| willem-jan 8923 05.06.2007 03:28 |
Now that the album is officially released world wide, what are your thoughts on this album? I bought the actual CD last Saturday, but I've downloaded it about 1 month ago, and still can't get enough of it. It's really a nice mixture of their previous albums. Favorite tracks: In the presence of enemies pt II The ministry of lost souls |
| AspiringPhilosophe 05.06.2007 10:32 |
I'm obviously going to have to try and find these guys on the internet and do some sampling.... I've never heard their stuff, but so many people here talk about them |
| Mr.Jingles 05.06.2007 11:10 |
I really liked 'Octavarium', so I hope Dream Theater brings a new big surprise with this one as well. Although they are very strong in terms of virtuosity and technical skill, I find that one some of their albums get very boring with the neverending guitar solos and the cliche progressive rock synth sounds that remind me of those old school arcade machines with Pac-Man and Frogger. I give kudos to Dream Theater whenever they try to experiment with something new, because when they do they do it good, regardless of the fact that some of their fans want more of the same old stuff. 'Falling Into Infinity' was very innovative but yet under appreciated by some of their fanbase for being "different", and some dared to call them "sell outs" for experimenting. I was glad to hear how on 'Octavarium' once again they dared to try something new. There are times when bands should have enough balls to make the music they want and not the music fans want them to make, so I hope 'Systematic Chaos' sounds different than anything else they've done before. |
| willem-jan 8923 06.06.2007 02:47 |
Of course there are some Octavarium kind of influences around on the album, but overall it's way heavier. It's more in the line of Train of Thought in that perspective. It's just better than ToT, because of the different styles in the numbers. It's better worked-out. |
| Matias Merçeauroix 06.06.2007 03:11 |
I fucking have to like this band, everybody tells me so. I got Scenes From a Memory, but didn't listen to it yet. If I like it, I'll get this new album. I loved John's solo album. He rules, but Mike rules the universe. |
| The Fairy King 06.06.2007 03:25 |
Valensian Sky Surveillance wrote: I fucking have to like this band, everybody tells me so. I got Scenes From a Memory, but didn't listen to it yet. If I like it, I'll get this new album. I loved John's solo album. He rules, but Mike rules the universe.Cause they're soooooo complex? :P |
| Matias Merçeauroix 06.06.2007 04:25 |
<b><font color="#FF1493">The Fairy King wrote:Maybe, I don't really know since the only songs I've heard by them were covers. I know they are kinda progresive, I would like to know how prog they are. I love all that shit, but I see it more as "music for musicians" that something you would hear on the radio. Maybe because I "understand" what they do here and there, so I can kinda apreciate their works from a technical and theorical perspective rather than just listening to the songs. All music should be "analized" like that, which doesn't mean that the more complex it gets, the better it will be but the more work, effort and dedication it involves, the better it will be and it's almost always like that.Valensian Sky Surveillance wrote: I fucking have to like this band, everybody tells me so. I got Scenes From a Memory, but didn't listen to it yet. If I like it, I'll get this new album. I loved John's solo album. He rules, but Mike rules the universe.Cause they're soooooo complex? :P But it's always amazing to hear virtuosic complex shit xD |
| The Fairy King 06.06.2007 04:34 |
I've seen a DT dvd and as good as it sounds...you know technically and looks decent visually, the music comes across soulless to me. Fast paced metal with lots of strings and Dickinson-esque vocals in a mix of something that's been done millions of times before. I appreciate people who can play their instruments and sure it has to be more than just 3 chord blues stuff...but i can't stand a band who has an album full of these types of songs like DT do. The same reason i can't listen to Steve Vai, Satriani n those other show off's. So kudos to the virtuosity, but i don't get off on it. ;) |
| Dan C. 06.06.2007 04:53 |
Liquid Tension Experiment is my favorite thing to ever come from the members of Dream Theater. Anyone else a fan? |
| willem-jan 8923 06.06.2007 11:20 |
I don't know LTE too well, but I definitely like the "spin off" band OSI as well. I think LTE is instrumental only? |
| john bodega 06.06.2007 13:37 |
"which doesn't mean that the more complex it gets, the better it will be but the more work, effort and dedication it involves, the better it will be and it's almost always like that." This is an appalling example that will be poo-poo'd by all because apparently the Beatles are crap musicians; But Let It Be is a fine case of where more effort would've paid off. Good songs.... lazy album. |
| Matias Merçeauroix 06.06.2007 13:52 |
Zebonka12 wrote: "which doesn't mean that the more complex it gets, the better it will be but the more work, effort and dedication it involves, the better it will be and it's almost always like that." This is an appalling example that will be poo-poo'd by all because apparently the Beatles are crap musicians;Maybe. The fab four's first albums are really shitty with loads of mistakes, yet the songs are so cool and fun. From Revolver to Abbey Road, they really made an enormous difference. Amazing songs with amazing arrangements and amazing performances. Paul is one hell of a singer! =) |
| john bodega 07.06.2007 07:21 |
"Maybe. The fab four's first albums are really shitty with loads of mistakes, yet the songs are so cool and fun. From Revolver to Abbey Road, they really made an enormous difference. Amazing songs with amazing arrangements and amazing performances. Paul is one hell of a singer!" I can definitely get behind that! |
| iGSM 07.06.2007 08:40 |
Can I too? You Never Give Me Your Money gives me shivers. Down my spine. I know nothing of Dream Theater. Educate me. |
| goodco 07.06.2007 16:09 |
First of all, thanks to all who on this board who turned us on to DT years ago. Maybe it's our age, but we're kinda disappointed with the new release. Lotsa Metallica-ish music, along with the James Hatfield type vocals. Disk Two of 'Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence' and 'Octavarium' are still a constant listen. And I'll throw on 'Scenes from a Memory' on occasion. This one....well, we'll have to skip over a few tracks. Still looking forward to seeing them in Baltimore this August. oh, and, btw, what's the deal with the ants???? |
| The Real Wizard 09.06.2007 02:05 |
Valensian Sky Surveillance wrote: I fucking have to like this band, everybody tells me so. I got Scenes From a Memory, but didn't listen to it yet. If I like it, I'll get this new album.Definitely listen to Scenes, and Awake, many times, before buying the new album. I also suggest Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence, especially for the second disc. The first disc is good too, but I don't think the DT catalogue would be lacking without it. Octavarium is an incredible album too, so give that one a try at some point (the title track is worth the price of admission alone). In fact, I should just say, listen to their catalogue from '92-'05 before listening to the new album. I say this, because I feel like Systematic Chaos is the first DT album to tread little new musical ground. Much of it is derivative of their older stuff. It has 3 or 4 good songs, but it doesn't offer anything that the other albums don't offer... with the possible exception of the last two tracks. iGSM wrote: I know nothing of Dream Theater. Educate me.Simple start: Scenes From A Memory. By the sixth listen, you'll stop asking "what the hell was that?". It'll sink in, one track at a time. Prepare for a sublime musical journey. James LaBrie's voice may not agree with you at first, only because it's so different than anything in the mainstream. Guys like him and Geoff Tate from Queensryche are definitely an acquired taste, but well worth the effort. People will argue that bands like Dream Theater can be technical for the sake of being technical. But there is not one note of the Scenes album that isn't tastefully crafted. It is sheer musical perfection. It may take some listeners years to realize this... but the best albums are the ones that take time to appreciate. Okay, I'm done evangelizing for now! |
| willem-jan 8923 11.06.2007 02:46 |
I fully agree with you there. And the new album was intended to cover a lot of familiar sounds or ideas, that's something Mike Portnoy told during the recording process. So, no big surprise there. They just improved a lot of experiments from the past, resulting in this great new album. Most easy album to get into DT is Falling into Infinity. Although it's not their best (by far) it is the most "catchy" album. Live albums are also pretty good starters in my opinion. Actually, that's how I got into them, first DT album I listened to more than once was "once in a livetime". Although the vocals are indeed rather hard to get into on this album, it's still pretty good. |
| The Real Wizard 12.06.2007 00:14 |
After a second listen, here's my review: 1. In The Presence of Enemies part 1 - The intro is just a bunch of technical, unmusical babble. It suddenly slows down, and the guitar melody is the only nice part of this song, which overall is just plain derivative of other DT/Petrucci epics. 2. Forsaken - A very strong song, powered by a grand-sounding chorus. Some of the lyrics in the verses are a bit cringe-worthy, but other than that, it's a definite keeper. 3. Constant Motion - The verses sound like an outtake of Metallica's Master Of Puppets, or whatever by Pantera. Sure, it has a catchy chorus, but overall it's a horribly derivative song in so many ways, complete with Petrucci practically saying, "Look how fast I can play!" Not only that, but his solo begins with almost the exact same guitar line as on Above To Crash from Six Degrees, just in a different key. Next. 4. The Dark Eternal Night - Again, a catchy chorus, and the instrumental this time (with absolutely no relation to the song itself) has plenty of time changes. It's a bit less technical than in the previous track, but it's still pretty unmusical overall. And again, the chorus repeats at the end. I'm not impressed. Next. 5. Repentance - The next part of Portnoy's AA saga, which uses the riff from This Dying Soul from Train Of Thought. The riff sounds cool with drums. Although the minor chords keep modulating for the last few minutes of the song, it isn't tiresome. It's a melodic piece, and the effect works well... something they haven't tried before. I'll take it! 6. Prophets Of War - Did they pay Muse for this one? This track has some good moments... one of the stronger tracks on the album, but I still like Knights Of Cydonia more. 7. The Ministry Of Lost Souls - Definitely the most original and strongest song on the album. It's epic, without the cliches (unlike the next track), although it could have done without some of the middle section. The modulating guitar melody at the end is without a doubt one of the best moments in DT's entire catalogue. 8. In The Presence of Enemies part 2 - There are some great moments during the first half, but then there's an instrumental which has little relevance to the song, and yet another recurring theme from a previous track, followed by a big crashing finale. Yawn. At best, it's half as effective as the title track on Octavarium. If this album is a listener's first experience of Dream Theater, then they may be less critical than I am. But it's just because Dream Theater have such a vast and incredible catalogue, and they have left my standards for them incredibly high. This album simply doesn't stand up to what they've offered us in the past. They have used their technical brilliance to create things like Images And Words, Scenes, and Octavarium. But the majority of this album has them stooping down to using their technical side almost purely to show off their chops. We've known since 1992 that they have good chops. No need to beat a dead horse, guys. And while I'm at it, just because you write long songs doesn't make you a progressive band. I define progressive bands as those who continuously take their music into new directions. So then I guess this must be the least progressive DT album ever. Six Degrees was progressive. This wasn't. Overall, thumbs down. 4/10. I'll be sure to download their next album before I buy it... assuming I'll like it enough to buy it. P.S. Should I have the balls to post this on the DT/MP forum? |
| willem-jan 8923 12.06.2007 07:56 |
Sir GH<br><h6>ah yeah</h6> wrote: P.S. Should I have the balls to post this on the DT/MP forum?There's more people over there having similar complaints about the album. Funny how people on that board can complain about their favorite band and do not get slammed for it :) However, at the moment I'm going with the majority and give the album 9/10. It may not be that progressive and innovative, it does kick some serious ass though! Damn, the album takes the #2 position in the Dutch charts this week! Nice to see them doing so well. |
| The Real Wizard 12.06.2007 12:58 |
willem-jan wrote:Haha, yeah... good observation!Sir GH<br><h6>ah yeah</h6> wrote: P.S. Should I have the balls to post this on the DT/MP forum?There's more people over there having similar complaints about the album. Funny how people on that board can complain about their favorite band and do not get slammed for it :) Damn, the album takes the #2 position in the Dutch charts this week! Nice to see them doing so well.Mainstream appeal... uh oh... I don't like where this is going! |
| willem-jan 8923 13.06.2007 02:35 |
Sir GH<br><h6>ah yeah</h6> wrote:Nah, it'll drop out of the top 40 next week. DT fans buy CD's at the day of release, and nobody else knows the band, so why should they buy the album....willem-jan wrote:Haha, yeah... good observation!Sir GH<br><h6>ah yeah</h6> wrote: P.S. Should I have the balls to post this on the DT/MP forum?There's more people over there having similar complaints about the album. Funny how people on that board can complain about their favorite band and do not get slammed for it :)Damn, the album takes the #2 position in the Dutch charts this week! Nice to see them doing so well.Mainstream appeal... uh oh... I don't like where this is going! But after all these years of releasing good music, I'm definitely happy for the guys to sell some albums. It could be due to the new label as well, that they finally get some airplay/promotion etc. |
| john bodega 13.06.2007 13:00 |
Sir GH<br><h6>ah yeah</h6> wrote:Just wait till the money really gets to their heads. You'll be seeing Dream Theatre lunchboxes and appearances on Jay Leno!willem-jan wrote:Haha, yeah... good observation!Sir GH<br><h6>ah yeah</h6> wrote: P.S. Should I have the balls to post this on the DT/MP forum?There's more people over there having similar complaints about the album. Funny how people on that board can complain about their favorite band and do not get slammed for it :)Damn, the album takes the #2 position in the Dutch charts this week! Nice to see them doing so well.Mainstream appeal... uh oh... I don't like where this is going! |
| Mr.Jingles 13.06.2007 14:23 |
willem-jan wrote: Nah, it'll drop out of the top 40 next week. DT fans buy CD's at the day of release, and nobody else knows the band, so why should they buy the album.... But after all these years of releasing good music, I'm definitely happy for the guys to sell some albums. It could be due to the new label as well, that they finally get some airplay/promotion etc.DT gets airplay? I thought that the day DT gets any airplay their fans will turn their backs on them and call them "sell outs". |
| The Real Wizard 14.06.2007 00:22 |
People at Dream Theater forums and Queen forums have something in common... they can be pretty uncritical... just for very different reasons. |