DREAM THEATER ANNOUNCE THE RETURN OF DRUMMER MIKE PORTNOY

[TAC]

 

[geeeemo]

I'm in the camp for really liking POW. And BMUBMD (I know, not the same record).

[crystalstars17]

I'm in the camp for really liking POW. And BMUBMD (I know, not the same record).

Dislike the former, love the latter.

[Mladen]

I've always loved Build me up, break me down, and I still do.

Prophets of war is good, but not my favorite on the record.

[Chino]

PoW is one of those tracks that's very meh on the album, but is a total banger when played live.

[Adami]

I need to listen to BMU again, but from what I remember it was almost good.

The drums and production really hold it back when it tries to get heavy and explosive and I don't remember liking the chorus very much. But I think I liked a decent amount of it. Will give it another listen now.


Edit: Just listened, but yea opinion is mostly the same. I actually dig the music for the most part. The drums just really don't do it for me. Just seems like MM's natural tendencies don't compliment this song. Also meh lyrics, but I think if they did this live with MP or someone just took a different approach to the drums, and the production was better, it'd be pretty awesome.

[Mladen]

Of all the songs from A Dramatic turn of events that could return to the set list, BMUBMD might be the one I'm putting the least amount of money on.

[pg1067]

I've always loved Build me up, break me down, and I still do.

Prophets of war is good, but not my favorite on the record.

Here's a short list of songs I like less than both BMUBMD and POW:

- This Dying Soul
- The Great Debate
- The Mirror
- Honor Thy Father
- I Walk Beside You
- Repentance
- Just Let Me Breathe
- New Millennium

[Mladen]

Man, you've got some fantastic songs in there. 

[Adami]

Here's a short list of songs I like less than both BMUBMD and POW:

- This Dying Soul - Ditto
- The Great Debate - Great song
- The Mirror - Great song
- Honor Thy Father - Good song, but I can go either way
- I Walk Beside You - Great song
- Repentance - Great song
- Just Let Me Breathe - Good song
- New Millennium - Great song

[jammindude]

New Millennium is SO good!  The lyrics are a bit dated, but nothing as glaringly bad as some of the lyrics they would write later. And the instrumental break is one of the most brilliant things they've ever recorded.

[gborland]

I'm glad Myung's Chapman Stick on New Millennium was just a phase.

[hefdaddy42]

I'm glad Myung's Chapman Stick on New Millennium was just a phase.

I'm not.

[Adami]

I'm glad Myung's Chapman Stick on New Millennium was just a phase.

May I ask why?

I was a little disappointed at how little he explored the instrument. He seemed to use it largely as a one string bass if I remember correctly, though not entirely.

[Jamesman42]

I'm glad Myung's Chapman Stick on New Millennium was just a phase.

"It's not a phase, mom!"

[Stadler]

Here's a short list of songs I like less than both BMUBMD (#113) (and POW (#152):

- This Dying Soul (#7)
- The Great Debate (#95)
- The Mirror (#69)
- Honor Thy Father (#143)
- I Walk Beside You (#23)
- Repentance (#71)
- Just Let Me Breathe (#137)
- New Millennium (#36)

[gborland]

May I ask why?

I was a little disappointed at how little he explored the instrument. He seemed to use it largely as a one string bass if I remember correctly, though not entirely.

It felt like a novelty which wore off pretty quickly.

[Cool Chris]

I'm glad Myung's Chapman Stick on New Millennium was just a phase.

I'm glad Falling into Infinity was just a phase.

[TAC]

For sure.

[Adami]

It felt like a novelty which wore off pretty quickly.

I actually agree with you. That's why I wish it was explored more. I don't want DT to just always do the DT thing. I want them to try new things. Often.

I'd rather a swing and a miss than not swing at all.

[HOF]

I would have loved more Chapman work from Myung and if they had continued down the path they were on for FII, but it wasn't meant to be.

[Glasser]

New Millennium is SO good!  The lyrics are a bit dated, but nothing as glaringly bad as some of the lyrics they would write later. And the instrumental break is one of the most brilliant things they've ever recorded.

Love that song! I wish they would play that and Trial Of Tears!!!

[El Barto]

Well, I think it's safe to say that we've exhausted this conversation and fucked it from every single angle we possibly could.  Now all we do is sit back and wait for the album.....

Yes, but the click tracks!

This is what I came here to ask. Has there been any word on whether Portnoy's return changes the status quo of playing to a click?

[Setlist Scotty]

Yes, but the click tracks!


This is what I came here to ask. Has there been any word on whether Portnoy's return changes the status quo of playing to a click?

It hasn't been stated definitively, but IIRC, at a fantasy camp that MP was a part of shortly after the announcement of his return, there was a Q&A, and he in essence said he was the time keeper, so I would expect the click is gone.

[crystalstars17]

If in fact "the click is gone", does this mean a more bare bones, boring, less polished production? Or are there ways they can maintain the level of polish they've achieved in recent years? (Educate me please, this is a legitimate question.)

Editing to add another question: Is this also something the other band members have veto power over? Because if he's outnumbered by vote, then we can't be certain it'll actually go away?

[Schurftkut]

https://youtu.be/I_QmJ-EEjps?t=1488

it'll be done something this, the way they did before the click came into play.

[Schurftkut]

also, i think with choosing MP they know that the click will be out of the window, also because that's what the fans want.

[crystalstars17]

also because that's what the fans want.

That depends on who you ask. 🌚

[Setlist Scotty]

If in fact "the click is gone", does this mean a more bare bones, boring, less polished production? Or are there ways they can maintain the level of polish they've achieved in recent years? (Educate me please, this is a legitimate question.)

It can be done. If you want an example, just watch a Rush concert. They *never* used a click except for when they had a string ensemble touring with them in 2012-2013, and their light and video show is more extensive than what DT has had.

[ReaperKK]

It can be done. If you want an example, just watch a Rush concert. They *never* used a click except for when they had a string ensemble touring with them in 2012-2013, and their light and video show is more extensive than what DT has had.

Same goes for Tool, no click but incredible light and stage show.

[Ben_Jamin]

But the click wasn't used just for the visuals. It was used so JP didn't have to go to the control and switch his patches. The click allowed him to wonder and play without worry.

[WilliamMunny]

But the click wasn't used just for the visuals. It was used so JP didn't have to go to the control and switch his patches. The click allowed him to wonder and play without worry.

A lot of players have their tech manage their boards for them for just that reason.

[Stadler]

A lot of players have their tech manage their boards for them for just that reason.

Which I believe is what John did for the solo tour.  I was talking with the guy that was doing the board out in the audience and he was in real time talking to John's tech that was right there at stage left managing John's pedals/sounds.

[Orbert]

I guess I'm just an old fogey when it comes to playing.  I don't play guitar, so I've never had to step on guitar pedals to change sounds while I play, but with keyboards it's not that different.  I got a couple dozen buttons and knobs, and the appropriate combination of them makes the keyboard sound that I want.  I consider that part of playing the instrument, just as I consider stepping on pedals part of playing the instrument if you're playing guitar.  I know Jordan has everything programmed so that all he has to do is hit a foot switch to go to the next patch, but at least he's the one doing it.  He's just taking advantage of the tech.  JP having someone offstage changing patches for him so he can wander around and "just play guitar" seems lazy to me.

[hefdaddy42]

If in fact "the click is gone", does this mean a more bare bones, boring, less polished production? Or are there ways they can maintain the level of polish they've achieved in recent years? (Educate me please, this is a legitimate question.)

When MP was in the band before, they had a light guy that knew all the songs and manually did the lights.  And it worked fine.  Any "upgrade" that came with that part of by timing everything to the click was essentially lost on me, because I wasn't going to see DT for lights.  But they've done it before, and other, bigger acts can do it, so there's no reason they can't do it again.