The "Bend The Clock" Thread

[SeRoX]

I'm sorry, but I don't understand this. I like both albums and I don't see many similarities.

There is some similarities on first chorus of TSMI, especially vocal melodies. Other than that, no.

[BeatriceNB]

I really want to listen to this The Astonishing inspired version of Parasomnia people are talking about

[genome]

Well, I'm not the only one!

https://www.reddit.com/r/Dreamtheater/comments/1ijtyu6/dare_i_say_it_the_album_reminds_me_of_the/

[hunnus2000]

I love DT ballads. But they've never been album's favourite for me until Parasomnia. Bend The Clock is my insant favourite since I heard it first time and I don't think it'll change.

I too love a good melody but I have to ask so I get it right. Are you saying that you think that BTC is a ballad?

[SeRoX]

I too love a good melody but I have to ask so I get it right. Are you saying that you think that BTC is a ballad?

Yeah I define it as a ballad. Lyrically it's not a ideal ballad but musically yes.

[hunnus2000]

Yeah I define it as a ballad. Lyrically it's not a ideal ballad but musically yes.

Gotcha. 

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

Some songs more than others. But there are TA vibes all over the place

I guess I could see it in the sense that was mentioned earlier. It's the same guitar player who has now recorded over 20 albums. Some tendencies and similarities will thus naturally be present.

[DeanTheater]

One more thing, after so many listens now, I couldnt place it tol now, but that solo at the end has major Marching Out vibes(Malmsteen, 50 second mark and onward) The base line just opens up space for the lead to shine.

[TAC]

Marching Out 

[Thoughtspart3]

Really love this song. Tied right now with dead asleep for my favorite. I love the emotional anguish a longing to be free from the disturbing dreams.

[Ben_Jamin]

I'm sorry, but I don't understand this. I like both albums and I don't see many similarities.

I do, as in they're the same band as before and JP is the main producer. There are tonal and soundscape similarities that are bound to occur.

My similarities are with how they still sound like Dream Theater. Nothing has changed at all in the tones and sound. Since JP is the producer, I can see why he does not want to share those aspects since MP left.

[Northern Lion]

I do, as in they're the same band as before and JP is the main producer. There are tonal and soundscape similarities that are bound to occur.

My similarities are with how they still sound like Dream Theater. Nothing has changed at all in the tones and sound. Since JP is the producer, I can see why he does not want to share those aspects since MP left.

Well, yeah, I see that as well.  But Genome was comparing Parasomnia to The Astonishing, that's the part that makes me scratch my head.  Outside of what you said (same producer, same band), I don't really see any similarities at all.

[Ben_Jamin]

Well, yeah, I see that as well.  But Genome was comparing Parasomnia to The Astonishing, that's the part that makes me scratch my head.  Outside of what you said (same producer, same band), I don't really see any similarities at all.

I actually do. In terms of tone, atmosphere and vocal melodies, the songs do recall that album. I would say Bend the Clock is very reminiscent of A Better Life.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

Here's my thing on the solo; not sure if anyone is with me on this.

John sounds f-ing awesome. He's in amazing shape (I would expect no less from such a perfectionist) and I can't think of anything he didn't do. It's on paper a great solo with a clear beginning, middle and end that you could quibble with perhaps.

It just didn't grab me the way some of his others did. He did the perfect solo for the song and I don't feel he knocked it out of the park.

[emtee]

It's my favorite solo he has ever done. But Gilmour is my favorite guitarist so it makes sense.

[krands85]

The solo hasn't grabbed me that much either, unfortunately - certainly by JP's astronomical standards. A couple of people earlier in the thread mentioned the underlying music and I wonder if that effects it for me a bit too. I'm not a musician, so I can't really explain exactly what it is, but it feels like it loses a bit of momentum and almost plods along a little. I would really like to hear people doing a cover of it with a different rhythm under the solo.

Still a great track though

[CraftyCaleb2483]

It just didn't grab me the way some of his others did. He did the perfect solo for the song and I don't feel he knocked it out of the park.

Yeah, it doesn't hit you the same way the solo for, say TSCO or TBOT does

[WilliamMunny]

The solo hasn't grabbed me that much either, unfortunately - certainly by JP's astronomical standards. A couple of people earlier in the thread mentioned the underlying music and I wonder if that effects it for me a bit too. I'm not a musician, so I can't really explain exactly what it is, but it feels like it loses a bit of momentum and almost plods along a little. I would really like to hear people doing a cover of it with a different rhythm under the solo.

Still a great track though

The song is the highlight of the album for me, but I am also in the camp of people not totally feeling the solo.

On paper, it's a flawless couple of minutes, but I personally feel the song would've been better without it. It feels like an afterthought. There are plenty of places on the album where everyone let's it rip, not sure why an otherwise perfect five-minute track also needed an extended solo outro

But...that's a me thing. Judging by the near-universal praise, the band obviously made the right call.

[Sir Walrus Cauliflower]

Has anyone noticed the vocal artifact in BTC? In the first verse, James says "scared and confused" but it's got some weird phaser effect or something and it sounds like "confuved" instead of "confused". Bugs the hell out of me. I do not understand how a band of this caliber let's that kind of thing slip through. Yeah, it's nitpicky but   

[BeatriceNB]

Has anyone noticed the vocal artifact in BTC? In the first verse, James says "scared and confused" but it's got some weird phaser effect or something and it sounds like "confuved" instead of "confused". Bugs the hell out of me. I do not understand how a band of this caliber let's that kind of thing slip through. Yeah, it's nitpicky but   

Many DT songs have weird things happening. I recall a weird "beep" during the piano interlude in Barstool Warrior, a weird sound effect in the chorus of Out Of Reach (I think it's the bass, but I'm not sure), and one I discovered not much ago, a "beep" in On The Backs Of Angels, during "the new American dream" part.
The Astonishing has the famous "take the evening to dec...i-de". And the snare in Begin Again is leaking through one of the right side drums.

Those are the ones that stand out to me, I don't remember others right now.

[WilliamMunny]

Has anyone noticed the vocal artifact in BTC? In the first verse, James says "scared and confused" but it's got some weird phaser effect or something and it sounds like "confuved" instead of "confused". Bugs the hell out of me. I do not understand how a band of this caliber let's that kind of thing slip through. Yeah, it's nitpicky but   

It's a long list, and yes, it astounds me when there are easily-corrected things just sitting there in the mix.

This isn't a band, tracking live in the room. These are heavily edited pro-tools-driven sessions. Were it the former, I'd be way less annoyed by a vocal flub or artifact. But any of the things Beatrice pointed out above are likely just an oversight by Jimmy T and Co.

That all said, DT is hardly out of line here...this is essentially commonplace in contemporary A-list hard rock and metal releases in 2025.

[TheOutlawXanadu]

The song is the highlight of the album for me, but I am also in the camp of people not totally feeling the solo.

On paper, it's a flawless couple of minutes, but I personally feel the song would've been better without it. It feels like an afterthought. There are plenty of places on the album where everyone let's it rip, not sure why an otherwise perfect five-minute track also needed an extended solo outro

But...that's a me thing. Judging by the near-universal praise, the band obviously made the right call.

I like the solo but it definitely signals a "Phase 2" of the song that I sometimes skip. I think it's kind of funny how so many people criticized the band during the Mangini era for being too technical, not having enough hooks, etc. And then what's everyone's favorite part of a new simple, hooky song? The three-minute insane guitar solo at the end.

[Northern Lion]

I like the solo but it definitely signals a "Phase 2" of the song that I sometimes skip. I think it's kind of funny how so many people criticized the band during the Mangini era for being too technical, not having enough hooks, etc. And then what's everyone's favorite part of a new simple, hooky song? The three-minute insane guitar solo at the end.

DT fans, we are a fickle bunch 

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

I like the solo but it definitely signals a "Phase 2" of the song that I sometimes skip. I think it's kind of funny how so many people criticized the band during the Mangini era for being too technical, not having enough hooks, etc. And then what's everyone's favorite part of a new simple, hooky song? The three-minute insane guitar solo at the end.

Tis human nature to be constantly dissatisfied lol.

[Gnomeoftuscany22]

On first listen this song unapologetically made me feel like I was listening to them 30 years ago... 10/10 on that experience alone.

It's triumphant (despite the lyrical content) and not saccharine or melancholy like many of their ballads have been. What an awesome surprise since I had kind of written these things off as just moody songs written so there could be a solo (still, this solo doesn't disappoint!)

I immediately thought about their entire career as a retrospective listening to this song. It sounds so regretful but unapologetic at the same time.  A beautiful mid solo and both james'vocals and JPs guitar are top notch all the way through.  Just an amazing song. That ending solo before their career is over is probably gonna be in the top 3 on a mountain of amazing solos JP has created!!!
  

[ReaperKK]

Haven't read through the entire thread but I figured I'd pop in here with my thoughts having finally listened to Parasomnia.

Bend The Clock is the stand-out of the record IMO. It was the first song out of the whole album that really stood out and stood on it's on as a great piece of music. IMO it's not just the best track on the new album, but one of the best in the past 20 years.

[Joemaj939]

I've seen so many people referencing David Gilmour as to what the solo reminds them of, Comfortably Numb fades out from that fantastic solo. Maybe it's a nod to Pink Floyd.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

I've seen so many people referencing David Gilmour as to what the solo reminds them of, Comfortably Numb fades out from that fantastic solo. Maybe it's a nod to Pink Floyd.

It's a similar tonality and type of solo. I don't mind though. JP and Gilmour are very different players so even if there is some overall resemblance in the moment there's a big contrast in vocabulary.

DT has always worn their influences on their sleeves so I feel like it's almost an automatic reaction that fans say this DT part sounds like this other band. I'm guilty of that too. The first few bars of the solo sound like a Steve Vai or a Jeff Beck moment.