Here's the thing...Bumblefoot, Billy Sheehan and JSS aren't prog guys. I mean, yeah, JSS does TSO, which has prog leanings for sure. But really, the only two "prog" guys in the band are MP and DS. And if they truly wanted to do prog, they should have gotten guys known for that.
I mean, I'm not an uppity prog-snob. I'm what I'd refer to as a fan of more intelligent hard rock/metal with prog leanings. A lot of bands fall into that category to a degree -- Queensryche, Alter Bridge, Fates Warning, DT (more prog), Alice in Chains, etc. So, I am going into SoA (I haven't listened to the entirety of the songs released so far) just expecting some damn good heavy rock with some prog flourishes, mostly coming from the drums. I'm looking forward to it.
I'd be lying, however, if I said I wasn't disappointed with the people MP and DS chose. I was really hoping they'd go for a voice with less...miles on it than JSS, and I'm not at all sold with Bumblefoot and Billy Sheehan. I mean, I was one of the first to guess JSS, and I was right, and that really bums me out. Not that I don't love JSS -- I do. Great vocalist, hell of a nice guy. Just not who I wanted on THIS project. And to be honest, while I really do appreciate the talent of Billy and Bumble, I'm just tired of seeing them on every fucking record I buy (it seems like).
But it's not our band, right? So you take what you are given. And I'll check SoA out, and I really hope I love the album, despite my disappointment in some of the musicians chosen.
I gotta admit, I mean, I'm a guy for reunions and happy endings in music stories. I'd love to see MP return to Dream Theater. No disrespect at all whatsoever to Mike Mangini. And while I am not rooting for SoA to fail, I am hoping MP at some point calls JP, and the two of them work it out. There's no need for SoA. Just put the gang back together.
That said, here's hoping SoA is really good.
Sorry, my thoughts kinda got jumbled.