I decided to "clean up" the tweets in a more reading-friendly format for you guys:
On The Backs Of Angels
”From day one it was always going to be the first track on the record. It’s also the first song that Mike Mangini really brought to life, so right there it’s special. I came up with the intro guitar riff while I was playing an acoustic at home by the fire. I was thinking, what should be the first thing that people hear? The idea that came to me was this moody, foreboding arpeggiated guitar pattern. We were very conscious when writing the song that it should reflect the signature sound of the band. We wanted it to have all of the elements of Dream Theater. It would be progressive, it would be metal, and it would be melodic. There would be some big shred moments mixed with very dramatic breakdowns. It’s got everything that we love to do as a band.” - JP
”The Taurus Pedals add a nice sonic dimension to ’On The Backs of Angels’.” - JM
Build Me Up, Break Me Down
”This song and ’Bridges In The Sky’ were written pretty far into the album. We felt as though the record needed some balance to it, some songs that were more driving and in your face. There were many progressive elements happening already, so we wrote a couple of songs that were direct and full of attitude. The hook at the end of the chorus is very interesting. I sang an idea to James, but I didn’t know how he would finally go about it. Basically, I shouted the words into a microphone and sent the demo to him. What James wound up doing was a three-layer hook, which I totally love. The chords were already written, but he picked up on the keyboard line that was there. I should also point out the work of John Myung, who created a bass riff that he perfectly integrated into the song. John's a very quiet guy, but he always comes up with parts that knock you out.” – JP
Lost Not Forgotten
”I really loved all the changes vocally throughout this song. The song both musically and lyrically makes for a great ride.” – JLB
”At 1:59 starts the most crazy ridiculous passage JP and I ever assembled. We always look back at that and kind of laugh because it was a blazing stream of notes and that went on for longer than any other unison we have ever done!” – JR
”To me, ‘Lost Not Forgotten’ is one of the most technical songs on the album. It has a lot of twists and turns and some crazy ideas that were confusing to us as we were writing and recording. Guitar-wise, it’s the one song where I tune down to D. I thought it would sound heavier that way. And it does – I think the song kicks some serious ass! One of the things that was a lot of fun to do is this diminished passage of unison playing. I wrote it out and built it piece by piece, programming drums. I showed it to Jordan, who said, ‘That’s crazy!’ He learned it and put a harmony to it. We played it for some of the people from RoadRunner (our label at the time) who came by as we were recording, and they went crazy! The mood of the song always reminded me of an old-time epic film like Ben-Hur. So I wrote lyrics that are somewhat historical about this ancient Persian elite fighting force that kind of died out. Again, a good example of my love for storytelling and linking music to words.” – JP
This Is The Life
”I spotted a license plate in front of us that read: ’esta es la vida’ and I immediately connected it to the music for that song which ultimately prompted the lyrics…’This is the Life…’ During the writing process, I remember driving in NYC with my Mom one afternoon to visit my sister in the hospital, as she had just given birth to my niece. I demoed ‘This Is The Life’ and brought it to the band. I had an idea for a ballad, but when I sent it to the guys I definitely said that I was open to anything, all thoughts and suggestions. I worked a lot with Jordan on bringing the middle bridge section to another place. He’s such a master at coming up with the coolest chord and melodic movements. It cascades in ways that you don’t expect, the way the chords are modulating and moving. From the demo process, we kept a Moog solo that Jordan did - I absolutely love it.” – JP
Bridges In The Sky
”I like the sense of mystery in the intro of ’Bridges In The Sky’.” – JM
”That is not me singing - but it is an amazing Tuvan throat singer sound from the Omnisphere virtual instrument! The Agnus Dei is also played on the keys using a sound from the sound library! To this day I still go to that instrument a lot for amazing sounds!” – JLB
”’Bridges in the Sky’ is a tone setter for energy and heaviness. The middle was a great environment for me to use some of my more advanced coordination & musicality.” – MM
”’Bridges In The Sky’ - a total riff factory. One of the challenges that I like to present myself with on a song like this is to try to make each riff original and unique and have them weave in and out of different syncopations. As they go by, no pass is ever the same; they’re constantly changing. Doing this can be tricky, because it makes everything harder to play and difficult to remember. But I think that’s ultimately what makes the song original and interesting - putting that kind of thought into it. The cool thing about Mike Mangini is he’s very aware musically of whatever everybody’s doing. He matches things so effortlessly. Actually, right at the end is one of the sickest drum parts I’ve ever heard. It’s like a machine gun, the intensity. When he would play it, I would be watching and listening to him, and I was in awe.” – JP
Outcry
”’Outcry’ to me is classic DT, you have beautiful vocal melodies from beginning to end. A very dynamically driven song both vocally and instrumentally. The middle section shows absolute technical prowess, progressive and extremely exciting. I'll say it again, pure classic DT.” – JLB
”’Outcry’ simply has the best use of my ambidextrous playing. The middle section’s music rhythms were playable by my feet only in that they could lead righty or lefty on the fly.” – MM
”Another example of writing a song with a specific purpose. We wanted ’Outcry’ to be the anthem for the album, so it has a very strong theme, and it’s totally insane instrumentally. It’s like Dream Theater defined, but way over the top! After the intro, the theme kicks in. The way it made me envision flying through the air in slow motion really influenced the lyrics, which are about the uprisings in the Middle East, people fighting against oppression.”- JP
Far From Heaven
”I wrote the lyrics for ’Far From Heaven’ based on the movie of the same name. I was completely enamored with both Dennis Quaid and Julianne Moore’s performances throughout this movie. It was dealing with a man coming clean with his wife, revealing his homosexuality but instead of listening and accepting him, he is manipulated and coerced into therapy. This leads to their lives being completely flipped upside down and the struggle against prejudice, bigotry and becoming ostracized and oppressed.”- JLB
”This is James’ centerpiece, for sure. There is bass on the track, along with a string section, but for the most part it was written as a piano/vocal. Jordan and I intended it to be a ballad, but it would also be the Part 1 for the next song, ’Breaking All Illusions’. In fact, in ’Breaking All Illusions’, we use the themes that are in ’Far From Heaven’. Doing that isn’t new to Dream Theater. I was blown away when I heard the emotional quality that James put into it. He has such a beautifully unique voice. The way that Andy Wallace mixed it, putting James right up front, gives me shivers.” – JP
Breaking All Illusions
”’Breaking All Illusions’ is definitely one of my personal favorites on ADTOE! From the inception, the main theme just had such a cool vibe and feeling for me. I remember ’Breaking All Illusions’ being the first song I would play for people when showing the new album off. As a guitar player, the middle solo section breakdown is one of my favorite moments, especially live! I just love having the chance to stretch out and build a solo. Reminds me of Alex Lifeson’s solo breakdown in Rush’s ‘La Villa Strangiato’. Arrangement-wise, it’s very non-traditional, so you hear a lot of breakdowns. There’s a great John Myung moment where he does an ostinatto part in the first verse. He’s going in a circle, and it has a real hypnotic effect, drawing everybody in.” – JP
”Love the bass sound Paul Northfield got on ’Breaking All Illusions’!” – JM
”’Breaking All Illusions’ was a great landscape for “Rush-like” percussion. I was able to utilize electronics to play perfectly tuned cowbells. It made the intro very fun!” – MM
Beneath The Surface
”I was looking for a bit of the ELP “Lucky Man” vibe but done in my own way... It seems people in the prog world love when one tips their hat to the classic sounds!”– JR
”It turned out to be a really great song to play live that broke from the larger production of a DT show and made for an awesome, intimate moment for us and our fans. I’ve seen many people weep while performing it live which is always an incredibly moving experience as an artist.” - JP