Before I say how I felt, I should say now that I might have experienced this album differently if it were packaged as a JP/JR side project and presented on a stage with actors and costumes. I would be open to seeing that one day if they ever decided to do it, though I'd want to hear proper Broadway or musical theater vocalists and have JLB do a specific role.
As a DT fan, I was absolutely horrified by this record when it came out. The last piece of new music I'd heard from the band-- GOM single aside-- was Illumination Theory, which for me is a top 10 DT song only subordinate to I&W, ACOS and a couple other tunes maybe. I played TA once through and it was like torture. I also wondered if JM or MM were even on the record, let alone present in the song-writing sessions. I respect the amount of work that went into TA, and I love Disney. I am a grown man with a subscription to Disney+ so I can watch the favorites from my childhood (my kid is too young to watch TV). But Dream Theater is not good at this. I have been hoping the band would push themselves further but I did not want to hear them enter the musical theater genre, which is just a totally different thing. Years later I can say that it is still the only DT record I cannot stand. I thought FII, Octavarium and SC were mediocre, but I could tolerate them because I am a diehard JP fan. I could always find a couple tunes that would give me energy or a few guitar riffs and solos I could work on. I find it hard to tolerate TA at all. Long story short, the album aged exactly as it arrived: unlistenable-- GOM aside. I think this is at the bottom of a legendary discography unfortunately.
It's not about having enough time for music. I've been through Wagner more than once. I've played the crap out of every DT album. It's about Dream Theater and what they're good at. The only other thing I hope for is that the band did not interpret the mixed reaction as evidence that they shouldn't experiment. That is NOT what I am saying. We just didn't want DT to do Disney influenced musical theater. There are an infinite number of ways the band can evolve their sound without stepping into this other genre. Maybe one day bring it back in a different format, but with so much other music to listen to, I just cannot. DoT and, I hope, AVFTTOTW style Dream Theater all the way.
Understandable response, and great for posting it. I also really think it would've sold better packaged as JP presents, but don't see the reason why, and it's like how JLB as a name sells better than Mullmuzzler. I also really do want it to be a Broadway style show, even if it's like Ayreons Theater Equation with a cast of singers. JLB could do Arhys or The Narrator.
What Dream Theater is good at is entirely up to the listener. And 'we'? Not I. I actually do not mind that DT wanted to do Disney influenced musical theater.
I find it interesting that when a band or whatever decides to actually branch out, and chooses to go down one stream, people get disappointed when they don't flow down their stream of choice. I find that funny in a way.
The Disney influence is because the range of the audience extends to include the younger music listeners, mainly the recluse females that are quiet and listen to music in school, which is the behavior and attitude of the Faythe character. In a way, relating to JP's own daughters.
Faythe also, did not only fall in love with Gabriel's sexy voice.
...Faythe fell in love with the fact that the music she found in the castle halls is being played live in front of her eyes to which she finally feels the power of music in a live setting. She also sees this in the people of Ravenskill, in how they gather in the square to when he plays and sings. Faythe fell in love with Live music, the same way us fans enjoy seeing the band live. The love (not the physical love for Gabriel) is what I feel is represented by Faythes theme.
Musically, The entire band did an excellent job on the record. Mangini and JM are there and make excellent contributions in terms of note choices and grooves. An example are the drums and the bass in the dialogue of Faythe and Arabelle in 'A Life Left Behind'. Lyrically, it could've been better worded, but JP is not a lyrical genius either and I did not expect a West Side Story, or Phantom of The Opera in terms of lyrics and dialogue.
Topic: - " The Astonishing " - One Year -- er, SEVEN YEARS On. (Read 176161 times)
