I have already written this elsewhere, but my current first thoughts (yeah, late to the party, but still):
So, me and my wife we finished it. It was pretty exhausting. Some notes:
- The story's okay. Nothing exceptional and you definitely don't have to worry about spoilers or whatever, but it didn't offend me the slightest (that was my main concern beforehand)
- For a band lke Dream Theater (whatever that might mean to you), releasing an album like this is a ballsy move.
- There might be a tad too much ballads (especially in the first act), but I think repeated listens will help.
- I now definitely want to name my firstborn "Jordan".
- The Andrew L. Webber - especially Jesus Christ Superstar - influence is very strong, especially on tracks like Lord Nafaryus or Three Days.
- You can dislike the album (and I can imagine many people who will), but that's your (or my) problem, not the album's - the effort, the energy and the craft put into this monster is undeniable. I would have nothing but respect for the guys even if I didn't beforehand.
- I will need about twenty more listens to even make an opinion - if I said about any album it's a lot to take in at once, I really didn't know what I was talking about. This is just... massive. Like, I tried to concentrate on in, read the lyrics and glide through the accompanying materials... and I have a solid headache, even if the story's not that complex (as I've already written above)
- James overdid himself, true, but I really don't know how does he want to sing this on the whole tour. I think he will be dead by the seventh date, and that's not a put down - most singers would be.
- I don't know what you people are smoking, Mike was totally cool (as usual), in fact, much more decent than on any of the previous two albums, IMHO.
- However, JMyung disappeared somewhere.
- Now, when I've already had the "experience", I can finally listen to the album on repeat and dissect it some more and I'm really looking forward to it. Maybe not tomorrow, though.
- And yes, it's a musical. Yet, it's very DT. I couldn't image how that would be even possible, but it is.
- Also, if anyone tried out the album based on the two "singles", he's in for a bitter disappointment. Both songs sound great in the context of the album, however.
Highlights after the 1st listen:
Dystopian Overture, Lord Nafarius, Act of Faythe (I think), Three Days, Brother Can You Hear Me, A New Beginning, 2285 Entr'acte, Moment of Betrayal, The Path That Divides and the title track.
Also - this is anything but your standard DT. Whether it's good or bad, I don't know yet, but whatever aspect of the band you like, there's nothing really that similar, I give them that. In fact, I believe this is as far from typical DT as possible for it to be still considered "their" album.
P.S. - excuse any typos or whatever, please, I'm a regular zombie right now.