New Dream Theater album!

[kmanick]

Gee their "generic 7 string trash" is the only stuff I like
TOT is my favorite album of theirs
songs like "My Glass Prison" , "As I AM", and "this dying soul" are the only reason I would even think about listening to these guys, that's hardly "generic" sounding to me.

[Sergio]

I didn't like it at all, vocals are terrible and the typical instrumental fugues are totally useless... well ok, it's better than Octavarium, but making something worse would have been really difficult...

[AlexL]

I've been listening to it now for a few days. It is much better than Octovarium (too Pink Floyd and U2) and Train of Thought (too much nu-metal rap garbage).

I wouldn't say every song is stellar; I prefer vocals to be melodic, not shouted at me, so some things rub me the wrong way. But any time a song starts going in the wrong direction for me, it turns around and picks back up.

I rate it abot the same as Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence, which I like more that Train of Thought, Octovarium, Falling into Infinity, and When Dream and Day Unite.

I bought the Limited Edition which comes with a 5.1 surround mix of th ealbum, and a 90 minute "making of the album" documentary, which is quite interesting.

They do revisit some musical lines from previous albums, which is kind of neat. Also the songs are quite "dark", almost fantasy-like, except for Mike Portnoy's obligatory, self-indulgent song about his 12-step recovery from alchoholism. We're only at step 9 with this album, so it looks like we're looking at another song or two on the next albums along these same lines. *Groan*

Other than the AA endorsement, definitely worth the investment.


- E.

[Venomboy]

I really like this record. I didn't like Octavarium. There's a lot going on on this record and some of it does sound familiar. It's very dark sounding, which I like.

[Chasbo]

I love the album. I dig Portnoy's singing on Constant Motion and Dark Eternal Night. I dug the way it contrasted with LaBrie's more melodic delivery. The song Forsaken could have come straight off Awake. Very melodic with some excellent guitar work in it. The 2 part Presence of Enemies was also a high spot for me. Overall a solid album from a great band. Between this and Snakes and Arrows I am very happy!

chuck

[tseegert]

I must consider myself one of DT's biggest fans ever, however I must admit, I am still absorbing previous albums. Anyone else here like me, where they dont move on to their idols' "new" album until you've taken in the whole thing, at your own "speed"?

Might be a bit odd, but every time I listen to a DT album (unless it's for the 100th time) I hear (and learn) something new about the progression, approach to melody, and generally how to become the musician I someday hope to become.

Dont ever get married, stricken, laden, overcome, burdened, or otherwise encumbered to anothers' existence if you wish to make music your life. Unless you happen to be one of the lucky ones, in which case you need not state your case here... everyone is already jealous of you

[khabibissell]

I picked up the special edition CD/DVD on Thursday as well. I've listened to the album twice, and I really like it. The level of musicianship in Dream Theater just amazes me.

As much of a guitar freak as I am, I think one of the main reasons I like DT is Portnoy's skills on the drum kit. His playing really adds a cool dimension to their stuff.

[kennslp]

I'll preface my thoughts w/ this: I am a total Dream Theater Fanboy... There's not much that they've done that I don't like, and every new release (CD, DVD, bootleg, whatever...) gets played TO DEATH @ home, in the car, at work, in my mp3 player... you get the idea...

With that noted, I think this is the BEST thing they've done since 6DOIT, especially after the disappointment that was Octavarium (I can't believe I just admitted that...). The CD just has EVERYTHING... great melodies (that are humable and stick in your head), huge, bombastic prog elements, killer heavy riffage, atmospheric elements... It's basically a amalgam of all the things that DT does well... And of course, ridiculously over-the-top playing (which I love). The only things I don't like are some of the distorted vocals (Dark Enternal Night), and possibly some of the lyrics.

I've heard a lot of folks compare it negatively w/ Images & Words or Awake. I think these folks should understand that DT has already made those CD's; There's no need to re-create them. You get this alot w/ King's X fans too; They (we) keep pining for them to go back to their 'style' from the first 2 albums... well..IMHO.. Artists grow and evolve, and to ask them to keep re-creating the same CD over and over is not really fair, and to be honest, would get pretty boring. It's OK for folks to not like the direction a band takes... opinion is what it is. But I, for one, get a real 'charge' out of what NEW STUFF my favorite bands come up with... knowing full well that I might be dissappointed. Though that's not the case here.

Of note: Anyone notice Petrucci's tone on the album? IMHO, it is LIGHTYEARS better than the last 2 CD's. He's back to using Mesa Mark series amps, as oppossed to the Road King amps he's been using since TOT. His tones are less 'barky', and 'cut' so much more! I love it! Can't wait to see them live this summer... for the 15th time!

-Kenn

[Joe_Steeler]

I've been reserving my opinion until I had time to digest it and get over the honeymoon period.
JP tone is superb and the songs well put together. I did not hear a lot of the flashiness and hot-doggin some people put on DT as they display their talents.
I think JL vocals are a bit dissapointing on this one.

All in all a great effort from a great band.

[1trussell]

I have nothing but great things to say about the album. The documentary had some funny parts in it, too.

[CharvelRocker]

I really like this record. I didn't like Octavarium. There's a lot going on on this record and some of it does sound familiar. It's very dark sounding, which I like.

I agree with that; though I liked the song Octavarium, the cd was bleh. This CD however i just awesome. Johns tone seems better now too.

[Venomboy]

Just watched the DVD portion. Cool stuff. There's a song about a vampire and another about a monster. How cool is that?

[Mikernaut2]

I'm trying to get into the new disc but while I love them as the technical wizards they are, Their songs have always come off kinda "hollow" to me. The instrumentals and playing is always great and tight but the songs just dont cause any emotion reaction for me. Images and Words , Awake where incredible albums I guess the "wow" factor is gone for me.

If you havent checked out Redemption with Ray Alder (Fates Warning) on vocals you really should. They put Dream Theater to shame IMO when it comes to actually writing songs with emotion and passion. They also have some great progressive playing. It gives me goosebumps like Dream Theater used to.

[GodOfRhythm]

Johns tone seems better now too.

Mark series > Roadking

[toejam]

If you havent checked out Redemption with Ray Alder (Fates Warning) on vocals you really should. They put Dream Theater to shame IMO when it comes to actually writing songs with emotion and passion. They also have some great progressive playing. It gives me goosebumps like Dream Theater used to.

Ray Alder = best vocalist ever! Fates Warning has been putting out lame albums for quite awhile now, too. Maybe Jim Matheos will get on the ball and put out a great album, and maybe Ray will start hitting some high notes again and using his full potential. I'd love for Ray to sing for DT, though.