Poll
Question:
What do you think of the song "A Right of Passage?"
Option 1: Love it - top tier DT song
votes: 4
Option 2: Like it - good DT song, one of the better in the catalog
votes: 34
Option 3: Filler
votes: 41
Option 4: Don't like it - bottom tier in the catalog.
votes: 37
In the recent BC&SL thread, I see differing views on "A Rite of Passage," which spurred this poll. What do you think of the song, overall?
I happen to really like it, but don't think its top tier. That said, however, I think it is the best on BC&SL. I got to see it once, when DT opened for Iron Maiden. I wish they would pull it out again.
If it wasn't for Wither, I'd say it's the worst song on Black Clouds by a country mile.
Don't hate it, but it's definitely filler
I like it
It's not their best song, but its a solid DT single type of song.
Cool riff but the middle solo section just kills it. It goes on forever and is boring as hell. This could've been a decent 5 minute song but the bizarre need to make everything "epic" and long just fucked the whole thing up.
Quote from: Nekov on April 24, 2019, 09:04:27 AM
Don't hate it, but it's definitely filler
Similar thoughts here. And yeah, I also think it's too long - which is rare for me. Feels like it should be a 6-minute song for some reason, but outstays it's welcome a bit.
I'm pretty indifferent toward it. Competent song, but nothing all that memorable.
Best track on Black Clouds. One of the few introductory singles from an album that I think are like that.
Cool riff, great lyrics, video was even cool. I can understand why people dont like it since it is more basic in many ways but it is exactly what I want in a song like that.
In fact, it's the only song on the album that I think has good lyrics.
Bottom tier. A collection of Masonic/Rosicrucian references set to a generic metal track.
Like it. Cool riffs and groove, but not breakthrough material.
instant skip
Quote from: JLa on April 24, 2019, 10:41:05 AM
instant skip
One of if not their weakest song in my eyes. Outside of a bit of effort from JP.....the rest of the band sounds like they mailed it in....especially MP. Very boring drum parts in that song for someone of his caliber.
Voted "I like it . . . " but I really wouldn't go so far as saying one of their better ones, just like it. To me, all their singles are just ok, none really stand out as "better in their catalog."
Somewhere between Filler and Bottom Tier. Cool chorus, surrounded by a bunk of mediocrity. Lyrics aren't bad but I wish James sang the verses instead of that spoken word/singing thing he does on this song. Goes on too long by being repetitive. And one of Jordan's few bad spots.
Quote from: DTA on April 24, 2019, 09:10:04 AM
Cool riff but the middle solo section just kills it. It goes on forever and is boring as hell. This could've been a decent 5 minute song but the bizarre need to make everything "epic" and long just fucked the whole thing up.
Basically this. The verses are nice and the chorus are quite good, but the mandatory (for that time), copy and paste from a jam solo section derails and ruins the song. It's literally copy and paste, it took me 10 seconds with a random audio editing program to cut it away entirely, since the song completely stops to go into that.
The song is great, but it clearly sounds like a demo, not a finished product. Not sure why, and I've brought that up in many posts in the past.
In the bottom tier of DT's catalog for me. The main riff is a boring slog and the instrumental section is too uninteresting to be as long as it is. The chorus is good, but everything surrounding it I can hardly stand.
Like it. One of the better choruses in the catalogue but the instrumental section is pointless and drags too long
It's decent. There really isn't an option for that. To put it another way, I have NEVER listened to BCSL because of a desire to listen to this song and probably never will. But when I listen to the album, I enjoy this song just fine.
I can't think of a Dream Theater song that has aged worse for me. I loved it when the single first came out. Then for years I thought it was just solid. Now I find it truly average and can hardly find anything interesting about it. It's most likely bottom 15 for me.
Good sounding song. I like the way the samples are incorporated, along with some vocal effects. The chorus is just too sappy.
Quote from: hefdaddy42 on April 24, 2019, 09:39:42 AM
Bottom tier. A collection of Masonic/Rosicrucian references set to a generic metal track.
Yes, rock bottom according to DT: The League standings so far.
Musically, I love the chorus. The rest I'm not very keen on. The opening riff was better when it was used on Misunderstood, and that instrumental section in the middle is technically impressive but not all that engaging to listen to. But all in all it's an ok song. DT don't write bad songs, the worst they ever get is 'not so great', and I'd say this fits that description.
Quote from: El Barto on April 24, 2019, 02:55:50 PM
I like the way the samples are incorporated...
This is probably the only DT song I could say this about.
Easily the worst song on the album, but it isn't bad. It's better than filler. Filler metal tracks are like..."Prophets of War", "The Enemy Inside", "Paralyzed". And it's definitely a notch above those.
I don't feel strongly about it one way or the other. What a bland song.
Filler.
I voted "love it". I don't understand why everyone seems to view it so unfavourably.
I like it, but wouldnt rate it one of the stronger songs in the catalogue.
One of the worst songs they've ever done. Skip it every time.
I agree that it is a major skipper. It still sounds like a song that runs out of gas just when it is getting to the first chorus, and that is never a good sign. It's not a bad song, but just a very bland one.
Strictly speaking, I'm not sure I can say it's one of the better songs in their catalog. But I voted for that, because I think it's definitely at least a step or two above filler. I think it's a very fun song.
To me it's bottom tier. It is way below average DT.
I mean the chorus is catchy and I like the breakdown in the middle, but all in all...yawn..
I like it. A lot.
Quote from: IDontNotDoThings on April 24, 2019, 06:01:08 PM
I voted "love it". I don't understand why everyone seems to view it so unfavourably.
You're a brave one. I'm glad somebody voted "love it" because even though I think its the best song on the album, I feel it's on a very bland album. I could only bring myself to vote "like it." But it's so damn likable I was getting a little bummed nobody voted "love it" so thank you for that!
I voted "I do not like it - bottom tier in the catalog" because I didn't find the option "I hate this crap" :lol
Quote from: IDontNotDoThings on April 24, 2019, 06:01:08 PM
I voted "love it". I don't understand why everyone seems to view it so unfavourably.
Read the thread and you might learn why! :neverusethis:
I like it, but I never really paid attention to it when the album came out. I listened to the disc last year and was baffled that there was a big heavy section in the middle of the song and I never realized it before. :lol
Quote from: IDontNotDoThings on April 24, 2019, 06:01:08 PM
I voted "love it". I don't understand why everyone seems to view it so unfavourably.
I think multiple people have explained why they view it unfavorably.
But it's still just fine that you love it.
I like it but I don't think it's one of the better songs. Nor do I think it's filler. So Herrick cannot vote.
I like it, but I don't think it's one of their better songs either (still voted for the option though). I've never been a fan of the end of that keyboard solo :-X
Quote from: IDontNotDoThings on April 24, 2019, 06:01:08 PM
I voted "love it". I don't understand why everyone seems to view it so unfavourably.
Well, not exactly everyone. 22 people so far voted they like it. Just a few more voted filler, which could possibly mean they still might like it...a little. :biggrin:
There really needed to be more of a middle of the road option along the lines of, "Nowhere near their best, but I like it."
Agreed. The poll may have a gap or two.
The gap actually pisses me off because I want to vote and can't. I AM DISENFRANCHISED! :lol
I voted filler but I like the chorus of that song quite a bit. It's not a bad song by any means.
IMO it's a waste of a great riff that resembles "Misunderstood". Aside from that, it's a song that I've barely payed attention to and I hate the chorus. Most of the song is mediocre :tdwn
I'd put it somewhere between the middle two options, but closer to "filler", so that's the option I voted for. I don't hate it (hatred's too strong a term to use when it comes to any music; hatred implies that that thing's very existence is a genuine threat to human life), but it's far from top-tier DT.
the song itself is nothing special, but JP's guitar solo is a win!
I voted bottom tier, but I'm not sure any of the options really reflect my opinion. It's not a song I intentionally listen to, but I wouldn't say I dislike it. It's simply "meh." I'm not sure it's "bottom tier," but it's certainly in the bottom half of DT's catalog.
Bottom tier as well. Don't help that it is on one of my least favorite albums.
B.Lee
Quote from: pg1067 on April 28, 2019, 07:55:21 PM
I voted bottom tier, but I'm not sure any of the options really reflect my opinion. It's not a song I intentionally listen to, but I wouldn't say I dislike it. It's simply "meh." I'm not sure it's "bottom tier," but it's certainly in the bottom half of DT's catalog.
That probably would fall in the "filler" category, I think.
Eh, it's okay. I won't skip it if it comes on, but I almost never go out of my way to listen to it. It wouldn't end up in my Top 25 any time soon, but it's not a bottom tier Dream Theater song for me.
Definitely the weakest song on BC&SL, though, and that's saying something.
I listening to it the other day after several years, and it isn't terrible, but I think they could've workshopped it some more. The transition back to the last chorus is NOT WELL. Plus, the bebot solo is terrible and out of place.
I used to kinda like this song but can't say I like it much at all anymore. It has VERY low energy, quite possibly the only song that feels like the band was just playing music for the sake of it. I also hate the Rudess tomfoolery towards the end. It sounds so obnoxious.
I wish there was a choice between "Like it" and "Filler", so as I said in the other thread...
Kind of a mixed bag for me. I like the words/melody/theme a lot but prefer the shorter version used in the music video. The JR solo is basically a bunch of noise (2nd part) but I suppose it works for the song's purposes/theme. JP's solo is killer, but his guitar tone really sucks here.
I chose "Like it" however because it's better than filler, to me at least.
Hands down my least favorite DT song. Even the production seems to sound worse than the rest of BCSL.
I like it.
It's a skipper for me. Actually, when I went to see them opening for Maiden, I was disappointed that they played it. The whole short set was the "stripped down" version for the Maiden fans. I felt like telling the people there for IM that this does not really represent Dream Theater the way I know them. "They're actually a really good band, honest!" :rollin
Quote from: a51502112 on May 10, 2019, 11:16:03 AM
It's a skipper for me. Actually, when I went to see them opening for Maiden, I was disappointed that they played it. The whole short set was the "stripped down" version for the Maiden fans. I felt like telling the people there for IM that this does not really represent Dream Theater the way I know them. "They're actually a really good band, honest!" :rollin
Yeah, I agree with you as far as I felt about that setlist. But it was perfectly constructed. The NY boot is great, because you can hear non DT fans progressively getting more into it with each song. I love the way MP arranged the songs so that each song was a little bit faster than the previous one. It was a setlist that truly built as it went along.
I really like it. I didn't go back and listen. I just remembered the song and how it strikes me. It's one I sing to and remember. Probably the best on that album, which isn't saying much.
BEBOT!
/thread