Classical Composer Reacts to Various DT Songs

[PetFish]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8r6T6kGZ2g

Not your typical reaction video.  This guy is awesome.  You can tell how much he loves music and what he does.  He really goes into detail about the musicianship/arrangement/etc and how in awe he is of Jordan and really the whole band.

The best part is how "spent" he looks at the end of the video and how full of joy he is going into the final few minutes.  He's literally going "TOUCHDOWN" with his arms when the song *cough* climaxes.

Watching this gave me a new appreciation for Dream Theater and how complex the music is that they write.  I feel like I/we take DT for granted sometimes cuz we're so familiar with them and have such a history.

But then I see something like this which gives me a fresh perspective from someone else's first-time and it's amazing.

I think he should have found the live version but this is still great.

[ReaPsTA]

Great video. Worth it for the lyrical interpretation alone.

22:45
30:30
39:20

[tristl]

His reaction of ,,the count of tuscany" is great two, he is my favourite reaction guy and he really knows, what he is talking about, I like all his reactions 👌🤘

[mariner]

Yes, and he also has perfect pitch, so he names chords as he hears them, and breaks down what they are doing from a theory standpoint, which you can really learn from.  I know that I do...

[Pettor]

He is the only reaction person I continuously follow since he actually does analysis of every song. Rhapsody in Blue was cool since I didn't know the backstory. Seems like a nice guy as well 😊

Happy he gave 8V a listen and could give credit to the structure and feel excited to hear it again. At the same time i remember 8V was too much for me to understand it initially. I couldn't wait to spin it more but maybe took 5-10 times to get that mind-blowing sensation. Now it's my all time favorite and still love every second.

[pg1067]

Well...we now have a discussion about Doug in the Yes thread, a dedicated thread about Doug ( https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=56455.0 ), and now this thread about his 8VM reaction video.   

[Dublagent66]

Yeah, watching his reactions is entertaining.  He had a pretty good review on The Odyssey by Symphony X.  He's a cool guy.

[The Letter M]

I've recently caught up on some of Doug's prog/prog-metal reaction videos, and I just laugh every time he brings up his aversion to rampant double-bass drumming. He's gonna have a hell of a time listening to more prog-metal if that's the case, so hopefully he doesn't pick some of the heavier DT/SX songs that are like that (so no Twelve-Step Suite songs!  ).

His Octavarium reaction was really on point, and I love his ability to call out chords and key changes as the song goes along. I said to one friend "This guy really paid attention in Ear Training class!", and it really shows. Dude has an impressive ear, and I suspect his discovery of prog epics has been one of the best things he's done for his channel. Loved his reactions to "Close To The Edge" and "Supper's Ready" as well! He's definitely one of the best "music reaction" YouTubers I've ever seen, and I don't even mind that he stops the song every now and then because his comments are very enlightening, even to me, as someone who has known these songs for so long, because he brings up things that I might not have heard before!

-Marc.

[RMGadelha]

I've recently caught up on some of Doug's prog/prog-metal reaction videos, and I just laugh every time he brings up his aversion to rampant double-bass drumming. He's gonna have a hell of a time listening to more prog-metal if that's the case, so hopefully he doesn't pick some of the heavier DT/SX songs that are like that (so no Twelve-Step Suite songs!  ).

His Octavarium reaction was really on point, and I love his ability to call out chords and key changes as the song goes along. I said to one friend "This guy really paid attention in Ear Training class!", and it really shows. Dude has an impressive ear, and I suspect his discovery of prog epics has been one of the best things he's done for his channel. Loved his reactions to "Close To The Edge" and "Supper's Ready" as well! He's definitely one of the best "music reaction" YouTubers I've ever seen, and I don't even mind that he stops the song every now and then because his comments are very enlightening, even to me, as someone who has known these songs for so long, because he brings up things that I might not have heard before!

-Marc.

I love how detailed he is. Even though I can't understand anything at all when it comes to music theory, he still makes it interesting, but yeah, he complains about double-bass drums a lot, which kinda annoys me

[Dublagent66]

Maybe MM watches his videos too and decided to switch to a single bass drum. 

[Wim Kruithof]

Octavarium was one of the songs I should have been given more time I did. Your link changed that and played a huge roll in understanding the song and therefore, lovin' it so much more.

Thank you for this, what a talented guy he is...

[RMGadelha]

Octavarium was one of the songs I should have been given more time I did. Your link changed that and played a huge roll in understanding the song and therefore, lovin' it so much more.

Thank you for this, what a talented guy he is...

If you haven't already, I recommend googling all of the theories behind the song, like the meaning of the numbers 5 and 8. If anyone has a good link to give you a headstart, go ahead and post it as I suck at remembering those thing xD

[hunnus2000]

Octavarium is indeed a concept album no matter what the general masses define a "concept album", no matter what people on this board say and no matter what MP says, art is with the interpretation of the recipient and the artist risks interpretation when they present their art.

So suck it bitches !!!!! 

[Dream Team]

He just posted one for Illumination Theory. Best one yet.

[geeeemo]

I never, ever tire of watching this video of IT. It evokes such emotion, has great energy and beautiful music. A top 5 for sure for me.

[Wim Kruithof]

He just posted one for Illumination Theory. Best one yet.

Thank you, kust checked it. Illumination Theory is without a doubt on of my all time favorites...

[krands85]

He just posted one for Illumination Theory. Best one yet.

I was hoping he'd do one for IT 

Having no knowledge of music theory, I have no idea what he's talking about most of the time  But I've really been enjoying his videos.

[cosmicwxdude]

This is the same guy that did Close to the Edge by Yes as well.   I do enjoy watching these,  as long as they are legit.

[pg1067]

He just posted one for Illumination Theory. Best one yet.

Such good stuff!  When he stopped down and really got into the theory of the middle section was great.

[Wim Kruithof]

He just posted one for Illumination Theory. Best one yet.

Such good stuff!  When he stopped down and really got into the theory of the middle section was great.

Exactly, perfect part. He did the same on the Count of Tuscany. Must say, the four songs he already did, Dance of Eternity, Count of Tuscany, Octavarium and Illumination Theory... he choses from the very best. Hope he will do Change of Seasons or the Twelve Step Suite in the future...

[darkshade]

I never, ever tire of watching this video of IT. It evokes such emotion, has great energy and beautiful music. A top 5 for sure for me.

I prefer it over the studio version.

[RMGadelha]

Another nice video. I was surprised that he didn't mention Tchaikovsky 

[Architeuthis]

He did a spot-on great job explaining the chord phrasing and time sigs. I think he was fairly close on the meaning of the lyrics too.  Gotta love his enthusiasm, great video! 

[Dream Team]

Any time more people can get into DT it's a good thing.

[Architeuthis]

He just posted one for Illumination Theory. Best one yet.

Such good stuff!  When he stopped down and really got into the theory of the middle section was great.

This guy is just so cool!  I wish I had one tenth of his knowledge on music theory,  and perfect pitch.  I bet he'd be a lot of fun to sit with at a DT concert, as you could see the immense amount of appreciation on his face the whole time.   His reaction video's should become a weekly thing on the music Axis channel  or something like that.

[Kotowboy]

I normally despise the idea of ¡REACTION OMG!!! videos but this one was really good as he definitely knows his theory and seemingly has perfect pitch.

I was bored one day so watched the whole video. I like hearing his thoughts based in theory and composition rather than OMG THIS IS KEWL or OMG LOL THIS SUCKS!!!!


I will watch the Illumination Theory one at some point but IT is nowhere near one of my fave DT songs. It definitely feels like a hodge-podge rather than a song - just to get it to 20+ minutes.


EDIT - Listening to Octavarium ( song ) again just highlights, for me the idea that Scenes - Octavarium was their magic period and Systematic onwards was missing...something.

[DreamerTV]

EDIT - Listening to Octavarium ( song ) again just highlights, for me the idea that Scenes - Octavarium was their magic period and Systematic onwards was missing...something.

Same exact thing happened to me last week, and actually going back to Octavarium was promped by Doug reaction video (first reaction video i've ever seen).

[Kotowboy]

Systematic Chaos was for me - an attempt to redo the Octavarium album but darker / heavier. With less than stellar results. The entire second half of SC is so slow and dull.

Repentance followed by Ministry is a SLOG.

Yes even ITPOE part 2. I think Black Clouds was a better album overall. Dranatic Turn a little better. DT12 a little better except for the snare sound. I loved TA and D/T is like they

recaptured their SFAM-OCT mojo.

[RMGadelha]

D/T is probably the MM album that I listen to the most in its entirety in one sitting. The other ones are mostly one song here and there.

[Ben_Jamin]

The entire second half of SC is so slow and dull.

Repentance followed by Ministry is a SLOG.

Well, that's because your missing the energetic song that is between Repentance and The Ministry Of Lost Souls...

[Architeuthis]

The entire second half of SC is so slow and dull.

Repentance followed by Ministry is a SLOG.

Well, that's because your missing the energetic song that is between Repentance and The Ministry Of Lost Souls...

POW! 💥

[darkshade]

I love Octavarium (the album) and Systematic Chaos has aged well for me, but 8vm was the end of an era, the classic DT era (IaW-8vm). BC&SL was a better album, and showed promise of what could have been, but MP leaving DT shook up the band to my ears. ADTOE sounds inspired, due to the events leading up to its creation, but it was obvious something was off (whereas you could argue the shift from Moore on Awake to DS on FII wasn't such a dramatic shift in the band's core sound, just that the writing changed a little on FII.) and the production values, for the most part, have been questionable between the 4 albums with Mangini IMO. I actually think they sounded best on ADTOE, JP's clean guitar is great, Myung is very present, as is JR, it's just that the drums are mixed too low and the heavy guitars are not beefy like they had been on the previous 5 albums.

[Kotowboy]

The entire second half of SC is so slow and dull.

Repentance followed by Ministry is a SLOG.

Well, that's because your missing the energetic song that is between Repentance and The Ministry Of Lost Souls...

I listen to SC so little to care. Prophets is not even as good as Never Enough.

[Volante99]

I love Octavarium (the album) and Systematic Chaos has aged well for me, but 8vm was the end of an era, the classic DT era (IaW-8vm). BC&SL was a better album, and showed promise of what could have been, but MP leaving DT shook up the band to my ears. ADTOE sounds inspired, due to the events leading up to its creation, but it was obvious something was off (whereas you could argue the shift from Moore on Awake to DS on FII wasn't such a dramatic shift in the band's core sound, just that the writing changed a little on FII.) and the production values, for the most part, have been questionable between the 4 albums with Mangini IMO. I actually think they sounded best on ADTOE, JP's clean guitar is great, Myung is very present, as is JR, it's just that the drums are mixed too low and the heavy guitars are not beefy like they had been on the previous 5 albums.

I pretty much agree with everything here- including the opinion that ADToE, with all of its own problems, is the last DT album that sounds like it had a budget and wasn't written and recorded in a closet over a long holiday weekend  (although Astonishing definitely has some positives in the the sound department).

[Fritzinger]

I love Octavarium (the album) and Systematic Chaos has aged well for me, but 8vm was the end of an era, the classic DT era (IaW-8vm). BC&SL was a better album, and showed promise of what could have been, but MP leaving DT shook up the band to my ears. ADTOE sounds inspired, due to the events leading up to its creation, but it was obvious something was off (whereas you could argue the shift from Moore on Awake to DS on FII wasn't such a dramatic shift in the band's core sound, just that the writing changed a little on FII.) and the production values, for the most part, have been questionable between the 4 albums with Mangini IMO. I actually think they sounded best on ADTOE, JP's clean guitar is great, Myung is very present, as is JR, it's just that the drums are mixed too low and the heavy guitars are not beefy like they had been on the previous 5 albums.

I pretty much agree with everything here- including the opinion that ADToE, with all of its own problems, is the last DT album that sounds like it had a budget and wasn't written and recorded in a closet over a long holiday weekend  (although Astonishing definitely has some positives in the the sound department).

Also, The Astonishing definitely sounds like it had some budget. And it had to have some. Including three choirs, an orchestra and Dave Campbell must have cost quite a few bucks...