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Dream Theater => Dream Theater => Topic started by: YtseJamittaja on January 08, 2015, 12:33:06 PM

Title: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: YtseJamittaja on January 08, 2015, 12:33:06 PM
I think it's time to start the speculation!

DT is going to studio in February, what would you like to see them making this time?
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: Sycsa on January 08, 2015, 12:36:41 PM
Concept album on 2 CDs!
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: goo-goo on January 08, 2015, 12:47:47 PM
1 CD concept album (or at least with a theme)

2 JLB lyrics.

Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: bosk1 on January 08, 2015, 12:58:10 PM
Prediction:  It will be good.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: King Postwhore on January 08, 2015, 01:04:51 PM
Prediction: Bosk1 will state the obvious.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: Sycsa on January 08, 2015, 01:11:13 PM
It will be more technical & proggy. It will feature the best MM drum sound yet. JR will use more Seaboard.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: BlackInk on January 08, 2015, 01:13:51 PM
I'd like for them to do something special. A concept album or a double album or whatever. We haven't had anything other than 'normal' albums since SDoIT.

So yeah, that's my official vague prediction. 'Something special'.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: Mindflux on January 08, 2015, 01:15:46 PM
Mike Mangini will make an appearance on drums.
 :lol
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: Nearmyth on January 08, 2015, 02:16:51 PM
I'm predicting they're going to try and go for something a little different, but maybe not what the fans expect.

Hoping for a concept album.. But only if the inspiration is there for it.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: JiM-Xtreme on January 08, 2015, 03:10:47 PM
I think the time is right for a concept album.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: lithium112 on January 08, 2015, 03:17:48 PM
Haven't they said something about a concept album being a possibility recently, or am I making that up? I might be thinking of a different band.

It will feature the best MM drum sound yet.

DT pls.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: Crow on January 08, 2015, 03:40:02 PM
It will be better than DT12.

(Please.)
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: Zyzzyva17 on January 08, 2015, 03:41:08 PM
I stand by my strangely specific prediction that it will do to Six Degrees what ADTOE did to Images and Words.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: Rodni Demental on January 08, 2015, 04:45:11 PM
Concept album on 2 CDs!
It will be more technical & proggy. It will feature the best MM drum sound yet. JR will use more Seaboard.
I stand by my strangely specific prediction that it will do to Six Degrees what ADTOE did to Images and Words.

All of this sounds good to me. But in the end I just hope they make something they're excited about at the time, that generally produces the most genuine music. And not get to caught up or worried about the overall 'conception' of the album and how people will respond to it.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: erwinrafael on January 08, 2015, 05:41:10 PM
After rediscovering themselves (ADTOE) and coming up with the signature sound for this new era (DT), I think 13 would be the album where they would try to incorporate some of the contemporary influences into their music. So I guess our best predictor is, what are the current elements in contemporary music that they could conceivably incorporate into the music they established in the Dream Theater album?
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: BlackInk on January 08, 2015, 05:44:46 PM
djentdjent
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: Madman Shepherd on January 08, 2015, 05:48:34 PM
1 CD concept album (or at least with a theme)

2 JLB lyrics.

This.  I would be happy with just the second one though. 
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: Rodni Demental on January 08, 2015, 05:55:29 PM
djentdjent

Yeah anything but that.  :xbones

I don't even mind some djdjdjenty tones if they're not overused, The Enemy Inside was still a pretty typical classic heavy DT tune and I actually quite like it. But I still don't want them to try and be like Animals as Leaders, or Periphery and all those other "cool kids" just to "keep up" or whatever. If JP genuinely is into his djentdjent at the moment, alright lets see what ya got. But yeah nah, in general there's enough djenting out there already IMO.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: GasparXR on January 08, 2015, 05:55:53 PM
After rediscovering themselves (ADTOE) and coming up with the signature sound for this new era (DT), I think 13 would be the album where they would try to incorporate some of the contemporary influences into their music. So I guess our best predictor is, what are the current elements in contemporary music that they could conceivably incorporate into the music they established in the Dream Theater album?

djentdjent,  as BlackInk so eloquently put. John Petrucci has incorporated minimal amounts of that influence in his guitar playing recently, particularly, in some parts of Outcry, The Enemy Inside, and Illumination Theory. I wouldn't mind that being continued alongside other influences.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: erwinrafael on January 08, 2015, 06:09:58 PM
djentdjent

Surprisingly, I am ok with this. As long as the keyboards are still clear, the melodies are still priority ovver the riffing, and there are no growling vocals to accompany the djentdjent sound. They could even incorporate some of the modern electronic sounds.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: BlackInk on January 08, 2015, 06:18:46 PM
I am a big fan of Periphery and Meshuggah, and I absolutely love TesseracT, but that's about the only 'djent'-music I like, most everything else is pretty boring. I would really like to see DT use some of that type of more advanced polyrhythms, but I don't think the overall 'djent' sound and style is for them. So if Petrucci feels inspired by his nephew, then I hope it's only the additional seasoning of the DT meal and not the meat.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: goo-goo on January 08, 2015, 06:34:00 PM
1 CD concept album (or at least with a theme)

2 JLB lyrics.

This.  I would be happy with just the second one though.

Forgot to add (and you might agree with this one as well):

JM - Chapman Stick
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: erwinrafael on January 08, 2015, 06:41:10 PM
I am a big fan of Periphery and Meshuggah, and I absolutely love TesseracT, but that's about the only 'djent'-music I like, most everything else is pretty boring. I would really like to see DT use some of that type of more advanced polyrhythms, but I don't think the overall 'djent' sound and style is for them. So if Petrucci feels inspired by his nephew, then I hope it's only the additional seasoning of the DT meal and not the meat.

I am two minds about this. They once incorporated a contemporary sound successfully (Awake) but they also failed before (the Muse era around Octavarium / SC). If they could do something like Awake, not referring to the specific sound but rather their approach of incorporating the sound of a particular era without sounding like a ripoff, I would be very happy. If we end up with another Muse mess, though...no, please, no!  :lol
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: Kotowboy on January 08, 2015, 07:07:31 PM
djentdjent

Yeah anything but that.  :xbones

Please god no FUCKING djent. I'm sick of hearing that GUNG GUNG GUNG BOWWWWWW GUNGA GUNGA sound on everything now.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: Kotowboy on January 08, 2015, 07:09:06 PM
DT12 was quite heavy and chunky throughout.

I'd love a much more chilled out album like Octavarium or Falling Into Infinity.

Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: gmillerdrake on January 08, 2015, 08:19:11 PM

2 JLB lyrics.

Would LOVE some more JLB lyrics. I'd like to see him get half of the songs, hope for (2) from JMX and let JP get the other two or three.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: 1neeto on January 08, 2015, 09:12:18 PM
The music will be great, that I do not doubt. What I'm worried about is the mixing and mastering, considering how terrible it was with DT12. God they really need a producer.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: Daso on January 08, 2015, 09:38:09 PM
I'd say concept album because they commented on it being an interesting possibility quite a few times on interviews during the last tour. Then, I agree with Sycsa and would say it will have the best MM drum sound yet (here goes hoping he takes some involvement on that side of things). Since JLB is not writing an album at the moment, at least not that he has made public, he can write lyrics this time around. If it's a concept album, I see them being a bit more experimental and out there than on DT12 and most of ADTOE - not experimental in the way they'll abandon their traditional sound because they've pretty much stated they won't do that (which is sad), but in the proggy, blow your mind sort of way.

And God please no djent. I love the BitS or Awake sort of heavy, TEI was great, let's keep it at that level.

EDIT: Also, longer songs than on DT12, which has pretty much been confirmed by JP when he said he finds it difficult to write short sungs. Unless he's up to the challenge.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: Moor on January 08, 2015, 11:49:05 PM
I'd say concept album because they commented on it being an interesting possibility quite a few times on interviews during the last tour. Then, I agree with Sycsa and would say it will have the best MM drum sound yet (here goes hoping he takes some involvement on that side of things). Since JLB is not writing an album at the moment, at least not that he has made public, he can write lyrics this time around. If it's a concept album, I see them being a bit more experimental and out there than on DT12 and most of ADTOE - not experimental in the way they'll abandon their traditional sound because they've pretty much stated they won't do that (which is sad), but in the proggy, blow your mind sort of way.

Exactly my thoughts about the new album  :)
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: Art on January 09, 2015, 03:16:14 AM
The music will be great, that I do not doubt. What I'm worried about is the mixing and mastering, considering how terrible it was with DT12. God they really need a producer.

This.

As for the songrwriting, lets hope they are in a SDOIT kind of mood (experimental and diverse).
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: Zydar on January 09, 2015, 03:25:57 AM
Prediction: We are going to discuss it on DTF.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: Nefarius on January 09, 2015, 05:12:40 AM
Another Prediction: More information will be available :soon: :biggrin:

Greetings...
Nef
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: Kotowboy on January 09, 2015, 05:32:08 AM
Prediction: We are going to discuss it on DTF.

BURN THE WITCH
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: snapple on January 09, 2015, 05:33:25 AM
Safe music.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: Zydar on January 09, 2015, 05:37:29 AM
Prediction: We are going to discuss it on DTF.

BURN THE WITCH

Yeah I am a real clairvoyant ;D
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: King Postwhore on January 09, 2015, 06:24:51 AM
Prediction: We are going to discuss it on DTF.

BURN THE WITCH

We must see if he floats like a duck!
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: commanderbob on January 09, 2015, 06:59:36 AM
I'm expecting the usual: some good, some forgettable, and 2-3 songs to add to the pantheon. If so, I'll be happy.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: TheOutlawXanadu on January 09, 2015, 07:09:39 AM
I'm interested to see if the band continues down the "short song" path they started with DT12. Honestly, I prefer shorter songs nowadays.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: ? on January 09, 2015, 07:09:55 AM
My prediction is that this time I'll be smart enough to buy the HD Tracks version of the album instead of a brickwalled CD :P
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: The Presence of Frenemies on January 09, 2015, 07:10:55 AM
There are three albums in DT's career that have featured something of a concerted effort to shorten/streamline the songs--FII, 8V, and DT. It seems that every three or four albums, they decide to do one like that, but never have they stayed in that direction for consecutive albums. Granted, one can chalk up the past direction partly to MP's influence, but to me, the odds are against us seeing a DT, Part II, for better or worse. I have a feeling that the upcoming album will be sort of an "unleashing" of the band after the reigning in of DT12/Petrucci's difficulty writing short songs, etc. What direction that takes it, I don't know. I agree there's a higher-than-usual chance of a concept, maybe some increased heaviness, maybe another epic, who knows. But I do think album 13 represents DT's best shot at creating another really great album, something that could sit in most of our top 5, at least. Not saying they will fulfill that promise, but I have a feeling they're going to give it a run.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: Zydar on January 09, 2015, 07:15:02 AM
My prediction is that this time I'll be smart enough to buy the HD Tracks version of the album instead of a brickwalled CD :P

Good call. I'll do that too. I don't really have an interest in physical copies nowadays anyway.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: Chino on January 09, 2015, 07:37:34 AM
I'm starting to think that 30 years from now, I'm going to be pissed I bought all my songs digitally instead of on CDs.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: Jaq on January 09, 2015, 07:44:08 AM
Because I'm sick with the flu and grouchy, I'm feeling surly: people will complain about the artwork, finding offense in things a pixel wide, and will find the production atrocious.

It will take approximately 23,000 threads to do these things.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: hefdaddy42 on January 09, 2015, 08:00:44 AM
lol
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: nicmos on January 09, 2015, 08:09:06 AM
I'm starting to think that 30 years from now, I'm going to be pissed I bought all my songs digitally instead of on CDs.

I was buying all digital for a while but I've moved back to buying CDs even though it's slower and more expensive.  1. the sound quality is objectively better (disregarding mastering/mixing differences of course) 2. you can physically hold it, and often it has lyrics that are an important connection to the music.  I find the songs I enjoy the most are ones that I actually know the words to because I was reading those liner notes.  and 3. now that I have kids it will be nice for them to see that something exists called a "music collection" and be able to explore it on their own.  I don't expect them to like all of the same things, but surely they'll listen and find some things in it they like.  They might pull something out based on the artwork or the title, but it's way more enticing than scrolling through a bunch of text in an iTunes/media manager library.  (Yes, you can incorporate the album art, but still not the same as holding it in your hands and reading the liner notes). 
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: Chino on January 09, 2015, 09:02:07 AM
I'm starting to think that 30 years from now, I'm going to be pissed I bought all my songs digitally instead of on CDs.

I was buying all digital for a while but I've moved back to buying CDs even though it's slower and more expensive.  1. the sound quality is objectively better (disregarding mastering/mixing differences of course) 2. you can physically hold it, and often it has lyrics that are an important connection to the music.  I find the songs I enjoy the most are ones that I actually know the words to because I was reading those liner notes.  and 3. now that I have kids it will be nice for them to see that something exists called a "music collection" and be able to explore it on their own.  I don't expect them to like all of the same things, but surely they'll listen and find some things in it they like.  They might pull something out based on the artwork or the title, but it's way more enticing than scrolling through a bunch of text in an iTunes/media manager library.  (Yes, you can incorporate the album art, but still not the same as holding it in your hands and reading the liner notes).

I can totally relate to this. When I was moving a few months back, I found an old record player buried in the attic. It needed about $100 worth of parts to get in working order. My dad gave me what was left of his record collection, about sixty albums or so. The rest got destroyed in a basement flooding about twenty years ago. He had a bunch of Beetles, The Eagles, Tower of Power, Earth Wind and Fire, Chicago, Toto Live, Bruce Springstein, Tom Petty, The Police, etc... I love it. I don't like all the stuff, but I listen to it at least once anyway.

A buddy of mine has been anal about his CD collection since I've known him (about 12 years now). He's got over 1000 CD's in his collection. It's monstrous. I love going to his place and looking through it. He makes a good point that it forces you to listen to whole albums. When I dock my iPod to my car, I always play it by genre at random or by playlists I've made. I've bought albums that I've never listened to because I only play a song or two. By putting a CD in the player, you almost have no choice. 
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: mars on January 09, 2015, 02:10:40 PM
Hello everyone!
I don't want to make any predictions like: "oh, the new album will sound like SFAM or 6 degrees". I am extremely excited 'cause the band are obviously itching to make (record) new music. I think a bunch of amazing ideas is put together or some riffs and bits are already recorded during sounchecks on tour. Three months off and BANG: "attack the studio!". All I can say is that I really love cinematic bombastic A Dramatic Turn of  Events. The self-titled one is full of mid-paced intro/verse/chorus/solos... tracks but whenever I listen to that album I have goosebumps on my shoulders. So, to make the so to make the story short, DT is shure to kick some serious ass!  :metal
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: Bertielee on January 09, 2015, 02:13:41 PM
Hello everyone!
I don't want to make any predictions like: "oh, the new album will sound like SFAM or 6 degrees". I am extremely excited 'cause the band are obviously itching to make (record) new music. I think a bunch of amazing ideas is put together or some riffs and bits are already recorded during sounchecks on tour. Three months off and BANG: "attack the studio!". All I can say is that I really love cinematic bombastic A Dramatic Turn of  Events. The self-titled one is full of mid-paced intro/verse/chorus/solos... tracks but whenever I listen to that album I have goosebumps on my shoulders. So, to make the so to make the story short, DT is shure to kick some serious ass!  :metal

Wow, you're a fan, Mars! Btw, welcome to DTF, you'll sure enjoy your stay here.

B.Lee
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: mars on January 09, 2015, 02:19:43 PM
Thanks! I also hope so. All moaners, please leave the building!  :police:
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: adamack on January 09, 2015, 04:24:09 PM
I truly believe that the band should look back upon what made Breaking All Illusions so special, and use that as a springboard when writing the new album.

The song is the closest thing we have to a "universally loved" DT song in the past decade or so.

I don't mean they should rip off the sound of the song, but I think they should dissect what made it special, and apply some of those characteristics to a few of the songs on DT13.

Likewise, it would be amazing if they did the same thing with Octavarium should they choose to write another epic. Dissect it, brainstorm about what made it one of their best songs, and create something totally new which strives to achieve the same sentiment.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: erwinrafael on January 09, 2015, 04:37:43 PM
Yet another subtle jab at Illumination Theory and the Dream Theater album? Can we give it a rest? For the silent many that actually like their latest effort, it's getting tiring.

And I don't want DT to look back at what made old great songs great. They already did that with SFAM and ADTOE. I would rather they do an Awake, not the sound but rather the spirit of not trying to recreate an Images and Words.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: Lucien on January 09, 2015, 04:48:26 PM
I want them to do stuff outside the box. (more ambient, different musical styles, better songwriting that while clever and "progressive" doesn't require extreme technical ability, like Surrounded/These Walls, etc)

But we all know it will probably just be the same stuff they've done on these last two albums, complete with muddy prediction.

Prove me wrong, Dream Theater.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: adamack on January 09, 2015, 05:27:41 PM
Yet another subtle jab at Illumination Theory and the Dream Theater album? Can we give it a rest? For the silent many that actually like their latest effort, it's getting tiring.

And I don't want DT to look back at what made old great songs great. They already did that with SFAM and ADTOE. I would rather they do an Awake, not the sound but rather the spirit of not trying to recreate an Images and Words.

Was this in response to my post?

If so, I absolutely did not intend to take a jab at Illumination theory. It's clear that Octavarium is one of DT's most universally liked songs, and that is the ONLY thing I meant when I said they should seek to find out what made that song stand out as a favorite. I did not even think about Illumination Theory when I made the post.

You also misinterpreted my post. I made it clear that I did not mean that DT should make DT13 SOUND like Octavarium and BAI. But rather, investigate into what made the charm and spirit of these tracks so successful and loved.

That could mean something as simple as figuring out what emotions the listener feels when listening to these songs, and creating entirely new and original songs which achieve the same kind of emotions, using new and experimental sounds, different arrangements, and so forth.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: Kotowboy on January 09, 2015, 05:34:32 PM
If they *must* do an epic - please don't do the "stop for 5 minutes in the middle and have an ambient section" again.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: Shadow Ninja 2.0 on January 09, 2015, 05:36:16 PM
Actually the ambient section was one of my favorite parts of IT.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: Jamesman42 on January 09, 2015, 05:56:05 PM
I want them to do stuff outside the box. (more ambient, different musical styles, better songwriting that while clever and "progressive" doesn't require extreme technical ability, like Surrounded/These Walls, etc)

But we all know it will probably just be the same stuff they've done on these last two albums, complete with muddy prediction.

Prove me wrong, Dream Theater.

Amen. That easter egg tease at the end of IT is unfair. Do an album of that, DT.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: Lucien on January 09, 2015, 06:18:17 PM
I want them to do stuff outside the box. (more ambient, different musical styles, better songwriting that while clever and "progressive" doesn't require extreme technical ability, like Surrounded/These Walls, etc)

But we all know it will probably just be the same stuff they've done on these last two albums, complete with muddy prediction.

Prove me wrong, Dream Theater.

Amen. That easter egg tease at the end of IT is unfair. Do an album of that, DT.

I would buy it, and it would probably end up very high in my rankings, but we've been told by them that they have their "signature sound" which basically completely rules that out. It's sad.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: Mebert78 on January 09, 2015, 06:19:53 PM
1 CD concept album (or at least with a theme)

2 JLB lyrics.

This. Plus one Myung lyric.

Oddly, a small part of me could so see them doing another FII type album and giving the mainstream thing one more shot on the heels of the back to back Grammy nominations.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: BlackInk on January 09, 2015, 06:24:41 PM
If they *must* do an epic - please don't do the "stop for 5 minutes in the middle and have an ambient section" again.

Yeah, please none of this. I read a description of the songs from DT12 before the album was released, and when I got to IT I actually thought the writer had confused it with TCoT, since it apparently had the exact same structure. Twice is one too many in this case. Or maybe even two too many, since I like neither of them.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: adamack on January 09, 2015, 06:36:30 PM
1 CD concept album (or at least with a theme)

2 JLB lyrics.

Oddly, a small part of me could so see them doing another FII type album and giving the mainstream thing one more shot on the heels of the back to back Grammy nominations.

Exactly! Was just thinking this earlier. DT seemed to have gained a lot of popularity after DT12 came out, and they got a lot of attention. I heard more people talking about them than I ever have (granted I was not into them when Pull Me Under came out).

As you said, I could see them taking advantage of this by throwing a few mainstream songs on DT13.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: Mebert78 on January 09, 2015, 07:32:06 PM

You know what, I would be OK with it too. DT has given us so much great material over so many years that if they decided to take another shot at the mainstream I would cheer them on. They've totally earned whatever direction they want to go, in my opinion.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: The Letter M on January 09, 2015, 07:48:11 PM
I concur - no more ambient sections in general. The reasons I love ACOS and SDOIT as large, whole pieces is that they really flow together well, and there's a lot of great musical ideas.

"Octavarium" started with its ambient section, so I was OK with that, it set up some melodies and themes for the rest of the song, but it was still quite long, and even longer in live versions because JR used the intro to extend it into a solo.

"In The Presence Of Enemies" doesn't really had an ambient section, but it did use wind as a bridge between Parts 1 & 2. Thankfully I've merged the two parts in Audacity for a complete 25:12 version that should have been in the first place.

"The Count Of Tuscany" had an interesting effect for me in that this was recorded and released after the 10th Anniversary shows for LTE, and the influence of playing "Rhapsody In Blue" showed in their writing of the album's closing epic. The volume-swelling solo with keyboard accompaniment was similar to what LTE did in their Gershwin cover, so when BC&SL came out, it was a very happy surprise to hear something similar!!! This ambient section was also right before the closing segment of the song, and in my mind, serves as the perfect set-up for the ride out.

"Illumination Theory" is a bit of an odd one for me. It sort of feels like it just stops the song dead in its tracks, but the pick-up after its over is pretty awesome, and the song is just balls-to-the-wall from there on out. I'm still on the fence about the whole thing, but I think by now I like it a little more in terms of the song's structure. The ambient orchestral part itself is VERY beautiful, well composed and performed, but in context to the whole piece, it did feel out of place at first. It was shocking when I first heard it, mostly because it was REALLY unexpected.

At this point, if the boys in DT write another 18-25 minute epic piece, I think they'll try to work out some new ideas for form and structure, and perhaps avoid any sort of ambient section altogether. I'd like to see an approach akin to "The Gates Of Delirium" or "Awaken", rather than "2112", "Hemispheres" or "Close To The Edge".

-Marc.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: Mosh on January 09, 2015, 09:03:43 PM
I always loved the ambient section and still do. But I get where people are coming from when they say it makes the song lose momentum. That's part of the charm for me though.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: YtseJamittaja on January 11, 2015, 02:48:29 AM
No more ambient sections - I agree!
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: ? on January 11, 2015, 03:55:06 AM
I have no problem with ambient sections if they're well integrated into the songs and don't come out of nowhere. The one in TCOT works, because the transition into it is so smooth and it leads nicely into the ending section.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: RoeDent on January 11, 2015, 07:06:35 AM
I wouldn't mind the longest track being around the 14-16 minute range. Longer than BAI, but not as long as Illumination Theory.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: The Letter M on January 11, 2015, 11:57:25 AM
I wouldn't mind the longest track being around the 14-16 minute range. Longer than BAI, but not as long as Illumination Theory.

This. So far, that time range only contains songs like "In The Name Of God" and "The Ministry Of Lost Souls", and you could even extend that to include "A Nightmare To Remember". They need another song in that 14-17 minute range; shorter than a side-length epic typically is, but longer than their usual long-songs of 10-14 minutes (of which they have a TON).

-Marc.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: Polarbear on January 11, 2015, 01:00:51 PM
- No 20+ minute epic
- Something darker, both lyrically and musically
- Songs that would fall into 7-10 minute or 10-14 minute category
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: dream416 on January 11, 2015, 02:53:33 PM
An outside producer that way JP can concentrate just on the
awesome riffs that will make this the ultimate DT album  :tup   ;D
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: Lucien on January 11, 2015, 03:25:00 PM
No more ambient sections? Sure I guess.

No more ambient? NO I LOVE IT GIVE ME MORE
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: Randaran on January 11, 2015, 04:15:45 PM
I would love if at least part of a song is like IT's Easter Egg. Or even better, an entire song like that. It would make a nice break between some of the presumably longer, proggier tracks.

ADTOE is their best album in terms of song lengths. It had a few shorter songs ranging from 4-7 minutes, one song that approaches 9 minutes, while the rest was 10-13 minutes. I would like to see something similar on DT13.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: took_the_time11 on January 11, 2015, 04:43:43 PM
I say new concept album. That would be awesome. I'm sure we'll hear some seaboard action. Since DT has had a fresh start with a Mangini, I'm sure they have something big in the works.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: yeah_93 on January 11, 2015, 09:08:32 PM
I hope they do something bold.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: Lucien on January 11, 2015, 10:28:46 PM
I would love if at least part of a song is like IT's Easter Egg. Or even better, an entire song like that. It would make a nice break between some of the presumably longer, proggier tracks.

This, 100%
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: The Presence of Frenemies on January 12, 2015, 01:24:12 AM
Agreed that (long) ambient breaks in epics should be eschewed. Of course, just because DT is 0-for-2 (or maybe .5-for-2 if I give some credit for the transition out of the TCOT section) on them doesn't mean it's impossible to make it work, but even if DT did come up with a good one, the fact that their last two 17+ minute songs had the ambient section would render it a bit of a stale move.

Incidentally, for those who, like me, enjoy all of IT except the ambient bits, try going into Audacity, crop all the ambient noise/orchestra out, and just crossfade the fadeout into the noise with the whooshing sound that leads to the Myung/Mangini riff. I was very pleasantly surprised by how non-jarring it sounded, and it really made it a much better song for me. Might not work for everyone but worth a shot.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: YtseJamittaja on January 12, 2015, 01:58:26 AM
I would love if at least part of a song is like IT's Easter Egg. Or even better, an entire song like that. It would make a nice break between some of the presumably longer, proggier tracks.

This, 100%

Hmm, that could work. Like Through My Words or even Vacant or Far From Heaven but instrumental. That could be the skip track from the album in the future but if it was concept album, that could be nice breath of fresh air between proggier and heavier tracks.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: hefdaddy42 on January 12, 2015, 06:08:45 AM
They need another song in that 14-17 minute range; shorter than a side-length epic typically is, but longer than their usual long-songs of 10-14 minutes (of which they have a TON).
No, they don't NEED another song like that.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: ariich on January 12, 2015, 06:39:24 AM
If they *must* do an epic - please don't do the "stop for 5 minutes in the middle and have an ambient section" again.

Yeah, please none of this. I read a description of the songs from DT12 before the album was released, and when I got to IT I actually thought the writer had confused it with TCoT, since it apparently had the exact same structure. Twice is one too many in this case. Or maybe even two too many, since I like neither of them.
I can't be the only one who finds the two songs completely different structurally?

TCOT I see as basically being two parts. The first part covers everything up to the ambient section - it builds up and is energetic, lots of classic prog goodness. It then slows down and the whole second part is more chilled and slow. Sure it builds up again, but it never gets heavy again. It's all very smooth.

Whereas IT is very different. It jumps around a lot, and the transitions in and out of the ambient section are more sudden (which I have no problem with, by the way). It's a heavy song with an ambient section in the middle.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: TheOutlawXanadu on January 12, 2015, 06:42:58 AM
To me, the only thing Dream Theater needs to do is write good songs. Some of these requests are oddly specific, like "they need a song no shorter than 14 minutes but no longer than 17 minutes". :lol
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: ariich on January 12, 2015, 07:48:13 AM
To me, the only thing Dream Theater needs to do is write good songs. Some of these requests are oddly specific, like "they need a song no shorter than 14 minutes but no longer than 17 minutes". :lol
Jeez, you're just so unseasoned.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: RoeDent on January 12, 2015, 07:57:03 AM
To me, the only thing Dream Theater needs to do is write good songs. Some of these requests are oddly specific, like "they need a song no shorter than 14 minutes but no longer than 17 minutes". :lol

We're not requesting anything of them. We're just speculating. They could do absolutely anything. They could make an album of 3-minute pop songs. They could make a reggae album, for all we know.

This is not "I won't buy the album unless it has a 14-17 minute song on it, in three parts, without an ambient section."

Analyzing and speculating is what we do round here. It kills time before the details are revealed.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: rumborak on January 12, 2015, 08:03:08 AM
I'm with Xanadu though. These minute markers have become a quality indicator to quite a few people it seems.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: RoeDent on January 12, 2015, 08:36:00 AM
That's because DT (and all prog bands, in fact) have such a good track record with the long-form songs. It's what distinguishes prog from mainstream pop. Prog is a feature-length film to pop's TV show. If an album has an epic on it, it's always the most discussed, and in many cases the most liked song on the album. And before its release, it's more often than not the most anticipated song on the album.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: ariich on January 12, 2015, 08:49:24 AM
Yeah in defense of people asking for longer songs, other people ask for shorter songs.

I personally couldn't care less about song lengths, as long as they're appropriate to each song. Sometimes DT drags songs on too long unnecessarily. Sometimes they try too hard to keep songs short and they end too abruptly.

Prog is a feature-length film to pop's TV show.
I would have said it's the other way round, surely? A film generally tells a self-contained story in a couple of hours and it's done. In a TV show the story lasts for hours and hours, with much slower plot and character development.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: rumborak on January 12, 2015, 09:17:53 AM
I would actually say the ratio of "good vs not-so-good" is the same in DT's epics as it is in their shorter songs. I think it's just that, in a shorter song, a weak section constitutes 50% of the song. In an epic, that weak section will pass quickly and be replaced by a different section. So, I think epics get away better because they are less likely to be "destroyed" by a weak section like a short song is.
And I think it's partly due to the way they write in the studio. Most bands/artists write more songs than usually end up on an album, and they weed out the weak ones. To my understanding, ever since SFAM I think, there are no "dropped songs" anymore. A musical idea is either axed the moment it comes up, or it will survive, for better or for worse. They make a song out of it, close the song, and move on to the next thing until the CD time limit is reached.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: TheOutlawXanadu on January 12, 2015, 09:43:46 AM
We're not requesting anything of them. We're just speculating. They could do absolutely anything. They could make an album of 3-minute pop songs. They could make a reggae album, for all we know.

This is not "I won't buy the album unless it has a 14-17 minute song on it, in three parts, without an ambient section."

Analyzing and speculating is what we do round here. It kills time before the details are revealed.

You see the humor in it though, don't you? I'm loving the anticipation and passion surrounding their next album. It's great. Sometimes the excitement leads to funny comments though, and I'm as guilty of it as anyone. One time I think I said it would be cool if DT did an album with all acoustic guitars. :lol
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: rumborak on January 12, 2015, 09:53:49 AM
I demand a free pancake with the new album. Otherwise it's a no-buy.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: BlobVanDam on January 12, 2015, 09:56:05 AM
I demand a free pancake with the new album. Otherwise it's a no-buy.

Now that would be a unique digipak design; CD slotted into one side, pancake slotted into the other.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: King Postwhore on January 12, 2015, 10:16:05 AM
Buttermilk or Blueberry?

I don't know.

Jettison Rumborak in the air.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: rumborak on January 12, 2015, 11:06:12 AM
I demand a free pancake with the new album. Otherwise it's a no-buy.

Now that would be a unique digipak design; CD slotted into one side, pancake slotted into the other.

It would be hard to do batter.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: Lucien on January 12, 2015, 11:32:11 AM
That's because DT (and all prog bands, in fact) have such a good track record with the long-form songs. It's what distinguishes prog from mainstream pop. Prog is a feature-length film to pop's TV show. If an album has an epic on it, it's always the most discussed, and in many cases the most liked song on the album. And before its release, it's more often than not the most anticipated song on the album.

I'm going to have to disagree with you on that generalization. Take Rush, for instance. Sure, you've got their first 8 years or so, up to 1982, which has quite a few epics and long songs. But once you get to Signals, there are no more long songs, but it is still very much "prog" with time signature changes and different musical styles. They didn't have a song over 7 minutes again until Clockwork Angels in 2012. That's 30 years of short songs that are still VERY progressive.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: Sycsa on January 12, 2015, 12:05:49 PM
I would love if at least part of a song is like IT's Easter Egg. Or even better, an entire song like that. It would make a nice break between some of the presumably longer, proggier tracks.
They should start a new meta-album by starting DT13 where DT12 left off. :biggrin:

That's because DT (and all prog bands, in fact) have such a good track record with the long-form songs. It's what distinguishes prog from mainstream pop. Prog is a feature-length film to pop's TV show. If an album has an epic on it, it's always the most discussed, and in many cases the most liked song on the album. And before its release, it's more often than not the most anticipated song on the album.

I'm going to have to disagree with you on that generalization. Take Rush, for instance. Sure, you've got their first 8 years or so, up to 1982, which has quite a few epics and long songs. But once you get to Signals, there are no more long songs, but it is still very much "prog" with time signature changes and different musical styles. They didn't have a song over 7 minutes again until Clockwork Angels in 2012. That's 30 years of short songs that are still VERY progressive.
Gentle Giant is an ever better example to illustrate the exception, as arguably they played the most technical, versatile, off-the-wall prog in the '70s without having a single song that reached the 10(!) minute mark. But otherwise many classic prog albums are indeed centered around and carried by the epic (Tarkus, Close to the Edge, Foxtrot, Meddle, 2112, Thick as a Brick - the whole album is one song), hence this meme:
(https://cdn.meme.am/instances/500x/38268701.jpg)
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: 1neeto on January 12, 2015, 06:23:21 PM
An outside producer that way JP can concentrate just on the
awesome riffs that will make this the ultimate DT album  :tup   ;D

Or to simply tell them when something doesn't sound good. like the horrible over compressing of DT12. I still can't get over how bad MM's snare sounds. Which is a shame because it does sound great live!
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: hefdaddy42 on January 13, 2015, 07:52:48 AM
To me, the only thing Dream Theater needs to do is write good songs. Some of these requests are oddly specific, like "they need a song no shorter than 14 minutes but no longer than 17 minutes". :lol
Jeez, you're just so unseasoned.
lol
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: TheOutlawXanadu on January 13, 2015, 08:08:03 AM
To me, the only thing Dream Theater needs to do is write good songs. Some of these requests are oddly specific, like "they need a song no shorter than 14 minutes but no longer than 17 minutes". :lol
Jeez, you're just so unseasoned.
lol
:TOX:
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: hefdaddy42 on January 13, 2015, 08:24:35 AM
:clap:
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: The Letter M on January 13, 2015, 08:55:54 AM
If they release a song that is between 14 and 17 minutes on the next album and you all love, you all have to thank me. Because I called it in this thread! :tup

Now, if they write a song between 14-17 minutes and it sucks...don't blame me.

-Marc.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: JediKnight1969 on January 13, 2015, 09:26:17 AM
I want Bob Ezrin as a producer to tell them: "let me handle this. You guys, go crazy."
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: Cool Chris on January 13, 2015, 02:05:12 PM
I predict (mostly valid) complaints about the album artwork.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: The Presence of Frenemies on January 14, 2015, 12:41:45 PM
When it comes to the longer tracks, if there are some (odds are there will be), I'm hoping that we don't get much of this:

(long intro->verse 1->chorus 1->break->verse 2->chorus 2->bridge->EXTREMELY LONG INSTRUMENTAL SECTION->verse 3->chorus 3->outro)

Not that DT has never written a good song in this style (they have), but it seems to me that a large portion of their JR-era epics do something like this (BTL, Home, ES, TMOLS, ITNOG to an extent, and most of the ADTOE ones). To me, this format a) has already been done so much that it's a bit stale, b) isn't as creative/inventive as something that, say, has four or five verses, two different types of choruses, and a number of shorter and varied instrumental sections, and c) the instrumental sections tend to wander so much that they often really take away from the songwriting (see: Outcry). Having one of these songs would be fine, but I'd love to see something structured more like The Killing Hand or The Best of Times (whatever you think of those songs--I happen to love both--they're fairly unique structurally among DT tracks, especially TKH). As TKH proves, this also would allow the band to sound very proggy without taking up 15+ minutes (not that I'm opposed to them doing so).
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: TAC on January 14, 2015, 01:37:37 PM
, but I'd love to see something structured more like The Killing Hand or The Best of Times (whatever you think of those songs--I happen to love both--they're fairly unique structurally among DT tracks, especially TKH). As TKH proves, this also would allow the band to sound very proggy without taking up 15+ minutes (not that I'm opposed to them doing so).
GREAT tunes!!
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: hefdaddy42 on January 14, 2015, 02:01:53 PM
Mediocre tunes at best, but interesting structures, for sure.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: Mosh on January 14, 2015, 10:04:00 PM
I'd like them to approach long songs the way they did on Six Degrees. Those songs were progressive in every sense of the word, the forms seemed very free flowing and there's no predictability on where the songs are going. A lot of their long tracks since then have been very predictable.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: TheGreatPretender on January 14, 2015, 10:05:50 PM
So, as I mentioned in the Day in the Life Of JLB thread, he said, "I know what album we're recording, I just can't say." So there seems to be some preconceived idea about what they are going to write. Not sure whether it's in terms of the subject matter, or music, but it seems like there is going to be a particular direction to this one, and they already know what it is.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: rumborak on January 14, 2015, 10:29:16 PM
That's not really different from DT12, is it? Say what you will about the sound, but it was clearly a choiced one.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: TheGreatPretender on January 14, 2015, 10:35:10 PM
That's not really different from DT12, is it? Say what you will about the sound, but it was clearly a choiced one.

Yeah, but we don't know whether that was decided in the studio, or beforehand. Just saying, it's a month before they go into the studio, and it seems like they have a good idea of what will be happening. Which makes me excited!
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: nikatapi on January 15, 2015, 08:34:53 AM
Let's see what happens. I hope JP realises that he doesn't need to be louder than everyone, and go for a better mix this time.
Also, when i talked with MM for the interview i posted, he seemed to have a different attitude, really feeling that he has established himself in the band, and getting ready to really go for it this time (not that he didn't for DT12).

Also, i hope the chemistry between MM and JM is being utilized, we got a glimpse of it on DT12, but i'm sure it can go even further.

Another wish of mine is that they use the extended intro jam they did on TOT, it was awesome. Mike didn't seem to have an idea if it's going to be on the next album or not, but he appreciated it a lot when i mentioned how good feedback it got online.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: rumborak on January 15, 2015, 09:27:42 AM
That's not really different from DT12, is it? Say what you will about the sound, but it was clearly a choiced one.

Yeah, but we don't know whether that was decided in the studio, or beforehand. Just saying, it's a month before they go into the studio, and it seems like they have a good idea of what will be happening. Which makes me excited!

I thought MM's interview pretty much indicated that, I.e. that even during the writing sessions they went for a similar sound, which forced him to make concessions.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: BlackInk on January 15, 2015, 02:18:05 PM
Mediocre tunes at best, but interesting structures, for sure.

I agree.

If they mixed up the structures a bit more, I feel like I'll at least want to give the track more of a shot.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: LCArenas on January 15, 2015, 08:18:12 PM
Concept album with both JLB and JM lyrics.


And one song that is more than 5 minutes long but doesn't have a JP guitar solo.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: LCArenas on January 15, 2015, 08:25:08 PM
They could make a reggae album, for all we know.
A single cover of "Baby I love your Way" with JLB trying to sound Jamaican, only accompanied by Jay Beckenstein and JR with a 90's synthesizer originally made for kids.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: rumborak on January 15, 2015, 08:34:37 PM
My prediction is that they will stick to their core sound, and have a few things here and there that are different. It will have an epic, a softer song and a few mid-tempo heavy songs.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: 1neeto on January 15, 2015, 09:11:34 PM
Let's see what happens. I hope JP realises that he doesn't need to be louder than everyone, and go for a better mix this time.
Also, when i talked with MM for the interview i posted, he seemed to have a different attitude, really feeling that he has established himself in the band, and getting ready to really go for it this time (not that he didn't for DT12).

Also, i hope the chemistry between MM and JM is being utilized, we got a glimpse of it on DT12, but i'm sure it can go even further.

Another wish of mine is that they use the extended intro jam they did on TOT, it was awesome. Mike didn't seem to have an idea if it's going to be on the next album or not, but he appreciated it a lot when i mentioned how good feedback it got online.

DT12's mix was great. One of the very few albums I could actually hear Myung. The problem with that album was the mastering.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: Calvin6s on January 15, 2015, 09:30:12 PM
Petrucci will take a less dominating role.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: emtee on January 16, 2015, 07:10:16 AM
I know some people will think it akin to jumping the shark if DT decides to do another double concept album but I'm not one of them.
I think it provides a kind of detailed focus that brings out the best in DT. So I hope that is what they do. Experimental in the sense
that they follow no preconcieved approach but follow a story line.

I suspect JP will not relenquish the producers throne so I can only hope that he changes his approach on sonic quality...especially
with regard to one of the best drummers in the world. Please let me hear him clearly with a full bodied cracking snare and
toms that are seperated and punchy in tone and a high end that enables me to hear all the little things he is doing with his
cymbals and hats.
Title: Re: New album 2015 predictions
Post by: JediKnight1969 on January 16, 2015, 09:20:28 AM
I suspect JP will not relenquish the producers throne so I can only hope that he changes his approach on sonic quality...especially
with regard to one of the best drummers in the world. Please let me hear him clearly with a full bodied cracking snare and
toms that are seperated and punchy in tone and a high end that enables me to hear all the little things he is doing with his
cymbals and hats.
[/quote]

Fuckin' THIS.