Dream Theater - The Holiday Spirit Carries On

[Weymolith]

We've just recorded a brand new medley of Holiday classics, called "The Holiday Spirit Carries On", available for download starting today at dreamtheaterofficial.bandcamp.com

With touring cancelled around the world, the incredible members of Dream Theater's crew have not had the opportunity to work as they normally would in 2020. Please help us support them by purchasing this exclusive Holiday track. All proceeds will go toward these dedicated people who work tirelessly to make Dream Theater concerts possible. Available only through the month of December, for $2.99 USD, via dreamtheaterofficial.bandcamp.com

[Dedalus]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3sYYWpbA4k

[Ben_Jamin]

What a nice late night surprise.

It's pretty good. I like it.

[CodyWanKenobi]

If this is what the drums are going sound like on the next album, I'M SO PUMPED. They sound perfect. I really liked how they sounded on D/T but I love this even more. Also, the track is killer. Had to buy. Support the boys.

[Ben_Jamin]

If this is what the drums are going sound like on the next album, I'M SO PUMPED. They sound perfect. I really liked how they sounded on D/T but I love this even more. Also, the track is killer. Had to buy. Support the boys.

On D/T, according to Wiki, they didn't have an Engineer. They had Jimmy T, and he is listed as "Recording".    He has been working with them since DT though, and doing their live sounds as well.

I will say, he is the best thing to happen for their sound. Both D/T and Distant Memories sound amazing. The new album should sound just as good, if not even better, now we know how much he is working with the band. 

I find it a pretty funny coincidence they released it after I posted this about Jimmy T.   

The Drums sound amazing and Overall everyone sounds amazing. And Jimmy T did the Recording and Mixing. So, I guess they proved me right. 

[CodyWanKenobi]

If this is what the drums are going sound like on the next album, I'M SO PUMPED. They sound perfect. I really liked how they sounded on D/T but I love this even more. Also, the track is killer. Had to buy. Support the boys.

On D/T, according to Wiki, they didn't have an Engineer. They had Jimmy T, and he is listed as "Recording".    He has been working with them since DT though, and doing their live sounds as well.

I will say, he is the best thing to happen for their sound. Both D/T and Distant Memories sound amazing. The new album should sound just as good, if not even better, now we know how much he is working with the band. 

I find it a pretty funny coincidence they released it after I posted this about Jimmy T.   

The Drums sound amazing and Overall everyone sounds amazing. And Jimmy T did the Recording and Mixing. So, I guess they proved me right. 

Dude, I totally just read that post in the other thread and thought to myself, "Well Ben nailed it." 

[The Letter M]

Wow what a wonderful surprise! Bought immediately, and it will definitely make my Holiday listening rotation this season! It sounds pretty good so far, and I agree with what others have said about the drum sound. Good stuff!

-Marc.

[JRuless]

Not only the drum sound, also how the bass is situated in the mix. Finally!

[The Letter M]

Not only the drum sound, also how the bass is situated in the mix. Finally!

You could say that...the Bass is Finally Free?

...I'll see myself out.

-Marc.

[Zydar]

Nice! I like this.

[Kotowboy]

NOT A COMPLAINT because I was going to get it anyway - but i'd prefer if I could hear it before I bought it !

[Kotowboy]

* * * ALSO * * *

If you haven't yet bought it - wait til Friday ( 00:00 USA time ) and then Bandcamp will waive their revenue share. So the band get even more...

[nikatapi]

* * * ALSO * * *

If you haven't yet bought it - wait til Friday ( 00:00 USA time ) and then Bandcamp will waive their revenue share. So the band get even more...

Good point, i had forgotten about this unfortunately.
On the song itself, it's great! Not at all what i expected, and it's so fun! Love it 

[Zydar]

You can preview 30 seconds of the song here before you buy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LKbyKZuD4s

[lucasembarbosa]

Instant buy.

I hope they keep in this mood while doing the new album... By now they must have written a lot of stuff. Sounds great, and their gesture is even greater!

PS: I just wish the Auld Lang Syne ending lasted longer, it would be epic

[Kotowboy]

I threw in a little more than $2.99 as it was less in £.

But yeah it's a shame they didn't advertise this on Friday as they would have made like 10% more.

Maybe some people will wait til Friday anyway.

[SwedishGoose]

It's only the first friday of the month that is Bandcamp friday.....

Waiting to buy on friday

[evilasiojr]

That's the most organic and well placed the bad has sounded in YEARS for me.

And the drums sound = FINALLY!!!! 

Great medley and great action move from the guys 

[lucasembarbosa]

Is it too much to ask for Jimmy T to do a remix of ADTOE and DT12? The track sounds killer!!!   

[devieira73]

Is it too much to ask for Jimmy T to do a remix of ADTOE and DT12? The track sounds killer!!!   

Bought it, really nice!
During this pandemic, it would be extremely cool if DT released on bandcamp some re-recordings. Maybe one song per month?

[SeRoX]

James' voice on Jingle Bells is amazing. Overall a good track.

[faizoff]

I'll buy it on Friday, what is the track length? That sample sounds great.

[devieira73]

I'll buy it on Friday, what is the track length? That sample sounds great.

5:14

[Skeever]

Just bought it. I'll definitely support it because it's for a good cause.

Anyway I listened to it - sounds great! I couldn't stop smiling honestly. Mangini's drums sound good and have lots of punch too - whatever they did (or didn't do) they should carry over to the next album.

[MoraWintersoul]

If anyone is just clicking on this and hasn't bought it: hold off until Friday! every first Friday of the month is Bandcamp Friday, the day when they let the bands keep all the revenue. Now Bandcamp doesn't keep a lot of the revenue, but why not wait a few days.

[Samsara]

Very cool. Damn it. I didn't see your post until after I bought it Mora. Bummer.

Anyway, track purchased. Very classy of DT to do that. Looking forward to checking out the tune.

[hefdaddy42]

Very nice of the guys to do this for their crew. 

My only complaint (and it isn't really one) is that they attempt to strike a balance between whimsical stuff like Jingle Bells and bigger, more "epic" stuff like O Come All Ye Faithful.  I'm not quite sure that they hit the balance, and I would have liked to see them go one way or the other.  But I still like it a lot, and they get mad respect for doing it at all.

More grandiose traditional carols like O Come All Ye Faithful, Joy to the World, We Three Kings, etc already lend themselves well to DT's style (and of course, they've already done O Holy Night).  I would love to see an entire Christmas album from them of those types of songs.

[geeeemo]

I threw in a little more than $2.99 as it was less in £.

But yeah it's a shame they didn't advertise this on Friday as they would have made like 10% more.

Maybe some people will wait til Friday anyway.

It is Giving Tuesday. Maybe the release is to coincide with that. Maybe Bandcamp needs $ also.. just a thought...

[hunnus2000]

I'm in! I'll wait till Friday though.

[Sebastián Pratesi]

For those of you who are planning on buying on Friday, here's Bandcamp's microsite with a countdown. So you know when Bandcamp Friday starts (and ends) in your timezone:

https://isitbandcampfriday.com

[NoFred]

I threw in a little more than $2.99 as it was less in £.

But yeah it's a shame they didn't advertise this on Friday as they would have made like 10% more.

Maybe some people will wait til Friday anyway.

It is Giving Tuesday. Maybe the release is to coincide with that. Maybe Bandcamp needs $ also.. just a thought...

Yeah the wallet is open today, I bought at a donation price. And band camp gets to eat too.

The sound/tone here is great, and glad to see them do something off the cuff would love to hear more.

[gzarruk]

Bought it and loved everything about it! The production is on point and the song itself is lots of fun, with crazy playing from everyone

Also, they just recorded this during the DT15 sessions, so this is probably a good indicator of how the album will sound (unless they have someone else mix the record with a completely different approach). Can't wait for more news in 2021.

[Max Kuehnau]

Bought it and loved everything about it! The production is on point and the song itself is lots of fun, with crazy playing from everyone

Also, they just recorded this during the DT15 sessions, so this is probably a good indicator of how the album will sound (unless they have someone else mix the record with a completely different approach). Can't wait for more news in 2021.

AFAIK, Jimmy T will engineer and mix DT15. (and he engineered and mixed the medley here too.) And Mike mentioned that that sound will be the general basic idea for DT15 (as he mentioned on his FB page today.)

[geeeemo]

It really is Great!  Big and Epic! Heavy Got all the good ProgAnd yet, very Holiday sounding

Now we have a 3 song DT Christmas setlist!

[Max Kuehnau]

It really is Great!  Big and Epic! Heavy Got all the good ProgAnd yet, very Holiday sounding

Now we have a 3 song DT Christmas setlist!

Even including references to both Queen and Begin Again (and TA as a whole). Lovely.