When is the last time they did a cover show? When is the last time they dropped in a nugget or two on a setlist?
Those are obviously things that were important to MP, who made the setlists, and the rest of the band never really cared for them all that much. So why WOULD they do them?
When is the last time there was something like the "release a cover every two weeks until the album is out"?
To be fair, they only did this once anyway, for BC&SL, when they recorded a disc's worth of covers in the studio.
A thing, again, which was definitely MP-driven.
Not sure why they should be held accountable for not doing stuff that only Portnoy wanted to do, now that he is no longer there to urge them to do it.
One, because they explicitly said they would, and two, the comment was something along the lines of "there's nothing different except for the Ytsejam releases", when there clearly is, even if there is a rational explanation for them.
Look, I don't expect them to copy all the things that MP did. I agree they are their own band now. But I don't understand why someone who held those things dear has to put up with nonsense like the sarcasm that just followed my post because I'm not on board with it (that's how I took Cyclopssss post, even though that is EXACTLY how I feel). I've not once disparaged DT for their choices (well, that isn't 100% accurate) and I'm still on their fan forum, and I'm still buying their records. But they used to be a unique band out of 100's I listen to, and now they are one of many bands I listen to.
Why does it have to be all (MP FANBOY!) or nothing (He was a egomaniacal douchebag who had to go and good riddance!)? I can miss those things and note them for the record without it being a blasphemy.
It certainly doesn't have to be all or nothing. I have no idea why anyone would think that. It's really immature.
MP certainly used to communicate directly to the fanbase about upcoming projects more often than the other guys, and that hasn't picked up nearly as much as many fans would have liked. I have it on good authority that this is on purpose for the upcoming album - the band is basically on lockdown mode, not releasing any info, and that is their purpose at the moment.
And the lack of Ytsejam releases can certainly be seen as a sore spot, but MP has all the old "stash" (although most non-live performance stuff has already been released), so the only stuff that could be released by the current band would be new live performances - which wouldn't make much sense, because they have issued official live releases for both albums/tours. Any Ytsejam release would just be repeated material.
Frankly, for every fan who liked the cover songs during live performances, I would wager that there were more who would rather have had another song by Dream Theater - the band they had paid to see. Not to mention the performances of entire cover albums, especially when they weren't announced beforehand. If it was an album you happened to like, then lucky you. If not, then you got fucked for half a concert - money down the drain.
What I miss is the variation of setlists, and the non-playing to backing tracks, which would occasionally result in variations/improvisations of songs, or extended instrumental breaks, or other off-the-cuff nonsense. That appears to be gone, and for me, is the biggest thing I miss from MP's time in the band.
However, on the other hand, we now have impeccably performed concerts, with few if any flaws, and they are still incredibly entertaining. The band is firing on all cylinders musically, even with the drawbacks I listed.
In the end, its all opinions, and there is no right or wrong. But a lot of the "drawing lines" crap is ridiculous.
Topic: 5 years later, was Portnoy right? (Read 99683 times)
