Is it time for Dream Theater to go full electronica for one song?

[black_biff_stadler]

No electronica please, if for any reason so that they'll be less backing tracks used in their live shows. 

Good point RTK. They have four of the most capable musicians on the planet and JR damn near can account for two full musicians himself so if they really need to get that extravagant with the presentation then why not just hire some pit performers or some onstage talent if it's that important to go beyond what live bass/keys/drums/guitar can accomplish.

[Pols Voice]

Back on the topic, I really love the idea...also, I recall an interview where MP and JP said they were planning initially on 6DOIT to have world music references, which sounded like an amazing idea to me.

If DT ever did a song like this, combining metal, world music, and electronic elements, I would probably faint from happiness: Lunatic Moon

[hacko]

No ty. I already make funny faces when listening to the intro of BMU BMD

[Another_Won]

I'm gonna have to say no on this too.  Like some have said, a little is ok.

[kirksnosehair]

Only one or two people are actually saying that if DT did an electronica song that they'd dislike it. Most of us are only saying that we dislike the genre (or don't think DT are suited to it) and don't wish for DT to do a song in that style. And as a generalization, that is perfectly reasonable.
If they did one, I for one would give it a fair chance as I have with every other DT song, and I'm sure most others would too. I may even like it. But when you ask as a general hypothetical of whether we'd want DT to do a song in that style, why would I say yes to a genre that I don't like?

"I hate literally every single electronica song, and if DT wrote one I would hate it just because it was electronica" - Close minded
"I don't like electronica in general, so would prefer DT not write a song in that style" - Not close minded.

[kirksnosehair]

I'd definitely give it a listen.  But it's not something I'd put on a list of "musical styles I'd like Dream Theater to try"

[perfey]

Im for it. It's always great when they explore new things, something like Juno Reactor incorporated into one song would be interesting to hear. Thats a band I have recently began to explore too, they're great.

[BlackInk]

A Dream Theater instrumental section DubStep-prog-metal breakdown would be awesome.

[Mat JB]

Yeah, why not? Adventurousness is part of the Dream Theater spirit.

[coffees for closers]

I could see Jordan doing a solo piece like that, but not the band as a whole.

[GalPro]

i hate electronic music...and it is a shame if dream theater will head to that direction

[Art]

Electronica is good but imagine if DT done post-rock 

hells kitchen

[Ravenheart]

I'd love to hear it. Sad to read through this thread and realize a lot of people don't even know what electronica actually is. 

[black_biff_stadler]

As someone who liked/loved/eventually grew out of it almost completely from '89-present I can tell you in my experience that it has a lot to do with the bulk of the modern stuff sounding far less appealing than what I liked about it in the first place coupled with the fact that the genrefication of it began getting absurd by the mid-to-late-90s when it seemed that every time some new piece of sampling/looping/programming equipment came out they needed to call it a fancy new name. The superfluous genre thing is minor though as the main problem for me is that 90% of what I've heard from electronic artists since '99 or so is really bland and uninspired if listened to fully sober and just isn't something that can be readily listened to in your car or on the go and enjoyed fully. I'm not trying to play the drug thing here but I can only guess being fucked up in some way enables some of the "beauty" in this stuff.

I used to (and still do for the most part) like bands like Depeche Mode, The Prodigy, New Order, amongst others whom have injected electronic instrumentation into their work but the newer artists using it really seem hung up on sounding "cool" and "edgy" before worrying about making anything that sounds appealing, original, or captivating in any way.

[Ravenheart]

I'm a huge fan of Depeche Mode and New Order, and I consider myself a huge fan of various other industrial, electronic, and new wave acts, both old and new. I've never had to be fucked up to appreciate the beauty of any of it.

[black_biff_stadler]

Different strokes for different folks I guess. I also forgot to give love to Front 242, NIN, Ministry, and KMFDM before.

[Elaitch]

Whenever DT try to "use elements" from other bands and genres, they usually just end up sounding like them. This applies mostly to the pre-Mangini stuff, considering that BMUBMD and Outcry is well executed, while for example Prophets of War is a tad too much of a nod.

I wouldn't want DT to try to make a "full electronic" song, simply because that's not the kind of music they do. The way Jordan uses synth sounds in Outcry and BMUBMD to create an electronic feel is well executed and exists because it fits in there. Dream Theater should stay progressive, but the degree to which electronic music has been experimented with so far is enough, in my opinion. They're a rock/metal band, after all.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

I'm a huge fan of Depeche Mode and New Order, and I consider myself a huge fan of various other industrial, electronic, and new wave acts, both old and new. I've never had to be fucked up to appreciate the beauty of any of it.

Hipster.

[Sigz]

I'd love to hear it. Sad to read through this thread and realize a lot of people don't even know what electronica actually is. 

I honestly have no idea what electronica actually means. I've always assumed it was just another word for electronic music (which in the end is not a very descriptive genre either).

[MetropolisxPt1]

 party rock cover

[Sigz]

Rudess: EVERY DAY IM WIZARDIN

[orcus116]

I don't see any downside to them attempting it. In fact a whole album of attempts at genres they've never tried would be the greatest thing ever. They've already got, what, almost 80-100 prog metal songs to their name so what's to lose there?

[King Postwhore]

I like electronica used as an effect, like a guitar pedal.  Not throughout a whole song but I'd welcome the idea.

[KevShmev]

I like electronica used as an effect, like a guitar pedal.  Not throughout a whole song but I'd welcome the idea.

That is kind of what I meant.  When I said "full electronica," I didn't necessarily mean all keys and electronics and no guitar, bass or real drums.  I meant, having the backbone of the song being electronic-driven, but still rocking with some mean riffing and whatnot.  I think DT could pull that off really well. 

[antigoon]

I don't see any downside to them attempting it. In fact a whole album of attempts at genres they've never tried would be the greatest thing ever. They've already got, what, almost 80-100 prog metal songs to their name so what's to lose there?

Seriously. Maybe I'm just tired of the genre (I am), but I don't think I could handle another Dream Theatery Dream Theater album. They kinda reached the ultimate refinement of that sound with ADTOE. I think more of that would just be tiring.

[Ravenheart]

I'd love to hear it. Sad to read through this thread and realize a lot of people don't even know what electronica actually is. 

I honestly have no idea what electronica actually means. I've always assumed it was just another word for electronic music (which in the end is not a very descriptive genre either).

I think it is just another word for electronic music, the "a" at the end meant to make it into a noun instead of an adjective. Mostly, my post was just a retaliation against people who dismiss it all as club techno bullshit.

I like electronica used as an effect, like a guitar pedal.  Not throughout a whole song but I'd welcome the idea.

That is kind of what I meant.  When I said "full electronica," I didn't necessarily mean all keys and electronics and no guitar, bass or real drums.  I meant, having the backbone of the song being electronic-driven, but still rocking with some mean riffing and whatnot.  I think DT could pull that off really well.

I think this would be cool.

[King Postwhore]

I like electronica used as an effect, like a guitar pedal.  Not throughout a whole song but I'd welcome the idea.

That is kind of what I meant.  When I said "full electronica," I didn't necessarily mean all keys and electronics and no guitar, bass or real drums.  I meant, having the backbone of the song being electronic-driven, but still rocking with some mean riffing and whatnot.  I think DT could pull that off really well.

I'm with you.  I like how PT adds a little to their music.  Not overwhelming but adds great texture to their music.

[Vajra]

A techno/trance song by DT?

Count me the fuck in.

[Gorille85]

I would love that but they'll never do it.

[Zook]

No.  We already have Prophets of War (pt. 1).

[KevShmev]

Except that Prophets of War isn't electronica by any stretch of the imagination. 

[orcus116]

Kev we're dealing with people who thought the little off centered vocal part in "Honor Thy Father" was actual rap.

[black_biff_stadler]

Kev we're dealing with people who thought the little off centered vocal part in "Honor Thy Father" was actual rap.

And they have a point since it's done in an aggressive, choppy manner and definitely isn't straight singing. PoW definitely has an electronic feel to the intro no matter what anyone wants to say to refute it so all of this dismissiveness toward folks with those opinions is quite baseless.

[Sigz]

Outside of the synth arpeggios in the verses and intro, there's virtually nothing electronic about POW.

[Ravenheart]

There is no logical way that Prophets of War is electronica.