*Official* A View from the Top of the World discussion thread

[Kotowboy]

Yes, the hidden bonus track. I see you dig it. 

I don't know what it's like. i don't have a clue...

[SeRoX]

3- Transcending Time

OK. I'm melting. No offence Rush fans. (Believe me I LOVE RUSH) but DT is better at RUSH.  What a great tune. I love everything about it. Every note, every vocal. Well, yeah it's not Surrounded V2 but sure has its vibe. It's a very upbeat song. It makes you sad and happy at the same time. I love how James sound on chrous where he sounds light/happy and I love how JP sounds heavy/dramatic/sad with his guitar tone.

Instant fav. I listened it two time. I CHEATED!

[wolfking]

There's no magic.

Everything is a repeat of what they've already done, nothing popped out as *wow this is new ground, they've never done that before*

Obv 8 string is new, but it is used in same manner as a 7 string.

Superbly disappointed, but happy for everyone enjoying it.

Wow! Give it time to sink in before writing it off so quickly. 

I've been listening to it for a week and a half.

Stick with it 

I haven't heard it yet but how long does one stick with it before being able to write it off?

That depends on you. But as a fan of DT or any bands music that has many layers to it, let it sink in, or not. If you want an album that hits quickly put on any ACDC album. 

No fucking thanks.

[TAC]

No offence Rush fans. (Believe me I LOVE RUSH) but DT is better at RUSH. 

Totally agree. When I first saw/heard them during the I&W cycle, I always said that THIS is the music Rush should be making.

[Kotowboy]

THANK YOU

I've always thought Dream Theater were way better than RUSH. Who I have tried to like. But just don't.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

man, reading these reviews is making me so horny for this album right now. This wait is killing me 

a few more hours to go here.

[SeRoX]

4- Awaken The Master

Well, it was like I'm listening These Walls-Blind Faith and At Wit's End having a baby. Sounds familiar but when the vocals kicks in it begins to sound different. Again, good cacthy chrous but verses are even greater. Nice, clean and agressive vocals by LaBrie. Great keyboard, great bass. I absolulety love outro and tasty solo.

[Kotowboy]

Can't wait to hear FIVE new Dream Theater songs    

[TAC]

4- Awaken The Master

Well, it was like I'm listening These Walls-Blind Faith and At Wit's End having a baby. Sounds familiar but when the vocals kicks in it begins to sound different. Again, good cacthy chrous but verses are even greater. Nice, clean and agressive vocals by LaBrie. Great keyboard, great bass. I absolulety love outro and tasty solo.

Lyrics by Myung?

[bosk1]

And before, everyone was like, "hur, hur, bosk said there was a Rush song..."

[SeRoX]

Yes, lyricst is Myung. The Alien and Answering The Call by James. The rest is Petrucci.

[TAC]

And before, everyone was like, "hur, hur, bosk said there was a Rush song..."

But it's DT. There's ALWAYS a Rush song.

[Glasser]

THANK YOU

I've always thought Dream Theater were way better than RUSH. Who I have tried to like. But just don't.

[SeRoX]

5- A View From The Top Of The World

First, I can't decide at first listen where to put this epic among others. But this one feels completely different vocally and musically. It has ACOS and Octavarium vibe, especially ACOS structure wise. All James vocal parts are amazing, different and haunting. And I dare to say the first and second verses are one of his finest work of all time. Guitar solos are more memorable and tasty and I can't believe how I enjoy Rudess input.

Great epic. It has everything about DT. The outro a bit different but I feel like it's a nice touch.

I don't understand how some reviews and some users over here comment on James or his vocals are weak and bad. I think they are all amazing and huge step after DOT and possibly the best since SDOIT.

[PixelDream]

I've just finished the penultimate track. Don't know how I feel about all the vocal melodies yet - they're at least servicable. But damn, every song's instrumental section is like the best shit ever. These guys are not slowing down at all.

[Kotowboy]

It's almost as if not everyone likes the same bands.

[Hypnotherapist]

Unboxing Deluxe Edition (w/ small teasers at the end)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpcbbNAuloQ

[erwinrafael]

3- Transcending Time

OK. I'm melting. No offence Rush fans. (Believe me I LOVE RUSH) but DT is better at RUSH.  What a great tune. I love everything about it. Every note, every vocal. Well, yeah it's not Surrounded V2 but sure has its vibe. It's a very upbeat song. It makes you sad and happy at the same time. I love how James sound on chrous where he sounds light/happy and I love how JP sounds heavy/dramatic/sad with his guitar tone.

Instant fav. I listened it two time. I CHEATED!

Glad to hear that you already got to listen to the song!

I love how each member really bought into the thrust of the song and really played like Rush. Even Mangini drummed differently for this song.

[PixelDream]

Call me crazy, but the title track's outro instantly me of Scarred's outro.

[SeRoX]

First impression scoring:

The Alien: 6/10
Answering The Call: 10/10
Invisible Monster: 7/10
Sleeping Giant: 10/10
Transcending Time: 10/10
Awaken The Master: 9/10
A View From The Top of The World: 9/10

Total: 8.7/10

Sure, it will change but for now I can safely say, a huge step after DoT and best work with Mangini and again possibly most enjoyable and consistent album since SDOIT.

[TAC]

Call me crazy, but the title track's outro instantly me of Scarred's outro.

Yeah, I can see how you'd say that. It reminded me a bit of Opeth's Harlequin Forest.

[The Letter M]

Short review - I love it. Best album since Portnoy left, with ADTOE and DOT just slightly behind it. They take the music in some very interesting directions over the course of the album, especially the epic, which did not fit any of my preconceived notions of what makes a DT epic, and I was happily surprised at how different it it.

Long review - well... maybe I'll write one later, but favorite tracks are the title epic, Sleeping Giant, and Transcending Time, with Awaken The Master slowly climbing up as well. The first three songs are good-to-great, the next three are great-to-amazing, and the epic is...well, epic.

-Marc.

[Ben_Jamin]

Call me crazy, but the title track's outro instantly me of Scarred's outro.

I'm just skimming this thread, avoiding the detailed posts, and saw this...

I'll hold you to that in a couple more hours. Scarred is my favorite DT song of all time, so we'll see about that....

[DTiwbwMP]

Short review - I love it. Best album since Portnoy left
-Marc.

"MY"scoring:
The Alien: 7.5/10
Answering The Call: 10/10
Invisible Monster: 5/10
Sleeping Giant: 10/10
Transcending Time: 10/10
Awaken The Master: 10/10
A View From The Top of The World: 10/10

Total: 8.9/10
BUT the production puts this at a 9.5/10!!!!!!!!

[Kotowboy]

Here we go....

👽

[wasteland]

Well, looks like they made it. This might very well be my favourite DT album of the 21st Century. Almost forty years into their career, and they come out with a legitimate all time classic.

Once again, this band shows us that the Impossible is never out of reach.

---

My provisional ratings:

The Alien:                                       8.5/10
Answering The Call:                         9.0/10
Invisible Monster:                            8.0/10
Sleeping Giant:                               10/10
Transcending Time:                         6.5/10
Awaken The Master:                        8.5/10
A View From The Top Of The World:  10/10 with distinction

[Bertie_Wooster]

Trancending Time sound more like Europe than it does Rush

[Kotowboy]

📲

[JediKnight1969]

Not impressed. I remember the first time listened to ADTOE. I was instantly hooked. I don't care about production, snare drum sound or whatever purist care about. It was just the melodies. All memorable songs. That was the last time I enjoyed a new DT record. The self titled one was a HUGE disappointment and the other two were meh to me. I can hear the new tricks and all the sophisticated arrangements in AVFTTOTW but that's not enough to me. Maybe it's a grower, but (in my experience) I don't think so.

[erwinrafael]

So you didn't feel liked headbanging to Answering the Call?

You were not moved by the ending of Sleeping Giant?

[lightbug]

Short review - I love it. Best album since Portnoy left
-Marc.

"MY"scoring:
The Alien: 7.5/10
Answering The Call: 10/10
Invisible Monster: 5/10
Sleeping Giant: 10/10
Transcending Time: 10/10
Awaken The Master: 10/10
A View From The Top of The World: 10/10

Total: 8.9/10
BUT the production puts this at a 9.5/10!!!!!!!!

So, all the "new" stuff (Album - TA - IM) is 10 out of 10... let it sink a bit more.

[Kotowboy]

I'd say Answering The Call is a bit different to the last few albums. Yeah it reminds me of These Walls as someone else said. Great Track !

[JediKnight1969]

So you didn't feel liked headbanging to Answering the Call?

You were not moved by the ending of Sleeping Giant?

Not yet. But I didn't lose all hope.

[Kotowboy]

Nice Ride Cymbal at 3:30 in Invisible Monster.

I'd be interested to see how 'loud' this album is as everything sounds so clear.

Why does Invisible Monster sound so much better on the album than as a single ?

Maybe I didn't pay much attention to it before and it sounds better in context ?

[Kotowboy]

Sleeping Giant now and into completely uncharted waters. ..