Count me in the "love it" camp. I love it as a musical AND as a musical record.
Also count me in the "slightly too many slower cuts in ACT I" than makes it run a bit long...but I can see the fit in the story. I have a feeling a couple might find the skip button in the future...but...out of 34 tracks...that's pretty impressive.
A couple of thoughts:
There is so much Pink Floyd influence in this - love it. WAY more like the Wall than Operation Mindcrime. That makes me happy. The end of A New Beginning. JP Gilmore.
The songs focus on the relationships between the characters, rather than than a relatively ubiquitous plot.
Will James channel his inner Peter Gabriel when performing it live? Costume changes, moving around the stage to sing the different parts ALA Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. I haven't pined for a live show this much in a LONG time. (Oh April 19th how you seem so far away)
I love the production and sound of the Album - honestly I think its my favorite sounding album ever by them. I am a HUGE JP fan. Have been since '92. But he's so much more powerful as a player without the wall of guitar sound that was so dominant on SC, BCSL and especially DT12 (I loved the DT12 songs on BTFW when the mix was more even with JR).
How much does Beck's Dad rock? The orchestration is absolutely awesome, sits well in the mix and adds to the power of the song. Especially in cuts like A tempting Offer. I totally see where Beck gets the musical genius gene.
Songs I love (MoB and TGOM would both be in this, though I listened those to death before this came out)
Dystopian Overture - awesome and perfect length. This one is in the same league as 1928 and SDOIT.
The whole scene at the Square - set up so well - introduces the characters. I love the Van Hagar guitar/keyboard unison and solo in "When your time has come" and 3 days is gold. I like Act of Faythe in the context...but I hate to say it...this might be the one that gets skipped...a lot like Goodnight Kiss in SDOIT - I love it in theory...but I always skip to the instrumental when I listen to it.
A life Left Behind - the intro - and the song behind it.
Chosen - I should find this absolutely cheesy and it's yet another slow song...and I feel like I've heard it before...but I love it!
A Tempting Offer - really cool mood. Nice progression.
A New Beginning - Prog candy, great groove. Awesome hooks. Great use of multiple characters . The distored Hammond Organ groove from Gift of Music. The unison playing Those double-bass fills...damn... Like someone else said, I could listen to 3 hours more of that solo at the end. JP and David Gilmore need to do a show together and trade-off on this groove. Seems a little more like an act I closer than Road to revolution.
Heaven's Cove - My favorite moment and biggest gripe rolled into one. When james starts singing "Under the glow..." I get the tingles...possibly my favorite DT vocal groove of all time...followed by an awesome hook....but they never come back to it!!!
Walking Shadow/Last Farewell - Epic, powerful, awesome.
Hymn of 1000 Voices - This is the 11th hour full cast unison song if it ever makes the stage. Great use of the choir.
Our New World - someone else said it's a hit in 1992. I fully agree. Another stud song. Perfectly reprises A Savior in the Square. Ear Candy.