Hi guys, long time lurker, first time poster.
So, with the track listings being revealed, I have to say that I'm really surprised with the majority of the lengths. It definitely doesn't seem like a typical album structure. Having said that, I'm not quite sure whether or not this made me more or less excited for the album. I think a lot of it will have to do with the decision to put Beneath the Surface as the closer. We all know that the closer is supposed to be the giant knockout punch that puts you in a musical coma until the next album, but at only 5:26, I'm not sure if it'll be able to do that. The only other closer in their discography if I'm not mistaken is Space Dye Vest, which was in my opinion by far their most unique song and an overall incredible tune. I'm gonna speculate that they're trying to make Beneath the Surface as kind of another SDV sort of song. Just the title "Beneath the Surface" sounds quite introspective and I'm confident they could come up with some really great lyrics and make it the best it can be.
As for some other songs, I'm not surprised that Breaking All Illusions is the longest one. I actually had a dream a while ago that it was the best and longest song on the album. I still think it will be the best just because it sounds like it would be an epic and it has the length to become one. I heard that this is the Myung song so that makes it even better. The man is 4 for 4 when it comes to making awesome songs and he's written 2 awesome closers. Not to mention, it's been 12 years since he's contributed a song. I'm sure that over the course of a dozen years he managed to think of a real doozy.
The Shaman's Bridge or whatever it's called this week I'm sure will be an awesome song. It's pretty much been confirmed that it's not an instrumental, which kind of bums me out as I really thought this album could use an instrumental. If for whatever reason one of the other songs is an instrumental, awesome. If not, the album will still rock.
Speaking of rock, I now have a very good feeling about Outcry. It sounds like a metal type song, and if it's over 11 minutes, I have high hopes for it.