*Official* The Astonishing discussion thread

[Enigmachine]

I actually found the interview funny even though I love the album. You people need to take a 

I can handle people mocking things I like if it's funny. That was trying so hard to be funny that it became obnoxious IMO.

[SystematicThought]

I think Chino said it way back in the middle of the thread, but 1:22-1:38 in Lord Nafaryus is not the best bit I've heard on a DT album. It's just a bit too high for JLB

[jakepriest]

I think Chino said it way back in the middle of the thread, but 1:22-1:38 in Lord Nafaryus is not the best bit I've heard on a DT album. It's just a bit too high for JLB

Unfortunately this happens a lot with LaBrie on the last two albums. He pushes himself for no reason and it A) doesn't sound good AT ALL B) makes it hard for him to perform live. No idea why he can't just stay in the midrange where he shines the most. Most of ADTOE was great in this aspect.

[bosk1]

I have no idea what you guys are talking about.  That part sounds great. 

[SystematicThought]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWdd6_ZxX8c

Please don't ban me

[Mladen]

I love that part, although I wish it had a bit more rasp on it. Can't please everyone, though.

[Omadus]

Has anyone ordered the box set? Have you received anything yet?

[bosk1]

Someone mentioned recently that they have not yet shipped, but are supposed to later this month. 

On a somewhat tangential note, the updated tour books look fantastic.

[Omadus]

Someone mentioned recently that they have not yet shipped, but are supposed to later this month. 

Just wanted to see if anyone else is having the same experience....I already got the vinyl edition, but when I check on my order status, it says that the CD and gift have been shipped as well but I never got them.

[rumborak]

I think Chino said it way back in the middle of the thread, but 1:22-1:38 in Lord Nafaryus is not the best bit I've heard on a DT album. It's just a bit too high for JLB

Unfortunately this happens a lot with LaBrie on the last two albums. He pushes himself for no reason and it A) doesn't sound good AT ALL B) makes it hard for him to perform live. No idea why he can't just stay in the midrange where he shines the most. Most of ADTOE was great in this aspect.

Yeah, both in Boston and a YT video I saw of the tune, that section was a solid two notes below what it was supposed to be.

[wasteland]

Great new live video for Our New World! This was recorded in Milan, and features footage from the 18th and 19th March shows. Damn, I squandered my chance to appear on a DT video getting tickets for the March 17th show

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnLdx2FyNqg

[Kotowboy]

Ha ! I think I predicted it would be a live video.

[mikeyd23]

Cool video!!

[cramx3]

Awesome 

Although, might have went a little too much Steve Harris on the editting, but really cool and I like it!

[Kotowboy]

I wouldn't mind a "tour journal" type video a la Wither...

But seeing as it's part of The Astonishing - it will probably be similar to The Gift Of Music.

Ah ok. I got what I wanted at least. This is much better. Can't go wrong with a live video and backstage stuff. 

[Enigmachine]

Nice. Good, simple video just like Wither and TLG.

[bosk1]

Makes me even more excited for the show now.  2 days! 

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

Great video. How awesome would it be getting a live DVD with that footage quality?

Made me think of Wither.

[Mladen]

This is exactly what I wanted from the video. Fantastic, thousand times better than The Gift of music video. 

[cramx3]

Great video. How awesome would it be getting a live DVD with that footage quality?

Made me think of Wither.

yea, the footage quality looks really good here.

[emtee]

AWESOME! Love it.

Such a great happy upbeat song. Perfect song for a beautiful sunny spring day!!

 

[Kotowboy]

It still reminds me of " You're The Voice " but that's ok as they're both amazing songs.

[Randaran]

I preferred the video for TGOM; the concept for this one is fine, but the editing almost ruins it. Was it really necessary to have a cut every second or two?

[jakepriest]

I don't think I like a single DT video that isn't actually a live performance capture. They are all boring and/or cringe-worthy to me. (like the TEI video )

Was there any confirmation or talk of there being a DVD of this tour sometime later?

[Progmetty]

I enjoyed Our New World/Wither Pt.2 video, I just thought there were at least 4 other songs on the album more worthy of a single/video treatment than Our New World, for example Three Days, The Path That Divides, A New Beginning or Heaven's Cove. But still I enjoyed the video for all the live footage.

[CB]

I love the video, the band is in it, great! Very much like Wither, but also the opposite. Wither felt very melancholic to me, this is just pure joy. Now I want a blue ray of the show in that quality.

[red barchetta]

I love the song and I love the video.  To me, that's about the only really good thing of cd 2.

[MirrorMask]

Just finished another run of The Astonishing.

Whenever I have time to listen to music, I'm a binge listener... an album ends, the next one begins. Am I the only one that needs to let it all sink in for a moment after Astonishing ends, and revel in the beauty of what has just happened rather than going immediately on to some other music?

[earlilano]

I know there are varied opinions on The Astonishing as an album but i wanted to share something Mike Mangini told me last night at the meet and greet that really stuck to me. Pardon my ignorance if this has been shared before in this thread or in an interview. I told Mike and other band members that I did not listen to the album before the show and I wanted to feel that feeling I had when I first listened to dream theater. Mike told me that the album was made to be seen. That statement just stuck with me during the concert and I think I agree that this album was made to be seen and made the music and the concert so much better in my opinion.

[jakepriest]

I know there are varied opinions on The Astonishing as an album but i wanted to share something Mike Mangini told me last night at the meet and greet that really stuck to me. Pardon my ignorance if this has been shared before in this thread or in an interview. I told Mike and other band members that I did not listen to the album before the show and I wanted to feel that feeling I had when I first listened to dream theater. Mike told me that the album was made to be seen. That statement just stuck with me during the concert and I think I agree that this album was made to be seen and made the music and the concert so much better in my opinion.

To be completely honest, even though I love TA, the idea of making a MUSIC album to be SEEN is ridiculously stupid imo.

[Enigmachine]

Just finished another run of The Astonishing.

Whenever I have time to listen to music, I'm a binge listener... an album ends, the next one begins. Am I the only one that needs to let it all sink in for a moment after Astonishing ends, and revel in the beauty of what has just happened rather than going immediately on to some other music?

Yeah, it feels a bit too grand to immedietely go "ok, next album".

[Kotowboy]

Makes you wonder what DT will do next time.

Will be weird releasing another album of 7 eight minute songs and a 20 minute epic.

[Enigmachine]

Makes you wonder what DT will do next time.

Will be weird releasing another album of 7 eight minute songs and a 20 minute epic.

Would like them to do their own "Tales from Topographic Oceans" with a bunch of epics with unique structures and a loose concept. That or a more compact album in the vein of Train of Thought with song lengths of 3-8 mins.

[jakepriest]

Would like for them to get Nolly Getgood and make an album that actually sounds good in all aspects.

[goo-goo]

Would like for them to get Nolly Getgood and make an album that actually sounds good in all aspects.

What other albums has he engineered? I only know the Periphery stuff and I think he engineered the next Devin Townsend album..other than that, what else is out there engineered by him?