raygun47

I voted Howe...but what a tough choice! I love all four, but there's always been something about Howe that I've really, really dug.

QUOTE (Del_Duio @ Jul 19 2011, 02:21 PM) QUOTE (micgtr71 @ Jul 17 2011, 09:03 AM) I would like them a lot more if they got a new singer James is great in the studio but (and I like the guy) he's kind of weak live. The exception is his performance on Score, the 20th anniversary concert. He was awesome for that. I believe he's improved on that level over the last so many tours. Octavarium to the present.

Yeah...not thrilled about that opener either.

What do you do with Rudess? Send him down to the Triple A affiliate? KM's a nice idea in theory. Maybe you can make KM play third base...I don't know?

Yeah...almost seems like JLB has been kept quiet for some time...and now he's asserting himself. Man...you can tell if it was off the record, he'd really start saying some stuff. He and Mike obviously were not loving each other. I don't think that John is the type to get negative, and I also wonder if he and Mike were just closer than Mike and James and he doesn't want to be burning bridges. Myung we'll never know. But I'll guess this way...John and Mike had fewer issues than Mike and the others.

QUOTE (metaldad @ Jul 12 2011, 08:38 AM) Thanks Ducky. What i take out of that is............ JLB is one happy motherfuc*er that Portnoy is gone Portnoy was the reason the set lists were completely different and JLB is glad they won't be anymore J.M. is "Allowed" to write agian JLB Still does not write The only way Portnoy comes back is if the album/tour tank I don't see a Portnoy return. More you read...more you realize this thing had layers and years of stuff that all came out suddenly. I'll miss the set changing...but I don't recall the last couple tours having all that much variety. If James wants a say in the set (which is what I think I see here) then why shouldn't he? I mean...if he spoke up before did Mike just ignore his suggestions? Looks like it. I may have mentioned this before here or somewhere else, but I really figured if Mike or John left it was definitely over. I'm glad it's not...but I didn't think the others would continue. The video I've seen so far and the new tune lead me to believe this transition wasn't all that hard.

QUOTE (J2112YYZ @ Jul 11 2011, 08:14 AM) QUOTE (Nate2112 @ Jul 10 2011, 06:13 PM) This may come as a shock but I think I may be the only one on TRF that doesn't like Dream Theater. I just think that they are WAY too overated and that the only two albums that are ok are Train Of Thought and Octavarium. Please Discuss. You obviously haven't heard Images & Words, Awake and Scenes From A Memory then if you think their two worst albums are the only decent stuff they have. I can understand why you would get sick of the band though. I mean the marketing for them is everywhere, they've been overplayed on the radio to the point where you just can't stand to hear them anymore. You just can't get a break from them anyplace Wait a seceond actually you can because none of that stuff applies to them at all If you don't like it, don't listen to them. It's really that simple. Weird...I swear I was thinking the same thing. Where are you at that the media saturation of Dream Theater has caused you to be forced to turn away? You just can't turn on the tube anymore without John Petrucci trying to sell you Hydroxycut! Ah...I kid. DT isn't for everybody. There's no reason to think that you're missing something if you don't like a band that does something that's...in my opinion...rather unique and geared toward a certain smaller target audience. At the same time, there's no reason to put down that same music because it doesn't fit into whatever it is you dig. I'm going to really, really agree with those who ARE fans that think the departure of Mike takes with it the trend of writing songs that sound like other bands Mike is into. I've noticed it. And...I also wouldn't mind a little less "metal" and a little more 6DoIT. Which was my favorite DT...but I'm willing to let the band do what it is they do.

QUOTE (metaldad @ Jun 29 2011, 04:00 PM) There is nothing in this song that i have not heard them do back in 1993. I am still looking foward to the album anyway Hmmm. Maybe. But wasn't that kinda what a lot of people hoped would go down? Maybe a little more akin to those past records and a little less what we've heard recently. I think that a lot of what I've heard recently was a little more geared toward whatever it was MP was digging. Bands MP liked seemed to have at least some influence on what DT was doing. I kind of feel like a departure to the "old" DT is a departure nonetheless. I like the fact that the band is moving back to the sound that made me a fan in the first place. Metaldad...you're my guy! I agree, but I think I want that. And...we'll reconvene when the record drops and see how we feel.

QUOTE (J2112YYZ @ Jun 26 2011, 01:18 PM) QUOTE (Rick N. Backer @ Jun 25 2011, 09:44 PM) QUOTE (PolishRushFan @ Jun 23 2011, 02:12 PM)1. 7th Son Of A 7th Son 2. Somewhere In Time 3. Piece Of Mind 4. Powerslave 5. The Number Of The Beast No, no, no. You CAN'T put 7th Son 4 places ahead of Beast. And Somewhere in Time ahead of the holy trinity of 80s metal? Seventh Son is my favorite Maiden album. If you look around the internet and talk to other Maiden fans out in the real world, you'll find that there are plenty of fans who have Seventh Son and SIT as their favorite albums. POM and NOTB would be seceond and thrid with me. I would even put SIT over Powerslave. PS is all about the first two and the last two songs on the album. FOTB is cool but the other three songs are just 'meh' to me. I agree. You most certainly can put both "Seventh Son" and "Somewhere in Time" in any top five list. They're both in "Powerslave's" league as far as I'm concerned. The newest stuff...I think...rivals any of the old any day of the week. Again...this is only another man's opinion, but I definitely tend to lean more towards the stuff, with Bruce, done after "Somewhere" to the present. NOT THAT I DON'T DIG WHAT CAME BEFORE! Only a personal preference. What cannot be lost here is that the entire library is up for similar debate. Because that library is so good. Maiden is still doing some great stuff all these years later. That's awful consistent.

Well, I like it judging by what there is to judge it on. I wasn't real into the whole idea...but it sounds like it could be real cool. I'll give it a try.

QUOTE (tangy @ Jun 16 2011, 10:30 AM) QUOTE (Storm Shadow @ Jun 16 2011, 09:46 AM) QUOTE It's more along the lines of, say, ROB ZOMBIE, GODSMACK, DISTURBED, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, SHINEDOWN Not exactly reeling me in with that description. yeah, i don't care for any of those bands. I don't think any of those bands are like the one mentioned before it. Disturbed and Shinedown...I don't listen to. Don't listen to Godsmack. BLS and Zombie I like, but they're very different from each other. Yeah, I don't know how all those parts fit together. Is Mike just taking on every and any project out there to show he's got lots of lines in the water? I'm not saying this won't be good, but if it's not...and the Morse/Morse thing isn't...then did a bunch of stuff just get thrown together for the sake of having a project?

http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermo...wsitemID=159475 I'm...not real into this. I'm mildly interested in hearing a little. I like Symphony X. If you are real into this...help me out. I'm willing to get excited. This just doesn't do it.

I'm very into all "eras" of Opeth. Old...new...whatever. I can't wait to hear this one.

I love Jane's Addiction. And...I love "Three Days." It never occurred to me that others didn't love them too. I guess anything's possible! I saw them with Flea on bass on the Relapse tour at the Aragon. Wow. What struck me most was the diversity of the crowd. All kinds of different folks. They were very good.

I think this was the right choice. I'm excited for what comes next!

I was extremely impressed with the names of those who were asked...and that they came out to audition. I have no PayPal...but I'm 98% sure were looking at Mangini behind the skins moving forward. I would bet on that. They may have liked Minneman, and they might have even discussed it with him...and that's how I think the whole "Blabbermouth" rumor made it on the site. I think he was considered, but in the end...Mangini was willing to do whatever it was that Minneman wouldn't. I'm speculating obviously, but I think...based on everything together, that this may be how it all went down. We'll see.

I don't know if anyone's seen the second documentary yet...but the Mangini audition really looked good. I don't know about the rest, but why so much Mangini if, in fact, it isn't Mangini's gig?

Great night...as it always is. I noticed Neil's energy as the others who reviewed have mentioned. He seemed real into it, and it added something to the overall experience. As reviews go...I was on the floor. The sound was above average from where I sat (or where I stood). I'm a fan of the set. I was last year, and that hasn't changed. I did have some ideas of some things I would change after, but they were more conversational between myself and the guy I see every Rush show with rather than disappointment. The whole thing really isn't lost on me. It's still a big night in my year, and I still hope...very much...that they can continue to do shows. I think maybe this makes it hard for me to say anything constructive on the negative side. For me, it was as great as the first time...and I'm building quite the resume over the many years beginning with the Presto tour. If they have another in them, I will bring my daughter to a show. She's 6 right now. Our floor seats wouldn't have worked for her. Anywho...nice night. As always, the people there were cool...no issues with anyone at any point before or after or during. Just positive.

Just thought of something I loved about seeing the Dead. Bob Weir did a few Dylan songs live ("Queen Jane Approximately"," When I Paint My Masterpiece" are two I recall). These songs were multiple verse songs...songs I've known for years and could never remember the words to...and he never missed a lyric when I saw him. Not saying he never did, EVER...but I never saw him miss a line. So...he'd do one, then two or three songs later he'd flub a line of "Truckin'" or "Sugar Magnolia." I always loved how it seemed he took the time to reproduce Bob Dylan correctly and then blow a line everyone in the audience could sing verbatim. I loved watching Bob Weir. Some faves of his library..."Weather Report Suite," "Lost Sailor," "St. of Circumstance," "Cassidy," "Black-Throated Wind." Damn...now I have "Black-Throated Wind" playing...(Dick's Picks Vol. 23). Curse the guy who started this thread! I'm listening to the Dead again!

Used to go see them often. Early '90's late '80's before Jerry died. Loved them then more than I do now, but I still like them a lot. I liked the Brent years a lot. It got to the point where I could do without the fans a little. Too much for me. I tried to be a part of it all for a while but it didn't quite fit my personality. Then it took some time for me to just dig them musically. The JGB is real good stuff. I might like some of the JGB shows more than Dead shows.

QUOTE (The Owl @ Mar 9 2011, 06:07 PM) I love Mike Portnoy, I think he is an excellent drummer, and a good songwriter.... he is very talented and I respect him for that, and will listen to anything that he does... But, this whole "I'm the victim" shpeal Mike is putting on these last few months are a load of bullshit.. "They wouldn't give me a break so I walked", "I tried to rejoin, but they won't let me", "They won't return my calls"....etc Mike, YOU LEFT THEM, you weren't kicked out... quit bitching and playing the victim card here.... you made your bed, now lie in it. I'm conflicted over Mike Portnoy. I love the guy. I love the music he made, and I'll like what he makes...with the Theater or without. As a person, I'm way under-qualified to say. I saw him out once. We got pictures and things. It was cool. But...I don't really know him. Unfortunately, I guess the only thing we can go on is what he posts and what we hear. I don't want all this for him. I don't know whether he deserves it all or not. At one point I thought he did, but now I guess I'm not sure. I guess, in a way, he dug his own grave. I'd say I even agree with this post mostly. But as much as I want a new drummer now and a new record...I wish it all hadn't happened in the first place. I feel differently about it now that it's been so long.

I don't know for sure what Black Metal is...is Venom Black Metal? I like Venom a little. I have tons of metal here I never really tried yet in the iTunes library. Maybe it's black...but I can't tell. What am I looking for exactly?

I love SDoIT for a first time listener. Just wanted to say that before anyone goes out and does anything. I would say "Images and Words" would be my second choice for a beginner. But "Six Degrees" is a great first impression. Six Degrees Images and Words Awake Train of Thought 8v That's what I wanted to say about that. I can talk DT all night...

QUOTE (Enemy Within 77 @ Mar 1 2011, 11:59 PM) QUOTE (greg2112 @ Mar 1 2011, 05:08 PM) QUOTE (Barchetta82 @ Mar 1 2011, 04:19 PM) QUOTE (Natural Rush @ Dec 29 2010, 12:09 PM) A Matter Of Life And Death and the latest album are garbage I completely agree.......to disagree!! +1 Those two albums, are great. Best since 7th Son easily. +1 I love them both. LOVE. I'm trying to think of my least favorite...and even that I find difficult.

I'm right there with you Greg. It's actually the most anticipated release...for me...since Train of Thought. Everything since, I've been pretty sure what I was getting. This might be something. I like the stuff after Train, but I knew what to expect. And, with all the rivalry that seems to be building between the two "sides." I wonder if the guys are really pulling out everything to make this special. I'm interested.