Official Parasomnia album discussion thread ***SPOILERS***

[gborland]

I came back to it today after a few weeks off.

"Someone's been killed, I am sorry"

"We strongly suspect you're feeling a sense of despair"

The lyrics have not improved with time. 

[dualpalmpilots]

But that riff behind "Someone's been killed, I am sorry" absolutely rules.

[DoctorAction]

I'm still revisiting the album a few times a week.  It's solid, enjoyable and dependable.  It feels safe but not in a bad way.  It's easy to put on and sit through.  I still maintain there's no real DT highs on here, but there's not any real lulls eithers.

I'm about here. I probably listen to it ever week or so. I've dropped Dead Asleep due to the clunky lyrics but it's a very cohesive record.

Like you, there are no huge highs for me. No track on here would make a top ten of songs from ADTOE onwards, but it's a more listenable record all the way through than ADTOE, for me.

[evilasiojr]

Revisited it today after almost a month away I think.

First tried to listen before bed and couldn't resist, fell asleep - not deadly though  . But for me that was a bad sign, I normally don't sleep through albums I really really like.

Gave it a second spin this morning, fully awake. I think the feeling for me is: this is an average DT album, for the good and the bad.

The highs for me are the tied-in moments, the intro for the album, ABM and DA connections, the instrumental interlude, and definitely TSMI. I think the epic is the only real remarkable song off of this album. I feel like they got on a really amazing track here and should've continued writing an album right away from that point and taken all that came before as a first draft kinda material  . Maybe even making the whole album more conceptual cause I feel the less connected songs fall really short.

But again, being an average DT album is not a bad thing at all, but I think it is right there for me in the 8th or 9th position in my DT albums rank, right below A View.

[wolfking]

I'm about here. I probably listen to it ever week or so. I've dropped Dead Asleep due to the clunky lyrics but it's a very cohesive record.

Like you, there are no huge highs for me. No track on here would make a top ten of songs from ADTOE onwards, but it's a more listenable record all the way through than ADTOE, for me.

I'd definitely agree with this.

[nobloodyname]

I came back to it today after a few weeks off.

"Someone's been killed, I am sorry"

"We strongly suspect you're feeling a sense of despair"

The lyrics have not improved with time. 

I was saying to my partner yesterday (while listening to the album as I was beating her at mini-golf on the PC, but that's another story), there are obviously some fairly average lyrics in DT's discography but Dead Alive is the worst of the lot and by some considerable distance. It's not even close for me. I love the song itself, though.

[DoctorAction]

I was saying to my partner yesterday (while listening to the album as I was beating her at mini-golf on the PC, but that's another story), there are obviously some fairly average lyrics in DT's discography but Dead Alive is the worst of the lot and by some considerable distance. It's not even close for me. I love the song itself, though.

The riffage is really great. I expect to return to it occasionally for that reason.

(Congrats on the mini-golf! I'm personally enjoying a fairly strong marital winning backgammon streak, myself...)

[KevShmev]

I was saying to my partner yesterday (while listening to the album as I was beating her at mini-golf on the PC, but that's another story), there are obviously some fairly average lyrics in DT's discography but Dead Alive is the worst of the lot and by some considerable distance. It's not even close for me. I love the song itself, though.

Now wait a minute, man.

[CraftyCaleb2483]

I actually quite enjoy the lyrics to TCoT

[nobloodyname]

Yeah, I don't have the issue with The Count of Tuscany that others do. I think it's a silly story rather than anything else. 'Now wait a minute, man' strikes me as something someone would say (although perhaps less likely in British English), whereas 'Out of my mind/Out of my body/Someone's been killed/I am sorry' just sounds flatly ridiculous.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

The chorus lyrics are among the worst JP has penned.

[gborland]

Let's start a petition! Get them to rewrite and re-record the lyrics to Dead Asleep before the Parasomnia tour kicks off later in the year.

[WilliamMunny]

I gave Parasomnia another spin yesterday, and I feel like I am in a similar spot to where I was a few months removed from The Astonishing: Dream Theater circa 2025 is just not my bag.

I love, love, love the albums I love, and I still (as in, like, this morning) still find myself giving 8VM, 6Ds, and FII regular spins, but the fact is that I have not genuinely connected with a release in nearly 15 years (ADTOE).

Given how impactful they were to me as both a fan and musician, I have continued to check out each new release, and some have caught my ears more than others, but the fact remains that if/when I am in the mood, there is nothing post-ADTOE that I reach for (save the odd song here or there).

The Astonishing practically killed my fandom in that I have skipped every tour since that release, but with MP coming back to the band, I (like many, many others) was beyond excited.

That said, this album is just not for me. I'm going to forgo diving into the specifics–I'm not at all interested in raining on other peoples parade. I gave it at least a dozen or so listens, but what bothers me is only becoming more glaring with each go-around.

That all said, I remain impressed that Mike and the boys have managed to reignite their fanbase, and it feels like, by and large, Parasomnia was a home run for Dream Theater.

To that point, had they dropped a record in the vein of what I would've wanted (something, say, more stylistically in line with FII), most fans would've probably hated it. They made the right call, and embracing nostalgia (or whatever they are calling it) is the right move for a band at their stage in the game.

I feel like this is probably the last Parasomnia-related post I'm going to make–I'm putting this one away and will likely circle back the next time news about a new release begins to surface.

Parting thoughts on DT16–I'm just happy that they band seems to be thriving professionally AND personally.

[nobloodyname]

To that point, had they dropped a record in the vein of what I would've wanted (something, say, more stylistically in line with FII), most fans would've probably hated it. They made the right call, and embracing nostalgia (or whatever they are calling it) is the right move for a band at their stage in the game.

I really like Parasomnia. And Train of Thought and Six Degrees are in my top three. But I wish, more than anything, they'd write something more in line with Falling Into Infinity again. Going by recent interviews, it's just not where they are now. And perhaps they never will be again.

[DoctorAction]

I listened to it today at the gym. My take after a bit of time, and before putting it down for a while, is a real mix:

It's very consistent and cohesive.
I find the concept and overall aesthetic very uninteresting.
The lyrics about that theme are dull to clunky. There is one phrase that gets under my skin "Why can't I remember anything?". Nothing else has any spark of intensity.
Love that Mike P is back.
The drums sound pretty flat and small.
I enjoy the guitar and keyboard parts very much.

I am impressed they made it and I like it well enough. But I'm also a little bored of it now. Will see whether it reappears in rotation over time.

[Peter Mc]

I really like Parasomnia. And Train of Thought and Six Degrees are in my top three. But I wish, more than anything, they'd write something more in line with Falling Into Infinity again. Going by recent interviews, it's just not where they are now. And perhaps they never will be again.

Falling Into Infinity was an album of songs that the record company forced them into and nearly ended the band so I don't think we'll ever see an album like that again.  The album absolutely has its highlights but, for me at least, it also has a lot of songs I skip.  Probably that album and Octavarium are the two albums where I skip a lot of songs.  I fortunately like the longer songs on FII so it still has over 40 min of stuff I really like, I just find most of the shorter songs quite dull and uninteresting (is that a word?).

Not listening to Parasomnia a lot recently but still enjoy it when I do.

[Kocak]

I really like Parasomnia. And Train of Thought and Six Degrees are in my top three. But I wish, more than anything, they'd write something more in line with Falling Into Infinity again. Going by recent interviews, it's just not where they are now. And perhaps they never will be again.

A man can hope... for a Kevin Shirley-DT reunion?

[gborland]

An outside producer would never have allowed those lyrics to make it onto tape. 

[Kocak]

Since they're so against the outside producer thing, how about another inside producer, like John Myung? I often wonder what the other guys would do with a Dream Theater album..

[gzarruk]

Since they're so against the outside producer thing, how about another inside producer, like John Myung? I often wonder what the other guys would do with a Dream Theater album..

Then everybody doubles the guitar...

[Kocak]

Then everybody doubles the guitar...

 

How about JR or JLB?

[SeRoX]

How about JR or JLB?

JLB is co-producer some of his solo efforts. So he can add something different to DT, especially producing vocal melodies. DT is known to write lyrics first and then write vocal melodies second. This has to change for good.

[TheOutlawXanadu]

I really like Parasomnia. And Train of Thought and Six Degrees are in my top three. But I wish, more than anything, they'd write something more in line with Falling Into Infinity again. Going by recent interviews, it's just not where they are now. And perhaps they never will be again.

There was an aspect of progressive rock to Dream Theater in the 90s that has been absent for a long time, minus The Astonishing. It's not that they never explore that side, but it's usually more of a cameo than anything else. The last three Portnoy albums in particular have been dark and heavy pretty much the whole way through. The songs are prog in that they're long and technical, but... I feel there's just something missing that shined so brightly on IAW, FII, and SFAM. I'm not the kind of fan who actively hopes for the band to do anything, but I would happily welcome another FII-style album in the future. At the same time, considering how successful the pivot to a more metal-oriented sound has been, I really just don't see that happening.

[nobloodyname]

Yes, spot on.

[Glasser]

How about DT has a contest here to produce the next album? 2 winners.

[Kocak]

How about DT has a contest here to produce the next album? 2 winners.

Would give them an opportunity to complain about how horrible having an outside producer has been for another 25 years.

[Glasser]

Would give them an opportunity to complain about how horrible having an outside producer has been for another 25 years.

I would love to produce the next album... Start a petition. 

[Kocak]

I would love to produce the next album... Start a petition. 

I'd also be interested in the job. I can pre-emptively promise the fanbase the most controversial making of documentary ever.

[Glasser]

I'd also be interested in the job. I can pre-emptively promise the fanbase the most controversial making of documentary ever.

All JM. Interviews and behind the scenes footage?? 

[Kocak]

All JM. Interviews and behind the scenes footage?? 

I think, given how the band feels about outside producers, it'd be more in the vein of Some Kind of Monster on steroids.

[Glasser]

I think, given how the band feels about outside producers, it'd be more in the vein of Some Kind of Monster on steroids.

That would be EPIC!!!

[Glasser]

I think, given how the band feels about outside producers, it'd be more in the vein of Some Kind of Monster on steroids.

Call it, Dream Theater - 40 Years Of Inner Turbulence.

[Kocak]

Call it, Dream Theater - 40 Years Of Inner Turbulence.

Falling into Disrepute?
Scenes from a Dispute?

[gzarruk]

"He quit the band! - The album"

[TAC]

Some Kind Of Invisible Monster