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

[The Letter M]

They should call it Awake. Surely they haven't used that title yet.

And maybe they can include a bunch more old movie quotes since they did some in Parasomnia!

-Marc.

[BeatriceNB]

Same unfortunately. When I'm in the mood for a ballad I'll throw on Bend the Clock. Outside of that this is probably the worst replay value I've ever gotten from a DT album at this point. Hopefully seeing them do it live will change that.

I agree. I feel like I have uncovered most of it, and I don't want to return, unless I happen to be in the mood for that kind of music, which hasn't happened since a few days after release.

[Ben_Jamin]

Listening again and I think I can rate the songs now...

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

I will say I am enjoying this album the more I listen to it.

Dead Asleep is the song that I feel best represents DT right now. It has that old classic feel, but also blends in the 5 recent album tones. JLB also sounds fantastic. I think it'll be one of the highlights when it gets played live.

[KevShmev]

When you get to a certain age, that happens actually fairly frequently. And doesn't always last forever. 

The number of bands that have sort of lost their place in the listening order for me is as long as my arm.  Sometimes they come back (Deep Purple), sometimes they don't (Scorpions)

Very, very true.  Plus, I just listen to so many bands/artists now that it is hard for any single one to dominate my listening time for too long.  Dream Theater still gets plenty of love in my CD player (they are mostly all I listened to for about a week after Parasomnia came out, given or take), but they just don't own it for months anymore.  Even Rush, my all-time favorite band, has become one that I don't revisit much anymore.

[emtee]

Just finished listening to DOT, View and Parasomnia. Hell of a 3 album run. Out of all those songs I only dislike Room 137. All 3 have excellent production as well. If I'm being honest about my preferences at this stage, I would have to go all the way back to I&W, Awake and FII for a better 3 album run.

[MirrorMask]

One more listening today and yeah it's pretty enjoyable all the way through. "People just don't have the time for music anymore" but I love albums that are meant to be heard from the start to the end as a conceptual piece.

My only complaint is about the general same-y feel of the heavy songs. Not only they are all heavy and dark and brooding in mood, they're also the same length give or take, and that's because they have the same general structure. No song sounds like the other one, but give or take some details it always goes with the intro, the main riff, the theme of the riff being expanded upon in a sort of short instrumental intro to the song, back to the main riff for the vocals to come in; verse, chorus, verse, chorus, long solo section, final chorus, outro. Rinse and repeat four time in a row. After an album that already had four another heavy songs done in the same way.

Random favorite moments:
- The actual intro of Morpheus, the alarm sounds with the heavy riffs will be BRUTAL live!!!
- The back-and-forth vocal tradeoff in Broken Man with James and Mike
- The cool as heel intro of Dead Asleep and generally the catchiness of the verses
- "This circle I can't break... every night lie comatose but wide awake" from Bend the Clock
- The two sole occourences of the chorus in Shadow Man

A not so favorite part is the lyrics to Midnight Messiah; sometimes the DT references flow smoothly, some other times they feel absolutely forced (Forevermore blistering out of control, I'm looking at you).

[Wim Kruithof]

Just finished listening to DOT, View and Parasomnia. Hell of a 3 album run. Out of all those songs I only dislike Room 137. All 3 have excellent production as well. If I'm being honest about my preferences at this stage, I would have to go all the way back to I&W, Awake and FII for a better 3 album run.

Interesting take and I follow you. I also only dislike Room 137 (Mangini drums way better than he's lyrically) and pretty much love all else.

[mrpmrpmrpmrp]

It just occurred to me listening to Shadow Man that James LaBrie is entering his Canadian Ozzy era and I'm all here for it.

[BeatriceNB]

Interesting take and I follow you. I also only dislike Room 137 (Mangini drums way better than he's lyrically) and pretty much love all else.

I said it somewhere else, but I don't think the lyrics of R137 are bad, the music is
Something about the vocal melodies and the riffs with the toms irritates the hell out of me. The response (parentheses) lyrics also annoy me. The Beatles part as well.
Lyrics? They're ok, I think.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

I said it somewhere else, but I don't think the lyrics of R137 are bad, the music is
Something about the vocal melodies and the riffs with the toms irritates the hell out of me. The response (parentheses) lyrics also annoy me. The Beatles part as well.
Lyrics? They're ok, I think.

I really like the lyrics and the theme. The primary musical idea obsesses over a diminished scale which is just hard to make broadly appealing music with.

[BeatriceNB]

I really like the lyrics and the theme. The primary musical idea obsesses over a diminished scale which is just hard to make broadly appealing music with.

That's cool to know, I didn't notice. Although the scale is not one of my issues with the song

[MoraWintersoul]

My only complaint is about the general same-y feel of the heavy songs. Not only they are all heavy and dark and brooding in mood, they're also the same length give or take, and that's because they have the same general structure. No song sounds like the other one, but give or take some details it always goes with the intro, the main riff, the theme of the riff being expanded upon in a sort of short instrumental intro to the song, back to the main riff for the vocals to come in; verse, chorus, verse, chorus, long solo section, final chorus, outro. Rinse and repeat four time in a row. After an album that already had four another heavy songs done in the same way.

This is my main complaint as well. I feel kinda crazy that I as a fan know that people enjoy distinct songs more and albums will be more enjoyable with a slightly larger number of distinct songs and these seasoned musicians apparently don't Look at everyone's favorite songs: Bend the Clock and Shadow Man. The two distinct songs. If they had even just one more whimsical song a la Transcending Time on each of these "dark all the time" albums, it would really help those albums to be liked more, but they never do this, it's always one ballad or one lighter toned song. And it makes me feel insane because I feel like an album like Parasomnia is the perfect place to put a song with this kind of magical rollercoaster vibe in major key where the lyrics are about some creepy sleep phenomenon. Along with Bend The Clock it would really help to kind of sell the album to me and have a breather.

[Schurftkut]

just make a 6doit part 2. Fresh experimental songs! each their own identity. I don't understand why people ask for metropolis pt 3 when 6doit outshines that album in diversity and originality!!

[hunnus2000]

just make a 6doit part 2. Fresh experimental songs! each their own identity. I don't understand why people ask for metropolis pt 3 when 6doit outshines that album in diversity and originality!!

How about they make music as they see fit?

[Peter Mc]

I'm fairly happy with all of the songs and the dark tone.  Only thing I would change is to put Bend The Clock before Midnight Messiah.  Like others I feel that the metal onslaught of Night Terror, Broken Man, Dead Asleep and Midnight Messiah is a little too much.

[hunnus2000]

To those who purchased the Blue Ray version, are the visuals worth it? I got the View Blue Ray and loved The Alien visual but even though I love TT, I thought visual was a tad cheesy.

I didn't like A Broken Man when I first heard but better digested without the video and now I see how it fits with the rest of the album and love the song (not the video).

[Peter Mc]

I'm not sure those visualiser things are ever worth it.  People probably want the Blu Ray for the surround sound mixes.  They're ok, the Night Terror one was super creepy from memory, can't remember too much about the others.  I only watched it once.

[Pettor]

This album might be the most consistently solid one from start to finish since TOT for me. Even its lowest points are still quite high. I usually find a song or two that I need to skip or power through, but not here. It's also an album I often put on in the car or at the gym — kind of like D/T, but without the skippable parts.

Over the years, I've come to realize that I was never truly a hardcore prog fan like some people here. I tend to gravitate toward energetic, groovy, and somewhat accessible songs with prog elements. I love thematic albums that connect the dots, and I might just be a sucker for the kind of dramatic melodies DT creates — like the main ABM theme in this one. I honestly think there's a lot of SFAM energy to this album, but without the insane variation that SFAM brings to the table.

I've tried listening to Selling England by the Pound about 20 times, and despite its insanely high praise, I've realized it's just not my thing. Pink Floyd is probably the only band that can pull off that kind of slow, mellow prog and still keep me engaged. 😅

So maybe — just maybe — that's why I enjoy this album so much, while those who prefer more complex, proggy stuff might not. I still think there's a ton of cool material here, but it's layered beneath riffs rather than sprawling soundscapes and intricate structures like in 8V.

By the way, ABM is a major highlight for me. The main theme is fantastic, and the dramatic chorus really grabs me. It's crazy how consistently great LaBrie has become at writing lyrics — he's the GOAT!

[Wim Kruithof]

By the way, ABM is a major highlight for me. The main theme is fantastic, and the dramatic chorus really grabs me. It's crazy how consistently great LaBrie has become at writing lyrics — he's the GOAT!

And the lyrical theme got 'Roger Waters' sprayed all over it, which you - as a Pink Floyd lover as well - must enjoy as much as I do.

[Peter Mc]

By the way, ABM is a major highlight for me. The main theme is fantastic, and the dramatic chorus really grabs me. It's crazy how consistently great LaBrie has become at writing lyrics — he's the GOAT!

I never thought I'd say this but JLB has now possibly become the best lyricist in the band.

[DoctorAction]

I never thought I'd say this but JLB has now possibly become the best lyricist in the band.

Agreed. And he's been the best lyricist for ages, imo.

[wolfking]

This album is warming nicely for me, surprisingly.  Each song seems to get better each listen and MM now actually might be the weakest here.  I really didn't like ABM when it was released but it might actually be my fav at this point.

[Jamesman42]

First earbuds/headphones listen, finally, and ITAOM was crisp and Night Terror sounds really good, even better. Going to trek the whole album before bed, but make sure to give this one a listen on some headphones. Bass comes through nicely as well!

[durga2112]

First earbuds/headphones listen, finally, and ITAOM was crisp and Night Terror sounds really good, even better. Going to trek the whole album before bed, but make sure to give this one a listen on some headphones. Bass comes through nicely as well!

Wait until you get to "Are We Dreaming?" and "The Shadow Man Incident" - I get chills from both of them.

[Jamesman42]

Wait until you get to "Are We Dreaming?" and "The Shadow Man Incident" - I get chills from both of them.

A Broken Man is the current track - this album is clicking much more. I am amped for the last two tracks.

[Glasser]

First earbuds/headphones listen, finally, and ITAOM was crisp and Night Terror sounds really good, even better. Going to trek the whole album before bed, but make sure to give this one a listen on some headphones. Bass comes through nicely as well!

What earbuds do you use? I still use Skull Candy, my ears are so used to them. Parasomnia sounds a little muffled with my earbuds and it's not my earbuds. ToT sounds nice n' crisp.

[Jamesman42]

What earbuds do you use? I still use Skull Candy, my ears are so used to them. Parasomnia sounds a little muffled with my earbuds and it's not my earbuds. ToT sounds nice n' crisp.

Something akin to these Earbuds

Nothing fancy at all but they have great bass, I have a second pair that wrap around my ears but the bass is almost non-existent 

[nobloodyname]

To those who purchased the Blue Ray version, are the visuals worth it? I got the View Blue Ray and loved The Alien visual but even though I love TT, I thought visual was a tad cheesy.

I finally listened to (watched) the Atmos mix on Friday night. It's not worth buying for that mix and I wouldn't say it's worth it for the visuals, either. You'll probably sit through it once.

[genome]

Is there anywhere to get the instrumentals (in a legit manner) outside of buying the boxset?

[Awaken]

First earbuds/headphones listen, finally, and ITAOM was crisp and Night Terror sounds really good, even better. Going to trek the whole album before bed, but make sure to give this one a listen on some headphones. Bass comes through nicely as well!

Most DT albums are 'headphone albums' for me anyway, but Are We Dreaming and Bend the Clock are just perfect with the headphones.  AWD specifically has so much atmosphere that is right up front w the headphones - most of which is lost via speakers (to me). 

[MinistroRaven]

Is there anywhere to get the instrumentals (in a legit manner) outside of buying the boxset?

Use Moises.AI and get isolated tracks

[hunnus2000]

I finally listened to (watched) the Atmos mix on Friday night. It's not worth buying for that mix and I wouldn't say it's worth it for the visuals, either. You'll probably sit through it once.

OK, I only listened to the Blue Ray once or twice so I had high hopes for Parasomnia.

Thanks for the advice!

[dualpalmpilots]

Haven't been able to stop spinning this since the release day. I love this album, man.

[hunnus2000]

OK, I only listened to the Blue Ray once or twice so I had high hopes for Parasomnia.

Thanks for the advice!

Edited for I only watched the Blue Ray for View a couple of times.

[Glasser]

Use Moises.AI and get isolated tracks

This can produce stems???