If MP's still co-producer of DT11, do any of the following things happen?
Reap', what do any of the things you posted have to do with Mike Portnoy leaving Dream Theater?
Everything. MP's leaving Dream Theater was the catalyst of a series of events that fundamentally altered how the band works. What I'm saying is that if MP didn't leave the band, the process behind ADTOE never would have occurred.
- MP going to JM and saying "Look, I'm sorry about the lyric rule. It was a dick move. I want you to feel like we see your lyrics as a positive to the band and not an imposition."
1. Who says anyone in the band felt it was a dick move? And besides that, JP has NOT gone to JM and said any of the above, so why are you even making such a scenario up to begin with?
I threw that scenario out there because I doubt JM would have ever written lyrics for DT again with MP in the band unless something like that happened.
- MP letting JLB record the vocals in Canada with Richard Chycki.
1. How do we know he wouldn't have? 2. How do we know James would have wanted to? 3. How do we know whether or not this is a good thing since we haven't even heard a single note of James' singing yet? 4. Perhaps most importantly, since there was no problem with James' album performances in past anyway, why does it even matter?
1. Knowing MP's personality, I'd say there's a zero percent chance it would have ever happened.
2. Completely fair thing to say. But I'd have the feeling he wouldn't have wanted to/thought of it because he didn't see a point in trying something new out of malaise, rather than a 100% satisfaction with the previous process. Otherwise, why would he have wanted to change it?
3. Also fair. But I've found the way JLB performs on his most recent solo albums (especially EoP) to be more satisfying than his performances with Dream Theater. More loose, exuberant, and genuine.
4. Why would you say there was no problem? All music listening is subjective, and many people other than myself have wished JLB's performances with DT would be better. Plus, even if you're saying there's no way for JLB's performance on ADTOE to be better than his previous few (which I find dubious, but okay), you don't think the character of the performance will be different due to the process that went into creating it?
- MP saying to the band members "Hey, we should be less of an LTE style jam band and try writing our material with a stronger sense of introspection and personal depth."
Wait...what? 
I don't get this. 1. They aren't an LTE style jam band. 2. I'm not aware of this fictional conversation happening since MP left.
1. It seems to me that, especially on SC and BCSL, they became more like LTE. The band members even said in interviews that the songs ballooned in length due to accommodating everyone's ideas, which to me is what seems to happen when you focus more on writing in the room as opposed to really sitting down and hashing ideas out (I saw this happen with a friend's band). On both the CiP video and JR's BCSL making of videos, the mood of the band as they were writing the album felt really... casual, as opposed to what seemed to be a more serious vibe during the ATDOE sessions.
2. Not this exact conversation, but look at the bandmember's statements. I think Rudess in particular was the one who said the writing sessions were quieter and they were trying to dig especially deep into themselves on this album. Those words weren't exchanged necessarily, but they reflect what happened.
- MP deciding to rededicate himself to the art and craft of drumming to move his playing up a level in technical and creative progression.
Wait...so...you're saying that MP has somehow "rededicated himself" (whatever that means) after leaving DT, and this is something different and beneficial? Kinda similar to the last point. I think you're just making things up now.
This was a little unclear. What I meant is that Mangini constantly practices and is using DT as an opportunity to find a new lease on life creatively. MP openly admits he doesn't practice, and creatively he's brought very little new spark to DT in a while. From what I understand, he even said in an interview that he believed his drumming suffered because of the work he put into producing
- Andy Wallace mixing the album.
No idea. But why not?
It could happen, but I find it far less likely.
Topic: New Album Title (A Dramatic Turn of Events) and Track Listing Revealed (Read 484609 times)