New Dream Theater Album
 

I was appalled. It sounds like the soundtrack for a bad musical. Maybe they were trying to achieve the theatricalness of King Diamond or something but sort of a failure . . .
Thoughts?

Yep, there's a new Dream Theater album alright.

Compared to the other modern albums we've been getting since Systematic Chaos, I thought this was was good even without the story. Dream Theater has needed to change their style a little for a long time. You can only sound like Pink Floyd meets Queensryche for so long before it gets tiring. This one was different. Dream Theater was at their best during the 90's.

I have a review on the album in my 2016 journal. That might interest you.

They've needed a dire change in sound since 1985.

To me these guys are the definitive example of what Frownie said in another recent post (no idea which post it was) about how technical proficiency does not necessarily equate to high art. Portnoy is a beast on his kit, Myung utterly destroys me on bass, Sherinian or the other guy (I lost interest a long time ago) just shred all their chops, I don't care, it's just calisthenics, it's boring.

Beat me to it.

God Dream Theater are bad.

I personally thought their 2013 self-titled album marked a resurgence for them, but evidently not. The Astonishing seems like a series of poorly sung and written eighties ballads. At least the new album means they're going on tour again--the only good thing about them nowadays.

Yeah, at least then you know where they are and you can steer clear

I don't know of any guitarist more proficient at shredding than Petrucci. I'd go just to see him.

Enjoy, I addressed my take on the proficiency debate 5 posts previous

What I really like is Portnoy's drums.

I feel that all of Dream Theater's musicians could be great in a different context, surrounded by people with vision who could guide that technique to serve the music. Instead we have that rare case of reverse symbiosis - where the whole is much less than the sum of its parts. And it gets worse as DT's members travel the world doing demonstrations and clinics in front people who applaud every display of incredible technique, like some sort of freak show circus.

That's one way of looking at it. Ironically, they all went to music school unlike most musicians of their genre. I think the takeaway message is that almost anyone who's fairly coordinated can be an expert music player, but it takes a true artist to compose.

Still, I greatly enjoy some of Dream Theater's playing. The lack of artistic talent when you have multiple amazing progressive players makes the music sound unorganized, yet they counteract that with a more radio-friendly sound. The point of progressive music is to experiment, so occasionally the music is intentionally clunky, and benificially so. Dream Theater's just clunky, but they clean it up with a radio-friendly sound so they still get an audience.

I don't want to trounce on them too much, however. Metropolis Pt. 2 was perfect.

Dream Theater are a really polarizing band, honestly. Some people are going to like them, and some are just not. As many know, I happen to like Dream Theater quite a bit, so here's my two cents:

The Astonishing reminds me a lot of the Metropolis/Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence era, but definitely not completely. To me, their combination of opera and prog is pretty damn cool, and this is a prime example of that. I certainly like this better than their brief period of experimentation with death metal. Yeah, sure, The Astonishing overstays its welcome a bit, but it's their best material on average since Octavarium (the song) IMO. I don't really give a **** about the story, frankly, I prefer just listening to the music. Metropolis was the only good Dream Theater concept album. Either way, it's decent. Not their worst, but not their absolute best either.

EDIT- At least they're still actually trying...

*cough*rolling stones*cough*

Of all the negative things people have to say about Drek Theater, I'm positive that 'clunky' is not one of those. If anything, their music is too polished.

Oh, and also, I think to truly appreciate Dream Theater you have to be able to appreciate the fact that they can actually write music. You don't even write music, you pathetic...

Oh, **** it.

And Stephanie Meyer wrote Twilight. She's the best, right? Much better than that whack John Milton free verse at the very least.

Wait wut? I actually want to hear this. :laughing:

By clunky, I mean in the progressive sense. The point of prog is to experiment, but Dream Theater aren't very good at that. I guess I didn't explain myself very well. But yes, you said it better. Too polished.

I just might get strung up and hung for this. I don't much care. Mark Tremonti could shred just as proficiently. That's right. The dude from Creed. He's laid down some impressive solos with Alter Bridge. He's one of the only guitarist from the era Creed were so popular that I thought had genuine talent. If it were ever a possibility, and Petrucci and Tremonti got up on a stage and had an old fashioned guitar battle. I think people would see why I say all of this. It isn't that Tremonti is underrated or anything. He's been on the cover of many guitar magazines world wide. I just don't think people who aren't fond of Creed or that familiar with Tremonti and his playing, I don't think those people realize just how versed the man is with the guitar.

Just one mans opinion though. And I found the new Dream Theater to be a bit...I don't know, maybe bland. The playing was good though. I just didn't find a lot of interest in the album.

For the record. I don't like Creed.

Then we'll let you live.

Mark Tremonti is an excellent example to pare with Petrucci in the "whoa, those dudes can play fast...but can they play anything worth my time...ever? I'm still waiting. Okay. Twenty five years later and I've decided to give up on them" department.

Haha, Frown. Yes. Tremonti can really rip up a guitar with his speed. But my friend, the man also knows the art of actually playing licks with thought involved. You heard much Alter Bridge? Tremonti has some beautiful, varied material there. He's not all about fast.

@ Paul

Thanks for letting me live. But honestly I would have been good either way.

Yes I knooohwhoahooooiowowow about Alter Bridge.

We won't agree on that band either so let's just avoid that haha.

What was that Dream Theater album with the dude walking on a high wire between planes?

This made me think of:

It was that ohooowohowohoowowoahne that you shouldn't listen to in the first place.

Stop that sh*t. Every time I go to get a drink, I read a post from you like this, I nearly shoot water out my nose.

Dramatic Turn of Events