Classical Composer Reacts to Various DT Songs

[The Letter M]

he's a genius.

And his band Sungazer just released a new album last month that is mind-blowing, and if I'm being honest, I find Shawn's drumming more fascinating than Mangini's. Maybe it's the style or what he implements in Sungazer, but it's just soooo good. If you like Mangini's drumming style and chops, definitely check out Shawn's drumming in Sungazer.

-Marc.

[PetFish]

I'm sad to say he's mostly a clown now.

Even when he's not air-drumming (81% of the time) or whining about double-bass drums (13% of the time) he still doesn't have much of anything interesting to say for the last 6%.

[TheCountOfNYC]

And his band Sungazer just released a new album last month that is mind-blowing, and if I'm being honest, I find Shawn's drumming more fascinating than Mangini's. Maybe it's the style or what he implements in Sungazer, but it's just soooo good. If you like Mangini's drumming style and chops, definitely check out Shawn's drumming in Sungazer.

-Marc.

I'm not saying Mangini can't groove, but Shawn's pocket is so deep that all of the wild polyrhythmic stuff that Sungazer does still grooves because Shawn never loses sight of the backbeat.

Also, Adam Neely is one of my biggest influences on bass. Learning music theory from a bass player's perspective has improved my musicianship and command of my instrument immensely.

[joseph_stevenson_]

*FOR ANYONE INTERESTED IN THE ORCHESTRAL OVERTURE AT THE START OF THE SECOND SET OF THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR* it was composed and produced by me (Joseph Stevenson) and supervised by the band. We will be posting some behind the scenes stuff on Instagram about how we made it in the coming weeks. Thanks so much for all the kind words about it so far so far, so so lovely to see such positive reactions to it! You guys are the just the BEST!

[Wim Kruithof]

His Youtube channel is releasing a reaction to A Broken Man in a few minutes...

[Northern Lion]

His Youtube channel is releasing a reaction to A Broken Man in a few minutes...

Yep, just got done watching it.  Overall I like his reactions, but I do wish he would talk more about the theory behind the song a little more.  Oh well.

[TAC]

Yep, just got done watching it.  Overall I like his reactions, but I do wish he would talk more about the theory behind the song a little more.  Oh well.

Nope. That wouldn't be interesting. He's more into making funny faces for fans of the bands that he's "reacting" too.

[Wim Kruithof]

I really can follow one not liking Doug anymore, because he used to react much more music-related.

Still, whenever he dives in a Dream Theater track, I can't let it stay unseen.

[evilasiojr]

Nope. That wouldn't be interesting. He's more into making funny faces for fans of the bands that he's "reacting" too.

I also feel like in the past he used to get to the most musical stuff, specially harmony related. He's is getting less and less interesting to watch.

[Wim Kruithof]

For me, Doug improved my appriciation on The Count of Tuscany. His reaction was beautiful and through his eyes, I learned to love the track even more.

Same as for Octavarium and Illumination Theory. It just not happens everytime.

[wolfking]

Agree with those in relation to his music breakdowns.  The more he's steered away from analysing the songs in that regard, the more I have no interest in watching.

Reciting the lyrics to the camera after every line is something I don't understand and find it so annoying.

[TAC]

For me, Doug improved my appriciation on The Count of Tuscany. His reaction was beautiful and through his eyes, I learned to love the track even more.

Same as for Octavarium and Illumination Theory. It just not happens everytime.

I thought he was generally impressed with The Count Of Tuscany.


And I think these channels start out relatively genuine, but his channel has kind of been a farce.

[Wim Kruithof]

And I think these channels start out relatively genuine, but his channel has kind of been a farce.

I have no idea, except from the Bass Teacher I rarely - if ever - watch Youtube reactions. And if I do, it's always Dream Theater-related.

So I will keep on digging-the-Doug when a new reaction is released and if it so happens it's actually worth watching, I'll inform you all...

[Wukong]

I don't believe the reactions are genuine. I think he has been a Dream Theater fan for years before first hearing of them. Same with Phish and other bands he has mentioned.

[ZirconBlue]

Agree with those in relation to his music breakdowns.  The more he's steered away from analysing the songs in that regard, the more I have no interest in watching.

I watched a video of his recently that was reacting to a much simpler song (I can't remember which one), and he did a lot more discussion of the music structure.  I think it's just hard to catch everything DT is doing on a first listen, especially when he doesn't stop and replay parts.  

Which is why I wish he would do some deep dives where he spends some time getting to know a song before doing a video for it.  

[ZirconBlue]

I don't believe the reactions are genuine. I think he has been a Dream Theater fan for years before first hearing of them. Same with Phish and other bands he has mentioned.

I very much doubt that, given that he didn't seem all that familiar with metal in general when he first started doing reactions (his channel was more music theory focused before he started doing reaction videos).  When he does reactions for songs he has heard before, he states so up front.

[Shooters1221]

Which is why I wish he would do some deep dives where he spends some time getting to know a song before doing a video for it. 

I agree, especially more complex songs.

[BeatriceNB]

In the realm of music analysis channels, I highly, highly recommend Metal Music Theory. The production quality might be raw and cheap (although charming and the focus remains on the analysis itself, in my opinion).
His analyses are mostly Experimental Metal through a sort of Modern Classical lens (Neo-Riemannian harmony, 12-tone, etc.) and some original concepts specific to Metal music.

[MinistroRaven]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZqViLU2ntE

Midnight Messiah reaction video

[Northern Lion]

I wish he would focus less on the reaction and more on the music theory side of things.  Those parts are the most interesting parts of his videos for me.  I'd rather he listen to the song before hand, take notes and then break it down for us in his video.  I think that would be cool.

[Adami]

I'll assume he made shocked faces, air drummed, and read the lyrics and also pointed out what key a few riffs were in?

[Progmaniac1988]

I'll assume he made shocked faces, air drummed, and read the lyrics and also pointed out what key a few riffs were in?

Yup, said ya'll a lot, and jerked off air dicks lol

[MinistroRaven]

I'll assume he made shocked faces, air drummed, and read the lyrics and also pointed out what key a few riffs were in?

Haha, it's wild how Doug, as a composer, would be all about tempos and time signatures, but then still struggle with air drumming. LOL

I mean, I know DT's stuff has those crazy changes, but it's funny that your son, who isn't a pro musician, can hear a song once and totally nail the tempo.

[BeatriceNB]

Haha, it's wild how Doug, as a composer, would be all about tempos and time signatures, but then still struggle with air drumming. LOL

I mean, I know DT's stuff has those crazy changes, but it's funny that your son, who isn't a pro musician, can hear a song once and totally nail the tempo.

His imaginary kit is surely weirdly arranged, especially the bass drums

I think reaction channels do a disservice to music analyses. I know they're not the same thing, but when a composer/different genre musician/whatever react to a (supposed) first listen*, there's no way to go in depth, and I don't think there's much to learn or gain from watching someone saying superficial things, especially from a composer.
I guess the fun comes from the parasocial aspect.

*I'm kinda skeptical of Doug, when he reacted to Singularity by Devin Townsend, as he went through the lyrics he mentioned things that sounded way too close to what Devin Townsend explained in his own video about Singularity.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

I wish he would focus less on the reaction and more on the music theory side of things.  Those parts are the most interesting parts of his videos for me.  I'd rather he listen to the song before hand, take notes and then break it down for us in his video.  I think that would be cool.

That would require him to do a lot more work lol.

[Dani Helios]

I'm glad to see he talked a little more theory in this video. Wish he'd quit it with the air drumming and lyric reading, though. Used to love his videos but these days he just seems to be going the "churning out slop" way of most other reaction channels. Shame.

[TAC]

I'm glad to see he talked a little more theory in this video. Wish he'd quit it with the air drumming and lyric reading, though. Used to love his videos but these days he just seems to be going the "churning out slop" way of most other reaction channels. Shame.

These days? How about these years?

[Wim Kruithof]

Watched his reaction on Midnight Messiah and I honestly think this was ok. I might be easily satisfied, but he was interested in the music, went down that road and of course made time for some lyric analyses.

Then there's always air drumming and Portnoy-lovin', but I thought it was nice in balance here...

[MinistroRaven]

Doug reacting to TSMI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTxwXfhxcE0&ab_channel=DougHelvering

[MHStrawn]

I like Dougs videos a lot but I feel they've kinda lost their impact due to a couple things that I find....less than genuine. 

First, he likes every song he hears. Sometimes he'll be lukewarm but generally it's always "I really enjoyed that y'all".  Does he really like every freakin' song he hears?  Has he ever come right out and said "sorry, this just doesn't work for me?"  If he has, I missed it.

Second, when he stated I feel he really provided deep analysis that would often educate me about certain things I had missed even in songs I knew inside out and backwards.  Now I feel he's mostly theater with his physical reactions now sort of staged, like he knows people enjoy seeing him react physically as opposed to vocally. 

Still a great dude IMO and I think he's done wonders with his channel so props to him.  He obviously knows him music stuff and I always admire that.

[Zydar]

I watched some of his videos a few years ago but I stopped 'cause they didn't interest me after a while. He usually talks over the music instead of pausing and giving his thoughts - plus he talks a lot of musical theory of which I have no knowledge, so most of his analysis is gibberish to me  Don't know how it is nowadays on his channel. 

[hefdaddy42]

I watched some of his videos a few years ago but I stopped 'cause they didn't interest me after a while. He usually talks over the music instead of pausing and giving his thoughts - plus he talks a lot of musical theory of which I have no knowledge, so most of his analysis is gibberish to me Don't know how it is nowadays on his channel.

He's doing less theory.  Which makes me like him less.

Also, it may just be me, but he seems a lot goofier than he used to be.

[Northern Lion]

Just watched it.  When Doug says "that was worth the price of admission" right after the instrumental section, it brought a big smile on my face.  That instrumental section is SICK!

[pg1067]

He's doing less theory.  Which makes me like him less.

Also, it may just be me, but he seems a lot goofier than he used to be.

Yup.  Same.

Lately, it's 90% reading lyrics and air drumming and 10% theory/analysis.  Some of his best videos are the ones where he finds a video that runs the score along with the music and he stops it semi-frequently and does actual analysis.  One from the Vine (Genesis) and Tarkus (ELP) are two examples of this.  Obviously, the number of videos with scores attached is pretty limited, but I'd still prefer if he stopped the lyric reading and focused more on musical analysis.

[hefdaddy42]

Agreed.  I don't care what he thinks about the lyrics, because he isn't a poet or writer, and he doesn't often try to analyze them anyway, but just reads them aloud.

However, he IS a composer, so I'm interested in hearing his thoughts about the compositions.  Which seem to be getting less and less.