On the Backs of Angels Thread

[GasparXR]

This song is good, but it isn't catchy at all. That's the biggest complaint about it.

I give it a 6/10.

You must not like 99% of DT's catalog, because that 99% is not meant to be catchy. And it gets a 6 for not being catchy? Please elaborate on why you think it should be catchy.

[ironsam]

To the people saying the drums sound quiet - wait until the album comes out.  The Youtube compression is bad for drum sounds.

Exactly.  This is a very compressed version so the mixing can't be judged accurately.

[Heaven Outcry Angel]

catchy means poppy, go listen to gaga... .

[RuRoRul]

This song is good, but it isn't catchy at all. That's the biggest complaint about it.

I give it a 6/10.

You must not like 99% of DT's catalog, because that 99% is not meant to be catchy. And it gets a 6 for not being catchy? Please elaborate on why you think it should be catchy.

Yeah! Don't you know that if you want to say the same thing in prog-land you say "unmemorable vocal melodies"?

[GasparXR]

Oh sorry. I read catchy and not unmemorable vocal melodies. My bad I guess.

[Heaven Outcry Angel]

 

[GasparXR]

Lol not my fault. He could have said that the vocals aren't catchy enough. I thought he meant the song as a whole.

[Heaven Outcry Angel]

Im on your side.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

catchy means poppy, go listen to gaga... .

fuck, no. Catchiness and pop music are related, but that doesn't mean prog or metal can't be catchy. That's like, one of the biggest stereotypes of prog (OMG LOTS OF TIME SIGNATURES AND WEIRD THINGS THAT I CAN ONLY DIGEST!) and it kinda sucks.

And for the record, GaGa has some cool stuff.

[gabeh1018]

all this talk about the drums being low, they come in strong and even the snare has kick, but as James comes in it then lowers into the mix for whatever reason if anyone else has noticed this..... also is it just me or does some of the palm muted guitar riffs in the beginning and end remind you of the beginning of raw dog

[Heaven Outcry Angel]

catchy means poppy, go listen to gaga... .

fuck, no. Catchiness and pop music are related, but that doesn't mean prog or metal can't be catchy. That's like, one of the biggest stereotypes of prog (OMG LOTS OF TIME SIGNATURES AND WEIRD THINGS THAT I CAN ONLY DIGEST!) and it kinda sucks.

And for the record, GaGa has some cool stuff.

wow, calm down.

and yes she does I guess. but DT isn't gaga.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

I'm chilled, don't worry. Discussing something doesn't mean I get crazy.

[Heaven Outcry Angel]

its cool man

[Aniland]

Am I the only one who likes the album art? I don't understand it, which is what I like about it. It's thought provoking and totally unexpected.

I'm with you. I love the album art.

[Nic35]

This song is good, but it isn't catchy at all. That's the biggest complaint about it.

I give it a 6/10.

You must not like 99% of DT's catalog, because that 99% is not meant to be catchy. And it gets a 6 for not being catchy? Please elaborate on why you think it should be catchy.

In my book, catchy mean attractive or appealing, something that can be easily remembered. When I first listened to DT, I could sing their songs at work because there was that special vibe to them.

OTBOA doesn't have that vibe. There's just nothing special about it.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

its cool man

 

[Nekov]

I just listened to the song a couple more times at home using some good speakers. It sounds a lot better than it did with headphones but I still can't dig the song and I think I might be going mad cause everyone is saying how they love DT going back to the more proggy side but I still fail to see it myself! They have some proggy moments but the whole of the song just sounds to metal with some prog in it to me.

[dongringo]

all this talk about the drums being low, they come in strong and even the snare has kick, but as James comes in it then lowers into the mix for whatever reason if anyone else has noticed this.....

These are symptoms of compression. The whole thing also leans on the left channel. I'm sure the cd or lossless formats will sound fine. This always happens when a song is released on youtube before the actual release date.

[Nic35]

The intro is gorgeous. But I just can't dig the rest of the song.

[GasparXR]

This song is good, but it isn't catchy at all. That's the biggest complaint about it.

I give it a 6/10.

You must not like 99% of DT's catalog, because that 99% is not meant to be catchy. And it gets a 6 for not being catchy? Please elaborate on why you think it should be catchy.

In my book, catchy mean attractive or appealing, something that can be easily remembered. When I first listened to DT, I could sing their songs at work because there was that special vibe to them.

OTBOA doesn't have that vibe. There's just nothing special about it.

Ahh, I see what you mean then. Interesting.

[dongringo]

Am I the only one who likes the album art? I don't understand it, which is what I like about it. It's thought provoking and totally unexpected.

I'm with you. I love the album art.

I love you man.

[ehra]

The song's nice when I'm listening to it but none of it sticks with me afterward. Maybe it'll grow on me later, who knows.

[Ravenheart]

catchy means poppy, go listen to gaga... .

No it doesn't. That's ridiculous.

I think all he meant was that this song didn't grab him. There's no need to psychoanalyze his post. Catchy is a big blanket term, and suitably so.

[Nic35]

The song's nice when I'm listening to it but none of it sticks with me afterward. Maybe it'll grow on me later, who knows.

This.

[Heaven Outcry Angel]

catchy means poppy, go listen to gaga... .

No it doesn't. That's ridiculous.

looked at your last.fm.... LOL how can you even comment on such a thing??

I have no problem with you, please stop singleing me out

[j]

Just got to listen to it.  I like it a lot.

The good:
1) The entire 2-3 minute intro or whatever is awesome.  As is the piano break, etc...Petrucci and Rudess doing some very good things in this song.
2) Drums and bass sound great, although I can hear less drums and more bass than on recent DT albums.  Luckily I'm not musically astute enough for it to bother me either way.
3) I'm pleasantly surprised to say that I think the lyrics are pretty good.  Sound like Petrucci's work, but they could be Myung's.

The bad:
1) The vocal melodies aren't that great or interesting.  They're okay, but I expected a bigger chorus from a single.  Given that, LaBrie's vocals are good I think.
2) Petrucci's solo.  It's hardly bad or anything, but it sounds really...familiar.

Didn't read the entire thread, so apologies if these opinions are either very common or especially disagreeable.

-J

[dongringo]

I just listened to the song a couple more times at home using some good speakers. It sounds a lot better than it did with headphones but I still can't dig the song and I think I might be going mad cause everyone is saying how they love DT going back to the more proggy side but I still fail to see it myself! They have some proggy moments but the whole of the song just sounds to metal with some prog in it to me.

I wouldn't worry. JP said that this album as a whole wouldn't sound as bombastic as the last couple. Well, this song sounds fairly bombastic to me, which makes a really good opener. I'm sure the rest of the album will be filled with plenty of proggy moments and not all as metal sounding.

Personally, I love the song and was relieved to hear it. I was afraid they might lose their metal side for some reason. Now I know that DT is still DT. Looking forward to hear the album as a whole. Let another countdown begin.

[Ravenheart]

catchy means poppy, go listen to gaga... .

No it doesn't. That's ridiculous.

looked at your last.fm.... LOL how can you even comment on such a thing??

I have no problem with you, please stop singleing me out

You're right. I need copious and excessive amounts of lengthy prog metal before ever allowing myself to have an opinion on catchiness. I'm so inferior 

[ddtonfire]

This sounds like the lovechild of Pull Me Under, Forsaken, and A Rite of Passage.

[Heaven Outcry Angel]

catchy means poppy, go listen to gaga... .

No it doesn't. That's ridiculous.

looked at your last.fm.... LOL how can you even comment on such a thing??

I have no problem with you, please stop singleing me out

You're right. I need copious and excessive amounts of lengthy prog metal before ever allowing myself to have an opinion on catchiness. I'm so inferior 

uhm, when did I ever say that? Can you please stop putting words in my mouth?

what did I do to you, seriously?

[ClairvoyantCat]

catchy means poppy, go listen to gaga... .

looked at your last.fm.... LOL how can you even comment on such a thing??

I have no problem with you, please stop singleing me out

[ehra]

catchy means poppy, go listen to gaga... .

No it doesn't. That's ridiculous.

looked at your last.fm.... LOL how can you even comment on such a thing??

By being right. DT themselves have already put out a ton of catchy tunes/melodies over the years. All catchy means is that it's memorable; that it sticks in your head even when you're done listening. Or an earworm.

[Heaven Outcry Angel]

catchy means poppy, go listen to gaga... .

No it doesn't. That's ridiculous.

looked at your last.fm.... LOL how can you even comment on such a thing??

By being right. DT themselves have already put out a ton of catchy tunes/melodies over the years. All catchy means is that it's memorable; that it sticks in your head even when you're done listening. Or an earworm.

Yes

[King Postwhore]

It's not the big catchy chorus but it's still got some hooks.  Not all music needs to have hooks all over the place.

[GasparXR]

This sounds like the lovechild of Pull Me Under, Forsaken, and A Rite of Passage.

I definitely hear PMU and AROP, not so much Forsaken.

Did the fast roll on the floor tom leading into the pre-solo at 6:04 catch anyone off-guard? I wasn't expecting it, but I didn't quite know what style to expect from Mangini, given I never heard his drumming outside of the documentary. It leads in really well, strangely.