Wow. WOW! This is the album I’ve been waiting for them to make for the last 15 years. This is equivalent to DT in their heyday (SFAM / 6DOIT). It may even exceed them based on the sheer ambition of this project.
When I first heard I&W in ’92 just as grunge was becoming popular, it blew my mind. DT got me through the 90s musically. But for the last several albums, the magic has been gone for me. Part of it is that as my taste has matured, DT’s sound has not. I am no longer the headbanger I was in my 20s. And JPs shredding has become so tiresome for me, heard it all before. I had been hoping for a more mellow DT sound for a long time as the guys age, but had almost written them off.
So I was SHOCKED! when I first listened to the Astonishing. It is so damn good. I can’t stop listening. I cannot remember a time when I’ve been so excited about new music. I don’t hear any fillers here, I love the length, love the number and incredible variety of the tracks, and love that nothings over 6 minutes. I love the piano and acoustic guitar and all the unique instruments they have added.
I am not a JLB fan, but I think he does a good job here. Still, I cannot help wonder how good this would be with a more modern sounding vocalist, someone like Casey McPherson. Also, as has been discussed, JM where are you? Disappointing since I would have thought an album like this might have allowed him to spread his wings. And MM, I really don’t like his sound and robotic style. It almost sounds like a drum machine. The stuff Portnoy has been doing with Flying Colors and Neal Morse lately just sounds so much better to me. But enough of that.
Major props to JP for parking his ego at the door on this one and really putting the music first. And JR, what can one say? He is the wizard. I feel like DT is finally acting their age and realizing their potential. I so hope this new sound is an indication of where they are going and not just a one-off.
Welcome back boys, DT IS BACK!!!