There were ITPOE bits on LTE3 as well.
Maybe it's time for that 1-5 year break.
For you or the band?
I've taken multiple breaks from the band since I first got into them nearly 20 years ago, but I nearly gave up on them after DT12, and then The Astonishing came out and besides a few solid cuts, the bloat of it all really soured my mood on the band and the fall out of MP leaving, the band's reaction to him leaving, all that drama, has left a lingering bitter taste in my mouth. My expectations for their new material has been at an all time low. I enjoyed DoT when it first came out because of that, but after the honeymoon period I realized DoT was just a slightly better DT12 but without a side-long epic. I still keep up because they DO put out a cool song here and there, and I respect their musicianship. I stick around here because I like the discussion of other bands with members of this forum.
Look mate, to each his own, I just don’t really find I need to take breaks from bands I enjoy. I will absolutely have periods where I listen to other stuff a bunch, or bits and pieces as I go, but I never felt the need to actively take a break from listening to the band (or any band for that matter).
I can comfortably say that the period from TOT - BCASL is my least favourite of the band, however, there are still some songs I love on those albums, so I just listen to those. Occasionally there will be a track from that period I haven’t heard for a while and if it randomly comes up I’ll be like “that actually sounds better than I remember. But overall, there is stuff on every album I enjoy.
The only thing that does seem evident from your post, is that it seems like you are almost going into their new stuff almost not wanting to like it, or going in with a negative vibe. In my experience, that will almost always result in not enjoying something as much, because even if there is stuff that you like the sound of, the things that you don’t like as much will be highlighted, to almost “prove it to yourself” if you will. It absolutely could be that you flat out just don’t like it and that’s also fair however. But from what you’ve said in terms of the Astonishing and the Mike Portnoy thing, it appears deeper than that. In any case, all due respect, I hope you find something to enjoy with the new album 
Not only have I taken a break from DT in the past, I've taken breaks from all prog rock related music for years at a time. There's too much music out there to stick to listening to only prog rock/metal, or rock/metal in general, for me at least. I totally enjoy ADTOE, and went into DT12 with a positive attitude before it came out. I just get a cold, clinical feeling from the newer material, and also sense a lack of compositional chops from the band, who come up with tons of interesting ideas, but don't seem totally sure how to put it all together since MP left, unless it involves arrangements that were already done in the past with greater results, with rare exceptions.
Fair enough too mate - as I say, not every album is for everyone and we’re all a bit different. For what you feel has become somewhat clinical with their new stuff, that’s the exact way I felt about MP’s last 4 albums. It’s what makes us all different.
All I know is, I like what I like, and I don’t worry about expectations or what has happened with past members in the band etc. I just go for music that is pleasing to my ears, and for me, I feel super lucky to have that in abundance with the newer material. I actually love The Astonishing, and I feel it is musically and compositionally fantastic. And to me, DoT doesn’t sound anything like DT12 - it just sounds like DoT - it’s own entity - which still gets regular spins for me. I don’t really get the feeling of sourness or bitterness - again, Black Clouds is easily my least favourite and I pretty much only really like The Count. But that’s ok, I just listen to that and the plethora of other music I love from the band. Totally all good tho, and I definitely appreciate your own explanation of feeling different.
Agree with music in general though - there’s some great stuff to enjoy from so many genres. I must say though, when some of the young crew come into my work and put on their playlists, I look at them disgusted and remind them they “all need more guitar solos in their dreary lives”
Topic: The Alien Listening Party ! ALL SPOILERS ! (Read 38428 times)
