The MUSIC
I’m not going to break this down track by track. Let’s look at the 30,000 foot view.
There’s a saying called, “Never Happened.”
Batman & Robin. Robocop 3. Speed 2. THEY NEVER HAPPENED.
Get it?
Dream Theater’s A Dramatic Turn Of Events NEVER HAPPENED.
I listened to ADTOE twice. The second time was just to make sure I actually heard what I heard the first time.
I finally ‘heard’ what non-fans hear when they listen to Dream Theater. NOISE. MEEDLIES. DERIVATIVE.
Much in the same way Neal Morse unfortunately just re-writes his own music to churn out album after album, ADTOE was the final nail in the coffin for Dream Theater.
They had already started doing that a few albums prior, to an increasing degree. And I’m not even talking about the songs included in Portnoy’s AA Saga.
On top of that, Mangini never got his shot to show us what he could do. I’ve been a fan of his since he toured with Vai back in the 90s. Obviously he was the perfect replacement for Portnoy. Unfortunately, he was just a drum machine on this album. A Portnoy clone.
“Dream Theater” FIXES ALL OF THAT!
Some honest-to-god new territory for the band that has seemingly done it all!
Melodies you can hum to. Unfamiliar, yet heavenly guitar and keyboard tones. And of course, Mangini gets his shot. And boy does he RIP IT UP! Christ!
At times this sounds like a movie soundtrack, although the Six Degrees overture will always be in the top spot for that.
BEFORE YOU FLAME this 'first-time' poster, please consider…
1) I’ve listened to Dream Theater since I heard “You Not Me” on FM Radio back in 1997.
2) I have all of their albums and DVDs.
3) I’ve been to plenty of shows and meetups, etc. I even dragged my wife to a show and made her sit through In The Presence Of Enemies in its entirety even though she wanted to leave.
4) I was part of the DT Forum community back when guys like “Innocuous Fox” was around, and Mark Bredius was posting as “DT Itchy” on the SFAM-styled website and forum.
5) I’m also a recording musician, who has recorded with a progressive rock band and released my own 5.1 surround sound solo-album. (I'll post links if someone asks.)
I’m a fan, okay? Just like YOU. No better, no worse.