I've always heard it, LTE has always sounded like DT to me, at least post-Moore, but like a jazzier, jammier version with Levin bringing some of that King Crimson vibe. It's because JP on guitar and MP on drums, 2/3 of the core of Dream Theater's first 25 years along with the longest serving keyboardist of the band are basically doing their thing, just not song-oriented, and more instrumental composed stuff mixed with jams. JP's solo stuff reminds me of DT. Even some Neal Morse stuff reminds me of DT on occasion, especially with NMB as the guitars remind me of JP. LTE is the closest thing because 3/4 of the band were in DT at the same time. By contrast, and for the most part, JR's, JLB's, and JM's work outside of DT does not sound like or remind me of Dream Theater.
In general, I agree with what dark shade is saying here. I've always viewed LTE as an extension of DT - especially the composed songs that they've written. Because everybody always loves the family analogy
I'd say that while DT's albums are siblings, the LTE albums are cousins, and JP's solo albums maybe second cousins.
I don't really see any connection to the Neal Morse stuff. If anything, *maybe* the SoA albums could be distantly related. But yeah, when it comes to most of the outside work of JR, JL and JM, they're all completely unrelated. In particular, the Platypus albums - despite featuring 2 (then current) DT members - sounded very different from DT's stuff. Maybe some of JL's stuff on EoP is vaguely connected in a way similar to SoA, but that's all up to individual opinions.
Another thing is that LTE lead directly to JR joining DT. So right or wrong, I will always view LTE as a part of DT.
I have never thought LTE sounded like DT. This new song included.
I mean, you can tell there are some of the same musicians. But the music is different.
There have always been bits and pieces that sounded alike, but a lot of that was due to Jordan’s distinctive sound and style. Most of the similarities are with post-LTE DT. There are a few parts that sound like earlier DT though. JP’s solo in Another Dimension always reminded me of the solo in Scarred. But I think there are plenty of things that make LTE unique from DT.
Funny that you specify Another Dimension - in the past, MP has stated that it's the most DT-like song, which is why they played it in full a number of times during World Tourbulence in 2002.
There are definitely things that separate the two - the obvious one is that DT has vocals while LTE is all instrumental. And then there is the heavy improv aspect of LTE, which is present in DT, but nowhere to the same extent. In fact, when DT was doing the improvised jams in BTL and TLF (and even a few stand alone improvs) on the Train of Thought tour, MP described it as "pure LTE-land". But besides all the recorded improvs on LTE's studio albums (something non-existent on DT's studio albums), there are some things that would seem out of place on a DT album, like Osmosis, the "duets" and the tracks missing JP that have appeared on both albums.
Regarding what Hef said about the music being different, that may be the case, but I'd be willing to say that the composed instrumental tracks - to me - don't sound any less like DT than the songs that appear on The Astonishing. And I'm not saying that in a derogatory way, but from the point that TA sticks out from the rest of DT's catalog as being different. From my viewpoint, I'd say that LTE's stuff is no more different than that.
Topic: New LTE - LTE 3 2021!! (Read 56059 times)
