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Dream Theater => Dream Theater => Topic started by: The Letter M on February 28, 2019, 10:57:11 PM

Title: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: The Letter M on February 28, 2019, 10:57:11 PM
Since I just recently updated my pinned Index Of Albums & Songs thread and added some entries for d/t, I realized there wasn't a dedicated thread for PBD yet, so I decided to start it here!

I've been enjoying this song since day one, and there's a LOT to love about it. The atmospheric opening complete with radio chatter really sets the mood for the idea of the song. Then we get that blistering riff in 19/16, with some tasty druMMing and a crunchy guitar riff from JP. The whole intro sounds like it could've been a LOT long if this were a 15-minute epic, but it's cut down quite nicely and flows well.

The verse and chorus area pretty strong, too, especially the last line of the chorus, which really makes us ponder our place in the universe, if we are truly alone, are we then doomed to our own failures? Then we move into the bridge and instrumental break, which is probably some of the best on the album! They dive back into the 19/16 riff before going into a 5/4 in triplets, which transforms into 3 groups of triplets as quintuplets in 3 (gotta love metric modulation), a trick they used before in the middle of "In The Name Of God". Then we get the jarring, but awesome climbing riff that then has a weird slow-down riff followed by it, with Mangini doing some fills around the tempo and time, very spacey stuff! The rest of the instrumental break continues with another fast climbing riff before heading back into familiar grooves before the final chorus!

Ahhh what a song, the closing epic this album deserves, especially with that closing guitar solo! Those near eight-and-a-half minutes are something special, and I'm sure it'll be a real treat if/when it's played live! I hope this one becomes a concert staple, and that we get one good live release of it!

So, who else wants to gush about this song? :metal

-Marc.
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on February 28, 2019, 11:06:16 PM
Pale Blue Dot is probably my favorite song on Distance! Mangini's playing is out of this world. I think the lyrics are very interesting, too.
I love The Astonishing, but 1 or 2 songs of PBD's caliber could have made that album even more awesome ;)
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on February 28, 2019, 11:18:27 PM


 Then we get the jarring, but awesome climbing riff that then has a weird slow-down riff followed by it






If that weird slow down riff is the one I'm thinking of, that's one of the most bad-ass moments on the record. It only goes one measure then they go back into a chaotic section immediately and that dark heavy riff is gone forever. I was hoping to hear at least one or two more times.
 PBD is just what we needed from Dream Theater,  probably will end up being my favorite track in the long run and a top tier DT song!   :metal
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: Lax on February 28, 2019, 11:26:40 PM
I love PBD, but it's as complicated to explain all the reasons why than to play it :D

-Mostly it's dance of eternity quality to me
-The Space + sinister ambiance is great, they didn't go half way
-The solo section is the kind of prog pandemonium I like
-The "god creators" chorus is epic and gloriously grim

I can understand the "too short" vibe, but perhaps diluting in over 20 minutes would have been "tiring" or adding a movement to the song that feels unrelated etc...
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: illusionist on March 01, 2019, 01:20:40 AM
The song is technical and played on a 7 string,which i like both.Some great riffs as well.
But i can't 'get' it (yet..??)
It seems to me that it's one dimensional.It lacks dynamics,which i clearly don't like.
And it's the only song on DoT which falls under this category.
Plus,on my first listens it sounded like some parts were put together with some other parts,without these parts mix well.
But i think i am over this by now.
Maybe live it will sound better to my ears or more cohesive.
I am glad for those who already like it,it's just that i expected/wanted something a tad more emotional for the closer.
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: erciccio on March 01, 2019, 02:23:26 AM
Masterpiece.

It took me a long time to digest it, and the initial reaction was "meeeeehhhh"

The intro is super amazing. A 19/16 riff with incredible dynamics and groove.
Mangin's drumming is phenomenal throughout the song
The melodies are very sinister but once you get used to them they are just beautiful
The instrumental section just feels like a trip on a spaceship going adrift...

And THERE IS a structure...there are basically 4 themes/ riffs throughout  the song that reappear, and they are actually well connected. It just takes a while to get it.

Super thumbs up!

v :tup :tup :tup
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: oceanic156 on March 01, 2019, 03:03:54 AM
Pale Blue Dot is incredible; my favorite on the album, narrowly ahead of At Wit's End.

Very heavy yet very dynamic and fresh in its presentation. Instead of being built around a 'riff' like Room 137, the rhythm section takes hold early on and drives the evolution of the track (which is quite complex, yet never loses its intensity). It feels like a powerful, lean DT epic that's been stripped of all repetition and superfluous writing.

Drum-wise, I think this is Mangini's best composition ever with the band. So many creative ideas played so well. It easily stacks up with the best drum work of the band's career.

Love the imagery of the song too.
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: erwinrafael on March 01, 2019, 03:13:12 AM
If you watch how Pale Blue Dot's drums is played, you would notice that a lot of the drumming in the instrumental are elements of Mangini's drum solos in concerts.
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: erciccio on March 01, 2019, 03:31:11 AM
If you watch how Pale Blue Dot's drums is played, you would notice that a lot of the drumming in the instrumental are elements of Mangini's drum solos in concerts.

Yeah, correct. I was watching a "fake"* drum cover and I noticed that...
There is also another nice example of "double snare roll"..:)

* The guy actually mimicked the song almost perfectly, but his mics were clearly off and used the original drum track...a couple of misses revealed the cheat
Pity, because he can clearly play it but probably was not happy still with his dynamics, but rushed to be the 1st on the web..:)
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: wolfking on March 01, 2019, 04:50:33 AM
This song is the biggest grower of the album.  It's a weird one in relation to structure and melodies but it works.

I don't get why they didn't make James redo the word 'worship' in the first chorus.  Did everyone miss his voice waver?
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: krands85 on March 01, 2019, 05:29:22 AM
My favourite song on the album thus far and unlike a lot of others, I liked it from the start, whereas a lot of the other tracks have had to grow on me. I guess there's just a lot of what I love about the band in there, more than any of the other tracks. I also really like what Jordan's doing in this one and the sounds he's using, especially after the rest of the album where he isn't quite as prominent.

Would have been nice if it was longer (though I could say that for lots of DT songs  :lol ), though that doesn't necessarily mean it should have been a 15 or 20 minute+ song. Even just a couple more minutes would have been great, but it works very well as it is.
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on March 01, 2019, 06:52:37 AM
It has been said before here, but I just wanted to add that that "mini drum solo" with the slow down-part is one of my favorite parts of the album as well. The way how MM just introduces a new metrum/tempo for like 2-3 seconds and then immediately went back to the original tempo is just amazing. When I heard that for the first time, I was all "oh man I REALLY want to know where he's going with this!".
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: Progmetty on March 01, 2019, 07:06:52 AM
Great song.
With consequent listens I got to see what everybody's saying about similarities to The Dance of Eternity.
The only flaw I see in Pale Blue Dot is an annoying one; the transition between the piece at 6:05 to the one at 6:06. I think it's reminiscent of the transition in The Dance of Eternity between 3:34 to 3:35, only the transition in Pale Blue Dot fails horribly, it needed minor tweaking to be as amazing as The Dance of Eternity one, which I consider to be one of their best transitions ever.
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: Lonk on March 01, 2019, 07:23:20 AM
2nd favorite from the album, and possibly top 20 overall in terms of DT discography (That might change).

To be honest, it's not at all what I expected the song to be. When i saw the title "Pale Blue Dot" I got very excited because of Carl Sagan. Then I heard people talking about it. I got a chance to talk to Petrucci during NAMM and he told me it was his favorite from the album. Because of all this I was expecting something heavy, but not as technical.

But then I listened to the song and it was different, but in an awesome way. It takes a dark vibe from Carl Sagan's Pale Blue Dot and turns it into an awesome, powerful, riff driven masterpiece. I understand why some here don't like it but it sure is a great song.

Favorite part is at 1:46, that riff feels so powerful  :metal
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: mikeyd23 on March 01, 2019, 08:26:19 AM
This song is the biggest grower of the album.  It's a weird one in relation to structure and melodies but it works.

That's how I feel about this one too. Definitely a grower for me, and I really like it now.
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: Destiny Of Chaos on March 01, 2019, 08:41:17 AM
This song is one of their greatest. It's that good.
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: erwinrafael on March 01, 2019, 08:47:03 AM
It has been said before here, but I just wanted to add that that "mini drum solo" with the slow down-part is one of my favorite parts of the album as well. The way how MM just introduces a new metrum/tempo for like 2-3 seconds and then immediately went back to the original tempo is just amazing. When I heard that for the first time, I was all "oh man I REALLY want to know where he's going with this!".

Yup, that's the highlight of the song for me. It has this raw energy, some sort of improvisational feel that I really did not expect in a highly technical song..
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: the_silent_man on March 01, 2019, 09:20:12 AM
Love the song. It's epic, heavy, technical as hell. The chorus has one of the darkest/most evil vibes they've had in years.

However...
The one thing I feel about this song (and to a lesser extent At Wits End) is that they feel almost incomplete. This in particular is so awesome but I feel it had much more to give - which with another 2-3 minutes could be achieved. After the crazy instrumental section is complete, we're straight back into the last chorus and only 2 mins left. I would have liked maybe 1 more verse then a chorus reprise before the solo.
Maybe I'm just being greedy. To me this song is screaming to be 10-12mins.

Ironically, I was initially concerned about the all track lengths being short, but it works perfectly in almost every song EXCEPT the 2 'epics' for me. I think the short songs on the disk are a perfect length, and do a better job than DT12's similarly length songs in being more ballsy, inspired and packing more classic DT into their lengths.
The 2 longer songs seem *slightly* underdeveloped to me, as if their potential has been cut short by aiming for shorter songs.

This is a minor gripe for me, however. I probably am just being greedy as I do love both PBD and AWE.
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: DoctorAction on March 01, 2019, 10:13:48 AM
I love it. It's taken me a week to get there but it might be my favourite on the album.
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: Bertielee on March 01, 2019, 11:06:37 AM
I love it. It's taken me a week to get there but ...

...AWE is still my favorite. Anyways, PBD is a fantastic song as well.


B.Lee
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on March 01, 2019, 11:38:20 AM
Great song.
With consequent listens I got to see what everybody's saying about similarities to The Dance of Eternity.
The only flaw I see in Pale Blue Dot is an annoying one; the transition between the piece at 6:05 to the one at 6:06. I think it's reminiscent of the transition in The Dance of Eternity between 3:34 to 3:35, only the transition in Pale Blue Dot fails horribly, it needed minor tweaking to be as amazing as The Dance of Eternity one, which I consider to be one of their best transitions ever.

Interesting. That (or the few seconds before that) is exactly the part I was talking about. And I called it the best part of the song  :lol
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: Dreamer on March 01, 2019, 11:55:30 AM
It took me a while too but now I think this is a great track.
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: RAIN on March 01, 2019, 12:35:35 PM
I love the Star Wars Imperial March riff at 2:03.....that sells it totally for me.
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: Dave_Manchester on March 01, 2019, 02:54:19 PM
Favourite song on the album. I wasn't keen on it for the first few listens (largely because it was so different to what I was expecting; if anything I expected this song would be what Barstool Warrior sounds like). But there's so much in here and it's the song I keep coming back to. Like a lot of people have said, I initially wished it had been a couple of minutes longer. Now I don't. Its 'compactness' is a large part of its brilliance. When it's over I want to play it again, in fact I usually end up spinning this tune 3 or 4 times in a row (as I'm doing now as I write this).
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: Progmetty on March 01, 2019, 06:19:22 PM
Great song.
With consequent listens I got to see what everybody's saying about similarities to The Dance of Eternity.
The only flaw I see in Pale Blue Dot is an annoying one; the transition between the piece at 6:05 to the one at 6:06. I think it's reminiscent of the transition in The Dance of Eternity between 3:34 to 3:35, only the transition in Pale Blue Dot fails horribly, it needed minor tweaking to be as amazing as The Dance of Eternity one, which I consider to be one of their best transitions ever.

Interesting. That (or the few seconds before that) is exactly the part I was talking about. And I called it the best part of the song  :lol

Haha naah don't get me wrong, the part you're talking about and the one after that are both awesome, it's the bad/lack of transition that bugs me.
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: Logain Ablar on March 03, 2019, 11:58:19 AM
I really like it, but for sure it’s been the track that’s taken me longest to appreciate.

Perhaps it was my expectation of what an album closing epic should be, but at first listen, I found the sinister vibe a little off putting. I was expecting something that presented the wonder of space travel, the size of the universe and all that. Instead, it’s more of a stark reminder of how insignificant we are, and how it’s up to us to sort out our own squabbles etc.

Once I got my head around the theme, it helped to appreciate the song a lot better.  The music is great. I love the intro, with the samples and synth, then the thundering drums and guitar.

It feels to me like a condensed mini-epic. It’s like DT took their usual formula for an album closing epic and turned it in its head.
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: Stewie on March 03, 2019, 05:07:54 PM
It’s terrible. Absolute garbage. None of the transitions make sense, at all. None of it flows. It all feels very forced. Technical for technical sake, and shitty songwriting. One of the worst songs they’ve ever released. It’s embarrasing.
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: Learning2Live on March 03, 2019, 06:44:27 PM
This one hasn't hit with me yet. I think it's one of the weakest album closers in their catalog of the longer/epic closers (this and In the Presence of Enemies 2 are probably at the bottom of my closers list). Not to say it's a bad song. But just not one that has wow'd me to this point.
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: lovethedrake on March 03, 2019, 06:50:00 PM
I love it now... at first I thought and even said on this board “what were they thinking” but it’s really clicked for me. 

The whole mood of the song is very cool and the space vibe is well done.  The instrumental section feels like spiraling out of control in space, I love it now.  The only thing I don’t love in the song is the chorus as it reminds me of systematic chaos too much but outside of that it’s awesome.
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: Ben_Jamin on March 03, 2019, 07:29:27 PM
This one hasn't hit with me yet. I think it's one of the weakest album closers in their catalog of the longer/epic closers (this and In the Presence of Enemies 2 are probably at the bottom of my closers list). Not to say it's a bad song. But just not one that has wow'd me to this point.

Its likely since 8vm (might even be 6DOIT) we've been given 20-min epics as the last on the albums. This is the first album since Scenes where we haven't had an album closer over 10 min.

It's almost a shock to us DT fans...
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: TAC on March 03, 2019, 07:32:51 PM
I just think that we've heard that "epic outro" solo from JP a million times. 8V, ITPOE, IT...

There's just no climax. They should've called it Pale Blue Balls.
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: bl5150 on March 03, 2019, 08:12:18 PM
 :lol
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: bill1971 on March 03, 2019, 08:58:41 PM
It’s terrible. Absolute garbage. None of the transitions make sense, at all. None of it flows. It all feels very forced. Technical for technical sake, and shitty songwriting. One of the worst songs they’ve ever released. It’s embarrasing.

Plus I feel like I'm listening to a Disney movie soundtrack. :)
Seriously though I can see not liking it but embarrassing?? I don't think any group of musicians that can come up with that song should be embarrassed.
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: bill1971 on March 03, 2019, 09:03:20 PM
Pale Blue Dot is incredible; my favorite on the album, narrowly ahead of At Wit's End.

Very heavy yet very dynamic and fresh in its presentation. Instead of being built around a 'riff' like Room 137, the rhythm section takes hold early on and drives the evolution of the track (which is quite complex, yet never loses its intensity). It feels like a powerful, lean DT epic that's been stripped of all repetition and superfluous writing.

Drum-wise, I think this is Mangini's best composition ever with the band. So many creative ideas played so well. It easily stacks up with the best drum work of the band's career.

Love the imagery of the song too.

Well said. It's such a fantastic mix of heavy and complex. I'd say the best drumming on any DT song. Plus I love Labrie's singing. So sinister. Really the perfect song.
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 03, 2019, 09:08:05 PM
I like this song, but I can't say I love it.  I agree with the sentiment that it feels a bit undercooked, almost like it is missing a verse or something.  As is, like I said, I like it, but it is definitely a song that leaves you with a bit of musical blue balls.
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on March 03, 2019, 09:16:01 PM
but it is definitely a song that leaves you with a bit of musical blue balls.
That would be pale blue balls to you!  :biggrin:
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: erwinrafael on March 03, 2019, 10:03:23 PM
I just think that we've heard that "epic outro" solo from JP a million times. 8V, ITPOE, IT...

There's just no climax. They should've called it Pale Blue Balls.

The outro for PBD works for the song. It does give one a feeling of floating in the vastness of space, which is why I think the approach i different compared to 8VM.

But as the climax to close the album, that is where it fell short.

It’s terrible. Absolute garbage. None of the transitions make sense, at all. None of it flows. It all feels very forced. Technical for technical sake, and shitty songwriting. One of the worst songs they’ve ever released. It’s embarrasing.

How people could say such disrespect to artists who work hard on their craft is the one that is embarrassing. Dislike it all you want, but don't expect anybody to respect your opinions if what comes out of your mouth is garbage,
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on March 03, 2019, 10:20:18 PM
I love the technical meets darkness meets beauty in this song!  I like to crank it very loud for this track and might end up blowing up my speakers..TOTALLY worth it!!!  :metal
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: DragonAttack on March 03, 2019, 10:31:16 PM

Its likely since 8vm (might even be 6DOIT) we've been given 20-min epics as the last on the albums. This is the first album since Scenes where we haven't had an album closer over 10 min.

It's almost a shock to us DT fans...

'Beneath The Surface' wants to have a word with you ;)

I think PBD's problem as an album closer is that AWE exists, otherwise there might not be quite the criticism in some ways.
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: Lax on March 03, 2019, 11:29:02 PM
I think PBD's problem as an album closer is that AWE exists, otherwise there might not be quite the criticism in some ways.
I agree partly on this one.

On the other hand, I personnally usually don't care if the last song of an album is a closer or not, except on concept albums like SFAM or SDOIT.

PBD reminds me of TDOE in a grim and stressed version, with singing, so I love it.

But I'm still working on my rearranged track list order, I would have put PBD first and AWE last, but maybe that would have been taking a risk ?
It's not because singles were released that they needed to be first !
Plus the opener has angel+clean guitar arpeggio etc...That's a déjà vu :p
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: ThatOneGuy2112 on March 04, 2019, 12:16:58 AM
That is one of my criticisms of the new album in general: speaking in terms of a cohesive album experience, it doesn't really have the best and most logical flow from track to track to track. Most notable example of this being PBD serving as a weaker album closer than AWE would have been.
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: erwinrafael on March 04, 2019, 12:20:41 AM
That being said, after experimenting with rearranging the tracks, AWE's outro makes it a good closer, but it's intro is preventing it from having an album closer feel. Too...frantic?
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: lovethedrake on March 04, 2019, 01:09:00 AM
I actually love the PBD/viper king close of the album.   Reminds me of game of thrones/Silicon Valley.

PBD leaves you feeling intense and eerie... and then viper king saves the day and leaves you feeling good and happy.

I know vk is not on the album, but I’ll probably always treat it as if it were.
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: MirrorMask on March 04, 2019, 01:57:10 AM
I actually love the PBD/viper king close of the album.   Reminds me of game of thrones/Silicon Valley.

PBD leaves you feeling intense and eerie... and then viper king saves the day and leaves you feeling good and happy.

The contrast you described and mention of Game of Thrones made me remind of the end of the third episode (or was it the second?) of the third season, when, spoiler, Jaimie Lannister gets his hand chopped off, the screen fades to black and as credits song starts a punk version of The Bear and the Maiden Fair. Such a brilliant WTF moment  :lol
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: jayvee3 on March 04, 2019, 04:28:41 AM
Big fan of PBD. Great song, very DOE with vocals and some great vocals and crunching bass/drum sections. I mentioned somewhere previously, but I think all it needed to wrap up a touch, was just a short reoccurrence of the "space" samples that began the song. Would've just given it that slightly more grandiose space related adventure and tied everything together. But that's only my thought, other than that, I love it and can't fault it  :tup
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: CDrice on March 04, 2019, 09:17:40 AM
It's one of my favorite of the album. While I guess most people would look at the musicianship in this song with all the crazy things going on especially during the instrumental section, I'd like to applaud James performance on this song. I think it's one of the song where he sounds the best (probably because he mostly stay in a safe range) and his delivery is awesome.
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: the_silent_man on March 04, 2019, 05:04:53 PM
Completely agree with people saying musical blue balls. I love the song, but it's been bugging me that somethings missing... Today relistening, I came to the conclusion it lacks a proper ending.
It's like: crazy instrumental section > boom straight back into chorus > boom outro solo already
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: TAC on March 04, 2019, 07:21:18 PM
Completely agree with people saying musical blue balls. I love the song, but it's been bugging me that somethings missing... Today relistening, I came to the conclusion it lacks a proper ending.
It's like: crazy instrumental section > boom straight back into chorus > boom outro solo already

Right, and it feels like it's the same old solo again.
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: rumborak on March 04, 2019, 08:33:06 PM
That is one of my criticisms of the new album in general: speaking in terms of a cohesive album experience, it doesn't really have the best and most logical flow from track to track to track. Most notable example of this being PBD serving as a weaker album closer than AWE would have been.

Yeah, I felt the same about the ordering. Because (for me) Out of Reach, PBD and Viper King are in the lower half of my ranking, I feel the album starts to wind down once AWE is done.
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on March 05, 2019, 05:24:39 AM
As much as I like AWE,  I'll take PBD, BW, S2N, and FITL over it.  This does not diminish how good of a song AWE is, it just goes to show how good this album really is.

To me, PBD is one of the most unique songs DT has ever written. It captures the essence of the whole chaotic yet organised outer space feel, and the darkness of the song drives the point home of who will save us from ourselves.  The riffing just slays on every instrument and JP's outro solo is brilliant in the way it feels like we're just a spec of dust drifting in this huge universe.   :metal
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: RAIN on March 08, 2019, 02:16:51 PM
That is one of my criticisms of the new album in general: speaking in terms of a cohesive album experience, it doesn't really have the best and most logical flow from track to track to track. Most notable example of this being PBD serving as a weaker album closer than AWE would have been.

Yeah, I felt the same about the ordering. Because (for me) Out of Reach, PBD and Viper King are in the lower half of my ranking, I feel the album starts to wind down once AWE is done.

I'm in agreement with you both, hence why I posted in the main DOT thread my reconfigured track list, and this makes it much better to my preferences.

I really found that changing the track order (I'm an old schooled album order based listener) a small bit helped me tremendously with the pacing.  Thank goodness for having that ability in the last 15 years.  So this is how I listen to the album.  It just works better for me.  Get rid of Out of Reach, and put the 2 small epics together.  The outro for At Wits End is much much better placed as an album closer.

1   "Untethered Angel"
2   "Paralyzed"
3   "Fall into the Light"
4   "Barstool Warrior"
5   "Room 137"
6   "S2N"
7   "Viper King"
8   "Pale Blue Dot"
9   "At Wit's End"
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: bosk1 on March 08, 2019, 02:24:09 PM
I really like the album order as is.  And similarly coming from an age where we listened to entire albums, I very rarely mess around with an album's running order, and very rarely delete songs (SC being the exception in the DT catalog for me).  But it's nice to have that option so easily available if an album's running order just doesn't do it for you and you end up liking the album more by rearranging it. 

For me, I really prefer having the emotion of AWE earlier in the album, having PBD end the album as the closer, and then having the "bonus"/"post-credits scene" of Viper King.  But I get why you and others would prefer to have AWE end it.  If you like that better, then more power to you.  :tup

But where I might be included to challenge you to meet me by the bike racks after school is the criminal deletion of Out of Reach.  Come on, man!  :lol
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: Logain Ablar on March 08, 2019, 03:36:25 PM
@6:01, every time I hear MM hit the “bell” on the ride cymbal, it makes me smile.  ;D
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: erwinrafael on March 08, 2019, 05:52:33 PM
I just listened to the Vector album by Haken and I thought PBD would be at home woth this record. Like, PBD is like Haken with more talented musicians. :lol
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on March 09, 2019, 05:03:11 AM
I just listened to the Vector album by Haken and I thought PBD would be at home woth this record. Like, PBD is like Haken with more talented musicians. :lol

I read your comment and thought, well, good point. But then I read you last sentence. Why the hell would you think Haken are not as "talented" as DT? Because you don't like their music? And what do you mean by talented anyway? Technically more advanced? Melodically more your type?
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: SeRoX on March 09, 2019, 05:12:33 AM
It lacks some long guitar solo and proper ending. It feels so uncompleted. Other than that it was a grower. At first I wasn't into it so much but now it's one of my favourite of DoT.
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: erwinrafael on March 09, 2019, 07:29:46 AM
I just listened to the Vector album by Haken and I thought PBD would be at home woth this record. Like, PBD is like Haken with more talented musicians. :lol

I read your comment and thought, well, good point. But then I read you last sentence. Why the hell would you think Haken are not as "talented" as DT? Because you don't like their music? And what do you mean by talented anyway? Technically more advanced? Melodically more your type?

Uhm...technically more advanced? I mean, I don't think anybody can claim that one-on-one, an individual Haken instrumentalist is more technically advanced than a DT counterpart.
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: KevShmev on March 09, 2019, 07:35:45 AM
I just listened to the Vector album by Haken and I thought PBD would be at home woth this record. Like, PBD is like Haken with more talented musicians. :lol

I read your comment and thought, well, good point. But then I read you last sentence. Why the hell would you think Haken are not as "talented" as DT? Because you don't like their music? And what do you mean by talented anyway? Technically more advanced? Melodically more your type?

Uhm...technically more advanced? I mean, I don't think anybody can claim that one-on-one, an individual Haken instrumentalist is more technically advanced than a DT counterpart.

Okay, but "more technically advanced" does not automatically mean "more talented." 

And I say that as someone who really likes Haken (despite Vector being pretty underwhelming), but is a much bigger fan of Dream Theater.
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: erwinrafael on March 09, 2019, 08:14:36 AM
So John Pettruci is not more talented than Griffiths and Henshall, JR is not more talented than Tejeida, JLB is not more talented than Jennings, and Mangini is not more talented than Hearne? For my personal POV, only Green can challenge DT member Myung for now.

I seriously want to know, is using more or less talented not acceptable now, politically incorrect?
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: Fritzinger on March 09, 2019, 12:15:31 PM
I just wanted to know what you mean by that. And I don't understand your explanation at all  :lol

I agree with Kev though, technically advanced does not mean more talented. In my opinion, being technically advanced on an instrument is 15% talent and 85% hard work.

Plus, have you heard what is going on rhythmically on Haken's newer songs? And they pull that off live perfectly. Those guys are absolutely insane.
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: Max Kuehnau on March 09, 2019, 12:57:26 PM
PBD is one of my favourites on the album (great vocal lines, melodies and rhythms. Oh and great instrumental section, lovely wanks.) Could have been more notes in some places, but anyway, it's nice as it is.
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: darkshade on March 09, 2019, 04:48:59 PM
Definitely underwhelmed, I'm close to saying it's not a well put together tune. Barstool Warrior does the prog right.
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: millahh on March 10, 2019, 04:55:37 PM
So John Pettruci is not more talented than Griffiths and Henshall, JR is not more talented than Tejeida, JLB is not more talented than Jennings, and Mangini is not more talented than Hearne? For my personal POV, only Green can challenge DT member Myung for now.

I seriously want to know, is using more or less talented not acceptable now, politically incorrect?

Oh goody, more "my dad can beat up your dad"-style swagger about "who is more talented".  This isn't orchestra, there isn't an audition & subsequent seating.  There's no 1st chair.  Everybody is plenty talented to pull off the material they are writing, and everybody is doing something interesting.

"Politically correct"??  No, I suspect people just think the vicarious penis-measuring based on perceived "talent" of their preferred musicians is pointless and tiresome.
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: Sebastián Pratesi on March 25, 2019, 02:46:10 AM
Then we get that blistering riff in 19/16...

It seems to me that Mike had already shared that intro, back in July of last year, as part of the treasure hunt:

https://twitter.com/FreddyJacobi/status/1022593643004264448

https://www.facebook.com/TheDreamTheaterWorld/videos/2105171919558138

Isn't the intro to "Pale Blue Dot" the 19/16 pattern Mike plays last on that video?
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: bill1971 on March 25, 2019, 10:48:58 AM
Could possibly be my favorite DT song of the moment of their entire catalog. That of course may change but definitely for the moment.
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: Dublagent66 on March 25, 2019, 03:59:09 PM
I like this song, but I can't say I love it.  I agree with the sentiment that it feels a bit undercooked, almost like it is missing a verse or something.  As is, like I said, I like it, but it is definitely a song that leaves you with a bit of musical blue balls.

I guess I feel sort of the same way.  Not sure what it is exactly about this song.  Nothing in it really seems to get stuck in my head like the other songs.  Just not as memorable I suppose.  Not a bad song though.  :-\
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: Architeuthis on March 25, 2019, 04:16:16 PM
To me it's an instant DT classic that needs to be played loud!   :metal
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: Chino on March 26, 2019, 09:14:21 AM
I would have really like this song to have included some sort of sample from Carl. Something like all the music pausing and then hearing Carl say something like "suspended in a sunbeam" or "the momentary masters, of a fraction, of a dot" right before an onslaught of noise. Something along the lines of "Don't cross the crooked step" in Honor Thy Father. 
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: AVFTTOTW on October 22, 2021, 02:38:16 AM
It's probably been pointed out before but I thought I'd say that there are definite elements of Octavarium, A Nightmare To Remember and the Count Of Tuscany in Pale Blue Dot to my estimation (down to the guitar solo at the end).

Pale Blue Dot by far does not sound derivative though, even though it does liberally borrow certain elements and even progressions. Pale Blue Dot still remains a unique stand-out track in their catalogue (like At Wits End).
Title: Re: Pale Blue Dot - Appreciation & Discussion Thread
Post by: RAIN on October 22, 2021, 10:07:49 AM
Absolute favourite in D/T.