The "Sleeping Giant" thread

[svisser]

I considered the chorus to be one of the most emotional on the album. I also felt that James shined best on the choruses of pretty much every song.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

I've let the song marinate for a while now. I said before it's a solid B (8/10) in my book and I think that's where it'll stay. Time hasn't changed much for me. I mentioned before I was expecting a stunner and I don't feel that it is. I don't think the main riff, chorus, any solos, instrumental section etc are more than an 8/10 so while the song is very good, there's no one thing I feel is superior to what the band normally pulls off.

I am a little surprised that it appears to be the favorite on the forum and of many reviews, but in a way, it makes sense in the context of a consistently good album.

[RAIN]

What did you edit?

From 22seconds to 1:42mark.  I like the "creepy" intro, and then let it just start with that "du du du du du du" riff with james singing and it's very dark.
that's it. For me, that makes the song absolutely perfect and I enjoy it second to answering the call.

[Logain Ablar]

Definitely the best chorus on the album in my view.

[svisser]

Definitely the best chorus on the album in my view.

One of the few that makes me kinda emotional. Excellent lyrics and a perfect melody.

[illusionist]

While i didn't care for it at the beginning,it has grown on me and is now in my top 3 of the album.
Reminds me of Lost not Forgotten Pt 2,both in duration and in instrumental madness.

[jayvee3]

Sleeping Giant is a phenomenal track. Transcending Time was my favourite from the start, but this is right there alongside it, and could have even overtaken it for me. Just a beast - fun, groovy, mean and I agree with James' assessment in the documentary - this one is just Dream Theater through and through.

The vocal melodies are terrific throughout, and I love how the second chorus is the same but done differently. The main riff just rocks, and it's reprise at the end after "spin the common thread" and subsequent outro, just brings a massive smile to my face.

This track, Transcending Time and Answering the Call are songs that genuinely make me excited everytime they come on. I really enjoy the title track as well as the Alien too, but I know when I look forward to hearing tracks, they generally always stand the test of time for me.

[ytserush]

the chorus (...), it's far too generic as well.

I really don't understand how anyone can say this. The chorus (1st and 3rd time around) is in 7, but it's a very unusual 7 in that it is a 3+4 pattern. I can't remember a single instance of any other band even using a 3+4 pattern and certainly not in a chorus section. It strikes me as one of the most unique things on the album, possibly of their entire discography. Generic this ain't!

I think that's why I love it so much. I'm always for more uniqueness.

[illusionist]

This one is my favourite off of 'View' with the album track being a close second.
It's fresh, inspired, with phenomenal work from each of the members, melodic, heavy, dramatic, with beautiful melodies and guitar solos among the best of JP.
In my eyes it's the 'Blind faith' of the last album.
I want to believe that it'll be on their setlist for their 40th anniversary.
Just a solid 10/10.

[TAC]

This one is my favourite off of 'View' with the album track being a close second.
It's fresh, inspired, with phenomenal work from each of the members, melodic, heavy, dramatic, with beautiful melodies and guitar solos among the best of JP.
In my eyes it's the 'Blind faith' of the last album.
I want to believe that it'll be on their setlist for their 40th anniversary.
Just a solid 10/10.

A great song for all of the reasons you mentioned.

No chance it's in the setlist.

[crystalstars17]

This track, Transcending Time and Answering the Call are songs that genuinely make me excited everytime they come on. I really enjoy the title track as well as the Alien too, but I know when I look forward to hearing tracks, they generally always stand the test of time for me.

I feel exactly the same way about Answering the Call. It never fails to lift my spirits and energy instantly. LOVE it. And I loved hearing it live. I hope it stays in the setlist, or at least makes an eventual return.

[Max Kuehnau]

View is all killer no filler to me (as Dramatic Turn and DT12 are) and Sleeping Giant is no exception. It has everything that's great about View as an album. Brilliant execution and writing, interesting arrangement, them thinking out of the box in every way (which also applies to View as a whole) Great.

[crystalstars17]

View is all killer no filler to me (as Dramatic Turn and DT12 are) and Sleeping Giant is no exception. It has everything that's great about View as an album. Brilliant execution and writing, interesting arrangement, them thinking out of the box in every way (which also applies to View as a whole) Great.

I agree 100% with your thoughts on the album.

Sleeping Giant is a song that grew on me, especially after I was going through a hard time and was lying awake in the night, and the chorus and that lyric "shadows disappear.." went through my head and was the only thing that comforted me enough to get some rest.

[Max Kuehnau]

yeah I can see that. (and then them using distantly related secondary dominants for the key change when that section repeats, such a smart move. Musician talk, sorry. DT are a musicians' band after all  ) And then I guess you can still enjoy Invisible Monster too (mentally speaking) given the situation you described, hats off to you (since it literally is about human fears and mental health issues)

[crystalstars17]

yeah I can see that. (and then them using distantly related secondary dominants for the key change when that section repeats, such a smart move. Musician talk, sorry. DT are a musicians' band after all  ) And then I guess you can still enjoy Invisible Monster too (mentally speaking) given the situation you described, hats off to you (since it literally is about human fears and mental health issues)

I was at the time dealing with a family member's illness and having to make some very hard decisions. The music was there to catch me like a pair of angel's wings.

Invisible Monster is a song that I just love because I enjoy it musically.

I'm glad we're discussing this album right now because it's usually so underrated, and with no real reason. It's been in my top three since it came out.

[Max Kuehnau]

Yeah definitely for the wrong reasons and yes, View is part of the eternal three (as I like to call them) with DT12 and Dramatic Turn for me. (which definitely surprises some people given I have been a DT fan ever since I was a child, around 1998, so well during MP's first stint still)

[TAC]

It's not in my Top 3, but I love the album.  It's so thick and technical, yet really thoughtful and sneakily melodic.

[Max Kuehnau]

very much so, them at their peak in any aspects (to me anyway), along with the other two to me, but definitely top level DT. For them to be able to write this album in their 36th year of service and at this level is massively commendable to say the least. To put it in perspective, View (and the other two but especially View, the entire album I mean) features what is their most difficult material to execute ever. Sleeping Giant is no exception. (although it's not the most difficult piece on the album but you might see what I mean) Can't be topped, ever. (by them anyway. Yes, some Frank Zappa pieces are even harder to execute well but you get the idea) And as you see, I literally live for this aspect in music and it's one reason why I am a musician.

[MarkFitDT]

Yeah definitely for the wrong reasons and yes, View is part of the eternal three (as I like to call them) with DT12 and Dramatic Turn for me. (which definitely surprises some people given I have been a DT fan ever since I was a child, around 1996, so well during MP's first stint still)

Ive got the title track playing now and its fast becoming my fav DT epic. Its an absolute masterpiece. The album is in my top 3 as well but with Images and Scenes.

[Max Kuehnau]

That's permitted 

[Max Kuehnau]

I really don't understand how anyone can say this. The chorus (1st and 3rd time around) is in 7, but it's a very unusual 7 in that it is a 3+4 pattern. I can't remember a single instance of any other band even using a 3+4 pattern and certainly not in a chorus section. It strikes me as one of the most unique things on the album, possibly of their entire discography. Generic this ain't!

Exactly. Absolutely not generic. As far from that as we can go actually.

[crystalstars17]

Ive got the title track playing now and its fast becoming my fav DT epic. Its an absolute masterpiece. The album is in my top 3 as well but with Images and Scenes.

It is 100% my favorite epic!✨

It just literally never gets old. Every time you hear it, there's more to discover, and more to love.

I can say the same for the entire album.

[crystalstars17]

I considered the chorus to be one of the most emotional on the album. I also felt that James shined best on the choruses of pretty much every song.

THISSSSS!!!!!! 💙

[Max Kuehnau]

It is 100% my favorite epic!✨

It just literally never gets old. Every time you hear it, there's more to discover, and more to love.

I can say the same for the entire album.

yeah. Illu is my other favourite epic.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

Exactly. Absolutely not generic. As far from that as we can go actually.

I think what I am realizing is that a lot of people including me are having difficulty understanding what happening in the drum department.

It's just not a natural thing to hear and analyze on the spot for most people...even those with musical backgrounds. I have a musical background and I've had instructors talk about odd times but little time was spent dissecting rhythms the way you would dissect a chord progression or a melody. When Mike breaks down his parts I understand what he is saying and it starts to make sense in a way that it did not before. But when I am listening to it cold a lot of the nuances are flying over my head.

[Max Kuehnau]

yeah I can see that. You definitely need an ear for this. (especially when it comes to parts by my heroes, of which MM is one of them of course) MM will tell you that it can be developed and it's helpful when people do it (as will I btw), and this will help any musician in any aspect musically.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

yeah I can see that. You definitely need an ear for this. (especially when it comes to parts by my heroes, of which MM is one of them of course) MM will tell you that it can be developed and it's helpful when people do it (as will I btw), and this will help any musician in any aspect musically.

His explanations are one thing I am really going to miss.

Here he is breaking down Pale Blue Dot's drum parts:

I love that there is musical reason for everything and he's orchestrating based on what the others are playing. He's not just hitting a splash 50x for no reason.

My appreciation of PBD went up like 300% when I watched this for the first time. I started hearing these parts as critical to the delivery of the song.

[Max Kuehnau]

because they are (this is also why he is among my heroes)

[DT05]

Something very poor about the way LaBrie's vocals are mixed in this song, it lacks the oomph. I think it mostly comes down to a very unmemorable vocal melody with the aforementioned mixing.

[CraftyCaleb2483]

Is Sleeping Giant the first time a line that can be traced to the Bible made its way to a DT song?

"Harmless as a dove
Clever like a snake"

From Matthew 10:16 "Listen carefully: I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; so be wise as serpents, and innocent as doves"

No, ITPOE Pt2 has got literally the whole of Psalm 23 in one of it's verses, with some variations

[CraftyCaleb2483]

No, ITPOE Pt2 has got literally the whole of Psalm 23 in one of it's verses, with some variations

Just realized that's already been discussed! 

[crystalstars17]

Something very poor about the way LaBrie's vocals are mixed in this song, it lacks the oomph. I think it mostly comes down to a very unmemorable vocal melody with the aforementioned mixing.

I find nothing wrong with it, but it's even better live!

[Max Kuehnau]

I considered the chorus to be one of the most emotional on the album. I also felt that James shined best on the choruses of pretty much every song.

which btw is another aspect that is very much a parallel to both Dramatic Turn and DT12 to me, these grand soaring choruses (literally during every piece on these three)

[CraftyCaleb2483]

which btw is another aspect that is very much a parallel to both Dramatic Turn and DT12 to me, these grand soaring choruses (literally during every piece on these three)

Definitely the best choruses are in the Mangini era

[Max Kuehnau]

and not just them