*Official* The Astonishing discussion thread

[Kotowboy]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0cZAuV4gvQ

JR interview.

LTE Question :

" I don't know " {pulls a face} " it's tricky with the dynamics when Portnoy left. But who knows..."

[Herrick]

I'm happy that a lot of people do like it. But I'm pretty disappointed. Hats off to anyone who can listen to this in one go, I simply couldn't do it. I found myself going, AGAIN?!? Every time they broke to a piano and vocals part just to chew up some story

This is the same reaction I'm having while listening to the album.

[pringkaarwanda]

Maybe all of you guys, sick & tired with this post of mine, but again...
Second video slot in The Astonishing page is still the same video with first slot
So the question is... Is TGoM Official Video not the second video for The Astonishing page?? Or they just have not update it yet??
Will we have another video from Dream Theater?






And NOMACS eyes, of course

[ResultsMayVary]

Maybe all of you guys, sick & tired with this post of mine, but again...
Second video slot in The Astonishing page is still the same video with first slot
So the question is... Is TGoM Official Video not the second video for The Astonishing page?? Or they just have not update it yet??
Will we have another video from Dream Theater?

We will, eventually. After seeing Bosk's warning about posting unauthorized material in the TGOM music video thread, I'm sure we got something being released sometime in the future.

[pringkaarwanda]

Maybe all of you guys, sick & tired with this post of mine, but again...
Second video slot in The Astonishing page is still the same video with first slot
So the question is... Is TGoM Official Video not the second video for The Astonishing page?? Or they just have not update it yet??
Will we have another video from Dream Theater?

We will, eventually. After seeing Bosk's warning about posting unauthorized material in the TGOM music video thread, I'm sure we got something being released sometime in the future.

Yeah, I remember that. So..... That's mean, possibility about we will have another video for astonishing page, is higher then? Hahaha   

[jsbru]

Just have to add, A Life Left Behind is fucking awesome.

[jjfumbly]

Is it just me or does "The Astonishing" look a little off centered on the album cover?

[lumpy33]

as a huge fan since I&W, i am enjoying TA with everything new it has to offer.  all the tracks seem like perfect little snippets of Dream Theater gold.  i'll admit i'm left wanting a bit though, as killer riffs and beast mode moments seem to go as quick as they come.  after 12 albums, i didn't realize how "trained" DT had me as far as enjoying the development of a 10 minute song where the grooves and riffs last a while.

how about a 4 hour album with 34  8 to 10 minute tracks?!   

[LCArenas]

Just passing by to appreciate The Walking Shadow. Short, yes, but incredibly powerful in every way. I think the whole track is complete genius, to be honest. The way they narrate the story and intertwine it with the music had me on the edge of my seat the first time I heard it.

[jsbru]

Wow, overall what a great album!!

The writing is truly inspired, production is better, and the whole album just has so much heart and energy that's been lacking since at least Octavarium.

My only complaint is that some parts of the album feel bloated.
Certain songs sound like definite filler while other songs are rushed. I think if they had trimmed this album down by about a half hour and let the quality songs breathe a little, it could have been their best record since Awake. Overall it's really really good.

Agree with this; a fair deal of good parts are too short, and a fair deal of boring parts are too long.  It's the kind of stuff a good outside producer would fix, but they refuse to do that.  Overall, though, it's still a marvelous album.  Better production could have made it their best ever, I think.  And the "highs" of this album are among their best ever.

Just got done with a second listen, and it's already coming together for me.

[KevShmev]

Just passing by to appreciate The Walking Shadow. Short, yes, but incredibly powerful in every way. I think the whole track is complete genius, to be honest. The way they narrate the story and intertwine it with the music had me on the edge of my seat the first time I heard it.

I get how it fits into the story, but musically that might be one of the most uninteresting songs they've ever done.  IMO, of course.

Thank goodness most of the rest of the album is so darn good.

[jsbru]

Our New World:  Reminds me of prime Saigon Kick (a good thing)

Wow, now I really have to give Saigon Kick a try...heard of them a lot, never gave them a listen.

I have to take back what I said earlier, about there being no potential radio hits on this album.  After my second listen, I think even today this song is good enough to take off.

At this point, I think the combination of A New Beginning, Our New World, and A Life Left Behind are enough simply on their own to make this a memorable album...and there's a lot of good stuff otherwise.  But these three, in that order, are some of the best stuff this band has ever wrote.

[YtseJamittaja]

Wow, overall what a great album!!

My only complaint is that some parts of the album feel bloated.
Certain songs sound like definite filler while other songs are rushed. I think if they had trimmed this album down by about a half hour and let the quality songs breathe a little, it could have been their best record since Awake. Overall it's really really good.

Agree with this; a fair deal of good parts are too short, and a fair deal of boring parts are too long.  It's the kind of stuff a good outside producer would fix, but they refuse to do that.  Overall, though, it's still a marvelous album.  Better production could have made it their best ever, I think.  And the "highs" of this album are among their best ever.

Agree with these statements.

[jsbru]

One of the things I most appreciate about this album is the return to upbeat/major songwriting in the vein of Only A Matter Of Time, Under A Glass Moon or Innocence Faded. It's been missing from the DT sound for a while.

Absolutely correct.  Saw hints of this with DT12, with Looking Glass and Bigger Picture.  IMO, this was one of DT's huge strengths that set them apart from other metal bands (other than their insane musical talent, obviously).

[erwinrafael]

Just passing by to appreciate The Walking Shadow. Short, yes, but incredibly powerful in every way. I think the whole track is complete genius, to be honest. The way they narrate the story and intertwine it with the music had me on the edge of my seat the first time I heard it.

I get how it fits into the story, but musically that might be one of the most uninteresting songs they've ever done.  IMO, of course.

Thank goodness most of the rest of the album is so darn good.

I find it interesting because this is one of the songs where the music was really integral in telling the story. When Mangini entered this metronomic "tic tic tic" in the hi-hat with the occassional off-beat, I really felt the tension. I especially loved the part where Daryus was about to stab Faythe, how the polyrhythms communicated the confusion and the quickening pace.

[Kotowboy]

Moment of Betrayal is great. Should be next single.

And then Our New World.

Moment of Betrayal verse = Count of The Great Tuscany Debate

[Chino]

When Your Time Has Come is the best song on this album.

[Shooters1221]

Wow, overall what a great album!!

The writing is truly inspired, production is better, and the whole album just has so much heart and energy that's been lacking since at least Octavarium.

My only complaint is that some parts of the album feel bloated.
Certain songs sound like definite filler while other songs are rushed. I think if they had trimmed this album down by about a half hour and let the quality songs breathe a little, it could have been their best record since Awake. Overall it's really really good.

Agree with this; a fair deal of good parts are too short, and a fair deal of boring parts are too long.  It's the kind of stuff a good outside producer would fix, but they refuse to do that.  Overall, though, it's still a marvelous album.  Better production could have made it their best ever, I think.  And the "highs" of this album are among their best ever.

Just got done with a second listen, and it's already coming together for me.

I was thinking along these lines on the first couple of spins, but now that I know the entire album and all of the nuances and themes, I'm liking the structure of pieces even more. Maybe extending "Astonishing" for one repeat verse would be nice, but no big deal. I love this whole album. 

[Moor]

Moment of Betrayal verse = Count of The Great Tuscany Debate

So true 

[thosava]

Does any of you know if the instrument at 2:20 in Dystopian Overture (left channel) is a mandolin?

[BlobVanDam]

Does any of you know if the instrument at 2:20 in Dystopian Overture (left channel) is a mandolin?

I believe it's JR playing a harp patch.

[thosava]

Does any of you know if the instrument at 2:20 in Dystopian Overture (left channel) is a mandolin?

I believe it's JR playing a harp patch.

Yeah that sounds right.

[Chino]

Does any of you know if the instrument at 2:20 in Dystopian Overture (left channel) is a mandolin?

I believe it's JR playing a harp patch.

Yeah that sounds right.

There's a hysterical video on Youtube of JP playing with a harp effect. It might have been an Adam02 video.

[RoeDent]

Does any of you know if the instrument at 2:20 in Dystopian Overture (left channel) is a mandolin?

I definitely heard a mandolin in the left channel during a later song on the album, but the song escapes me right now.

[thosava]

Does any of you know if the instrument at 2:20 in Dystopian Overture (left channel) is a mandolin?

I definitely heard a mandolin in the left channel during a later song on the album, but the song escapes me right now.

Hymn of a Thousand Voices, in more than half the song

[shadow1psc]

I love that there's so many different "X is my favorite song!" posts/topics. It's the sign of a strong, diverse album. I don't feel like that was the case for the last, oh, 4-5 albums (especially on release). Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

P.S. Ravenskill is best song.

[DragonAttack]

as a huge fan since I&W, i am enjoying TA with everything new it has to offer.  all the tracks seem like perfect little snippets of Dream Theater gold.  i'll admit i'm left wanting a bit though, as killer riffs and beast mode moments seem to go as quick as they come.  after 12 albums, i didn't realize how "trained" DT had me as far as enjoying the development of a 10 minute song where the grooves and riffs last a while.

how about a 4 hour album with 34  8 to 10 minute tracks?!   

Well, in succession, they released albums with six, seven, eight, seven (Enemies being one 'song'), and six.  With Mangini they did BTB nine song albums.  And then.....34.  Maybe they WILL match that with the next one.

[Logain Ablar]

I haven't seen this mentioned yet, but has anyone noticed in The Path That Divides @ about 1:33, James does a little, er, "mmmaaahh". It's at the end of the line "When you're facing the path that divides".
A cool little thing, and not something he normally does a lot of, I don't think.

[Gromit1710]

I love that there's so many different "X is my favorite song!" posts/topics. It's the sign of a strong, diverse album. I don't feel like that was the case for the last, oh, 4-5 albums (especially on release). Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

P.S. Ravenskill is best song.

No, you're absolutely right, IMO. They've not taken a risk like this in years 

[pantsofeternity]

I haven't seen this mentioned yet, but has anyone noticed in The Path That Divides @ about 1:33, James does a little, er, "mmmaaahh". It's at the end of the line "When you're facing the path that divides".
A cool little thing, and not something he normally does a lot of, I don't think.

YES.  Top 5 moment.

[Shooters1221]

I haven't seen this mentioned yet, but has anyone noticed in The Path That Divides @ about 1:33, James does a little, er, "mmmaaahh". It's at the end of the line "When you're facing the path that divides".
A cool little thing, and not something he normally does a lot of, I don't think.

YES.  Top 5 moment.

I noticed it also, it reminded me of Innocence Faded.

[Logain Ablar]

I haven't seen this mentioned yet, but has anyone noticed in The Path That Divides @ about 1:33, James does a little, er, "mmmaaahh". It's at the end of the line "When you're facing the path that divides".
A cool little thing, and not something he normally does a lot of, I don't think.

YES.  Top 5 moment.

I noticed it also, it reminded me of Innocence Faded.

I thought it sounded a bit Muse-y, which is either a good thing or a bad thing, however you look at it.

[JediKnight1969]

I didn't read anyone complaining about the sound and production. I didn't listen to the CD yet. How does it sound?

[ResultsMayVary]

Maybe all of you guys, sick & tired with this post of mine, but again...
Second video slot in The Astonishing page is still the same video with first slot
So the question is... Is TGoM Official Video not the second video for The Astonishing page?? Or they just have not update it yet??
Will we have another video from Dream Theater?

We will, eventually. After seeing Bosk's warning about posting unauthorized material in the TGOM music video thread, I'm sure we got something being released sometime in the future.

Yeah, I remember that. So..... That's mean, possibility about we will have another video for astonishing page, is higher then? Hahaha   

We're definitely getting another video.

[Gromit1710]

I didn't read anyone complaining about the sound and production. I didn't listen to the CD yet. How does it sound?

Really good. Nice and open for me with lots of space. Through headphones it's amazing. Can feel every instrument.