Official Dream Theater Thread

[Entre_Perpetuo]

2 hours ago, J2112YYZ said:

 

The first single shows that he is being overbearing though. It sounds exactly like what the band was before he left. They didn't have that vibe at all with Mangini. Portnoy is also doing the setlist again. So yeah, he's back to running things.

I don’t hear it that way at all. I hear him playing drums the way he plays drums, no more overpowering than the way Petrucci or Rudess play. And doing the setlists is something I’m sure they talked through and decided was worth having him pick back up. I’m not gonna cry foul till I see evidence of him trying to push the band where they don’t want to be pushed. Which I believe is what he was doing when they split.

[bluefox4000]

16 hours ago, Entre_Perpetuo said:

Yeah I don’t see them doing anything envelope pushing for Portnoy’s first album back. I’m sure Mike is doing his best not to be overbearing so he can be sure this reunion works, plus I’m extra sure the rest of the band still remembers The Astonishing. 

 

Well. considering the last 2 albums with him where purely driven by him(see the SC documentary for confirmation.....everyone but Mike loked Miserable) and this sounds like black Clouds.  I think we can assume MP has asserted himself.........AGAIN............RAWWWWWWWR!!!!!!!!!!!

 

HAIL THE GREAT MP

 

Mick

[bluefox4000]

12 hours ago, J2112YYZ said:

 

The first single shows that he is being overbearing though. It sounds exactly like what the band was before he left. They didn't have that vibe at all with Mangini. Portnoy is also doing the setlist again. So yeah, he's back to running things.

 

 

my question is when is his inevtiable hissy fit coming when/if this album doesn't hit with fans.....cause the reation is currently very mixed, lol

 

Mick

 

 

[Entre_Perpetuo]

34 minutes ago, bluefox4000 said:

 

Well. considering the last 2 albums with him where purely driven by him(see the SC documentary for confirmation.....everyone but Mike loked Miserable) and this sounds like black Clouds.  I think we can assume MP has asserted himself.........AGAIN............RAWWWWWWWR!!!!!!!!!!!

 

HAIL THE GREAT MP

 

Mick

Maybe I should actually listen to BCSL all the way through, cuz I like this, lol

[bluefox4000]

7 minutes ago, Entre_Perpetuo said:

Maybe I should actually listen to BCSL all the way through, cuz I like this, lol

 

i just did.  and i only like the first 2 songs.  yea that era's not for me.  and it appears we're back there, lol

 

Mick

[treeduck]

On 10/13/2024 at 3:48 PM, bluefox4000 said:

 

 

my question is when is his inevtiable hissy fit coming when/if this album doesn't hit with fans.....cause the reation is currently very mixed, lol

 

Mick

 

 

I've just been looking at the song titles on the new album, it all sounds like it's been done before. The first one is called In the Arms of Morpheus, which sounds like another lame Matrix sequel. Night Terror, haven't they already done that? A Night Terror to Remember? A 20 minute song called The Shadow Man incident, sounds familiar too. 

[Entre_Perpetuo]

1 hour ago, treeduck said:

I've just been looking at the song titles on the new album, it all sounds like it's been done before. The first one is called In the Arms of Morpheus, which sounds like another lame Matrix sequel. Night Terror, haven't they already done that? A Night Terror to Remember? A 20 minute song called The Shadow Man incident, sounds familiar too. 

I’m reserving judgement till I hear the record in full, but to me none of it sounds bad. Honestly very excited for the one that’s sub 2 minutes. Weird I know, but I love when bands do very tiny songs as well.

[bluefox4000]

17 hours ago, Entre_Perpetuo said:

I’m reserving judgement till I hear the record in full, but to me none of it sounds bad. Honestly very excited for the one that’s sub 2 minutes. Weird I know, but I love when bands do very tiny songs as well.

 

 

not bad maybe but it's certainly 5 steps back though.

 

BUT maybe i'm wrong maybe the single is the "worst" thing on here (it's often happened that way with me.)

 

Single hasn't clicked with me yet but this isn't a portnoy era thing.  i disliked both singles from Distance over Time remember, lol

 

Mick

[chemistry2024]

I like the new single but I’m not an old school DT fan.

 

TBH they didn’t grab me until Mangini was already in the band.

 

I think MP is a great drummer but I honestly think - as a long suffering drummer and musician - that MM was a better fit. 
 

Petrucci is the melodic focal point of the band. And MM exploited his technical side really well. 
 

This new stuff sounds like Mangini era DT with a lesser drummer.

[bluefox4000]

7 minutes ago, chemistry2024 said:

I like the new single but I’m not an old school DT fan.

 

TBH they didn’t grab me until Mangini was already in the band.

 

I think MP is a great drummer but I honestly think - as a long suffering drummer and musician - that MM was a better fit. 
 

Petrucci is the melodic focal point of the band. And MM exploited his technical side really well. 
 

This new stuff sounds like Mangini era DT with a lesser drummer.

 

 

your not alone here.  Portnoy may have helped  found DT.  But i honestly think mangini was the better fit.  Not that MP was never great with them.  He was but around 2010 his playing started to stagnate and he hasn't evolved since.  Across all his bands.

 

Mick

Edited October 16 by bluefox4000

[Entre_Perpetuo]

I’m kinda the other way around. I loved Mangini, but he seemed very conventional to me in terms of his part writing. Portnoy’s drum parts are a lot more interesting to me, even if they don’t always groove as well as Mangini’s. It’s just two different approaches to technical greatness, and I’m happy to hear Portnoy’s approach again.

Edited October 16 by Entre_Perpetuo

[ytserush]

On 10/12/2024 at 4:15 PM, bluefox4000 said:

 

 

the single pushes nothing, lol

 

Mick

 

 

The last single I liked was The Gift of Music and probably Constant Motion before that so the advance track isn't too concerning for me.

[ytserush]

On 10/13/2024 at 1:16 AM, Entre_Perpetuo said:

I don’t hear it that way at all. I hear him playing drums the way he plays drums, no more overpowering than the way Petrucci or Rudess play. And doing the setlists is something I’m sure they talked through and decided was worth having him pick back up. I’m not gonna cry foul till I see evidence of him trying to push the band where they don’t want to be pushed. Which I believe is what he was doing when they split.

They split because he was burnt out from everything and needed a break and the band preferred business as usual. Portnoy learned from that mistake and has mellowed out quite a bit since then. More often than not he's been radio silent about band's present and future aside from official announcements which is how the band has operated since he left.

[ytserush]

On 10/16/2024 at 2:55 PM, Entre_Perpetuo said:

I’m kinda the other way around. I loved Mangini, but he seemed very conventional to me in terms of his part writing. Portnoy’s drum parts are a lot more interesting to me, even if they don’t always groove as well as Mangini’s. It’s just two different approaches to technical greatness, and I’m happy to hear Portnoy’s approach again.

 

 

I don't care who is behind the kit. I just want this band to keep evolving and not rely on sets of older songs even if they do change  the set from night to night. Have plenty of recordings if I want to feel nostalgic

[Segue Myles]

12 hours ago, ytserush said:

 

 

I don't care who is behind the kit. I just want this band to keep evolving and not rely on sets of older songs even if they do change  the set from night to night. Have plenty of recordings if I want to feel nostalgic

But I'd like the newer songs to be worthy replacements for the old classics. This new song is not.

[J2112YYZ]

Pretty good setlist for the tour opener.

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/dream-theater/2024/the-o2-arena-london-england-1bab6574.html

[ytserush]

On 10/21/2024 at 4:40 AM, Segue Myles said:

But I'd like the newer songs to be worthy replacements for the old classics. This new song is not.

 

Haven't heard the new song So I can't say what it is or isn't but why would songs need "replacements." Don't understand that comment.

[ytserush]

On 10/21/2024 at 10:20 AM, J2112YYZ said:

Pretty good setlist for the tour opener.

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/dream-theater/2024/the-o2-arena-london-england-1bab6574.html

 

 

I wouldn't have a problem with that set but a few more Mangini songs would have been nice. But I get it. This is the anniversary tour and the next leg will be more to my liking.

[Segue Myles]

14 hours ago, ytserush said:

 

Haven't heard the new song So I can't say what it is or isn't but why would songs need "replacements." Don't understand that comment.

Because if new songs will take place of classics, and I do prefer artists push their latest work over their old when touring, then I hope the new songs are worthy.

 

This song isn't.

[The Analog Cub]

I'm a big fan of the new single. I know what I'm getting with DT. It's what I expected, and it's still good. I also really enjoy Black Clouds, though.

 

I'm not buying tickets to see them, though. James had another vocal peak in the early 2010s - go listen to Luna Park, he sounds IMMORTAL - but I saw some live footage of the current tour, and while everyone else in the band sounds great, he simply can't do it live at his age now, not if they keep putting stuff pre-1999 in the set. If he wants to continue live he really needs to strengthen those lungs and change some vocal melodies. Rob Halford has been ducking high notes for decades now but while keeping the parts sensible.

 

His studio performances, though, have been excellent. The entire Mangini era and Night Terror have some great vocals.

Edited October 31 by The Analog Cub

[Entre_Perpetuo]

2 hours ago, The Analog Cub said:

I'm a big fan of the new single. I know what I'm getting with DT. It's what I expected, and it's still good. I also really enjoy Black Clouds, though.

 

I'm not buying tickets to see them, though. James had another vocal peak in the early 2010s - go listen to Luna Park, he sounds IMMORTAL - but I saw some live footage of the current tour, and while everyone else in the band sounds great, he simply can't do it live at his age now, not if they keep putting stuff pre-1999 in the set. If he wants to continue live he really needs to strengthen those lungs and change some vocal melodies. Rob Halford has been ducking high notes for decades now but while keeping the parts sensible.

 

His studio performances, though, have been excellent. The entire Mangini era and Night Terror have some great vocals.

From what I’ve seen I’m not sure anyone does more work than James LaBrie on maintaining their voice and training for it. Doesn’t mean he gets the best results, but I doubt he could try any harder to do any better. He’s old, has been singing some of the hardest material in metal for decades, and mostly after sustaining what realistically should have been a career ending vocal injury in 96. I don’t terribly mind hearing him struggle personally, same way I didn’t mind hearing Geddy struggle on later live stuff. But I get it if you do.

[The Analog Cub]

9 minutes ago, Entre_Perpetuo said:

From what I’ve seen I’m not sure anyone does more work than James LaBrie on maintaining their voice and training for it. Doesn’t mean he gets the best results, but I doubt he could try any harder to do any better. He’s old, has been singing some of the hardest material in metal for decades, and mostly after sustaining what realistically should have been a career ending vocal injury in 96. I don’t terribly mind hearing him struggle personally, same way I didn’t mind hearing Geddy struggle on later live stuff. But I get it if you do.

 

I don't mind if he struggles, per se, it's more that he (and the band) aren't taking necessary steps to work within the limitations. They just cart him out there and make him sing Metropolis Pt. 1 in standard tuning on back to back nights.

 

I did see a Pull Me Under video from this tour, and Labrie did manage to power through that one pretty well. I'm impressed.

 

I don't wanna bag on the guy for having limitations, when he works within them he's GREAT. And he's still doing an impeccable job in the studio. He's irreplaceable, I'm not one of those guys screaming for him to leave and be replaced by some 20 year old.

 

At least Rush would reasonably downtune 2112 and Geddy would change the vocal melodies into good alternatives.

Edited October 31 by The Analog Cub

[Entre_Perpetuo]

1 hour ago, The Analog Cub said:

 

I don't mind if he struggles, per se, it's more that he (and the band) aren't taking necessary steps to work within the limitations. They just cart him out there and make him sing Metropolis Pt. 1 in standard tuning on back to back nights.

 

I did see a Pull Me Under video from this tour, and Labrie did manage to power through that one pretty well. I'm impressed.

 

I don't wanna bag on the guy for having limitations, when he works within them he's GREAT. And he's still doing an impeccable job in the studio. He's irreplaceable, I'm not one of those guys screaming for him to leave and be replaced by some 20 year old.

 

At least Rush would reasonably downtune 2112 and Geddy would change the vocal melodies into good alternatives.

Yeah I hear you there. When I saw Metropolis 1 was on the setlist I was scratching my head. May as well make him sing Under A Glass Moon every night. Or the climax of Octavarium.

[bluefox4000]

14 minutes ago, Entre_Perpetuo said:

Yeah I hear you there. When I saw Metropolis 1 was on the setlist I was scratching my head. May as well make him sing Under A Glass Moon every night. Or the climax of Octavarium.

 

Thoes choices would make for a good DVD ya know fix it in post but live........eek, lol

 

EP i know i say a lot about MP but i hope they record a show for a blu ray.  IT IS a reunion tour after all.  i kinda want a keepsake.

 

Mick

[Entre_Perpetuo]

5 minutes ago, bluefox4000 said:

 

Thoes choices would make for a good DVD ya know fix it in post but live........eek, lol

 

EP i know i say a lot about MP but i hope they record a show for a blu ray.  IT IS a reunion tour after all.  i kinda want a keepsake.

 

Mick

There’s not a chance in heck they don’t make a blu ray. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re recording every single show on this tour to stitch it all together from.