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Is Dream Theater still relevant?

#61
:p
agreatheight said:
Dream Theater is a talent band who seem to get hot and cold with their song writing. Every time I think they are done being interesting, they come out with something that changes my mind.

* When Dream and Day Unite (1989) - Solid, great first release.
* Images and Words (1992) - Excellent record, nice and deep, some really good songwriting.
* Awake (1994) - Solid record, a couple of great tunes, but less grabbing
* Falling into Infinity (1997) - Didn't care for it, found it boring
* Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory (1999) - Deja Vu, meh, thought about writing them off
* Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence (2002) - Surprised me, some very cool tunes, different for them
* Train of Thought (2003) - not bad, but a bit straight ahead
* Octavarium (2005) - again, not bad, but a bit straight ahead
* Systematic Chaos (2007) - hmm, feeling the deja vu again
* Black Clouds & Silver Linings (2009) - yeah, I am not loving it...

...but I am not so quick to write them off. Who knows what they'll do next.
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Just to show the reletivity of it all:

I really like DT (I've seen them live from the 2nd album onwards), but my impressions of the albums is completely different.

* When Dream and Day Unite (1989) - OK album.
* Images and Words (1992) - Excellent record, nice and deep, some really good songwriting.
* Awake (1994) - Absolutely brilliant, the songs keep inspriring me
* Falling into Infinity (1997) - Solid record, some gerat song, some not so great
* Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory (1999) - Absolute Classic - Their best yet
* Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence (2002) - really underwelmed with this one
* Train of Thought (2003) - Too straight ahead, abit too much Metallica
* Octavarium (2005) - Nice allbum, keeps me interrested
* Systematic Chaos (2007) - In my opinion their second best album, nice and dark
* Black Clouds & Silver Linings (2009) - OK album but not brilliant.

:cool:

DT however did put progmetal on the map, and all contemporary bands are (some more then others) only a logical follow up to DT

I do not consider PT to be progmetal though (Progpop, with heavy leanings:confused:), and Opeth blackmetal with only prog.influences at most (And I really do like Opeth)

But that's only my opinion though, and agains just shows the relativity of it all. :D

Peter
 
#62
I actually feel Black Clouds is better than their last release. But I do agree that they have stagnated (at least there were some a few formula breaking moments on the most recent album).

I think the main problem is that they write enough songs for an album and then stop. Meaning if they write a bad song we get that bad song on the album because its not competing with other songs. Where other bands may write 30 songs and choose the best 10, Dream Theater just write enough for an album and say job done. It certainly shows in my opinion.

They are all good musicians and clearly enjoy what they do but I just don't feel they are critical enough of their music anymore.
 
#63
Xoryn said:
I think the main problem is that they write enough songs for an album and then stop. Meaning if they write a bad song we get that bad song on the album because its not competing with other songs. Where other bands may write 30 songs and choose the best 10, Dream Theater just write enough for an album and say job done. It certainly shows in my opinion.
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How do you know DT does this? Interview or something?
 
#64
DT's fan base is huge and continues to grow and that's where all the controversy comes from. Some love the older stuff (images and words) and some love the heavier material they came out with (train of thought) so no matter what new album they come out with they're gonna be criticised in some way or another.

I dont know why people bash on DT, their material is diverse and varies unlike some bands whose songs sound exactly the same.
 
#65
ekb16b said:
I dont know why people bash on DT, their material is diverse and varies unlike some bands whose songs sound exactly the same.
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+1,000,000,000,000

Like where they are now or not, they've changed with the times. Look at Madonna, who seems to be the proverbial cockroach of the music industry who cannot die. It is my perception that this is true because she evolved a bit. Same for DT.

I'm surprised at how many people diss Train of Thought, it's my favorite album from them! :crying:

:p
 
#66
cassanova said:
This IMO is very true. But one thing about Crue and other less technical bands do IMO have something in their music that DT usually lacks. Feelings. JP solo's always sound very clinical and robotic to me. Where as the less technically proficient guys do not and IMO have much more feeling.
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You don't think Symphony X's music is emotional? I sure do. A lot of DT's stuff does, too, although JP's solos often kill the mood. A lot of talented and progressive bands display a lot of feeling in their music.
 
#68
I personally think Black Clouds and Silver Linings is their best album since Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence. Systematic Chaos felt a bit . . . processed and formulaic to me, Octavarium not very coherent nor memorable (with the exception of the title track), and Train of Thought wasn't really my cup of tea.

Black Clouds and Silver Linings seems to be a nice return to form, with a balance between them being "m4t3l" and their classic prog influences. Very melodic and well-composed, but still with plenty of technicality IMO.
 
#69
I Suck At Bass said:
How do you know DT does this? Interview or something?
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Yeah its mentioned quite frequently interviews. Basically their method is they go in the studio and write enough songs to fill an album. Then they record the music. And if I remember correctly vocal melodies and lyrics are one of the last things to be done. No demoing takes place either. I think Scenes was the first album for this to take place.

I think regardless of whether you like DT now or not you cannot deny the effect they have had on the progressive metal genre. How many progressive metal bands that are formed that don't cite DT as an influence in some form?
 
#71
That album that hooked me (and for some reason isn't mentioned at all! ><) Is change of seasons, only for the song, A Change of Seasons. I think that song is sick and there is nothing like it. My favorite album though has got to be Train of Thought or Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence.
 
#72
MaskedJackal said:
Uh...Opeth? Porcupine Tree? Those two are really making waves.

With that said, I'm no Dream Theater fan. Used to be. But whether or not they're "relevant," they're still getting MAD popular once more-- I mean, they just cracked the US Billboard Top 10! :eek:
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hey, i'm not saying they're my favorites, but as far as the genre goes, they're about as "Relevant" as progmetal is gonna get.
 
#73
I am going to see Dream Theater (and Opeth) the night after seeing Porcupine Tree. Although it varies, Opeth and Porcupine Tree are probably my two favourite bands at the moment. Dream THeater used to hold that mantle, but I have become very "burnt out" on their repetitive last few albums. That said, I will be interested in seeing what kind of show they put on. I think DT would benefit greatly by making Portnoy take a back seat on the next album and bringing in an outside producer, maybe a Steven Wilson and giving them much more control. MP seems to me to have been the main reason DT have "gone stale" (even though I love his drumming). IMO
 
#74
IMHO, so while I believe the guys in DT are all top-notch musicians from a technical standpoint, they don't seem to feed off each other enough. Like some other recent prog bands, they try to throw every trick they have into each song making it over the top and it never comes together for me. Kinda like they are each making their own solo album while playing together.

Now if you listen to the large amounts of cover material they have done, they play amazingly and it sounds great.
 
#75
I used to be into prog rock and the musicianship of Dream Theater is top notch for sure but after a couple of tunes it's just not that great (for me) anymore. I like overall songs not just a bunch of blazing solos. That's why I don't particular like bass soloists too much either. I play for the song not for myself. DT has songs but they are super long, super complex and only liked by a niche. That's great for the niche but I'm not into it that much.

I feel the same way about Mars Volta and Rush. I'll go stand behind my stone wall for protection since people are going to get mad and defensive as if I called their wife or girlfriend ugly.

:hiding:
 
#77
I actually liked Black Clouds & Silver Linings a lot. I think their style just tends to blend to a lot of people after hearing 5 or more albums. It's just a taste thing really.

By the way,
Anyone who compares Dream Theater to Dragonforce is just plain silly. Each one of Dream Theater's members is light years ahead of anyone in Dragonforce in musical execution, technique, and knowledge.
 
#78
MikeMasonRock said:
I actually liked Black Clouds & Silver Linings a lot. I think their style just tends to blend to a lot of people after hearing 5 or more albums. It's just a taste thing really.

By the way,
Anyone who compares Dream Theater to Dragonforce is just plain silly. Each one of Dream Theater's members is light years ahead of anyone in Dragonforce in musical execution, technique, and knowledge.
Click to expand...

Already apologized. Read the thread.
 
#80
Jordasch said:
I think I have heard one song of them, in my entire life. That was enough Dream Theater for me. They seem like the red headed step son of Dragonforce, and Motley Crue.
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You cant do much to judge a band off of one song. I was like that when I first heard them but eventually I got into them and now theyre number 2 on my list of favorite bands(after Rush) Listen to some of their older stuff and some of their new stuff and then add comments about them. Dont be quick to judge.
 

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