I still can't understand what so many people don't seem to like about the production of DT12, and it remains my favorite MM-era album.
Agreed, it's my favorite MM-era album too. I guess the drum sound is not exactly my favorite, but honestly it doesn't detract from my enjoyment of the album.
It does for me if I listen to it one song after another. I enjoy most of the songs a lot (except for Along for the Ride, which I don't find bad, but pretty average) if they come up on shuffle, but too many songs from the album in a row is tough to take, with Mangini's drums sounding so clanky and like something I would have heard in an old Nintendo game.
Since you mentioned the shuffle situation, that's a good example on how to feel the difference in the drum sound. If I'm listening DT on shuffle and a song from this album comes up, the difference in the drum mix from almost any other DT album is HUGE for me, in a bad way. Actually in such a bad way it makes me want to skip the song, even if I like it, which is the case for some of them.
Now, if I start listening the album from the top, with False Awakening Suit, it seems that I don't feel it that much. Almost like this intro also works as a way to digest the drum mix a little better. Not that it becomes good, it just doesn't bother as much for me. But this an album which I listen very little, although some of the songs are truly great like The Bigger Picture (one of my top 10 DT songs), The Enemy Inside and Surrender to Reason (I hope they play this song live one day, such a cool little song).