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

[bluefox4000]

Ok i have listened to this album twice through and i must say after not expecting much AT ALL (I really loved MM and was said to see him go and no particular single did much for me)  i really LOVED this album.  To me it sounded like if black Clouds had a clearer vision and was more cohesive.

I don't think i can go into detail just yet it's still early but of the 8 tracks the ones that caught me most.

Night Terror- Did nothing for me as a single but in the album it was like wow da fuck happened?  it sounds so much better in context

Broken Man-Actually on first album  Listen this song was almost over and I was like this is a bust then that funky bit hit at the end i was like ok this song rules, lol.  again better in  the album.

Dead Asleep- Probably my fav song on the album.  I read some comments saying this was a grower?  nah it was a first timer for me, lol.   This song rules.  the concept of it is cool the solos ruled.  Loved MP's drums on it.  EVERYTHING.

I'm Skipping around but the Epic The Shadow man Incident at first....seemed rather Straight forward but it's growing on me.  My Fav bit being Jordan's Piano Break.  Will  see how it unfolds the more i listen but it's a good song.

a few negatives cause it ain't perfect. 

Midnight Messiah did and still does nothing for me.  generic rocker.

Bend the Clock.  Now listen it's not a bad song.  but i'm surprised it's as talked up here as it is.  Just sounds like a run of the mill DT ballad to me.  Again not bad just......well it's a song, lol

As the far as the mix Got to say.  i'm not hearing the complaints.  Now here's my interesting note.  I thought for whatever reason the singles on their  own sounded bad.  but to my surprise i found the actual album sounds way better.  and my CD's coming but i heard it on spotify.  so take that as you will.

Also i enjoy the album's clear vision and i found nothing to be overly wanky.  Which is a gripe i always had with the end of MP'S first tenure.  Also JP's tone on this album was KILLER.

Over all really loved it. First impression score 8/10.  See how it grows OR fades.

huh longer review than i planned, lol 

 

[Shooters1221]

The very start of Morpheus with the traffic noises and cars gives me a strong vibe of The Camera Eye. Rush strikes again!

Didn't think of that until I read your post...Dang, and it's in my top 3 of Rush songs ever!  

BTW... I'm loving Parasomnia as of 4 listens through!

[impolybius]

After listening to the album for about a week, I have to say—it's just a really fun album to listen to!:~) It doesn't really break any new ground or have any gigantic emotional peaks (at least not for me yet), but it's a solid time.

There are definitely a few Portnoy-isms that I really enjoy having back, like more voice samples (from films, etc.), the voice actor in TSMI, and references to older songs and riffs. I won't attribute the whole thematic album idea to him, since we've got confirmation that Petrucci came up with it, but it at least reminds me of the older eras when they leaned more into that approach. I do miss some of the crazy technical drum stuff from the Mangini era, but this is more of a straightforward, headbanging kinda deal—which is also fun in its own way. I LOVE that it sometimes sounds and feels like The Astonishing—it scratches that itch, which was a really nice surprise. Made me go back and listen to TA again for the first time in a while.

Other than that, it's definitely a continuation of the style and structure from View, which is great. I wish they hadn't released ABM as a single, though, since that motif is used so much throughout the album. Another nitpick: the outro solo on BtC could've been longer and maybe had more of a chord progression? I also dearly miss the token Rush-tribute song that the last few albums have incorporated, but I guess you could argue that BtC is kinda filling that role.

Hmm, what else. AWD is a lovely interlude and should've been longer—just love the sound. I would've loved a Vacant-esque short song between NT and ABM that could've used the main ABM motif in a more "minor-key way" (kinda like Vacant did before SoC). The transition from NT to ABM feels a bit abrupt, so a short breather there could've worked really well.

That's at least a few of my scattered thoughts for now. The album sits around 10th place for me at the moment, but that might change. A solid, fun time! 

[genome]

Man. I know I dislike the fadeout, but that solo in Bend The Clock is just sublime.

[Jamesman42]

I've heard this in a jumbled order but I like it all. It does feel like it has some moments where it's like MP never left, while also sounding like the last 5 albums in some ways. When you think about it, that's about what's you expect, but even then, I think they stuck the landing with this album. I hope multiple listens will be more rewarding as well.

[durga2112]

Has it been mentioned anywhere why there are no lyrics from Myung on this album? I know that late in the Portnoy 1.0 era he stopped contributing lyrics because of the rule that lyrics needed to be presented in a complete form and that just didn't work with the way he wrote - is that rule back in place now that Portnoy is back, or is it just a coincidence that Myung didn't have anything to contribute this time around?

[Glasser]

Keep telling yourself that!

I can confirm though that I am finally starting to get to grips with this song.  Not a favourite yet but I'm beginning to appreciate it more.

[MetropolisWatches]

After only a few listens: Parasomnia sounds very cohesive and inspired. My current favorites tracks are Bend the Clock and The Shadow Man Incident.

I feel like this album is far superior to BC&SL (and even Systematic Chaos). I only mention this due to ongoing comparisons I've seen + that being the last Portnoy album before the split.

Apart from The Count of Tuscany-- I never found any of the other tunes to be exceptional. They have some great sections, but everything felt a bit lacking. I also think The Shattered Fortress works best as a conclusion to the 12 Step Suite when listed to seamlessly -- on it's own, it's probably my least favorite entry. The band was definitely a bit burned out at that point and needed a break.

[PixelDream]

I still really like Night Terror a lot, that instrumental section is one of the most eventful ones they've come up with. From my first impressions The Shadow Man Incident is up there as well.

[macneil]

I think my only real gripe is that JR is a bit buried more than I would like in parts of this, HOWEVER his latin-y solo in The Shadow Man Incident is absolutely amazing and one of my favourite JR solos in quite some time. It sounds very In the Name of God.

[hefdaddy42]

Has it been mentioned anywhere why there are no lyrics from Myung on this album? I know that late in the Portnoy 1.0 era he stopped contributing lyrics because of the rule that lyrics needed to be presented in a complete form and that just didn't work with the way he wrote - is that rule back in place now that Portnoy is back, or is it just a coincidence that Myung didn't have anything to contribute this time around?

I doubt that rule is back in place, because JP remains the sole producer. 

I would assume that the reason Myung wrote no lyrics for this album is that he didn't want to. 

[genome]

I doubt that rule is back in place, because JP remains the sole producer.

I would assume that the reason Myung wrote no lyrics for this album is that he didn't want to.

He wrote the lyrics for track 6.

[TAC]

He wrote the lyrics for track 6.

Nice!

[goo-goo]

I thought that might end up being the case. What a shame.

Just got the artbook and I'm playing the bluray. The audio clarity on the bluray is way way better compared to the Apple Music stream. The Atmos mix sounds a bit better on the bluray though.

[Mr.Mister]

He wrote the lyrics for track 6.

I hate so much that I actually went to Wiki to check.... well played sir

[faizoff]

I didn't realize until I read on the metal injection website review how the cover mirrors I&W. Girl by a bed with a window. I mean it's not like a real connection but the premise is similar. OMG Hugh Syme totally ripped of the I&W cover!

[TAC]

I didn't realize until I read on the metal injection website review how the cover mirrors I&W. Girl by a bed with a window. I mean it's not like a real connection but the premise is similar. OMG Hugh Syme totally ripped of the I&W cover!

We talked about it when the album was announced.

[faizoff]

We talked about it when the album was announced.

Yeah I'd imagine it must've been talked about back then, nothing escapes the DT fandom's analysis.

[Dedalus]

Honest question, I'm not sure what you're trying to say. That was always true.  If it's being applied now, it doesn't mean that it's wrong to do it now, it means it SHOULD have been done before.

The fact remains, it's not really something we can know, unless we're told (and even then, since there is an element of marketing to all the comments from the band at this stage of the process).

An honest question demands an honest answer.

Well, it seems to me that this kind of warning has come up now, conveniently, because Mike Portnoy is back.

Up until the last album, it was okay if you didn't like what the band was doing, after all, the band without MP wasn't as good as it used to be. But now that he's back, well... if you don't like it, that's certainly your problem. It seems like it wasn't a good idea to remember that it was still "your problem" before. To be completely honest, I think some people thought it was convenient for DT without Mike to be criticized. But now that he's back, it's not convenient anymore.

Anyway, what I can say with absolute certainty is that DTF no longer feels like a comfortable space to criticize the band negatively. At least that's how I felt after ABM. It seemed like an atmosphere of "well, if you don't like it, then you don't belong here." And I can say that it worked for me, because when they released MM I refrained from giving any opinion about it (and up until now I haven't commented on anything about the new album, with the exception of BTC).

Well, an honest answer...

[Dedalus]

The low end is generally just above half as loud as on View to my ears

I think the mix on this album is OK. But I agree that the bass on the previous album is better. I've just listened to some of the View songs and I like the bass there better (in terms of presence in the mix).

But overall, I think the sound is pretty decent.

[Scurvy!Dreams]

Cool album.

[hefdaddy42]

Cool album.

Holy shit!

[Pebsie]

Is it too early to nominate "He woke to a horrible sight" as the worst lyric since "MY MUUUUUUSIIIIIC PLAAAAAAAAAAAYEEEEEEEER"?

That belongs to

Out of my mind, out of my body
Someone's been killed, I am sorry

[ariich]

Anyway, what I can say with absolute certainty is that DTF no longer feels like a comfortable space to criticize the band negatively. At least that's how I felt after ABM. It seemed like an atmosphere of "well, if you don't like it, then you don't belong here."

Well now, this is just nonsense. If you're respectful in expressing your views then all's good. 

Cool album.

Good grief!

[Kyo]

I would assume that the reason Myung wrote no lyrics for this album is that he didn't want to.

Let's not forget that his rather poetic writing style is probably not a great fit if you're expected to stick to the pre-determined topic of the album.

[Stadler]

An honest question demands an honest answer.

Well, it seems to me that this kind of warning has come up now, conveniently, because Mike Portnoy is back.

Up until the last album, it was okay if you didn't like what the band was doing, after all, the band without MP wasn't as good as it used to be. But now that he's back, well... if you don't like it, that's certainly your problem. It seems like it wasn't a good idea to remember that it was still "your problem" before. To be completely honest, I think some people thought it was convenient for DT without Mike to be criticized. But now that he's back, it's not convenient anymore.

Anyway, what I can say with absolute certainty is that DTF no longer feels like a comfortable space to criticize the band negatively. At least that's how I felt after ABM. It seemed like an atmosphere of "well, if you don't like it, then you don't belong here." And I can say that it worked for me, because when they released MM I refrained from giving any opinion about it (and up until now I haven't commented on anything about the new album, with the exception of BTC).

Well, an honest answer...

I'm sorry you feel that way. I can't speak for anyone else, but if I've done anything to promote that feeling, I'm sorry.  I know for me, it's always good to have frank conversations, and there have been some fair criticisms along the way. 

I think for me, it's when the negative opinion seems based on something that isn't something we can know. I'm not saying you, because I can't specifically recall what you didn't like, but for example, the accusations of lazy.  We weren't there.  We don't know.  Look, I haven't even listened to it; I'm going to try tomorrow. I might hate it.  It is what it is.  I just think that as long as we own that we don't like it - and don't try to blame it on a failure of the band - there's not a lot anyone else can say.

[Dedalus]

I'm sorry you feel that way. I can't speak for anyone else, but if I've done anything to promote that feeling, I'm sorry.  I know for me, it's always good to have frank conversations, and there have been some fair criticisms along the way. 

That's OK. I agree that a frank conversation is always a good option.

[TAC]

Calling an album lazy is a lazy argument.

[SeRoX]

Cool album.

Case closed. 

[Jamesman42]

Cool album.

Whoa wtf welcome back

[javidt]

This album is too similar to SC and BC&SL for my taste.

Only Bend the Clock breaks the monotony.

Maybe I've better luck with the next album I find very difficult to listen from start to finish.

[Lepprador]

Night Terror - The hi-hat transition at 3:49 is still the technical standout moment of the album for me.

A Broken Man - The staccato snare fills brutally slap the face.

Dead Asleep - Love the chugging. Chugging is life. 6:21 JP gives JM a moment to breathe.
The first song, I thought could profit from cutting some bars.

Midnight Messiah - That first snare roll again. Wow the bass ! Probably mixed as loud as possible before harming the overall sound. Catchy groovy song.

Bend the Clock - The reverb of the guitar in the beginning is quite frizzly. I don't know if I can like it from a sonic standpoint, but it can't be unintentional. It represents the aura of the shadow man or whatever.
I love Hair Theater. I'd happily take a full 10 song album of Bend the Clock and Barstool Warrior songs. I think Infinity was the right album at its time. Showing a matured face.

The Shadow Man Incident - Endless nights. Probably my most emotional reaction.
Part from 12.20 made me 
Lol, the 24 bit file of TSMI is 643 MB. Worth of a single CD.
How cool can you end an album ?! I just had to start it again.   
Something I can't say about most of the past few albums.   

[YngVai]

Spent the last hour calling record shops all around Chicago trying to snag a copy and everyone's sold out. Good for the boys, bad for me. Also, damn, don't people have jobs?

[DTiwbwMP]

That's OK. I agree that a frank conversation is always a good option.

Music is subjective. My buddy and I agree on almost everything music wise, except he ADORES Pearl Jam while I ABHORE them! While the MM years didn't knock me out (other than ADTOE) imo, it had nothing to do with MMs drumming. He IS a GREAT drummer. I just personally AND SUBJECTIVELY like MPs drumming better. The MAJOR difference TO ME is MP brings SO MUCH MORE to the band than just his phenomenal drumming skills. That's one of the reasons PARASOMNIA is IMO, the best they've done since TOT. Purely a subjective point of view.

[nobloodyname]

Man, Dead Asleep is one of the darkest most depressing songs I've ever heard. The music is awesome but the subject matter drags it down, especially if it's based on a true story. Why would someone want to write a song about that?
I would had rather the sleepwalker be dangling on the edge of a cliff or roof top and live to tell about it. Or end up waking up in the middle of the woods lost and trying to find his way home, while being stalked by a bear or something. Then his wife shakes him and wakes him up. You know,  a dream within a dream..

Why wouldn't they? Curious.