The album.
I have been a DT fan since the Train of Thought era. I have enjoyed every album up til that point thoroughly, and every new album was a delight, and some of my favorites. However, I have not gotten into the self titled album, AT ALL.
I like WDADU and FII, though I admit they're not great, just good.
It came out during a time when I was not feeling DT, prog, etc... but I wasn't feeling prog rock much when Systematic Chaos came out, but I overplayed that one for a week when it came out, and enjoy still to this day, so that can't be the reason.
I loved BC&SL and ADTOE when they came out and listened to them for a long time. I was on board with Mangini for a while. When The Enemy Inside was released, I listened to it a lot, anticipating the new album release. By then time DT12 came out, my head space was that of despair, so the album did not mesh well with how I was feeling a the time. I've re-listened several times over the last year or so, and though I'm in a better head space, the album still doesn't do much for me.
I've also come to realize I miss Mike Portnoy's (drum and arrangement) contributions to the music, and the fact that Mangini's drums have sounded bad to my ears on the last 2 albums doesn't help. But I also didn't care for the 4th Transatlantic album either (not sure if it's MP's fault or not) so it might not be the lack of Portnoy.
With EVERY DT album, I would always listen to specific tracks when in the mood, EXCEPT for DT12, not even IT. All the songs are just kind of there, they blend together, and nothing sticks out to my mind, and while nothing is BAD on DT12, nothing is anything special either.
I love Octvarium, ACOS, ITPOE, TCOT, SDOIT, and many other prog epics from other bands, but I don't like IT (I admit, the spacey section and the orchestral section are beautiful).
Could it be I just don't think the album is good? Have I finally become a jaded Dream Theater vet?