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Is Dream Theater still relevant?

It just goes to show how irrelevant they are. Really, it doesn't look like too many of us are fans. But hey, we all learned today.

Like most say, its just a taste thing. Jordasch is a big fan of Wooten & Marcus Miller so I didnt expect him to like them. I am a big Dream Theater fan because I just like weird musin. Thats just how I am. Others think differently of Dream Theater. Thats just them.
 
I was a huge DT fan for years, but once 6 degrees came out, they just started to lose what made them special. They started to become more riff based, and heavier, and lost a lot of the melodic elements that made them stand out. This was the same time that they started writing their songs in the studio, and I think that is why. They aren't writing a bunch of songs and sitting on them for a while before going into the studio. Also, this was the time they fired their vocal producer, and in my opinion you can hear the difference in the vocals. They used to have great vocal melodies and tones, and now it all just sounds the same a Labire's solo albums, which is to say somewhat flat and boring.

Whether you think they are relevant or not, it seems to me that with their last few releases they have become more popular than ever before, so they must be doing something right. It doesn't mean we have to like it, but we have to at least give them credit for it.
 
Short answer - not really.

Long answer - they have become dull. As a fan of theirs for nearly 10 years, I've watched their decline with increasing dismay. They keep trying to make modern metal but they just can't pull it off. There should be a restraining order keeping vocal mics away from Portnoy. Rudess tends to exaggerate their worst tendencies and make solo sections outlive their welcome by quite a bit. Poor Myung is reduced to doubling guitar parts for who knows what reason. More and more extraneous stuff keeps slipping onto the records, which a half-decent producer would have kiboshed before tape even rolled. They don't seem to have any sort of reality check or second set of ears, so their albums keep getting more and more dull. These days, every Dream Theater song drags on forever - relevant prog metal bands cover more musical ground in less time.

So if I'm any indication, no, they're not relevant.
 
Dream Theater are okay still, it's just since they've moved to Roadrunner and had that god awful singer from Slipknot guest on the album they have gone downhill. Well, to me, they started going downhill after Jordan Rudess joined the group. Great early albums though, I think they should go back to that train of thought, no pun intended.
 
Dream Theater is evidence to me that technical proficiency does not equal good music. In my opinion they are no more musical than a police siren. Many people I know find them so exciting and interesting but I honestly couldn't be more bored, it doesn't sound heartfelt, it just sounds like a wash of noise to me, and keep in mind this is coming from someone who enjoys noise.

I also felt the need to make mention that Jordan Rudess probably owns hundreds of synthesizers and keyboards but always manages to sound corny.
 
They are "relevant" to many, so I would say "yes".

While I *like* DT, I'm not a huge fan. James LeBrie has always come across as cheesey to me, so I have to look past the vocals in order to enjoy them. I actually liked their last CD (as well as most which preceded it), but the new one is, dare I say, boring. There's just nothing on it that does anything for me.

But if there are people who are still buying their music in any appreciable quantity, it's hard to argue against their relevance.
 
i acctually picked up some dvd of their "chaos" concert purely because they were basically the musicman endorsee band and would like to see this gear in action.

but i really couldnt get past the first two or three numbers... they were very tight and rehearsed but it was like they were machines without soul... no definable tunes .. no dynamic or improvisation ...it was like they were all on some musical marathon practice run where the music came second to the practicing of scales.

what a dissapointment since i have heard so much enthusiastic talk about them on the net.:(
 
I like their last album, but when Saga manages to release a better album than DT, that speaks volume (Saga's The Human Condition is largely superior to Black Clouds and Silver Linings and I can't believe these guys are still out there -thank you, Germany).
 
Raise your hand if you are completely burned out on DT.

Also, mention the album that got you.

For me it was Train of Thought.

yeah, i have to agree with the sentiments represented here. i used to be really into DT, but, as time has gone on, they have failed repeatedly to surprise longtime listeners. it's really kind of a shame. :crying:

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.

initially, i liked Black Clouds and Silver Linings, but i have to agree with most of the other people in this thread. they've lost it.
 
Im not a fan, thus why I can state my opinion. They are speed metal, and mid-80s corny.

Thus making them a product of Dragonforce and Motley Crue, if Crue would stoop to that level.

I would understand If you compare the vocals to motley crue but speed metal? There are tons of double bass drumming there but i never heard a dream theater speed metal song in my life. The fastest songs were probably from the early 90s stuffs and those definitely doesnt sound like speed/power metal. DT <> DF
 
I would understand If you compare the vocals to motley crue but speed metal? There are tons of double bass drumming there but i never heard a dream theater speed metal song in my life. The fastest songs were probably from the early 90s stuffs and those definitely doesnt sound like speed/power metal. DT <> DF

Ugh.. I have apologized for this. Read the thread before you flame me, especially when I gave a full apology.