Your Controversial Opinions on DT

[romdrums]

John Petrucci lyrical change for the next album: John is forbidden from using the word 'paralyzed' or any of its derivatives in any lyrics 

Hotter take, John Petrucci shouldn't write any lyrics for the next album. The last lyric that JP wrote that I thought was really good was In The Name of God. His lyrics on the last few albums have been average at best, and Dead Asleep is his newest nadir. Let James be the primary writer on the next album, with MP contributing whatever he wants to.

[ganpondorodf]

He has a bit of a habit of, I guess... not really painting much of a picture? Like, the shadow man is scary. Why's he scary, John? What does he do?

'He just is, ok?'

[romdrums]

He has a bit of a habit of, I guess... not really painting much of a picture? Like, the shadow man is scary. Why's he scary, John? What does he do?

'He just is, ok?'

That's exactly it. Plus, a lot of his more recent lyrics all follow the same rhythmic pattern, which limits the vocal melodies. That was pretty obvious on the last album, especially on Invisible Monsters and the title track.

[TheCountOfNYC]

John Petrucci shouldn't write any lyrics for the next album. Let James be the primary writer on the next album, with MP contributing whatever he wants to.

It would be interesting to hear an entire album without any JP lyrics. That opens up JMX to write more lyrics as well.

[durga2112]

Oh shit, I don't know why I never thought of putting this opinion in here: I want them to make an all-acoustic album someday. I've wanted that for 20+ years and realize it will probably never happen, but I would love to hear what they could come up with given that kind of constraint.

[romdrums]

It would be interesting to hear an entire album without any JP lyrics. That opens up JMX to write more lyrics as well.

Hot take, the vocal melodies would likely be more interesting.

[HOF]

Whoever rhymed "night terror" with "hysteria" and "fire" should not be allowed to write lyrics for the next album either.

[ganpondorodf]

Night terror, his terrier, nocturnal trial by firier

[Revenge319]

Whoever rhymed "night terror" with "hysteria" and "fire" should not be allowed to write lyrics for the next album either.

I don't think the intention was to have those words rhyme. I think the words flow together well in the song but it doesn't make any sort of sense that they're supposed to rhyme.

[HOF]

I don't think the intention was to have those words rhyme. I think the words flow together well in the song but it doesn't make any sort of sense that they're supposed to rhyme.

True, the pronunciation was altered to make them rhyme.

[geeeemo]

And let's get rid of the word Angel, too.

James is better at lyrics, and even MP will be a change up.

[ReaperKK]

Oh shit, I don't know why I never thought of putting this opinion in here: I want them to make an all-acoustic album someday. I've wanted that for 20+ years and realize it will probably never happen, but I would love to hear what they could come up with given that kind of constraint.

I've always wanted an acoustic album but I doubt it'll happen.

My hot take of the day is that DT should bring in an outside producer, some new blood that isn't afraid to challenge the band. I think DT has a great album in the tank, however left to their own devices they'll fall back on their usual tropes.

[BeatriceNB]

Oh shit, I don't know why I never thought of putting this opinion in here: I want them to make an all-acoustic album someday. I've wanted that for 20+ years and realize it will probably never happen, but I would love to hear what they could come up with given that kind of constraint.

I 100% support an acoustic album that includes a chamber ensemble and piano. A full album of acoustic guitar strumming and some piano would be boring, in my opinion.

[Kyo]

I've always wanted an acoustic album but I doubt it'll happen.

My hot take of the day is that DT should bring in an outside producer, some new blood that isn't afraid to challenge the band. I think DT has a great album in the tank, however left to their own devices they'll fall back on their usual tropes.

I'd be happy if they'd at least manage to write a proggy acoustic instrumental section for some song. The closest we got so far is the intro of A Life Left Behind, I guess. Acoustic doesn't always have to mean stripped and dumbed down, it's really just a sound that could be used in plenty of interesting ways. A full blown acoustic song that is actually prog and not just a ballad would be great to hear!

[Kocak]

My hot take of the day is that DT should bring in an outside producer, some new blood that isn't afraid to challenge the band. I think DT has a great album in the tank, however left to their own devices they'll fall back on their usual tropes.

Not a hot take at all IMO. I 1000000000000000% AGREE. Though, based on how JP didn't even want to share credit with MP for Parasomnia, I doubt that this will ever happen. My idea is that JP should go on a long holiday to another continent after writing an album and not be allowed to come back or have any contact with anything DT-related until tour rehearsals.

[Kocak]

If I were to produce a DT album with full authority:

I wouldn't let MP use "the fill".
I would ask MP to use a smaller kit.
I wouldn't let JM just follow JR's left hand or JP's riffs for bass lines.
I would encourage JR to think more of the song and the atmosphere and minimise doodling.
I would ask DT to prioritise vocals and lyrics, write the album around JLB and not have the vocals and lyrics be an afterthought.
I would ask DT to write a 45-50 minute album.
I wouldn't let any member of Dream Theater ask "What would Rush do?".
I wouldn't let the band have any lazy atmospheric breaks during songs.

[MirrorMask]

My hot take of the day is that DT should bring in an outside producer, some new blood that isn't afraid to challenge the band. I think DT has a great album in the tank, however left to their own devices they'll fall back on their usual tropes.

Amen. The FII experience scarred them so much that they renounced an external producer like it was the Devil himself.

Back then I could understand, but now they're an estabilished well regarded band and de facto legends of the genre, no way a producer would come in and go "LOL write commercial songs". A producer would have sorted out all the indecision about the growling part of A Nightmare to Remember for example.

[Kocak]

The Astonishing is my favourite DT album, no chance ever of me ranking any of its songs in the bottom

Shame it has such a shit mix.

Based on this album alone, I believe that Mangini has the right to sue DT for degredation and defamation.

[Kocak]

Amen. The FII experience scarred them so much that they renounced an external producer like it was the Devil himself.

Back then I could understand, but now they're an estabilished well regarded band and de facto legends of the genre, no way a producer would come in and go "LOL write commercial songs". A producer would have sorted out all the indecision about the growling part of A Nightmare to Remember for example.

I think, JP and MP's reaction to Kevin Shirley was just them being hormonal teenagers.

MP, due to having a more diversified taste in music, has a better ear in terms of sonic character, but JP has no ear in that sense and is a bad producer.

[ganpondorodf]

If I were to produce a DT album with full authority:
I would ask DT to write a 45-50 minute album.

I think a lot of bands could benefit from this. There are very few albums, by anyone, over an hour long that I think wouldn't benefit from being cut down a bit.

[MirrorMask]

I think a lot of bands could benefit from this. There are very few albums, by anyone, over an hour long that I think wouldn't benefit from being cut down a bit.

That all died with CD became the new standard, allowing for 74 minutes of music. When vinyl forced you to stay within 45 minutes and reason in terms of "sides", the construction of the album was a whole different approach.

[Kocak]

I think a lot of bands could benefit from this. There are very few albums, by anyone, over an hour long that I think wouldn't benefit from being cut down a bit.

I agree. This isn't just a DT issue. A lot of modern albums are full of fillers. In fact, I believe that most albums that have been released since the 90's could be great EP's.

That all died with CD became the new standard, allowing for 74 minutes of music. When vinyl forced you to stay within 45 minutes and reason in terms of "sides", the construction of the album was a whole different approach.

Very true.

Specifically, I'd like more bands to do singles and EP's these days. Unless they have a great LP idea. Releasing new music is just an excuse to tour and sell more merchandise anyway.

I wonder how the reception would be if DT were to release 6 tracks in 2-month intervals, instead of a full album.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

Shame it has such a shit mix.

Based on this album alone, I believe that Mangini has the right to sue DT for degredation and defamation.

TA is indeed a pretty offensive mix. They did inflect upwards after this however, with View being their best sounding album. A big reason for that is Mike insisting on certain changes to the way his instrument sounds - another gift he left us with

I do think an outside producer could be a good idea at this stage of their careers. It's highly dependent on who though. The same guys in a room for 30 years is just going to get stale at some point and that isn't a knock on anyone. An outside voice could be very helpful in that regard.

[SeRoX]

An outsider producer is a absolute need. Especially since BC&SL. I've never liked mix approach that JP makes. I know he is the star/ or wants to be star of the album but to me his guitar sound and guitar mix are always questionable.

[WilliamMunny]

An outsider producer is a absolute need. Especially since BC&SL. I've never liked mix approach that JP makes. I know he is the star/ or wants to be star of the album but to me his guitar sound and guitar mix are always questionable.

I could not agree more, but I think the time has come and gone. The band is older, wiser, and obviously set in their ways (Lord knows I am).

Looking back at the Mangini years, I think not working with an outside producer was a huge missed opportunity, but it is what it is.

[hefdaddy42]

I don't know about "an absolute need" but I would certainly love to hear a Dream Theater album produced by a really talented outside producer.  It would be really interesting to hear.

[Kocak]

TA is indeed a pretty offensive mix. They did inflect upwards after this however, with View being their best sounding album. A big reason for that is Mike insisting on certain changes to the way his instrument sounds - another gift he left us with

I do think an outside producer could be a good idea at this stage of their careers. It's highly dependent on who though. The same guys in a room for 30 years is just going to get stale at some point and that isn't a knock on anyone. An outside voice could be very helpful in that regard.

My choices would be:

- Alan Parsons (I want to see what he would do with a band like DT.)
- Butch Vig (Same reason as Alan Parsons, I'd also like him to record the album on tape.)
- Nigel Godrich (I'm a fan of his sonic approach and how he layers the sounds.)

These are some choices that would do something a bit different with a band like DT.

Also, I think it'd be interesting to hear a pop music producer produce a band like DT. I would not expect DT to make a pop album, obviously, but a sonic approach that incorporates modern pop aesthetics would be intriguing.

An outsider producer is a absolute need. Especially since BC&SL. I've never liked mix approach that JP makes. I know he is the star/ or wants to be star of the album but to me his guitar sound and guitar mix are always questionable.

His musical taste is extremely limited. Guitar heavy classics, olympic-style guitar players and Disney music. Not varied at all in that sense. So it's not a surprise why he prefers Andy Sneap, an accomplished guitar player, to mix his records. He's great with guitar-heavy albums, but not so great when it comes to a sound like DT's.

I don't know about "an absolute need" but I would certainly love to hear a Dream Theater album produced by a really talented outside producer.  It would be really interesting to hear.

At this point, they'd benefit from doing something different. They went the safest route with Parasomnia.

[TAC]

Releasing new music is just an excuse to tour and sell more merchandise anyway.

Too many bands are touring on old material, something that DT is also guilty of. As a fan of a band, it's about new music for me, not playing an album released 40 years ago.

[Kocak]

Too many bands are touring on old material, something that DT is also guilty of. As a fan of a band, it's about new music for me, not playing an album released 40 years ago.

I'm a fan of the Porcupine Tree approach to this. Defrosting the band when they have something interesting and fresh to play.

Many bands could be seasonal projects or one-off endeavours.

Dream Theater is the ACDC of prog metal in this exact sense. They do the same thing over and over again, and we listen to it and have 319 pages worth of controversial opinions on it.

[ReaperKK]

If I were to produce a DT album with full authority:

I wouldn't let MP use "the fill".
I would ask MP to use a smaller kit.
I wouldn't let JM just follow JR's left hand or JP's riffs for bass lines.
I would encourage JR to think more of the song and the atmosphere and minimise doodling.
I would ask DT to prioritise vocals and lyrics, write the album around JLB and not have the vocals and lyrics be an afterthought.
I would ask DT to write a 45-50 minute album.
I wouldn't let any member of Dream Theater ask "What would Rush do?".
I wouldn't let the band have any lazy atmospheric breaks during songs.

Agreed, on all fronts.

[TAC]

Dream Theater is the ACDC of prog metal in this exact sense. They do the same thing over and over again, and we listen to it and have 319 pages worth of controversial opinions on it.

I don't know. I think I know what you're trying to say, but I'm not really on board. I think the only thing DT has in common with AC/DC is that they're legends in their genre.

[Kocak]

I don't know. I think I know what you're trying to say, but I'm not really on board. I think the only thing DT has in common with AC/DC is that they're legends in the genre.

They are both legends.
And they both prefer to stay in their respective comfort zones.

[TAC]

They are both legends.
And they both prefer to stay in their respective comfort zones.

OK, but aren't most bands in their comfort zones 35-40 years into their careers?
AC/DC has basically made the same album for decades, and I Dream Theater simply hasn't.

[TAC]

I would ask DT to prioritise vocals and lyrics, write the album around JLB and not have the vocals and lyrics be an afterthought.

This is the big one on your list to me. James has been underutilized since Systematic Chaos, save for The Astonishing.

[Kocak]

OK, but aren't most bands in their comfort zones 35-40 years into their careers?
AC/DC has basically made the same album for decades, and I Dream Theater simply hasn't.

I think the nuance here is that ACDC has been writing the same song over and over again and MP-version DT has been using the same song formulas to write the same album a few times for some time now. So, I understand your hesitation to get on board.

I just don't see much difference in terms of approach.