Former DT-member prog metal face-off

[bosk1]

Inspired by some talk in the Mike Portnoy thread about his new project, and a comment or two about Sons of Apollo and what they were trying to be.  For some reason, my mind when right to Charlie's solo trilogy that he put together after being re-inspired by DT. 

So, compare, contrast, vote, discuss, whatever...

[Crow]

kevin moore

[Cool Chris]

I thought it kinda remarkable Charlie was able to come from the used car lot or wherever he had been for 20 years to release the albums he did. They weren't great, but they were better than they had a right to be.

[Max Kuehnau]

It doesn't make sense for me to vote here, seeing as I'm only familiar with Sons Of Apollo. Is Charlie's stuff worth exploring?

[The Walrus]

Something's wrong. I don't see the root canal option. Really, though:

kevin moore

[bosk1]

It doesn't make sense for me to vote here, seeing as I'm only familiar with Sons Of Apollo. Is Charlie's stuff worth exploring?

I would say so.  But the first album of the trilogy is very different, and listening to it as as starting point is a little odd.  It is acoustic, and does not feel very prog.  I would maybe start with the third album just to sample the music, and then go back and listen in order and try to absorb the story.  In many ways, the stuff on 2 and 3 sounds derivative of DT, but that is fairly intentional.  And bottom line is, it sounds good.  And since Charlie wrote and was involved in all the writing, it is written to his strengths as a vocalist, and the vocals really sound pretty good, even if you don't like his vocals in DT. 

[HOF]

MP, Kevin Moore, Derek Sherinian, and Charlie Dominici should do a band together. Mike can play bass and Derek can play guitar, and they can have two keyboards going too. It would probably be better than SOA by virtue of Moore’s involvement.

[MoraWintersoul]

The only problem is that none of them would want to do any of these things 

Tbh I prefer SOA to Dominici.

[emtee]

I'll be in the minority but A Trilogy 2&3 are very enjoyable albums for me.

[krands85]

I'll be in the minority but A Trilogy 2&3 are very enjoyable albums for me.

Agreed.

I think I listened to the first SOA album once but it didn't do anything for me.

[emtee]

Thanks to this thread I think I'll pull these off the shelf. It's been at least
3 years since I spun either of them. Sonically, they sound very good...I remember that!

[Adami]

Really don't like SoA.

Checked out a random Dominicci song from his second album.


Ugh.

[ProfessorPeart]

I was not a fan of Charlie with DT at all. His vocals never clicked with me. That said, I really enjoy Part 2 and Part 3. Can't explain why, but they are enjoyable records. Never heard Part 1, but am aware it is some acoustic singer/songwriter type thing.

As for the thread, I don't know. First Sons album was okay. Second one was way better for me. I listened to it quite a bit and way more than the first.

Can I call it a draw right now? I truly don't know how to vote in this one.

[Skeever]

This is gonna have to be a hard pass for me.

[Madman Shepherd]

This is actually really hard to choose. I ended up liking SOA more than I thought I would after a very average first album. Their second was pretty damn good.

I also am a big Dominici fan.

I also just happen to be a huge of nostalgia.

After the WDADRU reunion with Dominici, there was talk of Dominici getting back into music. His first foray was his acoustic album which I really enjoyed. Bought an autographed copy and told him as cool as it was, I would love to hear something more DT sounding. Eventually Mike set him up with some DT fans that had a prog band from...I don't remember, Italy? Charlie's wife at the time was from, I don't know, Hungry? They moved over there so he could be closer to his band and got a record deal.

He released Part 2 and it was awesome. Nothing groundbreaking. Just cool and enjoyable.

Part 3 is actually my favorite but the bummer is, once it was released, that's when the band was effectively over. They had only played a handful of shows, most of those were opening for DT in eastern europe.

So, there needs to be a "tie" option because that's where I'm leaning. Perhaps it's not fair since part of SOA's problem was the hype and the eventual let down. Maybe I'd vote for them over Dominici if their third album is as good as the last.

Definitely two of my favorite bands of the "former DT members" but if we were having an ultimate face off, I think Chroma Key would win because I listen to those songs a lot more.

[ytserush]

Hard choice.
Still haven't picked up the second Sons Album yet but those Dominici records are a lot better than I expected them to be. (Like the first one a fair bit too.)
Been ages since I've listened to any Dominici however.

[Kwyjibo]

Who is this Dominicci I can vote for? 

I know Part 3 of his trilogy albums and was surprised how heavy it was. Not a bad record and if anyone is allowed to be a DT-clone it is the ex-members, so no complaint there.

[Fritzinger]

Dominici’s albums aren’t great but neither are SoA’s. But SoA think they are the shit, which they aren’t, so my vote goes to Charlie.

[Nekov]

Dominici's first album is kinda meh, the second one is pretty good and the third one is good. SoA on the other hand was a big meh on the first album, so much so that I didn't even pay attention to the second one.

[ytserush]

Have to admit that I wouldn't have listened to (or even bought) either Dominici or Sons if not for the Dream Theater association.