What are your thoughts on DT12?

[FlyingBIZKIT]

I like DT12 but I don't listen to it much. I'd say it's their 8th or 9th best album

[Nearmyth]

This is probably a really weird thought, but I feel like the lack of an album title sacrificed the album of some personality. Like an album title gives you an initial vibe and kind of feel for the album... But "Dream Theater," being a name we've known for so long, doesn't really have any resonance or meaning besides the whole "redefining ourselves" thing when it comes to an album title. It just kind of feels like a collection of songs more than an album (but that's going a bit far).

[TAC]

This is probably a really weird thought, but I feel like the lack of an album title sacrificed the album of some personality. Like an album title gives you an initial vibe and kind of feel for the album... But "Dream Theater," being a name we've known for so long, doesn't really have any resonance or meaning besides the whole "redefining ourselves" thing when it comes to an album title. It just kind of feels like a collection of songs more than an album (but that's going a bit far).

Not A weird thought at all.

[Madman Shepherd]

This is probably a really weird thought, but I feel like the lack of an album title sacrificed the album of some personality. Like an album title gives you an initial vibe and kind of feel for the album... But "Dream Theater," being a name we've known for so long, doesn't really have any resonance or meaning besides the whole "redefining ourselves" thing when it comes to an album title. It just kind of feels like a collection of songs more than an album (but that's going a bit far).

I don't agree with your last thought but otherwise I think that you are spot on.  Having a title really gives you something to latch onto, it evokes images and memories, and while I am not against what they did by self-titling it, I would have rather they come up with something to set it more apart. 

I think possibly, a part of them wanted to avoid the backlash of having what many perceived to be a horrible album title with the last album.   I was included in the list of people who thought that but it is kind of interesting that the title is rarely talked about as being horrible anymore.  It's kind of grown on me even though I still don't like it per say. 

[Grizz]

It should've been called The Guiding Light or something else of optical nature.

[Zook]

It should've been called The Guiding Light or something else of optical nature.

I don't think naming their album after a soap opera would have been a wise choice.

[Madman Shepherd]

It should've been called The Guiding Light or something else of optical nature.

I don't think naming their album after a soap opera would have been a wise choice.

Unless it was....

[RaiseTheKnife]

With the exception of the precedent of The Beatles and Metallica, I always think that a self titled album (even debut) is a big missed opportunity.   I enjoy the cleverness and originality of an album title and its concept.  The self-titled route is safe and ho-hum.    Having said that, I understand the statement that DT was trying to make with DT12 -- still it leaves  much room to be desired (and some interesting artwork would not have hurt either).

[Grizz]

It should've been called The Guiding Light or something else of optical nature.

I don't think naming their album after a soap opera would have been a wise choice.

Blech, I knew that sounded familiar. Oh well, some other reinforcement of the optical motif then.

[King Postwhore]

It should've been called The Guiding Light or something else of optical nature.

I don't think naming their album after a soap opera would have been a wise choice.

I'm outing Zook right here.  We all know he watched soap operas.

[Zook]

MY MOM DID, NOT ME

[King Postwhore]

MY MOM DID, NOT ME

My grandmother did while I doing homework!

[Zook]

Same for me I think. When I did catch it, it seemed quite normal and wasn't like all the stereotypes of saop operas. Of course, that was more than 10 years ago, shit maybe 15. It probably has aliens in it now.

[hefdaddy42]

I don't think it is still on the air.

I could be wrong.

[hefdaddy42]

I don't think it is still on the air.

I could be wrong.

It's not, went off the air in 2009.

And yes, I spent a decent chunk of my morning thus far reading about Guiding Light.

[Zook]

Thanks hefdaddy for the facts!

[hefdaddy42]

Thanks hefdaddy for the facts!

[Nearmyth]

With the exception of the precedent of The Beatles and Metallica, I always think that a self titled album (even debut) is a big missed opportunity.   I enjoy the cleverness and originality of an album title and its concept.  The self-titled route is safe and ho-hum.    Having said that, I understand the statement that DT was trying to make with DT12 -- still it leaves  much room to be desired (and some interesting artwork would not have hurt either).

My thoughts exactly, put into better words 

[fsh3702]

I like every song except the enemy inside. I always skip this song when i'm listening. Personally for this album I prefer surrender to reason the most. Actually this album gives me a feeling that both DT and I are rejuvenated.

[bosk1]

I like every song except the enemy inside. I always skip this song when i'm listening. Personally for this album I prefer surrender to reason the most. Actually this album gives me a feeling that both DT and I are rejuvenated.

It was a slow grower for me.  I was VERY cold on Enemy when I first heard it.  But it eventually grew on me the more I listened.  Knowing they were going to be playing it on tour, I made an effort to really listen to it actively and really gained an appreciation for it.  And then hearing them launch into it during soundcheck before the San Francisco show...hearing JP's monster guitar tone rattle my teeth and the whole deal, it just took it to another level.  I really like it now.

[Grizz]

The whole album was a slow grower, from really meh to "Hey this is pretty good!"
Then it faded back into the shadows of mediocrity IMO

[m0hawk]

The whole album was a slow grower, from really meh to "Hey this is pretty good!"
Then it faded back into the shadows of mediocrity IMO

Yeahhh, same here. I wonder what the band NOW thinks of it. They were so proud of it initially. Do you think they feel the same now?

[Grizz]

I think it's always difficult to tell how an artist feels about their work. Pink Floyd hates Atom Heart Mother for example.

[Tick]

The whole album was a slow grower, from really meh to "Hey this is pretty good!"
Then it faded back into the shadows of mediocrity IMO

Yeahhh, same here. I wonder what the band NOW thinks of it. They were so proud of it initially. Do you think they feel the same now?

Why wouldn't they?

I love it!!! So do many others! So I can't imagine the band feeling any different about it.

Unless they find out how you feel about it of course. 

[rumborak]

The whole album was a slow grower, from really meh to "Hey this is pretty good!"
Then it faded back into the shadows of mediocrity IMO

Yeahhh, same here. I wonder what the band NOW thinks of it. They were so proud of it initially. Do you think they feel the same now?

I sometimes wonder that in general. Imagine having to play the same tunes for the next two decades. It must be hard to generate any kind of excitement for some of the tunes.

[Tick]

The whole album was a slow grower, from really meh to "Hey this is pretty good!"
Then it faded back into the shadows of mediocrity IMO

Yeahhh, same here. I wonder what the band NOW thinks of it. They were so proud of it initially. Do you think they feel the same now?

I sometimes wonder that in general. Imagine having to play the same tunes for the next two decades. It must be hard to generate any kind of excitement for some of the tunes.

As far as playing live, I totally agree with you. How do you keep passion is playing the same small crop of songs over and over and over, hundreds of times!
I guess the answer would be...nice paycheck and it beats many alternatives.

[Dublagent66]

You keep the passion for the sake of the fans.  Playing with enthusiasm and striving for perfection every time.  The paycheck isn't the priority, the fans are because without them there is no paycheck.  I like what Neal Peart said in the Rush Doc Behind The Lighted Stage.  "People ask me, don't you ever get tired of playing Tom Sawyer?  No, because it's difficult to play and everytime I play it right, it makes me feel good." 

[Tick]

You keep the passion for the sake of the fans.  Playing with enthusiasm and striving for perfection every time.  The paycheck isn't the priority, the fans are because without them there is no paycheck.  I like what Neal Peart said in the Rush Doc Behind The Lighted Stage.  "People ask me, don't you ever get tired of playing Tom Sawyer?  No, because it's difficult to play and everytime I play it right, it makes me feel good." 

That's true. The challenging level of difficulty of the songs has to make it rewarding.

[mirko_metal_88]

I was listening to it just a few hours ago (after some months from the last time)...still love it, more than before...except for mangini's work (and sound) and, sometimes, i can't stand bass distortion too.

not perfect, but surely very strong...their best record since TOT, imho

[King Postwhore]

More like "bass growl" and about time.

[Rodni Demental]

Bass fuzz?

Whatever you wanna call it, I get excited when I can actually hear the bass at all so I say crank up the fuzz on the bass.

[nikatapi]

I think it's one of the less good DT albums, big downgrade from ADTOE in my opinion. JR once again is just there, JP overwhelms the sound and James' vocals are so processed that it doesn't sound that good.

It's not bad or anything, i just feel like it's a bit of a generic album, DT by the numbers if you will, nothing exciting and i don't get the "DT feel" i used to get on other albums, only parts of Surrender To Reason and Illumination Theory make me feel this way, overall i think it's not that great.

Maybe i had great expectations due to it being a self titled album and Mike being there for the whole process, and the album didn't end up meeting my expectations.

Hopefully the next album will be something different and bring DT a little out of their comfort zone, so they can create something interesting (and let JR unfold his talent more).

[Kotowboy]

I could go for a less heavy overall DT album like Octavarium.

[mikeyd23]

Bass fuzz?

Whatever you wanna call it, I get excited when I can actually hear the bass at all so I say crank up the fuzz on the bass.

Oh yeah, I love that gritty sounding bass that punches through the mix on DT12! Which is interesting because I typically gravitate towards full, rich warm sounding bass; not so much punchy, fuzzy bass.  But in this case it works extremely well.

[Nearmyth]

The Enemy Inside happened be the only one I've consistently liked from the beginning. I think it's because I remember wanting DT12 to have a much heavier, darker feel. Like something with a bit more edge than ADTOE. And TEI really took the cake for that and I loved it.

Then The Looking Glass comes in and I'm like "oh"