Best portnoy parts

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

The thing is, when someone asks for the 'best MP parts,' and the replies are 'none,' 'fills we've heard 1,000 times,' or 'Lars could play that,' and so on — it gets a bit exhausting. The person was just looking for some fun answers, and that's it? The unfair treatment of Mangini doesn't have to be a validating factor to keep this shtick going forever. I hope.

Of course, criticism is fine, but we've already covered that extensively in every thread. When the title simply asks for some good parts, and every discussion still circles back to the same rehashed arguments — I don't know, it just feels done.

I'm a fan of DT regardless of the era, and it's fun to see someone rank DT12 and TA as their favorites while putting SFAM and SDOIT at the bottom. I don't get it, but I love that DT can have that effect.

Well in fairness the question was what are the standout parts. My sincere opinion is that there aren't any and I explained why. Ironically I said nothing about Lars; it was someone else using him as a standard of 'gee was MP really THAT bad that he's like Lars?'

What's happening is quite simple. For over a decade, the 3 total dream theater fans who greatly preferred the prior line up were in the opposite position. So every topic was fair game including where MM placed his cymbals, playing the bass line with the bass drum and how unnecessary that is, the awful mixes and his awful drum sound etc, because the majority preferred a different line up. Now the shoe is on the other foot and *some* people who are very happy with the lineup change are like 'can't we all just be happy or shut up?' because their desired outcome was achieved.

The band just released new music 2 weeks ago and I don't think commenting on it is like beating a dead horse. I just can't promise we'll all have positive things to say about MP's performance or we'll say nothing at all. I try to be specific and fair in stating my opinion, as it's nothing personal. I'm not starting these threads. I'm simply chiming in with my 2 cents.

[Progmaniac1988]

I'm surprised how much double bass he plays on the album too. Some really cool patterns, and just really fast bursts of double bass that I'm not really used to MP playing. I feel he always had some double bass moments on past albums, but I'd say his double bass drum playing on Parasomnia is very consistent and I'd say improved. I hope he plays a lot of it close to the album live!

[durga2112]

Damn, this forum must be fun at parties!

DTF at a party:



I kid, I kid - I don't even get invited to parties! 

[Jamesman42]

Embrace it

[Progmaniac1988]

Well in fairness the question was what are the standout parts. My sincere opinion is that there aren't any and I explained why. Ironically I said nothing about Lars; it was someone else using him as a standard of 'gee was MP really THAT bad that he's like Lars?'

What's happening is quite simple. For over a decade, the 3 total dream theater fans who greatly preferred the prior line up were in the opposite position. So every topic was fair game including where MM placed his cymbals, playing the bass line with the bass drum and how unnecessary that is, the awful mixes and his awful drum sound etc, because the majority preferred a different line up. Now the shoe is on the other foot and *some* people who are very happy with the lineup change are like 'can't we all just be happy or shut up?' because their desired outcome was achieved.

The band just released new music 2 weeks ago and I don't think commenting on it is like beating a dead horse. I just can't promise we'll all have positive things to say about MP's performance or we'll say nothing at all. I try to be specific and fair in stating my opinion, as it's nothing personal. I'm not starting these threads. I'm simply chiming in with my 2 cents.

Well I personally never was on the whole bashing MM wagon. I think he did a fantastic job. He was great for the band, and we got albums we never would have gotten if he never joined. This is coming from a MP fan! I'd go as far to say he's the highlight of view. I love the differences both these drummers bring to DT and I'm looking forward to what we will be getting next now that MP is back. We should all be grateful that this band is still going strong!

Two wrongs don't make a right dude... fuck all those people that talked shit about Mangini. Not all of us are like that. Don't be like the people who were  annoying during those years. I feel some of the Mangini fans are trying to get revenge or some shit, and the fact is it just makes whoever does it look like a douche... let's just not condone that behavior. Anyone thinking MM was a problem are idiots and anyone thinking the same abt MP are also idiots. No nice way to say it lol

[Jamesman42]

I was absent for a good chunk of MM's stuff, I missed his last three albums, but going back to listen to them, he was awesome, and I don't get why people complain about him (well, I get it, people need to complain).

[Progmaniac1988]

I was absent for a good chunk of MM's stuff, I missed his last three albums, but going back to listen to them, he was awesome, and I don't get why people complain about him (well, I get it, people need to complain).

Yeah especially on view and DOT, how can anyone complain abt his drums on those albums!? Not crazy about the drum production on dramatic turn, DT12 and Astonishing, but that's not his fault. His performances were all top notch.

Some people just suck and have to put a damper on everything lol.

[hefdaddy42]

Some people just suck and have to put a damper on everything lol.

Well, yeah, there is that element lol

I never had any issue with fans or other people who listened to the MM albums and just honestly didn't like them.  But some people just decided ahead of time that they WOULDN'T like them and never gave them an honest chance.

IMO, all 5 of the MM albums were better than the last 3 MP albums before he left.  But that's just me.

[Progmaniac1988]

Well, yeah, there is that element lol

I never had any issue with fans or other people who listened to the MM albums and just honestly didn't like them.  But some people just decided ahead of time that they WOULDN'T like them and never gave them an honest chance.

IMO, all 5 of the MM albums were better than the last 3 MP albums before he left.  But that's just me.

Yeah never understood the people that never even gave them a chance...


Nice man! All 5 More than even Octavarium?

I'd say Dramatic turn is among their best. I love the other 4 too, just not among my fav overall start to finish experiences. All have some of my fav DT moments throughout tho.

Parasomnia may be my fav since Octavarium. I LOVE BCSL but slowly I'm starting to love this new one overall start to finish better as a full album.

Edit- my initial complaint originally abt parasomnia was the chorus's were not as memorable...

But now I'm freaking singing along to every one! lol they really grew on me!

[TheCountOfNYC]

One of my favourite parts on the album is at 11:00 in "The Shadow Man Incident". It's so brief, and I'm not sure if phaser or flanger is the correct term, but I love the effect on the drums here.

I believe that's a phaser. I love when bands do that to drums in post production. Disturbed did it on the opening drum fill in their song Perfect Insanity and Blink-182 famously did it on the intro groove of their song Feeling This. It's such a cool effect to add some extra flair to an isolated drum part, and I love Dream Theater's use of it here as well.

[CraftyCaleb2483]

One of my favourite parts on the album is at 11:00 in "The Shadow Man Incident". It's so brief, and I'm not sure if phaser or flanger is the correct term, but I love the effect on the drums here.

It's flanger I think, phaser is more of a stereo effect but that one was straight down center. Even though flanger is generally harder to hear than phaser, the modulation is the same as you would get if you boost the mix and the feedback/resonance (not sure if they're the same but my effects units use resonance but others use feedback so I would presume so)

[hefdaddy42]

Nice man! All 5 More than even Octavarium?

Yeah.  The song Octavarium ranks in my top 3 or 4 DT songs, but the rest of the album is not that great IMO.

[Xaves]

The main reason I got into DT was MP's drum parts and that has led me to analyze the drums in pretty much any DT song at least once.
I love MPs drumming but on Parasomnia, I feel like a lot of the fills were repetitive and you heard the same ones in each song. Not that that is a bad thing but I'd at least like a bit more variety.

On a different note I played Night Terror on drums yesterday, and my golly what a beast of a song.   

[nick_z]

Sticking to the thread's theme...

"In the Arms of Morpheus"...love the little Take the Time-like pattern (the one at the very end of TTT's second chorus) MP does under JP's solos - first around 4:15 (the Shadow Man Incident reference), then again around 4:53 (the Bend the Clock reference) .

[Max Kuehnau]

IMO, all 5 of the MM albums were better than the last 3 MP albums before he left.  But that's just me.

Absolutely and it's not just you (but you'd guess I 'd mention this, you've known me long enough for that  ), and there are more people loving MM era DT than some might think I'm sure

[hefdaddy42]

Absolutely and it's not just you (but you'd guess I 'd mention this, you've known me long enough for that  ), and there are more people loving MM era DT than some might think I'm sure

Yes I knew you would echo that lol