Fact.
:metal :metal
citation needed
That's right.
Quote from: BlobVanDam on March 11, 2013, 09:38:53 AM
citation needed
Listen to the album. If you can do this and not come to the same conclusion, well, then we can't help you. :biggrin:
Quote from: KevShmev on March 11, 2013, 09:40:40 AM
Quote from: BlobVanDam on March 11, 2013, 09:38:53 AM
citation needed
Listen to the album. If you can do this and not come to the same conclusion, well, then we can't help you. :biggrin:
This is my listening experience of Awake from start to finish, represented in graph form.
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/awake_graph.png)
It would be a pretty good album if you lopped off the half hour of waste at the end.
My answer to the thread title: yes.
:hefdaddy (disagreeing) at Bolb's chart.
And as for the OP, my copy of Images asked me to told you that you will hear from his lawyers. :azn:
This graph is the best thing I've ever thoroughly disagreed with.
Quote from: wasteland on March 11, 2013, 09:45:40 AM
And as for the OP, my copy of Images asked me to told you that you will hear from his lawyers. :azn:
Huh, so it won't even talk to Awake in person? Sorry fans, we tried, the ball is in Images' court now.
Compared to most of DT's work, Awake is a pretty mediocre album -- a few filler pieces (6:00, CIAW, LSOAD) drag it down.
Quote from: MoraWintersoul on March 11, 2013, 09:47:28 AM
Quote from: wasteland on March 11, 2013, 09:45:40 AM
And as for the OP, my copy of Images asked me to told you that you will hear from his lawyers. :azn:
Huh, so it won't even talk to Awake in person? Sorry fans, we tried, the ball is in Images' court now.
Yeah, Awake has stayed classy all the time and hasn't taken unnecessary jabs at I&W.
Quote from: wasteland on March 11, 2013, 09:45:40 AM
And as for the OP, my copy of Images asked me to told you that you will hear from his lawyers. :azn:
I think my copy of IaW called to say the same thing, but the call cut off early. ???
But my copy of SDOIT and SFAM both scoff and chuckle at this thread's dubious claim.
Quote from: MoraWintersoul on March 11, 2013, 09:47:28 AM
Quote from: wasteland on March 11, 2013, 09:45:40 AM
And as for the OP, my copy of Images asked me to told you that you will hear from his lawyers. :azn:
Huh, so it won't even talk to Awake in person? Sorry fans, we tried, the ball is in Images' court now.
Dream Theater was IAW's baby, and...
:marriageanalogy:
Oh my god we're awful :D
Blob, do you prefer Scenes or Degrees? I don't think I've ever asked this question.
I am positive that Blob values SDOIT above his cutting edge metal stealth PC workstation. :blob:
Quote from: MoraWintersoul on March 11, 2013, 09:52:46 AM
Oh my god we're awful :D
Blob, do you prefer Scenes or Degrees? I don't think I've ever asked this question.
SDOIT will always be the best to me. SFAM is the ultimate whole album DT experience, but SDOIT is the ultimate DT album as a collection of stellar songs. There's not much separating them though. :coolio
Quote from: BlobVanDam on March 11, 2013, 09:56:04 AM
Quote from: MoraWintersoul on March 11, 2013, 09:52:46 AM
Oh my god we're awful :D
Blob, do you prefer Scenes or Degrees? I don't think I've ever asked this question.
SDOIT will always be the best to me. SFAM is the ultimate whole album DT experience, but SDOIT is the ultimate DT album as a collection of stellar songs. There's not much separating them though. :coolio
Yeah, I prefer SDOIT too. Whenever I talk to a new DT fan and when I mention that fact to them, they get awfully confused, and then they re-listen to SDOIT and go "holy fuck Milena you are 100% right about this album."
Well, okay, that happened only three times but that's enough to make a case! :hat
(https://i.imgur.com/v4tLtAK.jpg)
That was really funny and clever. You know, how you just took the same joke that was already on my image, and simply reiterated it from the opposite side in meme form over the top of the image, as if it negates it. Bonus points for originality. :tup
My answer is simple.
No.
I'm torn. I haven't really listened to Dream Theater much in the last few months, but when I got the Images & Words vinyl a few weeks ago I did really start to notice some of the small problems with the album. I'd say Awake is slightly better than Images & Words, 'cause it doesn't have "Another Day" or "Under a Glass Moon" or any other songs I find skippable.
I think I might put SDoIT above it, though. I can't say for sure.
Anyway, top 3 is definitely Images, Awake, and SDoIT. The ordering can vary but each have a pretty solid lead over ADTOE and SFaM, which are the best of the next level down-- the merely "very good" albums.
Awake is great but not the best for me.
I&W & SDOIT are my favorite albums followed by
SFAM, ADTOE and AWAKE. :metal
If I make anything other than an oblique comment, I'll spoil another part of my (as of yet) uncompleted Top 50 album list so :-X
Scarred, Space Dye Vest, and The Mirror are some of my favorite DT songs. Those 3 alone make the album one of my favorites. The rest of the album ranges from awesome to meh for me, but I still find the vast majority of it enjoyable.
OP: God no.
And I love you, Blob :zydar:
Agreed. Awake is still my favourite Dream Theater record.
Quote from: BlobVanDam on March 11, 2013, 09:42:22 AM
Quote from: KevShmev on March 11, 2013, 09:40:40 AM
Quote from: BlobVanDam on March 11, 2013, 09:38:53 AM
citation needed
Listen to the album. If you can do this and not come to the same conclusion, well, then we can't help you. :biggrin:
This is my listening experience of Awake from start to finish, represented in graph form.
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/awake_graph.png)
It would be a pretty good album if you lopped off the half hour of waste at the end.
my opinion is the opposite. I think the first half of the album is kind of weak but from Erotomania onward is just magical, specially Scarred (probably my favorite DT track of all)
So good, a classic.
Quote from: KevShmev on March 11, 2013, 09:38:33 AM
Fact.
:metal :metal
Awake is such an incredibly amazing album that it's not even worth pointing out that you are objectively wrong.
This is why I love you, Kev.
This album is better in any way possible than others.
It's on top of my chart together with Images and Words. The two greatest DT albums of all times, in my humble opinion.
Quote from: Glass Moonlight on March 11, 2013, 11:27:49 AM
So good, a classic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=4dP-pm7Frws#t=6s
Love the: Fuck........hschaaa! :rollin
Half the songs on Awake are amazing (6:00, Caught In a Web, Voices, Lie, Scarred).
The other half are pretty okay, but have their draw backs. Definitely not their best album. I think most people who worship it have a little too much Nostalgia Goggles going on.
Maybe if SDOIT,SFAM and I&W didn't exist it would be but they do so it's not ;D
Awake was my favourite, then SFAM, now it's Awake again. :tup
i fully endorse this thread
Quote from: BlobVanDam on March 11, 2013, 10:04:19 AM
That was really funny and clever. You know, how you just took the same joke that was already on my image, and simply reiterated it from the opposite side in meme form over the top of the image, as if it negates it. Bonus points for originality. :tup
I wasn't going for originality. :lol :biggrin:
Quote from: TheGreatPretender on March 11, 2013, 12:22:26 PM
I think most people who worship it have a little too much Nostalgia Goggles going on.
Translation: People like an album more than I do, so there must be some crazy reason why.
:\ :\ :\ :\
Nah. SFAM, I&W and 6DOIT are better.
Quote from: KevShmev on March 11, 2013, 12:59:32 PM
Translation: People like an album more than I do, so there must be some crazy reason why.
It's an overrated album is all.
This looks more like a "Kev is pissed at Blob thread" rather than a best DT album thread. Had it been the latter, the title would've said SDOIT instead. :p
The Silent Man
Scarred
Space Dye Vest
Voices
Innocence Faded
Karina
Lifting Shadows Off A Dream
The Mirror
Erotomania
6:00
Lie
Awake is my favorite album by anyone ever. Followed very closely by Women and Children First and Fair Warning by Van Halen
Quote from: Lolzeez on March 11, 2013, 01:58:22 PM
The Silent Man
Scarred
Space Dye Vest
Voices
Innocence Faded
Karina
Lifting Shadows Off A Dream
The Mirror
Erotomania
6:00
Lie
:lol bonus track?
Quote from: TheGreatPretender on March 11, 2013, 01:46:51 PM
Quote from: KevShmev on March 11, 2013, 12:59:32 PM
Translation: People like an album more than I do, so there must be some crazy reason why.
It's an overrated album is all.
Hardly. To my ears, at the very least. Simply put, "Awake" showcases Dream Theater's best blend of proggy and metal-ish influences. They really got it down to a T on "Awake". Nothing sounds forced or contrived and the music just breathes naturally. Like they didn't over think anything and just went with their guts. DT kind of lost this winning recipe in the following years and never really released anything as organic as this record. Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed (loved even!) many of the albums they released after Awake (and I absolutely think "A Dramatic Turn Of Events" displays a much improved and re-energized DT) but they all pale in comparison to "Awake".
And I think I misplaced my nostalgia goggles many, many moons ago so that can't be it. ;)
Quote from: Dublagent66 on March 11, 2013, 01:49:45 PM
This looks more like a "Kev is pissed at Blob thread" rather than a best DT album thread.
???
No, it was more or less mimicking the "Black Clouds & Silver Linings is still better than Systematic Chaos" thread. BVD and I don't talk to each other enough anymore for either of us to get pissed at the other.
Quote from: SjundeInseglet on March 11, 2013, 02:05:43 PM
Hardly. To my ears, at the very least. Simply put, "Awake" showcases Dream Theater's best blend of proggy and metal-ish influences. They really got it down to a T on "Awake". Nothing sounds forced or contrived and the music just breathes naturally. Like they didn't over think anything and just went with their guts. DT kind of lost this winning recipe in the following years and never really released anything as organic as this record. Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed (loved even!) many of the albums they released after Awake (and I absolutely think "A Dramatic Turn Of Events" displays a much improved and re-energized DT) but they all pale in comparison to "Awake".
And I think I misplaced my nostalgia goggles many, many moons ago so that can't be it. ;)
Well, even if it breathes naturally, that doesn't make the music necessarily better. I'm not gonna list all the ways I think it's not that great. That would undermine the fact that I still think it's a great album. And like I said, I think MOST people experience those nostalgia goggles. I'm not saying all, I think it's entirely possible that Awake's elements happen to appeal to a lot of people in a genuine way, and they actually do love it that much. But I don't think it's that consistent. I think it has its ups and downs, whereas DT has had better albums, not the least of which is the "holy grail of Prog Metal" Images and Words. Which isn't even my favorite DT album, but all the praise that it gets, I think it deserves it.
Awake has a very special place in my heart. First album that I witnessed the release of, and it was an album still in the DT tradition of "forget what we sounded like last time, here's the new DT!". In short: So energy, power.
Quote from: rumborak on March 11, 2013, 02:25:28 PM
Awake has a very special place in my heart. First album that I witnessed the release of, and it was an album still in the DT tradition of "forget what we sounded like last time, here's the new DT!". In short: So energy, power.
DT was... a strange band to figure out? :rollin
(pun intended)
It is most certainly not. In fact I do not even own Awake as I don't really like any of the songs on it. 6:00 is ok, the rest is meh.
Quote from: KevShmev on March 11, 2013, 02:08:21 PM
Quote from: Dublagent66 on March 11, 2013, 01:49:45 PM
This looks more like a "Kev is pissed at Blob thread" rather than a best DT album thread.
???
No, it was more or less mimicking the "Black Clouds & Silver Linings is still better than Systematic Chaos" thread. BVD and I don't talk to each other enough anymore for either of us to get pissed at the other.
It was kind of a joke Kev. ;)
I love Awake. It wasn't necessarily an improvement over I&W, but it definitely put some balls into the songs. I remember Awake as the album that on first listen I was like, "Yes! This is what I've been waiting for." IIRC the first single was Lie, which I thought was only mediocre, and to this day it's my least favorite song on the album. but I don't really hear a bad song on the album.
Definitely a top 5 for me.
Quote from: Dublagent66 on March 11, 2013, 02:51:02 PM
Quote from: KevShmev on March 11, 2013, 02:08:21 PM
Quote from: Dublagent66 on March 11, 2013, 01:49:45 PM
This looks more like a "Kev is pissed at Blob thread" rather than a best DT album thread.
???
No, it was more or less mimicking the "Black Clouds & Silver Linings is still better than Systematic Chaos" thread. BVD and I don't talk to each other enough anymore for either of us to get pissed at the other.
It was kind of a joke Kev. ;)
Heh, okay. I figure that most people who know me and my posting style know that starting threads to agitate someone is not my style 99.999% of the time. I have no problem mixing it up in a thread - I love a good discussion/friendly argument :) - but, again, starting a thread for that sole purpose is not really me (anymore, not that it ever really was, although I probably had my occasional moments back in the dt.net days :lol :facepalm:).
No, but only Images & Words is slightly better. ALL other DT albums are FAR behind.
Quote from: TheGreatPretender on March 11, 2013, 12:22:26 PM
I think most people who worship it have a little too much Nostalgia Goggles going on.
I was two years old when it got out and it was the last "classic" album I came to like.
MILENA, CRUSHING THEORIES SINCE 1992, WHO ELSE WANTS A PIECE OF ME.
(I am so sorry, I am drunk on happiness)
I absolutely love the organ riff and the drumming in 6:00, but the song doesn't really feel like DT for some reason. The masterpiece which is Innocence Faded is by far the best song on the album and features James' best performance ever. Erotomania and Voices are also among favorites. I dislike the heaviness and sound of both The Mirror and Lie, thankfully no other song in their catalog sounds quite like them. SDV is boring. The rest of the album verges from pretty good to great. I like it, but there are at least 4 albums which I prefer to it(I&W, SFAM, SDOIT, ADTOE).
Uh Kevin? April 1st is in two weeks from now.
Yeah, Awake is the best.
Quote from: MoraWintersoul on March 11, 2013, 04:34:13 PM
Quote from: TheGreatPretender on March 11, 2013, 12:22:26 PM
I think most people who worship it have a little too much Nostalgia Goggles going on.
I was two years old when it got out and it was the last "classic" album I came to like.
MILENA, CRUSHING THEORIES SINCE 1992, WHO ELSE WANTS A PIECE OF ME.
(I am so sorry, I am drunk on happiness)
It was released the year I was born, so I was likely a fetus. I also don't even like I&W much so I can't have some sort of oldness bias. So yeah. :P
Quote from: TheGreatPretender on March 11, 2013, 12:22:26 PM
Half the songs on Awake are amazing (6:00, Caught In a Web, Voices, Lie, Scarred).
The other half are pretty okay, but have their draw backs. Definitely not their best album. I think most people who worship it have a little too much Nostalgia Goggles going on.
I broadly agree with this - although I'm not sure you can put it down to nostalgia, or else why wouldn't they go for Images and Words?
I think Awake has a very particular style to it - the moodiness and the texture-focused keys are pretty much unique among Dream Theater's catalogue - so if Awake's the kind of thing you like, it's the kind of thing you
really like, and it's probably also the kind of thing you'd like to hear DT make more of. For me, while it's generally pleasant throughout, and there are some really cool songs, there are also what I'd describe as some fairly dull ones, which makes it a very hard record for me to get excited about.
Still! People really rate it, and all power to them. If they're getting more out of it than me, that can only be an excellent thing. Would insist the thread title's a little spurious, though.
TASTE GREAT!!!!
LESS FILLING!!!
I would marry the Awake album if that was legally possible. That's how much I love it.
Quote from: Mebert78 on March 11, 2013, 05:47:21 PM
I would marry the Awake album if that was legally possible. That's how much I love it.
Coming up next on "My Strange Addiction" on TLC. :lol
Quote from: MoraWintersoul on March 11, 2013, 04:34:13 PM
Quote from: TheGreatPretender on March 11, 2013, 12:22:26 PM
I think most people who worship it have a little too much Nostalgia Goggles going on.
I was two years old when it got out and it was the last "classic" album I came to like.
MILENA, CRUSHING THEORIES SINCE 1992, WHO ELSE WANTS A PIECE OF ME.
(I am so sorry, I am drunk on happiness)
Again,
most. The fact that you're so unique is the reason everyone loves you.
Quote from: robwebster on March 11, 2013, 05:28:28 PM
I broadly agree with this - although I'm not sure you can put it down to nostalgia, or else why wouldn't they go for Images and Words?
Well, most people's favorite DT album IS Images and Words, so yeah, a lot of them do, and I also think that Nostalgia has a lot to do with it.
I mean, how often do you hear, "I love those trigger snares. They really remind me of the 90's, and have that 90's feel." If that's not Nostalgia, I don't know what is.
I love Images and Words, and I do think it's one of the greatest albums ever, but if it was ever remixed and remastered, and had a little more bass to it, and removed the trigger snares, and stuff, I think I'd enjoy it a lot more. Because I like the songs for the actual compositions, not for how they remind me of the 90's. But that's another discussion entirely.
Amazing album. Simply amazing. I could do without Space-Dye Vest, but it's not horrible.
Awake is top 3 DT.
I largely hated the album at first, but since then it's become my favorite.
Awake is my favorite album of all time. My second favorite being Gordian Knot's self-titled debut, followed by Gordian Knot's Emergent, followed by Images and Words.
Those two Gordian Knot albums are incredible.
Quote from: wolfking on March 11, 2013, 06:43:37 PM
Those two Gordian Knot albums are incredible.
Those four albums get a ridiculous amount of spins from me. Awake edges them out because it features DT at the peak of their game. I love the song writing on Awake, and James' voice is perfect.
But Gordian Knot... :heart :heart probably not the thread to gush over them. I actually had Grace played during my wedding.
Quote from: snapple on March 11, 2013, 06:46:36 PM
I actually had Grace played during my wedding.
That's cool.
Quote from: Ħ on March 11, 2013, 04:49:53 PM
Uh Kevin? April 1st is in two weeks from now.
You should probably tell that to the jackals in this thread who are acting like the statement in the thread title is not true. :coolio :hat
Quote from: snapple on March 11, 2013, 06:40:01 PM
Awake is my favorite album of all time.
Wait...
Do we... do we agree on something?
Quote from: wolfking on March 11, 2013, 06:43:37 PM
Those two Gordian Knot albums are incredible.
Yep. Both are desert island albums for me
6:00 - okay.
Caught In a Web - awful
Innocence - awful
Erotomania - pretty decent
Voices - pretty good
The Silent Man - awful
The Mirror - awful
Lie - awful
Lifting Shadows - medium awful
Scarred - decent
Space Dye Vest - decent/awful
Not a good album.
Absolutely love it. Out of all DT, I find myself gravitating to this album more than any others.... with I&W, SC, TOT and ADTOE trailing close behind it
Quote from: Ħ on March 11, 2013, 08:59:20 PM
6:00 - okay.
Caught In a Web - awful
Innocence - awful
Erotomania - pretty decent
Voices - pretty good
The Silent Man - awful
The Mirror - awful
Lie - awful
Lifting Shadows - medium awful
Scarred - decent
Space Dye Vest - decent/awful
Not a good album.
Run for your life.
Quote from: LieLowTheWantedMan on March 11, 2013, 05:07:39 PM
Quote from: MoraWintersoul on March 11, 2013, 04:34:13 PM
Quote from: TheGreatPretender on March 11, 2013, 12:22:26 PM
I think most people who worship it have a little too much Nostalgia Goggles going on.
I was two years old when it got out and it was the last "classic" album I came to like.
MILENA, CRUSHING THEORIES SINCE 1992, WHO ELSE WANTS A PIECE OF ME.
(I am so sorry, I am drunk on happiness)
It was released the year I was born, so I was likely a fetus. I also don't even like I&W much so I can't have some sort of oldness bias. So yeah. :P
I was born in '94 too, one and a half months after the album was released. I also didn't become a DT fan until 2009 and I didn't start with Awake, so my love for it isn't based on nostalgia either. Can't the album just be awesome because it's flawless? :D
Quote from: ? on March 12, 2013, 12:42:45 AM
Can't the album just be awesome because it's flawless? :D
Of course it can. And it's called Scenes From A Memory.
It's in their top 3 and it's a pretty good album. I prefer SFAM though, 6DOIT is probably tied with Awake for nr2.
Quote from: Sycsa on March 11, 2013, 04:35:30 PM
The masterpiece which is Innocence Faded is by far the best song on the album and features James' best performance ever.
And I thought that no one other than me thinks this way :tup.
Quote from: TheGreatPretender on March 12, 2013, 12:56:34 AM
Quote from: ? on March 12, 2013, 12:42:45 AM
Can't the album just be awesome because it's flawless? :D
Of course it can. And it's called Scenes From A Memory.
Man, are you people actively trying to pick fights with me or what? :biggrin:
Quote from: TheGreatPretender on March 12, 2013, 12:56:34 AM
Quote from: ? on March 12, 2013, 12:42:45 AM
Can't the album just be awesome because it's flawless? :D
Of course it can. And it's called Scenes From A Memory.
That's a weird way to spell Images And Words.
Once again, everyone should take a look at the thread title and accept the undeniable fact :biggrin:
Don't care for this album all that much.
6:00: Awesome
Caught In A Web: Average
Innocence Faced: Bad
Erotomania: Average
Voices: Good
The Silent Man: Average
The Mirror: Awesome
Lie: Good
Lifting Shadows: Average
Scarred: Average
Space Dye Vest: Good
Images And Words for me by far. Those two Gordian Knot albums are really great too.
Quote from: Zydar on March 12, 2013, 02:50:25 AM
Quote from: TheGreatPretender on March 12, 2013, 12:56:34 AM
Quote from: ? on March 12, 2013, 12:42:45 AM
Can't the album just be awesome because it's flawless? :D
Of course it can. And it's called Scenes From A Memory.
That's a weird way to spell Images And Words.
Do people not know that
Awake is only one word?
Quote from: snapple on March 12, 2013, 05:32:30 AM
Quote from: Zydar on March 12, 2013, 02:50:25 AM
Quote from: TheGreatPretender on March 12, 2013, 12:56:34 AM
Quote from: ? on March 12, 2013, 12:42:45 AM
Can't the album just be awesome because it's flawless? :D
Of course it can. And it's called Scenes From A Memory.
That's a weird way to spell Images And Words.
Do people not know that Awake is only one word?
No, it's five. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence.
Quote from: TheGreatPretender on March 12, 2013, 12:56:34 AM
Quote from: ? on March 12, 2013, 12:42:45 AM
Can't the album just be awesome because it's flawless? :D
Of course it can. And it's called Scenes From A Memory.
No album with The Dance of Eternity on it can be called perfect. :)
Quote from: The King in Crimson on March 12, 2013, 07:11:38 AM
Quote from: TheGreatPretender on March 12, 2013, 12:56:34 AM
Quote from: ? on March 12, 2013, 12:42:45 AM
Can't the album just be awesome because it's flawless? :D
Of course it can. And it's called Scenes From A Memory.
No album with the instrumental section of Beyond This Life on it can be called perfect. :)
Nostalgia has nothing to do with it, that's a silly thing to say.
I agree with Kev that Awake is the best they've done to this point, but I understand why some people wouldn't rank it that high.
To say that it seems that Awake was underappreciated by fans upon release. ???
Quote from: ? on March 12, 2013, 07:19:41 AM
Quote from: The King in Crimson on March 12, 2013, 07:11:38 AM
Quote from: TheGreatPretender on March 12, 2013, 12:56:34 AM
Quote from: ? on March 12, 2013, 12:42:45 AM
Can't the album just be awesome because it's flawless? :D
Of course it can. And it's called Scenes From A Memory.
No album with the instrumental section of Beyond This Life on it can be called perfect. :)
Are we in the bizarro world?
Quote from: The Stray Seed on March 11, 2013, 11:50:52 AM
It's on top of my chart together with Images and Words. The two greatest DT albums of all times, in my humble opinion.
This...... which one is #1 changes from time to time. Now...I'm not a computer guru like Blob and can't make no stinkin fancy graph and all. BUT... I can rate the songs :hat
Scale 1-10, 10 being extreme mind blowing awesomeness...
6:00 8
Caught in a Web 6
Innocence Faded 6
A Mind Beside Itself: I. Erotomania 8
A Mind Beside Itself: II. Voices 9
A Mind Beside Itself: III. The Silent Man 5
The Mirror 8
Lie 9
Lifting Shadows Off a Dream 9
Scarred 9
Space-Dye Vest 8
Quote from: CrimsonSunrise on March 12, 2013, 09:02:25 AM
This...... which one is #1 changes from time to time. Now...I'm not a computer guru like Blob and can't make no stinkin fancy graph and all. BUT... I can rate the songs :hat
My friend, you don't need a degree in computerology to whip out MS Paint! :lol
Quote from: BlobVanDam on March 12, 2013, 09:04:22 AM
Quote from: CrimsonSunrise on March 12, 2013, 09:02:25 AM
This...... which one is #1 changes from time to time. Now...I'm not a computer guru like Blob and can't make no stinkin fancy graph and all. BUT... I can rate the songs :hat
My friend, you don't need a degree in computerology to whip out MS Paint! :lol
Brother... I'm so tech challenged I'm amazed I can properly post............sometimes.... :lol
Automated phone call: "Press any key to contunue."
Homer: "Where's the any key?"
Quote from: kingshmegland on March 12, 2013, 09:26:05 AM
Automated phone call: "Press any key to contunue."
Homer: "Where's the any key?"
EGGGGGZACTLY......... :rollin
Quote from: MoraWintersoul on March 12, 2013, 02:49:12 AM
Man, are you people actively trying to pick fights with me or what? :biggrin:
Hey if everyone else here can shamelessly impose their opinions on others, than damn it, so can I....
But just cause you asked for it, Space-Dye Vest sucks! :corn
No. There are better albums than awake.
Blob, although I disagree with your graph I must admit I lol'd
Quote from: The King in Crimson on March 12, 2013, 07:11:38 AM
Quote from: TheGreatPretender on March 12, 2013, 12:56:34 AM
Quote from: ? on March 12, 2013, 12:42:45 AM
Can't the album just be awesome because it's flawless? :D
Of course it can. And it's called Scenes From A Memory.
No album with Through Her Eyes on it can be called perfect. :)
Through Her Eyes is one of DT's most beautiful songs IMO - I've always preferred it to TSCO, which has never been better than 3/5 in my eyes.
Quote from: Sycsa on March 12, 2013, 08:50:39 AM
Quote from: ? on March 12, 2013, 07:19:41 AM
Quote from: The King in Crimson on March 12, 2013, 07:11:38 AM
Quote from: TheGreatPretender on March 12, 2013, 12:56:34 AM
Quote from: ? on March 12, 2013, 12:42:45 AM
Can't the album just be awesome because it's flawless? :D
Of course it can. And it's called Scenes From A Memory.
No album with the instrumental section of Beyond This Life on it can be called perfect. :)
Are we in the bizarro world?
Quote from: TheGreatPretender on March 12, 2013, 10:25:56 AM
But just cause you asked for it, Space-Dye Vest sucks! :corn
No to both of these.
This thread is going to drown in blood :lol
I guess it has run it course - I mean, the truth was already declared at the very beginning of the thread :D
I think Awake is their worst album. It has two really good songs - Voices and The Mirror - another couple of ok songs, and five (5!) of their worst songs: Lie, 6:00, SDV, Innocence Faded, and the most awful of them all: Scarred.
Quote from: reneranucci on March 12, 2013, 12:43:37 PM
I think Awake is their worst album. It has two really good songs - Voices and The Mirror - another couple of ok songs, and five (5!) of their worst songs: Lie, 6:00, SDV, Innocence Faded, and the most awful of them all: Scarred.
Good evening, Sir, and welcome to this thread. You may take place over there right next to blob. :lol
Quote from: wasteland on March 12, 2013, 12:46:50 PM
Quote from: reneranucci on March 12, 2013, 12:43:37 PM
I think Awake is their worst album. It has two really good songs - Voices and The Mirror - another couple of ok songs, and five (5!) of their worst songs: Lie, 6:00, SDV, Innocence Faded, and the most awful of them all: Scarred.
Good evening, Sir, and welcome to this thread. You may take place over there right next to blob. :lol
:lol Actually it's funny how much Blob and I coincide regarding DT. Our only significant disagreement is that I kinda like WDADU.
Still my favorite DT album. Took over a year to sink in, maybe more. Love the mood, the flow, the compositions, the mix...flat out
love it.
Any chance Blob can give a detailed summary of each song from Awake, but more importantly the last 4 songs you detest? I'd really like to know why you hate them so much. I can understand Space Dye Vest, but Lifting Shadows is an amazing ballad, and Scarred is epic. Lie is a great rocker too. Is it the lyrics of Lie, cuz I will admit that can be a bit silly.
Okay, I get why people would like Scarred and Space-Dye Vest. I myself went through a phase where I liked them quite a bit.
But how on earth could someone listen to Innocence Faded and think it's a good song? It's bloody terrible, through and through!
Quote from: Zook on March 12, 2013, 04:37:27 PM
Any chance Blob can give a detailed summary of each song from Awake, but more importantly the last 4 songs you detest? I'd really like to know why you hate them so much. I can understand Space Dye Vest, but Lifting Shadows is an amazing ballad, and Scarred is epic. Lie is a great rocker too. Is it the lyrics of Lie, cuz I will admit that can be a bit silly.
I probably was exaggerating. I can listen to SDV and kinda enjoy it, but I haven't listened to it in years and I dislike the piano sound and the samples, so I lean towards disliking it. Lifting Shadows is definitely amazing, one of my favorites in the album that I forgot to mention. Lie and Scarred I cannot stand, but I see that many people find them to be very good.
Quote from: Ħ on March 12, 2013, 04:39:14 PM
Okay, I get why people would like Scarred and Space-Dye Vest. I myself went through a phase where I liked them quite a bit.
But how on earth could someone listen to Innocence Faded and think it's a good song? It's bloody terrible, through and through!
Although most of the words are incomprehensible, I think Innocence Faded is great. What's not to like? It's OK to like poppy songs.
Awake is much better when viewed as an album as opposed to taking it in a song by song basis. I've never been a fan of just comparing "what songs do I like more" and then pick the "better" album based on that. I think there are certainly stronger songs on different albums, but Awake is perfect in length, sound and content. Every song definitely has it's place, and the order the tracks were placed in is perfect. I listen to any song and it never gets old, and never does listening to the whole album feel like a chore. Plebs, get on my level.
Quote from: Ħ on March 12, 2013, 04:39:14 PM
Okay, I get why people would like Scarred and Space-Dye Vest. I myself went through a phase where I liked them quite a bit.
But how on earth could someone listen to Innocence Faded and think it's a good song? It's bloody terrible, through and through!
Nothing terrible about it. And that Dregs-influenced outro is pure gold.
Kev is right, the truth was declared at the beginning of the thread.
All the posts before this one don't exist, therefore this is the beginning of the thread.
SDOIT, SFAM, IaW, and ADTOE are better than Awake. :neverusethis:
No it's not
Awake is honestly one of my least favorites
Awake is awesome... but better than every other DT record? That's a stretch to say the least imo :rollin
Quote from: reneranucci on March 12, 2013, 12:53:53 PM
:lol Actually it's funny how much Blob and I coincide regarding DT. Our only significant disagreement is that I kinda like WDADU.
Ooooh how dare you kinda like something I dislike! :getoffmylawn:
I guess we can still be friends.
Quote from: hefdaddy42 on March 12, 2013, 05:36:22 PM
Quote from: Ħ on March 12, 2013, 04:39:14 PM
Okay, I get why people would like Scarred and Space-Dye Vest. I myself went through a phase where I liked them quite a bit.
But how on earth could someone listen to Innocence Faded and think it's a good song? It's bloody terrible, through and through!
Nothing terrible about it. And that Dregs-influenced outro is pure gold.
I've never understood the hate for Innocence Faded at
all, and that's coming from me, the #1 disliker of Awake, so if there was something to dislike, I'd say so. :lol Is it just a prog hangup about songs that are actually catchy and more straight forward?
What's not to like? It starts off with that cool guitar unison lead, it has great melodies, a catchy chorus with those nice backup vocals adding something extra, a powerful bridge section with some of JLB's best vocals (fuck lyrics. He's talking about doing his hair on Sunday or something), and a badass outro by Petrucci.
And while I'm feeling generous towards Awake, I'll throw CIAW in there too. Never understood the hate for that one either. I mean, it's a shitload better than Lie, and people seem to like that for some reason I have yet to comprehend at all.
Quote from: BlobVanDam on March 11, 2013, 10:04:19 AM
That was really funny and clever. You know, how you just took the same joke that was already on my image, and simply reiterated it from the opposite side in meme form over the top of the image, as if it negates it. Bonus points for originality. :tup
I'm glad you expect every post to be as thought-provoking and witty as yours. You are sure the epitome of rationalism to be able to point out the tragically gaping downfall of the previous poster's folly. Also, I hate you for saying that Scarred sucks.
Tone it down.
Still top 3, easily.
Four pages of nagging, and no mud wrestling over what is the best album? I am dissapoint.
Quote from: Lynxo on March 13, 2013, 01:16:37 AM
Four pages of nagging, and no mud wrestling over what is the best album? I am dissapoint.
Yeah I was really looking forward to mud-wrestling feeble pallid progsters who claim Awake is not the best thing ever.
Come on, ANYONE.
"Proggsters". :lol
*takes off shirt*
Quote from: MoraWintersoul on March 13, 2013, 04:19:05 AM
Quote from: Lynxo on March 13, 2013, 01:16:37 AM
Four pages of nagging, and no mud wrestling over what is the best album? I am dissapoint.
Yeah I was really looking forward to mud-wrestling feeble pallid progsters who claim Awake is not the best thing ever.
Come on, ANYONE.
I hate prog. BRING IT ON, LADY. :73109:
Quote from: BlobVanDam on March 13, 2013, 04:46:05 AM
Quote from: MoraWintersoul on March 13, 2013, 04:19:05 AM
Quote from: Lynxo on March 13, 2013, 01:16:37 AM
Four pages of nagging, and no mud wrestling over what is the best album? I am dissapoint.
Yeah I was really looking forward to mud-wrestling feeble pallid progsters who claim Awake is not the best thing ever.
Come on, ANYONE.
I hate prog. BRING IT ON, LADY. :73109:
(https://i322.photobucket.com/albums/nn431/Moriel_Alcaril/reaction/tumblr_m7f9bivqzi1qzfq9d_zpsc917f990.gif)
Quote from: MoraWintersoul on March 13, 2013, 04:50:52 AM
(https://i322.photobucket.com/albums/nn431/Moriel_Alcaril/reaction/tumblr_m7f9bivqzi1qzfq9d_zpsc917f990.gif)
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/do_you_even_time_travel.jpg)
Quote from: hefdaddy42 on March 12, 2013, 05:36:22 PM
Quote from: Ħ on March 12, 2013, 04:39:14 PM
Okay, I get why people would like Scarred and Space-Dye Vest. I myself went through a phase where I liked them quite a bit.
But how on earth could someone listen to Innocence Faded and think it's a good song? It's bloody terrible, through and through!
Nothing terrible about it. And that Dregs-influenced outro is pure gold.
I didn't care much for the studio version but it was far from terrible. I gained a new appreciation for the song when they played it live at Radio City on Score. Yeah, the outro was awesome.
It's not that it sounds poppy. DT has plenty of good pop-sounding songs. It's that it sounds awful.
I just think the whole problem is that it follows Caught In A Web, and seems kind of redundant after something like that.
Quote from: TheGreatPretender on March 13, 2013, 10:21:58 AM
I just think the whole problem is that it follows Caught In A Web, and seems kind of redundant after something like that.
How does CIAW make Innocence Faded at all redundant? ???
Quote from: BlobVanDam on March 13, 2013, 10:25:10 AM
How does CIAW make Innocence Faded at all redundant? ???
CIAW is just a lot better, and they're both relatively straightforward songs. After CIAW, Innocence Faded just sounds uninteresting.
Okay, but saying they are redundant makes no sense since Caught in a Web is full-on metal and Innocence Faded isn't metal at all.
Quote from: KevShmev on March 13, 2013, 10:34:23 AM
Okay, but saying they are redundant makes no sense since Caught in a Web is full-on metal and Innocence Faded isn't metal at all.
I think the openings to their choruses are too similar. "Caught in a weeeeeeb!" "Innocence Faaaaded!" The first time I ever heard them side by side, I was just like, "Oh, God, is this what the whole album is gonna be?"
Quote from: TheGreatPretender on March 13, 2013, 10:38:11 AM
Quote from: KevShmev on March 13, 2013, 10:34:23 AM
Okay, but saying they are redundant makes no sense since Caught in a Web is full-on metal and Innocence Faded isn't metal at all.
I think the openings to their choruses are too similar. "Caught in a weeeeeeb!" "Innocence Faaaaded!" The first time I ever heard them side by side, I was just like, "Oh, God, is this what the whole album is gonna be?"
(https://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i238/hefdaddy42/funny/icanteven_zps34548fd3.jpg)
Quote from: TheGreatPretender on March 13, 2013, 10:38:11 AM
Quote from: KevShmev on March 13, 2013, 10:34:23 AM
Okay, but saying they are redundant makes no sense since Caught in a Web is full-on metal and Innocence Faded isn't metal at all.
I think the openings to their choruses are too similar. "Caught in a weeeeeeb!" "Innocence Faaaaded!" The first time I ever heard them side by side, I was just like, "Oh, God, is this what the whole album is gonna be?"
Well, anybody who knows DT's style will never presume to think that the first few songs will determine the outcome of the album. It's ok to just say you don't like a song, but don't wrap yourself around the axil trying to explain why.
Quote from: Dublagent66 on March 13, 2013, 10:53:58 AM
Well, anybody who knows DT's style will never presume to think that the first few songs will determine the outcome of the album. It's ok to just say you don't like a song, but don't wrap yourself around the axil trying to explain why.
I like the song NOW. After listening to it dozens of times.
But when I first listened to Awake, I was really disappointed with the overall album and Innocence Faded was one of the reasons. And I still think having CIAW and IF side by side like that really slows the album down. Because after CIAW, I think it's time to hear some classic DT, something long, and intricate, not something simple like IF. And yeah, okay, right after that, we get Erotomania, but don't get me started on that.
Quote from: KevShmev on March 13, 2013, 10:34:23 AM
Okay, but saying they are redundant makes no sense since Caught in a Web is full-on metal and Innocence Faded isn't metal at all.
Exactly. Being "straight-forward" doesn't equate to a similarity at all. There's no other song on Awake that sounds like Innocence Faded.
Wow, I never knew one song could ruin so many lives. :lol
Quote from: BlobVanDam on March 13, 2013, 11:00:20 AM
Exactly. Being "straight-forward" doesn't equate to a similarity at all. There's no other song on Awake that sounds like Innocence Faded.
Like I said, I just think it slows the album down being side by side with CIAW.
Quote from: kingshmegland on March 13, 2013, 11:02:27 AM
Wow, I never knew one song could ruin so many lives. :lol
I'll have you know, Innocence Faded killed my father!
Quote from: TheGreatPretender on March 13, 2013, 10:58:53 AM
Quote from: Dublagent66 on March 13, 2013, 10:53:58 AM
Well, anybody who knows DT's style will never presume to think that the first few songs will determine the outcome of the album. It's ok to just say you don't like a song, but don't wrap yourself around the axil trying to explain why.
I like the song NOW. After listening to it dozens of times.
But when I first listened to Awake, I was really disappointed with the overall album and Innocence Faded was one of the reasons. And I still think having CIAW and IF side by side like that really slows the album down. Because after CIAW, I think it's time to hear some classic DT, something long, and intricate, not something simple like IF. And yeah, okay, right after that, we get Erotomania, but don't get me started on that.
:facepalm: :lol ??? All at the same time.
Before Awake, DT had only done two albums, so there was no such thing as "classic DT" yet.
Do you want a predictable tracklisting? "Oh, here is where we would normally put a classic DT song, so let's do it that way again!"
Quote from: KevShmev on March 13, 2013, 11:04:14 AM
:facepalm: :lol ??? All at the same time.
Before Awake, DT had only done two albums, so there was no such thing as "classic DT" yet.
Do you want a predictable tracklisting? "Oh, here is where we would normally put a classic DT song, so let's do it that way again!"
Well, I didn't listen to them in chronological order. And Awake was this big hyped up amazing album that all the fans said was absolutely amazing, and I figured, "after Images and Words, I'll bet!" And three songs into it, I just went, "So when is it gonna get to the good part of the album?"
Awake is different than every other DT album is that it is their darkest and least wankiest CD they have done, which is a big part of why so many of us like it. But given how different it is, I wouldn't expect someone who is used to their sound to hear it and be instantly blown away. Hell, I wasn't sure what to think of it the first several times I heard it (BECAUSE it was so different and not at all what I was expecting).
Well, what can I say? I listen to every DT album regularly, including Awake, and while it has grown on me significantly, I still think it's the most overrated DT album. And while songs like Innocence Faded and Lifting Shadows are great in their own right, in the grand scope of this album, I think they drag it down.
Quote from: TheGreatPretender on March 13, 2013, 11:25:33 AM
Well, what can I say? I listen to every DT album regularly, including Awake, and while it has grown on me significantly, I still think it's the most overrated DT album. And while songs like Innocence Faded and Lifting Shadows are great in their own right, in the grand scope of this album, I think they drag it down.
Lifting Shadows is amazing, it doesn't drag anything down.
But hey, opinions vary.
I don't remember my first impressions of Awake, but for 75 minutes, the album flies by, and I've already said this, but it's freakin' amazing. I listened to the whole thing last night (I usually leave off SDV) and although that song doesn't really sound like it belongs on the album, it wasn't bad. I think Awake has officially bumped Six Degrees from my #2 spot for DT albums.
Contrary to most, I never found Space Dye Vest to be out of place in the Awake album, at all. A more than fitting, oblique, conclusion.
It sounds like a bonus track or something.
Quote from: KevShmev on March 13, 2013, 11:14:46 AM
Awake is different than every other DT album is that it is their darkest and least wankiest CD they have done, which is a big part of why so many of us like it. But given how different it is, I wouldn't expect someone who is used to their sound to hear it and be instantly blown away. Hell, I wasn't sure what to think of it the first several times I heard it (BECAUSE it was so different and not at all what I was expecting).
People always say that Awake is the "darkest" and "moodiest", but to that I have two things to say.
First, dark/moody =/= good. Many of the songs on Awake that go for darkness/moodiness are pretty terrible, IMO.
Second, Train of Thought is darker, and most DT albums are at least on par with Awake's moodiness.
Quote from: wasteland on March 13, 2013, 03:37:45 PM
Contrary to most, I never found Space Dye Vest to be out of place in the Awake album, at all. A more than fitting, oblique, conclusion.
+1
Quote from: Ħ on March 13, 2013, 03:40:20 PM
Second, Train of Thought is darker, and most DT albums are at least on par with Awake's moodiness.
This very much.
Quote from: TheGreatPretender on March 13, 2013, 10:58:53 AM
Quote from: Dublagent66 on March 13, 2013, 10:53:58 AM
Well, anybody who knows DT's style will never presume to think that the first few songs will determine the outcome of the album. It's ok to just say you don't like a song, but don't wrap yourself around the axil trying to explain why.
I like the song NOW. After listening to it dozens of times.
But when I first listened to Awake, I was really disappointed with the overall album and Innocence Faded was one of the reasons. And I still think having CIAW and IF side by side like that really slows the album down. Because after CIAW, I think it's time to hear some classic DT, something long, and intricate, not something simple like IF. And yeah, okay, right after that, we get Erotomania, but don't get me started on that.
That's cool. I felt similarly when I first heard it, but it grew on me fast. IF is still not in my top 5 on the album but I like it more now than I did at first.
Quote from: Zook on March 13, 2013, 03:39:42 PM
It sounds like a bonus track or something.
Agreed.
Train of Thought is more angsty if anything. I love it though. Awake has a certain eerieness to it, and genuine anger.
Yeah, outside of Vacant, I'm not sure that I would characterize anything on TOT as "dark." There is definitely some "pissed off" in As I Am and Honor Thy Father and some "woe is me" in Endless Sacrifice, but not much that I would call dark.
I think the things give the dark atmosphere to the album is, first keyboard then lyrics. Train Of Thought, to me, has no dark theme considering the keyboard wise. Keyboard theme and its arrangements on Awake completely give the dark feeling, plus lyrics are pretty dark too. On the other hand, ToT is just heavy by DT standards.
Yes, 6:00, Innocence Faded, The Silent Man and Lifting Shadows are very dark. :lol Well, I say Mother Mary, quite contrary.
Quote from: Zook on March 13, 2013, 06:59:40 PM
Awake has a certain eerieness to it, and genuine anger.
This. I have always found Awake to make someone enjoyably uneasy.
I just want to go on record saying I think Awake is one of DTs best albums, and that one of my favorite parts is the use of the motif in The Mirror that is eventually expanded upon to create SDV. It's not really a big deal, I just always enjoyed that.
Really, though, SDV is the greatest song on Awake. There. I said it.
Quote from: theanalogkid7 on March 13, 2013, 08:48:38 PM
one of my favorite parts is the use of the motif in The Mirror that is eventually expanded upon to create SDV. It's not really a big deal, I just always enjoyed that.
I always liked recurring themes in albums, and that was definitely cool.
Quote from: TheGreatPretender on March 13, 2013, 08:30:22 PM
Yes, 6:00, Innocence Faded, The Silent Man and Lifting Shadows are very dark. :lol Well, I say Mother Mary, quite contrary.
Oh the irony. But it doesn't change the fact.
Quote from: theanalogkid7 on March 13, 2013, 08:48:38 PM
Really, though, SDV is the greatest song on Awake. There. I said it.
I like the way you think.
Awake is definitely the most atmospheric and least technical DT album, and I'd also say it's the darkest. All these 3 aspects are exactly the reason why I love it more than any other DT album.
Quote from: Zook on March 13, 2013, 06:59:40 PM
Train of Thought is more angsty if anything. I love it though. Awake has a certain eerieness to it, and genuine anger.
I'd actually say the opposite. Terms like, "Dark" obviously mean different things to different people. And SDV especially, is just kind of angsty. It's sad in a pathetic kind of way, in terms of the subject matter, but at the time, it was a very happy time in DT's career, writing it, so I think aside from The Mirror, that darkness was a bit forced. But hey, they all bought into Kev's contrived sincerity, right? :\
Quote from: theanalogkid7 on March 13, 2013, 08:48:38 PM
I just want to go on record saying I think Awake is one of DTs best albums, and that one of my favorite parts is the use of the motif in The Mirror that is eventually expanded upon to create SDV. It's not really a big deal, I just always enjoyed that.
It actually went the other way around, I think. But it's great foreshadowing.
Quote from: TheGreatPretender on March 14, 2013, 12:04:51 AM
But hey, they all bought into Kev's contrived sincerity, right? :\
Riiiight. I still love Raise the Knife, but some of the lyrics in that song are downright embarrassing, and that line is one of the worst offenders.
Quote from: KevShmev on March 14, 2013, 08:52:04 AM
Quote from: TheGreatPretender on March 14, 2013, 12:04:51 AM
But hey, they all bought into Kev's contrived sincerity, right? :\
Riiiight. I still love Raise the Knife, but some of the lyrics in that song are downright embarrassing, and that line is one of the worst offenders.
:tup
Quote from: ? on March 13, 2013, 11:59:48 PM
Awake is definitely the most atmospheric and least technical DT album, and I'd also say it's the darkest. All these 3 aspects are exactly the reason why I love it more than any other DT album.
Most atmospheric? Eh, I don't think so. It's sort of planar its atmosphere, not much variety. I'd say SFAM and SDOIT are more atmospheric. Least technical? Perhaps, I don't really know; I don't know how difficult the music is at all. Darkest? Again, I think other albums are darker or at least as dark.
Perhaps we ought to define our terms, though. To me, an album is "dark" if it evokes dark emotions within me (which is, of course, subjective to the listener). TOT and FII evoke those feelings much more for me.
Quote from: KevShmev on March 14, 2013, 08:52:04 AM
Riiiight. I still love Raise the Knife, but some of the lyrics in that song are downright embarrassing, and that line is one of the worst offenders.
I just felt like using it.
Though for the record, as a song, I think Raise The Knife is better than anything on Awake.
Quote from: ? on March 13, 2013, 11:59:48 PM
Awake is definitely the most atmospheric and least technical DT album, and I'd also say it's the darkest. All these 3 aspects are exactly the reason why I love it more than any other DT album.
I think it's definitely the darkest DT album. As for "most atmospheric," I think several of their other albums create an atmosphere at least as effectively. And "least technical," I have no idea but I'm not sure how that can be determined.
Either way, it's one of their very best releases.
-J
If only allowed to own and listen to four DT albums I would have a hard time giving up IAW, SFAM, SDOIT or ADTOE to keep Awake. But in comparison to my overall collection of music it would rank VERY high. As to how it stacks up with the rest of DT's discography, well the competitiion is as stiff as it gets.
Quote from: KevShmev on March 14, 2013, 08:52:04 AM
Quote from: TheGreatPretender on March 14, 2013, 12:04:51 AM
But hey, they all bought into Kev's contrived sincerity, right? :\
Riiiight. I still love Raise the Knife, but some of the lyrics in that song are downright embarrassing, and that line is one of the worst offenders.
Word. I have no idea why MP had to write so overdramatically about a split in which there was no bad blood involved.
Quote from: Ħ on March 14, 2013, 10:19:48 AM
Quote from: ? on March 13, 2013, 11:59:48 PM
Awake is definitely the most atmospheric and least technical DT album, and I'd also say it's the darkest. All these 3 aspects are exactly the reason why I love it more than any other DT album.
Most atmospheric? Eh, I don't think so. It's sort of planar its atmosphere, not much variety. I'd say SFAM and SDOIT are more atmospheric. Least technical? Perhaps, I don't really know; I don't know how difficult the music is at all. Darkest? Again, I think other albums are darker or at least as dark.
Perhaps we ought to define our terms, though. To me, an album is "dark" if it evokes dark emotions within me (which is, of course, subjective to the listener). TOT and FII evoke those feelings much more for me.
Well, in my view atmosphere and lack of technicality go basically hand in hand. That's why I don't think albums like SFAM and TOT are even close to having as much atmosphere as Awake. The huge amount of shedding is also the factor that makes TOT less dark than Awake in my eyes - it gives me a kind of "hell yeah, let's rock!" vibe instead of the more serious and introspective approach of Awake. However, that doesn't make TOT a bad album; you just can't put it on the same line with Awake when talking about darkness and depth.
I agree that Six Degrees is one of the most atmospheric DT albums, I really like the mood of that record. And like you, I find FII dark, which is probably due to the smaller amount of technicality like in Awake's case. However, I still think Awake takes the #1 spot as the darkest and most atmospheric (and the best!) DT album: it's just the combination of everything: not only the music itself, but the production, the lyrics and the artwork, even the circumstances that surrounded the recording process all add to the unique feel of the album and make the overall mood so strongly consistent.
Quote from: ? on March 14, 2013, 01:10:19 PM
Well, in my view atmosphere and lack of technicality go basically hand in hand.
I don't really see why. I mean, just as a single example, take Outcry. I think it's a very atmospheric song, but at the same time, look at that instrumental section.
Same with Sacrificed Sons, In The Name of God, In The Presence of Enemies. All technical and atmospheric, I'd say.
Or Blind Faith. Very atmospheric, very technical.
Heck, even As I Am has atmosphere to it.
Actually, I think sometimes why it seems like they differ is because of the way the keyboards are used. Either Jordan (or Kevin or Derek) is playing crazy, technical keyboards, or they're just filling the atmosphere, not always able to do both at the same time.
But obviously, there are plenty of cases where they can and do serve both.
I agree with ? completely.
I will also say that another reason that I place Awake above all the others is that it is the only album where the lyrical content is almost as good as the musical content. Yeah, there are silly lines here and there, but on Awake, they are the exceptions, not the rule as with most of their other output.
Quote from: hefdaddy42 on March 14, 2013, 02:58:58 PM
I agree with ? completely.
I will also say that another reason that I place Awake above all the others is that it is the only album where the lyrical content is almost as good as the musical content. Yeah, there are silly lines here and there, but on Awake, they are the exceptions, not the rule as with most of their other output.
What about Images?
Quote from: hefdaddy42 on March 14, 2013, 02:58:58 PM
I will also say that another reason that I place Awake above all the others is that it is the only album where the lyrical content is almost as good as the musical content. Yeah, there are silly lines here and there, but on Awake, they are the exceptions, not the rule as with most of their other output.
Amen to that! And I can't believe no one else, including me, had mentioned this yet. I guess it's easy to get lost in the discussion, but yeah, Awake's lyrics are mostly pretty damn great. I&W's are, too, but Awake's are just a little bit better. And not just John Myung and Kevin Moore's; it is easy to forget that John Petrucci was a really good lyricist back in the day, especially when you consider some of the lyrics he has penned in recent years, but he wrote a lot of great lyrics back then.
The lyrics are good by DT standards, but are still far from stellar, though. I mean, who really listens to DT for the lyrics? Anyway, I think all the lyrics pre-Octavarium are pretty good anyway, and most albums are on par with Awake.
Quote from: Ħ on March 14, 2013, 03:28:45 PM
The lyrics are good by DT standards, but are still far from stellar, though. I mean, who really listens to DT for the lyrics? Anyway, I think all the lyrics pre-Octavarium are pretty good anyway, and most albums are on par with Awake.
That is missing the point. That is like saying, "Who cares about a song like Disappear? I mean, who listens to DT for ballads anyway?" Good lyrics don't make or break their music, but they can enhance the overall experience.
That's true. But like I said, Awake's lyrics are good and not great, as are most of DT's lyrics across the span of their albums. So I don't think Awake's lyrics are really a selling point for it being the best album.
Well, whether the lyrics are good, great, or terrible is for the most part subjective. I mean, there is the odd occasion where everyone can agree when a lyric is really good or really bad. But for the most part, people's tastes will dictate how they feel about the lyrics to any given song.
Well, if you want to play that card, the entire thing is completely subjective, so...
Which is why we're having these discussions and disputing things. And expressing why we do or do not think Awake is the greatest thing ever.
Quote from: theanalogkid7 on March 13, 2013, 08:48:38 PM
Really, though, SDV is the greatest song on Awake. There. I said it.
Pfffft. Not even close. Thanks for playing, though.
Awake definitely has some of the best lyrics. The quality of DT's lyrics began to slip noticeably over the years. One of the problems is that they became too literal.
Yeah, "moving forth through ember embrace" became "I walked through yellow sap."
Quote from: DebraKadabra on March 14, 2013, 05:23:33 PM
Quote from: theanalogkid7 on March 13, 2013, 08:48:38 PM
Really, though, SDV is the greatest song on Awake. There. I said it.
Pfffft. Not even close. Thanks for playing, though.
Name a better song on Awake. I dare you. :biggrin:
Quote from: theanalogkid7 on March 14, 2013, 07:39:17 PM
Quote from: DebraKadabra on March 14, 2013, 05:23:33 PM
Quote from: theanalogkid7 on March 13, 2013, 08:48:38 PM
Really, though, SDV is the greatest song on Awake. There. I said it.
Pfffft. Not even close. Thanks for playing, though.
Name a better song on Awake. I dare you. :biggrin:
She can't because one does not exist
All of them.
I wouldn't say all of them, but Erotomania and Voices are both better than SDV.
I would.
Space-Dye Vest is unlike anything DT has ever done, before or since. This 'different' factor is the main thing it's got going for it, but there are still far better songs on the album.
Quote from: TheGreatPretender on March 14, 2013, 08:01:45 PM
Space-Dye Vest is unlike anything DT has ever done, before or since. This 'different' factor is the main thing it's got going for it, but there are still far better songs on the album.
Not really, but it's not my favorite on the album.
Quote from: JayOctavarium on March 14, 2013, 07:39:58 PM
She can't because one does not exist
:\
Voices, Erotomania, and The Mirror would all like words with you.
Quote from: Zook on March 14, 2013, 07:41:16 PM
All of them.
Yep.
Space-Dye Vest is actually my least favorite song on Awake, but it's not bad. I like it for what it is and it gives the album more variety.
This thread made me pull the Awake cd and play it. I still enjoy it a lot. It has stood the test of time. It's still the best DT album for me. The lyrics are great. They are not as straightforward as the others and hard to interpret. I still think Awake is their pinnacle lyric wise. The first three albums (WDADU, IW and AW) are probably the best in the lyrics department in my opinion. DT has pulled some great songs lyric wise in each album but the quality has been declining ever since (but that's for another thread). Love the production on this one, love JP's guitar tone and MP's drums as well. Bass is great and loved James' voice on this one...Kevin's atmospheric keyboard playing also makes this record sound great. Edgy yet soaring. For me Scarred and Space Dye Vest are amazing closers for this album. Can't picture this album without SDV. You also have a bit of variety with the high tempo songs as Caught in a Web, 6:00 and Innocence Faded and dare to say a bit poppy sounding. Then you have the A Mind Besides Itself Suite, which is outstanding (could do without The Silent Man but it's part of it, so wtf LOL, but still is good nonetheless). You have The Mirror and Lie which are heavy and good riffs and in a perfect world, great radio singles for mainstream rock. Lifting Shadows is a great song by itself, dark, introspective and provides a nice mood setup to Scarred and follows up to SDV. This record has a little bit of everything and that's why I enjoy this record a lot. It's not commercially sounding as FII (which I like), not as 90s sounding as Images, not as overly progressive as SFAM or 8V or 6DOIT (love disc 1, reminds me a bit of Awake) or BCSL, not as heavy as ToT but still heavy and dynamic enough, definitely doesn't sound like a blanket over the speakers as ADTOE (best material in years).
If I could describe this album in one word it would be DYNAMIC and that's what makes it great for me.
Quote from: goo-goo on March 15, 2013, 06:03:34 AM
If I could describe this album in one word it would be DYNAMIC and that's what makes it great for me.
Absolutely. ? and a couple others said they liked it because it was atmospheric, dark and not very technical. Those are big parts of Awake and I obviously adore that sorta music, but it's not the very reason why I like it, and dynamicity is. I an very involved when I listen to music, but with some albums, it seems you need to do all the work to involve yourself. Awake is not like that. It completely pulls you in conflicting directions, makes you a part of its little mood swings, it almost forces you to react to it. I like it when an album is so perfectly engaging.
Quote from: hefdaddy42 on March 14, 2013, 02:58:58 PM
I agree with ? completely.
I will also say that another reason that I place Awake above all the others is that it is the only album where the lyrical content is almost as good as the musical content. Yeah, there are silly lines here and there, but on Awake, they are the exceptions, not the rule as with most of their other output.
Am I blessed with this now?
(https://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i238/hefdaddy42/DTF/seal.gif)
I agree with what you said about the lyrics, the guys were at the top of their game in that department (and basically every other department as well) back then.
And Milena, the diversity is a thing that I forgot to mention - thanks for reminding me! :) Of course DT have many diverse albums, but on Awake they also managed to keep a certain atmosphere running throughout the record AND sound multidimensional at the same time.
Awake's great. I don't think it's quite up to par with I&W and SFaM but it's damn close.
Sonically I think it's fabulous, JP's soloing was inspired (the ending of Innocence Faded is just superb) and JLB has never sounded better.
What stops it reaching as high as I&W and SFaM is Caught In A Web (bit meh for me), the opening 4:16 of Innocence Faded (blech) and the chromatic opening riff to Erotomania (I don't know why but it just agitates me).
If MP didn't have such a cob on about SDV I'm not sure it'd be discussed nearly as much as it is. It's not the best song on the album, but it does round off the album perfectly and I'm so glad DT recorded it since they did so much better a job than Kevin Moore could've on his own.
Quote from: MoraWintersoul on March 14, 2013, 03:06:36 PM
Quote from: hefdaddy42 on March 14, 2013, 02:58:58 PM
I agree with ? completely.
I will also say that another reason that I place Awake above all the others is that it is the only album where the lyrical content is almost as good as the musical content. Yeah, there are silly lines here and there, but on Awake, they are the exceptions, not the rule as with most of their other output.
What about Images?
That one is good too, for the most part, but "It's time to take the time" is one of the worst lines I'ver heard from anyone ever.
Across the board, I just think
Awake's lyrics are better.
Quote from: Ħ on March 14, 2013, 03:33:51 PM
Awake's lyrics are good and not great, as are most of DT's lyrics across the span of their albums. So I don't think Awake's lyrics are really a selling point for it being the best album.
It's an enhancement. And the lyrics on Awake are, I think, noticeably better than the span of their albums. I mean, it's not close. Good but not great? Maybe compared to Dylan, Springsteen, or other musical acts known for lyrics. But relative to DT's other output, they ARE great.
Lyrics don't really make or break a song depending on the quality of music. Afterall, it's the music that draws us in. Lyrics are just another form of literature or poetry if you will. The music is also a lot more universal than lyrics because lyrics can be interpreted so many ways or misinterpreted all the same. So, I have some simple formulas when it comes to lyrics because they do actually count for something.
Bad lyrics + bad music = Horrible song
Good lyrics + bad music = Bad song
Bad Lyrics + good music = Good song
Good lyrics + good music = Great song
I rank I&W higher than Awake based on a music to lyrics ratio, but not by much. :biggrin:
Quote from: Dublagent66 on March 15, 2013, 02:07:23 PM
Lyrics don't really make or break a song depending on the quality of music.
Sure they can. :)
Nope, Awake is a top 3 DT album at best.
Quote from: The King in Crimson on March 15, 2013, 05:58:13 PM
Quote from: Dublagent66 on March 15, 2013, 02:07:23 PM
Lyrics don't really make or break a song depending on the quality of music.
Sure they can. :)
Nah, only if you let it. Songs can still be good with subpar lyrics. ;)
Quote from: Dublagent66 on March 19, 2013, 08:04:20 AM
Quote from: The King in Crimson on March 15, 2013, 05:58:13 PM
Quote from: Dublagent66 on March 15, 2013, 02:07:23 PM
Lyrics don't really make or break a song depending on the quality of music.
Sure they can. :)
Nah, only if you let it. Songs can still be good with subpar lyrics. ;)
They can't be great with shitty lyrics. And good songs can become great with great lyrics.
Besides, "only if you let it" can be used for anything.
"That's like when you see that product, I Can't Believe it's not Butter. You can say that about a lawn chair.
"I can't believe it's not butter." I think someone called it that to avoid a lawsuit." --Richard Jeni.
Quote from: hefdaddy42 on March 19, 2013, 08:20:12 AM
They can't be great with shitty lyrics.
The Ministry of Lost Souls and The Count of Tuscany are both great songs.
Quote from: TheGreatPretender on March 19, 2013, 11:11:06 AM
Quote from: hefdaddy42 on March 19, 2013, 08:20:12 AM
They can't be great with shitty lyrics.
The Ministry of Lost Souls and The Count of Tuscany are both great songs.
No they aren't, although TCOT could have been, and I don't think that TMOLS has shitty lyrics, anyway.
Quote from: hefdaddy42 on March 19, 2013, 08:20:12 AM
Quote from: Dublagent66 on March 19, 2013, 08:04:20 AM
Quote from: The King in Crimson on March 15, 2013, 05:58:13 PM
Quote from: Dublagent66 on March 15, 2013, 02:07:23 PM
Lyrics don't really make or break a song depending on the quality of music.
Sure they can. :)
Nah, only if you let it. Songs can still be good with subpar lyrics. ;)
They can't be great with shitty lyrics. And good songs can become great with great lyrics.
True, but I never said a song could be great with shitty lyrics. I said a song can still be good with subpar lyrics. That's two different things.
Quote
Besides, "only if you let it" can be used for anything.
Well, that's arguable depending on what you're talking about but really not worth discussing. I was refering more to a state of mind about something that's entirely subjective anyway. If it works, use it. If it doesn't then don't. Entirely up to you.
Quote from: kingshmegland on March 19, 2013, 10:15:16 AM
"That's like when you see that product, I Can't Believe it's not Butter. You can say that about a lawn chair.
Only if someone was stupid enough to think a lawn chair tastes like butter and then can't believe it isn't. :lol Otherwise, why would anybody say that? Not a good analogy.
Thanks for the amusing comments guys but this is getting a little off topic. I was talking about lyrics vs music, not shit, butter or lawn chairs.
Quote from: wasteland on March 13, 2013, 03:37:45 PM
Contrary to most, I never found Space Dye Vest to be out of place in the Awake album, at all. A more than fitting, oblique, conclusion.
Agreed. I'll never understand the criticisms. One of the better songs on the album. This seems to be the only place that gives it hate too it seems. :lol
Wow. Just noticed that Awake has 4 songs in my DT bottom 20.
But still, that being said...
Quote from: bosk1 on March 11, 2013, 11:39:17 AMAwake is such an incredibly amazing album
Quote from: TheGreatPretender on March 19, 2013, 11:11:06 AM
Quote from: hefdaddy42 on March 19, 2013, 08:20:12 AM
They can't be great with shitty lyrics.
The Ministry of Lost Souls and The Count of Tuscany are both great songs.
I agree with you on this.
I dislike the production/mix on the album. The tones are good on each instrument, but there is a sterile feeling to the album that I have always disliked.
Dublagent66, you are missing the punchline when Richard Jeni said, " I think someone called it that to avoid a lawsuit." Not an analogy at all. I just thought it was a funny line. :lol
Awake was the first DT cd I purchased when it came out. They were recommended to me and this album holds a special place with me and always will for that fact.
Just wanted to say that this thread has encouraged me to go back and listen to Awake more, it's definitely an awesome album :metal Still wouldn't say it's my favorite, but it would probably be #4 in my DT album rankings, right behind I&W, SFAM and SDOIT.
Well, it was a good thread, then :)
I think it's my #2, or #3 when ADTOE is on a really good day. Usually #2, though!
Actually, I think Awake is the deepest and most profound album DT has ever done.
For me the answer is a yes, BUT...
"Awake" is the first DT album that I listened, so it will always be a bit special to me.
But I love "6 degrees...", "ToT" or "I&W" the same way!! :metal
Quote from: MoraWintersoul on March 11, 2013, 09:52:46 AM
Yeah, I prefer SDOIT too. Whenever I talk to a new DT fan and when I mention that fact to them, they get awfully confused, and then they re-listen to SDOIT and go "holy fuck Milena you are 100% right about this album."
Well, okay, that happened only three times but that's enough to make a case! :hat
I agree with you. SDOIT, especially CD2, is the most awesome album in dT's albums. I can't forget the first time I listend it. Its play time shocked me, but what shocked me most was that it was not bored, and didn't make me lose concentration despite of its greatly long long playtime. If someone asks me to recomand just one song of DT, I will recommand SDOIT without hesitation.
Images & Words and Scenes From A Memory are better than Awake.
To summarize my feelings succinctly: Awake is fucking amazing. It's an album that has only improved with repeated listens through the years.
Quote from: CableX 1814 on March 19, 2013, 06:16:27 PM
I dislike the production/mix on the album. The tones are good on each instrument, but there is a sterile feeling to the album that I have always disliked.
This, too. The word 'sterile' fits very well with my opinion on Awake.
Quote from: MetropolisWatches on April 01, 2013, 12:32:03 PM
To summarize my feelings succinctly: Awake is fucking amazing. It's an album that has only improved with repeated listens through the years.
I've actually had the opposite reaction to Awake. I still think it's a great album, but it hasn't held up as well as most other DT albums for me over the years.
Quote from: reneranucci on April 02, 2013, 06:54:38 AM
Quote from: CableX 1814 on March 19, 2013, 06:16:27 PM
I dislike the production/mix on the album. The tones are good on each instrument, but there is a sterile feeling to the album that I have always disliked.
This, too. The word 'sterile' fits very well with my opinion on Awake.
Interesting... that's actually my complaint about most of ADToE. I find Awake to be raw, emotional, exciting... anything but sterile really.
Yup, Awake is sterile.
So is ADTOE.
The only time Awake is sterile is when I'm not hearing it.
The only complaint I can think of is that it's too long. After I&W clocking in at just under one hour, I feel they went overboard with 75 minutes and it hurts the flow. In hindsight, I wish they'd done something like this:
Awake:
6:00
Caught In A Web
Innocence Faded
Erotomania
Voices
The Silent Man
The Mirror
Lie
Space-Dye Vest
This way you get three distinct sections (3 standalone songs, AMBI and the three songs with the darkest feel). As for the rest of the tracks, a mini-EP would've solved that.
Scarred EP:
Scarred
To Live Forever
Lifting Shadows Off A Dream
Eve
Quote from: Ħ on April 03, 2013, 09:11:09 AM
Yup, Awake is sterile.
So is ADTOE.
Thanks man, glad you cleared that up for me.
Quote from: Vahvahenki on April 05, 2013, 11:19:36 AM
The only complaint I can think of is that it's too long. After I&W clocking in at just under one hour, I feel they went overboard with 75 minutes and it hurts the flow. In hindsight, I wish they'd done something like this:
Awake:
6:00
Caught In A Web
Innocence Faded
Erotomania
Voices
The Silent Man
The Mirror
Lie
Space-Dye Vest
This way you get three distinct sections (3 standalone songs, AMBI and the three songs with the darkest feel). As for the rest of the tracks, a mini-EP would've solved that.
Scarred EP:
Scarred
To Live Forever
Lifting Shadows Off A Dream
Eve
You realize every album after Awake is roughly the same length right? Barring SDOIT which is 96 minutes.
Quote from: GasparXR on April 05, 2013, 11:49:43 AM
You realize every album after Awake is roughly the same length right? Barring SDOIT which is 96 minutes.
Oh absolutely, but I'd say Awake and Falling Into Infinity, to me, are the only albums that suffer from their length. Scenes feels like a whole, SDOIT's length feels balanced because of it having two discs, ToT and 8VM feel like they're albums with an idea behind them (no matter if one likes what the idea was). I won't comment on the albums after that but I'll just say that Awake has the potential to be a shorter album with a better flow. Maybe I phrased it poorly by referring to just the length.
Quote from: Vahvahenki on April 05, 2013, 01:01:05 PM
Quote from: GasparXR on April 05, 2013, 11:49:43 AM
You realize every album after Awake is roughly the same length right? Barring SDOIT which is 96 minutes.
Oh absolutely, but I'd say Awake and Falling Into Infinity, to me, are the only albums that suffer from their length. Scenes feels like a whole, SDOIT's length feels balanced because of it having two discs, ToT and 8VM feel like they're albums with an idea behind them (no matter if one likes what the idea was). I won't comment on the albums after that but I'll just say that Awake has the potential to be a shorter album with a better flow. Maybe I phrased it poorly by referring to just the length.
Oh okay, I see what you mean. It does seem like they wrote an Images-ish album, which I find is more song-oriented than album-oriented, but much longer. Same with FII. Everything since Scenes works better as an album than any album before it.
Awake just has a certain charm, it sounds very different from all their other albums, the vocals are quite off key sometimes BUT full of life and passion etc.
I listened to the album today, and after that to post-SFAM DT songs and what's really obvious is how much more professional JLB has become in his approach to recording vocals. And as a vocalist for that matter. He might not get the highest notes anymore, but his singing has become more refined and tasteful in my opinion. That said, Awake still has an utterly impressive vocal performance.
Quote from: PixelDream on April 08, 2013, 11:42:07 AM
Awake just has a certain charm, it sounds very different from all their other albums, the vocals are quite off key sometimes BUT full of life and passion etc.
I'm by far not the biggest fan of Awake, but I'll be the first person to defend its vocals. And even though you're praising them, I don't understand how they're off key. Never listening to Awake, have I said, "He just hit the wrong note!"
I'm the last person to defend Awake, and I can't fault Awake's vocals. It's easily one of JLB's best albums vocally, if not the best.
I listened to Awake again today and frankly - after the first three songs it gets quite boring imo.
Images And Words ftw.
Quote from: Jarzombek on April 01, 2013, 11:40:41 AM
Images & Words and Scenes From A Memory are better than Awake.
:tup
For me, a sign of a great album is one that is strong today as it was when I played the crap out if it when it came out.
Awake is not one of those for me. I do like it, but I gravitate towards other albums in their collection.
Awake is a strange album with me, where as I love it, but have to be in the right mood for it.
And If I haven't listened to it in a while it takes at least 2 listens to get back into it if that makes any sense. Still a top 3 album for me though.
Quote from: BlobVanDam on April 08, 2013, 11:54:05 AM
It's easily one of JLB's best albums vocally, if not the best.
Callow and vain, I rest my case.
Not only is it JLB's best album, also JP had his best guitar tone ever on Awake.
Quote from: Elite on April 12, 2013, 06:58:22 PM
Not only is it JLB's best album, also JP had his best guitar tone ever on Awake.
I agree about JLB, but I like the guitar sound on BC&SL the most. It's the best aspect about that album actually :metal
Quote from: Elite on April 12, 2013, 06:58:22 PM
Not only is it JLB's each guy's best album, also JP had his best guitar tone ever on Awake.
Quote from: Elite on April 12, 2013, 06:58:22 PM
Not only is it JLB's best album, also JP had his best guitar tone ever on Awake.
I agree.
JP's tone is still pretty damn good, but it has never been as good since switching away from the Ibanez.
Quote from: aprilethereal on April 13, 2013, 02:14:49 AM
Quote from: Elite on April 12, 2013, 06:58:22 PM
Not only is it JLB's best album, also JP had his best guitar tone ever on Awake.
I agree about JLB, but I like the guitar sound on BC&SL the most.
I agree that it has his best guitar tone. If only the actual mixing job was better, ie. drums were a little bit quieter and bass is more clear.
Quote from: GasparXR on April 13, 2013, 01:30:10 PM
I agree that it has his best guitar tone. If only the actual mixing job was better, ie. drums were a little bit quieter and bass is more clear.
And a little bit less reverb on the whole damn thing.
I have difficulty determining which of JP's guitar tones is "best." They've always been good.
Just popping in to say I agree with Kev. SFaM and 6° both come close, but I still prefer Awake.
Carry on.
This pic makes me want to listen to Awake, among other things.
(https://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m90h2ixpcR1qjo3ufo1_500.jpg)
I think I'd probably put it in their top 5 but not their best by a long shot.
Quote from: darkshade on June 13, 2013, 11:38:16 AM
This pic makes me want to listen to Awake, among other things.
(https://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m90h2ixpcR1qjo3ufo1_500.jpg)
Must be shooped... everyone knows that girls really don't like Dream Theater
(Melina, Deb etc are just jelly of JLB's hair and that's why they hang around)
She can get caught in my web anytime :zydar:
Quote from: JayOctavarium on June 13, 2013, 12:16:56 PM
Quote from: darkshade on June 13, 2013, 11:38:16 AM
This pic makes me want to listen to Awake, among other things.
(https://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m90h2ixpcR1qjo3ufo1_500.jpg)
Must be shooped... everyone knows that girls really don't like Dream Theater
(https://fc08.deviantart.net/fs50/i/2009/279/2/e/Meeting_Dream_Theater_by_psychedelic_girl.jpg)
(https://a3.ec-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/75/c288bda8d11f44a382dc90917dc23241/l.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/BM07h7y.jpg)
Also, Japan.
Quote from: GasparXR on June 13, 2013, 12:40:53 PM
Also, Japan.
Actually, she didn't really like Dream Theater. But she had some pen and paper, so what the fuck.
Quote from: Zydar on June 13, 2013, 12:19:11 PM
She can get caught in my web anytime :zydar:
I wouldn't mind if I got a chance to be lifting shadows off a dream with her until 6:00 in the morning :zydarscouch:
Quote from: TheGreatPretender on June 13, 2013, 12:49:20 PM
Quote from: GasparXR on June 13, 2013, 12:40:53 PM
Also, Japan.
Actually, she didn't really like Dream Theater. But she had some pen and paper, so what the fuck.
I knew someone would say that, but I was actually referencing when MP said during the LaB documentary that in Japan, most of their fans are girls. :lol
Quote from: ? on June 13, 2013, 12:50:30 PM
I wouldn't mind if I got a chance to be lifting shadows off a dream with her until 6:00 in the morning :zydarscouch:
She gives me Erotomania. That's all I gotta say.
:rollin
Quote from: BlobVanDam on March 11, 2013, 09:42:22 AM
This is my listening experience of Awake from start to finish, represented in graph form.
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/awake_graph.png)
It would be a pretty good album if you lopped off the half hour of waste at the end.
Quote from: MoraWintersoul on March 11, 2013, 09:47:28 AM
This graph is the best thing I've ever thoroughly disagreed with.
Third best DT album:
1) I&W.
2) SFAM.
3) Awake.
4) SDOIT.
5) FII (incredibly underrated).
Quote from: darkshade on June 13, 2013, 12:31:03 PM
(https://a3.ec-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/75/c288bda8d11f44a382dc90917dc23241/l.jpg)
Oh dear... Not only did she get the wrong font TATTOOED on her, but it was the wrong font with the lower cased R!
She has a tattoo?
Quote from: darkshade on June 13, 2013, 11:38:16 AM
This pic makes me want to listen to Awake, among other things.
(https://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m90h2ixpcR1qjo3ufo1_500.jpg)
If you even noticed she was wearing a DT shirt, I've got some bad news for you....
Her boyfriend probably bought it for her, and she only wears it so his feelings wont be hurt.
Quote from: BlobVanDam on June 13, 2013, 08:51:02 PM
Quote from: darkshade on June 13, 2013, 11:38:16 AM
This pic makes me want to listen to Awake, among other things.
(https://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m90h2ixpcR1qjo3ufo1_500.jpg)
If you even noticed she was wearing a DT shirt, I've got some bad news for you....
Sure why not? The logo is right beneath where I was looking. My peripheral vision is not impaired. (https://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-bounce011.gif) (https://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php)
Quote from: darkshade on June 13, 2013, 09:29:29 PM
Sure why not? The logo is right beneath where I was looking. My peripheral vision is not impaired. (https://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-bounce011.gif) (https://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php)
Speaking of beneath... I wouldn't mind having a peek beneath the surface of that T-Shirt!
Quote from: TheGreatPretender on June 13, 2013, 12:59:17 PM
Quote from: ? on June 13, 2013, 12:50:30 PM
I wouldn't mind if I got a chance to be lifting shadows off a dream with her until 6:00 in the morning :zydarscouch:
She gives me Erotomania. That's all I gotta say.
Has your innocence faded?
Quote from: ? on June 13, 2013, 11:09:32 PM
Quote from: TheGreatPretender on June 13, 2013, 12:59:17 PM
Quote from: ? on June 13, 2013, 12:50:30 PM
I wouldn't mind if I got a chance to be lifting shadows off a dream with her until 6:00 in the morning :zydarscouch:
She gives me Erotomania. That's all I gotta say.
Has your innocence faded?
No... Okay, that's a lie.
...And if you're still wondering why girls who like Dream Theater don't post here, may I refer you back to the last page or so.
Or "Exhibit A," as I like to call it.
Quote from: TheGreatPretender on June 13, 2013, 11:24:24 PM
Quote from: ? on June 13, 2013, 11:09:32 PM
Quote from: TheGreatPretender on June 13, 2013, 12:59:17 PM
Quote from: ? on June 13, 2013, 12:50:30 PM
I wouldn't mind if I got a chance to be lifting shadows off a dream with her until 6:00 in the morning :zydarscouch:
She gives me Erotomania. That's all I gotta say.
Has your innocence faded?
No... Okay, that's a lie.
Hey ...this needs to stop....this is not Anna Lee were talking about! If that was the case it would only be a matter of time.....
Quote from: MrBoom_shack-a-lack on June 14, 2013, 12:40:50 AM
Hey ...this needs to stop....this is not Anna Lee were talking about! If that was the case it would only be a matter of time.....
Okay, now you're falling into infinity. We could be following this train of thought until dream and day unite. So let's just stop with all these images and words and remember the album we're supposed to be discussing.
Quote from: robwebster on June 14, 2013, 12:07:44 AM
...And if you're still wondering why girls who like Dream Theater don't post here, may I refer you back to the last page or so.
Or "Exhibit A," as I like to call it.
^yeah, that's it :biggrin:
Quote from: MoraWintersoul on June 14, 2013, 01:03:25 AM
Quote from: robwebster on June 14, 2013, 12:07:44 AM
...And if you're still wondering why girls who like Dream Theater don't post here, may I refer you back to the last page or so.
Or "Exhibit A," as I like to call it.
^yeah, that's it :biggrin:
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/mora_oh_no.jpg)
Oh Blobs, the things you can do with my avvie are just amazing, please don't stop :hat
OK!
(https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/forumavatars/avatar_7076_1364592449.jpeg)
Why do people love Awake so much? Honestly, it would be in my 3 least favourite DT albums.
It's good, but it's not that great, imo.
Well, of course the ultimate judgement is yours and yours only, but Awake is an album that stood the proof of time enchanting both old timers and newbies such as me with careful musicanship, interesting lyrics and most of all a great musical variety attained while still drawing a coherent album picture.
Quote from: MoraWintersoul on June 14, 2013, 01:18:32 AM
please don't stop :hat
"What's the one thing you want to hear the most from a DT fangirl?"
Quote from: TheGreatPretender on June 15, 2013, 12:33:29 AM
Quote from: MoraWintersoul on June 14, 2013, 01:18:32 AM
please don't stop :hat
"What's the one thing you want to hear the most from a DT fangirl?"
What can I say, I make wishes come true. ;)
Sweet Jesus, this whole "being sexy/flirty" thing feels silly for me even on the internet :lol :lol :lol
Still find something new everytime I spin this album. Love it.
I'm starting to think that the two best songs on the album are Scarred and Space-Dye Vest. Heck, SDV feels like some other world inside the album. Its soundscapes really make a difference to all other DT discography.
But in the meantime, LSOAD doesn't really affect me at all anymore :(.
Quote from: Ruba on June 16, 2013, 09:42:01 AM
I'm starting to think that the two best songs on the album are Scarred and Space-Dye Vest.
:tup
Quote from: BlobVanDam on March 11, 2013, 09:42:22 AM
Quote from: KevShmev on March 11, 2013, 09:40:40 AM
Quote from: BlobVanDam on March 11, 2013, 09:38:53 AM
citation needed
Listen to the album. If you can do this and not come to the same conclusion, well, then we can't help you. :biggrin:
This is my listening experience of Awake from start to finish, represented in graph form.
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/awake_graph.png)
It would be a pretty good album if you lopped off the half hour of waste at the end.
You forgot the part where Lie is actually the only bad track out of all of those. And even that can be kinda catchy in the right moment/mood.
I've heard people say Scarred is the best of the album
I've heard people say Lie is the best of the album
I've heard people say Space-Dye Vest is the best of the album
I'm going to listen to Scarred and Lie all the way through. I've heard SDV many times.
What Super Dude said...
Lie is really the only clunker on the album, and I've personally never heard anyone say it was their "favorite" on the album. (although I know that some do like it)
It took awhile, but LSOAD is now my favorite. The way that song builds up is just *amazing*. And the live version from the 1998 Xmas CD is even better.
Quote from: Lucien on June 16, 2013, 03:28:32 PM
I've heard people say Scarred is the best of the album
I've heard people say Lie is the best of the album
I've heard people say Space-Dye Vest is the best of the album
I'm going to listen to Scarred and Lie all the way through. I've heard SDV many times.
Lie is Awake's TDEN - relatively simple rocker, some people adore it, some people hate it, but most will only say it's the best on the album if they prefer DT's metal side to their prog side.
Quote from: MoraWintersoul on June 16, 2013, 03:34:20 PM
Lie is Awake's TDEN - relatively simple rocker, some people adore it, some people hate it, but most will only say it's the best on the album if they prefer DT's metal side to their prog side.
Nobody hates it. They LIE!
Quote from: MoraWintersoul on June 16, 2013, 03:34:20 PM
Quote from: Lucien on June 16, 2013, 03:28:32 PM
I've heard people say Scarred is the best of the album
I've heard people say Lie is the best of the album
I've heard people say Space-Dye Vest is the best of the album
I'm going to listen to Scarred and Lie all the way through. I've heard SDV many times.
Lie is Awake's TDEN - relatively simple rocker, some people adore it, some people hate it, but most will only say it's the best on the album if they prefer DT's metal side to their prog side.
I love DT's metal side (TDEN is a fantastic song...and the only song I like from SC). The problem is that Lie is just not a very good song. DT's "metal side"...even on this album...is represented FAR better by songs like The Mirror and Caught in a Web.
Eh, I listened to them both, SDV is still my favorite on the album, even though it isn't really even DT.
Space-Dye Vest is my favorite, but I love Lie too. The lyrics have a great flow to them.
Lie is a fun rocker. Not bad at all. Quite awesome.
Quote from: Zook on June 16, 2013, 07:32:27 PM
Lie is a fun rocker. Not bad at all. Quite awesome.
The main riff is so delicious.
Quote from: Super Dude on June 16, 2013, 01:30:14 PM
Quote from: BlobVanDam on March 11, 2013, 09:42:22 AM
Quote from: KevShmev on March 11, 2013, 09:40:40 AM
Quote from: BlobVanDam on March 11, 2013, 09:38:53 AM
citation needed
Listen to the album. If you can do this and not come to the same conclusion, well, then we can't help you. :biggrin:
This is my listening experience of Awake from start to finish, represented in graph form.
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/BlobVanDam/awake_graph.png)
It would be a pretty good album if you lopped off the half hour of waste at the end.
You forgot the part where Lie is actually the only bad track out of all of those. And even that can be kinda catchy in the right moment/mood.
Nope, didn't forget anything. You don't easily forget half an hour of an album being that unlistenable. :biggrin:
Yeah, I don't understand the love for the album. Sure, lot of amazing tunes, but there's a lot of indisputable filler. How can such a bloated album be considered DT's best?
Have to re-post seeing it's still at the top of the current threads :) Awake is in the top 2 of DT albums :)
Awake is a pretty good album, I hardly listen to Lie though. I enjoy The Mirror, and prefer it live because they end it with mirror reprise from Lie, which is the odd musical thing they've done. Innocence faded just climbed up the ranks for me. I love the atmosphere of the album overall, and the album art fits it perfectly.
I find it to be a good night album, funny too since its called Awake.
I don't understand all the dislike for Lie I'm seeing, but I also can't really separate it from The Mirror, so maybe that's it.
As for the album, I'd say it's usually Top 3 for me, with Scenes and whatever else I'm feeling at the moment.
But it's weird, because I wouldn't say there's a Top-Top-Tier single song on it.
The whole is definitely greater than the sum of its parts, and I think what makes it so good is the consistent tone throughout.
And that totally makes sense, because Scenes is the same way.
I have zero problems with Lie. The only track I end up skipping is SDV. To me, it's like Awake is like having sex without a condom - it's fucking awesome and you feel triumphant as hell... and then SDV is like you smileed inside.. it's a pretty shitty ending to an awesome night of fucking.
Lie is a darn good metal song, with good lyrics and two wicked ass solos by JP. So yeah, I don't get the hate from some either, but my time online has shown me that almost every DT song will have its fair share of dissenters, so whatever. :biggrin:
Crikey. I really am out of touch with the DTF zeitgeist - Lie is far and away my favourite of Blob's "half hour of hatred." Followed, probably, by Space Dye Vest.
Half hour of hatred....... I'm stealing that one to use in future, if you don't mind. :lol
Lie would easily be my favourite of my "half hour of hatred" too, which is saying something.
Quote from: MoraWintersoul on June 15, 2013, 12:38:34 AM
Quote from: TheGreatPretender on June 15, 2013, 12:33:29 AM
Quote from: MoraWintersoul on June 14, 2013, 01:18:32 AM
please don't stop :hat
"What's the one thing you want to hear the most from a DT fangirl?"
What can I say, I make wishes come true. ;)
Sweet Jesus, this whole "being sexy/flirty" thing feels silly for me even on the internet :lol :lol :lol
Hey Mora, who's that in your sig? I must know!
Quote from: KevShmev on June 16, 2013, 10:52:53 PM
Lie is a darn good metal song, with good lyrics and two wicked ass solos by JP. So yeah, I don't get the hate from some either, but my time online has shown me that almost every DT song will have its fair share of dissenters, so whatever. :biggrin:
The first time my wife heard Lie she said "this sounds like it was made for the radio". She couldn't be any more right, but I love the song anyway. It's super catchy. But I guess we can't have catchy prog songs.
Quote from: Yazman on June 17, 2013, 04:53:31 AM
Hey Mora, who's that in your sig? I must know!
It's Ytse Jam from Tokyo DVD, if I'm not mistaken.
And Awake is still the best DT album and one of the best albums ever IMO. I like dark atmosphere and how songs are linked but also all songs are incredible (Lie too ;) ).
Quote from: Tomislav95 on June 17, 2013, 05:06:40 AM
Quote from: Yazman on June 17, 2013, 04:53:31 AM
Hey Mora, who's that in your sig? I must know!
It's Ytse Jam from Tokyo DVD, if I'm not mistaken.
Yup, that's KevMo's solo :)
Quote from: XB0BX on June 16, 2013, 09:30:28 PM
Yeah, I don't understand the love for the album. Sure, lot of amazing tunes, but there's a lot of indisputable filler. How can such a bloated album be considered DT's best?
Sorry man, this topic is about Awake, not SFAM. :biggrin:
Quote from: Ruba on June 17, 2013, 07:23:55 AM
Quote from: XB0BX on June 16, 2013, 09:30:28 PM
Yeah, I don't understand the love for the album. Sure, lot of amazing tunes, but there's a lot of indisputable filler. How can such a bloated album be considered DT's best?
Sorry man, this topic is about Awake, not SFAM. :biggrin:
:hifive:
Quote from: KevShmev on June 16, 2013, 10:52:53 PM
Lie is a darn good metal song, with good lyrics and two wicked ass solos by JP.
Quote from: ? on June 17, 2013, 08:34:12 AM
Quote from: KevShmev on June 16, 2013, 10:52:53 PM
Lie is a darn good metal song, with good lyrics and two wicked ass solos by JP.
I agree on "metal" and "solos" but "mother mary quite contrary" is my most disliked lyric in their catalogue.
Lie has great riffs and the solos are nothing short of stellar. I'm not one to care too much about lyrics as long as the music is good, but I would have to say some of the lyrical content does slightly detract from the song's otherwise greatness.
I think the lyrics are pretty clever and interesting and miles better than the comic book stories of SC and the overly straightforward stories of BC&SL. But then again, I really enjoy KM's style of writing (both on DT albums and Chroma Key/OSI releases) - if he had stayed in DT, I bet some of his later lyrics would've been disliked just as much as Lie, if not more :lol
Speaking of Awake, this video is awesome. Plus Mangini singing is priceless. xD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=MYYkf6jlUt4
Quote from: ? on June 17, 2013, 09:16:11 AM
I think the lyrics are pretty clever and interesting and miles better than the comic book stories of SC and the overly straightforward stories of BC&SL. But then again, I really enjoy KM's style of writing (both on DT albums and Chroma Key/OSI releases) - if he had stayed in DT, I bet some of his later lyrics would've been disliked just as much as Lie, if not more :lol
I can only imagine how would people react to Subway or Nice To Know :lol
Quote from: MoraWintersoul on June 17, 2013, 11:40:53 AM
I can only imagine how would people react to Subway or Nice To Know :lol
Or Be the Hero or Better :D
Quote from: Dream Team on June 17, 2013, 09:01:15 AM
Quote from: ? on June 17, 2013, 08:34:12 AM
Quote from: KevShmev on June 16, 2013, 10:52:53 PM
Lie is a darn good metal song, with good lyrics and two wicked ass solos by JP.
I agree on "metal" and "solos" but "mother mary quite contrary" is my most disliked lyric in their catalogue.
See, you're not in any way alone in this - loads of people hate that bit - but, again, I'm completely against the grain of DTF on this one. I think it's great, it's one of the lyrical highlights of the album. Loads of worse lyrics. UaGM's a brilliant song, top ten most days, but the lyrics are utter nonsense.
Quote from: TheLordOfTheStrings on June 17, 2013, 11:23:00 AM
Speaking of Awake, this video is awesome. Plus Mangini singing is priceless. xD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=MYYkf6jlUt4
Yeah, I remember seeing that. Fuckin' hilarious!
Quote from: robwebster on June 17, 2013, 02:47:56 PM
I think it's great, it's one of the lyrical highlights of the album.
Agreed.
So my interest in DT almost completely disappeared the past while, but I decided to spin Awake right now. Really makes me remember why I loved them so much in the first place. This album will always be perfect to me.
Currently relistening to Awake and it's just blowing my mind how great this album is. It's between this album and Six Degrees for the best DT album, IMO. :metal
AWAKE will be the album I spin during the drive to my 'Tough Mudder' run tomorrow morning. Just a beautiful album....
Quote from: theseoafs on March 11, 2013, 09:48:06 AM
Compared to most of DT's work, Awake is a pretty mediocre album -- a few filler pieces (6:00, CIAW, LSOAD) drag it down.
I agree it's actually pretty mediocre and a pale follow up to a ground breaking album like Images. I think the only real fillers are 6:00 and Lie and that the album is pretty consistent...consistently mediocre.
Awake is my definite number one, I&W my definite number two, and FII a close runner-up from there. What a powerhouse decade for the band. I definitely prefer their crunchy, grungy sound to their current one.
Close. Awake is my second favorite DT album, after IAW/SFAM/SDOIT
What is with the hate on Lie? My favorite song off that album and a in my top 10 for DT.
I think Lie is a bit of a weak point on the album, but it's still a great song. Awake is just that good. It would be the best song on SC IMO.
Quote from: Yoshi Yogurt on September 13, 2013, 09:14:14 PM
What is with the hate on Lie? My favorite song off that album and a in my top 10 for DT.
The riffing is bland and simple, the lyrics are cringeworthy and don't fit, and the verse vocals sound phoned in and not very good. Completely unremarkable song on every level imo.
The best parts of the song are the parts leeched from The Mirror.
Quote from: Yoshi Yogurt on September 13, 2013, 09:14:14 PM
What is with the hate on Lie? My favorite song off that album and a in my top 10 for DT.
The hate is because it's a lousy song due to the aforementioned reasons
I'm curious if the folks that are ragging on a lot of the Awake songs are in general bigger fans of DT's newer material or long time fans getting in during the early days.
Personally, I love Awake. For some reason I'm always surprised by how heavy it is, it's the most heavy album until ToT. Lie is awesome, LSOAD is beautiful, Scarred kicks ass and SDV is one of those out-of-left-field charming and endearing songs that add a new wrinkle to their already diverse catalog of songs.
Quote from: Yoshi Yogurt on September 13, 2013, 09:14:14 PM
What is with the hate on Lie? My favorite song off that album and a in my top 10 for DT.
I love Lie. Personally I think the only weak lyrical tidbit would be 'mother mary quite contrary'
I pretty much like all of the songs except Innocence Faded and Lie.
Quote from: Tis BOOLsheet on September 13, 2013, 09:28:39 PM
Quote from: Yoshi Yogurt on September 13, 2013, 09:14:14 PM
What is with the hate on Lie? My favorite song off that album and a in my top 10 for DT.
The hate is because it's a lousy song due to the aforementioned reasons
Now that really is a seriously BOOLsheet statement.. ;)
I actually love Lie - I enjoy it in full, but the solo at the end is worthy of the price of admission alone. Awake is my top album easily. Scarred and the Mirror (love the SDV harmonies within the Mirror) would be in my top 5 in the entire DT catalogue, and there are some other bits of absolute brilliance (6:00, Innocence Faded, Erotomania, Voices - i'm looking at you..). To me there is very little filler, but how the entire album blends together, and sounds as a whole, is what brings it to the very top in my books. FII is another fave bar a few songs and issues, and I very much like 6 degrees - but I don't feel 6 Degrees is as cohesive as Awake, and some of the songs - while I enjoy them - seem a little disjointed in the sense of listening as an album. I&W is still only midway in their catalogue for me..
Quote from: Orthogonal on September 13, 2013, 09:31:01 PM
I'm curious if the folks that are ragging on a lot of the Awake songs are in general bigger fans of DT's newer material or long time fans getting in during the early days.
Personally, I love Awake. For some reason I'm always surprised by how heavy it is, it's the most heavy album until ToT. Lie is awesome, LSOAD is beautiful, Scarred kicks ass and SDV is one of those out-of-left-field charming and endearing songs that add a new wrinkle to their already diverse catalog of songs.
I don't think Awake is that great, and I'm a fan of their FII/SFAM/SDOIT era.
Quote from: TheLordOfTheStrings on June 17, 2013, 11:23:00 AM
Speaking of Awake, this video is awesome. Plus Mangini singing is priceless. xD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=MYYkf6jlUt4
So as if I needed a reason to see DT live again, I now have one, because I need to see them live with Mike Mangini (I last saw them on the progressive nation tour in 2009).
Come to think of it, a friend of mine has moved out to Ontario, so I actually have a good excuse to head out there beyond a concert now (which would have been a good reason, but not a 'fly out and spend airfare and hotel cost' reason.
Awake = One of the indisputable classic DT albums.
(https://i675.photobucket.com/albums/vv115/ResultsMayVary10/dreamtheater-dealwithit_zps868832c0.gif)
Lie is a badass song with great lyrics :metal
Awake is my all-time favorite. So, it's a big "YES" to the OP. I just can't remember how many times my brother and I burned it while in his car to the beach.
B.Lee
Great album, but I think that the keyboard work on Caught In A Web isn't too good :p
Awake is my least favourite DT album. I find it very cold and harsh, whereas the rest of the stuff feels warm and inviting.
Quote from: SjundeInseglet on March 11, 2013, 02:05:43 PM
Quote from: TheGreatPretender on March 11, 2013, 01:46:51 PM
Quote from: KevShmev on March 11, 2013, 12:59:32 PM
Translation: People like an album more than I do, so there must be some crazy reason why.
It's an overrated album is all.
Hardly. To my ears, at the very least. Simply put, "Awake" showcases Dream Theater's best blend of proggy and metal-ish influences. They really got it down to a T on "Awake". Nothing sounds forced or contrived and the music just breathes naturally. Like they didn't over think anything and just went with their guts. DT kind of lost this winning recipe in the following years and never really released anything as organic as this record. Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed (loved even!) many of the albums they released after Awake (and I absolutely think "A Dramatic Turn Of Events" displays a much improved and re-energized DT) but they all pale in comparison to "Awake".
And I think I misplaced my nostalgia goggles many, many moons ago so that can't be it. ;)
This!
(And our agreement on this shouldn't relate to the fact tha we both are swedish ;) )
I've grown to like Awake much more in the past few month. Well, it was already my #2 album, but now I'm starting to think it's unfair to even try to rank it against Images, and Images against it, though even then I think I will always retain the personal soft spot I have for that magnificence that is Images And Words. :)
It is if self-titled album will not shock us.
Quote from: Ħ on September 13, 2013, 10:37:55 PM
Quote from: Orthogonal on September 13, 2013, 09:31:01 PM
I'm curious if the folks that are ragging on a lot of the Awake songs are in general bigger fans of DT's newer material or long time fans getting in during the early days.
Personally, I love Awake. For some reason I'm always surprised by how heavy it is, it's the most heavy album until ToT. Lie is awesome, LSOAD is beautiful, Scarred kicks ass and SDV is one of those out-of-left-field charming and endearing songs that add a new wrinkle to their already diverse catalog of songs.
I don't think Awake is that great, and I'm a fan of their FII/SFAM/SDOIT era.
...which may be considered "newer material".
As a fan since 1992, I've found that over the years I've played Awake much less than most DT albums sans SC. So for me it's in the lower of my DT list.
The thread title is still correct.
Quote from: Öxölklöfför on September 14, 2013, 05:18:32 AM
Quote from: Ħ on September 13, 2013, 10:37:55 PM
Quote from: Orthogonal on September 13, 2013, 09:31:01 PM
I'm curious if the folks that are ragging on a lot of the Awake songs are in general bigger fans of DT's newer material or long time fans getting in during the early days.
Personally, I love Awake. For some reason I'm always surprised by how heavy it is, it's the most heavy album until ToT. Lie is awesome, LSOAD is beautiful, Scarred kicks ass and SDV is one of those out-of-left-field charming and endearing songs that add a new wrinkle to their already diverse catalog of songs.
I don't think Awake is that great, and I'm a fan of their FII/SFAM/SDOIT era.
...which may be considered "newer material".
Really? Wouldn't it be more sensible to call them "middle" material? They are albums 4,5, and 6 out of 11 albums so far.
The way I see it is:
Proto-DT: foundation to WDADU Tour.
Old DT: Search for a vocalist - 15.03.95
Middle DT: Recording Of ACOS - End of SFAM tour
Modern DT: SDOIT sessions - MP's departure
Contemporary DT: Drummer Auditions - Now (and on)
Awake was my 1st LP I got from DT and I like it a lot. When I first got into DT I was not really a 'metal' fan but I really got into Awake. Images and Words? Well I liked it but certainly not my fav. My favorite to date is ADTOE. :yarr
Wow, it's really odd to look at a thread like this. I thought Awake was regarded by almost everyone as a top 3 DT album at least. I'm quite shocked :o :lol
I agree with the title, though. I think Awake is their best album. Not necessarily because it has the best songs, I think Images and Words takes that spot, but I&W is nowhere near to the cohesiveness of Awake. Awake keeps a relative mood along the whole album without becoming tiring. It keeps varied while not losing the vein in which is is developed. I&W has the best songs, in my opinion, but doesn't retain the mood/doesn't flows as well as Awake. That's why I always rank Awake as the best album, but I&W the one with the best songs :biggrin:
My personal favorites are Scarred, Voices, Lifting Shadows off a Dream (way beyond underrated), 6:00 and The Silent Man. And I think the lyrics to Lie are great, even though that argument is over at this point :lol
I think I would put Awake in the lower tier of DT albums according to my personal preference. It's certainly far from my favourite of theirs.
I say "I think" because my preferences to tend to fluctuate with time. For years I could barely stand FII, now I think it's a great album and I keep going back to it!
Quote from: SjundeInseglet on March 11, 2013, 02:05:43 PM
Quote from: TheGreatPretender on March 11, 2013, 01:46:51 PM
Quote from: KevShmev on March 11, 2013, 12:59:32 PM
Translation: People like an album more than I do, so there must be some crazy reason why.
It's an overrated album is all.
Hardly. To my ears, at the very least. Simply put, "Awake" showcases Dream Theater's best blend of proggy and metal-ish influences. They really got it down to a T on "Awake". Nothing sounds forced or contrived and the music just breathes naturally. Like they didn't over think anything and just went with their guts. DT kind of lost this winning recipe in the following years and never really released anything as organic as this record. Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed (loved even!) many of the albums they released after Awake (and I absolutely think "A Dramatic Turn Of Events" displays a much improved and re-energized DT) but they all pale in comparison to "Awake".
And I think I misplaced my nostalgia goggles many, many moons ago so that can't be it. ;)
:tup
Quote from: KevShmev on March 11, 2013, 12:59:32 PM
Translation: People like an album more than I do, so there must be some crazy reason why.
:\ :\ :\ :\
;)
No-one else think it sounds cold and uninviting then?
Quote from: Thematt202 on September 14, 2013, 01:33:14 PM
No-one else think it sounds cold and uninviting then?
I agree with the cold. It is also very dark, to my mind. But I like those qualities in it.
The Silent Man and LSOAD are rather warm songs though.
To me it feels like the polar opposite to I&W. I tend to associate mental images and "feelings" with music and this one feels warm, friendly and welcoming.
Quote from: Thematt202 on September 14, 2013, 01:57:14 PM
To me it feels like the polar opposite to I&W. I tend to associate mental images and "feelings" with music and this one feels warm, friendly and welcoming.
You're talking about I&W right?
Quote from: Thematt202 on September 14, 2013, 01:33:14 PM
No-one else think it sounds cold and uninviting then?
No, not at all.
Quote from: FourthHorseman on September 14, 2013, 03:04:59 PM
Quote from: Thematt202 on September 14, 2013, 01:57:14 PM
To me it feels like the polar opposite to I&W. I tend to associate mental images and "feelings" with music and this one feels warm, friendly and welcoming.
You're talking about I&W right?
Yeah, I&W feels warm, Awake feels cold.
Awake is my... sixth or seventh favorite Dream Theater album.
Which is still pretty damn good.
I'm not quite sure of the order of my Top 3 DT albums, but Awake is definitely among them. The other two are Six Degrees and Falling Into Infinity.
I see why most people don't like Awake. It's a very deep album that takes a certain type of person to understand it. Awake's greatness stems not from its melodies, nor from its lyrics, but from the mood of the music. It's so difficult to "get" this kind of twisted beauty, this ephemeral darkness. The good qualities of albums like SFAM, SDOIT, and IAW are blatantly obvious and easily accessible, while it takes a long time to uncover Awake's hidden treasures.
jk, Awake suxx
SDOIT \m/
Quote from: Thematt202 on September 14, 2013, 01:33:14 PM
No-one else think it sounds cold and uninviting then?
I definitely do. IaW is such a lively, fun, inviting album. Awake is the complete opposite, and lacks part of the appeal of DT for me, even though I do like all of the album up until Lie.
I feel like almost all of the Awake songs are a collection of unrelated riffs and musical ideas, void of a coherent atmosphere, theme or emotion that ties the song together.
Nahhh ... Awake is 'OK', but it has a bunch of fillers, like Space Dye Vest, The Silent Man, Voices, etc.. IAW, SFAM and 6DOIT are way better IMO, and are always in my rotation. Awake isn't something I've listened to in quite a while.
Quote from: XB0BX on September 14, 2013, 08:01:04 PM
I feel like almost all of the Awake songs are a collection of unrelated riffs and musical ideas, void of a coherent atmosphere, theme or emotion that ties the song together.
:-\ See, I feel the exact opposite - I feel the atmosphere in that album is what makes it more so than any other, and the flow and cohesiveness is stellar. I'm not sure I fully get the 'unrelated riff' bit either - there is a 3 part suite of songs (A Mind beside itself) which are obviously all directly related, sharing similar themes and melodies, as do parts of The Mirror and Lie sharing sections of SDV.. Ah well, different strokes for different folks. I guess the diversity of the music and opinions the band produces, is the thing that makes the band so amazing.. :)
Quote from: jayvee3 on September 14, 2013, 08:47:34 PM
Quote from: XB0BX on September 14, 2013, 08:01:04 PM
I feel like almost all of the Awake songs are a collection of unrelated riffs and musical ideas, void of a coherent atmosphere, theme or emotion that ties the song together.
:-\ See, I feel the exact opposite - I feel the atmosphere in that album is what makes it more so than any other, and the flow and cohesiveness is stellar. I'm not sure I fully get the 'unrelated riff' bit either - there is a 3 part suite of songs (A Mind beside itself) which are obviously all directly related, sharing similar themes and melodies, as do parts of The Mirror and Lie sharing sections of SDV.. Ah well, different strokes for different folks. I guess the diversity of the music and opinions the band produces, is the thing that makes the band so amazing.. :)
I agree that the album itself has a certain atmosphere that exists between all the songs. What I meant, however, was that the songs themselves feel sloppy and are lacking a certain "glue" that holds them together. The Mirror, Voices and Scarred are 3 of my favorite songs, but all 3 feel like they're just collections of random riffs thrown together. You know how people say the instrumental section of ARoP feels tacked on to the rest of the song? I feel like the entirety of The Mirror is "tacked on" to itself. And that's not even my big complaint with the album. My complaint is that the riffs feel randomly thrown together, and aren't half as memorable as the riffs on the previous album. Take the Time feels iconic, instantly memorable, and completely different from Learning to Live. The Mirror doesn't feel iconic, doesn't feel memorable, and feels exactly like Voices.
It is the 2nd worse sounding (production wise) album. If it ever gets remastered you will still be wrong but that's just my opinion I could be wrong.
I used to rank Awake somewhere around the middle of my favorite DT albums, but these days I hardly even listen to DT and if I was going to I'd rather listen to Awake over just about everything aside from I&W...
Quote from: XB0BX on September 14, 2013, 08:53:30 PM
Quote from: jayvee3 on September 14, 2013, 08:47:34 PM
Quote from: XB0BX on September 14, 2013, 08:01:04 PM
I feel like almost all of the Awake songs are a collection of unrelated riffs and musical ideas, void of a coherent atmosphere, theme or emotion that ties the song together.
:-\ See, I feel the exact opposite - I feel the atmosphere in that album is what makes it more so than any other, and the flow and cohesiveness is stellar. I'm not sure I fully get the 'unrelated riff' bit either - there is a 3 part suite of songs (A Mind beside itself) which are obviously all directly related, sharing similar themes and melodies, as do parts of The Mirror and Lie sharing sections of SDV.. Ah well, different strokes for different folks. I guess the diversity of the music and opinions the band produces, is the thing that makes the band so amazing.. :)
I agree that the album itself has a certain atmosphere that exists between all the songs. What I meant, however, was that the songs themselves feel sloppy and are lacking a certain "glue" that holds them together. The Mirror, Voices and Scarred are 3 of my favorite songs, but all 3 feel like they're just collections of random riffs thrown together. You know how people say the instrumental section of ARoP feels tacked on to the rest of the song? I feel like the entirety of The Mirror is "tacked on" to itself. And that's not even my big complaint with the album. My complaint is that the riffs feel randomly thrown together, and aren't half as memorable as the riffs on the previous album. Take the Time feels iconic, instantly memorable, and completely different from Learning to Live. The Mirror doesn't feel iconic, doesn't feel memorable, and feels exactly like Voices.
:tup Cool, gotcha. I guess it's definitely one of those things where we differ somewhat in overall album opinion, but I do actually think you make an interesting point, and by all means some food for thought.. :)
I always found Awake to be super harsh to listen to. The tone of the guitars and especially Labrie's voice are so grating on my ears.
I&W=All killer no filler
Awake=Mostly filler
I think it's one of DT's best albums, however it's so different from two other best (I&W and SFAM) that it's not correct to compare and choose only one best album.
I am not native english speaker, so I cannot tell anything about lyrics, all foreign songs sound like instrumentals to me :) But as for music, I think that the way harmonies and melodies work on Awake was never repeated by DT neither before nor after. It is not technical music that shows off skills, but it's sort of like Schubert's Ave Maria - simple, not technical at all, but when you pay attention to all the harmonies in that song, you just get crazy because it seems impossible to come up with such simple, and yet such genius song. And the same kind of thing is going on in Awake, when I listen to it, I just cannot believe how every little detail melodically sounds almost trivial, yet absolutely beautiful and creative, and very different from what you'd expect from standard prog/metal cliches.
Quote from: Daybreak at the lake on September 15, 2013, 01:00:36 AM
Awake=Mostly filler
And still, your nick comes from a line from Lie...
I enjoy it when I'm listening to it, but when I'm not listening to it I don't enjoy it.
Quote from: Thematt202 on September 14, 2013, 01:33:14 PM
No-one else think it sounds cold and uninviting then?
I do, and solid pun. Sounds thin to me also.
I only care about a few songs off Awake; CIAW, Voices, TSM, LSOAD. I'll take FII over it any day!
Every song is gold except Space Dye Vest... Which is tarnished silver.
Quote from: foxiqopher on September 15, 2013, 01:41:38 AM
I think it's one of DT's best albums, however it's so different from two other best (I&W and SFAM) that it's not correct to compare and choose only one best album.
I am not native english speaker, so I cannot tell anything about lyrics, all foreign songs sound like instrumentals to me :) But as for music, I think that the way harmonies and melodies work on Awake was never repeated by DT neither before nor after. It is not technical music that shows off skills, but it's sort of like Schubert's Ave Maria - simple, not technical at all, but when you pay attention to all the harmonies in that song, you just get crazy because it seems impossible to come up with such simple, and yet such genius song. And the same kind of thing is going on in Awake, when I listen to it, I just cannot believe how every little detail melodically sounds almost trivial, yet absolutely beautiful and creative, and very different from what you'd expect from standard prog/metal cliches.
What? I mean, I'm not a native english speaker either but I do know how to speak english (just like you do, since you could write that whole paragraph) and I understand the lyrics and talk about them. Unless you used a translator, then I take back what I said :lol
Quote from: Daso on September 15, 2013, 12:03:50 PM
What? I mean, I'm not a native english speaker either but I do know how to speak english (just like you do, since you could write that whole paragraph) and I understand the lyrics and talk about them. Unless you used a translator, then I take back what I said :lol
I don't know how to explain this exactly :)
I know english (somewhat), I do understand english speech, but somehow my brain doesn't normally want to automatically "process" vocals in a song as speech and I need to concentrate fully on vocals to understand the lyrics. I may catch some words or short phrases, but to understand lyrics fully, I have to ignore the music in background and focus completely on singer which I usually don't do because I like the music :)
Quote from: foxiqopher on September 16, 2013, 02:18:39 AM
Quote from: Daso on September 15, 2013, 12:03:50 PM
What? I mean, I'm not a native english speaker either but I do know how to speak english (just like you do, since you could write that whole paragraph) and I understand the lyrics and talk about them. Unless you used a translator, then I take back what I said :lol
I don't know how to explain this exactly :)
I know english (somewhat), I do understand english speech, but somehow my brain doesn't normally want to automatically "process" vocals in a song as speech and I need to concentrate fully on vocals to understand the lyrics. I may catch some words or short phrases, but to understand lyrics fully, I have to ignore the music in background and focus completely on singer which I usually don't do because I like the music :)
I understand this. I used to be pretty fluent in Spanish (although having not spoken it for YEARS, my skills have diminished significantly), and unless I was focusing and thinking about the sounds I was hearing, I couldn't understand anything the singer was saying.
After listening to DT12, i can safely say.. INDEED my fellow OP, Awake is still the best.
Awake is still the best.
Yup.
DT12 blows Awake out of the water.
After today I can say Awake is still my second favourite album by Dream Theater. It was very close, though... :corn
Quote from: Thematt202 on September 16, 2013, 02:42:30 PM
DT12 blows Awake out of the water.
Let me know how that feels in a year from now.
Well after listening to Awake for the first time in full really, and hearing DT12 a few times, I can say with certainty IMO that DT12>Awake. Eyeh.
Quote from: Super Dude on September 16, 2013, 03:24:30 PM
Quote from: Thematt202 on September 16, 2013, 02:42:30 PM
DT12 blows Awake out of the water.
Let me know how that feels in a year from now.
In a year, the gap between the two will be even wider. This album makes Awake sound amateurish in every aspect.
Quote from: Tis BOOLsheet on September 16, 2013, 05:07:25 PM
Quote from: Super Dude on September 16, 2013, 03:24:30 PM
Quote from: Thematt202 on September 16, 2013, 02:42:30 PM
DT12 blows Awake out of the water.
Let me know how that feels in a year from now.
In a year, the gap between the two will be even wider. This album makes Awake sound amateurish in every aspect.
I'm just so in love with DT12...
Quote from: Lucien on September 16, 2013, 05:15:41 PM
Quote from: Tis BOOLsheet on September 16, 2013, 05:07:25 PM
Quote from: Super Dude on September 16, 2013, 03:24:30 PM
Quote from: Thematt202 on September 16, 2013, 02:42:30 PM
DT12 blows Awake out of the water.
Let me know how that feels in a year from now.
In a year, the gap between the two will be even wider. This album makes Awake sound amateurish in every aspect.
I'm just so in love with DT12...
:metal
Quote from: Tis BOOLsheet on September 16, 2013, 05:07:25 PM
Quote from: Super Dude on September 16, 2013, 03:24:30 PM
Quote from: Thematt202 on September 16, 2013, 02:42:30 PM
DT12 blows Awake out of the water.
Let me know how that feels in a year from now.
In a year, the gap between the two will be even wider. This album makes Awake sound amateurish in every aspect.
Considering Awake is the most mature sounding album from a songwriting perspective I find little validity in your statement, sir.
DT12 absolutely crushes Awake.
Quote from: Super Dude on September 16, 2013, 03:24:30 PM
Quote from: Thematt202 on September 16, 2013, 02:42:30 PM
DT12 blows Awake out of the water.
Let me know how that feels in a year from now.
Well I'll tell you this - a year from now, JR will still destroy KevMo in every way possible, MM's ability and passion will still destroy MP's, DT will still be a more solid band than they were, and DT12 will still destroy Awake.
Awake is still damn amazing though.
Quote from: orcus116 on September 16, 2013, 05:20:44 PM
Quote from: Tis BOOLsheet on September 16, 2013, 05:07:25 PM
Quote from: Super Dude on September 16, 2013, 03:24:30 PM
Quote from: Thematt202 on September 16, 2013, 02:42:30 PM
DT12 blows Awake out of the water.
Let me know how that feels in a year from now.
In a year, the gap between the two will be even wider. This album makes Awake sound amateurish in every aspect.
Considering Awake is the most mature sounding album from a songwriting perspective I find little validity in your statement, sir.
Shush, let them enjoy their post-listen high. I just get bragging rights when they finally come down. ;)
Quote from: XB0BX on September 16, 2013, 06:33:30 PM
DT12 absolutely crushes Awake.
I don't see it coming. Odds for making better album than Awake is maybe once in a million. I doubt it can even stand a challenge to SDOIT, which is the best JR era album.
You can call me pessimistic if you want to. But lately they have been able to make some great songs, but not an album, which feels cohesive and complete. Like Awake.
Quote from: Ruba on September 17, 2013, 03:19:20 AM
Quote from: XB0BX on September 16, 2013, 06:33:30 PM
DT12 absolutely crushes Awake.
I don't see it coming. Odds for making better album than Awake is maybe once in a million.
Guys just hand me a d1000000, cause I really want to try this out! One thing is certain: this album to me really is up to the challenge. And - before listening to it - I would have never expected such a thing to happen!
Quote from: The Stray Seed on September 17, 2013, 03:22:37 AM
Quote from: Ruba on September 17, 2013, 03:19:20 AM
Quote from: XB0BX on September 16, 2013, 06:33:30 PM
DT12 absolutely crushes Awake.
I don't see it coming. Odds for making better album than Awake is maybe once in a million.
Guys just hand me a d1000000, cause I really want to try this out! One thing is certain: this album to me really is up to the challenge. And - before listening to it - I would have never expected such a thing to happen!
Hey, I'm not a betting company! :lol
Today Awake is still better, but not by a long shot. And like Marco, I never could expect this.
This may sound pessimistic, but I already know I won't love DT12 as much as Awake (or I&W and ADTOE), because TEI is there.
My favorite DT album changes all the time but Awake is definitely top 3 for me. DT12 should not even be mentioned in the same breath as Awake.
Quote from: Super Dude on September 16, 2013, 03:24:30 PM
Quote from: Thematt202 on September 16, 2013, 02:42:30 PM
DT12 blows Awake out of the water.
Let me know how that feels in a year from now.
Sure. For what's it's worth, I also like ADTOE much more than Awake.
QuoteWell I'll tell you this - a year from now, JR will still destroy KevMo in every way possible, MM's ability and passion will still destroy MP's, DT will still be a more solid band than they were, and DT12 will still destroy Awake.
And yet somehow, I feel the songs from MP's and Kev's era with much more emotion than I have ever felt a JR-era or MM-era song. SFAM stands as an exception for JR-era, though.
I miss the groove of MP and the emotional pianowork of Kevin. JR and MM are technically better, but I don't feel their playing as much.
Quote from: Viking of the Sagas on September 18, 2013, 08:12:14 AM
QuoteWell I'll tell you this - a year from now, JR will still destroy KevMo in every way possible, MM's ability and passion will still destroy MP's, DT will still be a more solid band than they were, and DT12 will still destroy Awake.
And yet somehow, I feel the songs from MP's and Kev's era with much more emotion than I have ever felt a JR-era or MM-era song. SFAM stands as an exception for JR-era, though.
I miss the groove of MP and the emotional pianowork of Kevin. JR and MM are technically better, but I don't feel their playing as much.
What you said was also true for me, then came DT12.
What is it, exactly, that then moves you in the album? What progressions?
I personally like DT12 better, only because of my personal musical tastes...
BUT
I think once DT12 has been out for a few years, Awake will hold up better in the eyes of many. I just think that the whole sound of Awake and the songwriting are better-suited as "classic" material. I believe that the lyrics on Awake make a person "think" more. I don't know how to explain it really.
I'll reiterate though, I like DT12 considerably better. Just showing some respect for Awake, and I guess making a bit of a prediction.
Quote from: Viking of the Sagas on September 18, 2013, 08:36:13 AM
What is it, exactly, that then moves you in the album? What progressions?
I could write down a list, but it'd be a pretty long one. The whole album is a perfect progression to my ear.
What parts shine out to you? Say, what type of feeling did you get from those? I really just want to identify with what you felt so I can try to understand it better.
Quote from: Thematt202 on September 16, 2013, 02:42:30 PM
DT12 blows Awake out of the water.
This. Though I like Awake, a recent re-listen has actually proved it hasn't aged as well as I thought it had.
I think some people are looking at the older stuff through the old rose tinted glasses. Whatever they release these days can never match up with the classics, regardless of their actual merits.
Quote from: Thematt202 on September 18, 2013, 09:26:27 AM
I think some people are looking at the older stuff through the old rose tinted glasses. Whatever they release these days can never match up with the classics, regardless of their actual merits.
Agreed :tup
Quote from: Viking of the Sagas on September 18, 2013, 08:57:58 AM
What parts shine out to you? Say, what type of feeling did you get from those? I really just want to identify with what you felt so I can try to understand it better.
Thank you for the sincere interest =) I will try and do my best to tell you, although my feelings as a person are usually very complex and hard to explain - and this is why I can relate to DT music so much.
FAS: Excitement and expectations building, a very thrilling moment. Reminds me of myself watching a movie that I happen to like from the first scenes and cannot help but smile even though I'm alone. The favorite feature for me are Rudess' SFX.
TEI: Headbanging rage! The kind of layered but still straightforward metal track you expect from DT at its best. Bass and drums pounding all the way through... I feel adrenaline and might. Favorite part is the intro.
TLG: This gives me the kind of emotions that first got me into prog. The track is uplifting and radiant, transmits a sensation of positivity and happiness. Reminds me of when I was just a dreamy teen listening to Flower Kings, Marillion, Spoke's Beard and more neo-prog stuff. Favorite part is the whole song =)
EM: Overwhelming excitement for the musicianship that this track boasts. It is so complex and so fast that I can't help but feel amazed by the skill of the guys. Favorite part is all the work by the rythmical section (MM & JM).
TBP: Tied for the place of most emotional song for me with Illumination Theory. Very complex interchanging powerful emotions, as in a dreamlike context. Suspended animation. Melancholy. Suffering. Loneliness. Hope. I keep on crying each time I listen to the ending part (You look but cannot see... and on), which is my favorite one. In this track, I feel like every instrument really is a color of the same
painting. Those colors interwoven together give a surprising array of shades of emotion. The result is simply... mind blowing.
Now my time is up and I have to get back to work, next time I'll tell you about the remaining tracks. Thanking you again for the interest, I hope you could read through my ravings =) I'm glad you gave me the chance to describe the album from an aspect that is strongly featured throughout the whole disc: emotion.
Agree with the above. How anyone can say that this isn't up there with the best I don't know. It's a masterpiece.
It's also, imho, their first album without a weak song. This is coming from a fan whose first album cycle was SFAM, by the way.
Quote from: Thematt202 on September 18, 2013, 10:32:18 AM
Agree with the above. How anyone can say that this isn't up there with the best I don't know. It's a masterpiece.
It's also, imho, their first album without a weak song. This is coming from a fan whose first album cycle was SFAM, by the way.
THIS IS WHY I LOVE DT12. Just like many Rush albums (Hemispheres, Permanent Waves, Power Windows, Clockwork Angels...), Dream Theater has FINALLY released an album where I can listen ALL THE WAY THROUGH and not have barely any moments I dislike.
Quote from: Lucien on September 18, 2013, 03:10:27 PM
Quote from: Thematt202 on September 18, 2013, 10:32:18 AM
Agree with the above. How anyone can say that this isn't up there with the best I don't know. It's a masterpiece.
It's also, imho, their first album without a weak song. This is coming from a fan whose first album cycle was SFAM, by the way.
THIS IS WHY I LOVE DT12. Just like many Rush albums (Hemispheres, Permanent Waves, Power Windows, Clockwork Angels...), Dream Theater has FINALLY released an album where I can listen ALL THE WAY THROUGH and not have barely any moments I dislike.
I don't want to bash Rush or be an asshole or something, but if DT12 and a couple of albums by one other band (Rush) are the only albums you can listen to all the way through without disliking some songs/elements, you should probably broaden your music taste a bit, especially since I remember you posting somewhere that DT and Rush are pretty much the only bands you listen to. There are lots of awesome music out there that you're missing if you limit yourself to only two bands :smiley:
Without needing to peruse the 13 prior pages of comments, I have concluded that the heading to this thread is correct.
Quote from: Thematt202 on September 18, 2013, 09:26:27 AM
I think some people are looking at the older stuff through the old rose tinted glasses. Whatever they release these days can never match up with the classics, regardless of their actual merits.
I don't think I do. I think Systematic Chaos is one of their best albums, is that new enough? If it didn't have Constant Motion, it'd be a serious contender for the best JR era album (it's SDOIT).
Quote from: Thematt202 on September 18, 2013, 09:26:27 AM
I think some people are looking at the older stuff through the old rose tinted glasses. Whatever they release these days can never match up with the classics, regardless of their actual merits.
Elements of this are scattered everywhere. Humanity has always regarded the past, near or far, as a golden age. Think of the Renaissence's attitude towards the Classic Antoquity, and then think of how The thinkers and writers of classic antiquity saw their age as a time of decay and loss of values compared to a prevalently invented Early Golden Age of civilization (an example of this is found in Virgil's work).
When it comes with Dream Theater it can't really be much different, even though I am genuinely genuinely that the classic era duo of albums is still unrivaled.
Quote from: wasteland on September 19, 2013, 01:32:15 AM
Quote from: Thematt202 on September 18, 2013, 09:26:27 AM
I think some people are looking at the older stuff through the old rose tinted glasses. Whatever they release these days can never match up with the classics, regardless of their actual merits.
Elements of this are scattered everywhere. Humanity has always regarded the past, near or far, as a golden age. Think of the Renaissence's attitude towards the Classic Antoquity, and then think of how The thinkers and writers of classic antiquity saw their age as a time of decay and loss of values compared to a prevalently invented Early Golden Age of civilization (an example of this is found in Virgil's work).
When it comes with Dream Theater it can't really be much different, even though I am genuinely genuinely that the classic era duo of albums is still unrivaled.
Of course it's rivaled. It's far surpassed imo by the superior duo of SFAM/SDOIT.
And it's the great debate all over again :lol
What if someone said problems lie ahead? They've uncovered something highly controversial........ :lol
For me Awake really is the overlooked gem of the DT discography, i cannot think of a finer progmetal statement than this album! I love I&W, SFAM and SDOIT as much as the next DT fan, but when im in the mood for some dream theater i always blast Awake through the speakers in my car.
Reasons why i love it so much:
1. The dark and gloomy atmosphere in the album works really well especially in the Voices and Scarred.
2. Easily the best JLB performance of any DT album.
3. No filler, not a single uninteresting moment.
4. Some of the most memorable melodies in DT music, especially everything in Lifting shadows of a dream
As i said the big 3 of DT albums (i&w,sfam,sdoit) is still fantastic, but Awake is just incredible :tup
Quote from: Polarbear on September 19, 2013, 11:56:20 AM
For me Awake really is the overlooked gem of the DT discography
It is not. Awake is one of the most highly praised DT albums.
Quote from: aprilethereal on September 18, 2013, 10:02:16 PM
Quote from: Lucien on September 18, 2013, 03:10:27 PM
Quote from: Thematt202 on September 18, 2013, 10:32:18 AM
Agree with the above. How anyone can say that this isn't up there with the best I don't know. It's a masterpiece.
It's also, imho, their first album without a weak song. This is coming from a fan whose first album cycle was SFAM, by the way.
THIS IS WHY I LOVE DT12. Just like many Rush albums (Hemispheres, Permanent Waves, Power Windows, Clockwork Angels...), Dream Theater has FINALLY released an album where I can listen ALL THE WAY THROUGH and not have barely any moments I dislike.
I don't want to bash Rush or be an asshole or something, but if DT12 and a couple of albums by one other band (Rush) are the only albums you can listen to all the way through without disliking some songs/elements, you should probably broaden your music taste a bit, especially since I remember you posting somewhere that DT and Rush are pretty much the only bands you listen to. There are lots of awesome music out there that you're missing if you limit yourself to only two bands :smiley:
I was using Rush as an example, though I do need to broaden my horizons. I grew up on Rush, and after my first concert, I became obsessed with them. I know every song by them (other than some of the stuff on their first album), know the year of every album released, could tell you what album any of the 165 Rush songs come from. Then, in spring of 2012, I heard Octavarium via last.fm, and became obsessed with Dream Theater, and started listening to other bits and pieces of prog. Of course, there was the classic rock and some hints of prog that were always on the radio, and I know popular songs by many other bands, but they're not really high in my list of things I actively listen to. There's other music I actively listen to, being video game music, and perhaps more obscure things that fit my taste.
Quote from: BlobVanDam on September 19, 2013, 01:41:47 AM
Quote from: wasteland on September 19, 2013, 01:32:15 AM
Quote from: Thematt202 on September 18, 2013, 09:26:27 AM
I think some people are looking at the older stuff through the old rose tinted glasses. Whatever they release these days can never match up with the classics, regardless of their actual merits.
Elements of this are scattered everywhere. Humanity has always regarded the past, near or far, as a golden age. Think of the Renaissence's attitude towards the Classic Antoquity, and then think of how The thinkers and writers of classic antiquity saw their age as a time of decay and loss of values compared to a prevalently invented Early Golden Age of civilization (an example of this is found in Virgil's work).
When it comes with Dream Theater it can't really be much different, even though I am genuinely genuinely that the classic era duo of albums is still unrivaled.
Of course it's rivaled. It's far surpassed imo by the superior duo of SFAM/SDOIT.
IAW/AW/SFAM/SDOIT quartet for best creativity and songwriting of DT.
Ah, ACOS and 2 or 3 songs of FII (To :'(,Lines, maybe Hell's Kitchen) too.
Quote from: RaiseTheKnife on September 18, 2013, 10:28:39 PM
Without needing to peruse the 13 prior pages of comments, I have concluded that the heading to this thread is correct.
DT12 crushes Awake
opinion
There's no way after four days you can say DT12 is better than Awake, which has endured as a DT classic for nearly two decades. One producer (whose name I've forgotten) wisely mentioned the "30 listen test," in which you think about whether a song will sound just as fresh the 30th time you've listened to it as the first time. Music we've listened to over and over again we will inevitably get used to - their staying power is a matter of how much the song continues to have to offer despite numerous listens, and some won't survive that test. Let's not start declaring DT12 songs the best ever made until we're a few more listens in, hm?
Quote from: Outcrier on September 19, 2013, 03:16:08 PM
Quote from: BlobVanDam on September 19, 2013, 01:41:47 AM
Quote from: wasteland on September 19, 2013, 01:32:15 AM
Quote from: Thematt202 on September 18, 2013, 09:26:27 AM
I think some people are looking at the older stuff through the old rose tinted glasses. Whatever they release these days can never match up with the classics, regardless of their actual merits.
Elements of this are scattered everywhere. Humanity has always regarded the past, near or far, as a golden age. Think of the Renaissence's attitude towards the Classic Antoquity, and then think of how The thinkers and writers of classic antiquity saw their age as a time of decay and loss of values compared to a prevalently invented Early Golden Age of civilization (an example of this is found in Virgil's work).
When it comes with Dream Theater it can't really be much different, even though I am genuinely genuinely that the classic era duo of albums is still unrivaled.
Of course it's rivaled. It's far surpassed imo by the superior duo of SFAM/SDOIT.
IAW/AW/SFAM/SDOIT quartet for best creativity and songwriting of DT.
Ah, ACOS and 2 or 3 songs of FII (To :'(,Lines, maybe Hell's Kitchen) too.
Doin' it right.
Quote from: Super Dude on September 19, 2013, 07:31:56 PM
There's no way after four days you can say DT12 is better than Awake, which has endured as a DT classic for nearly two decades. One producer (whose name I've forgotten) wisely mentioned the "30 listen test," in which you think about whether a song will sound just as fresh the 30th time you've listened to it as the first time. Music we've listened to over and over again we will inevitably get used to - their staying power is a matter of how much the song continues to have to offer despite numerous listens, and some won't survive that test. Let's not start declaring DT12 songs the best ever made until we're a few more listens in, hm?
Who declared DT12 the best songs DT ever made? This fellow said that DT12 is better than Awake, and I agree, because I don't really think Awake is all that great. I don't know whether it'll crack my top 3 or anything, but I can certainly tell you that DT12 is better than one of DT's weaker albums.
I hate this notion that you can't tell good an album is just because it's only been out for a few days. Who the fuck made it law that you have to wait months/years to declare how good you find an album?!
Quote from: Dark Castle on September 19, 2013, 07:53:55 PM
I hate this notion that you can't tell good an album is just because it's only been out for a few days. Who the fuck made it law that you have to wait months/years to declare how good you find an album?!
Well, you don't necessarily
have to wait a long time. But most of the albums I consider my favorites are ones that took me a long time to appreciate. Especially for prog albums, which have a lot going on, it doesn't seem too unreasonable to wait a while before making such decisions.
Quote from: Dark Castle on September 19, 2013, 07:53:55 PM
I hate this notion that you can't tell good an album is just because it's only been out for a few days. Who the fuck made it law that you have to wait months/years to declare how good you find an album?!
It was a man named Pierre Sebastian. Born in 1927 in a village near Quito.....his mother found him as a child chiseling a single phrase into native alabaster stone. It read, " one must wait months.....in fact....years to gain proper insight to accurately deduce how good an album is."
It was inducted into Global Law in the first session of the United Nations.
Quote from: theseoafs on September 19, 2013, 07:52:46 PM
Quote from: Super Dude on September 19, 2013, 07:31:56 PM
There's no way after four days you can say DT12 is better than Awake, which has endured as a DT classic for nearly two decades. One producer (whose name I've forgotten) wisely mentioned the "30 listen test," in which you think about whether a song will sound just as fresh the 30th time you've listened to it as the first time. Music we've listened to over and over again we will inevitably get used to - their staying power is a matter of how much the song continues to have to offer despite numerous listens, and some won't survive that test. Let's not start declaring DT12 songs the best ever made until we're a few more listens in, hm?
Who declared DT12 the best songs DT ever made? This fellow said that DT12 is better than Awake, and I agree, because I don't really think Awake is all that great. I don't know whether it'll crack my top 3 or anything, but I can certainly tell you that DT12 is better than one of DT's weaker albums.
I was reading a post a couple pages back declaring DT12 the best album "ever," but the point still stands. And yes it is better, as long as that weaker album is WDADU or SC.
Quote from: gmillerdrake on September 19, 2013, 08:19:29 PM
Quote from: Dark Castle on September 19, 2013, 07:53:55 PM
I hate this notion that you can't tell good an album is just because it's only been out for a few days. Who the fuck made it law that you have to wait months/years to declare how good you find an album?!
It was a man named Pierre Sebastian. Born in 1927 in a village near Quito.....his mother found him as a child chiseling a single phrase into native alabaster stone. It read, " one must wait months.....in fact....years to gain proper insight to accurately deduce how good an album is."
It was inducted into Global Law in the first session of the United Nations.
:clap:
"Weak album because i don't like it very much"
Quote from: Super Dude on September 19, 2013, 08:20:52 PM
I was reading a post a couple pages back declaring DT12 the best album "ever," but the point still stands. And yes it is better, as long as that weaker album is WDADU or SC.
Well, I'm not saying anything like that. If I'm not mistaken, Obscure (or someone who writes for her website) called it "the best album of the century". How could you even know that at this point?
But still, we're allowed to say that DT12 is better than WDADU and SC at this point in time, but not Awake? What the fuck is the difference?
Quote from: Outcrier on September 19, 2013, 08:26:19 PM
"Weak album because i don't like it very much"
Who is this referring to exactly? People have opinions about music, and if they find that an album is weak, they're not going to like it very much.
Quote from: theseoafs on September 19, 2013, 08:31:33 PM
Quote from: Super Dude on September 19, 2013, 08:20:52 PM
I was reading a post a couple pages back declaring DT12 the best album "ever," but the point still stands. And yes it is better, as long as that weaker album is WDADU or SC.
Well, I'm not saying anything like that. If I'm not mistaken, Obscure (or someone who writes for her website) called it "the best album of the century". How could you even know that at this point?
But still, we're allowed to say that DT12 is better than WDADU and SC at this point in time, but not Awake? What the fuck is the difference?
Quote from: Outcrier on September 19, 2013, 08:26:19 PM
"Weak album because i don't like it very much"
Who is this referring to exactly? People have opinions about music, and if they find that an album is weak, they're not going to like it very much.
I am quite sure the difference is that there is pretty much a general consensus that Awake is one of Dream Theater's best albums, whether some people dislike it or not. Perhaps majority doesn't necessarily mean that that's the way things are, but there's also a consensus (from what I have seen, of course) that WDADU and SC are their worst albums (I disagree with that because I like both of those, but that is from my personal standpoint), and at this point we can see that for most people DT12 might rank as a middle-tier DT album at least, which would make it better than WDADU and SC. That is, again, according to what most people agree on.
Of course, you're free to say if you like DT12 more or less than WDADU/SC/Awake at any point, but I think that what is going in here is based off what the general opinion regarding DT albums is, and the general opinion isn't something that a single person can change by saying, for example "No, I like SC more than Awake".
Why the hell does the general consensus even matter? Nobody said anything about the general consensus on these albums. I say that DT12 is better than Awake, WDADU, and SC. The general consensus about these albums doesn't change a thing.
Given my personal view that SDOIT was the last truly good DT album, I just realized that the album at this point cuts DT's career into two equal-sized parts (IAW: 1992 SDOIT: 2002 DT12: 2013). At this point I'm not really making all too much distinction anymore inside the first half; it's just the "good half".
Quote from: theseoafs on September 19, 2013, 08:49:26 PM
Why the hell does the general consensus even matter? Nobody said anything about the general consensus on these albums. I say that DT12 is better than Awake, WDADU, and SC. The general consensus about these albums doesn't change a thing.
What's with the attitude, man? Calm down. I agree with you (only thing is I still don't know if DT12 is better than Awake), what I'm trying to say is that, for the general opinion, since Awake is one of the best albums by the band while WDADU and SC are among the worst, it is possible to say that DT12 is better than WDADU and SC, but not better than awake. Again, this is concerning the general opinion. If you think it is better than WDADU, SC and Awake, it is perfectly fine.
Quote from: Daso on September 19, 2013, 09:43:11 PM
Quote from: theseoafs on September 19, 2013, 08:49:26 PM
Why the hell does the general consensus even matter? Nobody said anything about the general consensus on these albums. I say that DT12 is better than Awake, WDADU, and SC. The general consensus about these albums doesn't change a thing.
What's with the attitude, man? Calm down. I agree with you (only thing is I still don't know if DT12 is better than Awake), what I'm trying to say is that, for the general opinion, since Awake is one of the best albums by the band while WDADU and SC are among the worst, it is possible to say that DT12 is better than WDADU and SC, but not better than awake. Again, this is concerning the general opinion. If you think it is better than WDADU, SC and Awake, it is perfectly fine.
You're confused about what the discussion is. Super is saying that it's too early to say that DT12 is better than Awake since "Awake is a classic", but it's not too early to say it's better than SC and WDADU, which doesn't make any sense.
So I need at least 30 listens before I can say DT12 is better than Awake?
(https://img849.imageshack.us/img849/7705/m5li.png)
DT12 is better than Awake
The problem with saying things like, "DT12 is better than Awake," is it is in direct contrast to the factual statement in the title of this thread. :biggrin:
Quote from: Syzzle on September 19, 2013, 09:57:13 PM
So I need at least 30 listens before I can say DT12 is better than Awake?
(https://img849.imageshack.us/img849/7705/m5li.png)
DT12 is better than Awake
Served.jpeg
Quote from: theseoafs on September 19, 2013, 09:53:54 PM
Quote from: Daso on September 19, 2013, 09:43:11 PM
Quote from: theseoafs on September 19, 2013, 08:49:26 PM
Why the hell does the general consensus even matter? Nobody said anything about the general consensus on these albums. I say that DT12 is better than Awake, WDADU, and SC. The general consensus about these albums doesn't change a thing.
What's with the attitude, man? Calm down. I agree with you (only thing is I still don't know if DT12 is better than Awake), what I'm trying to say is that, for the general opinion, since Awake is one of the best albums by the band while WDADU and SC are among the worst, it is possible to say that DT12 is better than WDADU and SC, but not better than awake. Again, this is concerning the general opinion. If you think it is better than WDADU, SC and Awake, it is perfectly fine.
You're confused about what the discussion is. Super is saying that it's too early to say that DT12 is better than Awake since "Awake is a classic", but it's not too early to say it's better than SC and WDADU, which doesn't make any sense.
Yea, I actually think you make a very good point. The other thing that always interests me with people who don't like an album as much, is how they can also then turn around and say 'it's one of the worst albums'. Some are happy to frown on someone for declaring it an immediate classic, but have no trouble themselves declaring it an early dud, after only listening for the same short time frame.. Surely their 'we'll see what happens in time' attitude, should work both ways..
I liked DT12, but even if i didn't liked it, i can certainly tell you that it doesn't even start to compare with Awake (in the songwriting "department"). :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin:
See what i did there?
Haven't listened to the album yet, or any of the songs for that matter (waiting for CD to arrive), but it's going to be REALLY tough for DT12 to knock Awake off as my favorite album. It does seem like a very strong album judging from the reactions, though it might be the new album smell. I can see it possibly getting into my top 5 if it's as consistently good as people say it is and MAYBE break into my untouchable top 4 (Awake, I&W, SFAM, SDOIT in that order). Awake took me the longest to get into actually and now it's my favorite lol.
I just listened to the album and the thread title is still correct.
Quote from: ? on September 20, 2013, 03:13:56 AM
I just listened to the album and the thread title is still correct.
BUt c'mon, Ain't Caught In A Web like the worst song ever!?
Quote from: adastra on September 20, 2013, 05:51:55 AM
Quote from: ? on September 20, 2013, 03:13:56 AM
I just listened to the album and the thread title is still correct.
BUt c'mon, Ain't Caught In A Web like the worst song ever!?
no
Quote from: adastra on September 20, 2013, 05:51:55 AM
Quote from: ? on September 20, 2013, 03:13:56 AM
I just listened to the album and the thread title is still correct.
BUt c'mon, Ain't Caught In A Web like the worst song ever!?
Nope! CIAW rocks and was one of the songs that got me into DT in the first place.
Caught in a Web is my favorite song on Awake. :lol
Quote from: adastra on September 20, 2013, 05:51:55 AM
Quote from: ? on September 20, 2013, 03:13:56 AM
I just listened to the album and the thread title is still correct.
BUt c'mon, Ain't Caught In A Web like the worst song ever!?
Hell no.
CIAW is a great song. I've never gotten the relative dislike for CIAW or IF. I mean, if even I like them, nobody else has an excuse. :lol
Quote from: BlobVanDam on September 20, 2013, 07:59:59 AM
CIAW is a great song. I've never gotten the relative dislike for CIAW or IF. I mean, if even I like them, nobody else has an excuse. :lol
Wise words!
Lol Wut, Even that horrible keyboard in the intro/ first verse???
Quote from: adastra on September 20, 2013, 08:52:40 AM
Lol Wut, Even that horrible keyboard in the intro/ first verse???
Horrible? That's a great part!
Quote from: Onno on September 20, 2013, 08:55:56 AM
Quote from: adastra on September 20, 2013, 08:52:40 AM
Lol Wut, Even that horrible keyboard in the intro/ first verse???
Horrible? That's a great part!
I don't know :E IMO it sounds almost torturous xD
Quote from: adastra on September 20, 2013, 08:57:55 AM
Quote from: Onno on September 20, 2013, 08:55:56 AM
Quote from: adastra on September 20, 2013, 08:52:40 AM
Lol Wut, Even that horrible keyboard in the intro/ first verse???
Horrible? That's a great part!
I don't know :E IMO it sounds almost torturous xD
Some people like torture. :zydar:
Quote from: adastra on September 20, 2013, 08:57:55 AM
Quote from: Onno on September 20, 2013, 08:55:56 AM
Quote from: adastra on September 20, 2013, 08:52:40 AM
Lol Wut, Even that horrible keyboard in the intro/ first verse???
Horrible? That's a great part!
I don't know :E IMO it sounds almost torturous xD
It sounds heavenly compared to the horns section in Beyond This Life and the Bebot solo in A Rite of Passage.
Quote from: ? on September 20, 2013, 09:54:18 AM
Quote from: adastra on September 20, 2013, 08:57:55 AM
Quote from: Onno on September 20, 2013, 08:55:56 AM
Quote from: adastra on September 20, 2013, 08:52:40 AM
Lol Wut, Even that horrible keyboard in the intro/ first verse???
Horrible? That's a great part!
I don't know :E IMO it sounds almost torturous xD
It sounds heavenly compared to the horns section in Beyond This Life and the Bebot solo in A Rite of Passage.
I don't mind the horns in BTL but AROP solo is the worst solo ever played by anyone
Caught in a Web is awesome, unique and extremely catchy besides.
Songs on Awake I still find very forgettable/I still don't get:
Lie
The Mirror
Scarred
Meh songs:
6:00
Caught in a Web
Erotomania
The Silent Man
Innocence Faded
Amazing songs off Awake:
Voices
Lifting Shadows off a Dream
Space-Dye Vest
Elaborate your not getting Scarred, please. I'm always thrilled and genuinely interested to hear why people don't consider it a timeless Dream Theater masterpiece like many others (myself included) do.
Awake is great. It has so many redeeming qualities. The first 3 tracks with the catchy choruses and great riffs, the Mind Beside Itself suite,
The Mirror/Lie + the great follow up with Lifting Shadows, and SCARRED! :metal Not to mention Space-Dye Vest, a unique and great album closer :D
Probably not my favorite album, but it's one of those albums where I find all of it to be consistently good. Wouldn't skip a track. Much like SDIOT or I&W for me. I realize many others do not share the same opinion though.
Okay. I will do so in the same way I went through my Top 30: By listening to the song while writing about it.
Scarred
Cymbal work. Really cool bass work and piano work. Guitar volume swells, clearer than I generally get from DT, then it turns more into a guitar solo. Lyrics. Interesting, the vocals are really soft in the beginning. Some great melodies. (2 minutes in) 2:10. That's the one part I remember. I enjoy it. I do not know the lyrics that well, I just remember that rape was part of the subject (clarify this for me.), and they're really hard to understand. 3:34, okay, we're back here, then more aggressive lyrics from James. VERY aggressive. 4:36. Nice background vocals, more good melodies. More really soft vocals, and back to a lighter phrase, building up. at 6:00. Building up, building up. 6:27, back to the chorus, okay. 7:04 cool guitar work, then suddenly scaly guitar solo. Keyboard solo. Guitar solo. 8:54, back to the chorus. 9:30, that was a cool breakdown. Keyboards playing string melody. 10:28, this is a REALLY cool part. Oh, what, this is what it fades out of? :huh:
Eh. It's a good song, but it's not very memorable for me. Some of my favorite Dream Theater songs are under 8 minutes, with all the catchy stuff (These Walls is my all time favorite, after all.).
I don't know what I really don't like about Scarred. It's not that I don't like it, but it just feels so... It just really hasn't clicked yet, but I don't even feel like listening to it again right now.
Scarred is a song that I enjoy while I'm listening to it, but I never have much of an urge to listen to it again.
Quote from: wasteland on September 20, 2013, 03:39:28 PM
Elaborate your not getting Scarred, please. I'm always thrilled and genuinely interested to hear why people don't consider it a timeless Dream Theater masterpiece like many others (myself included) do.
(https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/forumavatars/avatar_3297_1359762177.png)
From beginning to end, Awake is the most "listenable" album in its entirety. Just works perfectly as a whole.
I think Awake as an album is better than the sum of its parts. As an album it's consistent and has a very good flow to it. It's got a good mix of emotions and song types and it sounds like a band that is confident in their songwriting ability. Taken individually, I wouldn't consider any one song off of Awake to be a top 10 DT track. Most of the song lists that I've seen people post don't normally contain many Awake songs if any at all. It's also possible Awake didn't hit me as hard because I got into DT much later.
Personally, I don't listen to Awake often. If I'm in the mood for a short form DT song I may pop on 6:00 or CIAW. Voices is great when I'm in the mood, and erotomania is a fun instrumental (although I feel the LSFNY version is the definitive version). I began listening to DT in 2000, so Awake's production sounds a bit dated to me as well (it's the snare reverb). I also do not like Scarred and I never have. It's got some great individual parts like the guitar solo, the soft bridge, outro...but the vocal and instrumental melodies and progressions in the verses and choruses are tough to listen to for me. I can totally understand why people would like it but I can also get why it might not be everyone's cup of tea.
Just my humble opinion :metal
Quote from: ? on September 20, 2013, 09:54:18 AM
Quote from: adastra on September 20, 2013, 08:57:55 AM
Quote from: Onno on September 20, 2013, 08:55:56 AM
Quote from: adastra on September 20, 2013, 08:52:40 AM
Lol Wut, Even that horrible keyboard in the intro/ first verse???
Horrible? That's a great part!
I don't know :E IMO it sounds almost torturous xD
It sounds heavenly compared to the horns section in Beyond This Life and the Bebot solo in A Rite of Passage.
The horns in BTL are awesome. Haters gonna hate.
Horns in BTL? Timestamp?
Quote from: adastra on September 20, 2013, 05:51:55 AM
Quote from: ? on September 20, 2013, 03:13:56 AM
I just listened to the album and the thread title is still correct.
BUt c'mon, Ain't Caught In A Web like the worst song ever!?
say wot m8
Quote from: Ħ on September 20, 2013, 07:54:28 PM
Horns in BTL? Timestamp?
8:26. It's just a keyboard patch, but it sounds awful IMO. :puke:
I'm with Blob on this. Ordinarily I'd hate that patch, but for me it just works with the rest of the song.
I don't have a problem with it either. It's far enough removed from an actual horn sound that I just think of it as a synth, and not as an emulation of horns. As such, that synth works for that part of the song.
I've never understood the hate for that section either.