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

[Ben_Jamin]

They think, James was a great studio vocalist, even today but beginning from SDOIT he was just there, do his job. No feeling, no touching lines, no deepness (which I disagree btw). But for the first since SDOIT they think James conveys great feeling and does intense vocals.

James was astonishing in The Astonishing, imo.
Pun intended.
Why does everyone forget or underrate that masterpiece?

Due to it being an entirely different style of album that most people do not have the time for plays a lot into it. This is an album that needs to be listened to with your full attention.

I view it like watching a movie, although it's a musical movie. I can sit down, close my eyes, and imagine the world. I can imagine the NOMACS, Faythe walking the castle halls, and the battle between Arhys and Darius.

Then you have expectations not being met and people being disappointed, as they expected the story or album to focus on their more heavier, metal aspects. But this story is not about those type of moments emotionally. The music plays a different role than your usual songs.

The music in The Astonishing is there to set the themes of the characters. I don't know if anyone noticed, but these themes are used when each character is speaking, and each of these themes has a song that showcases what the theme is. The Answer( introduction bro Gabriel's Theme), Act of Faythe(literally a song dedicated to Faythes theme, and is reprised in Losing Faythe), and Lord Nefaryus (obviously his theme song). And these themes intertwine within songs as well to form different feelings like Losing Faith portraying sadness using Faythe, Annabelle, and Lord Nefaryus themes, which this is the climax of all three of their themes. Whispers on The Wind/Hymn of A Thousand Voices are Gabriel's Theme climax songs. In The Wind, it's only piano due to Gabriel losing his voice, then the uplifting of Hymn is Gabriel's Theme and song "When Your Time Has Come" being sung by the crowd that gathered at Heavens Cove, further uplifting his voice to where they all rejoice and sing.

There's just so much in this album that not many have the time to analyze the themes, moods, and overall connection the music style has with the story.

The only reason I don't listen to The Astonishing all that much is because I just don't have time to listen to a two and a half hour record. I absolutely adore this album.

Precisely, and I feel it is deliberate because that is a topic discussed in the concept. And ironically, it rings true for this album. Hence JPs point of people not having the time for music anymore being a factor for music being made by AI.

Things being created by AI and they're rise, is the main reason for JP deciding to make The Astonishing. The question he asked was, "What would happen if music became artificial?" It's a big reason for the NOMACS being the centerpiece of the album.

[lovethedrake]

I'm concerned that the epic seems to be leaving listeners underwhelmed. Nobody seems to be all that impressed by it and that's 20 minutes of the album.

Based on reviews it sounds like they played it safe with the album but made it sonically great.  Sounds like a collection of solid songs but no instant classics.

First, I like the epic very much. It has some of the best moments of the album and it hangs together quite well. Sure, it's episodic in feel, but so was ACoS, and I think they use that effectively.

And I absolutely do think there are instant classics here. I haven't even mentioned it before because I deliberately didn't want to do a track-by-track retelling (I find these boring), but Sleeping Giant is a masterpiece and I can easily see that one, the title track, Awaken the Master and The Alien (while not quite on the same level) becoming live staples.

Awesome, I love to hear that.  I'm glad to hear some love for the epic.  Thats my biggest concern of the album tbh.

I'm extremely excited and really like The Alien and Invisible Monster, especially if those are two of the weaker tracks. 

[bosk1]

Since reviews are posting, and I know there have been some questions about the epic, here are some thoughts from me:

It is a VERY good DT epic.  As with anything that long, it is taking awhile to digest, so I won't even attempt to rate or compare it to other epics.  But to compare it as far as sound, I would say it reminds me the most of Illumination Theory in terms of some of the riffs, and A Change of Seasons in terms of composition and structure. 

The sample that many of you heard is from the intro.  It begins with a symphonic section that reminds me somewhat of V/Odyssey era Symphony X.  That section builds, and then into a riff that is somewhat reminiscent of IT and PBD.  First "main" part of the song once it gets going has a verse/chorus structure, and the chorus (which comes back later) is pretty catchy. 

In the middle, there is a softer section that is driven by JP acoustic guitar and cello.  Then James comes in after a bit.  It feels a lot more integrated as part of the song than, say, the soft parts of TCOT or IT.  The transition into it is VERY smooth, and it doesn't feel like you are listening to something that is a completely different song altogether.  It absolutely feels like it belongs.  I would kind of compare it to a blend of the Beautiful Agony section of ANTR and the soft "angels fall/heretic" section of ITPOE. 

We also get some really juicy DT signature riffing and instrumental gynmastics in the middle.

And a solid, but maybe somewhat predictable sounding closing section.  Doesn't necessarily feel like a huge, soaring, epic ending.  But that being said, (1) it is a satisfying ending and doesn't feel like it necessarily needs to be huge; and (2) I haven't spent a lot of time with the epic, and it is possible the ending may have more impact, and I just haven't processed it yet. 

Overall, it is a solid epic.  And I have no idea where I would rank it among DT's other "mega-epics" (20-minute+ songs [A Change of Seasons, Six Degrees, Octavarium, In the Presence of Enemies, The Count of Tuscany, Illumination Theory]).  But I am pretty sure that fans that like most of those will like this one as well.

[hefdaddy42]

 

[bosk1]

Here are my very early "first impression" notes for each song.  These are just some scribblings that I wrote down while listening:

The Alien:  Sqeeze "drop the needle in the middle of the record" song. [probably nobody will get that reference]  AGGRESSIVE.  Unsettling.  Time sigs.  DRUMS!!! 

Answering the Call:  FW Seven Stars riff.    Nice keys.  CHORUS!  AROP solo-tradeoff (san bebot).  Structure!  [I have no idea what I meant by that last one]

Invisible Monster:  HK intro.  Accessible guitar/key riff.  Verse syncopation.  Chorus ear worm!  Eerie melody--SC?  Love it!

Sleeping Giant:  Buzzsaw opening.  LTE/JP solo riff.  Cool backing "whoa-ooo" vox.  Metropolis.

Transcending Time:  Single?  Rush song.    Piano!

Awaken the Master:  TA intro!  Other TA.  Classic JP (Terminal Velocity influence?).  FII feel? 

View:  IT2 (without middle).  SyX intro.    Epic riff!  ITPOE/Floyd had a baby.  Epic [something I can't read] guitar.

Some of that makes no sense to me now several weeks after the fact.  But again, it was my stream-of-consciousness, spontaneous reaction, note taking as I listened while at work. 


EDIT:  Oh, and I also made comments awhile back that I would reveal my initial impressions for what other things "in the DT family" that this album reminded me of.  I was very careful in my language when I said "in the DT family."  And the reason for that is that, at least initially, my first impressions as far as "what does this most remind me of?" were NOT other DT albums.  My initial reactions as far as drawing parallels with sound would be:  LTE, JP solo albums, and JLB solo albums.  My mind went to those three before any DT albums.  Not that it doesn't sound like DT, or that I haven't since drawn parallels with other DT albums.  I have.  But that is where my mind was initially drawn.

[Lonk]

Thanks Bosk for that description.

7 more days!

[lovethedrake]

Since reviews are posting, and I know there have been some questions about the epic, here are some thoughts from me:

It is a VERY good DT epic.  As with anything that long, it is taking awhile to digest, so I won't even attempt to rate or compare it to other epics.  But to compare it as far as sound, I would say it reminds me the most of Illumination Theory in terms of some of the riffs, and A Change of Seasons in terms of composition and structure. 

The sample that many of you heard is from the intro.  It begins with a symphonic section that reminds me somewhat of V/Odyssey era Symphony X.  That section builds, and then into a riff that is somewhat reminiscent of IT and PBD.  First "main" part of the song once it gets going has a verse/chorus structure, and the chorus (which comes back later) is pretty catchy. 

In the middle, there is a softer section that is driven by JP acoustic guitar and cello.  Then James comes in after a bit.  It feels a lot more integrated as part of the song than, say, the soft parts of TCOT or IT.  The transition into it is VERY smooth, and it doesn't feel like you are listening to something that is a completely different song altogether.  It absolutely feels like it belongs.  I would kind of compare it to a blend of the Beautiful Agony section of ANTR and the soft "angels fall/heretic" section of ITPOE. 

We also get some really juicy DT signature riffing and instrumental gynmastics in the middle.

And a solid, but maybe somewhat predictable sounding closing section.  Doesn't necessarily feel like a huge, soaring, epic ending.  But that being said, (1) it is a satisfying ending and doesn't feel like it necessarily needs to be huge; and (2) I haven't spent a lot of time with the epic, and it is possible the ending may have more impact, and I just haven't processed it yet. 

Overall, it is a solid epic.  And I have no idea where I would rank it among DT's other "mega-epics" (20-minute+ songs [A Change of Seasons, Six Degrees, Octavarium, In the Presence of Enemies, The Count of Tuscany, Illumination Theory]).  But I am pretty sure that fans that like most of those will like this one as well.

Awesome thanks for the breakdown Bosk!

[bosk1]

By the way, in case anyone is interested, my "Squeeze" comment on The Alien comes from something Dave Meniketti said about the Y&T song, Squeeze.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6H-mpC_mYTc  He said that the intent was to write a song that grabs you right from the getgo and "feels like you just dropped the needle in the middle of the record."  Listen to the beginning of Squeeze and you'll know what I mean.  But that quote is where my mind immediately went when I heard how The Alien begin.

[SeRoX]

Transcending Time:  Single?  Rush song.    Piano

That's good to hear. I love RUSH songs better when DT does it. 

[TAC]

Always gotta work in some Y&T. 

[lovethedrake]

Transcending Time:  Single?  Rush song.    Piano

That's good to hear. I love RUSH songs better when DT does it. 

I do sometimes think of DT as a better, heavier, more powerful version of Rush.  Which is a comment I know Rush fans would chop my head off for saying.   As much as DT is inspired by Rush I never got hooked on them.  I like them but not nearly as much as the rest of the great prog bands I love (Yes, Tull, Genesis, Floyd, etc...)

[UndercoverMyung]

Transcending Time:  Single?  Rush song.    Piano

That's good to hear. I love RUSH songs better when DT does it. 

I do sometimes think of DT as a better, heavier, more powerful version of Rush.  Which is a comment I know Rush fans would chop my head off for saying.   As much as DT is inspired by Rush I never got hooked on them.  I like them but not nearly as much as the rest of the great prog bands I love (Yes, Tull, Genesis, Floyd, etc...)

Big Rush fan here but I hear what you're saying and I don't want to chop your head off 

[MinistroRaven]

With the epic, I kept waiting for that grandiose finale that never came.

All in all I love the epic. And the album, did I say is the AOTY for me? Yes, it is!

[Architeuthis]

Transcending Time:  Single?  Rush song.    Piano

That's good to hear. I love RUSH songs better when DT does it. 

I do sometimes think of DT as a better, heavier, more powerful version of Rush.  Which is a comment I know Rush fans would chop my head off for saying.   As much as DT is inspired by Rush I never got hooked on them.  I like them but not nearly as much as the rest of the great prog bands I love (Yes, Tull, Genesis, Floyd, etc...)

Big Rush fan here but I hear what you're saying and I don't want to chop your head off 

I'm a big Rush fan too and I don't want to do any head chopping either since it's against the law.   

[Pax]

Does the album (especially the epic) have some insane instrumental atonal-like sections, like ITPOE (the reckoning), or that sick section form Haken's Crystallized?

[UndercoverMyung]

Transcending Time:  Single?  Rush song.    Piano

That's good to hear. I love RUSH songs better when DT does it. 

I do sometimes think of DT as a better, heavier, more powerful version of Rush.  Which is a comment I know Rush fans would chop my head off for saying.   As much as DT is inspired by Rush I never got hooked on them.  I like them but not nearly as much as the rest of the great prog bands I love (Yes, Tull, Genesis, Floyd, etc...)

Big Rush fan here but I hear what you're saying and I don't want to chop your head off 

I'm a big Rush fan too and I don't want to do any head chopping either since it's against the law.   

Exactly. I can't listen to AVFTTOTW in jail.

[lovethedrake]

https://progreport.com/dream-theater-a-view-from-the-top-of-the-world-album-review/

Super positive

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

next 7 days is going to be painful lol. I am hoping that Amazon ships my album early. I am getting the impression that people think the 2 singles are the weakest songs on the record, which would be great.

[Madman Shepherd]

I wonder what the likelihood is the art book will actually ship on time.

[Kram]

Holy shit guys, this is amazing. To my knowledge, Bill Rogers has never been mentioned in any interview or book or anything. Would love to not only hear the demos but also any other material he has done. Did he ever release an album with any bands? I collect all of that. I've got all of Charlie's stuff. I even have material from Chris Cintron. He had a pretty cool band in the 80s called Reckless. I later bought his spanish flamenco stuff or whatever it's called. Really good stuff not my thing.

Here's a taste https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HPSLFIWzFk  Hopefully you can find the full demo at the site Glasser provided.

[TAC]

Interesting. Sounds like a cross between John Arch and No Exit Era Ray Alder.

I wonder why there's never been any mention of him before?

[SeRoX]

Holy shit guys, this is amazing. To my knowledge, Bill Rogers has never been mentioned in any interview or book or anything. Would love to not only hear the demos but also any other material he has done. Did he ever release an album with any bands? I collect all of that. I've got all of Charlie's stuff. I even have material from Chris Cintron. He had a pretty cool band in the 80s called Reckless. I later bought his spanish flamenco stuff or whatever it's called. Really good stuff not my thing.

Here's a taste https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HPSLFIWzFk  Hopefully you can find the full demo at the site Glasser provided.

Song is super cool and his voice is too.

[DTiwbwMP]

With the epic, I kept waiting for that grandiose finale that never came.

All in all I love the epic. And the album, did I say is the AOTY for me? Yes, it is!

[Glasser]

Holy shit guys, this is amazing. To my knowledge, Bill Rogers has never been mentioned in any interview or book or anything. Would love to not only hear the demos but also any other material he has done. Did he ever release an album with any bands? I collect all of that. I've got all of Charlie's stuff. I even have material from Chris Cintron. He had a pretty cool band in the 80s called Reckless. I later bought his spanish flamenco stuff or whatever it's called. Really good stuff not my thing.

Here's a taste https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HPSLFIWzFk  Hopefully you can find the full demo at the site Glasser provided.

Song is super cool and his voice is too.

Ok, here is something special from my personal collection. I love this demo of Bill. Its from my media fire account. Enjoy!

http://www.mediafire.com/file/h4m0ebde4wb1gts/DOMINION_%2528320%2529.zip/file

[SeRoX]

Huge, strong voice. Wow. I can imagine him singing DT songs pretty well. He sounds like Geoff Tate.

[Dream Team]

Question: is there any place in the States that will ship this sooner than Amazon? My Amazon order isn't scheduled to arrive the following week but I'm leaving on a road trip the 24th.

So . . . no?

[Glasser]

Question: is there any place in the States that will ship this sooner than Amazon? My Amazon order isn't scheduled to arrive the following week but I'm leaving on a road trip the 24th.

So . . . no?

You will probably get an mp3 download from Amazon auto ripp on the 22nd.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

Or if you subscribe to a streaming service it'll probably be available there at midnight.

[geeeemo]

Or if you subscribe to a streaming service it'll probably be available there at midnight.

PST it's available 9pm.

[Wim Kruithof]

Thanks Bosk, that's a review I recon to be trustworthy. Now you raised my expectations even more.

And kudos to Lord Jordans sidenote on the Astonishing. It keeps on aging very well for me, the Youtube episodes from Petrucci and Rudess... and the special vinyl package helped me there.

[Dedalus]

Metropolis Pt. 1 is as abrupt as it can get.

Oh yeah...

[Bacong]

next 7 days is going to be painful lol. I am hoping that Amazon ships my album early. I am getting the impression that people think the 2 singles are the weakest songs on the record, which would be great.

invisible monster is def the worst song on the record

[Kotowboy]

RE : The Alien - I'm not the biggest fan of albums that just START with track 1 already at full tilt.

Capsizing the Sea is an awesome intro to In Waves for example.

But they did the clean / acoustic intro already to On The Backs of Angels and Untethered Angel. And The Astonishing had like two intros and then the clean / acoustic intro.

[Madman Shepherd]

Holy shit guys, this is amazing. To my knowledge, Bill Rogers has never been mentioned in any interview or book or anything. Would love to not only hear the demos but also any other material he has done. Did he ever release an album with any bands? I collect all of that. I've got all of Charlie's stuff. I even have material from Chris Cintron. He had a pretty cool band in the 80s called Reckless. I later bought his spanish flamenco stuff or whatever it's called. Really good stuff not my thing.

Here's a taste https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HPSLFIWzFk  Hopefully you can find the full demo at the site Glasser provided.

Song is super cool and his voice is too.

Ok, here is something special from my personal collection. I love this demo of Bill. Its from my media fire account. Enjoy!

http://www.mediafire.com/file/h4m0ebde4wb1gts/DOMINION_%2528320%2529.zip/file

Thank you so much Kram and Glasser!  I'm hopefully going to listen to these later today!

[Dream Team]

Or if you subscribe to a streaming service it'll probably be available there at midnight.

Yeah I use a streaming service. My question was regarding having a hard copy for the road trip.