Parasomnia Timeline Thread

[WilliamMunny]

I don't see anything inconsistent between it being a refreshing change for the band at the time of ADTOE to not have MP in the room pushing his ideas/vision/criticisms etc., and for the band now to be happy to have his input back after a lengthy time without it. A lot of time between those two points, a lot of albums made without MPs input, and plenty of time for everyone to grow and change and appreciate things from a new vantage point.

Really good point, and a fact that I feel is often overlooked in these ongoing discussions.

13 years is practically a lifetime...who among us has the exact same thoughts, emotions, and dispositions as we did 13 years ago?

And, perhaps it's a point that I couldn't have appreciated when I was younger, but the fact is, getting old makes you appreciate the 'little things,' things that may have even annoyed you in a former stage of life, a whole lot more.

When you have 4 decades of history together, I kinda think the 'small stuff' is that much easier to dismiss.

[brakkum]

13 years is practically a lifetime...who among us has the exact same thoughts, emotions, and dispositions as we did 13 years ago?

Great point, 13 years ago I was basically a moron, at least now I'm more of a knucklehead.

[Wim Kruithof]

Really good point, and a fact that I feel is often overlooked in these ongoing discussions.

13 years is practically a lifetime...who among us has the exact same thoughts, emotions, and dispositions as we did 13 years ago?

Agree. But there's also the element that Portnoy isn't who he used to be anymore. Much more relaxed, way off the judging-base he often was glued on and much more easy-going. It really looks like he found piece and happiness and I can imagine that in these days, he is so much more comfortable to work with.

[evilasiojr]

I think it can be pretty clear from what they have stated before.

MP could have been hard to deal with for all his control over everything behavior during his previous DT time, he admitted that himself. Of course when he left there was some relief for everyone. Now he is back, the guys have been missing his positive inputs, which he seems to have made more present than his negative inputs of super control over everything and stuff - which they've also stated in recent interviews, that now he is a more chill guy and all. Simple.

[Glasser]

Great point, 13 years ago I was basically a moron, at least now I'm more of a knucklehead.

 

[Glasser]

I think it can be pretty clear from what they have stated before.

MP could have been hard to deal with for all his control over everything behavior during his previous DT time, he admitted that himself. Of course when he left there was some relief for everyone. Now he is back, the guys have been missing his positive inputs, which he seems to have made more present than his negative inputs of super control over everything and stuff - which they've also stated in recent interviews, that now he is a more chill guy and all. Simple.

Yontrop Ekim is he.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

Really good point, and a fact that I feel is often overlooked in these ongoing discussions.

13 years is practically a lifetime...who among us has the exact same thoughts, emotions, and dispositions as we did 13 years ago?

And, perhaps it's a point that I couldn't have appreciated when I was younger, but the fact is, getting old makes you appreciate the 'little things,' things that may have even annoyed you in a former stage of life, a whole lot more.

When you have 4 decades of history together, I kinda think the 'small stuff' is that much easier to dismiss.

Moreover who remembers exactly how s/he felt 13 years ago? That time and place had different priorities that can seem like ancient history. But I will say that the old news articles can keep people honest.

[MirrorMask]

Count me in as well among those who think that you can't hold the band on something they said 13 years ago. People and circumstances change.

[Lax]

Almost every album made with a new member, that album seems to be considered the best of its era. In my mind, there are 3 major eras of DT's album history:

First 4 albums: IaW - JLB joins (FII has DS joining but that is overshadowed by JLB joining in this era)
Next 6 albums: SFAM - JR joins
Last 5 albums: ADTOE - MM joins

MP rejoining hopefully gives a huge spark to the music creation. I am excited to hear it.

If I may disagree, there are line up changes but many other details too, from addictions and without addictions, there are albums that were strongly influented by their inspiration corner too (the infamous lazy dt that sounds like other bands).

So basically to me there are different eras :
—prog dt from i&w to sdoit, where the glass prison broke their style to a notch higher in metal.
Some albums are a little borderline like awake.
-questionable dt from tot to black clouds, I personnaly felt a huge change in their style. From sounding like others to lazy songs here and there, lowering the overall quality.
-modern dt from adtoe to the latest which is a lot of chug chug, less risky structures mostly.

Only personal opinion, but I love my dt proggy without aiming to please most listeners.

[CraftyCaleb2483]

If I may disagree, there are line up changes but many other details too, from addictions and without addictions, there are albums that were strongly influented by their inspiration corner too (the infamous lazy dt that sounds like other bands).

So basically to me there are different eras :
—prog dt from i&w to sdoit, where the glass prison broke their style to a notch higher in metal.
Some albums are a little borderline like awake.
-questionable dt from tot to black clouds, I personnaly felt a huge change in their style. From sounding like others to lazy songs here and there, lowering the overall quality.
-modern dt from adtoe to the latest which is a lot of chug chug, less risky structures mostly.

Only personal opinion, but I love my dt proggy without aiming to please most listeners.

I can agree with all of that, maybe not including Octavarium in questionable DT

[gzarruk]

I can agree with all of that, maybe not including Octavarium in questionable DT

To me, that album is a great example of that

[KevShmev]

What Jordan said made total sense to me. Portnoy was obviously more involved in the songwriting process than Mangini. Having that other person there makes quite a difference. It seems like Portnoy was the one that was always pushing things a little. Trying new ideas in song style which has been kinda stagnant lately. The sound isn't that diverse.

I think both of Jordan's comments can be true, and I don't see a contradiction.

In light of Portnoy's departure back then, it is very understandable that he enjoyed the freedom of writing without Portnoy standing over his shoulder and saying, "No, we can't use that!"  And it is also understandable that over time he started missing some of Portnoy's big picture concepts that were a help to the band at times.  As someone who feels their songwriting was just fine without Portnoy, I have also been adamant that that The Astonishing (which I like a lot) would have benefited from Portnoy's presence, as I suspect he would had been vocal about how samey the second disc got and how it was too long and how it needed a few more rocking sections to make it more well-rounded.  As much as I think his arranging skills when it comes to songs are vastly overstated (DT and Neal Morse, for example, have done just fine with arranging songs without him at many points in their careers), I think his bigger picture skills are strong.  I think he is good at the macro, if not the micro, in a manner of speaking.

[DT05]

it is very understandable that he enjoyed the freedom of writing without Portnoy standing over his shoulder and saying, "No, we can't use that!"

I'd rather Rudess enjoy himself less and we get to enjoy the music a little more. Portnoy having quality control (and the subsequent loss of him in that position) is why the band fell apart after 2010.

[crystalstars17]

I'd rather Rudess enjoy himself less and we get to enjoy the music a little more. Portnoy having quality control (and the subsequent loss of him in that position) is why the band fell apart after 2010.

*dislike*

[TAC]

I'd rather Rudess enjoy himself less and we get to enjoy the music a little more. Portnoy having quality control (and the subsequent loss of him in that position) is why the band fell apart after 2010.

Wow. Just wow.
The band certainly did not fall apart.

[Adami]

I'd rather Rudess enjoy himself less and we get to enjoy the music a little more. Portnoy having quality control (and the subsequent loss of him in that position) is why the band fell apart after 2010.

Coming into the forum pretty hard with some bold, controversial, and not usually kindly delivered, opinions, eh?

This is a great community, might want to find more kind ways of expressing yourself. And I say this as someone who also doesn't like any of the albums after ADTOE very much.

[Zydar]

Jeez. 

[cramx3]

lol "band fell apart"

[KevShmev]

Where is the "dislike" button for posts?   

[hefdaddy42]

Portnoy having quality control (and the subsequent loss of him in that position) is why the band fell apart after 2010.

lol no

[crystalstars17]

[Glasser]

lol no

I actually thought that was meant to be a joke.

[TheHoveringSojourn808]

I'd rather Rudess enjoy himself less and we get to enjoy the music a little more. Portnoy having quality control (and the subsequent loss of him in that position) is why the band fell apart after 2010.

Welcome to the Forums!!

That being said, I completely disagree

[The Paddies]

So, has James actually started recording vocals? Or no (un)official updates yet?

[brakkum]

So, has James actually started recording vocals? Or no (un)official updates yet?

I think we're assuming he has this week based on his Instagram story on 14th.

[TheHoveringSojourn808]

So, has James actually started recording vocals? Or no (un)official updates yet?

Saw him celebrating with brews and bros in a bar the other day on instagram. Probably ran down there after a long day at the studio slangin' vocal takes

[Glasser]

Welcome to the Forums!!

That being said, I completely disagree

 

[The Paddies]

I think we're assuming he has this week based on his Instagram story on 14th.

I wonder why there aren't any more updates. I would have expected a bit more by now. Hoping they save it for a documentary.

And I rely on this forum for all the info as I don't have Facebook, Instagram or any other social media account.

Anyways, really looking forward to what they've been cooking up this time. I guess were only a few weeks away (6-8 maybe?) from a big update. We're getting closer!

[hefdaddy42]

I wonder why there aren't any more updates. I would have expected a bit more by now.

"Hey guys.  Still singing."

I don't know, not much of an update.

[Adami]

"Hey guys.  Wow."

I don't know, not much of an update.

Fixed.

[hefdaddy42]

lol

[TAC]

 

[TheHoveringSojourn808]

Fixed.

It's the quote from S2N. It was a future-embedded nugget

[The Paddies]

"Hey guys.  Still singing."

I don't know, not much of an update.

I don't know if this was meant ironically, but it's not written in green, so I guess it's either meant to be funny or to make fun of me. Can't really tell, but all is good. First of all I meant updates on the recording in general.

But even if it's solely about James' singing, I can think of a whole lot of more ways to give updates and engage with fans. Just a photo of James singing for instance would do. Or James talking about his progress. James teasing a piece of a lyric sheet. James talking about a specific vocal technique he uses for a specific part. Mike making a short video clip of James in his vocal booth. And so on...

I mean they should do it, just to keep us guys discuss all the details, right? ;-)

[Adami]

If DT really wanted to get theirs going nuts, they should release a 10-15 second video of James recording vocals but with no audio and tell people to see if they can read his lips to figure out any lyrics.