So, the new Dream Theater album

Dexter Inferno

Dexter Inferno

Serious error
The Astonishing....
Fucking stinks. What a waste of 2+ hours. :embarrassed:

They've now gone so far up their own arses, what's left is a bunch of half assed ideas they can't be bothered to flesh out properly.

As always the playing is fantastic, but no decent songs on it. Absolutely none.
A few decent ideas here and there, but once a tune is about to develop into something decent there's the obligatory silly middle section, tempo change or some other ridiculous idea. And about half of the fucking album is segues! :facepalm:

Then there's Rudess' constant wanking over everything, and Mangini's robot like drumming that has absolutely no personality to it.

I swear they lost something vital when Portnoy left. I had a feeling he was the one that was good at holding the guys back when it was needed, a good arranger and the only one of them that could entertain in a live setting (although he really shouldn't be singing lead vocals). Now I find them overly serious, and without the ability to craft good SONGS. It can't really be a coincidence I still dig most of his projects, while I think DT are progressively getting worse.

It's quite sad seeing former favourites disappoint like that. :embarrassed:

Quite sure the superfans dig it, but it really was incredibly underwhelming for me.

Alarming when you listen to a 2 hour 10 minute double album and can barely remember any of the songs.

And fwiw, they've recirculated a shitload of stuff from especially Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence for this one. They did it much better then.

Nah. I'm done with that band really.
 
Bummer. Read an article on how long it was and how much work it was. Read it is going to be quite a concert in support of it.
 
I've been a big fan since When Dream and Day Unite, but I've not bought any of the post Portnoy projects. Based on the doc, I thought they should have picked Marco to be their new drummer, but I think they were looking for someone that would fit within Petrucci's confines and not a big idea musician. Mangini is a fine drummer, but not a particularly artistic one...or should I say whose artistry moves me.

Not that you don't know, but you don't have like everything from a band. I love Queen, but barring one tune Hot Space is not something I enjoy (I don't even own it) and Made In Heaven just sounds beneath their artistry. So, I'll listen to the whole new album on Spotify (or as much of it as I can bear), and hope for something more/better in the future. I don't feel the need to write them off though.

And yes, Mike appears to be one of the bits of mojo for the band. I think Kevin was as well. They've spent more time working on more song oriented projects and more musically varied projects. John takes himself too seriously or has a very narrow view of humor and its place in music.
 
Dogsinotpalc said:
I've been a big fan since When Dream and Day Unite, but I've not bought any of the post Portnoy projects. Based on the doc, I thought they should have picked Marco to be their new drummer, but I think they were looking for someone that would fit within Petrucci's confines and not a big idea musician. Mangini is a fine drummer, but not a particularly artistic one...or should I say whose artistry moves me.

Not that you don't know, but you don't have like everything from a band. I love Queen, but barring one tune Hot Space is not something I enjoy (I don't even own it) and Made In Heaven just sounds beneath their artistry. So, I'll listen to the whole new album on Spotify (or as much of it as I can bear), and hope for something more/better in the future. I don't feel the need to write them off though.

And yes, Mike appears to be one of the bits of mojo for the band. I think Kevin was as well. They've spent more time working on more song oriented projects and more musically varied projects. John takes himself too seriously or has a very narrow view of humor and its place in music.
Click to expand...

Have to say I haven't loved any album of theirs since Scenes From a Memory.
That one was fantastic.

They really did lose something with Mike quitting, I just can't quite pinpoint what it is.
Marco would be the right guy, but I guess he's too big a personality, unlike Mangini who doesn't really have one in his drumming.

I know I'm right that Portnoy would slow the whole band down when needed though. He really is a stickler for arrangements, and the fact
that I dig all his other projects really confirm it. Seen a couple of Transatlantic demos/documentaries and he knows what he wants..

Mike's bands these days are all song centric, and DT surely isn't.

Best example is from Flying Colors (start at 6:20)


Dream Theater could only dream (!) of doing a song like that.
 
Dogsinotpalc said:
I've been a big fan since When Dream and Day Unite, but I've not bought any of the post Portnoy projects. Based on the doc, I thought they should have picked Marco to be their new drummer, but I think they were looking for someone that would fit within Petrucci's confines and not a big idea musician. Mangini is a fine drummer, but not a particularly artistic one...or should I say whose artistry moves me.

Not that you don't know, but you don't have like everything from a band. I love Queen, but barring one tune Hot Space is not something I enjoy (I don't even own it) and Made In Heaven just sounds beneath their artistry. So, I'll listen to the whole new album on Spotify (or as much of it as I can bear), and hope for something more/better in the future. I don't feel the need to write them off though.

And yes, Mike appears to be one of the bits of mojo for the band. I think Kevin was as well. They've spent more time working on more song oriented projects and more musically varied projects. John takes himself too seriously or has a very narrow view of humor and its place in music.
Click to expand...

I jumped in on the DT bandwagon when I saw the video for Pull Me Under on MTV. For me, my last album I bought when I had interest in them was shortly after the Awake album. After that, I bought random new releases from a used CD store, because they were cheap (we're talking $3.75 to $8.00) and I wanted to make sure that I wasn't missing out.

I have to agree with your points and this band just ultimately sounds like they've lost their way. I don't hear anymore Pull Me Unders or Space-Dye Vests, but instead I'm hearing a talented (understatement) bunch of guys trying to be a myriad of influences converging into a climax of vitriol.

Please bring back the Dream Theater of "Ye olden days."
 
I just got it today in the post, but haven't listened to it yet. I also got the new Serenity album 'Codex Atlanticus' and listened to that on my way in to town to see The Revenant, and go out to eat. I was wondering how it (the Serenity) was going to sound as their longtime guitarist and song arranger Thomas Buchberger quit the band last year due to having a full-time job outside the band. The new guy is pretty good, and indeed I think I like Codex Atlanticus better than their last album War Of Ages.

As far as the newer Mangini-era Dream Theater goes, I really like their last two, A Dramatic Turn Of Events, and the self-titled. I'd go so far as to put ADTOE in the top-3 DT albums, along with Images And Words and Metropolis:Scenes From A Memory.

I'll have to listen to this new one later on tonight.
 
I agree about Portnoy. He's become my favorite drummer of all time. Mangini's beast for sure but doesn't have the personality of Portnoy.

Still, I might check this Out
 
Dexter Inferno said:
Have to say I haven't loved any album of theirs since Scenes From a Memory.
That one was fantastic.

They really did lose something with Mike quitting, I just can't quite pinpoint what it is.
Marco would be the right guy, but I guess he's too big a personality, unlike Mangini who doesn't really have one in his drumming.

I know I'm right that Portnoy would slow the whole band down when needed though. He really is a stickler for arrangements, and the fact
that I dig all his other projects really confirm it. Seen a couple of Transatlantic demos/documentaries and he knows what he wants..

Mike's bands these days are all song centric, and DT surely isn't.

Best example is from Flying Colors (start at 6:20)


Dream Theater could only dream (!) of doing a song like that.
Click to expand...


Yeah, Flying Colors is absolutely killer. Their first album is stellar. I really like the second, but I haven't spent as much time with it as I have the debut...just needs more listens. But I also dig the Winery Dogs who are obviously completely different than either Flying Colors or DT. I think Mike is on the best path, playing the music he likes with people he likes, something I think he may have further honed in on thanks to Steve Morse...the realization that you can commit to multiple projects/bands and balance your passions without sacrificing your art.

I remember assuming he was the bad guy after he left, but I think it's was just time for him to go and he definitely seems to have benefited greatly from the unwanted departure.
 
Dexter Inferno said:
The Astonishing....
Fucking stinks. What a waste of 2+ hours. :embarrassed:

They've now gone so far up their own arses, what's left is a bunch of half assed ideas they can't be bothered to flesh out properly.

As always the playing is fantastic, but no decent songs on it. Absolutely none.
A few decent ideas here and there, but once a tune is about to develop into something decent there's the obligatory silly middle section, tempo change or some other ridiculous idea. And about half of the fucking album is segues! :facepalm:

Then there's Rudess' constant wanking over everything, and Mangini's robot like drumming that has absolutely no personality to it.

I swear they lost something vital when Portnoy left. I had a feeling he was the one that was good at holding the guys back when it was needed, a good arranger and the only one of them that could entertain in a live setting (although he really shouldn't be singing lead vocals). Now I find them overly serious, and without the ability to craft good SONGS. It can't really be a coincidence I still dig most of his projects, while I think DT are progressively getting worse.

It's quite sad seeing former favourites disappoint like that. :embarrassed:

Quite sure the superfans dig it, but it really was incredibly underwhelming for me.

Alarming when you listen to a 2 hour 10 minute double album and can barely remember any of the songs.

And fwiw, they've recirculated a shitload of stuff from especially Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence for this one. They did it much better then.

Nah. I'm done with that band really.
Click to expand...

So what are you trying to say?
 
Dogsinotpalc said:
Based on the doc, I thought they should have picked Marco to be their new drummer.
Click to expand...

I saw Marco with Satriani a few years back. He truly was incredible and got a thunderous ovation when they introduced him near the end of the show. It seemed like Satch and the band were a bit surprised at how loud and immediate the reaction from the crowd was when his name was announced but his playing was so good and his solo was on the level that even people who know nothing about drums and percussion would be paying attention and entertained by it. Truly spectacular & the best I have seen by far.
 
I haven't listened to it yet.

JP just did an AMA and from his comments, it sounds like it's a concept album that he wrote the story line for and is planning on writing a novel around it
https://www.reddit.com/r/Music/comments/438pam/ama_hey_i_am_john_petrucci_from_dream_theater_ask/

  1. In this story i wanted to create a future that wasn't like the typical high tech space exploring vision of some sci-fi stories, but rather show a societal collapse led to things looking a lot more like they did in the past. This sort of dystopian setting that joins future and past environments to me is perfect for story telling.

  2. Listening to this right now (HOLD ON)...as far as a glitch I am not sure what you are hearing. It could be a drum or orchestral transient.

  3. Didn't you know that the NOMACs are the lovable mascots of The Astonishing? They are part of the reason for the breakdown in this future world as they are the only source of music to be heard. They are an artificial intelligence of sorts who automate a soulless cacophony. On the album the story is focused more on the human characters and their struggles, however the NOMAC story will be explored further in future novelization.
 
I am going to check out the record. I even read a fan ranting in the youtube comments that "the entire band are playing like morons on this". Wow. Backlash intensity 10!
 
First impression on my drive by listen is that they have gone full bore on the chimes and choir arrangements.
 
My question is... Why is Petrucci's beard bigger than Billy Gibbons' beard? Seriously, that shouldn't be allowed.
 
How are Petruccis biceps these days? Is he still making time to pump his pythons while working out all those string arrangements?
 
VoidTerraFirma said:
How are Petruccis biceps these days? Is he still making time to pump his pythons while working out all those string arrangements?
Click to expand...
Thanks so much for coming out to the shows and it's great to hear that you're enjoying the new album.
I do pretty much a traditional body building routine. Usually in either a 4 or 5 day split.


... From his ama, linked above
 
Listening right now, as I do some house cleaning (puttering :tongue: ).

I can't tell what track the cd is on, so I'm not sure about what songs are what. Usually my blu ray player will say 'T5' if it is playing the fifth track, along with the track time.

Excellent playing, but yeah, I can see where Dex is coming from about songs. There are 20 tracks on disc 1, doesn't leave alot of time for individual songs to develop. On the other side of that though is I think this disc is meant to be listened to front-to-back, as a story. It's not meant to be about individual tracks.

I would also think that Dex would've liked it a bit better, as there is much less metal than usual, and more nods to '70s prog than the usual DT stuff :embarrassed:

I will say that it's completely different than a usual DT album, good or bad dependent on the listener.
 
Ok, first disc just ended. I can see where Dex is coming from, this isn't an album that will probably get alot of listens from me. Having said that, I do think it's very well done and played, but it is indeed an album (or disc, I haven't listened to disc 2 yet) meant to be heard front to back, along with understanding the story-line behind the album, of which I have not delved in to yet.

I think the live tour will be fantastic if they do indeed play this album front to back. It lends itself to a cinematic experience, if you like that sort of thing in a live concert.

If you are looking for songs, disc 1 ain't it. Yes, quite a few interludes and segues into tracks break up some of the flow some of the actual songs were starting to develop, and then cut off abruptly. Still, there is a flow to the disc, most tracks blend into the next track with no break.

Disc 2 will have to wait, as I'm going to a get together of old high school classmates.
 
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