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

[Stadler]

On the FB group it appears people think it's the best album they've done in decades or is really meh. Not that there are many consensus points when it comes to a band like DT.

I'm really starting to sour on social media opinion; I think MOST things reviewed start to fall out into those two categories.  I think the impetus to actually post is a pretty strong filter to where the consensus goes. I have a theory that people that post GREAT reviews on line want something; they want recognition, they want the affirmation of consensus, they want (gasp!) the band/writer/singer to acknowledge them.  I can't even read the Fish forum any longer because these people are fucking ridiculous. ALWAYS asking for something, and trying to pay in superlatives. 

[TheHoveringSojourn808]

Still listening to Parasom' every day and boy does it just keep getting better and better. My show next week can't come soon enough

[durga2112]

Still listening to Parasom' every day and boy does it just keep getting better and better. My show next week can't come soon enough

Same, except my show is the week after next.

When I first heard that they'd be playing the album in its entirety on the next tour, I was on the fence about it. After having heard the album, I'm pretty sure that's a tour I will want to see - I have a feeling there's more going on in this album than anyone knows about yet, and the visuals on the tour will shed new light on some of the sound effects and themes of the album.

[Dream Team]

My favorite thing about Parasomnia is the one thing I was hoping for the most, which explains a lot of why I like it so much - JP totally upped his game on the riffs and leads, which was the most disappointing part of A View for me. But also MP's drums sound fantastic, James is his usual really good studio self, and Myung can mostly be heard. Only letdown is how buried Jordan is.

[lightningbolt]

I have a theory that people that post GREAT reviews on line want something; they want recognition, they want the affirmation of consensus, they want (gasp!) the band/writer/singer to acknowledge them.  I can't even read the Fish forum any longer because these people are fucking ridiculous. ALWAYS asking for something, and trying to pay in superlatives. 

You may be onto something there.  I used to frequent the main Pearl Jam message board and, although, the discussion was slanted heavily in favor of the band 20 years ago, it wasn't a complete lovefest.  The last few times I've been on it seems every new song they release is an A and rivals the stuff they released at their zenith in the 1990s.  I really would respect someone if they felt that way about a new song or album (I think they've done some cool stuff recently), but it seems way too prevalent of an opinion to be genuine.  When they released an album in 2020 I recall some fan podcast where one of the hosts disliked exactly one song on the album (gasp!).  He still gave that song an 8/10, LOL. 

On the other hand, you go off the main board and it is a feedback loop of negativity.  Needlessly trashing everything the band has done since whenever.  Online NASCAR fans are good at that, trashing the sport no matter what they do.

Another thought on this is that folks who are indifferent about a new album or song may be less likely to post?  I think it is also easier to either gush/praise something or shit all over it.  Nuance can be more difficult and time consuming to explain, at least for me.
 

[PixelDream]

I just love how organic the album feels. MP's drum work breathes, there's so much cohesion and JP's leads and riffs feel as urgent as anything in their catalog. The icing on the cake is a performance by JLB that surpassed my expectations. There are so many memorable vocal lines that are delivered with so much passion. Even after so many plays and now that the initial new car smell has worn off a little: fantastic record.

That 'A Broken Man' theme with the underlying descending arpeggiated chords (that also opens Dead Asleep) is just CLASSIC Dream Theater. My heart fills up with joy every time I hear it. What a nice little composition that is.

[SeRoX]

It is quite surprising for me that how I love that album from the first time I listened it. Because the first two singles didn't do well for me and MM is a quite OK but not great. I even thought the album was going to be a big dissapointment. Glad I was wrong.

When I heard it full I was just blown away by it. It is still growing each listen. Yeah not a classic/masterpiece level but I couldn't ask for more. Bend The Clock is an istant classic for me and even the singles which I didn't like at first now I like them more and more. They work well when you listen the album.

My current fav list

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

[ariich]

I'm really starting to sour on social media opinion; I think MOST things reviewed start to fall out into those two categories.  I think the impetus to actually post is a pretty strong filter to where the consensus goes. I have a theory that people that post GREAT reviews on line want something; they want recognition, they want the affirmation of consensus, they want (gasp!) the band/writer/singer to acknowledge them.  I can't even read the Fish forum any longer because these people are fucking ridiculous. ALWAYS asking for something, and trying to pay in superlatives. 

Well yeah, social media is dominated by people who have Something To Say, and so the more extreme opinions get over inflated. Obviously that's the case to an extent in any online community and we're not immune from it here, but the nature of this place is that we all feel more comfortable commenting in thesr threads with a wider spectrum of views. 

[hunnus2000]

Still listening to Parasom' every day and boy does it just keep getting better and better. My show next week can't come soon enough

Same here but my thing is that I have to listen to it from beginning to end. It just makes more sense to me. I truly enjoy every song!

[Northern Lion]

Well yeah, social media is dominated by people who have Something To Say, and so the more extreme opinions get over inflated. Obviously that's the case to an extent in any online community and we're not immune from it here, but the nature of this place is that we all feel more comfortable commenting in thesr threads with a wider spectrum of views.

This, and social media platforms are designed to "drive engagement" ie, get people to argue with each other.

[Trav]

For me, Priest, Maiden and Metallica all recently made albums that I feel are top tier and worthy of consideration for top 3 and possibly even "favorite" status. DT can certainly achieve the same. Just depends on how the listener connects.

I agree 100%

[TheOutlawXanadu]

For me, Priest, Maiden and Metallica all recently made albums that I feel are top tier and worthy of consideration for top 3 and possibly even "favorite" status. DT can certainly achieve the same. Just depends on how the listener connects.

Very interesting! I agree about Maiden but I personally found it hard to connect with the latest Metallica record (which is maybe a commentary on me more than anything else). I'll need to give it more spins!

[emtee]

For the record, the Maiden albums are TFF and Book Of Souls...both of which I love. Senjutsu I didn't like very much.

[breaktheprisonwall]

I basically agree 100% with this and is where I sit too.

Probably just me, but I really do find this an odd choice of direction as Portnoy's comeback album. I mean, it sounds fine, but it does sound a bit DT by the numbers and not breaking major ground. So if they were gonna play it a bit safer, I thought that mix of prog and heavier akin to ADTOE may be in the pocket of what they would go for - to appeal to the prog and heavier fans...

I had the exact same thought as you did....Parasomnia DOES feel like a *strange* direction to take, given the circumstances surrounding it. While I overall like the album (don't love it), I guess I had higher hopes for what the end result would be given Portnoy's return. He and Petrucci both have given recent interview answers in the vein of "each time we had a lineup change the next thing we put out has been super special", and I guess this album just doesn't feel "super" special, to me at least.

At the end of the day, if the band themselves are happy with it, and it seems like they truly are, that's all that really matters. Nothing any of us say or do is going to influence them at all. I'm personally just happy the band I love is still active and making new music 40 years into their career.

[jayvee3]

I had the exact same thought as you did....Parasomnia DOES feel like a *strange* direction to take, given the circumstances surrounding it. While I overall like the album (don't love it), I guess I had higher hopes for what the end result would be given Portnoy's return. He and Petrucci both have given recent interview answers in the vein of "each time we had a lineup change the next thing we put out has been super special", and I guess this album just doesn't feel "super" special, to me at least.

At the end of the day, if the band themselves are happy with it, and it seems like they truly are, that's all that really matters. Nothing any of us say or do is going to influence them at all. I'm personally just happy the band I love is still active and making new music 40 years into their career.

Agree completely mate. I love the band and have been there from early, when I&W was my first album. I - like you - just love that the band keep putting out quality material for us, and I'm so glad to see many really enjoying it Parasomnia.

I too just probably had higher hopes of something at least a little more balanced between prog and metal, which is what they do really well and seems like many fans like it in that space. When it's a bit of an onslaught, there's not much room to move if you aren't digging the direction 👍

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

I guess I had higher hopes for what the end result would be given Portnoy's return. He and Petrucci both have given recent interview answers in the vein of "each time we had a lineup change the next thing we put out has been super special", and I guess this album just doesn't feel "super" special, to me at least.

I get what you mean, but after 16 studio albums (plus a pretty mighty number of Portnoy collaborations with other artists) what can be said about a DT album that truly feels like those 2 ounces of magic? To me, the last truly special and super inspired album was ADTOE (that was even "critiqued" by Portnoy back in the day because of a Thiago Campos analysis of it being identical to I&W on his old forum, remember that?) and I think that makes sense because back in 2011 DT had to prove to the world and their fanbase that they still had it and they could carry on without Mike Portnoy. The hype was nuts back then, and although some people got off the ship, the band did just fine.

Fast-forward to the present day, DT really doesn't have anything to prove to their fanbase anymore. Their status as the biggest Progressive Metal band of all time (based on numbers, of course) is pretty much written in stone by this point. I don't feel they needed to make "Parasomnia" as special as I&W, SFAM or ADTOE were back in their time because although the album happened after a line-up change, the formula was still there and as it has been mentioned plenty, the album truly feels like it fits right after Black Clouds in the catalog (with the sporadic style of Mangini era DT throughout some songs, which to me honest made me really glad because DT did some incredible stuff during those 13 years).

I'm pretty convinced they're going to ride off into the sunset by putting out a few more albums, pretty much in their safe vein of musical style with the sporadic experimentation (I feel like The Astonishing was the last truly experimental and different album we're going to get from them) and they're going to be just fine by doing so. They deserve it, I don't think they need to work so hard anymore to please their insufferable fanbase (sorry, but sometimes we are insufferable).

I don't think Parasomnia is up there with I&W, SFAM or ADTOE but it's a very cohesive and familiar experience that makes me glad we got some more music from the 5 musicians I so deeply admired and loved during my teens and my early adult years. I wouldn't change nothing about this release and unlike you I don't feel Parasomnia is a strange direction to take regarding the "stakes" of having Portnoy back because this album has the things that make Portnoy special in the songwriting department: nuggets, themes, references and overall arching concept. This is classic DT at its core, even if the music is not as "memorable" as the already mentioned albums because they were not only successful because of their awesome tracks but because they were released under very specific circumstances in very important and key periods of their careers.

Sorry for the absurdly long post, but I felt like chiming in for a bit.

[Northern Lion]

Very interesting! I agree about Maiden but I personally found it hard to connect with the latest Metallica record (which is maybe a commentary on me more than anything else). I'll need to give it more spins!

I really like the new Metallica album, but I don't think it is as good as Death Magnetic.  That, to me, is a modern classic.

[Glasser]

I get what you mean, but after 16 studio albums (plus a pretty mighty number of Portnoy collaborations with other artists) what can be said about a DT album that truly feels like those 2 ounces of magic? To me, the last truly special and super inspired album was ADTOE (that was even "critiqued" by Portnoy back in the day because of a Thiago Campos analysis of it being identical to I&W on his old forum, remember that?) and I think that makes sense because back in 2011 DT had to prove to the world and their fanbase that they still had it and they could carry on without Mike Portnoy. The hype was nuts back then, and although some people got off the ship, the band did just fine.

Fast-forward to the present day, DT really doesn't have anything to prove to their fanbase anymore. Their status as the biggest Progressive Metal band of all time (based on numbers, of course) is pretty much written in stone by this point. I don't feel they needed to make "Parasomnia" as special as I&W, SFAM or ADTOE were back in their time because although the album happened after a line-up change, the formula was still there and as it has been mentioned plenty, the album truly feels like it fits right after Black Clouds in the catalog (with the sporadic style of Mangini era DT throughout some songs, which to me honest made me really glad because DT did some incredible stuff during those 13 years).

I'm pretty convinced they're going to ride off into the sunset by putting out a few more albums, pretty much in their safe vein of musical style with the sporadic experimentation (I feel like The Astonishing was the last truly experimental and different album we're going to get from them) and they're going to be just fine by doing so. They deserve it, I don't think they need to work so hard anymore to please their insufferable fanbase (sorry, but sometimes we are insufferable).

I don't think Parasomnia is up there with I&W, SFAM or ADTOE but it's a very cohesive and familiar experience that makes me glad we got some more music from the 5 musicians I so deeply admired and loved during my teens and my early adult years. I wouldn't change nothing about this release and unlike you I don't feel Parasomnia is a strange direction to take regarding the "stakes" of having Portnoy back because this album has the things that make Portnoy special in the songwriting department: nuggets, themes, references and overall arching concept. This is classic DT at its core, even if the music is not as "memorable" as the already mentioned albums because they were not only successful because of their awesome tracks but because they were released under very specific circumstances in very important and key periods of their careers.

Sorry for the absurdly long post, but I felt like chiming in for a bit.

Great post! I agree with it as well. I've been saying the same sentiment that they have nothing more to prove. We have enough technical insanity we need from them so I just revisit older albums for that fix. They're getting older and MP did say in a recent interview how physically demanding their music is so I see them doing another album or 2, if we're lucky, and as you said, riding off into the sunset. I can't see JLB doing much more touring, especially after this one. Bottom line is I love DT and am grateful for everything they have done, and hopefully will do.

[breaktheprisonwall]

I get what you mean, but after 16 studio albums (plus a pretty mighty number of Portnoy collaborations with other artists) what can be said about a DT album that truly feels like those 2 ounces of magic? To me, the last truly special and super inspired album was ADTOE (that was even "critiqued" by Portnoy back in the day because of a Thiago Campos analysis of it being identical to I&W on his old forum, remember that?) and I think that makes sense because back in 2011 DT had to prove to the world and their fanbase that they still had it and they could carry on without Mike Portnoy. The hype was nuts back then, and although some people got off the ship, the band did just fine.

Fast-forward to the present day, DT really doesn't have anything to prove to their fanbase anymore. Their status as the biggest Progressive Metal band of all time (based on numbers, of course) is pretty much written in stone by this point. I don't feel they needed to make "Parasomnia" as special as I&W, SFAM or ADTOE were back in their time because although the album happened after a line-up change, the formula was still there and as it has been mentioned plenty, the album truly feels like it fits right after Black Clouds in the catalog (with the sporadic style of Mangini era DT throughout some songs, which to me honest made me really glad because DT did some incredible stuff during those 13 years).

I'm pretty convinced they're going to ride off into the sunset by putting out a few more albums, pretty much in their safe vein of musical style with the sporadic experimentation (I feel like The Astonishing was the last truly experimental and different album we're going to get from them) and they're going to be just fine by doing so. They deserve it, I don't think they need to work so hard anymore to please their insufferable fanbase (sorry, but sometimes we are insufferable).

I don't think Parasomnia is up there with I&W, SFAM or ADTOE but it's a very cohesive and familiar experience that makes me glad we got some more music from the 5 musicians I so deeply admired and loved during my teens and my early adult years. I wouldn't change nothing about this release and unlike you I don't feel Parasomnia is a strange direction to take regarding the "stakes" of having Portnoy back because this album has the things that make Portnoy special in the songwriting department: nuggets, themes, references and overall arching concept. This is classic DT at its core, even if the music is not as "memorable" as the already mentioned albums because they were not only successful because of their awesome tracks but because they were released under very specific circumstances in very important and key periods of their careers.

Sorry for the absurdly long post, but I felt like chiming in for a bit.

This was very well-written, and I totally see where you're coming from. I, like you, don't think they need to prove anything to anyone at this stage in their career- I guess I maybe took their interview comments at face value when I really shouldn't have. That's a *me* thing, and I'll raise my hand and admit it.

[TheOutlawXanadu]

I really like the new Metallica album, but I don't think it is as good as Death Magnetic.  That, to me, is a modern classic.

Death Magnetic is kind of a weird experiment. What if you took a band that established an iconic music formula, then they completely ignored that formula for almost 20 years, then had them try to revisit it almost to a tee at a completely different point in their careers? It almost sounds like a 1980s Metallica tribute album... Except it's by Metallica!

[DoctorAction]

I'm really starting to sour on social media opinion

I love not being on any social media (except DTF). 

[MirrorMask]

I really like the new Metallica album, but I don't think it is as good as Death Magnetic.  That, to me, is a modern classic.

What a weird way to spell Hardwired to Self Destruct.

[Glasser]

I love not being on any social media (except DTF). 

Yup! This is my only social media.

The DTF forum is like a sore dick, you can't beat it.

[wolfking]

I love not being on any social media (except DTF). 

Yes, DTF is my only form of social media too.  Fucking cesspool social media is and only really has negative impacts mentally IMO.

[wolfking]

DT really doesn't have anything to prove to their fanbase anymore.

Great post, and to pick out this point, it's spot on.  The boys are older now and at a stage where they can just say, 'fuck it and been there and done that.'  Let them just jam, enjoy themselves and make the music they want to make I say.  Parasomnia is a good album.  I am surprised how much it's growing and picked it up on CD yesterday.  First CD I've purchased in about 8-10 months.  It's not top tier DT but as I said, this late in the game, damn impressive.

I'd be happy with this kind of quality for the rest of their career if it means they are enjoying themselves and keep going on and making new material.  Bring it on I say.

[wolfking]

Yup! This is my only social media.

The DTF forum is like a sore dick, you can't beat it.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

I get what you mean, but after 16 studio albums (plus a pretty mighty number of Portnoy collaborations with other artists) what can be said about a DT album that truly feels like those 2 ounces of magic? To me, the last truly special and super inspired album was ADTOE (that was even "critiqued" by Portnoy back in the day because of a Thiago Campos analysis of it being identical to I&W on his old forum, remember that?) and I think that makes sense because back in 2011 DT had to prove to the world and their fanbase that they still had it and they could carry on without Mike Portnoy. The hype was nuts back then, and although some people got off the ship, the band did just fine.

Fast-forward to the present day, DT really doesn't have anything to prove to their fanbase anymore. Their status as the biggest Progressive Metal band of all time (based on numbers, of course) is pretty much written in stone by this point. I don't feel they needed to make "Parasomnia" as special as I&W, SFAM or ADTOE were back in their time because although the album happened after a line-up change, the formula was still there and as it has been mentioned plenty, the album truly feels like it fits right after Black Clouds in the catalog (with the sporadic style of Mangini era DT throughout some songs, which to me honest made me really glad because DT did some incredible stuff during those 13 years).

I'm pretty convinced they're going to ride off into the sunset by putting out a few more albums, pretty much in their safe vein of musical style with the sporadic experimentation (I feel like The Astonishing was the last truly experimental and different album we're going to get from them) and they're going to be just fine by doing so. They deserve it, I don't think they need to work so hard anymore to please their insufferable fanbase (sorry, but sometimes we are insufferable).

I don't think Parasomnia is up there with I&W, SFAM or ADTOE but it's a very cohesive and familiar experience that makes me glad we got some more music from the 5 musicians I so deeply admired and loved during my teens and my early adult years. I wouldn't change nothing about this release and unlike you I don't feel Parasomnia is a strange direction to take regarding the "stakes" of having Portnoy back because this album has the things that make Portnoy special in the songwriting department: nuggets, themes, references and overall arching concept. This is classic DT at its core, even if the music is not as "memorable" as the already mentioned albums because they were not only successful because of their awesome tracks but because they were released under very specific circumstances in very important and key periods of their careers.

Sorry for the absurdly long post, but I felt like chiming in for a bit.

'Fast-forward to the present day, DT really doesn't have anything to prove to their fanbase anymore'

Hmmm. I wonder how we'd feel about this idea in the immediate aftermath of DreamSonic. At the very least I think DT has something to prove to their promoters and people who book them.

'They deserve it, I don't think they need to work so hard anymore to please their insufferable fanbase'

Also I find this idea very depressing. It makes it sound like they're just packing it in now. They worked hard up until now and they're just kicking back and riding off into the sunset. What am I supposed to make of this reunion if that's the case? It was part friends and family and part cash grab so they can get ready to call it? Their fans -including me - think these guys are among the best,  most professional and serious musicians in the game. That's heartbreaking dude.

[CraftyCaleb2483]

Yes, DTF is my only form of social media too. 

Same here!

[emtee]

C'mon, man, it's not in these guys DNA to pack it in or loaf until retirement. No way. They're going to give everything they have in live shows as well as making new albums.

[MirrorMask]

I'm pretty convinced they're going to ride off into the sunset by putting out a few more albums, pretty much in their safe vein of musical style with the sporadic experimentation (I feel like The Astonishing was the last truly experimental and different album we're going to get from them)

I think / fear that too and it would be a pity.

[durga2112]

I've been saying this for about 20 years now, but I'd still love to hear an acoustic album from them someday - or if not that, then at least something along the lines of Opeth's Damnation, where they dial the metal way down and focus more on their progressive, melodic, and atmospheric sides. I don't know how long they can keep playing heavy, technical music, but I have to believe they'd get at least a few more years in with some softer music.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

I've been saying this for about 20 years now, but I'd still love to hear an acoustic album from them someday - or if not that, then at least something along the lines of Opeth's Damnation/i], where they dial the metal way down and focus more on their progressive, melodic, and atmospheric sides. I don't know how long they can keep playing heavy, technical music, but I have to believe they'd get at least a few more years in with some softer music.

Maybe in another 20 years they'll get around to that acoustic album.

[durga2112]

Maybe in another 20 years they'll get around to that acoustic album.

Hey, if they can keep doing what they're doing for another 20 years, I'm all for it! I just hope they know they'll still have at least one fan if they decide to do something a little mellower someday. 

[Mark Levinson Jr.]

Maybe in another 20 years they'll get around to that acoustic album.

New acoustic material would be really nice. For acoustic versions of old songs, they might fit James's voice in the future. It might be way less obvious that a song's key was lowered when it is being played in an "unplugged" format.

[MoraWintersoul]

I feel like DT is gonna make music that sounds like DT right up until the end. Maybe someone is going to analyze it and find it has become slightly less complex over time, but it's going to check out as DT, and there will be no acoustic or mellow albums. I find it hard to think they will get interested in that idea if they haven't been interested in sprinkling in more acoustic bits so far in their 40-year career.