New Dream Theater single.

[Epitaph04]

So John Petrucci is a tone freak. So is about half of this forum. Who cares? It's his sound and his only. Petrucci can in fact play with feeling. You just have to know what songs to listen to.

 

[nick g.]

Um, I think you misunderstand. I get precision. I get that they like to be superprecise, but there's point you reach where it's so precise it's just science.... ie. you've lost the art. That's what I felt. Ok, I liked the bit where Myung got down and dirty, but the rest of it, was so 'tight' and controlled that it seemed inhuman to me.

Of course I said LP and JCM as a wind up.

Petrucci is a great player. But the thing that stood out to me as I've listened to him on G3, LTE and everything I've heard him do is that his sound is so produced, it's overproduced. Every note sounds the same, even, compressed, but no art. It's like watching F1. Of course they go fast, but that's all they do. Where is the rawness and the emotion? I just don't feel it... and trust me I want to.

Paragons of musical integrity? Sorry I don't see it.

BTW, I saw some stuff with Jordan trying out a Harpieji (spelling). That was worth watching. I wish I'd heard some of that in this song.

Just because it doesn't move YOU doesn't mean Petrucci's playing is without emotion. Precision and emotion are not mutually exclusive. You wouldn't argue that an unskilled player is intrinsically soulful.

Dream Theater is band with integrity because their musical vision is uncompromised. It may not be to your taste, and it is certainly not always to mine, but they play exactly what they want and what they feel.

 

[kai_ski]

Since when did Dream Theater release singles? This smells like Falling Into Infinity which is an abortion of a record.

If you've never seen the 3 part Dream Theater drummer tryout video on Roadrunner's Youtube channel you should check them out. What was most disappointing about that was Marco Minnemann was a far, FAR superior drummer but they went with Mike Mangini because he sounds like Mike Portnoy. Without so much wanking on the drums.

Something else to take note from those audition videos is Jordan Rudess pretty much ran the whole process. I guess since he's the guy with the most advanced college degree (that is, the ONLY college music degree) I guess he gets the call when they need someone to write music. The forwardness of the keyboards in the songs sounds to me like Jordan is driving the bus right now. Maybe he needs the paycheck the worst. Who knows.

I think Dream Theater's relevance has faded greatly.

I play with a drummer who is close friends with Marco, and according to him, Marco didn't really want the position when it came down to the business side of things, including the fact that he didn't want to move to NYC.

In terms of the single, I don't really hear Falling Into Infinity, which I think is a great record. I guess we just disagree on that point. The vocals/lyrics are definitely the weak point of the single. Vocals have been the weak link of DT for some time, perhaps forever.

 

[Stealth]

In terms of the single, I don't really hear Falling Into Infinity, which I think is a great record. I guess we just disagree on that point. The vocals/lyrics are definitely the weak point of the single. Vocals have been the weak link of DT for some time, perhaps forever.

I have to agree on the FII point, because FII is more commercial and the producers had their fingers too deep in it, but there are still gems on that album, from Hell's Kitchen to Trial of Tears. If only the tracks incorporated some of the things that ended on the FII Demo tracks...

As far as the vocals and lyrics go, well, they started going down when K.Moore left the band, and since Myung doesn't write lyrics anymore due to a band decision that whoever does the lyrics has to make the complete song, it's pretty much John, Jordan and Portnoy since circa 2000. Myung's the one responsible for parts of Take the Time, and the entirety of Learning to Live, Lifting Shadows off a Dream and Trial of Tears. He hasn't had any lyrical input since SFaM, and sadly, it shows.

 

[steddy2112]

Since when did Dream Theater release singles? This smells like Falling Into Infinity which is an abortion of a record.

If you've never seen the 3 part Dream Theater drummer tryout video on Roadrunner's Youtube channel you should check them out. What was most disappointing about that was Marco Minnemann was a far, FAR superior drummer but they went with Mike Mangini because he sounds like Mike Portnoy. Without so much wanking on the drums.

Something else to take note from those audition videos is Jordan Rudess pretty much ran the whole process. I guess since he's the guy with the most advanced college degree (that is, the ONLY college music degree) I guess he gets the call when they need someone to write music. The forwardness of the keyboards in the songs sounds to me like Jordan is driving the bus right now. Maybe he needs the paycheck the worst. Who knows.

I think Dream Theater's relevance has faded greatly.

As long as there is a new generation of young proggers out there they will still be hallowed the 'most awesomest prog' out there.

FII is still better than anything released after Train of Thought...the biggest issue with DT is they never evolved and when they tried to with FII, the fans got moody and slit their wrists.

People want more of the same, look at AC/DC...they've made a living off the same song in a different order for decades...

 

[steddy2112]

Long time DT fan here, saw them live first for When Dream and Day Unite.

Hopeful:
Much better mix than what has been happening lately.
Nice epic feel.

Discouraged:
Petrucci wrote the drum parts on a computer.
Vocal melodies are laconic and feel a bit, "been there, done that."
Lyrics are kinda flat.
Keyboards still sound like a carnival. Man, I miss Kevin Moore.

I am very much hoping we get some Myung compositions this time around - I could use another Learning to Live right about now. And how about something actually heavy? Maybe another Lie, or Lite Fuse and Get Away.

And this is how you spot the real DT people from the ones that really have no clue and didn't pick up anything until Images and Words...

 

[perfektspace6]

And this is how you spot the real DT people from the ones that really have no clue and didn't pick up anything until Images and Words...

Long time DT fan here, saw them live first for When Dream and Day Unite.

Hopeful:
Much better mix than what has been happening lately.
Nice epic feel.

Discouraged:
Petrucci wrote the drum parts on a computer.
Vocal melodies are laconic and feel a bit, "been there, done that."
Lyrics are kinda flat.
Keyboards still sound like a carnival. Man, I miss Kevin Moore.

I am very much hoping we get some Myung compositions this time around - I could use another Learning to Live right about now. And how about something actually heavy? Maybe another Lie, or Lite Fuse and Get Away.

This basically sums up my feeling on DT over the last 2 albums.

Dead on with the lyrics and vocals assessment. Also, as i said in my previous post, those keyboard "excursions" that Rudess goes on continue to stick out like a sore thumb. It's funny how many people, going back years, have independently labelled it as "circus" or "carnival" music.

As far as a Myung composition or two...not going to happen. He checked out years ago in my estimation.

If this album is as good as FII I will be ecstatic...but it won't. Old school DT fans generally look at FII as a departure for the band but an interesting one nonetheless. The uber prog-metal guys see it as an abomination. The new album will be passable but nothing special if this track is any indication. As always, I will buy it like a good boy.

 

[champbassist]

As far as a Myung composition or two...not going to happen. He checked out years ago in my estimation.

A guy on dreamtheaterforums.org interviewed Jordan Rudess regarding the new album and he mentioned that

Myung wrote lyrics for songs (I believe he said songs, plural -- as in multiple songs)

From: Jordan's benefit concert for Japan (plus some DT news)

Regarding the first single, I agree with the observation that the bass is better but could be even better in terms of presence in the mix. Can't wait for Myung's lyrics, though

 

[Stealth]

Champbassist, that's definitely interesting news. Can't wait to hear what Myung cooked up.

 

[perfektspace6]

I hope you are right about Myung having a more active songwriting role. I guess that would make sense given Portnoy's departure. Hopefully the quality of the compositions mirrors Myung's previous work. Some of the best DT songs of all time came from his pen and musical direction.

 

[agreatheight]

I hope you are right about Myung having a more active songwriting role. I guess that would make sense given Portnoy's departure. Hopefully the quality of the compositions mirrors Myung's previous work. Some of the best DT songs of all time came from his pen and musical direction.

+1.

I am cautiously optimistic!