Day of Light

Thanks for introducing me to Ghost; I'm really liking this sound!

Rush fans are getting prettier and prettier! Thanks, but it's not even a flattering picture. :) hot thx bae Bae. I hate that I love this word. I started using "bae", "dank", "rekt", "bro" and "ayy" ironically, and now I use them so much that I have officially become what I was intending to make fun of. I also say "lol" in conversation. I, too, hate that I love that word.

I'm intrigued that nobody mentioned Kanye's rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODIo-ckoprY In his case, I don't think it was supposed to be an honest cover, but still, it fits.

You do know your stuff. I only started seriously getting into rock music recently, and so I don't even think I've met a famous person, let alone ever gotten an autograph or anything. Like damn I can't even afford my own music. The thing about Rush is that if it attracts women it attracts a certain type of woman; maybe an intellectual, or a patient, caring person, or anyone with a triple-digit iq. Personally I'm the type who's willing to sit around listening to three nerds be accidentally hot in the 80's. I describe guitars as "sexy" because I lack any technical knowledge beyond that. I dance to Rush songs. It sucks about the marriage, but I'm happy you're pulling through reasonably ok. k i'm gonna sleep now but it was nice talking to you

I'd seriously stay up all night listening to you ramble. Jordan Rudeness? roid rage john? hahahah I think he's cuter than Moore though. Moore allegedly left cause he felt lonely and all the other members had girlfriends. Prob didn't shower enough. Source: i was a fly on the wall of a recording studio in a past life Glad we're in agreement about Myung's beautiful mane. I wish I could grow my hair that nice.

It just dawned on me that the magic that I was hearing during the parts of The Astonishing I liked can be most easily explained as an audible bassline. Dream Theater ain't dead as long as they still have Myung. Only true hero left.

Didn't feel like sleeping so I watched Whiplash. It was interesting.

Rush fans are getting prettier and prettier! Thanks, but it's not even a flattering picture. :) hot thx bae

you're cool, earl

I woke up this morning after 7 and a half hours of sleep. That's precisely at the end of a natural sleep cycle! Everything's been easy today. Feeling sharp as hell.

someday you'll try to chase the unattainable girl and understand what the song is about. i understand the song.........been through it. Still sucks. Mick But this is the greatest album since Kilroy Was Here. One day you will see. oh it's CA the greatest piece of art since beggining of time. Nearly 4 years and it's still an average albumt for a band that's NOT Rush. for rush.......it's bad. not sorry folks, lol Mick Don't be too negative you might break hearts. Can confirm, Mick just broke my heart. I love Clockwork Angels. I don't think there's a lot of filler on it (I think it drags on because of the tempo and length of songs themselves, not the content). I think it would've been much better received if it had Hemispheres Geddy's vocals on it, but I enjoy the music because it has a distinct mood to it. It succeeded as a concept album.

Three songs I cannot stand, the rest I enjoy. But not as much as other albums. Although Bravado is one of my favourite Rush songs. It's kind of funny because I dislike Dreamline and Bravado, but The Big Wheel, Heresy, and Neurotica are ok to me.

...I like Roll the Bones. It's a bad Rush album but it's fine if you pretend it isn't. edit: actually I've thought a few minutes about this and I don't get the RTB hate in general, even in the context of the rest of their music. Is it less catchy than any of the other albums? Is it more lyrically awkward than any of the other albums, especially the late-era albums? Does it have more duds than any other album? Does the playing suck? Does the singing suck?

Astonishing is the last song on this album. It's kind of a shame it's not the strongest song on the album, but it's still strong. I think this is where they should've went ham with the orchestra but they chose a noble-sounding ballad at the start instead. I disagree with this decision but I can respect it because it's still effective. It's building up significantly towards the end. And I like the way it ends. Final verdict on The Astonishing? I like it better than Scenes of a Memory, and I like that one quite a bit. Lyrics and storyline are fuzzy to me and I almost prefer it that way. The production is stellar. The guitar is sexy. The keyboards should've been louder. James sounds godlike but there's a few instances here and there where I can detect pitch-correction and it bums me out because it's so unnecessary. I think that whatever was potentially off-key should've been kept that way. Too much orchestra. Plenty of highlights, but some filler. CD 1 had more filler than CD 2. CD 2 is better.

My Last Farewell: It's good. Yeah CD 2 is stronger, but this song needed grit I think. For once it's not James' fault. I've been loving his vocals. Losing Faythe: Autotune? Or just pitch-perfect signing with too-good harmonies? I don't know. This is a little slow for me. Not a filler ballad. Meaningful in the context of the album. But I need rough. Hymn of the Thousand Voices: Very pretty. It's giving me Spirit Carries On vibes, except better. Our New World: YES. This guitar tone. Ok, I admit that I'm probably falling in love with a gimmick (LOUD! CLEAN! PETRUCCI!) but yeah this is good. I'm keeping this.

Bottom 10? I'll try. By-Tor and the Snow Dog Entre Nous Second Nature Tai Shan Superconductor (its placement right after Presto is unforgivable) Nobody's Hero Cut to the Chase (this song does not cut to the chase) Alien Shore Half the World The Larger Bowl

Yep, it seems we have similar feelings about it. And I don't mean to be negative when I hate on the orchestra: it was most likely a novel and exciting experience for DT, especially for Jordan, hence why they went so ham with it. But they went too ham, and I think it detracts at parts. I can feel they had a lot of fun with this record. It doesn't feel "meh". It's very enthusiastic. Moment of Betrayal: stronk. Heaven's Cove: Ohhh the guitar at the beginning is lovely. One thing I don't understand is why Jordan's parts are so quiet, though. I hear hints of that organ again and it's making me upset that they chose to prioritize the wall of sound instead of that beautiful harmony. Begin Again: Another ballad, but it's effective this time. I like the drumming. GREAT buildup. The Path That Divides: ...okay, I don't think Begin Again has a place next to this song. This is better, heavier, and would've been more appropriate immediately after Heaven's Cove instead of immediately after that incredibly clean thing. Begin Again is quite satisfying, but it should've probably got the cut considering this. I don't know. It's probably fine the way it is. I like the fact that I get both to listen to, but it's weird in the context of the rock opera itself. The Walking Shadow: Drama drama drama. I love.

Ravenskill: Strong, but kinda boring. Chosen: Filler ballad. I'm guessing it's lyrically redundant too, although I have only been loosely paying attention to lyrics. Tempting Offer: I like the retro-sounding organ sounds buried in the mix. I think they should've brought them forward a little very lot more. Get rid of the f***ing choir. It's not epic, it's just noise. On a side note, I think the little interludes are really cool. Wonder how they made them. The X Aspect: !!! Liking the bagpipes at the end, but seriously f**k this choir goddamn A New Beginning: Finally a relatively rougher song. The choir actually feels appropriate here. Edit towards end of song: Yes. This is the highlight from the first listen. It's amazing. I like it a lot. The Road to Revolution: Also strong. This wraps up CD 1!

Brother, Can you Hear Me? is probably a skip in the future for me. It feels like it should've been a guitar-and-voice song with maybe some drums, and then towards the dramatic part of the end, add some violins and choir. Way too uniform with the orchestra up to eleven right from the start, and therefore by making it too busy, they made it too boring. A Life Left Behind: I rest my case. Beautiful song, beautiful keyboards, a significant decline in orchestra bullshit. I don't know what is up with this album. It goes good, bad, good, bad, filler, good, bad, etc predictably like a pendulum.

Savior in the Square: this song has its moments, but I find it to be too much during the parts where there should be buildup, reducing the overall impact of the parts that need it. Even the slow piano part has an annoying orchestral wall of sound behind it. Definitely could've benefited from being less ambitious here. When Your Time Has Come: Not unpleasant to listen to, cool groove and guitar part, but I can't explain why this song exists. I think it's getting a little self-indulgent. Also, people say DT lacks texture. I think being too clean is the DT texture. Act of Faythe: This is infinitely more dramatic and effective than When Your Time Has Come. This also feels a lot more important for the album overall. And hey, the wall of sound isn't as egregious. Three Days: !!!!

Segue and Tick, play nice please. You are both appreciated. Dystopian Overture is pleasantly intense, even if it's way cheesy. I'm enjoying it more than the first time! Gift of Music: Why, James? It's quite subtle but I feel the autotune. The lyrics are fun if you resist the urge to eyeroll. Kinda like 2112 but with a little less charm because the musicians are not kids in the twenties. A Better Life: Actually... I like it. This is the most listenable DT has been for me since ever. Lord Nafaryus: !!

I miss the rich, dulcet depths of Labrie's voice circa Awake. I know that the food poisoning incident did terrible things to his voice, but that doesn't explain why he sticks to the shrill tones and overuses that vibrato so much nowadays. He tries too hard. I just ripped the CDs for Astonishing. Time to get to listening with proper headphones. I'll post if something catches my, uh, my ear.

good post but it is indeed frustrating when you like something others don't. bur i still respect it.........if not too overbearing in your view, lol Mick :) Once I get home I'll listen to TA again. I liked it, but I haven't listened to it since release day, so I feel my first impressions were superficial. A huge album like TA deserves a better analysis than "meh, I liked it".

Being a critical fan is important. It means you can be more appreciative when there is something that you do like, and this appreciation can be more honestly and confidently expressed. I don't enjoy the bashing of albums I like, either, but I still think it's important to see where people are coming from. If the reasoning is unsound, just ignore it, because the ultimate decider of what music you like is you.