On the Backs of Angels Thread

[Super Dude]

BTW, I love that we can still call the drummer Mike.

[emindead]

TBH, this song is good but still it hasn't reached the memorable state. I haven't listened to it since day 2 of its release... and quite frankly I'm not missing it.

Nonetheless, that doesn't mean I'm not eager to listen to the whole album. I guess right now I'm built up with a lot of patience.

[Super Dude]

I don't miss it, but it's not like AROP where if it came up on shuffle or I happened upon it I'm like, "Oh, you again."  That's really what makes the difference for me: I may not be like "OMG I HAVE TO LISTEN TO IT AGAIN," but I would have a hard time calling this song skippable.

[Mladen]

I haven't played the song at all in the last two days and it's very hard. I just don't want to get tired of it, so I'm trying to give it some time. Unfortunately, it's not that easy, I think I'll have to listen to it tomorrow.  

[darkshade]

BTW, I love that we can still call the drummer Mike.

Now it's MMX

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

And why the friggin' X. 

[iamtheeviltwin]

One of the things I like about this song is how well it fits into a DT playlist.  I created a playlist of the current concert setlist and OTBOA flows right out of The Great Debate and right into Caught in a Web.  It also sounds really great live, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jh7LhUQUAjM and you can really see what MM is doing on the kit.

There are many things to like about the song, the mix is great overall.  All of the players can be heard, which is a welcome change from recent albums.  While the JLB vocals don't soar (which I was hoping for pre-listen), they are well done and have a nice tone and rhythm to them.  The opening really catches me with the subtle opening and then "soaring" once the chorus kicks in.  There is also some fun stuff at the end with some odd time and chord changes.

But the thing I really enjoy about this song is that it is unquestionably DT and it has elements that appeal to listeners from all DT eras.  The ending also leaves me waiting for the next song.  

[The Silent Cody]

(..)  The ending also leaves me waiting for the next song.  

Yeah, you mean outro? It's great, it shows that we could expect really odd time signatures on ADTOE !

[iamtheeviltwin]

Yeah, you mean outro?

ending, outro, tomay-to, tomah-to

 

[hefdaddy42]

Seriously, no more about any of MP's likes or dislikes in this thread.  The first one was kind of related to the topic, since the post he "liked" was about this song, but this is not the MP FB thread.

[Lynxo]

And why the friggin' X. 

A better question would be: Why not?

[reneranucci]

TBH, this song is good but still it hasn't reached the memorable state. I haven't listened to it since day 2 of its release... and quite frankly I'm not missing it.

Nonetheless, that doesn't mean I'm not eager to listen to the whole album. I guess right now I'm built up with a lot of patience.

this this this this this this

[reneranucci]

But overall this song feels as if DT created the song after taking a massive dosis of valium. I liked the coffee or redbull-drinking DT more.

[TheGreatPretender]

TBH, this song is good but still it hasn't reached the memorable state. I haven't listened to it since day 2 of its release... and quite frankly I'm not missing it.

Nonetheless, that doesn't mean I'm not eager to listen to the whole album. I guess right now I'm built up with a lot of patience.

After listening to A Change of Seasons a couple of times, I wasn't missing it even one bit. But it still became one of my favorites long afterward.

[Global Laziness]

TBH, this song is good but still it hasn't reached the memorable state. I haven't listened to it since day 2 of its release... and quite frankly I'm not missing it.

It becomes far more memorable with later listens. I heard it a few times the day it came out, waited five days (I went away), then listened again a few times. It didn't really hit me the first day but I like it a lot now. I'm going to try to stagger my listens as much as possible so I don't get burnt out by the time the album comes out.

[BlackInk]

I think it feels weird that On the Backs of Angels is just 10 seconds longer than A Rite of Passage and only 5 seconds shorter than The Dark Eternal Night. ARoP doesn't feel that long, not even with the way dragged on solo. And The Dark Eternal Night seems much longer than OtBoA listening to it.

No point really, just felt like saying that.

[Jaffa]

I actually think that's a very good point, BlackInk.  To me, the point you're accidentally making is that OtBoA doesn't FEEL like a long song, because there's no drag to it.

[TheOutlawXanadu]

TBH, this song is good but still it hasn't reached the memorable state. I haven't listened to it since day 2 of its release... and quite frankly I'm not missing it.

Nonetheless, that doesn't mean I'm not eager to listen to the whole album. I guess right now I'm built up with a lot of patience.

After listening to A Change of Seasons a couple of times, I wasn't missing it even one bit. But it still became one of my favorites long afterward.

In fairness, it's almost impossible to love a 20 minute song after just two listens, but it's very possible to love an 8 minute song after just two listens.

[BlackInk]

I actually think that's a very good point, BlackInk.  To me, the point you're accidentally making is that OtBoA doesn't FEEL like a long song, because there's no drag to it.

Yeah I guess we could say that's what I was saying (now that I think about it that was pretty much what I meant).

[Öxölklöfför]

Agreed. The only thing that's bothering me is that he does it "in the shadows" (by liking FB posts rather than speaking about it himself).

I love your username. <3

Thank you, I'm quite proud of it 

[Super Dude]

At the risk of sounding like a complete idiot, does it mean anything?

[Jaffa]

At the risk of sounding like a complete idiot, does it mean anything?

Just to save you from feeling like an idiot, I wanted to ask the same thing.

[TheGreatPretender]

Sounds like a Norwegian Metal Band, hahah.

[BlackInk]

It sounds like the swedish word "axelklaffar" but with all the "a"s replaced with "ö".

[bosk1]

Oh, well then that certainly makes everything clear.  Thanks.

[BlackInk]

You're very welcome. "Axelklaffar" means epaulettes I think.

[Super Dude]

Oh, well then that certainly makes everything clear.  Thanks.

I was gonna say...

[hefdaddy42]

At the risk of sounding like a complete idiot, does it mean anything?

It means "pass the bacon."

None for you.

[Super Dude]

It's because I'm Jewish, isn't it?

[TheGreatPretender]

It's because I'm Jewish, isn't it?

Well strictly speaking if you are Jewish, then Bacon isn't exactly kosher, is it?

[Super Dude]

Yes, but you see I'm Jew-"ish"

[Adami]

It's because I'm Jewish, isn't it?

Well strictly speaking if you are Jewish, then Bacon isn't exactly kosher, is it?

He's considering converting to Islam.


Which I guess doesn't help matters.

[Sixtease]

In fairness, it's almost impossible to love a 20 minute song after just two listens, but it's very possible to love an 8 minute song after just two listens.

I loved TCOT after one listen.

[TheGreatPretender]

In fairness, it's almost impossible to love a 20 minute song after just two listens, but it's very possible to love an 8 minute song after just two listens.

Didn't even notice this post, hahah.
Still, DT's had a whole bunch of songs that I didn't like at first and fell in love with later. Under A Glass Moon is a great example of that. Home, although it's a bit longer. Raise The Knife. Many of the songs on FII.

[gabeh1018]

I really dig this song. I probably have listened 20+ times now and it just a has different vibe to me, but is still dream theater. Jordan's keyboard sounds are awesome now and like many others have stated  this doesn't feel like a 9 minute song at all. September really is too far away now. Hopefully were blown away