Self Titled Album Discussion thread [Expect Spoilers]

[reneranucci]

Enigma Machine is booooooooooring... a song with no personality.

The first two tracks are very good, almost excellent.

The Looking Glass is just... there.

[emtee]

Far surpassed any expectation I had. As always the test will be if I want to pull this out a year from now.

But as of this moment I'm totally blown away. This really does harken back to I&W and Awake for me. JR toned it down
except where he is expected to let loose. JP is just a god on this. Amazing guitar work throughout the whole album.
Mix is 10 times better than ADToE. I'm really pretty speechless but how good this is. At this time, on this day, the self titled
album lives up to the hype!!!

Congrats DT.

[Nihil-Morari]

The orchestra is really nicely arranged, I really want to know if Jordan did the arranging too.
But wonderful, the moment it goes back to DT is great, you nearly forget you're listening to a DT record.

Nope, it was written by Jordan but Eren arranged it and conducted the string section in the studio.

They both did a phenomenal job.

Wonderful melody, but the arrangement makes it shine.

Love the ending guitar solo of IT, goosebumps.

[Marion Crane]

99% JP is using an 8 string on FAS

Probably a baritone guitar?

This.

Ehhh...I'm not so sure.  It doesn't have the tone of the baritone.  There is a distinct sound out of that guitar.  (These Walls, Blind Faith, Panic Attack)

This guitar sounds more like an 8 string JP model, if they even made him one.  I could be wrong though.  Just an observation. 

[wasteland]

Hahaha! Jordan is using a patch called 'Communing With Wales' from Omnisphere. I was just playing around with those patches yesterday, and I suddenly heard it pop up in the ambient section of IT.

Wales or Whales? 

[snapple]

Everything is so tight and awesome. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[WildeSilas]

The Enigma Machine sounds like a more boring version of the instrumental sections of The Shattered Fortress.

Super dissappointed with it.

Mangini was the wrong choice people, could be a drum machine for all I know.

ITT JPX demonstrates a staggering lack of drumming comprehension.

Because, yo, some of the shit he's doing in there is just fucking inhuman and memorable all at the same time. Genie - 1, my brain - 0.

[adastra]

I just finished the album! I wasn't dissapointed! :3 It's hard to say this with just one listen but   The best thing about it was the Orchestral section of IT

[PixelDream]

Noooo I was dreaming away during the orchestral section, and then the stream stopped playing.

[Anguyen92]

Wow, a lot of people on.   I guess it means it's time to take a crack at listening to this album.

[lyfeternl]

Wow...that first listen flew by in a flash!

I have nothing but positive things to say about each song. At my current emotionally-high state, I can't rank it as of yet...

All-in-all, there was a load of  followed by  and frequent instances of 

[Hayden]

5 minutes into "Illumination Theory". Probably the most satisfying thing I've heard on this album so far.

[Outcrier]

I'm listening TEI again 

[N4Player]

Halfway through and I am surprisingly disappointed with this album. John Petrucci is saving it for me. TEI and BTV are standing out for me.

[WildeSilas]

Ye gods, this is the most diversity they've demonstrated since SDOIT or possibly I&W. THIS is what progressive music should be. Fantastic.

[aprilethereal]

5 minutes into "Illumination Theory". Probably the most satisfying thing I've heard on this album so far.

Just wait till you hear the orchestral section

[moof]

The bit at the end of IT reminds me of World of Wonders by Beyond the Bridge

[mdietr1ch]

This album is boring me... But that could just mean it's too much to digest on first listen. I'll definitely give it a few more listens before judging.

[Nihil-Morari]

Quite possible best highlights since Six Degrees, but also a lot of songs that I can't even recall 5 minutes after my first listen. Let's see how this will stand the test of time. Illumination Theory alone might get on my top 3 DT songs, but the album? I'm not so sure.

[Elite]

THIS is what progressive music should be. Fantastic.

Haken - The Mountain.

Oh wait, wrong thread.

I'm liking DT12 so far.

[Ultimetalhead]

First major thought on the album as a whole after the first listen: This album has MONSTROUS choruses. They did great with the choruses on ADTOE (Outcry and BITS especially), but they really knocked it out of the park here.

[reneranucci]

The Bigger Picture is good in all the sections James is not singing. I think I have grown not to like his voice at all.

[SystematicThought]

Is it just me or does the beginning of Surrender to Reason sound like a slowed down version of the opening riff of The Enemy Inside?

[JPX]

The Enigma Machine sounds like a more boring version of the instrumental sections of The Shattered Fortress.

Super dissappointed with it.

Mangini was the wrong choice people, could be a drum machine for all I know.

ITT JPX demonstrates a staggering lack of drumming comprehension.

Because, yo, some of the shit he's doing in there is just fucking inhuman and memorable all at the same time. Genie - 1, my brain - 0.

I know exactly what I'm listening to. TEM is flat and the drumming shows me nothing.

This album could be the end of my wonderful relationship with DT. I was expecting it to a degree but it is being realized.

[Progmetty]

I can't believe the "DT12" stuck, the dumbest fuckin option we could have went with.
I'm pretty excited about streaming when I get home, seems like most people are enjoying it!

[chwik]

Man, JP knows how to play the guitar! What a monster player that man is!

[eviljust]

This album is boring me... But that could just mean it's too much to digest on first listen. I'll definitely give it a few more listens before judging.

Well, yeah. Lot of stuff going in and out.
I really liked it at the very first listening, including Behind The Veil and Enigma Machine that are pretty complex, but there was something so captivating.

The Enigma Machine sounds like a more boring version of the instrumental sections of The Shattered Fortress.

Super dissappointed with it.

Mangini was the wrong choice people, could be a drum machine for all I know.

ITT JPX demonstrates a staggering lack of drumming comprehension.

Because, yo, some of the shit he's doing in there is just fucking inhuman and memorable all at the same time. Genie - 1, my brain - 0.

I know exactly what I'm listening to. TEM is flat and the drumming shows me nothing.

This album could be the end of my wonderful relationship with DT. I was expecting it to a degree but it is being realized.

This.

[jdprsaga]

On the bigger picture right now. my thoughts so far..

#1. The guitar sound!!! holy s!!! just like he described!!! creamy, rich and layered!
#2. I love DT albums with short songs and one or two over 10min.. It really do it for keeps me really interested.
#3. I'm liking the mix and drum sound... i have no problems with it.


Wow just got to the break at the bigger picture.. (5:00 mark) and I loved it.

[Dimitrius]

Not a fan of the mix, also, where's the bass?

[PixelDream]

OMG Illumination Theory is one of the greatest things they've EVER done!

[SeRoX]

I guess I can cry like a child while listening IT 16:10 - 18:00 section. James sounds amazing and hits to you right to the heart with his emotional voice.

[PixelDream]

Hahaha! Jordan is using a patch called 'Communing With Wales' from Omnisphere. I was just playing around with those patches yesterday, and I suddenly heard it pop up in the ambient section of IT.

Wales or Whales? 

Oh.. uh Whales it is

[Infinite Cactus]

I'm kind of in shock at how much I loved this after 3 listens.

[Jaq]

DAT BASS UNDER THE SOLO ON THE LOOKING GLASS. 

[PixelDream]

John Petrucci upped his game AGAIN?