Dream Theater's Astonishing.

[InFlames235]

Wow, this is the most hate-filled thread I've read so far on this album haha. I know this album has been divisive, but a lot of other forums I've visited the general reaction to this album is positive. I absolutely LOVE this album - didn't bore me at all, and I've listened to it every day since it's come out. I think that concepts really focus the band and make them better. This has been true with SFAM, Six Degrees & now The Astonishing which, to me, beats some of their Portnoy-era albums and is BY FAR the best album they've done with Mangini. Different strokes .

 

[Dave L]

I really liked Six Degrees, at least the monster title track - which I remember is disc two on CD - if not the whole album. I often still find myself humming some keyboard lead line from it. And I agree that there´s stuff on The astonishing that beats out some Portnoy-era stuff, they recorded a lot of clunkers in the later part of the 2000s.

 

[crwnedblasphemy]

Six degrees was their last really good album for me. Like stated above, I haven't heard the new one. I will though. My worry a few weeks ago was in an interview with Labrie, was that there were these characters he had to channel to sing their parts as he is roll playing each character. The reason I was skeptical is not his talents, but do what Tobias Does in Avantasia, and have guest vocals for different characters.

I really like Labries solo stuff on a side note, it's way heavier and just easy to get into.

 

[dfrattaroli]

I'm not sure this is a "hate-filled" thread. People are just not in love with the album. I haven't even listened to it yet.

 

[sleewell2]

 

[amiller]

I like DT writing and playing but I just can't get passed the vocals. It's so disappointing to me. There's this great music and suddenly a crap vocal just craps all over the music. I just can't listen to any of it anymore.

 

[GtarLover]

I WORE OUT the first 3 albums.
Images and Awake, WOW simply amazing. They have grow, yet not sure about the last few releases.
When I saw them for the Octavarian tour, things were still rocking and John was killing it.
Not too happy with much since then.
I hope they pull a bit back toward the roots of DT. The early albums were MONSTROUS!!!

 

[megaboogie]

I really miss the old DT, to me SFAM was their peak, and it started going downhill little by little.
I did enjoy SDOIT, even TOT and Octavarium, but after that along with MP's departure, I just can't get into them any more.

 

[chunktone]

A little OT, but for all you guys like me that really dig the old Dream Theater stuff, what other bands are you into?
Just looking for some new music..

Evergrey is great! Finally got to see them at the last ProgPower.
Pagan's Mind
Jorn
Symphony X
Adrenaline Mob

 

[chunktone]

I used to love these guys. I used to get all the CDs and I'd see them every time they'd come around. Now I'm pretty much done with them. When it comes to DT I can't just listen to just any schmoe giving a review. There are just too many fanboys who are too far up Petrucci's ass to be objective.

I'll wait until my brother gets it and tells me about it before I investigate it any further.

Some of these fanboys are comparing this new album to The Wall and Operation Mindcrime!!!!! For fucks sake, what are they listening to????

say what you will about Tate, but He was one of the best on the planet in his prime.

 

[chunktone]

when dream and day unite is the only listenable album this band has ever released IMO

This is the only early stuff of theirs that I can't listen to.

 

[thiswaythatway]

Ok, listened more today in the car. On disc 1 there's 20 songs...20. I like tracks 3, 13, 14, 16, 19. The rest of it is a corny snoozefest. That's 15 tracks I'm skipping.

On disc 2......track 12 is the only thing I like. So that's 6 songs out of 34 that I like.

Glad I didn't buy tickets to their concert because I'd fall asleep if I had to sit through any of the tracks I didn't list above.

 

[thiswaythatway]

Something funny. Track 18 disc 1 is a rip off of that sad walking away music from the Hulk tv series from the 70's.

 

[chunktone]

. There was a track on a disc in the 90s when another guy had a few lead vocal lines- maybe it was a keyboardist or guest vocalist? It was low and growly and had angry blues tone; that is what they need to win me back.

That was Dug Pinnick from King's X, and yes, he's one of my favorite singers of all time.

 

[crankyrayhanky]

That is probably it! I never listened much to King's X, I'll have to check it out.
Here is the DT tune:

 

[Bob Savage]

. There was a track on a disc in the 90s when another guy had a few lead vocal lines- maybe it was a keyboardist or guest vocalist? It was low and growly and had angry blues tone; that is what they need to win me back.

That was Dug Pinnick from King's X, and yes, he's one of my favorite singers of all time.

I never really got into Kings X but man, that guitar player is awesome. Actually, the whole band is but I never knew the guitarist was that legit.

 

[dfrattaroli]

when dream and day unite is the only listenable album this band has ever released IMO

This is the only early stuff of theirs that I can't listen to.

Agreed. Almost like it was another band.

 

[Tone Ranger]

Something funny. Track 18 disc 1 is a rip off of that sad walking away music from the Hulk tv series from the 70's.

Funny, my wife has been on an original Hulk kick lately. Might have to pay more attention...

 

[nevusofota]

when dream and day unite is the only listenable album this band has ever released IMO

This is the only early stuff of theirs that I can't listen to.

Agreed. Almost like it was another band.

I think Ytse Jam is typical Dream Theater and it hints to what we would be in for after Images and Words and Awake. It's almost like once they had a taste of success in the mainstream they made a conscious (or unconscious) effort to go back to the writing style of the first album.

 

[rokket2005]

A little OT, but for all you guys like me that really dig the old Dream Theater stuff, what other bands are you into?
Just looking for some new music..

Teramaze's last album Her Halo is amazing, though to be fair I'm not a huge DT fan.