Question: why do you spend so miuch time writing about something you don't like on an amateur forum?
Of course your opinion is legit, but I would never spend a single second of my life writing about music I don't like at all...
Dream Theater were the most important band in my life for a long, long time. I think one thing we all share here is that we are/were passionate about them at one point in time. I wouldn't write if I didn't care. Just because they aren't the same band to me doesn't make it any less sad. I wish I could write glowing feedback on them every release, but I have to be honest with myself.
I hear this. A part of me thinks I have somewhat outgrown the overly busy style of their music in the context of new music in that style (I still love their older music just as much), which could explain why I am such a fan of The Astonishing, which is probably their least busy album ever. I think when it comes to new music that is overly busy, it isn't to my liking as much as it used to be. And in the broader sense, it was never really my thing. I have always been a DT fan first and foremost for the songs and the melodies, and always considered the crazy instrumental stuff icing on the cake, not the actual cake. Heck, even back then, The Dance of Eternity was always my least favorite part of Scenes by a wide distance, and I know that is considered the biggest technical mindf**k on the record.
Wow, I could have written this myself.
I will still make my opinion of the album, I've heard it for too little time, but generally, this is where I am. I liked everything about Distance Over Time - the approach, the style, less wanking, and yet..... the album came and went and I never returned to it. It's like when they introduce you to a girl that is like you want her, you do recognize "yeah, that's a kind of girl I like", but.... the spark isn't there.
The other day I stumbled on The Gift of Music on YouTube, I've heard it and enjoyed it. Then I went to A Better Life since I was there and I loved it. Then I hear the new album and...... by far the song that grabs me the most is Trascending Time.
So maybe, as Kev said, this is what I want from DT. Melody, emotions, "less busy" music. You know what part I like the most about The Alien? the ending, that melodic part that is announced in the intro and that makes up the end of the song, the "I am the alien" part. To put it bluntly, I don't really care for all the tdldldldl prrlrlrl moments of the album, those noodlings and acrobatics on notes.
And, make no mistake - I don't blame the band for this. It's on me. Maybe my tastes have changed, maybe if I forget about Distance Over Time barely two months after its release and when this new album arrives and it's basically only Trascending Time that gives me big smiles, it means I'm not into this specific kind of prog metal anymore. This does NOT mean that the album makes me go "ugh, no", I like the songs, but I'm not supposed to just like the songs, I'm supposed to LOVE them. If I don't love what has always worked for me over the years, maybe it means that I changed, it definitively does NOT mean DT suck or whatever.
I also agree with "still loving the old stuff" part. Intro to The Mirror, as simple as it is? FUCK YEAH
intro to Awaken the Master? eh......... meh.
I'm glad however many people sound excited for the new album. Maybe over time I will grow fond of it, but I'm afraid this album won't stick with me for that long like d/t did. Hope I'm wrong!