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

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

Base tracks recorded live together. No click track. Dial back the super-neat production. Leave the rough edges in there. Be fantastic to hear the guys play TOGETHER like that.

Wasn't this more or less how DoT was done?

[DoctorAction]

Given that they don't like recording in any of the aspects you described, I think any of that is a long shot. 

Oh, I agree. But it would be fantastic.

EDIT: I've actually never heard an opinion from the band about live in the studio recording, however.

[Kram]

I would love to hear them to an old school prog rock album musically like Rush Hemispheres and 2112.

I'd be down for something like this.  Maybe dial back a bit of the "metal" and concentrate more on the "prog".

[DoctorAction]

Base tracks recorded live together. No click track. Dial back the super-neat production. Leave the rough edges in there. Be fantastic to hear the guys play TOGETHER like that.

Wasn't this more or less how DoT was done?

I don't think so.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

Nevermind. Rewatched some of the promo materials.

[Trav]

Base tracks recorded live together. No click track. Dial back the super-neat production. Leave the rough edges in there. Be fantastic to hear the guys play TOGETHER like that.

Petrucci hates all of this. 

[TAC]

Base tracks recorded live together. No click track. Dial back the super-neat production. Leave the rough edges in there. Be fantastic to hear the guys play TOGETHER like that.

Petrucci hates all of this. 

I know. JP is going to have the click track play to a click track of its own.

[DoctorAction]

Base tracks recorded live together. No click track. Dial back the super-neat production. Leave the rough edges in there. Be fantastic to hear the guys play TOGETHER like that.

Petrucci hates all of this. 

I know. JP is going to have the click track play to a click track of its own.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

He is indeed a perfectionist.

[LKap13]

Any recent convertees to the camp that this album is damn near perfect?? So I think I'm the top fan of this album ha

[wolfking]

Any recent convertees to the camp that this album is damn near perfect?? So I think I'm the top fan of this album ha

Are you actually talking about Images and Words, or Scenes from the A Memory?

[LKap13]

Nah nah those go without saying

[Max Kuehnau]

Base tracks recorded live together. No click track. Dial back the super-neat production. Leave the rough edges in there. Be fantastic to hear the guys play TOGETHER like that.

Wasn't this more or less how DoT was done?

any MM-era album was done to a click but yes, that was the objective for the album (barring not to record a click) and quite a few people liked it. (I largely don't but that may just be me)

[Max Kuehnau]

Any recent convertees to the camp that this album is damn near perfect?? So I think I'm the top fan of this album ha

I always said so, (and I always will) it's part of my eternal three

[emtee]

Listened this weekend. There's only one section I actively dislike. Not sure of the timestamp but it's about halfway through the title track and they go into a King Crimson'esque noodling extravaganza for about two minutes.

Other than that it's a very good album.

[Max Kuehnau]

that's the one before the gentle movement (the second of three movements). I'll tell you that it makes total sense in the piece IMHO, a lot of thought went into it and they played it cleanly and very musically (and IMHO it's not reminiscent of KC, but rather Gentle Giant, but anyway)

[Dream Team]

Any recent convertees to the camp that this album is damn near perfect?? So I think I'm the top fan of this album ha

Well I think it is highly unlikely you will ever be overtaken in this regard. 

[Lethean]

I think this album is fantastic.  I think I'll play it today.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

Any recent convertees to the camp that this album is damn near perfect?? So I think I'm the top fan of this album ha

There really aren't too many holes in it, if any. It's not my favorite but it's hard for me to find any complaint about it other than 'I've heard them do this many times before'.

[TAC]

I still think it's a great and powerful album.

[Dream Team]

I still think it's a great and powerful album.

Yes, shares a lot of similarities with the Wizard of Oz.

[wolfking]

I still think it's a great and powerful album.

Yes, shares a lot of similarities with the Wizard of Oz.

Because it doesn't have any heart?

[Glasser]

I still think it's a great and powerful album.

Yes, shares a lot of similarities with the Wizard of Oz.

Because it doesn't have any heart?

[crystalstars17]

He is indeed a perfectionist.

And that's why we love him ☝

[Ben_Jamin]

I don't think I ever made a ranking for this album...

1. Answering The Call
2. Awaken The Master
3. Transcending Time
4. A View From The Top of The World
5. Sleeping Giant
6. The Alien
7. Invisible Monster

[TheCountOfNYC]

My ranking after a year.

1: Sleeping Giant
2: A View From the Top of the World
3: Awaken the Master
4: The Alien
5: Answering the Call
6: Invisible Monster
7: Transcending Time

[Laughingplace56]

1. A View From the Top of the World
2. The Alien
3. Answering the Call
4. Sleeping Giant
5. Transcending Time
6. Invisible Monster
7. Awaken the Master

[MrMike]

I still think it's a strong album, but my top 3 are in a class above the rest.

1.  Sleeping Giant
2.  Answering The Call
3.  A View From The Top Of The World
4.  Invisible Monster
5.  Awaken The Master
6.  Transcending Time
7.  The Alien

[MarkFitDT]

One of my fav DT albums now. The Top 2 are DT classics for me.

1. A View from the Top of the World
2. Sleeping Giant
3. Transcending Time
4. Answering the Call
5. Awaken the Master
6. Invisible Monster
7. The Alien

[Architeuthis]

I think this album is fantastic.  I think I'll play it today.

This is a fun album to drive to.  I was driving back from Forks (Westen Washington) in a torrential downpour and had enough time to listen to this album 2× uninterrupted. 
There's this one area where I took a detour to drive a stretch of road along a beach and the title track was playing at that time. During the slow melodic part in the middle section, I rolled down the window and the sound of the waves crashing enhanced that section even more.  Quite surreal!  🌊

[Wim Kruithof]

Sounds like a very nice environment to be in, Architeuthis.

If I had to classify the album, it'll be:

- A View (mostly because of that wonderful cello-section)
- Answering the Call
- Transcending Time
- Awaken the Master
- Sleeping Giant
- The Alien
- Invisible Monster

Considering I really like the Invisible Monster, it just illustrates what a potential classic this album is. Way better than Distance Over Time as far as I'm conserned. Only At Wits End would be a top tier in this album as well...

[EPIC Outro]

I don't think it is "Invincible Monster," but that would certainly be an interesting set of lyrics lol.

While I dig the album overall, I am really under impressed with the title track. It's not bad by any means, but it doesn't have the big explosive ending I usually like at the close of a DT epic.

[gzarruk]

While I dig the album overall, I am really under impressed with the title track. It's not bad by any means, but it doesn't have the big explosive ending I usually like at the close of a DT epic.

So what you're saying is it lacks a proper epic outro?

[EPIC Outro]

Clearly, I need to change the angle of my critiques lol

[Wim Kruithof]

I don't think it is "Invincible Monster," but that would certainly be an interesting set of lyrics lol.

Lol.