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

[Kocak]

"He quit the band! - The album"

They can hire Dr. Kevin Moore for band therapy.

[gzarruk]

They can hire Dr. Kevin Moore for band therapy.

I heard he'll never be open again.

[Kocak]

I heard he'll never be open again.

Categorically untrue, as he is open under some conditions:

[The Letter M]

Some Kind Of Invisible Monster

"What are we, some kind of Dream Theater?"

-Marc.

[Ben_Jamin]

I listened to it again after not listening to it for a week or two. It is akin to 8vm for me in the way the songs flow so well the album seems to fly by.

James LaBrie's vocal tone in Dead Asleep makes me think of his tones in The Astonishing, the same could be said for The Shadow Man Incident. I think it's because of the lyrics, specifically the way JP tells his narrative stories.

[TAC]

James LaBrie's vocal tone in Dead Asleep makes me think of his tones in The Astonishing,

This particular passage in Midnight Messiah sounds like it was directly lifted from The Astonishing..

"Back in the waking life
In midsummer night's dream
I realize I can no longer fly alone
Help find my destiny"

[Kocak]

I think that JP was inspired by the Game of Thrones/House of the Dragon main theme for Dead Asleep's first heavy riff and the little guitar melody that immediately precedes it.

[Wim Kruithof]

I do not spin the vinyl daily anymore but it does get her time very often. Although the songs are beautiful, there's not an epic highlight in here. But that's not the case since Illumination Theory, I would say.

Still I love Parasomnia, but most of all since it flows so smooth and nicely. The concept, nightmare theme-related but even more structure-wise, with so many themes of songs returning in others, it's a work of art. And I am a sucker for easter eggs (especially in this day and age) and there are many out there, like the "wake up-ring" at 19.28.

Truly a masterpiece and although I completely gave up on ranking, this album is absolutely one of my 16 favorites.

[dparrott]

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..

"You see that bass track right there?  Turn it up to 10!"

[CraftyCaleb2483]

Truly a masterpiece and although I completely gave up on ranking, this album is absolutely one of my 16 favorites.

I think you'll find unanimous agreement with that 

[Mr.Mister]

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..

I think this is a personality thing - and I don't mean JM is an introvert he can't do it but rather probably not something that interests him. It's almost like when at work you do a given project and play an important role but perhaps you have no interest in being the one leading the project.

I'm very happy with JP producing alone and with MP having such strong opinions I think JP will be receptive to a lot of notes and suggestions.

[Northern Lion]

I'm still loving this album.  The newness has worn off, but that is to be expected.  I don't listen to it every day anymore, but still often.  Lately, I've been cycling between this and the latest from Metallica, Megadeth and Haken.  How I rank the tracks has changed some.  Initially I had a hard time with TSMI and ABM was my favorite, and still might be.  But I thought I'd offer a current ranking.  But even though I have a bottom of the list and a top of the list, the space between them is small.

1/2 ABM/TSMI
3   MM
4   DA
5   BTC
6   ITAOM
7   NT
8   AWD

This ranking will probably still change a little over time.  I'm so glad DT wrote an album like this, it still puts a smile on my face when I listen to it, especially as soon as that first heavy riff with the alarm clock kicks in at the beginning of ITAOM.

[gborland]

1/2 ABM/TSMI
3   MM
4   DA
5   BTC
6   ITAOM
7   NT
8   AWD

Too soon for all these acronyms. 

[Northern Lion]

I think I'll add three other thoughts about my ranking.  DA would have been ranked higher if it weren't for the lyrics.  But not for the same reason others have given here in the forums.  It's not because of whether or not the lyrics are written well or are cheesy.  It has to do with the content.  I find it just a little too unsettling.  Musically, I would have it tied with my number 1 and number 2.

The second thought I want to make, is that not only is ABM probably my favorite song on the album, it is among my most favorite songs in the entire DT discography.  Musically and lyrically, I find it a masterpiece.

Last thought, after this album, I have finally concluded that Labrie is my favorite DT lyricist.  I don't think he has ever written a lyric I don't find profound, well written, and moving.  ABM and BTC are the best lyrics on this album by a country mile.  But that's not to say I don't like the lyrics from the other songs, because I do.  Labrie's are just so much better imo.

[Glasser]

1) The Shadow Man Incident.
2) Bend The Clock.
3) A Broken Man.
4) Dead Asleep.
5) Midnight Messiah.
6) Night Terror.
7) Into The Arms Of Morpheus.
8) Are We Dreaming.

[TheOutlawXanadu]

This looks fun - I want to play too!

1 - Are We Dreaming/Bend the Clock
2 - The Shadow Man Incident
3 - In the Arms of Morpheus
4 - Dead Asleep
5 - Night Terror
6 - Midnight Messiah
7 - A Broken Man

[Awaken]

Revisited Parasomnia after a bit of a break, settling nicely in the mid-tier of DT albums.  Count me in as someone who was expecting something . . . . bigger, I guess with MPs return; but am still extremely happy with the effort and looking forward to the live presentation!

1 - The Shadow Man Incident
2 - Are We Dreaming/Bend the Clock
3 - A Broken Man
4(t) - Dead Asleep (minus points for the lyrics)
4(t) - Night Terror (minus points for the chorus)
6 - Midnight Messiah (minus points for some reason not working in live show)
7 - In the Arms of Morpheus

[Metro]

1. Bend the Clock
2. Night Terror
3. The Shadow Man Incident
4. In the Arms of Morpheus
5. Are We Dreaming?
6. A Broken Man
7. Dead Asleep
8. Midnight Messiah

[SeRoX]

1- Bend The Clock
2- The Shadow Man Incident
3- A Broken Man
4- Dead Asleep
5- Midnight Messiah
6- Night Terror
7- Are We Dreaming?
8- In The Arms of Morpheus

Sadly, ITAOM is one of the uninspired and boring instrumental song they've ever created.

[Glasser]

Are We Dreaming? is technically the outro to Midnight Messiah. Not sure why they made it a separate track being it's only ambience.

[Northern Lion]

Are We Dreaming? is technically the outro to Midnight Messiah. Not sure why they made it a separate track being it's only ambience.

huh.  I had always looked at it as a kind of intro to Bend the Clock.  It never occurred to me to look at it the other way around.  I used Audacity to splice AWD and BTC together thinking it would sound great that way, but it didn't.  Now I might know why.  When I listen to the album again today, I'm going to try looking  at it with your perspective.  The things you learn.

[Kram]

1 - The Shadow Man Incident
2 - A Broken Man
3 - Bend the Clock/Are We Dreaming
4 - Night Terror 
5 - Dead Asleep
6 - In the Arms of Morpheus
7 - Midnight Messiah

[Glasser]

huh.  I had always looked at it as a kind of intro to Bend the Clock.  It never occurred to me to look at it the other way around.  I used Audacity to splice AWD and BTC together thinking it would sound great that way, but it didn't.  Now I might know why.  When I listen to the album again today, I'm going to try looking  at it with your perspective.  The things you learn.

Yes, I used Audacity as well and the WAV of MM is seamless with AWD as an outro.

[voncorn]

Sadly, ITAOM is one of the uninspired and boring instrumental song they've ever created.

Enigma Machine would like a word with you.

I happen to like ItAoM just fine and Jordan's alarm sounds are really cool, I think it was a great way to start and set up the rest of the album.

[Northern Lion]

Enigma Machine would like a word with you.

I happen to like ItAoM just fine and Jordan's alarm sounds are really cool, I think it was a great way to start and set up the rest of the album.

Yep, I agree.  I think ItAoM is awesome, impactful, fun and a great intro to the album.  But... I like Enigma Machine too. 

[Northern Lion]

So I just listened to MM and AWD back to back and it does work better as an outro to MM rather than an intro to BTC.  However, maybe not as well as I thought it might.  I think it probably works best as it's own track in the context of the album.  But if I were to try another splice job, I would tack it to the back of MM.

[Glasser]

So I just listened to MM and AWD back to back and it does work better as an outro to MM rather than an intro to BTC.  However, maybe not as well as I thought it might.  I think it probably works best as it's own track in the context of the album.  But if I were to try another splice job, I would tack it to the back of MM.

I did it and it's seamless.

[emtee]

Huh. Tastes. I LOVE ItAoM. The city sounds, then I envision a giants footsteps...out of sync with the ticking of the clock. Then they sync up and are in time. Then the sound pans slowly left channel to right, back and forth and speeds up and explodes into the opening riff. Great opener. Perfect stage-setter for what's to come.

[nobloodyname]

I've grown to really like In the Arms of Morpheus, too. But that alarm clock going off is incongruous and gets me every time. The person's falling asleep. Their alarm ain't going off!

[Wim Kruithof]

huh.  I had always looked at it as a kind of intro to Bend the Clock.  It never occurred to me to look at it the other way around.

That's what I so love about Parasomnia. It's all intertwined in each other and I can't say when one theme stops and another one comes in.

[Glasser]

That's what I so love about Parasomnia. It's all intertwined in each other and I can't say when one theme stops and another one comes in.

I don't mind it when it's not abrupt. I ripped CD 2 of SDOIT as one long track because the tracks pause like a glitch. I like the flow better as 1 40 minute track.

[Wim Kruithof]

I don't mind it when it's not abrupt. I ripped CD 2 of SDOIT as one long track because the tracks pause like a glitch. I like the flow better as 1 40 minute track.

Six Degrees is a wonderful piece of art. And I hope they'll deliver more Six Degrees-like albums in the future, because Parasomnia might be one of the best they made since, I would say.

[dualpalmpilots]

Still loving Parasomnia after a few months. Excited to see them play it all this fall!