John Petrucci - Terminal Velocity (Fall 2020)

[Max Kuehnau]

Is it just me or is this album technical as fuck?! Seems like JP is on top of his game, at least from a chops perspective. The album rips though. I'm so glad Happy Song is in my life now.

if he is, then that's a great sign for DT15 (I'm just saying)

[N4Player]

Love The Oddfather, Gemini (that DiMeola latin section puts a huge smile on my face, glad John finally recorded this piece) and Glassy-Eyed Zombies the most. The 2:40 - 5:10 minute mark in Temple of Circadia are awesome. Chills. Feels like it belongs in a Dream Theater epic. John is on fire on this record. Wow, just wow. I love being a guitarist because it excites me to learn to play such epicness. Love all the grooves throughout the record. So much to unpack and allow to grow over time. Happy this is finally here. He was already amazing when Images and Words came, but in comparison to Suspended Animation, it is quite something to see how much he has evolved in so many areas. True passion exudes throughout. It was worth the 15 year wait.

[devieira73]

I am very slowly digesting this album and loving every minute of it! What ultimately draws me to DT is their melodic tones that JP and JR write so for this solo work, it's JP melodicism that puts a smile on my face.
MP's drum work is .......... well............ very MPish which means he's fucking awesome but I honestly don't think he's doing anything special that other talented drummers couldn't pull off. And to call this a collaboration or saying that there's chemistry between JP and MP is a stretch IMO. MP is nothing more than a session player for this effort. I mean, we're talking about 25 years of muscle memory.
Also, I'm really digging Out of the Blue!

I agree - there is a lot of recency bias going around lately. Is it great to hear JP & MP playing together? Yes. Is the album fantastic? IMO, Yes! But that is about 99 percent down to JP - he wrote all the songs, even outlined the drums and bass, though giving some freedom to MP and Dave during recording. In fact, people forget that all guitar tracks were finished before MP even entered the picutre and recoreded his drum tracks, nevertheless that JP stated - in interview with Ola E. if I recall correctly -  that he even worked with MP on spesific drum parts because he wanted a segment to sound in a spesific way.

I think when people talk about the chemistry of MP and JP, in this case, it means the way that JP playing affected positively MP drumming. I think it's a totally fair assumption, just compare the drumming on Suspended Animation with the one on Terminal Velocity. I bet JP programed the basic drum patterns on the 2 album's demos and the drumming on TV is much more interesting (and Dave Dicenso is a tremendous drummer). Well, if you don't want to compare the results on different songs, I suggest to compare Happy Song and Glass-Eyed Zombies from the G3's 2018 tour with the versions on TV. To me, on TV they are better (and I'm also a Mangini fan and love what he does on DT albums):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WnD5Xs1fR8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6-LnB9THlw

[Peter Mc]

They just sound good playing together, that's chemistry.  No one's trying to give Portnoy a writing credit here.  People are enjoying their musical heroes playing together and sounding great, that's all.

[Architeuthis]

This album is so dang fun to listen to. I listened to some of the tracks with speaker mode on my phone at work yesterday while outdoor painting. I started laughing out loud in a positive way at how insane JP's guitar playing is!   Went home later and piped it in through my big stereo and listened to it twice.  His tone is absolutely amazing!  I'm betting that he used his Purple Nebula Majesty on a majority of the tracks, which speaks volumes on how good of a guitar that must be.
He just keeps getting better and better as a musician and keeps raising the bar outdoing himself. Dave Larue is great as always, and MP absolutely knocked it out of the park on this release! 

[DragonAttack]

Instrumental albums are 'difficult' ones for me overall, and a heavy one at my age adds even more difficulty.  That said, I really enjoyed my first go round.  Lots of LTE  'moments' in this, really loved 'Out of the Blue' due to the tempo change, and there were moments that would fit into a DT album.  And...Portnoy added to my enjoyment. 

[hunnus2000]

I am very slowly digesting this album and loving every minute of it! What ultimately draws me to DT is their melodic tones that JP and JR write so for this solo work, it's JP melodicism that puts a smile on my face.
MP's drum work is .......... well............ very MPish which means he's fucking awesome but I honestly don't think he's doing anything special that other talented drummers couldn't pull off. And to call this a collaboration or saying that there's chemistry between JP and MP is a stretch IMO. MP is nothing more than a session player for this effort. I mean, we're talking about 25 years of muscle memory.
Also, I'm really digging Out of the Blue!

I agree - there is a lot of recency bias going around lately. Is it great to hear JP & MP playing together? Yes. Is the album fantastic? IMO, Yes! But that is about 99 percent down to JP - he wrote all the songs, even outlined the drums and bass, though giving some freedom to MP and Dave during recording. In fact, people forget that all guitar tracks were finished before MP even entered the picutre and recoreded his drum tracks, nevertheless that JP stated - in interview with Ola E. if I recall correctly -  that he even worked with MP on spesific drum parts because he wanted a segment to sound in a spesific way.

I think when people talk about the chemistry of MP and JP, in this case, it means the way that JP playing affected positively MP drumming. I think it's a totally fair assumption, just compare the drumming on Suspended Animation with the one on Terminal Velocity. I bet JP programed the basic drum patterns on the 2 album's demos and the drumming on TV is much more interesting (and Dave Dicenso is a tremendous drummer). Well, if you don't want to compare the results on different songs, I suggest to compare Happy Song and Glass-Eyed Zombies from the G3's 2018 tour with the versions on TV. To me, on TV they are better (and I'm also a Mangini fan and love what he does on DT albums):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WnD5Xs1fR8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6-LnB9THlw

I get where you're going but just remember that the point you're making is based on a 3 piece live band recorded through cell phone audio/video vs. a polished production with rhythm guitars.

And with that said, I love what JP has done with the rhythm guitars on this album giving excellent context to the melodies on the songs! 

Normally in DT songs, I am not that fond of rhythm guitars because they have a keyboardist but for this piece of work, it's perfect.

 

[Kotowboy]

I love Snake in My Boot. I wish DT had more moments like this that just groove and get you moving. I really enjoyed it

Viper King is cool.

[Max Kuehnau]

I love Snake in My Boot. I wish DT had more moments like this that just groove and get you moving. I really enjoyed it

Viper King is cool.

nice if you like either one, I guess.

[JRuless]

Anytime I listen to The Oddfather I think it is a Lost Not Forgotten demo.

[SeRoX]

I just listen the album. Well, the title song is not that good but the rest is amazing. It's like JP did everything he wanted he couldn't do with DT.

[hunnus2000]

I just listen the album. Well, the title song is not that good but the rest is amazing. It's like JP did everything he wanted he couldn't do with DT.

Well - yeah - isn't that the idea of doing a solo album? 

[DT89]

John Petrucci - Snake in My Boot Guitar Tab

I'll probably do Happy Song or Gemini next!

[OptionalPlayer]

Why hello there!

You might remember me from such great posts as "Train of Thought: Dream Theater's Last Great Album" and. . . well, that's it.

Anyway, I've reviewed Terminal Velocity!

https://uncannymetal.com/2020/08/31/honest-review-john-petrucci-terminal-velocity/

A small snippet:
"Terminal Velocity, even unconsciously, comes together as an album celebrating both music and friendship. It may not have been intentional while writing the album, but it certainly feels that way when listening to it."

[Architeuthis]

Nice review Troy McClure! 

Seriously though, that is a good read and I agree that this album celebrates music and friendship.  I would like to add too is that JP's tone is out of this world and he does some stuff that I've never heard him do before. Insane skill and emotion in a melting pot. 
If anyone has been saying that there's other guitarists that top Petrucci,  this album makes a statement with a "hold my beer" ..  🍺

[RodrigoAltaf]

This just happened...I interviewed John for 25 minutes today!

[OptionalPlayer]

Nice review Troy McClure! 

Seriously though, that is a good read and I agree that this album celebrates music and friendship.  I would like to add too is that JP's tone is out of this world and he does some stuff that I've never heard him do before. Insane skill and emotion in a melting pot. 
If anyone has been saying that there's other guitarists that top Petrucci,  this album makes a statement with a "hold my beer" ..  🍺

Thanks, meng! Yeah, I can say this album took me by surprise and definitely would rank Petrucci among the greats.

[DT89]

John Petrucci - Happy Song Guitar Tab

[OptionalPlayer]

This just happened...I interviewed John for 25 minutes today!

Dude, that's great! I've msged his FB to get him to see my review (and ideally share it). Can't wait to see the video.

[RodrigoAltaf]

This just happened...I interviewed John for 25 minutes today!

Dude, that's great! I've msged his FB to get him to see my review (and ideally share it). Can't wait to see the video.

I enjoyed your review. Try his publicist, he might be able to share your review. They haven't shared mine! Grrrr...

[OptionalPlayer]

This just happened...I interviewed John for 25 minutes today!

Dude, that's great! I've msged his FB to get him to see my review (and ideally share it). Can't wait to see the video.

I enjoyed your review. Try his publicist, he might be able to share your review. They haven't shared mine! Grrrr...

I tried to PM you but your inbox is full. Feel free to PM me back.

And thanks for the kind words about the review!

To be honest, I've been looking for a contact of his publicist or record label. But because he independently released it, I've had a tough time finding something. Would you happen to have his publicist's contact?

If you're uncomfortable sharing, it's no big deal either.

I can't wait to see your review pop, either way!

[RodrigoAltaf]

This just happened...I interviewed John for 25 minutes today!

Dude, that's great! I've msged his FB to get him to see my review (and ideally share it). Can't wait to see the video.

I enjoyed your review. Try his publicist, he might be able to share your review. They haven't shared mine! Grrrr...

I tried to PM you but your inbox is full. Feel free to PM me back.

And thanks for the kind words about the review!

To be honest, I've been looking for a contact of his publicist or record label. But because he independently released it, I've had a tough time finding something. Would you happen to have his publicist's contact?

If you're uncomfortable sharing, it's no big deal either.

I can't wait to see your review pop, either way!

I sent you a private message.

[OptionalPlayer]

I sent you a private message.

I can't respond to you because your inbox is full! 

[RodrigoAltaf]

I sent you a private message.

I can't respond to you because your inbox is full! 
[/quote

I cleaned it up now!

[devieira73]

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=308114247129704&extid=p3upP9xbKI18DQZW
very cool chat with JP, MP and Dave LaRue.
Around 33 minute mark, there's a funny moment/reaction where JP explains why MP didn't play on his first album, but played on this one.

[Dublagent66]

Yeah, I caught about the last 20 mins of FB Live.  It was great!     Um, we've known since 2005 why MP didn't play on that album.  Same reason MM didn't play on this album

[darkshade]

Anyone else enjoying the new JP album more than the last 3 Dream Theater albums?

[Trav]

Anyone else enjoying the new JP album more than the last 3 Dream Theater albums?

No.

[TAC]

Anyone else enjoying the new JP album more than the last 3 Dream Theater albums?

No.

Hell no.

[Volante99]

Anyone else enjoying the new JP album more than the last 3 Dream Theater albums?

I'm enjoying the drumming a lot more. 

The overall production is a step up too, even if the bass is a bit low in the mix. But that makes sense as it's guitar album.

[Max Kuehnau]

Anyone else enjoying the new JP album more than the last 3 Dream Theater albums?

Absolutely not, no. (but if you do, go ahead)

[geeeemo]

Anyone else enjoying the new JP album more than the last 3 Dream Theater albums?

Ummm. Heck no! Even though I like the JP album...

[Quarter_Cask]

Anyone else enjoying the new JP album more than the last 3 Dream Theater albums?

Definitely.

[Progmetty]

Anyone else enjoying the new JP album more than the last 3 Dream Theater albums?

No.

Hell no.

No way Jose.

[Dublagent66]

Anyone else enjoying the new JP album more than the last 3 Dream Theater albums?

I like it better than DT12 and TA.  Same goes for James solo work during that time.  However, D/T is a great album.  TV is different in a lot of ways because of the solo aspect but it's difficult to compare the two.  I like everything on both albums.  Can't say that about DT12 and TA.