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

[Glasser]

You guys describing the music on the new album as bits and pieces
of other Mangini-era DT "but with better production" just sounds like it's going to be DoT II, a rather bland and boring DT album imo.

What makes DoT bland? Just curious.

[TAC]

I found DoT quite enjoyable.

[rab7]

The only similarity I see to Overture 1928 is how the riff is accented on the downbeat of the first beat, the upbeat of the second beat, and the downbeat of the fourth.

Other than that, everything else including chord progression and notes are completely different

[evilasiojr]

The only similarity I see to Overture 1928 is how the riff is accented on the downbeat of the first beat, the upbeat of the second beat, and the downbeat of the fourth.

Other than that, everything else including chord progression and notes are completely different

Yeah, I thought the same!!

[Dedalus]

You guys describing the music on the new album as bits and pieces
of other Mangini-era DT "but with better production" just sounds like it's going to be DoT II, a rather bland and boring DT album imo.

Do you really have any realistic expectations of liking the next album?

[LKap13]

So far the alien is a highly impressive piece of music. As for d/t, it's a bit too loud to be enjoyable for me

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

The only similarity I see to Overture 1928 is how the riff is accented on the downbeat of the first beat, the upbeat of the second beat, and the downbeat of the fourth.

Other than that, everything else including chord progression and notes are completely different

Rhythm and the accents are a very big thing. Even the very guitaristic riff he is playing is similar, though it's not exactly the same, as Overture/Strange Deja Vu. I think what Jordan is playing on synth might even be a little similar in a few parts as well.

[gzarruk]

Those saying that this is similar to Overture 1928, have you actually listened to the full song?

Not similar at all.

[LKap13]

Yea I was a bit puzzled by the comparison myself. I have to really hallucinate it to hear it

[jayvee3]

You guys describing the music on the new album as bits and pieces
of other Mangini-era DT "but with better production" just sounds like it's going to be DoT II, a rather bland and boring DT album imo.

Works for me. I loved DoT - a terrific modern DT album.

[BeatriceNB]

I did a 3 year music degree and i've never heard of a nested tuplet.

Is there a cream for it ?

Tuplets within tuplets. Zappa's Black Page is a classic example; The Alien starts with a nested tuplet (triplet over septuplets, iirc). Very fun concept, imo.

[Cool Chris]

I did a 3 year music degree and i've never heard of a nested tuplet.

Is there a cream for it ?

[darkshade]

You guys describing the music on the new album as bits and pieces
of other Mangini-era DT "but with better production" just sounds like it's going to be DoT II, a rather bland and boring DT album imo.

What makes DoT bland? Just curious.

It's a very safe album, which somewhat makes sense coming off a controversial album like The Astonishing.

Besides the fact that I hear the band repeating themselves often in the post-MP era, I find Barstool and At Wit's End to be the only songs I revisit with any regularity. The rest don't do much for me. I find most DT albums with Mangini filled with cool parts and creative sections, but I tend to have issues with the construction of the songs themselves, like I feel like so many choruses don't match the vibe of the verses or bridges.

DT's song structures have been simplified over the years, too, and I don't know why they feel the need to do so many songs in the intro/ABABCAB/outro or similar pop structures.

Then you have a song like S2N sounds like 3 different song ideas forced together. The chorus feels out of place among the verses and main riffs, and the outro just does not belong in that song (and is a diet Dark Eternal Night outro) There are other DT songs like this in the modern era.

The Ministry of Lost Souls may have an out of place instrumental section, but the 'song' part of it makes sense together. A song can have crazy parts, seemingly unrelated to the song, as long as it sounds like it works. A lot of recent songs sound very cut-n-paste to me.

[darkshade]

You guys describing the music on the new album as bits and pieces
of other Mangini-era DT "but with better production" just sounds like it's going to be DoT II, a rather bland and boring DT album imo.

Do you really have any realistic expectations of liking the next album?

Things I've read about The Alien tells me yes, things I've read about the new single says no.

[Dedalus]

You guys describing the music on the new album as bits and pieces
of other Mangini-era DT "but with better production" just sounds like it's going to be DoT II, a rather bland and boring DT album imo.

Do you really have any realistic expectations of liking the next album?

Things I've read about The Alien tells me yes, things I've read about the new single says no.

I would say you won't like them both. 

Anyway, good luck.

[Architeuthis]

You guys describing the music on the new album as bits and pieces
of other Mangini-era DT "but with better production" just sounds like it's going to be DoT II, a rather bland and boring DT album imo.

What makes DoT bland? Just curious.

It's a very safe album, which somewhat makes sense coming off a controversial album like The Astonishing.

Besides the fact that I hear the band repeating themselves often in the post-MP era, I find Barstool and At Wit's End to be the only songs I revisit with any regularity. The rest don't do much for me. I find most DT albums with Mangini filled with cool parts and creative sections, but I tend to have issues with the construction of the songs themselves, like I feel like so many choruses don't match the vibe of the verses or bridges.

DT's song structures have been simplified over the years, too, and I don't know why they feel the need to do so many songs in the intro/ABABCAB/outro or similar pop structures.

Then you have a song like S2N sounds like 3 different song ideas forced together. The chorus feels out of place among the verses and main riffs, and the outro just does not belong in that song (and is a diet Dark Eternal Night outro) There are other DT songs like this in the modern era.

Ha!  Indeed that outro from S2N has TDEN written all over it.  It's like they said in the studio "let's do the darkest heaviest riff in DT history part 2",, then Jordan improvises a solo the whole way through. 
I don't see the disconnection with the rest of the song though, it's well written and structured. Even has the WOW factor..

[darkshade]

Sorry, but I disagree. I find the chorus doesn't fit the mood and energy created by the riffs and verses. I don't think the song even needed a chorus, and that chorus sounds like it could have been part of any number of other Mangini-era DT songs.

[erwinrafael]

I do not get the criticism of S2N here. If you play the song, you would feel how the parts are related by a thread of playful energy (especially I think if it is drums you are playing). Even the final part, it may have some similarities to TDEN but not really. It has more playfulness, especially the way the drums, bass, and the rhythm guitar are coordinating as if playing a joke on how many accents to do next, like how Mangini. Pat Bader and Nuno jokingly played the accents in the Extreme song Leave Me Alone depending on how many fingers Gary Cherone were holding up.

[RMGadelha]

To Glasser or anyone who has listened to the album: so far we've had some info on Answer the Call as in it's catchy and heavy, the arena like chorus on Transcending Time, comments on Awaken the Master and even some comments on the title track, but I haven't heard anything about Sleeping Giant yet (sorry if I skipped any page or comment), which is the 2nd longest track. Is it a standout track? How is it like?

[bosk1]

It is good. 

[Hanz Gruber]

Glasser, and others who've heard the album, did you like the production of the new album?

Sneap CRUSHED it! It's PERFECT and I rarely use that word.

I'm glad that you like the album.

How would you personally rank the tracks? (top to bottom)

[hefdaddy42]

It is good. 

bosky coming through with the deets.   

[Vlasto]

oh...DoT is so powerful prog with high quality sound... my most favourite in MM era. And London live is fantastic, I bought CD/BD package.
 

[Kotowboy]

Happy Vlasto Day !

[LKap13]

So energy power

[Vlasto]

Happy Vlasto Day !

you betcha!

[SeRoX]

[Pettor]

Stop hyping Awakening the Master. I CAN'T WAIT.

[nikatapi]

What a great guy Mike is. With all the flack he's been getting the past years (and some of it is outside of his influence), i'm so happy to see him enthusiastic about this album.
Can't wait to hear the crazy stuff he's come up with, just like The Alien.

[hefdaddy42]

Mike is great.  He is so full of life.

[TAC]

Such a great and classy response.

[devieira73]

So, less than a month for the release... a full review of the album is allowed?

[Glasser]

So, less than a month for the release... a full review of the album is allowed?

Bosk can confirm but I'm pretty sure reviews are a week prior to the release.

[Bertie_Wooster]

I heard 30 second samples of all songs today on a website where the album is being sold.
Sounds a lot like 80's music. The band europe comes to mind.

[LKap13]

Can you say which site?