The Mike Portnoy Appreciation/Discussion Thread (merged)

[darkshade]

Even though the record bins that MP is showcasing is only for recent vinyl releases, he still can't have less than 7 or 8 Zappa albums. and he even admitted he is missing a few more essentials.

I wonder what Mike's opinions are on Zappa's less studied work, like his classical and electronic/synclavier works, or his less talked about rock albums.
I'd love to listen to him discuss and dissect every Zappa album.

[hefdaddy42]

I didn't realize he played on an Enuff Z'nuff record...

I'm not holding it against him.  A gig's a gig.

[ytserush]

A catalog of every studio and live album Mike Portnoy has appeared on, minus Haken's Restoration EP. No bootlegs here.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EzA0cfmW8AAM0Uc?format=png&name=4096x4096

Wow, it's so much!

At the very least, MP beats us by tiredness! 

It's 99 albums. The next album with MP's name on it will be #100, and it appears it might be the new album from The Neal Morse Band.

I have 85 from that list so far and the ones I don't have I'm not interested in getting. Can't remember the last time I listened to that John Arch record either.

[ytserush]

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

Finally! The final episode of #MPVinyl is premiering today at 2pm EST!
Mike Portnoy - MP Vinyl Ep 8 of 8 (T-Z)

Nice. I really can't figure out why he doesn't start some kind of regular Youtube/podcast thing talking about music. He's pretty engaging to listen to talking about everything music-related and could concentrate on one or two bands per episode.

I think at this point, he wants to avoid it if it becomes an expectation. He probably would do it for fun as long as he doesn't feel obligated. I'd love it if he did more too but I kind of understand where he's coming from especially after watching the last episode.

[SwedishGoose]

I thought I had a lot of MP albums but seems like I only have about half his output.

[darkshade]

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

Finally! The final episode of #MPVinyl is premiering today at 2pm EST!
Mike Portnoy - MP Vinyl Ep 8 of 8 (T-Z)

Nice. I really can't figure out why he doesn't start some kind of regular Youtube/podcast thing talking about music. He's pretty engaging to listen to talking about everything music-related and could concentrate on one or two bands per episode.

I think at this point, he wants to avoid it if it becomes an expectation. He probably would do it for fun as long as he doesn't feel obligated. I'd love it if he did more too but I kind of understand where he's coming from especially after watching the last episode.

MP does this to himself, like with the Twelve Step Suite. He creates homework assignments for himself.
He can just say "I'm going to do these "podcasts" every so often when I feel like it. No regular schedule, no goals to hit. Might be once a week, might be once a year or longer."

[ReaperKK]

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

Finally! The final episode of #MPVinyl is premiering today at 2pm EST!
Mike Portnoy - MP Vinyl Ep 8 of 8 (T-Z)

Nice. I really can't figure out why he doesn't start some kind of regular Youtube/podcast thing talking about music. He's pretty engaging to listen to talking about everything music-related and could concentrate on one or two bands per episode.

I think at this point, he wants to avoid it if it becomes an expectation. He probably would do it for fun as long as he doesn't feel obligated. I'd love it if he did more too but I kind of understand where he's coming from especially after watching the last episode.

MP does this to himself, like with the Twelve Step Suite. He creates homework assignments for himself.
He can just say "I'm going to do these "podcasts" every so often when I feel like it. No regular schedule, no goals to hit. Might be once a week, might be once a year or longer."

Similar to the Album Years podcast with Steven Wilson. They come out when they come out but are always fun to listen to.

[SoundscapeMN]

I wonder if the idea of a Podcast with someone else might appeal to him more than talking to a Microphone or Camera regularly. With The Album Years, Steven Wilson does have Tim Bowness to talk to, etc.

[Cool Chris]

He creates homework assignments for himself.

 

[DTA]

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

Finally! The final episode of #MPVinyl is premiering today at 2pm EST!
Mike Portnoy - MP Vinyl Ep 8 of 8 (T-Z)

Nice. I really can't figure out why he doesn't start some kind of regular Youtube/podcast thing talking about music. He's pretty engaging to listen to talking about everything music-related and could concentrate on one or two bands per episode.

I think at this point, he wants to avoid it if it becomes an expectation. He probably would do it for fun as long as he doesn't feel obligated. I'd love it if he did more too but I kind of understand where he's coming from especially after watching the last episode.

MP does this to himself, like with the Twelve Step Suite. He creates homework assignments for himself.
He can just say "I'm going to do these "podcasts" every so often when I feel like it. No regular schedule, no goals to hit. Might be once a week, might be once a year or longer."

Exactly. No set schedule or anything, just a "here's what bands I'm currently into" or "let's run through the Black Sabbath catalog and talk about the albums" type of thing. But I get it, it becomes another thing he has to obsess over.

[axeman90210]

Another quarantine cover that MP took part in:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hqy6O8no_Ic

[The Letter M]

Another quarantine cover that MP took part in:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hqy6O8no_Ic

What a fun cover! I discovered Dirty Loops last year, so seeing Henrik Linder here was a big surprise!

-Marc.

[HOF]

Another quarantine cover that MP took part in:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hqy6O8no_Ic

Just finished watching this and was coming here to share it. Never heard of any of the other guys. The bass player is fun.

[The Letter M]

Another quarantine cover that MP took part in:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hqy6O8no_Ic

Just finished watching this and was coming here to share it. Never heard of any of the other guys. The bass player is fun.

You should check out his main band Dirty Loops. I suggest the song "Work Shit Out", as well as "Coffee Break Is Over".

-Marc.

[HOF]

Another quarantine cover that MP took part in:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hqy6O8no_Ic

Just finished watching this and was coming here to share it. Never heard of any of the other guys. The bass player is fun.

You should check out his main band Dirty Loops. I suggest the song "Work Shit Out", as well as "Coffee Break Is Over".

-Marc.

Will have to check them out!

[Cocopjojo]

Another quarantine cover that MP took part in:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hqy6O8no_Ic

Wow! Great find - this is my all time favorite Boston track, so it's super cool to see MP playing it.

[ytserush]

Another quarantine cover that MP took part in:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hqy6O8no_Ic

Wow! Great find - this is my all time favorite Boston track, so it's super cool to see MP playing it.

My favorite Boston song too, but I like the cover of Jane much better.
I'm no Bruins fan (Especially at this particular moment) but it would have been cool to see that instead of the Celtics jerseys but he's a sleeveless fan so it's understandable.

[Stadler]

For all the criticisms, Mike continues to entertain me with his music.  I just love watching him play, and he elevates (almost) everything he's in.  Joel Hoekstra is a favorite and I loved the "hand clap" part; they well and truly looked like they were having fun!

Having said that, these covers are problematic for me; Brad Delp is (was) an AMAZING singer and is, for me, the magic that is Boston.  So listening to the same overwrought, gravelly vocal (ala Russell Allen and Jeff Scott Soto) on this song kind of diminishes it for me.  It's not enough to just hit the notes; tone is so important and I miss that crystal clear tone Brad had.

EDIT:  Same criticism on Jane; just listen to the first line:  it's sung like he's an hour and a half into a Dio concert.   Mickey has the same sort of crystal clear tone as Brad had and it set that band apart; that's part of the reason I like that mid-period Jefferson Starship stuff so much; it was like Journey and Boston, in that it was well-played, reasonably detailed music with a stellar melodic singer who SANG, not screamed.  I say this to be funny not mean (though it's going to come off as mean), but I have little desire to listen to Dio disciples sing these songs.

[hefdaddy42]

The weak point of the cover was definitely the singer.  He kind of sounded like shit.

Everyone else was fun, and I liked how they each made it their own, instead of just mirroring the original. 

Good stuff.

[Setlist Scotty]

Really good cover - I agree with those who said that they like that they put their own spin on it, instead of doing a note-for-note copy (*cough*DreamTheater*cough*)
 
 

Having said that, these covers are problematic for me; Brad Delp is (was) an AMAZING singer and is, for me, the magic that is Boston.  So listening to the same overwrought, gravelly vocal (ala Russell Allen and Jeff Scott Soto) on this song kind of diminishes it for me.  It's not enough to just hit the notes; tone is so important and I miss that crystal clear tone Brad had.

I am glad that Dino did put his own spin on it, but I agree that his "tough guy" vocals take away from the cover. That might be the style he wants to put forth (which honestly makes me think more of Coverdale than Dio), but it's not his true way of singing. You can tell during certain parts of this cover (more than on the others) that he *does* have the ability to sing clean, and sounds much better, but he feels he has to keep up that "tough guy" image.

[KevShmev]

I don't envy anyone trying to cover a song where Brad Delp did the original vocal.  It's like starting a foot race with Usain Bolt 20 paces behind.

[TAC]

I don't envy anyone trying to cover a song where Brad Delp did the original vocal.  It's like starting a foot race with Usain Bolt 20 paces behind.

Or this..

[MinistroRaven]

As per the latest MP Facebook post, a new album from TWD is in the works

He wrote: The Dogs are back in Town! 🍷🐾 #TWD3

[bosk1]

Oh, good!  I've been having trouble sleeping lately.

[ReaperKK]

Oh, good!  I've been having trouble sleeping lately.

I had a real good laugh there Bosk.

[devieira73]

  Well… I’m very excited!

[ProfessorPeart]

Saw his Twitter post of him on an airplane saying he was off to record an album. The Dogs was my first guess. Looking forward to it.

[HOF]

Yo!! Finally MP plays something with Kip Winger!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR2VGO3vTAuB5C_gr39qjF3gpHzLbHlb0hgP-k4d4j2YJLAXC-vGfG_zDkI&v=xGeIX5BiXsw&feature=youtu.be

[HOF]

Yo!! Finally MP plays something with Kip Winger!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR2VGO3vTAuB5C_gr39qjF3gpHzLbHlb0hgP-k4d4j2YJLAXC-vGfG_zDkI&v=xGeIX5BiXsw&feature=youtu.be

This is flippin' fantastic. Kip's voice is still so good, and Mike just handles the Ringo-style kit so well. Plus Andy Timmons, you can't beat that. Soto is fine in a BV role even.

[Stadler]

Yo!! Finally MP plays something with Kip Winger!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR2VGO3vTAuB5C_gr39qjF3gpHzLbHlb0hgP-k4d4j2YJLAXC-vGfG_zDkI&v=xGeIX5BiXsw&feature=youtu.be

This is flippin' fantastic. Kip's voice is still so good, and Mike just handles the Ringo-style kit so well. Plus Andy Timmons, you can't beat that. Soto is fine in a BV role even.

That kicked ASS.  I LOVED that.   Wow.  I think Mike strikes the perfect balance when playing the Beatles, and I'm a sucker for Kip's voice.

[HOF]

I don’t know if She Said She Said is my favorite Beatles song or not. I’ve never thought about it really, but it stands out as one. That harmony is just killer.

[pg1067]

MP sighting at the YYNOT show in LA last night:

[bosk1]

That's cool that he and Charlie Dominicci stay close enough that Charlie comes to shows and poses for pics with Mike.

[Zydar]

[TAC]

Yeah it was only a matter of time.