Parasomnia Timeline Thread

[Mosh]

Yeah, in no way have I changed my opinion that the album won't be out before the tour begins. It will happen. Don't forget that there are plenty of things happening at the same time. It's not as if they're gonna wait until the whole album is recorded, mixed and mastered before having Hugh Syme do artwork for it, start making arrangements for pressing the CDs and vinyl, etc.

Agreed. I don't think it matters for the tour so much but I think they're going to generate more excitement for the album now than next year after the tour has ended.

BTW Portnoy mentioned in one of those interviews that they have 16 albums to cover. Take that for what you will, but he tends to be pretty precise and intentional about his word choice with these things.

[TAC]

MP said in a recent interview/podcast that they were still 'on schedule".

[Setlist Scotty]

BTW Portnoy mentioned in one of those interviews that they have 16 albums to cover. Take that for what you will, but he tends to be pretty precise and intentional about his word choice with these things.

He also implied that this doesn't mean that there will be something from each of the 16 albums played at every show. So I would imagine there are songs from all 16 albums on the master list that he will draw from when creating each setlist, but certain albums will be skipped over from show to show.

[TAC]

So I would imagine there are songs from all 16 albums on the master list that he will draw from when creating each setlist, but certain albums will be skipped over from show to show.

I hope so.

[Mosh]

He also implied that this doesn't mean that there will be something from each of the 16 albums played at every show. So I would imagine there are songs from all 16 albums on the master list that he will draw from when creating each setlist, but certain albums will be skipped over from show to show.

Which makes sense I think. I know some people here posted realistic possibilities for representing each album but it's such a tight squeeze that it isn't worth the limitations imo. Plus I assume they want to play a few songs from the new album, which is impossible if they're already at 15 songs.

You think he's got a pick from every album? That would be something. I was not necessarily expecting every Mangini album to be represented on the master list. Would be a pleasant surprise.

[fadetoblackdude7]

If he has indeed chosen something from every album and certain songs will be rotated in and out each night, I imagine the MM albums will be the rotating songs, since those songs don't matter as much with the current lineup.

[TAC]

You think he's got a pick from every album? That would be something. I was not necessarily expecting every Mangini album to be represented on the master list. Would be a pleasant surprise.

Yeah, this is what I was referring too also when I said I hope so.

[TheHoveringSojourn808]

I just hope we get Space-Dyed Vest at every show

[The Letter M]

I just hope we get Space-Dyed Vest at every show

The past tense version of "Space-Dye Vest"? Or is that "Spaced-Dyed Vested"?

-Marc.

[jimgolf]

I am 100% okay with letting the guys take as long as they need to work on the new album - don't force it.

(As long as the max hypothetical length doesn't cross over into Tool territory).

[crystalstars17]

I am 100% okay with letting the guys take as long as they need to work on the new album - don't force it.

This. I think the expectation has been for this fall since the beginning if I'm not mistaken? As I've been buried under a landslide of work already this summer, the time is already going by fast. Patience, guys. We'll blink and it'll be here.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

Is the album taking a while because the guys have other commitments they have to work around or because they're actually working on the songs more than normal?

[illusionist]

I understand that it takes a long time, the guys are creating something unique.
What i don't get is why we don't have any updates from the band since April 30th.
They could upload a little video saying 'Bass tracks are done ' or 'Jordan recording his parts' or 'Working on the lyrics' etc.
And i am saying this because we already have had several 'unofficial' updates from MP while writing, and then a few from the band.
What could they possibly do that leaves them no time for a small update?

[TAC]

Well, MP gave you an update. JP let you know that he was done. JR told you that he was doing his parts. JM isn't likely going to update you, never has, but I think it was either JP or MP that gave out the info that the bass was being done before the keys.
And I think in the past James has updated us when he's done, and that hasn't happened.

So I think we're par for the course, really. Plus, MP has been giving out other random info on the podcasts he's been on. One bit of which was that they were still "on schedule".

[Dream Team]

I just hope we get Space-Dyed Vest at every show

Probably unlikely, as they made a big deal out of it being played back in 2013/2014 in honor of the 20th anniversary of Awake.

[Wim Kruithof]

If he has indeed chosen something from every album and certain songs will be rotated in and out each night, I imagine the MM albums will be the rotating songs, since those songs don't matter as much with the current lineup.

If they'll stick with all Portnoy albums then there would be 10 songs at least, with all from #16 intertwined. I'll figure they would create a spectrum of 22 songs (all previous albums and #16) or so and rotate them constantly during the tour, with only half being played.

Is the album taking a while because the guys have other commitments they have to work around or because they're actually working on the songs more than normal?

I can't help shaking the thought that the delay is also because of them just having a good time. Fifteen years is a lot, there is so much to catch up to - although they remained contact, one closer to another. And I'm guessing Portnoy is restyling this whole Dream Theater HQ, which would take a few weeks too. In any case, I can't wait, this next album just got to be something worth listening to every single night.

[TAC]

I can't help shaking the thought that the delay is also because of them just having a good time. Fifteen years is a lot, there is so much to catch up to - although they remained contact, one closer to another.

I don't know. MP finished 2 and a half months ago, and JP finished a month and a half ago. I don't think they're spending much time yucking it up in the studio.

Jordan's tour with the Dregs may have pushed him back a bit, but like MP said, they're "on schedule" and probably planned for all member absences.

[Stadler]

He also implied that this doesn't mean that there will be something from each of the 16 albums played at every show. So I would imagine there are songs from all 16 albums on the master list that he will draw from when creating each setlist, but certain albums will be skipped over from show to show.

Absolutely stunned to come back from the weekend to read this and not see a battle to the death over WHAT 16 albums to which he was referring?   

. 


(I'm counting Cleaning Out The Closet as an album, and I'm sure others consider "A Change Of Seasons" to be an album....)

[emtee]

Part of me wonders if maybe there are many songs but then the other part realizes there is no correlation between time spent and number of songs.

Kind of funny to realize that they may end up having been reunited for close to a year before we hear a note of new music or a live performance.

[brakkum]

Kind of funny to realize that they may end up having been reunited for close to a year before we hear a note of new music or a live performance.

Dang, I just realized the London is just a few days shy of one year from the announcement, which is pretty surprising to me.

[Stadler]

Part of me wonders if maybe there are many songs but then the other part realizes there is no correlation between time spent and number of songs.

I always hated that argument.  For every point of view, there's an example that contradicts it.  Need to take more time in the studio?  Led Zeppelin I, the first Black Sabbath album.    Need be quick, fresh and capture the energy?  Boston's self-titled.   Hysteria.

We either trust our artists, or we don't.   They know what they're doing to a higher degree than we do, and I truly believe that.   

[TAC]

   Need be quick, fresh and capture the energy?  Boston's self-titled.   Hysteria.

What? 

That was like 4 years in the making.

[Stadler]

What? 

That was like 4 years in the making.

Yeah, I was showing opposites; for the argument that albums need to be quick, to the point and fresh, I offer the first Boston album, that took years, and I offer Hysteria which took four years. 

I just think there are no rules here.  It's right when it's right, whether it takes five days or five years.

[Mosh]

I think the number of songs is more or less confirmed to be 8 or 9 right? I thought there was a post somewhere during the writing phase that they were on their eighth song or something shortly followed by a post confirming they finished writing.

[devieira73]

Absolutely stunned to come back from the weekend to read this and not see a battle to the death over WHAT 16 albums to which he was referring?   

. 


(I'm counting Cleaning Out The Closet as an album, and I'm sure others consider "A Change Of Seasons" to be an album....)

You, Stadler...
If anything, sometimes I think it's important for the exception to appear only to confirm the rule!

Sure the 16º album means DT16. I never saw MP (or the band) consider the ACoS EP as an album, as he didn't want it to be perceived that way (I remember reading it in a interview a long time ago - Scott?). About Cleaning Out the Closet being an album, so we should at least consider The Majesty Demos as such also, in terms of unreleased tracks.

[TAC]

Yeah, I was showing opposites; for the argument that albums need to be quick, to the point and fresh, I offer the first Boston album, that took years, and I offer Hysteria which took four years. 

I just think there are no rules here.  It's right when it's right, whether it takes five days or five years.

Oh ok. Gotcha.

[fadetoblackdude7]

I think the number of songs is more or less confirmed to be 8 or 9 right? I thought there was a post somewhere during the writing phase that they were on their eighth song or something shortly followed by a post confirming they finished writing.

It was a little more than a week after they said they started the sixth song which is the big epic if I'm not mistaken. I think the total will be 6 or 7, but who knows

[illusionist]

I think the number of songs is more or less confirmed to be 8 or 9 right? I thought there was a post somewhere during the writing phase that they were on their eighth song or something shortly followed by a post confirming they finished writing.

MP said they had written 5 songs, with no5 being his favourite, and a couple days later he shared they had begun working on an epic, and after that, that the writing was done.
No one said anything about 8-9 songs.

[hefdaddy42]

BTW Portnoy mentioned in one of those interviews that they have 16 albums to cover. Take that for what you will, but he tends to be pretty precise and intentional about his word choice with these things.

Actually, he specifically mentioned in an interview that while each ERA would be represented, that didn't mean that each individual ALBUM would be represented.  So (presumably), the Dominici era, the I&W/Awake lineup era, the Sherinian era, the classic lineup (JP/JM/MP/JR/JLB) era, the Mangini era.

[Mosh]

Actually, he specifically mentioned in an interview that while each ERA would be represented, that didn't mean that each individual ALBUM would be represented.  So (presumably), the Dominici era, the I&W/Awake lineup era, the Sherinian era, the classic lineup (JP/JM/MP/JR/JLB) era, the Mangini era.

For sure, I think the expectation is that maybe all albums are somewhere on the master setlist to be rotated in and out, but on a given show you won't hear each album represented.

But my point in bringing that up is that if he's talking about trying to choose from 16 albums, there's an implication that the new album has songs in the mix which is a signal that the band still intends to release before the tour.

[hefdaddy42]

Yes, sorry, agreed on that.  He definitely mentioned 16 albums, and there have only been 15 so far, so...

[Glasser]

Is it safe to assume the expectations for this album will be the highest in their career?

[Mosh]

I think so. Expectations were high for ADTOE but there was also a lot of uncertainty. It feels like there's a lot riding on this particular album.

[TheOutlawXanadu]

Is it safe to assume the expectations for this album will be the highest in their career?

Speaking only for myself, while I am very excited for the new album, I don't have sky high expectations for it. How many bands do their best work after 40 years? While I do expect it to be good - very good even - it's completely unrealistic to expect anything on the level of Images and Words at this point. I'm more just looking forward to having the iconic lineup back together and then the tour. Honestly, my expectations for the tour are probably higher than for the album.

[Glasser]

Speaking only for myself, while I am very excited for the new album, I don't have sky high expectations for it. How many bands do their best work after 40 years? While I do expect it to be good - very good even - it's completely unrealistic to expect anything on the level of Images and Words at this point. I'm more just looking forward to having the iconic lineup back together and then the tour. Honestly, my expectations for the tour are probably higher than for the album.

Ok, Is it safe to say this is their most anticipated album in their career aside from Awake?