Author Topic: Official The Astonishing discussion thread (Read 519754 times)

Kotowboy · « **Reply #1645 on:** February 03, 2016, 04:50:00 PM »

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 · « **Reply #1646 on:** February 03, 2016, 05:30:03 PM »

Quote from: chrisbDTM on January 30, 2016, 10:03:33 AM

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 · « **Reply #1647 on:** February 03, 2016, 05:51:32 PM »

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 · « **Reply #1648 on:** February 03, 2016, 06:04:57 PM »

Quote from: pringkaarwanda on February 03, 2016, 05:51:32 PM

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 · « **Reply #1649 on:** February 03, 2016, 06:42:09 PM »

Quote from: ResultsMayVary on February 03, 2016, 06:04:57 PM

Quote from: pringkaarwanda on February 03, 2016, 05:51:32 PM
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 · « **Reply #1650 on:** February 03, 2016, 07:58:26 PM »

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

jjfumbly · « **Reply #1651 on:** February 03, 2016, 08:17:01 PM »

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

lumpy33 · « **Reply #1652 on:** February 03, 2016, 08:29:34 PM »

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 · « **Reply #1653 on:** February 03, 2016, 09:31:38 PM »

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 · « **Reply #1654 on:** February 03, 2016, 09:55:59 PM »

Quote from: Volante99 on January 28, 2016, 10:40:40 PM

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 · « **Reply #1655 on:** February 03, 2016, 10:13:21 PM »

Quote from: LCArenas on February 03, 2016, 09:31:38 PM

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 · « **Reply #1656 on:** February 03, 2016, 10:33:35 PM »

Quote from: Calvin6s on January 29, 2016, 03:36:27 AM

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 · « **Reply #1657 on:** February 03, 2016, 10:51:42 PM »

Quote from: jsbru on February 03, 2016, 09:55:59 PM

Quote from: Volante99 on January 28, 2016, 10:40:40 PM
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 · « **Reply #1658 on:** February 04, 2016, 01:27:59 AM »

Quote from: scythe on January 29, 2016, 06:00:55 AM

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 · « **Reply #1659 on:** February 04, 2016, 01:56:20 AM »

Quote from: KevShmev on February 03, 2016, 10:13:21 PM

Quote from: LCArenas on February 03, 2016, 09:31:38 PM
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 · « **Reply #1660 on:** February 04, 2016, 04:48:59 AM »

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 · « **Reply #1661 on:** February 04, 2016, 06:56:32 AM »

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

Shooters1221 · « **Reply #1662 on:** February 04, 2016, 07:00:35 AM »

Quote from: jsbru on February 03, 2016, 09:55:59 PM

Quote from: Volante99 on January 28, 2016, 10:40:40 PM
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 · « **Reply #1663 on:** February 04, 2016, 07:01:04 AM »

Quote from: Kotowboy on February 04, 2016, 04:48:59 AM

Moment of Betrayal verse = Count of The Great Tuscany Debate

So true

thosava · « **Reply #1664 on:** February 04, 2016, 07:24:27 AM »

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

BlobVanDam · « **Reply #1665 on:** February 04, 2016, 07:25:18 AM »

Quote from: thosava on February 04, 2016, 07:24:27 AM

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 · « **Reply #1666 on:** February 04, 2016, 07:26:31 AM »

Quote from: BlobVanDam on February 04, 2016, 07:25:18 AM

Quote from: thosava on February 04, 2016, 07:24:27 AM
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 · « **Reply #1667 on:** February 04, 2016, 07:29:18 AM »

Quote from: thosava on February 04, 2016, 07:26:31 AM

Quote from: BlobVanDam on February 04, 2016, 07:25:18 AM
Quote from: thosava on February 04, 2016, 07:24:27 AM
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 · « **Reply #1668 on:** February 04, 2016, 07:49:07 AM »

Quote from: thosava on February 04, 2016, 07:24:27 AM

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 · « **Reply #1669 on:** February 04, 2016, 07:49:43 AM »

Quote from: RoeDent on February 04, 2016, 07:49:07 AM

Quote from: thosava on February 04, 2016, 07:24:27 AM
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 · « **Reply #1670 on:** February 04, 2016, 07:57:45 AM »

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 · « **Reply #1671 on:** February 04, 2016, 08:05:13 AM »

Quote from: lumpy33 on February 03, 2016, 08:29:34 PM

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 · « **Reply #1672 on:** February 04, 2016, 08:15:31 AM »

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 · « **Reply #1673 on:** February 04, 2016, 08:16:01 AM »

Quote from: shadow1psc on February 04, 2016, 07:57:45 AM

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 · « **Reply #1674 on:** February 04, 2016, 08:16:19 AM »

Quote from: Logain Ablar on February 04, 2016, 08:15:31 AM

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 · « **Reply #1675 on:** February 04, 2016, 08:24:49 AM »

Quote from: pantsofeternity on February 04, 2016, 08:16:19 AM

Quote from: Logain Ablar on February 04, 2016, 08:15:31 AM
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 · « **Reply #1676 on:** February 04, 2016, 08:45:50 AM »

Quote from: Shooters1221 on February 04, 2016, 08:24:49 AM

Quote from: pantsofeternity on February 04, 2016, 08:16:19 AM
Quote from: Logain Ablar on February 04, 2016, 08:15:31 AM
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 · « **Reply #1677 on:** February 04, 2016, 09:16:31 AM »

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

ResultsMayVary · « **Reply #1678 on:** February 04, 2016, 09:37:01 AM »

Quote from: pringkaarwanda on February 03, 2016, 06:42:09 PM

Quote from: ResultsMayVary on February 03, 2016, 06:04:57 PM
Quote from: pringkaarwanda on February 03, 2016, 05:51:32 PM
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 · « **Reply #1679 on:** February 04, 2016, 09:37:13 AM »

Quote from: JediKnight1969 on February 04, 2016, 09:16:31 AM

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.

News: Paralyzed official video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7m7l8iqGAk

Author Topic: *Official* The Astonishing discussion thread (Read 519754 times)

Author Topic: Official The Astonishing discussion thread (Read 519754 times)