What does this sub think of A View From The Top of the World as an album?

[Misirlou]

Yes, the lead single won a Grammy, but apart fom that and maybe Mangini´s drumming, it´s not really a record that I´ve seen talked about much, especially now with Parasomnia and Portnoy´s big return overshadowing it.

It´s a pretty good album, gotta say, I like how relentless it is. It´s not their heaviest but it might be their most pedal to the metal one, as in, there´s not really much room to breathe. It might also be their single most technical one.

It´s not my favorite, but I revisited it and really had a blast.

[TheCountOfNYC]

I loved the album when it first came out but now I think it's a middle of the pack album for them. I'd say it's my third favorite album from the Mangini era, with A Dramatic Turn of Events and The Astonishing both in front of it.

[durga2112]

It grew on me more than perhaps any other album in their catalogue. There are quite a few albums that I loved right out of the gate and subsequently cooled off on, as well as a few that I continue to rank amongst my all time favourite albums. This one, by contrast, slowly but steadily grew on me and now sits right around the middle of my Dream Theater album rankings. The title track in particular REALLY ended up taking off for me, to the point that I would sometimes just play side 4 of the vinyl over and over just to keep hearing it.

It's too bad that it ended up being Mangini's last album with the band, but at the same time it's oddly appropriate because it stands as such a towering achievement.

And by the way, both the title track and "Awaken the Master" came off amazing in concert. 

[pg1067]

This ain't Reddit.

Nothing from the album really grabbed me, but I feel like I still need to spend more time with it.  The thing is, though, that Parasomnia has grabbed me, so I've been spending a ton of time with it, so I'm not sure when I'll get back to View.

[TAC]

What's a sub?

[Misirlou]

I apologize, it's forum, not sub lol.

[DTiwbwMP]

BELOW average album....WORST epic they've ever done....GRAMMY win for a BAD song. Obviously, I'm not a fan of the album. 6/10 at best.

[Dream Team]

BELOW average album....WORST epic they've ever done....GRAMMY win for a BAD song. Obviously, I'm not a fan of the album. 6/10 at best.

Below average still gets a 6/10 . . . that's actually pretty positive, I expected you to say 3/10.

[DTiwbwMP]

Below average still gets a 6/10 . . . that's actually pretty positive, I expected you to say 3/10.

Below average for DT

[SeRoX]

It's just a big MEH.

Sonically best from MM era, Musically worst from MM era.

[CraftyCaleb2483]

Could this be put in the AVFTTOTW thread please? 

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

It's a grower. I thought it was good to very good when it came out and now I think it's an amazing record.

It's one of their most consistent albums, so there are no clunkers. Maybe the one negative thing I could say is it doesn't have an immediate single or hit. Parasomnia has Bend the Clock, DoT has BSW, but View doesn't really have a song like that.

It's their best sounding record, with the best drumming by far. It's a high octane album that's extremely heavy but also progressive. They're in their 50s and sound like they have more energy than a band 30 years younger. I think it's a gem in the discography but my sense is that the broader forum thinks it's just alright.

There's a whole View thread you can check out if you want to get a sense of what people here were thinking. Broadly speaking the Alien was thought of as fine (but just DT by the book) and Invisible Monster was universally disliked as the second single.

[Max Kuehnau]

(but just DT by the book)

absolutely not  (and you'll notice this immediately when you listen closely), this applies to the entire album

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

absolutely not  (and you'll notice this immediately when you listen closely), this applies to the entire album

Yeah, probably one reason why it I found it to be a grower. What makes it unique isn't something immediately noticeable or a major shock like the Astonishing.

[WilliamMunny]

It's a grower. I thought it was good to very good when it came out and now I think it's an amazing record.

It's one of their most consistent albums, so there are no clunkers. Maybe the one negative thing I could say is it doesn't have an immediate single or hit. Parasomnia has Bend the Clock, DoT has BSW, but View doesn't really have a song like that.

It's their best sounding record, with the best drumming by far. It's a high octane album that's extremely heavy but also progressive. They're in their 50s and sound like they have more energy than a band 30 years younger. I think it's a gem in the discography but my sense is that the broader forum thinks it's just alright.

There's a whole View thread you can check out if you want to get a sense of what people here were thinking. Broadly speaking the Alien was thought of as fine (but just DT by the book) and Invisible Monster was universally disliked as the second single.

Nailed my thoughts to a T.

[dualpalmpilots]

I think View will go down as one of the more underrated albums in the catalogue. There are no skips. Even a song like an Invisible Monster which is pretty by the book is very solid for what it is.

[durga2112]

Maybe the one negative thing I could say is it doesn't have an immediate single or hit. Parasomnia has Bend the Clock, DoT has BSW, but View doesn't really have a song like that.

What about "Transcending Time"?

[WilliamMunny]

What about "Transcending Time"?

Great song that is held back from being top-tier by a completely out-of-place solo (IMO).

Man, I love, love, love JP to death, but if someone wanted me to explain why I've grown disinterested with his lead playing in recent years, "Transcending Time" would be my first example. It's like the same vibe as "Innocence Faded," but his approach from a lead playing stand-point on those two songs is pretty night and day...at least, to my ears.

[hefdaddy42]

What does this sub think of A View From The Top of the World as an album?

Also, what does your dom think of it?

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

What about "Transcending Time"?

Great song, but I don't think it has the hook to separate itself from the other songs on the album or vs a BSW. Part of it is also the album is consistent so it's hard to make a truly stand out piece. By comparison DoT is not as consistent and you have a lot more highs and lows.

[nobloodyname]

Also, what does your dom think of it?

I laughed. FFS.

[nobloodyname]

And while I'm here... I think View is solidly solid.

I'm sure you could remove everything bar the drums and some people would tell you it's DT's best album.

[hefdaddy42]

I laughed. FFS.

[KevShmev]

This one took some to really grow on me, but once it did, it came across as pretty damn good.  I think it's the best and most consistent album of the Mangini era.  ADTOE and D/T have higher highs, but the sound of ADTOE really hurts it, and D/T has a few blah tunes.  And as much as I do like The Astonishing, it's way too long, and could have been truly great with some tweaks (Disc 1 is still mostly great as is), but no need to litigate that again.  A View... is a damn fine consistent listen, even with some mediocre lyrics in Invisible Monster not helping its cause.  The Alien, Answering the Call, Transcending Time and Awaken the Master are the highlights for me, and while the epic doesn't touch something like A Change of Seasons when comparing epics, it is still very good overall.

[Northern Lion]

I like View a lot.  There are some songs I don't care for as much like IM, but then there are others that are really amazing.  AVFtTotW is now tied with my favorite epic from the band.  I think it is a masterpiece and I still get chills with that opening.  I think TA deserved the grammy.  I also think it sounds good and it also might be DT's most technical album overall.  They also did some unique things with song arrangements.  I think it is a very good album and a triumphant send off for Mangini.

[MidnightSlice]

It grew on me more than perhaps any other album in their catalogue. There are quite a few albums that I loved right out of the gate and subsequently cooled off on, as well as a few that I continue to rank amongst my all time favourite albums. This one, by contrast, slowly but steadily grew on me and now sits right around the middle of my Dream Theater album rankings. The title track in particular REALLY ended up taking off for me, to the point that I would sometimes just play side 4 of the vinyl over and over just to keep hearing it.

It's too bad that it ended up being Mangini's last album with the band, but at the same time it's oddly appropriate because it stands as such a towering achievement.

And by the way, both the title track and "Awaken the Master" came off amazing in concert. 

Agree this one is a grower. Self-titled was like that for me as well.The songs stay with me the more I listen, especially the title track

[TheOutlawXanadu]

I think it's a really fun, solid DT album. It sounds great. Mangini was unleashed. It has a loose theme tying everything together.

I can't quite put my finger on why, but Parasomnia has already started losing some of its luster for me. By contrast, I enjoyed View more and more the longer it was out.