I'm going to respond to this post, not to be belligerent, but because I just don't really agree with some of the things stated and to maybe clarify why I (or some others) posted what we have done in this thread. This post is not meant as an attack, even though I'm directly quoting bosk.
To address the criticism, and the "balance" issue just a bit:
This comes up every time there is something new. And, basically, I allow discussion to be pretty free here. People are certainly entitled to have their opinions of DT material. And, perhaps moreso than way back in the days of the official forum, people are entitled to express those opinions, whether positive or negative. They just need to be expressed in a respectful way. And, in my opinion as the guy who has the final say on the rules, I think that is the healthiest approach. I've been around and around this issue with most of the band members, and my philosophy is that it is best to let people discuss freely, within certain bounds. And since I feel that DT is pretty consistent about putting out quality music that they have taken their time to thoughtfully construct, I think that even the negative opinions are beneficial to them, because those opinions invite discussion that, on balance, ends up ultimately being constructive.
Naturally, I've got nothing on that paragraph, but I kept it in this post just to mention that as well.
But do some comments cross the line? Yeah. I think some do, even if we let them go and don't say anything. Keep in mind that the goal isn't "It's just my opinion, and I'm just telling the truth." Opinions can be offered using tact and diplomacy, and some of you lack that.
Honestly, I don't even know whether the above part is targeting me in particular, though I can image it is, since I wrote (exactly) the following: "One listen in (just now) and this might seriously be one of the most boring, lifeless DT tracks ever." Although I maybe shouldn't have presented that as a 'fact', it's still how I felt about the song after one listen. For the record, I haven't heard it again and likely won't until I hear the full album, so I stand by what I sent. Is it tactless? Kind of, but that was partly the point. It may have been better to state it not as a fact (for it's not), but as my personal opinion. That said, a lot of stuff written on these forums (and DT Side in particular) gets presented as truth and/or fact, so it's not out of line for me to do so. If I crossed a line there, I'm sorry.
As was rightly pointed out, making music is a job for these guys, and sometimes people on a job don't always put out a 100% airtight, top-quality product. But by the same token, this is art, and the DT guys are artists. They pour themselves into their art, and present it to us, the fans, as something for us to enjoy.
So, I definitely agree with the first part. Nobody can be expected to deliver and give 100% all the time. That's an impossible standard to hold anybody accountable for. In that sense, it's absolutely no surprise that a band (or any other artist) can't make 'good' stuff all the time, but by the same token, it's not really for an artist to decide whether their art is 'good', but in this case to the listener. '100% airtight, top quality' just doesn't work for music, paintings, films etc., because there's no standard to adhere to. That said, just because DT are a band of musicians/creators/artists (whatever), that doesn't mean they 'pour themselves' into it. I can't image what it's like to be a musician for ~40 years, but like with any job, at some point it becomes a routine. My personal feeling on this latest single is that it sounds uninspired (I used the word 'lifeless', to be fair), because it's something I've heard before. An artist should, in my opinion, do things differently, expand on what they've done in the past, incorporate new influences, be relevant in some way to what's happening in the world/music scene/anything. I did not hear this on this song. Whether I (or anyone else) will enjoy it, is, unfortunately for anyone who creates art, not up to the creator.
If your kid made poured him/herself into a piece of art and gave it to you, and you said, "Meh, this is dull and uninspired," my opinion is that you seriously lack tact and understanding and should check yourself.
Definitely agree on this one, but I don't have children, so I can't relate in the literal sense of what you're saying, but I get the point. The difference being that your child/girlfriend/wife/husband/parents/whatever have a personal relationship with you. I don't have a personal relationship with Dream Theater or any of its members, so I don't at all feel bad for saying I think this song feels lifeless in that sense.
I think we make the mistake of forgetting that this music is a labor of love presented as a gift to the fans, and I think the reasons we forget (or simply discount that fact) is that the band members are semi-public figures and make a profit from selling their art.
I'm not sure whether Dream Theater's music is a 'labor of love' or whether it's simply labor, because it's their job to make music. I can't tell for sure, so I won't argue that. It certainly isn't a 'gift to the fans', because as you state yourself they actually make a profit from selling their music. Releasing a single (for free, okay, so maybe that's the gift you're referring to?) is a means to hopefully sell more copies of the record or more tickets to their shows.
But I think we would do well to remember the human side that I mentioned a couple of lines above.
Which is why I personally would never attack any band-member, not on these forums, nor on their social media, whatever. It's not as if I'm saying nasty stuff about the band, I'm only stating I didn't like this last song. Yes, I do get that it's easy to do on a forum where I'm basically posting semi-anonymous and if I were to meet the band, I wouldn't say it the same way. I love (most of) Dream Theater's music. They've been a huge part of my life and therefore I get strong reactions to what they release. I think that's the same for a lot of other people here.
Anyhow, bottom line is, as long as the discussion stays relatively respectful, which it largely does, the mods and I will not interfere. Feel free to like or dislike what suits your tastes. Discuss away. But try to keep it within reasonable bounds.
I hope I have! And if not, please let me know.
Topic: Invisible Monster Thread ! ALL SPOILERS ! (Read 35165 times)
