John Myung (Dream Theater)

Demonator · #1 06-24-2009, 09:58 PM

Dream Theater just came out with a new cd. I cant wait to hear their new stuff. If anyone has heard anything please let me know what it sounds like. I just want to know if they stick to their old style of music and didnt change their stlye. Kinda hard to change progressive but you never know.
Thanks.

perfektspace6 · #2 06-24-2009, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Demonator

Dream Theater just came out with a new cd. I cant wait to hear their new stuff. If anyone has heard anything please let me know what it sounds like. I just want to know if they stick to their old style of music and didnt change their stlye. Kinda hard to change progressive but you never know.
Thanks.

I think this depends on the Dream Theater you like. If you love the "new DT" sound which is more along the lines or straight metal then you might really like it. If you like the older stuff then you are probably not going to dig it.

i have always been a big fan and bought the new album despite being very disappointed with their last release and am sad to say it isn't much better. Horrible lyrical effort, stale production, and a lot of guitar solo's that add nothing to the songs. Oh and when I say horrible lyrics I mean to the point where they ruin the song.

On the bass front: John Myung's Bongo bass tone sounds pretty bad if you ask me and even more disconcerting is his lack of creativity on this album. I think it's just a paycheck for him at this point. Sorry to be bleak but that's the way I see it.

JumboJack · #3 06-24-2009, 11:14 PM

This is a quote from a my buddy's Facebook page.He is a DT/Prog rock nut...
"Dream Theater has finally answered my cry's for an instrumental release, a 3disc bonus contains the new album with vocals, a cover compilation, including Dixie Dregs "Odyssey" and the 3rd disc has all vocals removed from the new album..."

Demonator · #4 06-24-2009, 11:23 PM

wow I am buying this album. I mostly like their Train of Thought album and Octavium, or Sytematic Chaos. Among others but those have the most memorable songs. Stream of Consciousness or Forsaken etc. Thank you guys for sharing the info.

wazoppi · #5 06-24-2009, 11:24 PM

Ehh it's alright
Didn't top Systematic Chaos, IMO

PiNgtime · #6 06-24-2009, 11:37 PM

I downloaded it (sorry) some time ago, and listened to probably half of it.
It was fairly hard enough getting into Octavarium and Train of Thought, but Systematic Chaos was a little less so for me. Saw them live last year in Miami with Thr3e and that helped.
Official review - not high on my preference at all.

Mobius · #7 06-24-2009, 11:41 PM

He's largely in the background now, but he's definitely there. I just wished he'd solo like he would on WDaDU and I&W.

El Bajo · #8 06-25-2009, 05:01 AM

He's lost his dynamic side on the last 2 albums in my opinion. I really love his lines on early albums such as Awake and Sceans from a Memory but lately he's just following the guitar and when he isint you have to strain to here his parts. He's still a great player, i think we would all struggle to keep up with his band members but I feel he's consolidated into a more traditional bass role, which in its self isnt a criticism but based on his earlier efforts its just a little dissapopinting.

Its a wonder that he doesent get frustrated when it comes to the mix and he can't hear himself!

P.S I have his RBX JM2 which I love and am a big fan, so it does pain me to say the above.

BarkerBass · #9 06-25-2009, 05:28 AM

over all I find the new album listenable to but nothing really jumps out as huge songs like you got on train of thought, octovarium and my all time favourite Awake.

the shattered prison was a nice surprise and wither is a good power ballad with a nice solo but i agree that the rest is all mediocre and although I think better than systematic chaos no where near their old prowess.

their song writing in general has become too methodical and predictable... way too many keys and guitar duels in this album where they just aren't needed. I wish they'd go back to the awake style with really great great riffs and songs that change tone and pace in dramatic and very very noticeable ways rather than sticking to the same predictable petrucci riffs and the rest of the band filling out around them.

Don't get me wrong i'm a huge huge dream theater fan and have seen them on this tour and thoroughly enjoyed it but this album is just another tiny dip in dream theater's music, I hate to say it but they may have peaked with octovaium

As far as Myung is concerned besides the intro to rite of passage and his playing on the covers he's really not anything to strive for any more. I listen to early work and long for his ability, dexterity and imagination but now he's just another metal bassist who copies or reinforced the guitars and bass drums. I kinda hope they don't release anything for about 4 years and work really really hard on a great next album that takes a deviation away from their new style and back towards the intricacy of early stuff with the guitars swapping lines, playing off each other, less guitar solos and more killer riffs.

However an odd thing I've found is that I miss Labrai's vocals when listening to the instrumental disk and I've long thought his the weak link even though he's a fantastic singer.

just my 2c... I know I'm gonna buy anything these guys produce I just hope I'm less disappointed in the future.

bassgod0dmw · #10 06-25-2009, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Demonator

I mostly like their Train of Thought album and Octavium, or Sytematic Chaos. Among others but those have the most memorable songs. Stream of Consciousness or Forsaken etc.

Really?

Just out of curiosity, have you listened to Images & Words, Awake, A Change of Seasons, Scenes From a Memory, and even Falling Into Infinity?

Six Degrees was the start of their downfall, then Train of Thought added to that, and Octavarium put the nail in the coffin. It's all been more downhill from there...

jojobean39 · #11 06-25-2009, 07:13 AM

^^^^

I am so with you in that aspect. I used to be a HUGE DT fan. Awake was the best album in my opinion. They started to get annoying to me after Scenes From a Memory. Six Degrees was terrible to me. Train of Thought was a little better, but Six Degrees made me lose interest. Labrie's voice is awful to me. I mean, technically he has great range and all, but his voice is just annoying to me.

If you've never listened to the older DT stuff, that's where it is. Under a Glass Moon has such a cool groove in the beginning.

perfektspace6 · #12 06-25-2009, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassgod0dmw

Really?

Just out of curiosity, have you listened to Images & Words, Awake, A Change of Seasons, Scenes From a Memory, and even Falling Into Infinity?

Six Degrees was the start of their downfall, then Train of Thought added to that, and Octavarium put the nail in the coffin. It's all been more downhill from there...

Pretty much agree. I would start the downfall at Octavarium which was listenable and say it was in total free fall with Systematic Chaos. Didn't like TOT for a long time but it grew on me and seems like a gem at this point.

Adelleda · #13 06-25-2009, 12:12 PM

Have it alrady, i like it.

A Nightmare To Remember is pretty good musically, and has some parts where LaBrie's singing is just delicious, but i kind of have a hard time taking seriously a song about a car crash, but maybe that is just me.

The other song that caught my ear, is The Count Of Tuscany, really good slow parts, at parts it sounds somewhat Trash-Metaly at some parts.

I have not bothered to listen to the other songs i am just in the mood, but i like the modern Dream Theater for what it is, and it is great, but nothing compared to the feeling of Images and Words, Awake, and Scenes From A Memory, there is something missing.

nodestiny · #14 06-25-2009, 12:16 PM

Kinda gave up on em after Octavarium. Falling into Infinity I thought was good, but wasn't the Dream Theater I was used to. I still love Change of Season... I could listen to that intro about 100 times.

Gubna · #15 06-25-2009, 12:26 PM

I loved Octavarium, and both Scenes and Six Degrees as well, but the last album didn't do it for me at all, and this new one, although I only got it yesterday - well, so far, er, uh... I like the cover songs... although usually it takes a few listens.

I think that song about Freemasonry is a piece of shite, but I suppose I just have a problem with that in general. when I heard it last night, I thought, okay, I'm done with DT.

and as far as Myung goes - well, this band is definately about Petrucci and Rudess, and Portnoy. Myung does his job.

rarisgod · #16 06-25-2009, 02:10 PM

I've found Myung is consistently buried in the mix. With the obvious exception of the intro to Rite of Passage, it's very difficult to ever hear Myung on any of the songs.

millsbass5 · #17 06-25-2009, 02:25 PM

I am a big fan of DT.I just wish the slides would get nudged up just a teeny,tiny bit on Mr.Myungs' bass.Or,I just wish he would change his tone to cut thru a lil' more.He's far too talented to be buried in the mix like that.

bassgod0dmw · #18 06-25-2009, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by millsbass5

I am a big fan of DT.I just wish the slides would get nudged up just a teeny,tiny bit on Mr.Myungs' bass.Or,I just wish he would change his tone to cut thru a lil' more.He's far too talented to be buried in the mix like that.

Blame it on Portnoy & Petrucci...they produce it.

Ekim · #19 06-25-2009, 06:16 PM

They peaked with Awake. I like Change of Seasons and Falling Into Infinity, but Scenes is almost just a re-stating of their previous work, highly-polished. 6DOIT is okay. I haven't liked a single CD they've done since. I bought Systemic Chaos hoping for something I'd like but I found it painful to listen to.

Mike Portnoy is the reason I bought a drumset. I used to love DT. I annoyed folks talking them up. But they're just wanking to such a degree now that they're unlistenable. The drums and guitars are WAY too loud, the bass is way too low and the keyboard tones are often simply awful.

What I don't get is how much I love the Petrucci / Rudess "classical" duet CD and JP's awesome solo CD, but I cannot stand hearing them play solos in DTs stuff for the last 6 years or so.

SirCanealot · #20 06-26-2009, 04:47 AM

I am a massive DT fan too. Myung is a massive influence on me, and I love him to bits.

On the new album, I haven't listened much, but so far I hate it. Again, they've gone into a studio, jammed for a couple of weeks, and just recorded whatever sounds decent. I'm sure some of the songs are decent, but right now... meh.

On Myung, I've noticed what I always notice about him, and it seems he doesn't really care again. Myung has said in the past he dislikes their current method of recording, and it shows in the music. I always notice with their crap songs, they generally have pretty basic bass lines. Myung's playing in this album is scrictly prog metal basic.

I've also noticed from listening to the individual music stems that you get on the super ultra edition that his playing seems to lack any passion at all. On the previous album, although it was recorded in the same boring way, JM seemed quite excited. They were on a new label, JM had a completely new bass setup, and they were heading in a somewhat new musicial direction. His playing was bright and aggressive, and while there weren't many points in the album where he diverged from the guitar or had a chance to shine, he was in the box and playing very, very well. Now JM seems board. His playing is more than ever just following the riffs, and his tone is even more buried than ever. His Bongo tone seems worse than the previous album, and is very basic overdrive/clack.

It's a shame really. Wasn't expecting anything decent from this album. Most disappointing thing is fans on their forums are mostly saying how amazing the album is. Bah