"LTE with a singer" is basically the only aspect of DT I was never 100% on board with. By the end of MP's tenure too many songs had a solo section clearly conjured in "LTE mode" where the guys would just jam and, I assume, use as solo section whatever came up, at expense of the flow and the mood of the song. Instrumental music is one thing, a proper song is another, and I want a song to flow, and the solo section, as crazy and long as it might be (see Metropolis), to not stray completely away from the mood of the song.
I don't know if this convo will pollute the topic, but I thought about what you said and wanted to split it with a little disagreement :
-I understand what you mean by a solo section that is not constructed in the flow and can result in being a little irritating because you love the song (it's like when there are rappers singing in katy perry's songs lol)
-I would not call these situations "LTE moments", because there is no spontaneity in LTE, musical genius yes, prog mixing styles long songs extravaganza yes, but the top songs aren't jammy or getting far off from root to me.
I should explain this song by song, but this is not the place
My favorite song of all times is when the water breaks.
Pinch of salt for songs like chris & kevin adventures or three minutes warning, that are jammy.
I discovered DT via scenes from a memory, images and words, and LTE 1&2, I prefer them proggy and crazy, I don't even care if they are heavy
Once again tho, I understand what you said