Dream Theater's new album?

[beachjammer]

I guess I'm the loner here because I'm loving the new DT! I don't think JP is weak on this album at all. It's just more about the song instead of any individual player. It hasn't come out of the player since I got it.

[Venomboy]

Saw them last night...first show of the US tour. Really crappy set list. Lots of new stuff, 2 acoustic songs. They finally played heavier songs towards the end. Mangini is really good, but it just felt wimpy. They all played their asses off though. Trivium opened. God I cannot stand that band. Really good sound and very tight playing but that whiny, moaning voice...yuck.

[DarkkWarriorr]

Saw them last night...first show of the US tour. Really crappy set list. Lots of new stuff, 2 acoustic songs. They finally played heavier songs towards the end. Mangini is really good, but it just felt wimpy. They all played their asses off though. Trivium opened. God I cannot stand that band. Really good sound and very tight playing but that whiny, moaning voice...yuck.

Ahh, are you talking about the Warfield show in San Francisco? I wanted to go there so bad, but then I decided to skip this one hoping for them to come back sometimes next year.
At least I didn't have to suffocate from Trivuim's presence.

[hunterkolb]

I guess I'm the loner here because I'm loving the new DT! I don't think JP is weak on this album at all. It's just more about the song instead of any individual player. It hasn't come out of the player since I got it.

No, your not the only one lol. I mean, it is the NEW album, and its going to take time for people to warm up to it. Im personally a fan of it, and the 3 songs i listed above. Breaking all Illusions has been on repeat

[Venomboy]

Yes, the Warfield show.

[VoiceX3]

I'd have to disagree and think DT needs Petrucci, but Petrucci isn't really in top form on this album. Mangini the new drummer is great IMO.

I never said DT doesn't need Petrucci, that'd be just crazy, but Mike P was obviously the creative director. Petrucci and Mangini are both monster players, but much like guys like Marty Freidman are not the most cohesive song writers/builders. It's not just writing "parts" it's the continuity and structure, net DT is missing that. Not just being a Portnoy fanboy either, because I still can't get into Adrenaline Mob..........

[DarkkWarriorr]

. Petrucci and Mangini are both monster players, but much like guys like Marty Freidman are not the most cohesive song writers/builders...

Ahem, have you listened to some of Marty Friedman's old materiel? Dragon's Kiss for instant is one of the best written albums in the genre. IMO those guys know exactly how to write and build songs, it's just a matter of personal taste of how they progress as artists over the years. You just cannot expect every artist to keep writing songs like AC/DC!

Dave Mustaine for instant has written some of the best songs in thrash history, but just because I don't like his latest offerings I cannot just sit and claim he's not the most cohesive song writer/builder, simply because he has done it before and it's well documented. Just saying...

[markD]

what dictates a good songwriter is subjective. i don't really think of anyone in dream theater as being a "good" SONG writer. they have had a few tunes that are better than others (in my opinion) as far as SONG writing goes, but to me it seems that they just piece together sections of music and call it a "song".

[Sephiroth]

I am not seeing them on tour, but not by choice. They have a terrible habit of skipping San Antonio on their tours for whatever reason that pisses me off. I am just glad I saw them with Maiden (even though they only played six songs) and way back on the Awake tour

[kennslp]

I'm really enjoying the new DT! I will admit to missing certain aspects of Portnoy's drumming, but Mangini really does shine. The drums are a little low in the mix, but they're still fantastic.

As far as the songs go, at first listen my impression was..."Cool riffs, too many ballads and slow parts". But after the initial few listens, every song has grown on me. While there are not crushing head-bangers like on Train of Thought or Systematic Chaos, there are excellent chugging riffs thoughout that serve the song and are not there to just be heavy. Expanding on this, I think the songs themselves are some of the best writing the band has done in awhile, maybe since Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence. "Outcry" and "Breaking All Illusions" are fantasic epics, with lots of ebb and flow to them, but without losing the core theme.

Overall, it an excellent CD. It's been on repeat in my car since the day of it's release. I'm going to miss them when they're in NYC next week, but I am hoping to catch the second leg of the tour.

(BTW- Listing to the newest Symphony X for the first time as I type this.... not bad! Thanks for the recomendation!)

-K

[levantin]

Petrucci and Mangini are both monster players, but much like guys like Marty Freidman are not the most cohesive song writers/builders.

That's exactly what I said when Kevin Moore left DT. Although Jordan Rudess is a monster player, Kevin Moore's keyboard parts were much more about serving the song, instead of mindless wankery. A good DT album has a balance of wankery and kickass, which has been lacking for the past few albums.

I think I'll pass on the new DT. Instead, these guys are floating my prog boat right now: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHAoHifynHM

[horns666]

That's exactly what I said when Kevin Moore left DT. Although Jordan Rudess is a monster player, Kevin Moore's keyboard parts were much more about serving the song, instead of mindless wankery. A good DT album has a balance of wankery and kickass, which has been lacking for the past few albums.

I think I'll pass on the new DT. Instead, these guys are floating my prog boat right now: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHAoHifynHM

No doubt!!! Pagan's Mind makes Dream Theater sound like Tween Wave.

[Robert Burns]

dont you guys watch "That Metal Show"? Portney is out, and hes got a new band with John Sikes. Should be cool.
According to Mike...2 of the band members were dicks who just forced him out.

[toejam]

dont you guys watch "That Metal Show"? Portney is out, and hes got a new band with John Sikes. Should be cool.
According to Mike...2 of the band members were dicks who just forced him out.

I watched TMS. He's an ass! He's actually got two new bands.

He wanted to take a break after helping out Avenged Sevenfold for a little bit, but DT was already on a break for awhile and didn't want to wait any more to accomodate Mike and his shit. He was all set to be a member in AS, but they didn't want him permanently, so he tried crawling back to the band he publicly quit. Oh, well!

[BenoA]

After a few listenings, the new DT is pretty average. My favorite has been ToT, the new one got too many "ballads" parts...