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

[Lowdz]

Oh I forgot, Pippo said that the whole Astonishing story is probably hidden in the lyrics of Illumination Theory. Could you confirm that?

...

The whole story is hidden in 2112 and the WeWill Rock You stage show.

[CoT67]

Was he sucking on his pipe? Did he have a distinguished accent?

As an Italian living in Tuscany, I am convinced that not one person from Tuscany has, had or will ever have a distinguished accent. Quite the opposite, actually. 

PS. to all the toscani accidentally reading this post, I love you nevertheless 

As a fellow tuscan, I think this bearded gentleman does have a bit of a distinguished accent... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDzu_YWcRdc 

...complete with an ending that I'm sure would have creeped out JP in an ancient, dark and moist cellar.

[MirrorMask]

Sciropparsi sounds like the fancier man's whahibrido.

Naw, Sciropparsi is like Magnum. Whahibrido is Blue Steel.

Sorry to spoil the fun by translating but the verb comes from the italian word for syrup, sciroppo. It means having to put up with something that bores you, like you would "syrup down" a movie you don't care for but your girlfriend wants you to see it.

Does the author mean that DT has no intention playing metal because of their fans? (boyfriend going to a film his girlfriend wants that?). Or does he mean he himself has to drag trough this album because he expected to do so?

My "watching a movie you don't like 'cause your girlfriend wants you to" was an example to explain what the italian expression "sciropparsi" meant.

The reviewer's opinion was that DT simply can't be bothered with metal anymore 'cause they're on their way to their '60s.

(And I don't really think that's the case, this time they simply wanted to do something different)

[ErHaO]

Sciropparsi sounds like the fancier man's whahibrido.

Naw, Sciropparsi is like Magnum. Whahibrido is Blue Steel.

Sorry to spoil the fun by translating but the verb comes from the italian word for syrup, sciroppo. It means having to put up with something that bores you, like you would "syrup down" a movie you don't care for but your girlfriend wants you to see it.

Does the author mean that DT has no intention playing metal because of their fans? (boyfriend going to a film his girlfriend wants that?). Or does he mean he himself has to drag trough this album because he expected to do so?

My "watching a movie you don't like 'cause your girlfriend wants you to" was an example to explain what the italian expression "sciropparsi" meant.

The reviewer's opinion was that DT simply can't be bothered with metal anymore 'cause they're on their way to their '60s.

(And I don't really think that's the case, this time they simply wanted to do something different)

Ah, thanks. And yeah, that is a pretty baseless assumption. Especially given their most recent metal output isn't even all that long ago and their last shows were predominantly heavier stuff. It is not like they went all Opeth at us (which I wouldn't mind as long as it is good music).

[Sir Walrus Cauliflower]

I'm fucking pumped for TA, but now we have to learn a ton of new song abbreviations 

[Pragmaticcircus]

Here's another post relating about The Astonishing

[Slipknot]

When is John and John getting a haircut? Without a mask they look GAY!! 

[The Astonished]

I'm fucking pumped for TA, but now we have to learn a ton of new song abbreviations 

DotN
DO
TGoM
TA 
ABL
LN
ASinS
WYTHC
AoF
TD
THS
B, CYHM?
ALLB
R
C
ATO
DD
TXA
ANB
TRTR
2285E
MoB
HC
BA
TPTD
MC (Obviously feat. Eninem) 
TWS
MLF (About Arabelle?  )
LF
WotW
HoaTV
ONW
PD
A


Now remembering is the key!

[MirrorMask]

Or we could all, you know, TYPE the damn words

What exactly do you all do in the time you save by typing only the initials, go on a holiday or something? isn't even the most important word of the title, like Ministry of Illumination, enough to save 1/10 of a second and get the point across? by the time you spell in your head the initials of the 7th song on the debut album, you alredy wrote the actual title.

[The Stray Seed]

Yes, this is the first great outcome we'll get from this album. If they want to be understood, people will have no choice other than typing the words. This makes me even more hyped!

[Train of Naught]

When is John and John getting a haircut? Without a mask they look GAY!! 

Well a haircut won't get them free masks.

[RoeDent]

Yes, this is the first great outcome we'll get from this album. If they want to be understood, people will have no choice other than typing the words. This makes me even more hyped!

You're hyped because we have to type out the full names of the songs? OK then.

Now that it's Monday of the week before release, The Astonishing feels significantly closer. Letting it sink in that the album is released NEXT FRIDAY!

[The Stray Seed]

Yes, this is the first great outcome we'll get from this album. If they want to be understood, people will have no choice other than typing the words. This makes me even more hyped!

You're hyped because we have to type out the full names of the songs? OK then.

Yes. The perspective of proper written language gets me hyped.

[chwik]

Yes, this is the first great outcome we'll get from this album. If they want to be understood, people will have no choice other than typing the words. This makes me even more hyped!

You're hyped because we have to type out the full names of the songs? OK then.

Yes. The perspective of proper written language gets me hyped.

Agreed. Proper language is a form of music in it self.

[mikemangioy]

https://www.metallus.it/speciali/dream-theater-the-astonishing-traccia-per-traccia/

Yet another track by track, this time it's not fanboy-ishly silly.

[erciccio]

https://www.metallus.it/speciali/dream-theater-the-astonishing-traccia-per-traccia/
Yet another track by track, this time it's not fanboy-ishly silly.

This is a good one!
Be careful, there is a relevant spoiler on the finale at the end of the review

[RMGadelha]

And yet anoter review praising James! I can't wait!

[James.v6]

JP and JR will be on Eddie Trunk’s show tonight for quite some time, maybe debuting an new track?

[noxon]

Just puttin' this here: https://dreamtheater.club/blog/2016/01/11/dream-theater-the-astonishing/

[YtseJohn]

JP and JR will be on Eddie Trunk’s show tonight for quite some time, maybe debuting an new track?

Yup(I think he means Jan 18th 6-10pm ET):

Eddie Trunk @EddieTrunk
Even though most people are off tomorrow I'll be live 6-10P ET @SIRIUSXM 39 #TrunkNation . @JPetrucci & @Jcrudess @dreamtheaternet in studio

https://eddietrunk.com/115-glenn-hughes-podcast-poughkeepsie-appearance-dream-theater-more/

[Gappie]

Just puttin' this here: https://dreamtheater.club/blog/2016/01/11/dream-theater-the-astonishing/

Nice! going to read it now.

[Podaar]

Just puttin' this here: https://dreamtheater.club/blog/2016/01/11/dream-theater-the-astonishing/

Noxon,

Just curious, do you have a specific reason for docking the album one point? Or do you on principle not give 10/10 for anything?

[Enigmachine]

Just puttin' this here: https://dreamtheater.club/blog/2016/01/11/dream-theater-the-astonishing/

Noxon,

Just curious, do you have a specific reason for docking the album one point? Or do you on principle not give 10/10 for anything?

He criticised the drum sound.

[TheOutlawXanadu]

Just puttin' this here: https://dreamtheater.club/blog/2016/01/11/dream-theater-the-astonishing/

Thanks for the review Nox. I have a hard time believing anyone's going to write a better one! I'm super excited for the album now.

[Zydar]

Just puttin' this here: https://dreamtheater.club/blog/2016/01/11/dream-theater-the-astonishing/

Noxon,

Just curious, do you have a specific reason for docking the album one point? Or do you on principle not give 10/10 for anything?

He criticised the drum sound.

And for this: "It’s not without its flaws (at 2 hours and 10 minutes, there’s bound to be some missteps on the way)".

[RoeDent]

Great review, Noxon! Really enjoyed reading it. 

[Sir Walrus Cauliflower]

Great review. I'm so excited to hear this myself.

[mikeyd23]

Noxon's review mentioned fans of SFAM and SDOIT would probably like this album, those are two albums I love, so I'm pretty excited. Other thought after reading his review: he states there is a focus on piano and vocals throughout the record, to me that sounds like Octavarium, which once again, IMO is a good thing.

[Pettor]

I love that piano and vocals are the centerpiece. That sounds like an album for me 

[Podaar]

Yeah, I should have mentioned that I also enjoyed the review...as always. Great work!

[MirrorMask]

Excellent review noxon, you write better than many people who do this "professionally".

So basically after an entire carreer of going crazy in the studio with guitars, bass and drums and then suddenly remembering there's a canadian dude that has to be there somehow and therefore needs a vocal line and some lyrics, they wrote an entire album around the story making it entirely vocally driven?

As I already said, I have to lower my expectations 'cause I think I may have my next favorite record in 11 days!!!!

[RoeDent]

As we appear to have established that the only instrumentals are the NOMAC tracks and the two overtures, I'm curious as to what The X Aspect is. It sounds so abstract, it could be anything.

[noxon]

Spoiler: Have you seen X somewhere else?

[serrano]

Xander?

[hefdaddy42]

When is John and John getting a haircut? Without a mask they look GAY!! 

This, combined with your posting history to date, is good for a warning.  Clean it up.