- " The Astonishing " - One Year -- er, SEVEN YEARS On.

[TAC]

Michael Kiske is my favorite vocalist! EASILY!

[Ben_Jamin]

Michael Kiske is my favorite vocalist! EASILY!

I felt bad for those Wacken fans that only went to see Helloween. 

[TAC]

Michael Kiske is my favorite vocalist! EASILY!

I felt bad for those Wacken fans that only went to see Helloween. 

What do you mean?

[Ben_Jamin]

Michael Kiske is my favorite vocalist! EASILY!

I felt bad for those Wacken fans that only went to see Helloween. 

What do you mean?

Because Michael Kiske was sick, and just sounded horrible. Nevertheless he gave it his all still. 

[TheOutlawXanadu]

I totally understand why they didn't film and release a show from the Astonishing tour, but watching Distant Memories last night, I definitely felt a bit sad that they never documented one of those shows.

[hefdaddy42]

I totally understand why they didn't film and release a show from the Astonishing tour, but watching Distant Memories last night, I definitely felt a bit sad that they never documented one of those shows.

I wish they had recorded the show we caught in Durham!

[gzarruk]

MM just posted a fun video from the TA sessions of him just messing around with some polyrhythms that never made it to the album: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XT2vy_IaXY

[Kotowboy]

  Why does MM playing like that always sound like someone who's never played drums before ?

[ReaperKK]

Yea the start of the video I thought "hey this is what I sound like playing drums"

[Ben_Jamin]

Why does MM playing like that always sound like someone who's never played drums before ?

I don't think he was really playing the drums, he lightly plays to get a sense of the Poly rhythm.

[Madman Shepherd]

Why does MM playing like that always sound like someone who's never played drums before ?

 

Yea the start of the video I thought "hey this is what I sound like playing drums"

 

His third snippet/poly rhythm thing was pretty cool and natural sounding though.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

Why does MM playing like that always sound like someone who's never played drums before ?

I know this is a light hearted comment (and a funny one, of course), but it's kinda unfair in a larger musical scope. It's like implying that someone playing XX century atonal piano music sounds like someone who's never played the piano before (and I would understand such a comment lol), but that's certainly not the case. MM is very much like a curious kid in a science lab, trying of things just for the sake of learning stuff and seeing what happens and that's something I really like of him.

[Ben_Jamin]

I was responding to a post and then it got too long and off-topic, So I cut it and decided to post it here, as it serves more of a better discussion here.

The Astonishing story really calls for that style of music it's written in. I feel people wanted that Epic, War type, song of the war within The Astonishing story. But, it's not the focal point of the album, hence why it's placed in the background, only shown through the training sounds of swords clashing, and usually when Ahrys is speaking, his theme is mainly the army, militia theme of rebellion. He's the one who wants the war, Gabriel just wants to play guitar, basically. And Faythe having just discovered the Music Player, on their family survey of Ravenskill, got infatuated with Gabriel with his long hair flowing in the wind...(That's what I picture when I hear "Could my destiny, Be right in front of me?")

If you want to see how bad the war between Ravenskill and The Great Northen Empire was, the book begins right off the bat, with a prelude that is a war scene. It's where we are introduced to Evangeline and the birth of Xander. It's really sad, and messed up, how the NOMACS played a part in her death. Talk about an intense introduction.

[darkshade]

How do we know the band didn't record any shows from The Astonishing tour?

[Architeuthis]

How do we know the band didn't record any shows from The Astonishing tour?

We do know it was never filmed professionally, otherwise they would have announced it ahead of time.  There might be a few audience filmed gigs floating around but extremely hard to find. The band and the venues were really adamant about the NO CAMERA rule on that tour. There are probably a few soundboard recordings and perhaps crew-shot videos, but will never see the light of day to be released or unofficially released.

[hunnus2000]

The fact that there is no video for this is nothing short of (wait for it)











Astonishing!

Sorry - I couldn't help myself...

[gzarruk]

How do we know the band didn't record any shows from The Astonishing tour?

We do know it was never filmed professionally, otherwise they would have announced it ahead of time.  There might be a few audience filmed gigs floating around but extremely hard to find. The band and the venues were really adamant about the NO CAMERA rule on that tour. There are probably a few soundboard recordings and perhaps crew-shot videos, but will never see the light of day to be released or unofficially released.

Yeah, there's no professionally recorded video, but afaik they record audio for every single show they do. They could easily release one of those shows as an official bootleg if they wanted to.

[ytserush]

How do we know the band didn't record any shows from The Astonishing tour?

We do know it was never filmed professionally, otherwise they would have announced it ahead of time.  There might be a few audience filmed gigs floating around but extremely hard to find. The band and the venues were really adamant about the NO CAMERA rule on that tour. There are probably a few soundboard recordings and perhaps crew-shot videos, but will never see the light of day to be released or unofficially released.

Yeah, there's no professionally recorded video, but afaik they record audio for every single show they do. They could easily release one of those shows as an official bootleg if they wanted to.

Totally would be up for an official bootleg. Might even make the most sense to release it that way.

[Chino]

How do we know the band didn't record any shows from The Astonishing tour?

We do know it was never filmed professionally, otherwise they would have announced it ahead of time.  There might be a few audience filmed gigs floating around but extremely hard to find. The band and the venues were really adamant about the NO CAMERA rule on that tour. There are probably a few soundboard recordings and perhaps crew-shot videos, but will never see the light of day to be released or unofficially released.

Yeah, there's no professionally recorded video, but afaik they record audio for every single show they do. They could easily release one of those shows as an official bootleg if they wanted to.

Totally would be up for an official bootleg. Might even make the most sense to release it that way.

Even if they had a single camera angle on a mounted tripod in the sound booth, I'd happily take that with whatever came out of the sound board. If for nothing more than to have a semi-decent version of the extended (original) outro of A New Beginning.

[Ben_Jamin]

How do we know the band didn't record any shows from The Astonishing tour?

We do know it was never filmed professionally, otherwise they would have announced it ahead of time.  There might be a few audience filmed gigs floating around but extremely hard to find. The band and the venues were really adamant about the NO CAMERA rule on that tour. There are probably a few soundboard recordings and perhaps crew-shot videos, but will never see the light of day to be released or unofficially released.

Yeah, there's no professionally recorded video, but afaik they record audio for every single show they do. They could easily release one of those shows as an official bootleg if they wanted to.

Totally would be up for an official bootleg. Might even make the most sense to release it that way.

Even if they had a single camera angle on a mounted tripod in the sound booth, I'd happily take that with whatever came out of the sound board. If for nothing more than to have a semi-decent version of the extended (original) outro of A New Beginning.

I actually wouldn't mind getting the intro narration as a digital download.

But I will say. Unless you have a good system. Those NOMAC tracks won't do justice at all. Man those were the best because after reading the prologue to the book. That's exactly, if not louder, how the NOMACS sounded.

[hunnus2000]

If I recall, before Led Zeppelin released How the West Was Won they reached out to the general public to request old video footage which they then restored.

DT could go through a similar process and augment live video footage with video animation. It might be cost prohibitive though but I bet that the DT fandom would overwhelmingly love this even if some aren't a fan of TA. Who knows, it might bring critics of TA back from the dark side.

[Architeuthis]

If I recall, before Led Zeppelin released How the West Was Won they reached out to the general public to request old video footage which they then restored.

DT could go through a similar process and augment live video footage with video animation. It might be cost prohibitive though but I bet that the DT fandom would overwhelmingly love this even if some aren't a fan of TA. Who knows, it might bring critics of TA back from the dark side.

I would love that!  There are some audience videos on youtube of TA. They could sync that up with better quality soundboard recordings. It might be possible since the live show is played to a click.  It would be cool if they had some hardcore fan who is really into it to put it together.  However, very unlikely.

[Chino]

If I recall, before Led Zeppelin released How the West Was Won they reached out to the general public to request old video footage which they then restored.

DT could go through a similar process and augment live video footage with video animation. It might be cost prohibitive though but I bet that the DT fandom would overwhelmingly love this even if some aren't a fan of TA. Who knows, it might bring critics of TA back from the dark side.

I would love that!  There are some audience videos on youtube of TA. They could sync that up with better quality soundboard recordings. It might be possible since the live show is played to a click.  It would be cool if they had some hardcore fan who is really into it to put it together.  However, very unlikely.

They could have done that with ease had it not been for the cellphone restrictions. There's a shockingly small amount of old footage from the tour on YouTube.

[Ben_Jamin]

You know what I really wish we had...

Instrumental Versions of Act of Faythe, Chosen, and Losing Faythe.

[Trav86]

Now that the band has used Bandcamp for their holiday release, they should use that more. This is a great format for things that we would consider for Official Bootlegs. Except now there is no overhead. Put a small price and let fans pay more if they want.

[TAC]

Now that the band has used Bandcamp for their holiday release, they should use that more. This is a great format for things that we would consider for Official Bootlegs. Except now there is no overhead. Put a small price and let fans pay more if they want.

I like your thinking.

[gzarruk]

Now that the band has used Bandcamp for their holiday release, they should use that more. This is a great format for things that we would consider for Official Bootlegs. Except now there is no overhead. Put a small price and let fans pay more if they want.

I'd definitely buy those, specially since Bandcamp offers high quality downloads.

[ytserush]

How do we know the band didn't record any shows from The Astonishing tour?

We do know it was never filmed professionally, otherwise they would have announced it ahead of time.  There might be a few audience filmed gigs floating around but extremely hard to find. The band and the venues were really adamant about the NO CAMERA rule on that tour. There are probably a few soundboard recordings and perhaps crew-shot videos, but will never see the light of day to be released or unofficially released.

Yeah, there's no professionally recorded video, but afaik they record audio for every single show they do. They could easily release one of those shows as an official bootleg if they wanted to.

Totally would be up for an official bootleg. Might even make the most sense to release it that way.

Even if they had a single camera angle on a mounted tripod in the sound booth, I'd happily take that with whatever came out of the sound board. If for nothing more than to have a semi-decent version of the extended (original) outro of A New Beginning.

That would be great too.

[Ben_Jamin]

Brought this over here, because I want to say more about The Astonishing and don't want to further derail that thread.

Also, it was an incredible live/theater experience. I've seen DT live probably around 9 or 10 times and the Astonishing concert has been one of my favorites. I enjoyed it so much that I bought tickets for an extra night in Mexico City after a wonderful first night (I had only the plan of going to one of the two dates). It was really different, in a good way.

Same here. I saw both US legs. Which sucked for me, because the songs that got cut, are ones I really enjoy and they were amazing live. Especially, The X Aspect.

This song, is describing Arhys' tough decision he has been dealt. The decision of whether to betray his brother in order for his son to live a better life, a promise he made to Evangeline. The music describes this exact feeling of despair and the feeling of having to make this tough decision, as the choice made really isn't that great either way, hence why it is a tough decision.

The opening piano of The X Aspect, really describes that setting of being in the house, on a nice, cool night, with the moonlight peeking through the window on a table, where Arhys is sitting, while looking at Xander and pondering. I hear the boys choir here, and it's what made me imagine that Arhys is looking at xander with that look every parent gives their child. When the lyrics come in, it's Arhys discussing with himself this desperate decision he now has to make. As the music here intensifies and is culminated into "Evangeline, I swore to you, to love and guide our son" it's his plea and realization, and has come to the conclusion that "a better life is worth this sacrifice". The bagpipes at the end, along with the boys choir, is him looking at Xander again with, sad eyes.

[TAC]

The X Aspect is one of the most incredible pieces of music in Dream Theater's catalog, IMO.

[Ben_Jamin]

The X Aspect is one of the most incredible pieces of music in Dream Theater's catalog, IMO.

Yup...It is...I actually like that about the entirety of The Astonishing.

Also from 3:00 on in A Better Life, the piano underneath, is reminiscent of the piano in The X Aspect intro. And from this point on, is where Arhys made promise to Evangeline, and why I think, this part is similar to The X Aspect. There are similarities in the Boys Choir, The build-up to "Evangeline..." and the piano underneath. These may possibly be the themes of Xander and Evangeline, as they relate to Arhys.

[hunnus2000]

Question - is there any fan based animation to TA or would that be a massive copyright infringement?

[Ben_Jamin]

While watching Lord Nefaryus Live. The background video really best describes what happens within that song really well. The part I like is, when They begin their journey from their palace in the Empire "Into the far off reaches of the land, to witness this great spectacle first hand." And then they introduce his family, as he describes whom is with him to meet "The Saviour".  And also, when they show the Vast Land, with the overview shot of the trees, that pans to the magnificent mountainous valley. I love that they did that...Really helps you vision the story. Which is what I do when I listen to pretty much all concept albums, that have a narrative.

Usually, when I just let the music be what it is, and take it as it is presented. I can hear and feel more of the emotions in the music. And the reasons why that part was made that way, and why it relates to what is happening within the story being told. Also, the way it's narrated can also become present. I will then snap, they meant for it to presented this way. Sometimes, it's like a radio show, sometimes, like a movie film. Other times, like an old-school horror story. Imagine if they were to make concept albums with VR attached....

Question - is there any fan based animation to TA or would that be a massive copyright infringement?

Not that I have found. And I really doubt someone would take that amount of time to do one. But I don't see why there aren't any songs, that have animated clips along with the songs. I think that would be neat. If I knew how to do it, I likely would've made one, but I wouldn't guarantee I would have made one either.

You know...I do kind of wish the band released just the live background videos and put those up on Youtube with the studio songs.

That could be how they got the idea to do that with DoT. Saves time to create and plan what is going to be played on the screen during that song live.

[hunnus2000]

While watching Lord Nefaryus Live. The background video really best describes what happens within that song really well. The part I like is, when They begin their journey from their palace in the Empire "Into the far off reaches of the land, to witness this great spectacle first hand." And then they introduce his family, as he describes whom is with him to meet "The Saviour".  And also, when they show the Vast Land, with the overview shot of the trees, that pans to the magnificent mountainous valley. I love that they did that...Really helps you vision the story. Which is what I do when I listen to pretty much all concept albums, that have a narrative.

Usually, when I just let the music be what it is, and take it as it is presented. I can hear and feel more of the emotions in the music. And the reasons why that part was made that way, and why it relates to what is happening within the story being told. Also, the way it's narrated can also become present. I will then snap, they meant for it to presented this way. Sometimes, it's like a radio show, sometimes, like a movie film. Other times, like an old-school horror story. Imagine if they were to make concept albums with VR attached....

Question - is there any fan based animation to TA or would that be a massive copyright infringement?

Not that I have found. And I really doubt someone would take that amount of time to do one. But I don't see why there aren't any songs, that have animated clips along with the songs. I think that would be neat. If I knew how to do it, I likely would've made one, but I wouldn't guarantee I would have made one either.

You know...I do kind of wish the band released just the live background videos and put those up on Youtube with the studio songs.

That could be how they got the idea to do that with DoT. Saves time to create and plan what is going to be played on the screen during that song live.

Yeah - and that was where I was eventually going to go with my question. I cannot imagine it would be that difficult to piece together animation even with the studio version of the songs. I know I would buy it.

[kirksnosehair]

I respect the band immensely for the sheer effort that went into it. However, after trying too many times to count, I have to accept that it is my least favorite DT album. While many people love James performance, I just can't get into it. Also, far too many uber slow sections, which isn't a bad thing if they hold my interest but on this album, they don't grab me or keep me interested.

I don't like using the word "filler" because it kind of denotes laziness, but to me that's what all those "uber slow sections" sound like.