Your Controversial Opinions on DT

[Ruba]

Free by OSI >>>>>>>>>> Octavarium

I don't know how you can compare these 2 albums, but

I thought they were released on the same year, but apparently Free was on 2006. Oh well, close enough.

[theseoafs]

Can we throw in "cookie monster" too? It seems like both terms have been completely watered down to meaningless by haters.

YES.  That means that DT-side discussion of this video will henceforth be illegal, but honestly that's a price I'm willing to pay.

[Jaffa]

I know I just said that Jordan Rudess keyboard soloes at a circus would be the best thing ever, but now I'm thinking that death metal vocals on Sesame Street would be even better. 

[TheGreatPretender]

I know I just said that Jordan Rudess keyboard soloes at a circus would be the best thing ever, but now I'm thinking that death metal vocals on Sesame Street would be even better.

Well, Sesame Street does have the Cookie Monster. 

[Shine]

James is the most important member of the band.

Seriously, every good album is good *because* James is on point. Obviously this is why Images and Words and Awake are the best albums DT has put out, they were before the food poisoning incident and James doesn't hold back at all on either album.

This is also why the new albums suck. Well, okay, suck may be a harsh choice of words, but nothing after Awake lives up to those first two albums (of the JLB era). If DT want to release a new killer album that will be remembered as fondly as the early ones, they need to push James to give it his all. The only point on the newest album that even comes close is after the orchestral section of IT, "MOTHERS FOR THEIR CHILDREN!!" Yeah, that's the highlight of the album, no doubt. And it's because of James.

Now they just need to write a whole album like that, and we'll be talking.

[j]

Seriously, every good album is good *because* James is on point. Obviously this is why Images and Words and Awake are the best albums DT has put out, they were before the food poisoning incident and James doesn't hold back at all on either album.

This is also why the new albums suck. Well, okay, suck may be a harsh choice of words, but nothing after Awake lives up to those first two albums (of the JLB era). If DT want to release a new killer album that will be remembered as fondly as the early ones, they need to push James to give it his all. The only point on the newest album that even comes close is after the orchestral section of IT, "MOTHERS FOR THEIR CHILDREN!!" Yeah, that's the highlight of the album, no doubt. And it's because of James.

Now they just need to write a whole album like that, and we'll be talking.

James is indeed an important member of the band, and I&W and Awake are indeed the band's best albums.  But I totally disagree with the rest of this.  His vocals do not make or break an album.  And just because he's not screeching at the highest end of his range constantly, or even often, doesn't mean he's not "giving it his all."  That stuff much better serves a song/album when it is present only when called for.

But hey, I guess that's why this opinion is "controversial." 

-J

[Shine]

Seriously, every good album is good *because* James is on point. Obviously this is why Images and Words and Awake are the best albums DT has put out, they were before the food poisoning incident and James doesn't hold back at all on either album.

This is also why the new albums suck. Well, okay, suck may be a harsh choice of words, but nothing after Awake lives up to those first two albums (of the JLB era). If DT want to release a new killer album that will be remembered as fondly as the early ones, they need to push James to give it his all. The only point on the newest album that even comes close is after the orchestral section of IT, "MOTHERS FOR THEIR CHILDREN!!" Yeah, that's the highlight of the album, no doubt. And it's because of James.

Now they just need to write a whole album like that, and we'll be talking.

James is indeed an important member of the band, and I&W and Awake are indeed the band's best albums.  But I totally disagree with the rest of this.  His vocals do not make or break an album.  And just because he's not screeching at the highest end of his range constantly, or even often, doesn't mean he's not "giving it his all."  That stuff much better serves a song/album when it is present only when called for.

But hey, I guess that's why this opinion is "controversial." 

-J

He doesn't necessarily have to be "screeching," so to speak, to make it great. But there absolutely has to be a balance. The more toned-down vocals are good in moderation, but they need to have the higher vocals playing against them, or else it just sounds bland.

I think a lot of this may have to do with the song writing, too. A lot of the "newer" stuff just isn't written to take advantage of his voice. They wrote a lot of music that might have sounded good with a rougher, grittier vocalist (a James Hetflield or a David Draiman), but they just had James sing it. Not everything is bad, ITNOG, TGP, TOT are all really good songs that sound great.

And I'm not trying to say that I don't like anything but I&W, Awake, and a select few other songs. I like Dream Theater as a whole pretty well, there are a few rotten eggs, but by and large Dream Theater is amazing. I just think I&W and Awake are god-teir albums, and everything else falls short of that golden standard that was set back in the early '90s.

[Shine]

I should also add that Moore was the best thing that ever happened to the band. But I don't think that qualifies as a controversial opinion.

[LCArenas]

It's too early to say anything definitive, but so far The Looking Glass > Every song of ADtOE minus Breaking All Illusions and Bridges in the Sky

Damn that song just clicked on me right away

[Implode]

Prophets of War is one of the best songs off of SC.

[Zubb999]

ToT is my least favorite album.
Breaking All Illusions is by far my ultimate favorite song by them.
I tend to listen to their newer stuff.
I jam the hell out of New Millennium!
Constant Motion is my favorite song to play on drums next to Dance of Eternity.
I like every song released by Dream Theater on their studio albums and Change of Seasons.
(Literally every song.)

[Progmetty]

I should also add that Moore was the best thing that ever happened to the band. But I don't think that qualifies as a controversial opinion.

Yes it does, as much as everything else you said 

[BlobVanDam]

I should also add that Moore was the best thing that ever happened to the band. But I don't think that qualifies as a controversial opinion.

Sure it does. Why wouldn't it?

Personally, I think firing Derek and hiring JR was the best thing to happen to the band. The two albums after he joined were the most inspired and amazing albums they've ever released.
KM was fine, but he's hugely overrated here. That's my controversial opinion of the day.
He was good, but nothing special, and some of his lyrics are the worst of those particular albums.

[Kotowboy]

Derek > Kevin.

Kotowboy's Controversial opinion of the day.

Also Falling Into Infinity > Awake.

Kotowboy's Controversial opinion of the day 2.

[BlobVanDam]

Also Falling Into Infinity > Awake.

Considering how often we agree, I don't know why we don't get along better.

I'll agree with this one. And that's not just because of my low opinion of Awake, but also because I regard FII a lot higher than most people. I rank it #4 just behind the big 3 of SDOIT/SFAM/IAW.

[Kotowboy]

Falling Into Infinity has Hell's Kitchen, Hollow Years, Lines In The Sane, Trial Of Tears.

Plus New Millennium - which I really like.

Awake has a better opening trio - but after that it just gets boring as hell for me...

[Ruba]

Prophets of War is one of the best songs off of SC.

What he said.

ToT is my least favorite album.
I jam the hell out of New Millennium!

These too.

[metrojam]

I should also add that Moore was the best thing that ever happened to the band. But I don't think that qualifies as a controversial opinion.

Sure it does. Why wouldn't it?

Personally, I think firing Derek and hiring JR was the best thing to happen to the band. The two albums after he joined were the most inspired and amazing albums they've ever released.
KM was fine, but he's hugely overrated here. That's my controversial opinion of the day.
He was good, but nothing special, and some of his lyrics are the worst of those particular albums.

Don't think that anyone can argue that Jordan isn't a better technical player than Moore but I did prefer Moore's keyboard sounds to Jordan's (but that may just be because of the era and general tones around 20 years ago) But the bottom line was that KM lost his interest (if he even EVER really had any!) in DT's type of music and turned towards quite frankly I.M.O. totally tedious and boring arty farty type music, that bored me to tears, so I'm glad we have Jordan in the band these days and I'm sure the rest of the band is too! Plus his tedious attitude towards DT or his past with them, also shows that he really was never suited to being in DT.

[GentlemanofDread]

Controversial opinion: Derek was the best Keyboardist Dream Theater had.

[adastra]

Controversial opinion: Derek was the best Keyboardist Dream Theater had.

I completely agree!

[Irock]

Upon many listens, I have decided that Dream Theater is Dream Theater's worst album.

[Laich21DT]

I'd take When Dream and Day Unite or Falling Into Infinity over Octavarium (save the title track) and Systematic Chaos any day.

[?]

I'd take When Dream and Day Unite or Falling Into Infinity over Octavarium (save the title track) and Systematic Chaos any day.

[Lucidity]

Upon many listens, I have decided that Dream Theater is Dream Theater's worst album.

Except for WDaDU, I agree. Although a bad album by DT standards is an incredible album by any other standards.

[Outcrier]

Upon many listens, I have decided that Dream Theater is Dream Theater's worst album.

Except for WDaDU, I agree. Although a bad album by DT standards is an incredible album by any other standards.

A bad album by DT is a bad album anyway....the fans just overrate them, there is my controversial opinion 

[marlencrabapple]

I don't think John Petrucci really has an ear for audio fidelity. I'm really disappointed that he gave the okay for the last two albums' mix and master. If there was anything that Mike Portnoy was definitely good at, it was making sure the final product sounded great not only musically, but sonically as well. BC&SL and SC may have compressed to hell and back, but even then they were more dynamic than what we're stuck with for their self-titled album.

[Tick]

James LaBrie sounds goofy singing Blind Faith live.

[Grizz]

Can we throw in "cookie monster" too? It seems like both terms have been completely watered down to meaningless by haters.

YES.  That means that DT-side discussion of this video will henceforth be illegal, but honestly that's a price I'm willing to pay.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MA08YcnL1DE

[GasparXR]

James LaBrie sounds goofy singing Blind Faith live.

If you're talking about the Chaos in Motion DVD, that's not really controversial at all.

[Tick]

James LaBrie sounds goofy singing Blind Faith live.

If you're talking about the Chaos in Motion DVD, that's not really controversial at all.

Well yeah, but I saw him perform it on that tour and it was just as goofy. Didn't realize others thought so as well.

[Nel]

Upon many listens, I have decided that Dream Theater is Dream Theater's worst album.

I agree. I can not connect with these songs at all, sadly. Everyone else seems to like it though, and that's great.

[Irock]

Upon many listens, I have decided that Dream Theater is Dream Theater's worst album.

Except for WDaDU, I agree. Although a bad album by DT standards is an incredible album by any other standards.

I like WDaDU better. It sounds more unique and soulful.

[rumborak]

My (maybe not so) controversial opinion: I think Jordan is much more musically at home on LMR than on DT12.

[BlobVanDam]

My (maybe not so) controversial opinion: I think Jordan is much more musically at home on LMR than on DT12.

When listening to LMR, it felt like the JR that was on LTE/SFAM, so I got a similar feeling. I want him to do more of that in DT, and experiment more.
Not that I have a problem with what he does in DT at all, but it feels like he's tamed in a bit on recent DT albums, as opposed to his earlier ones that I prefer largely for that reason.

[Irock]

Oh boy, this should be controversial:

I want Jordan Rudess and John Petrucci to be replaced.