The Looking Glass Discussion Thread

[Ben_Jamin]

Wow, I am in the minority here. I think it is the worst song on the album. I only enjoy the bass break out section. I am just happy it is a short song so I can get to the others. I would never skip it but it is my least fav on the album.

Same here, its the endinh I don't enjoy, it just suddenly ends

[SuperTaco]

One of the things I was curious about before hearing this album was if any of the vocal/musical melodies would get stuck in my head like DT's music often does. Well, I've had the chorus and that bass line stuck in my head for the last couple days.

You've done well, DT. You've done well.

[Sourcegamer101]

I always have to sing along with the delayed "digging up a gold mine" line.  Every time.  It's a sickness.

The "YAR DIGGING AP A GOLDMINE" line almost sounds like his vocals were were somehow corrupted during the mix and bumped up slightly in pitch as well. It's weird, they almost have a electronic/double tracked sound. It's mostly noticeable when you compare the first chorus to the third one, it sounds higher-pitched than the first one.

[AngelBack]

I was surprised how far this thread was buried.  I loved this song so much the first few spins and it has grown on me even more from there.  For one, I like the lyrical topic.  But I just listened again paying attention to all JP's NON solo guitar work and it is just an outstanding performance by him, especially during the verses.  Great driving song, crank it up!!

[El Barto]

Since I like Signals era Rush a whole lot more than modern era DT, I think its the best song on the album.

And I'm surprised that people are only picking up on the opening riff. The whole song is essentially a tribute. The vocal melodies. The keyboard patch. The callback vocals on the chorus. The complete change-up going into the solo, and half of the solo is quite Lifesonesque. The only person who wasn't all over their Rush counterpart was Mangini.

[TAC]

Since I like Signals era Rush a whole lot more than modern era DT, I think its the best song on the album.

And I'm surprised that people are only picking up on the opening riff. The whole song is essentially a tribute. The vocal melodies. The keyboard patch. The callback vocals on the chorus. The complete change-up going into the solo, and half of the solo is quite Lifesonesque. The only person who wasn't all over their Rush counterpart was Mangini.

I think the whole album is essentially a tribute. The opening to Surrender To Reason could've easily come from any 80's era Rush album. This is the most Rush sounding album they've made.

Edit: I just saw your Didacts and Narpets comment.

See!

[El Barto]

I hear influences from a lot of different bands all over the album. There's a quiet passage somewhere in there that's straight out of the Gilmour playbook. JLB was clearly going for a Mustaine sound in BtV. Hell, they even covered themselves with the end of IT.

[AngelBack]

Hell, they even covered themselves with the end of IT.

 

[JiM-Xtreme]

Hell, they even covered themselves with the end of IT.

 

[devieira73]

I guess I'm the only one here that hear a lot more journey (escape and frontiers era) influence in this song than limelight (of course, after the intro guitar riff). And the solo, it's quite UK style, like a "mini" Trial of Tears. Anyway, this really doesn't matter... it's one of the finest DT commercial songs, no doubt! GREAT song !

[cosmicwxdude]

It's a good song, and I love the artwork accompanying it. 

[Mebert78]

Love the lyrics to this song.  To me, there's a faint similarity between the lyrics to "Just Let Me Breathe" and "The Looking Glass," because both songs are about fame.  Comparing the lyrics shows why I'm so happy to have more Petrucci lyrics.  Petrucci approaches the topic with such poeticness in "The Looking Glass," while Portnoy basically calls out people and TV networks in a ranting way in "Just Le Me Breathe."

[Octavarious]

I hear influences from a lot of different bands all over the album. There's a quiet passage somewhere in there that's straight out of the Gilmour playbook. JLB was clearly going for a Mustaine sound in BtV. Hell, they even covered themselves with the end of IT.

...and with the beginning... that tatatatata-tata drumming coming from the 12SS and even before - was it Caught in a web ending, if I recall properly? Yes I do (I checked back - )
On the song, yes Rushy, like also the Bigger Picture... that guitar comeback after the light and rare piano break...
lyrics definitely about Mike the Old, and also funny reference on the artwork to BC&SL, most elements are there, the child is grown, the dream is gone i.e. the elephant has grown smaller than the books (another reference to Portnoy I guess  ).

[gentaishinigami]

Love the song, and especially love the bass intro into the solo and of course the guitar solo itself.  Nothing super technical but has a great feel to it.

[Tis BOOLsheet]

Still one of my favorites on the album. My only complaint is how abruptly it ends.

[Tomislav95]

Great song, one of my favorites on album. I especially like James' singing in verses.

[bairrock]

I love all the crazy keyboard work Jordan does in the 2nd verse.  It's buried, but if you listen closely, it's very interesting!

[LTE3]

This song could be my bathroom break if they play it this tour.  Again, like the break down and solo but still my least fav on new album.

[Bolsters]

I love all the crazy keyboard work Jordan does in the 2nd verse.  It's buried, but if you listen closely, it's very interesting!

Yeah, it's criminal how much he gets buried in the mix on this album.

[Frosthawk]

Absolutely great song, easily one of my favorites on the album. I can see the Rush comparisons, but this song still sounds more to me like DT than Rush, and that's what matters. I particularly like the verse sections, the melody is beautiful there, but then again that's one of my favorite melodic progressions. I really do hope they play this live on the tour.

[Konrad]

Oh, for sure! Avantasia is great!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2tedG-y7VM

[hefdaddy42]

Still the only song on the album I don't really care for, but it's better than the song I didn't care for on the last album (BMUBMD).

[aprilethereal]

TLG seems to be even more awesome live than on the album, really looking forward to witnessing it myself instead of only watching youtube videos

[AngelBack]

So after prolly close to 100 spins of DT12 this song and IT are the only two I never skip...0% fatigue factor after all this time, can't wait to hear live.

[OsMosis2259]

I love all the crazy keyboard work Jordan does in the 2nd verse.  It's buried, but if you listen closely, it's very interesting!

Yeah, it's criminal how much he gets buried in the mix on this album.

[NotePad]

Looking Glass is definitely my favorite on the album. JPs guitar sound is amazing, and the riffs have a beautiful quality to them.

And I actually love how JR is more in the background on this album. With metal i feel that's the best way keyboards should be used. I'm not a big fan of the way JR is so up-front on a lot of DT music. I rather he play more for atmosphere and tone rather then on top playing solos with Petrucci.

[ariich]

Still easily my least favourite song on the album (well, maybe on a par with FAS, but that's not technically a "song").

I mean, it's fine and all, and the solo section in particular is really great (such a nice groove from MM and JM). I just don't find it very exciting, and honestly I find the riff to be pretty meh.

[?]

The blatant similarities to Limelight bothered me at first, but the song has grown on me since then. On Monday I'll see how much it rocks live!

[Enalya]

Hm, I definitely wouldn't rate it the best song of the record. It's a bit too 'mainstream' for my taste. But it's well written and I do like the bass section ^^
I just prefer The Bigger Picture ten times over it.

[Zydar]

Great song, I can't wait to see it live tomorrow!

[ZKX-2099]

This is such a perfect "short DT" song. All the progressive elements are there and it stays tight and under 5 minutes without giving off a feel that it was rushed.

[Pax]

If someone can say it's the best song on the album, I can say that it sucks

[pcs90]

It's a great song. Only problems with it really are the one verse with the super busy double bass and keyboards kind of covers up James, and the ending is a little awkward.

[Evermind]

This is such a perfect "short DT" song. All the progressive elements are there and it stays tight and under 5 minutes without giving off a feel that it was rushed.

Dunno, I'm getting precisely that feel.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

The album version feels bleak, so I didn't like that a lot until I heard the BTFW version. That was sooo much better in terms of mix and balance (keyboards yay!)