Mangini is awesome, but his playing is almost too good in the sense that it sometimes feels like every single hit he makes is one he thought out in advance rather than just sitting down to play the song with no preconceived ideas of what to play and then getting a feel for the song and just playing. Not saying that that is what happens, just what it feels like. In other words, there often seems to be no jam vibe to his playing. Not saying that is wrong, but it demonstrates the fundamental difference in their approaches when discussing the playing of both Mike Mangini and Mike Portnoy.
And I will reiterate that the band has done Mangini no favors in regards to the perception, as the drum sound on A Dramatic Turn of Events was a noticeable drop-off compared to every DT album prior to that one. I told this story before, but a friend who is a fan of the band but doesn't follow them as religiously as I do grabbed ADTOE after its release and one day out of the blue asked me, "I like the new album, but why do the drums sound like shit?" He had zero idea that the band had changed drummers. I did not have a good answer for him. We can debate till the cows come home about whose approach is better, but to me there is little doubt that Portnoy almost always gets an awesome drum sound in the studio.
Changing Drummers, can affect the mix because that drummer might have more or less drums to mic, and mix. Also, the position of the drums affect the mix as well, as you get bleed from the drums and cymbals into the mics that are not meant to pick up those drum/cymbal sounds. Also, Producers affect the mix, and certain tones and sounds they want the album to sound like, and the Record Label could get involved and want to push this certain product style (that is determined by the contract the bands sign).
The reason MP gets a good drum sound is because he himself produces his own Drum Sound, and knows what Drum Sounds he wants on his work. Mangini is not a producer, and doesn't get to say how his drums can sound. JP is the one who determines that, and the many other producers Mangini has worked with. He can be disappointed but in the end the producer has the final say.
I don't get how the sound is Robotic?
"Mangini/the new drummer sounds robotic" is an opinion I've heard and read for the last 10 years everywhere, not just DT related forums. I happen to agree, as do many other DT fans. I would say you don't hear it perhaps due to your musical tastes or what you've been exposed to, but it could be anything. Art is subjective. I think it's annoying when I hear anyone make a comment on Jazz that clearly isn't well educated on the subject, or look at Jazz as some kind of antique music, as most people don't know anything about it outside of pop culture tropes or parodies, if that, or call everything that sounds jazzy "smooth jazz" so majority opinion is not always the 'right' opinion.
I am just interested in knowing why Mangini's playing sounds robotic. Like what is it that makes him "Robotic". I don't hear that at all. Mangini's drumming isn't really that up front either. He plays to the music, he plays along with the guitar, bass, and keys, even vocals. He utilizes his limbs and many arms to incorporate certain drums/cymbals to play along with the other instruments.
And Kev, I understand what you mean, but MP was the one who likes to jam, and it shows with his many projects and how he works with bands, especially the projects he started on his own.
What I think it is, is Dream Theater as a business has changed the way it does business. Since MP left, things were not the same as MP was majorly involved in all aspects of Dream Theater as a business. It's why I was upset he decided to just quit, instead of giving up some control of the Business as it was obviously wearing him thin. The other guys likely saw that too and just said, "You know what, there's the door" and MP said "Fine I'll just quit" (all speculation on my end here).
I am glad MP is playing with JP, or more making albums with JP again. The timing seemed right, and we are fortunate to get both a new JP solo album and a new LTE album, both with JP and MP recording music together.
What I am happy about is Jimmy T being the go to engineer/mixer for things JP is involved in. If he is the studio engineer, and mixer, than JP really found a great guy to work with. And we are going to be looking at some great sounding albums in the future.
Topic: New LTE - LTE 3 2021!! (Read 56241 times)
