiest way I can understand or replicate feelings or ideas, or explore them. I think I'm very "visual" with music, and lots of aspects can make or ruin a song for me; for example, drums orchestration (or just the placement of hits); I have seen comparisons of The Alien teaser to Hypersonic by LTE, and while I understand the comparison (fast shred-y intro bla bla bla), I heavily disagree, the drums in The Alien blow my mind, every hit feels like carefully placed, very colourful brush strokes (cheesy metaphor, haha), and I find it a really interesting and entertaining experience, even in, like, 30 seconds. Nothing of that I can say for the whole LTE album (and I tried liking it).

It's all about the imagery, wether it's a DT song, a Miles Davis piece or a Hans Zimmer soundtrack, they're all different visual experiences. Theory helps me to find names for the stuff I love, or dislike. And if it is one of my heroes talking about his approach to music, that's just a huge bonus, ha. I'm not an emotionless robot either, some songs/bands can make me cry or feel euphoria or more, but the cases aren't many (and it's still related to the visual stuff I mentioned )

[erwinrafael]

The biggest thing about theory for me is that it allows a language that can be used for teaching. You can not teach "feel" but you can approximate understanding with your student if you speak in theoretical language.

[IDontNotDoThings]

The biggest thing about theory for me is that it allows a language that can be used for teaching. You can not teach "feel" but you can approximate understanding with your student if you speak in theoretical language.

In that way it's a bit like spoken languages, huh

[erwinrafael]

But with more definitional clarity.

[ReaperKK]

I've listened to the teaser a few times and I have to say this is the best MM's drums have ever sounded.

[Kotowboy]

I've listened to the teaser a few times and I have to say this is the best MM's drums have ever sounded.

On a Dream Theater album at least.

[bosk1]

My favourite music related quote is from my favourite musician, and it goes " So you're saying that when I was younger, and wasn't deliberately trying to rip anyone off, my influences somehow showed themselves, but now that I'm older and actually 100% set out to rip someone off, it's either unmistakably my own or sounds like a different artist entirely. Ha ha! Music is dumb". It perfectly encapsulates everything about the subjectivity of music, and the "music is dumb" part is pure art.

  I love that quote.  Who is that from?

[bosk1]

OK, that's cool; I'm not here to shit on that, but I don't see why putting it out there that it's not a factor for me is "raining on anyone's parade". 

But that's exactly what you have done, and doubled down on it several times over the course of several pages.  The fact that you "don't see" it misses the point that several people have pointed it out to you, and rather than acknowledge it and move on, you just dug in your heels even further and, seemingly intentionally, just talked past the point by raising nonsequiturs.  As plenty of others pointed out, that does nothing to address the actual points being made in the thread, and only drags down the discussion about the new album.

[Stadler]

OK, that's cool; I'm not here to shit on that, but I don't see why putting it out there that it's not a factor for me is "raining on anyone's parade". 

But that's exactly what you have done, and doubled down on it several times over the course of several pages.  The fact that you "don't see" it misses the point that several people have pointed it out to you, and rather than acknowledge it and move on, you just dug in your heels even further and, seemingly intentionally, just talked past the point by raising nonsequiturs.  As plenty of others pointed out, that does nothing to address the actual points being made in the thread, and only drags down the discussion about the new album.

Fair enough.  Certainly not intentionally, but it doesn't have to be, I get that.

[Dedalus]

My favourite music related quote is from my favourite musician, and it goes " So you're saying that when I was younger, and wasn't deliberately trying to rip anyone off, my influences somehow showed themselves, but now that I'm older and actually 100% set out to rip someone off, it's either unmistakably my own or sounds like a different artist entirely. Ha ha! Music is dumb". It perfectly encapsulates everything about the subjectivity of music, and the "music is dumb" part is pure art.

  I love that quote.  Who is that from?

Beatrice can confirm it, but it's Toby Driver (Kayo Dot).

Since she posted it, I've searched. I also thought it was excellent. 

[hefdaddy42]

My favourite music related quote is from my favourite musician, and it goes " So you're saying that when I was younger, and wasn't deliberately trying to rip anyone off, my influences somehow showed themselves, but now that I'm older and actually 100% set out to rip someone off, it's either unmistakably my own or sounds like a different artist entirely. Ha ha! Music is dumb". It perfectly encapsulates everything about the subjectivity of music, and the "music is dumb" part is pure art.

  I love that quote.  Who is that from?

Beatrice can confirm it, but it's Toby Driver (Kayo Dot).

Since she posted it, I've searched. I also thought it was excellent. 

Holy crap, I haven't listened to Kayo Dot in YEARS.

i shall remedy that.  Thanks for the reminder!

[the keyboard wizard]

Pre-orders have already started on some websites.
https://www.nuclearblast.de/en/shop/artikel/gruppen/51000.1.html?article_group_sort_type_handle=rank&custom_keywords=dream+theater+a+view+from+the+top+of+the+world&sli=27148812#page-1

And here are the visuals of the limited edition http://img113.xooimage.com/views/f/7/6/fb_img_1628719063754-587f524.jpg/

[ReaperKK]

That's neat, I'll definitely pre-order whatever colored vinyl they offer in the states.

[BeatriceNB]

My favourite music related quote is from my favourite musician, and it goes " So you're saying that when I was younger, and wasn't deliberately trying to rip anyone off, my influences somehow showed themselves, but now that I'm older and actually 100% set out to rip someone off, it's either unmistakably my own or sounds like a different artist entirely. Ha ha! Music is dumb". It perfectly encapsulates everything about the subjectivity of music, and the "music is dumb" part is pure art.

  I love that quote.  Who is that from?

Beatrice can confirm it, but it's Toby Driver (Kayo Dot).

Since she posted it, I've searched. I also thought it was excellent. 

Indeed, it's from Toby Driver

[CodyWanKenobi]

"Digging For A Spark: A View From Inside DTHQ Documentary"

YUSSSSSS!!!!

[Kotowboy]

I hope there is a Special Edition of the CD version with a DVD. I hope the only way to get any extras is not the super duper mega expensive edition.

[Another_Won]

I hope there is a Special Edition of the CD version with a DVD. I hope the only way to get any extras is not the super duper mega expensive edition.

The artbook?  It's $50 and has everything you need.

[Imacer]

The Alien is out in New Zealand, listening to it now

[Trav]

The Alien is out in New Zealand, listening to it now

Well??

[Dream Team]

The Alien is out in New Zealand, listening to it now

Well??

He's had it on loop the whole time because it's that good.

[Kotowboy]

I listened to the 90 second preview and it sounds really good. Chunky without being uncomfortable. Nice and clear.

[CDrice]

The Alien is out in New Zealand, listening to it now

Well??

He's had it on loop the whole time because it's that good.

He got abducted by the alien.

[CodyWanKenobi]

About 4 mins in and it's pretty interesting. First vocal melody sounds almost identical to a melody from Pale Blue Dot. Not sure if that's intentional or not but I'm not sure I like it. I really dig the chorus part. So far it has me pumped.

Also, apparently James wrote the lyrics.

[LordJordan]

 Out in Italy, already listened 3 times.
Well, strong Distance Over Time vibes but darker (sometimes).
Great vocal lines, powerful drum sound even though I didn't understand most of the rhytmics from Mangini.
Sounds promising, I still need some time to digest but I dig it.

[LordJordan]

First vocal melody sounds almost identical to a melody from Pale Blue Dot.

I think it's more similar to the first verse from Moment of Betrayal

[CodyWanKenobi]

First vocal melody sounds almost identical to a melody from Pale Blue Dot.

I think it's more similar to the first verse from Moment of Betrayal

YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT THATS THE VERSE I WAS THINKING OF. 

Not sure why I attributed that part to PBD. 

[abydos]

Not a fan of the production of the vocals again and the song overall did little for me. JP's solo was nice, though.

[Sebastián Pratesi]

According to YouTube, James wrote the lyrics to "The Alien".

This means that AVFTTOTW is the band's first album with a James-penned opener, as well as lead single. Furthermore, because "A Fortune In Lies" wasn't written by Dominici, it's also the first to have the opener's lyrics by the band's vocalist. Finally, it's DT's first album since Octavarium without a JP-penned opener.

Pretty sweet, in my opinion.

[erwinrafael]

I preordered on iTunes and I was quite disappointed that there are no "previews" yet for each track. 

[GasparXR]

I preordered on iTunes and I was quite disappointed that there are no "previews" yet for each track. 

Patience, grasshopper! 

[Sebastián Pratesi]

Here's the official pre-order link for the different versions:
https://dream-theater.lnk.to/aviewfromthetopoftheworld

The CD edition on InsideOut's store also includes the downloadable digital version. Pretty cool for us CD buyers.

[LordJordan]

What a silence... The Alien took them all

Anyway, it grew listening by listening. In my opinion, the best single since I am a fan (post Octavariun).

Needed edit: I just saw the other topic

[Kotowboy]

Here's the official pre-order link for the different versions:
https://dream-theater.lnk.to/aviewfromthetopoftheworld

The CD edition on InsideOut's store also includes the downloadable digital version. Pretty cool for us CD buyers.

Gonna be annoyed if the only way to get the documentary is on the megabucks version. I just want the deluxe CD and that's it.

[jonny108]

It's included in the Artbook version as well not just the deluxe boxset.