Dream Theater: The Astonishing (now with moment of betrayal!)

[dparrott]

  Best. Cover art. Ever.  That needs to be a poster! I might have to cough up the $$$ for the vinyl just for that!

Those track times!   

[wideworldofmike]

Can we speculate on the videos? Will it be for just two songs, or is it Act I and Act II?

[BlackInk]

I'm with kotowboy, kinda hoping that they're making-of videos.

[mikeyd23]

I'm with kotowboy, kinda hoping that they're making-of videos.

Absolutely, I think for this type of project, making-of videos would be incredibly interesting.

[RoeDent]

I'm not saying there won't be making of videos (It would certainly be interesting), but given how everything else on The Astonishing page is to do with the concept, to me it seems more likely that those videos there will be concept-related. One might be a call-to-arms from Arhys, then a response from the Emperor, or something along those lines.

[Nihil-Morari]

A third show in Amsterdam. They're really trying to get me to buy tickets, aren't they?

[bosk1]

A third show in Amsterdam. They're really trying to get me to buy tickets, aren't they?

I really think you should do all you can to go.  I know you are on the fence now, but I really think you will be kicking yourself down the road if you had an opportunity to go and did not.  Trust me.

[Thematt202]

So, was this what Bosk was hinting at, or do we have more to come this week?

[Laughingplace56]

A third show in Amsterdam. They're really trying to get me to buy tickets, aren't they?

I really think you should do all you can to go.  I know you are on the fence now, but I really think you will be kicking yourself down the road if you had an opportunity to go and did not.  Trust me.

Just to put my mind at ease...do you know of any plans to bring the full Astonishing production they're putting together in Europe to North America? I'll travel all over the continent if I have to, but can't afford to go to Europe. This seems like it's going to be a MASSIVE production, regardless of the quality of the album (which I'm sure I'll love, because there's not a DT song existence that I find bad), and I can't miss it.

I hope those 2 videos aren't "making of" specials. I want a 60 min+ DVD with the deluxe edition of the album as a making of documentary. This is a huge concept. 2 YouTube videos won't cut it imo.

[Kotowboy]

So, was this what Bosk was hinting at, or do we have more to come this week?

There's one way to find out....

[Kotowboy]

I hope those 2 videos aren't "making of" specials. I want a 60 min+ DVD with the deluxe edition of the album as a making of documentary. This is a huge concept. 2 YouTube videos won't cut it imo.

I hope they are BUT i'd prefer a 90 minute in the studio doc. This album is crying out for one. SURELY.

[RMGadelha]

Someone with nice photo editing skills should grab a nice picture of Sean Connery and transform him into Nafaryus, hair style and all. Somehow I wish they'd hire some actors for those pictures instead of computer design stuff, but it looks cool already

I'm sure someone else here already mentioned his resemblance with Sean Connery?

[bosk1]

A third show in Amsterdam. They're really trying to get me to buy tickets, aren't they?

I really think you should do all you can to go.  I know you are on the fence now, but I really think you will be kicking yourself down the road if you had an opportunity to go and did not.  Trust me.

Just to put my mind at ease...do you know of any plans to bring the full Astonishing production they're putting together in Europe to North America?

I honestly have no idea.  I would guess that they will do something similar in the U.S., but I do not have any inside info one way or the other.

[Nihil-Morari]

A third show in Amsterdam. They're really trying to get me to buy tickets, aren't they?

I really think you should do all you can to go.  I know you are on the fence now, but I really think you will be kicking yourself down the road if you had an opportunity to go and did not.  Trust me.

Well. Damn. I know I don't like to buy tickets to a show before I hear the music. And I know I don't like to pay that much money for a live concert. I'll think about it. Or do you have some inside information to get me to rush to the online store?

'Their most Zappa-esque album to date'
 

[Cyclopssss]

I think thatīs unprecedented, isnīt it? I canīt remember DT ever even playing a venue in The Netherlands TWICE, let alone Thrice! 

[TempusVox]

The Nomacs are coming...run

https://fanart.tv/movie/75612/oblivion/

[BelichickFan]

A third show in Amsterdam. They're really trying to get me to buy tickets, aren't they?

I really think you should do all you can to go.  I know you are on the fence now, but I really think you will be kicking yourself down the road if you had an opportunity to go and did not.  Trust me.

Well. Damn. I know I don't like to buy tickets to a show before I hear the music. And I know I don't like to pay that much money for a live concert. I'll think about it. Or do you have some inside information to get me to rush to the online store?

I'd go if I were you, the wide assumption, though not certainty, is the CDs will be out a few weeks before the tour begins.  Unless you're hit and miss with DT, there's a good chance you'll like it.  There's nothing DT has done that I don't like (I like some more than others, of course) so as long as I would be familiar with the music going in the risk would be very, very small.

[Nihil-Morari]

I think thatīs unprecedented, isnīt it? I canīt remember DT ever even playing a venue in The Netherlands TWICE, let alone Thrice! 

Twice in the HMH 2010 (I believe, I was there!)

[ToT-147]

Ahh, welcome to DT Forum - a place where you can get corrected for saying 'landscapes' instead of 'panoramic landscapes', and having the sky in too many album covers is dealt with cries of disenchantment. How can you not love it? 

I'm certainly not crying.. And people correcting each other is something that happens all over the internet, and also... wait... where have I seen that too?..... Oh, in real life.. If you live under the DTF rock, that's you..

[mikeyd23]

I'm not saying there won't be making of videos (It would certainly be interesting), but given how everything else on The Astonishing page is to do with the concept, to me it seems more likely that those videos there will be concept-related. One might be a call-to-arms from Arhys, then a response from the Emperor, or something along those lines.

That's actually a really good point. I'd be cool with concept related videos on the web page and a special edition of the album with a DVD making-of documentary.

[RMGadelha]

8 NOMACs on the album cover. 5 on the tracklist. HMMMMMMMM...

[theanalogkid7]

This whole thing, this album and all of the extras being built up around it,... this is just fantastic.  Consider the amount of time that has to be invested to not just writing and recording all of this material, but all of the investment in developing characters, world(s), and the story!  Plus the thought that has to go into the artwork, and all the extra bits (maps, videos).  Man...

I don't mean to ramble, I just got through catching up on the last 10 pages of this thread, and after seeing the album artwork so many times, I'm feeling pretty pumped.

[SwedishGoose]

A third show in Amsterdam. They're really trying to get me to buy tickets, aren't they?

I really think you should do all you can to go.  I know you are on the fence now, but I really think you will be kicking yourself down the road if you had an opportunity to go and did not.  Trust me.

I think this will be really special... I will go to both shows in Stockholm. ..
Get your ticket to Amsterdam or regret it later on...

[noxon]

Trust me. You do not want to miss this.

[Jinx]

From Tom Russell's facebook:

I've just been listening to some of the new Dream Theater album - It's called The Astonishing and in my opinion, it is truly Astonishing
You'll be able to hear tracks from it and an interview with the band soon on RealRadioXS

Bosk does this sound right to you? I'm aware this guy doesn't actually give a date but seems like it could be pretty soon

[bosk1]

I'm not specifically aware of what he may be able to play on his show in terms of interviews or music.  But it is my understanding that some music from it will be available before too long, just as they have made music from other albums available prior to release.  I really cannot say more than that.

[SwedishGoose]

From Tom Russell's facebook:

I've just been listening to some of the new Dream Theater album - It's called The Astonishing and in my opinion, it is truly Astonishing
You'll be able to hear tracks from it and an interview with the band soon on RealRadioXS

Bosk does this sound right to you? I'm aware this guy doesn't actually give a date but seems like it could be pretty soon

Who is this Tom Russel.....? Can't find his FB

[TAC]

I'm not specifically aware of what he may be able to play on his show in terms of interviews or music.  But it is my understanding that some music from it will be available before too long, just as they have made music from other albums available prior to release.  I really cannot say more than that.

Sure you can!


Honestly, the only thing I'd be wondering at this point is that if the US will get the "album in its entirety" tour.

[MirrorMask]

I wonder if there will be a "normal" tour after that for this album... they played all of SFAM worldwide, and then went back and played further gigs with songs from all the albums, that's actually the second time I saw them back in 2000, a summer show with a "normal" setlist. Too early to tell but I wonder if there will be regular concerts in venues and festivals with only some songs off The Astonishing while it is still the most recent album released.

[noxon]

Crisis averted - the interview and the tracks will air in january.

[Shadow2222]

Honestly, the only thing I'd be wondering at this point is that if the US will get the "album in its entirety" tour.

I'd be really upset if we missed out on whatever Europe is getting.

Crisis averted - the interview and the tracks will air in january.

I wouldn't call that "crisis averted" 

What if I WANT to hear a snippet/song now?

[Lucien]

Crisis averted - the interview and the tracks will air in january.

why delay an already-recorded interview's release to january

[bosk1]

@Bosk - Speaking of those video chats, which were really great, any hope of another one in the future? They had a lighthearted feel that reminded me of the DVD commentaries that they sadly no longer do.

Funny you should ask.  I have been thinking about that lately and would really like to.  But there are some logistical difficulties that I do not think will allow it this time around.  I am talking to folks to see whether or not it can happen, and I personally would like to see it happen, but I am thinking it probably won't work this time around.  We'll see.  If not, I have some other ideas I am working on as well.

[MirrorMask]

Crisis averted - the interview and the tracks will air in january.

why delay an already-recorded interview's release to january

Just like albums are recorded and movies are filmed way before their release, the interviews are being contractually scheduled to be released when the band / the label wants interviews, reviews and song snippets to be released. Maybe by the time they want the interviews out they can't do interviews to be released the day after 'cause they're already busy with rehearsals.

[Prog Snob]

From Tom Russell's facebook:

I've just been listening to some of the new Dream Theater album - It's called The Astonishing and in my opinion, it is truly Astonishing
You'll be able to hear tracks from it and an interview with the band soon on RealRadioXS

Bosk does this sound right to you? I'm aware this guy doesn't actually give a date but seems like it could be pretty soon

Who is this Tom Russel.....? Can't find his FB

https://www.facebook.com/tom.russell.967