If you had only one wish what would it be?

[OsMosis2259]

Better drum sound/production.
MM is an incredible drummer and person but the drum sound on ADTOE, Live@LP, and DT12 has gotten worse compared to MP's drums. I still can't understand how they agreed on the snare drum on DT12.

I really hope they get someone else to engineer/mix the next album. I highly doubt it though because they have been saying how much they enjoyed working with Rich Chycki.

[Dreamer]

I'd like to hear a more proggy and no metal DT album - it would be fascinating to hear what it would sound like!

[mike099]

Better drum sound/production.
MM is an incredible drummer and person but the drum sound on ADTOE, Live@LP, and DT12 has gotten worse compared to MP's drums. I still can't understand how they agreed on the snare drum on DT12.

I really hope they get someone else to engineer/mix the next album. I highly doubt it though because they have been saying how much they enjoyed working with Rich Chycki.

Yes, this exactly.  Love the sound on Falling into infinity and 6 degrees. 

[robwebster]

Hey it's a wish thread (which completely validates your statement  ), but do you think it's not going to show up? I think most of us already appreciate Mike/Mike for what they do and have done but the discussion will always be there and so long as they both exist in the same universe there'll be comparisons made forever.

It sort of happened at the same time Kevin Moore's fanbase finally accepted he's in a different place. It's like the cosmos saw the water settling and went, "You're not getting off that easily."

[Dublagent66]

Bring back the SFAM/SDOIT keyboard sounds. Especially the lead sound.

Not only that but bring back the same level of musicianship.

[KevShmev]

As much as I LOVE the past two albums with MM and think he's an incredible person and musician, I'd wish that MP had taken a deep breath and not left the band.

Again, I love ADTOE and DT....I like the songs, I like the sound and I think MM is an incredible drummer and THE perfect drummer to replace the void left when MP abandoned ship.

But this past couple weeks I've been spinning Awake, 6DOIT, TOT....but especially when listening to some of the 'older' DT.....MP's style of playing is absolutely perfect for Dream Theater and it's irreplaceable.

I get they've moved on and HAD to move on.....but for as great as the musics been with MM behind the kit the more I listen to the 'old' DT then hear the 'new' DT, makes me realize it's just NOT DT anymore. It's a band with some killer musicians making killer music having fun and making a living.

I know it's been hashed out a hundred times on the forum that one person doesn't make a band, which in its own right is true....but removing a vital ingredients from something you've grown to love and replacing it with a near perfect replica.....and I like many here 'grew up' with DT. I was 17 when I first bought I&W's and am 38 now.....can only mask the synthetic feel for so long. I thought I could get past MP leaving and grow accustomed to MM but it is just not the same. As much as I wanted it to be it isn't.

I'll buy every record DT puts out and most likely love each of them but the realization hit me somewhere during my fourth or fifth listen through during AWAKE last week that I 'miss' MP in DT and if I had a wish.....it'd be that he'd have thought through his decision a bit more an DT had remained in tact.

I totally understand this point of view, and it can be hard not to think that way when listening to the classic material, but on the flip side, when you listen to the last few albums with Portnoy, it's obvious some type of change was needed.  Whether or not Portnoy leaving was THE change that needed to happen is debatable, and it could be argued well either way, but the way it has gone down really has worked out wonderfully for the band.  They have renewed enthusiasm, their songwriting has gotten major adrenaline shots, they have a new drummer who is a great player and awesome person, and most importantly, they look and feel like a real cohesive band again (as opposed to the Mike Portnoy Show it had become). 

[son_ov_hades]

I'd like to hear a more proggy and no metal DT album - it would be fascinating to hear what it would sound like!

I think the closest you'll ever get is Falling Into Infinity.

[gmillerdrake]

As much as I LOVE the past two albums with MM and think he's an incredible person and musician, I'd wish that MP had taken a deep breath and not left the band.

Again, I love ADTOE and DT....I like the songs, I like the sound and I think MM is an incredible drummer and THE perfect drummer to replace the void left when MP abandoned ship.

But this past couple weeks I've been spinning Awake, 6DOIT, TOT....but especially when listening to some of the 'older' DT.....MP's style of playing is absolutely perfect for Dream Theater and it's irreplaceable.

I get they've moved on and HAD to move on.....but for as great as the musics been with MM behind the kit the more I listen to the 'old' DT then hear the 'new' DT, makes me realize it's just NOT DT anymore. It's a band with some killer musicians making killer music having fun and making a living.

I know it's been hashed out a hundred times on the forum that one person doesn't make a band, which in its own right is true....but removing a vital ingredients from something you've grown to love and replacing it with a near perfect replica.....and I like many here 'grew up' with DT. I was 17 when I first bought I&W's and am 38 now.....can only mask the synthetic feel for so long. I thought I could get past MP leaving and grow accustomed to MM but it is just not the same. As much as I wanted it to be it isn't.

I'll buy every record DT puts out and most likely love each of them but the realization hit me somewhere during my fourth or fifth listen through during AWAKE last week that I 'miss' MP in DT and if I had a wish.....it'd be that he'd have thought through his decision a bit more an DT had remained in tact.

I totally understand this point of view, and it can be hard not to think that way when listening to the classic material, but on the flip side, when you listen to the last few albums with Portnoy, it's obvious some type of change was needed.  Whether or not Portnoy leaving was THE change that needed to happen is debatable, and it could be argued well either way, but the way it has gone down really has worked out wonderfully for the band.  They have renewed enthusiasm, their songwriting has gotten major adrenaline shots, they have a new drummer who is a great player and awesome person, and most importantly, they look and feel like a real cohesive band again (as opposed to the Mike Portnoy Show it had become).

Good point(s) Kev. I do think that SC and BC&SL were 'mailed in' concerning the drumming ingenuity and contribution. And like I said, I think MM is incredible and THE person that DT needed to fill the void because he's such an incredible drummer. It was the nostalgia of the earlier albums that swayed me to pine for the days of MP's DRUMMING....not the man himself. 

[emtee]

Just my opinion but I don't think MP (or for that matter, most professional musicians) has ever mailed in any recorded
performance. What I would be willing to concede is that mentally he may not have been in the best frame of mind
due primarily to strained relationships with certain band members but while he was in the studio he always seemed
to give 100%. So did all the members of the band.

[yeah_93]

Give me the guitar tracks of every song with correct tabs. I can die a happy man then.

[KevShmev]

As much as I LOVE the past two albums with MM and think he's an incredible person and musician, I'd wish that MP had taken a deep breath and not left the band.

Again, I love ADTOE and DT....I like the songs, I like the sound and I think MM is an incredible drummer and THE perfect drummer to replace the void left when MP abandoned ship.

But this past couple weeks I've been spinning Awake, 6DOIT, TOT....but especially when listening to some of the 'older' DT.....MP's style of playing is absolutely perfect for Dream Theater and it's irreplaceable.

I get they've moved on and HAD to move on.....but for as great as the musics been with MM behind the kit the more I listen to the 'old' DT then hear the 'new' DT, makes me realize it's just NOT DT anymore. It's a band with some killer musicians making killer music having fun and making a living.

I know it's been hashed out a hundred times on the forum that one person doesn't make a band, which in its own right is true....but removing a vital ingredients from something you've grown to love and replacing it with a near perfect replica.....and I like many here 'grew up' with DT. I was 17 when I first bought I&W's and am 38 now.....can only mask the synthetic feel for so long. I thought I could get past MP leaving and grow accustomed to MM but it is just not the same. As much as I wanted it to be it isn't.

I'll buy every record DT puts out and most likely love each of them but the realization hit me somewhere during my fourth or fifth listen through during AWAKE last week that I 'miss' MP in DT and if I had a wish.....it'd be that he'd have thought through his decision a bit more an DT had remained in tact.

I totally understand this point of view, and it can be hard not to think that way when listening to the classic material, but on the flip side, when you listen to the last few albums with Portnoy, it's obvious some type of change was needed.  Whether or not Portnoy leaving was THE change that needed to happen is debatable, and it could be argued well either way, but the way it has gone down really has worked out wonderfully for the band.  They have renewed enthusiasm, their songwriting has gotten major adrenaline shots, they have a new drummer who is a great player and awesome person, and most importantly, they look and feel like a real cohesive band again (as opposed to the Mike Portnoy Show it had become).

Good point(s) Kev. I do think that SC and BC&SL were 'mailed in' concerning the drumming ingenuity and contribution. And like I said, I think MM is incredible and THE person that DT needed to fill the void because he's such an incredible drummer. It was the nostalgia of the earlier albums that swayed me to pine for the days of MP's DRUMMING....not the man himself.

Makes sense.  Like I have said before, as good as Mangini's playing is, it isn't as fun and air drum-happy as Portnoy's is, but I am okay with that, considering the change has resulted in better songwriting (than what was on the later Portnoy-era albums).  I'll take that exchange every time!

[Grizz]

To have some sort of time machine that can take me to any past DT show to see in person at my whim.

[MoraWintersoul]

To have some sort of time machine that can take me to any past DT show to see in person at my whim.

I'm quoting this because it's meaningful to me.

[?]

My #1 wish came true a month ago, so I have no idea what I would wish for now. Kind of depressing, eh?

[gmillerdrake]

Just my opinion but I don't think MP (or for that matter, most professional musicians) has ever mailed in any recorded
performance. What I would be willing to concede is that mentally he may not have been in the best frame of mind
due primarily to strained relationships with certain band members but while he was in the studio he always seemed
to give 100%. So did all the members of the band.

I think that's probably a better way to put it. Maybe not 'mailed in' but when you listen to his efforts on his last two albums with DT compared to 'back in the day' efforts like 6DOIT or even 8V.....the playing is 'rudimentary' when compared to what he's capable of IMO. Whatever reason it was I think there was a noticable difference.

This is stated with an understanding that even MP's less than inspired efforts are better than the majority of drummers out there IMO. It's just that MP set the bar so high for himself in any instance he fails to reach that mark it is noticable.

[YtseJamittaja]

I could only dream to go to gym with JP. Training with DT guys could be something from my best dreams... I would love to see JMX running with me or dancing with Pirate! 

[phentalmyst]

spend a day with KM...

[bosk1]

My one wish would be that DT save every one of us!

Indeed.

Ah-ah!

[425]

As much as I LOVE the past two albums with MM and think he's an incredible person and musician, I'd wish that MP had taken a deep breath and not left the band.

Again, I love ADTOE and DT....I like the songs, I like the sound and I think MM is an incredible drummer and THE perfect drummer to replace the void left when MP abandoned ship.

But this past couple weeks I've been spinning Awake, 6DOIT, TOT....but especially when listening to some of the 'older' DT.....MP's style of playing is absolutely perfect for Dream Theater and it's irreplaceable.

I get they've moved on and HAD to move on.....but for as great as the musics been with MM behind the kit the more I listen to the 'old' DT then hear the 'new' DT, makes me realize it's just NOT DT anymore. It's a band with some killer musicians making killer music having fun and making a living.

I know it's been hashed out a hundred times on the forum that one person doesn't make a band, which in its own right is true....but removing a vital ingredients from something you've grown to love and replacing it with a near perfect replica.....and I like many here 'grew up' with DT. I was 17 when I first bought I&W's and am 38 now.....can only mask the synthetic feel for so long. I thought I could get past MP leaving and grow accustomed to MM but it is just not the same. As much as I wanted it to be it isn't.

I'll buy every record DT puts out and most likely love each of them but the realization hit me somewhere during my fourth or fifth listen through during AWAKE last week that I 'miss' MP in DT and if I had a wish.....it'd be that he'd have thought through his decision a bit more an DT had remained in tact.

I totally understand this point of view, and it can be hard not to think that way when listening to the classic material, but on the flip side, when you listen to the last few albums with Portnoy, it's obvious some type of change was needed.  Whether or not Portnoy leaving was THE change that needed to happen is debatable, and it could be argued well either way, but the way it has gone down really has worked out wonderfully for the band.  They have renewed enthusiasm, their songwriting has gotten major adrenaline shots, they have a new drummer who is a great player and awesome person, and most importantly, they look and feel like a real cohesive band again (as opposed to the Mike Portnoy Show it had become).

I hate to bring things back around to this topic again, but I will state strongly that it is NOT obvious that some type of change was needed. I don't think there's any sort of consensus among DT fans that the last few albums with Portnoy are among the weakest or that some type of change was needed. Myself, I easily prefer Octavarium and Black Clouds & Silver Linings to both Mangini-era albums. I think the songwriting was mostly better on those albums than on ADTOE and certainly DT12. And I think there are a lot of people that would agree with me on ranking at least one and perhaps more than one of the 8VM-BCSL albums ahead of both ADTOE and DT12. I don't think we're a majority but I also don't think we're that small of a minority. I have nothing wrong with you holding the opinion that DT is better post-Portnoy, but I do dispute the notion that it is so overwhelmingly obvious as you imply it to be, when there are clearly many intelligent, reasonable people who disagree.

[Zook]

Make it so Kevin Moore is still friends with DT, and looks at his time in Dream Theater as good/happy.

[425]

Ah, and yes, I forgot to contribute my actual wish, which, unsurprisingly given the content of my previous post, is to hear the followup to Black Clouds & Silver Linings made by Dream Theater with Mike Portnoy. I wouldn't trade ADTOE for anything, and I do love the album, but I just want to hear the alternate reality version of what would have happened next if Mike had stayed.

[TAC]

As much as I LOVE the past two albums with MM and think he's an incredible person and musician, I'd wish that MP had taken a deep breath and not left the band.

Again, I love ADTOE and DT....I like the songs, I like the sound and I think MM is an incredible drummer and THE perfect drummer to replace the void left when MP abandoned ship.

But this past couple weeks I've been spinning Awake, 6DOIT, TOT....but especially when listening to some of the 'older' DT.....MP's style of playing is absolutely perfect for Dream Theater and it's irreplaceable.

I get they've moved on and HAD to move on.....but for as great as the musics been with MM behind the kit the more I listen to the 'old' DT then hear the 'new' DT, makes me realize it's just NOT DT anymore. It's a band with some killer musicians making killer music having fun and making a living.

I know it's been hashed out a hundred times on the forum that one person doesn't make a band, which in its own right is true....but removing a vital ingredients from something you've grown to love and replacing it with a near perfect replica.....and I like many here 'grew up' with DT. I was 17 when I first bought I&W's and am 38 now.....can only mask the synthetic feel for so long. I thought I could get past MP leaving and grow accustomed to MM but it is just not the same. As much as I wanted it to be it isn't.

I'll buy every record DT puts out and most likely love each of them but the realization hit me somewhere during my fourth or fifth listen through during AWAKE last week that I 'miss' MP in DT and if I had a wish.....it'd be that he'd have thought through his decision a bit more an DT had remained in tact.

I totally understand this point of view, and it can be hard not to think that way when listening to the classic material, but on the flip side, when you listen to the last few albums with Portnoy, it's obvious some type of change was needed.  Whether or not Portnoy leaving was THE change that needed to happen is debatable, and it could be argued well either way, but the way it has gone down really has worked out wonderfully for the band.  They have renewed enthusiasm, their songwriting has gotten major adrenaline shots, they have a new drummer who is a great player and awesome person, and most importantly, they look and feel like a real cohesive band again (as opposed to the Mike Portnoy Show it had become).

I hate to bring things back around to this topic again, but I will state strongly that it is NOT obvious that some type of change was needed. I don't think there's any sort of consensus among DT fans that the last few albums with Portnoy are among the weakest or that some type of change was needed. Myself, I easily prefer Octavarium and Black Clouds & Silver Linings to both Mangini-era albums. I think the songwriting was mostly better on those albums than on ADTOE and certainly DT12. And I think there are a lot of people that would agree with me on ranking at least one and perhaps more than one of the 8VM-BCSL albums ahead of both ADTOE and DT12. I don't think we're a majority but I also don't think we're that small of a minority. I have nothing wrong with you holding the opinion that DT is better post-Portnoy, but I do dispute the notion that it is so overwhelmingly obvious as you imply it to be, when there are clearly many intelligent, reasonable people who disagree.

That's a good post, 425. Same for Kev, and Gmill. I'm not even sure where I stand on it.

[Madman Shepherd]

My wish would be to go back in time and see DT's I&W lineup perform a small club show on Long Island shortly after JLB joined the band.

Good wish.  If I had three, it would be one of mine. 

Anyway, my other two wishes:

-More JLB lyrics

-For everyone to give up the whole MP gossip about whether he will or won't perform with them again anytime someone blinks.  I would be fine if he never did...and I do look fondly at his contributions throughout the years

[Theme Dreater]

If only one wish, I'd like for them to incorporate more groovy stuff. Best two examples I can think of are certain sections from Take the Time and Lines in the Sand. If I had a righteous genie who could give me an additional two wishes though, I'd like to see a reunion show featuring the 12SS, and I'd like the band to play an evening with show in Alaska.

[tiagodon]

Ah, and yes, I forgot to contribute my actual wish, which, unsurprisingly given the content of my previous post, is to hear the followup to Black Clouds & Silver Linings made by Dream Theater with Mike Portnoy. I wouldn't trade ADTOE for anything, and I do love the album, but I just want to hear the alternate reality version of what would have happened next if Mike had stayed.

Interesting. MP asked for a 5 year break, right? Imagine if he had been given that break. Let's say they would be coming back to the studio this year, 2014, right? They would be all in hunger, wanting to give their best. What would have come out of that?... Makes me wonder too...

[TheGreatPretender]

Interesting. MP asked for a 5 year break, right? Imagine if he had been given that break. Let's say they would be coming back to the studio this year, 2014, right? They would be all in hunger, wanting to give their best. What would have come out of that?... Makes me wonder too...

It was September 2010, so if we hypothetically say exactly 5 years, it wouldn't be until fall of 2010. But he didn't mean concretely, so we might still be waiting for them to get back together into 2016 if the break had happened. And that's too damn long without a DT album. I mean, as it stands, we've been given a steady stream of Dream Theater updates, they've been keeping their presence in the media, and keeping relevant. Without that, I imagine so many fans would have them on the far back of their mind right now, listening to other stuff, and not even holding onto the hopes that the band would ever get back together. It would be a depressing and uneventful time to be a DT fan, had the break happened.

[Tis BOOLsheet]

A 5 year break is totally absurd. It's ludicrous to expect that...especially when (evidently) you are the only one who feels that the band needs a break. Thank God that didn't happen.

And anyway, I don't think anything all that much better than BCSL would have come out. I've seen no change in MP's approach over the past 5 years.

[The Presence of Frenemies]

Several things come to mind musically (more high vocals, more continuum, some arrangement stuff that's hard to explain), but for me, the #1 thing is getting more studio documentaries like the SC one and more live commentaries. To me, the band behind the music and its stories behind the music are always as cool as the (awesome) music itself. More of that is always good.

[jammindude]

I wished for a Flash Gordon themed Dream Theater Board!!!   

[ThatOneGuy2112]

I'd wish people would let the whole Mike Portnoy thing go already and move on.

I guess mine would be more contribution from the other guys in terms of lyrics. DT12 was great, but I always wonder if there was a more balanced, joint effort between Myung, JLB, and JP how it would turn out. And I understand the whole stance on JR contributing lyrics, but a man can dream.

[Grizz]

What if DT had two drummers and two/three keyboardists?
You know what I'm getting at.
That would be pretty fucking sick IMO

[BlobVanDam]

What if DT had two drummers and two/three keyboardists?
You know what I'm getting at.
That would be pretty fucking sick IMO

That would actually be incredibly busy sounding and expensive to tour. Can you imagine even trying to mix that in the studio? They can't even mix it as it is.

[erwinrafael]

I wish that DT would produce an album where they don't have to think if it can be played / if it is playable in a live setting. Layered tracking, ridiculously long songs with purpose, etc. Just make the best music that can be produced in a studio.

[Lucien]

What if DT had two drummers and two/three keyboardists?
You know what I'm getting at.
That would be pretty fucking sick IMO

That would actually be incredibly busy sounding and expensive to tour. Can you imagine even trying to mix that in the studio? They can't even mix it as it is.

You don't have to have all 3 of them (keyboardists) playing at the same time, but I would have them all in a room jamming, with all three of their melodic and harmonic heads together, to come up with some amazing stuff to record. Only one of them would have to play something at a time, on tour.

[BlobVanDam]

What if DT had two drummers and two/three keyboardists?
You know what I'm getting at.
That would be pretty fucking sick IMO

That would actually be incredibly busy sounding and expensive to tour. Can you imagine even trying to mix that in the studio? They can't even mix it as it is.

You don't have to have all 3 of them (keyboardists) playing at the same time, but I would have them all in a room jamming, with all three of their melodic and harmonic heads together, to come up with some amazing stuff to record. Only one of them would have to play something at a time, on tour.

Still sounds like way too many cooks in the kitchen to work.
That plus the fact I don't actually want to hear any of the previous keyboardists again. I'd rather hear JR than whatever they're doing.