Sons of Apollo (feat. Portnoy & Sherinian)

[cramx3]

Bumblefoot's Coming Home solo: https://www.facebook.com/SonsOfApollo1/videos/229170190950121/

I gotta say, I'm in love with his fretless guitar, it sounds so cool. I never really knew before that fretless electric guitar was a thing, but now I'll totally be on the lookout for it. I think this is the biggest achievement of this album for me.

  that's sick, love his playing on this album

[Öxölklöfför]

I don't get any Boston from that song.  But it is an intensely fun song for a lot of reasons.

Right around the 3:32 mark. Just for a few seconds. Can you hear it?

The keyboard solo?  I hear Derek noodling away, but I don't hear any reference to a particular band or song.  Not saying it isn't there.  But I'm not making any connection.  Which Boston song?

Yes the keyboard solo. Same riff as the beginning of Foreplay/Longtime. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if DS is a Tom Scholz fan..

Yes, it does actually sounds like the same riff.

[Architeuthis]

Indeed!

[PetFish]

MP admits to roiled emotions, but generally handles the relationship with respect and dignity, including reigniting friendships with at least 2 if not 3 of the four remaining members.

 

Just when I think you can't top yourself.

[antigoon]

Hey Mike, if you're reading this I want you to know that I really didn't like the way your blood spilled on my brand new floor. You were right.

[Ben_Jamin]

I liked the two promo tracks.  I thought they were "very good," but perhaps not great.  From what I had read, I assumed there was a SEVERE dropoff from those two tracks.  That, and Mike's and Derek's online behavior, had me expecting this to be a "low 7" or a 6.  After two listens, I give it a solid 8/10 and am pretty happy with it.  Full review here:  https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=50945.msg2369087#msg2369087

Overall, this exceeded expectations for me.  It's a shame that Mike and Derek shot themselves in the foot by pissing of a segment of their built-in fanbase who either won't give this a chance or whose opinions will be tainted because of the way those two have acted in the lead-up to the album's release.  Really bad move on their parts.

You know. Maybe they did it on purpose to weed out the haterz and the ones whom won't let the music speak for itself.

I gave it a 5 as I let the music speak. Don't care about twitter or promotional reviews. Them doing the commentary was nice, I just payed attention to the song, plus the Mynotaur part was neat to hear about.

[Schurftkut]

https://www.goingofftrack.com/2017/10/25/sons-apollo/ at least this one's a bit different from most interviews

[ReaperKK]

Bumblefoot's Coming Home solo: https://www.facebook.com/SonsOfApollo1/videos/229170190950121/

I gotta say, I'm in love with his fretless guitar, it sounds so cool. I never really knew before that fretless electric guitar was a thing, but now I'll totally be on the lookout for it. I think this is the biggest achievement of this album for me.

  that's sick, love his playing on this album

That's awesome! I need to check out more of Ron's stuff.

I know Guthrie also plays fretless guitar as well https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yshLWYjMijo

[ErHaO]

Oh totally. Like I said, I haven't seen them. I generally don't read reviews anyway. I just hope the reviews from the very very odd places "koreauguitar" or whatever, or sites that looked like they were just made for the reviews, aren't being seen as genuinely reliable reviews.

A lot of more legit looking sites and sites I know give the album solid/good reviews as well.

[rumborak]

https://www.goingofftrack.com/2017/10/25/sons-apollo/ at least this one's a bit different from most interviews

What the....

[SystematicThought]

Don't worry, it's an edited take on the group photo. They just made it look a bit creepier

[Adami]

Yea...I have to say, a bunch of 50-60 year old men looking super tough in a dark room is NOT a good idea.

I mean that picture basically says "Y'all gonna get raped"

[Mebert78]

Not sure if anyone has pointed this out yet, but the melody of the choruses for "Coming Home"  and "Alive " are pretty similar. 


"I'm coming hooooooooome."

"I am aliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiive."


I'm enjoying both songs. Just an observation though.

[Adami]

Not sure if anyone has pointed this out yet, but the melody of the choruses for "Coming Home"  and "Alive " are pretty similar. 


"I'm coming hooooooooome.
"
"I am aliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiive."


I'm enjoying both songs. Just an observation though.

Yea, I noted that when I listened to the samples on Itunes. It's basically identical, especially with MP's response vocals.

[SystematicThought]

Yea...I have to say, a bunch of 50-60 year old men looking super tough in a dark room is NOT a good idea.

I mean that picture basically says "Y'all gonna get raped"

I've had the same problem with DT promo pics for the past decade or so.
Especially this one. The camo pants, the jacket(s), the chain pants, the background.  When you see this photo, what kind of music do you think they play?

[Adami]

Oh yea, that's a creepy pic. I think the SoA pic is a bit worse only because they look like they're in Jigsaw's basement.

[SystematicThought]

Both pics do a good job of representing my face when I was listening to Sons of Apollo.

[Lethean]

I don't have a problem with either picture.  They're just typical metal band pics.

[The Silent Cody]

https://youtu.be/QAA1AE1nigo
I dunno if somebody posted it before, stusio outtakes part 2. Fun to watch, Ron is my hero here definitly 

[nobloodyname]

I mean that picture basically says "Y'all gonna get raped"

Good grief.

[Fritzinger]

While listening to PS, I thought about how the band is going to realize this live. My bet is, Figaro will be come a way longer keyboard solo and the drum break in Lost In Oblivion will become a MP drum solo. Any guesses?

[Fritzinger]

After quite a few listens to this album, and being disappointed with it, I wanted to make a better representation of what MP + DS are capable of doing. So, I made a playlist, the lenght of an actual album, with, in my opinion, a better selection of songs from Mike and Derek.

Here is a good representation on what DS and MP can do together when JP is involved

[MirrorMask]

While listening to PS, I thought about how the band is going to realize this live. My bet is, Figaro will be come a way longer keyboard solo and the drum break in Lost In Oblivion will become a MP drum solo. Any guesses?

Never thought about Opus Maximus, but yeah, I wanted to suggest too how Figaro's Whore may more than likely become a longer improv piece.

I think they're gonna play the entire album, of course there will also be covers but I don't think any of the 9 songs will remain out of the setlist.

[ReaperKK]

I wouldn't be surprised if they played the entire album. I'm curious as to what else they'll play, maybe they'll have some b-sides.

I will check them out if they come to town.

[wolfking]

I still haven't listened to the album.  I feel somewhat badass.......

I probably should though.

[MirrorMask]

Yeah, you should, it's not perfect but it's quite good and enjoyable.

[Hourglass Prison]

Put enough monkeys in a room with a typewriter and they'll eventually write Shakespeare; put 5 monkeys in a room for 2 weeks with some gear and they'll write Psychotic Symphony.

[quote lerxt] Who's going to clean all those typewriters?!

[/quote]

Damn, beat me to it! Lol

[Hourglass Prison]

Yea...I have to say, a bunch of 50-60 year old men looking super tough in a dark room is NOT a good idea.

I mean that picture basically says "Y'all gonna get raped"

I've had the same problem with DT promo pics for the past decade or so.
Especially this one. The camo pants, the jacket(s), the chain pants, the background.  When you see this photo, what kind of music do you think they play?

For me, this one always threw me off simply because it’s awkward. Aside from JMX, none of them seem to know what to do with their hands.

[Dave_Manchester]

Never thought about Opus Maximus, but yeah, I wanted to suggest too how Figaro's Whore may more than likely become a longer improv piece.

Coming Home would work very well as an extended live piece in my opinion. That slowed down 'Who'-like section at the 2:45 mark has lots of space for improvisation. It actually reminds of the Beyond This Life bassline that Dream Theater used for their Live at Budokan jam, and I wouldn't be surprised to see SoA do something similar with Coming Home.

As for covers, I have a hunch they'll avoid doing songs from their own histories. They want this to be an entirely new thing for them. I think Portnoy's very good at the conceptual side of music and concerts, so perhaps he'll come up with a bunch of covers based around a theme (connected with the band name or something). I dunno. But if they play a DT song, I'll be extremely surprised, I don't think he'll want SoA material alongside DT material. As I said, I'm basing that on nothing other than a hunch.

[IDontNotDoThings]

Yea...I have to say, a bunch of 50-60 year old men looking super tough in a dark room is NOT a good idea.

I mean that picture basically says "Y'all gonna get raped"

I've had the same problem with DT promo pics for the past decade or so.
Especially this one. The camo pants, the jacket(s), the chain pants, the background.  When you see this photo, what kind of music do you think they play?

For me, this one always threw me off simply because it’s awkward. Aside from JMX, none of them seem to know what to do with their hands.

I can't be the only one who originally thought this was a painting, right?

[Mladen]

That's their most awkward photo in the post-2010 phase. MM looks completely lost, as if he's trying to say "wait, how do I make a face in a metal band photo shoot?" 

This is one of their better ones, though:

[Dave_Manchester]

In my lovingly framed photo with the band on their DT12 tour, only myself and Petrucci are smiling (awkwardly it should be said) while the other 4 look like Monty Burns on a bad day, all moody glowering and sullen misery. Between my unshaven look (9 hour flight earlier that day) and JP's beard we look like a pair of insane survivalists who've taken hostages. Don't get me wrong they were absolutely awesome to meet, but it can't be easy doing that many 'photo shoots' when your mind is on a very complex 3-hour set of music an hour later.

[CDrice]

Yea...I have to say, a bunch of 50-60 year old men looking super tough in a dark room is NOT a good idea.

I mean that picture basically says "Y'all gonna get raped"

I've had the same problem with DT promo pics for the past decade or so.
Especially this one. The camo pants, the jacket(s), the chain pants, the background.  When you see this photo, what kind of music do you think they play?

I'm not sure what I feel is the most disturbing. Is it JP's intense gaze or Mike subtle smirk?

[MirrorMask]

In my lovingly framed photo with the band on their DT12 tour, only myself and Petrucci are smiling (awkwardly it should be said) while the other 4 look like Monty Burns on a bad day, all moody glowering and sullen misery. Between my unshaven look (9 hour flight earlier that day) and JP's beard we look like a pair of insane survivalists who've taken hostages. Don't get me wrong they were absolutely awesome to meet, but it can't be easy doing that many 'photo shoots' when your mind is on a very complex 3-hour set of music an hour later.

Just practice a smile and be done with it, I'd say. I've seen Lzzy Hale doing that, when I was standing in line to get a photo with her, all of a sudden she pulls out this big, wide-teeth smile and that's what she did for me as well. Maybe it's the same one she pulls out for everyone, but who cares? she was kind enough to do it, and I have a nice pic with her smiling.

[MirrorMask]

From interviews it looks like Lines in the Sand is basically a given.

My hunch is another couple of more "obscure" cover songs in the set, and as encore, anthems everyone knows, maybe a Guns n' Roses track and something from Malmsteen, since Bumblefoot and JSS' past.