Official Dream Theater Thread

[Entre_Perpetuo]

Okay I finally just listened to it. 
 

It’s good! I really love all the details in between the tracks, and how naturally recorded (or distorted) they sound. Very obvious call back to things like the ticking clock and hypnotist session and record skipping and door slamming and stuff from Scenes, but considering how long it’s been since they actually decorated an album with that, it’s a very welcome callback. 
 

Lyrically I can tell it’s strictly a concept album about some sort of Octavarium/Scenes type scenario, though I didn’t really grasp any plot points on first list, just a LOT of being told to wake up, lol.

 

Musically I really appreciate how adventurous it is. I think they focused on ear candy, specific sounds and soundscapes and stylistic detours that would pop out from the potential monotony of, you know, more of the Dream Theater thing. Which again is always great to see. Their best albums are usually the most adventurous in this way. And of course everyone sounds excellent, no weird or overly polished production going on. Jordan picks good patches, and James sounds strong and inspired.

 

What I didn’t super get on first listen though was… well… songs.  Compositions that beat their usual par.  I’m not gonna worry to much about this after only one listen (I distinctly recall feeling A View didn’t have “songs” either, then flipped my mind around within a couple months). But there’s definitely no Barstool Warrior or Voices here on first listen. Bend The Clock might get close to make an early prediction. Or maybe A Broken Man.

 

All in all this seems to be DT continuing to hone in on what they already know they do best, with just enough dashes of whimsy not to let it get boring. Honestly very similar to A View, but with more callbacks to the Portnoy era classics because, of course there are.

 

I can guarantee you right off the bat though this ain’t making my top 3, lol!

[Segue Myles]

1 minute ago, Entre_Perpetuo said:

Okay I finally just listened to it. 
 

It’s good! I really love all the details in between the tracks, and how naturally recorded (or distorted) they sound. Very obvious call back to things like the ticking clock and hypnotist session and record skipping and door slamming and stuff from Scenes, but considering how long it’s been since they actually decorated an album with that, it’s a very welcome callback. 
 

Lyrically I can tell it’s strictly a concept album about some sort of Octavarium/Scenes type scenario, though I didn’t really grasp any plot points on first list, just a LOT of being told to wake up, lol.

 

Musically I really appreciate how adventurous it is. I think they focused on ear candy, specific sounds and soundscapes and stylistic detours that would pop out from the potential monotony of, you know, more of the Dream Theater thing. Which again is always great to see. Their best albums are usually the most adventurous in this way. And of course everyone sounds excellent, no weird or overly polished production going on. Jordan picks good patches, and James sounds strong and inspired.

 

What I didn’t super get on first listen though was… well… songs.  Compositions that beat their usual par.  I’m not gonna worry to much about this after only one listen (I distinctly recall feeling A View didn’t have “songs” either, then flipped my mind around within a couple months). But there’s definitely no Barstool Warrior or Voices here on first listen. Bend The Clock might get close to make an early prediction. Or maybe A Broken Man.

 

All in all this seems to be DT continuing to hone in on what they already know they do best, with just enough dashes of whimsy not to let it get boring. Honestly very similar to A View, but with more callbacks to the Portnoy era classics because, of course there are.

 

I can guarantee you right off the bat though this ain’t making my top 3, lol!

Honestly get what you mean about their not being "songs", because this album flows like one whole music experience. I think that's why the singles fell flat for me, out of context these songs lack punch. All together? Wow!

[bluefox4000]

4 hours ago, Entre_Perpetuo said:

Okay I finally just listened to it. 
 

It’s good! I really love all the details in between the tracks, and how naturally recorded (or distorted) they sound. Very obvious call back to things like the ticking clock and hypnotist session and record skipping and door slamming and stuff from Scenes, but considering how long it’s been since they actually decorated an album with that, it’s a very welcome callback. 
 

Lyrically I can tell it’s strictly a concept album about some sort of Octavarium/Scenes type scenario, though I didn’t really grasp any plot points on first list, just a LOT of being told to wake up, lol.

 

Musically I really appreciate how adventurous it is. I think they focused on ear candy, specific sounds and soundscapes and stylistic detours that would pop out from the potential monotony of, you know, more of the Dream Theater thing. Which again is always great to see. Their best albums are usually the most adventurous in this way. And of course everyone sounds excellent, no weird or overly polished production going on. Jordan picks good patches, and James sounds strong and inspired.

 

What I didn’t super get on first listen though was… well… songs.  Compositions that beat their usual par.  I’m not gonna worry to much about this after only one listen (I distinctly recall feeling A View didn’t have “songs” either, then flipped my mind around within a couple months). But there’s definitely no Barstool Warrior or Voices here on first listen. Bend The Clock might get close to make an early prediction. Or maybe A Broken Man.

 

All in all this seems to be DT continuing to hone in on what they already know they do best, with just enough dashes of whimsy not to let it get boring. Honestly very similar to A View, but with more callbacks to the Portnoy era classics because, of course there are.

 

I can guarantee you right off the bat though this ain’t making my top 3, lol!

 

 

i hear you but i look at this as a piece.  think Animals, DSOTM.  take the songs on their own it probably won't be as strong but i've yet to do that. aside from the singles and yes they lose a bit.

 

top 3 for me still baby.

 

Mick

Edited February 11 by bluefox4000

[Mr. Not]

I've still have only listened to the album a couple of times, the opening and closing tracks being my fav.

according to RYM the sentiment is positive like it is here - it's ranked as their best work ever since their prime albums. (90's - '05)

 

This was a nice watch. The friendship among the guys is genuine, no shade to Mangini b/c I know it's always difficult to fill in another's shoes after so many years. Myung's also speaking up more than ever without being prompted or called on - talk about a late bloomer :D

 

 

[treeduck]

4 hours ago, bluefox4000 said:

 

 

i've told you i hear bits of Train in Parasomnia. could have been it's followup. this album honestly feels like a small retcon of SC and BC.  even though there are traces of BC on here.

 

Mick

Who do you think is the hardest in Dream Theater? Is it Portnoy with his steroid frame and tough guy beard? Is it Myung? Could he be a secret Bruce Lee-level kung fu artist? Is it Rudess with his wizard beard and skin head dome? Is it Portnoy, can he bore people to death with his diatribes about Ringo Starr? Is it LaBrie, does he just scream and make ears bleed?

[Entre_Perpetuo]

1 hour ago, bluefox4000 said:

 

 

i hear you but i look at this as a piece.  think Animals, DSOTM.  take the songs on their own it probably won't be as strong but i've yet to do that. aside from the singles and yes they lose a bit.

 

top 3 for me still baby.

 

Mick

 

We’ll see. It’ll take more listens for me. I will say this though. Dark Side has Money. Animals has Sheep. Those are some SONGS in my book, lol.

[bluefox4000]

3 minutes ago, Entre_Perpetuo said:

 

We’ll see. It’ll take more listens for me. I will say this though. Dark Side has Money. Animals has Sheep. Those are some SONGS in my book, lol.

 

 

i actually can't stand money outside the album, lol

 

Sheep i don't think i've EVER played it out of the album or  wanted too.

 

but that's me, lol

 

Mick

 

 

 

[Entre_Perpetuo]

39 minutes ago, bluefox4000 said:

 

 

i actually can't stand money outside the album, lol

 

Sheep i don't think i've EVER played it out of the album or  wanted too.

 

but that's me, lol

 

Mick

 

 

 

Oh I loooove Money on its own, lol. Never turn that off if it comes on the radio. Sheep yeah I probably don’t ever play it on it’s own, but I wouldn’t have any problem doing so if I felt like it.

[J2112YYZ]

They had to cancel their show in Atlanta tonight. James is sick.

[Mr. Not]

The Shadow Man Incident is my favorite song from the album by a good margin, the intro track made me wish they utilized the 8 string more but this song is all standard tuning and classic Dream Theater in many ways. There's a couple of blatant motif throwbacks nodding at Metropolis which still manage to be new and interesting, I didn't even catch the Dance to Eternity intro the very first time I listened because I was too pre-occupied with seeing if I could tap my fingers along with the crazy prog pattern, lol. That chorus (the one we get to hear two whole times during the 20 minute epic) "Night, it will be forever changed.." has to be one of the most melodically beautiful things LaBrie's ever done, and obviously the entire solo section is amazing. Also, Grep's right about the bass line during the "tango" bit 12 minutes in being a similar line to La Villa, only sped up and with more notes, but the core of the riff is strikingly similar. 

 

The rest of the album might just need time to marinate for me, but I'm honestly skipping straight to this track instead of listening to the full album because it's what's instantly clicked with me. This song is what I was hoping for with Portnoy's return.

[J2112YYZ]

7 minutes ago, Mr. Not said:

The Shadow Man Incident is my favorite song from the album by a good margin, the intro track made me wish they utilized the 8 string more but this song is all standard tuning and classic Dream Theater in many ways. There's a couple of blatant motif throwbacks nodding at Metropolis which still manage to be new and interesting, I didn't even catch the Dance to Eternity intro the very first time I listened because I was too pre-occupied with seeing if I could tap my fingers along with the crazy prog pattern, lol. That chorus (the one we get to hear two whole times during the 20 minute epic) "Night, it will be forever changed.." has to be one of the most melodically beautiful things LaBrie's ever done, and obviously the entire solo section is amazing. Also, Grep's right about the bass line during the "tango" bit 12 minutes in being a similar line to La Villa, only sped up and with more notes, but the core of the riff is strikingly similar. 

 

The rest of the album might just need time to marinate for me, but I'm honestly skipping straight to this track instead of listening to the full album because it's what's instantly clicked with me. This song is what I was hoping for with Portnoy's return.

I wish we could have gotten the chorus to Shadow Man one more time in the song. That melody keeps getting stuck in my head.

[grep]

14 hours ago, J2112YYZ said:

They had to cancel their show in Atlanta tonight. James is sick.

I downloaded the Nashville boot from Dime, and James doesn't sound well.  Not surprised they cancelled Atlanta.

[tangy]

Glad Mike is back where he belongs. The ablum is pretty great.

 

A few thoughts....

 

Interesting how the first LTE record brought in Jordan and the third LTE record brought Mike back into the fold.

 

The cover art kinda reminds me of the I &W cover.

 

Also Interesting is MP was not involved in the production.

 

Anyways glad these could reconcile. They are better together. In particular the synergy between Mike, John and Jordan. 

[bluefox4000]

I just listened to Parasomnia gain after like a week away.

 

Call me over excited but i truly this is my fav thing they've done since at least the self title over a decade ago (and i know the varying opinions on that one, lol)  And no i wasn'tt a fan of DoT.  and View lost a lot of luster upon replaying it.

 

Couple notes on my recent Parasomnia revisit.

 

Midnight Messiah which i was iffy on has now become a fav.

 

And the Shadow Man Incident has fully revealed itself to me.  What a song.

 

Also this album fukking flies by.  Evertime i play i'm like i'm at track fukking 6 already?  it just SAILS.

 

The only track i find really ordinary is Bend The clock.  and even than i like the song.  It's just a typical DT ballad.

 

so it doesn't have to be in yours but it is in MY top 3.

 

Also side note i watched some vids on youtube Of their recent 40 anniversary shows.  It's a GREAT setlist.

 

the first one i watched was from england i think.  i turned it off Cause james sounded AWFUL but i played a more recent one from Rio and he sounded 1000 times better.  he was hitting higher notes having more fun.  i guess his voice needed to warm up, lol

 

Mick

[ytserush]

On 2/9/2025 at 5:37 PM, grep said:

Coming back to this.  I'm going to sound like I'm nuts..... I am beginning to think the album might be a variation of themes in Hemispheres.

Hear me out.  I've heard the note pattern for the intro to CX1 played for a couple of bars in one of the songs. I'm convinced that Shadow Man uses the main pattern from LVS... it might be the same notes too.

So what I'm listening for now is more Hemispheres stuff.  I haven't heard that Fsm11 yet (The Hemispheres Chord)... but there might be other nuggets. 

 

The Astonishing had some of that too.  The Sphere: A Kind Of Dream melody is all over that. Road to Revolution being the first reference.  I always catch myself singing The Sphere whenever that happens. It's kind of distracting to me.

[ytserush]

On 2/10/2025 at 4:08 PM, bluefox4000 said:

 

 

 A year ago i was saying i don't want Portnoy back.

 

But it appears having him back i can admit, was the ultimate checkmate for the band.  Parasomnia is OUTSTANDING  my fav album they've done in a good few years.

 

As i said i can own up when i'm wrong, lol

 

Mick

 

Was indifferent then remain so, Still I think this is the best album since The Astonishing  or maybe A View From The Top Of The World.

 

Skipped this leg and will wait for the next leg to hear the new songs.

[ytserush]

On 2/11/2025 at 12:42 AM, J2112YYZ said:

I still can't believe that at 70 minutes how fast this album goes by. Not a single second wasted on it. Everything played means something.

 

 

Kind of like that for me but Shadow Man  which still drags.

[grep]

Digging the Hendrix vibe at the beginning of Bend The Clock.

[J2112YYZ]

12 hours ago, ytserush said:

 

 

Kind of like that for me but Shadow Man  which still drags.

My only issue with Shadow Man is that they should have done the chorus one more time. The first half of the song is better than the second half. That chorus could have elevated the later part of the song.

[Mr. Not]

Revisited Systematic Chaos and have a new appreciation for it

 

Parasomnia would be C-tier if not for The Shadowman Incident.

 

My personal ascription for each tier list in the case of Dream Theater:

S - Perfect album, A - Near perfect, B - Great, C - Good but quite inconsistent, D - I don't want to ever listen to this

 

[ytserush]

On 2/16/2025 at 1:09 AM, J2112YYZ said:

My only issue with Shadow Man is that they should have done the chorus one more time. The first half of the song is better than the second half. That chorus could have elevated the later part of the song.

It's growing on me a little. Experiencing it live will be the true test.

[Mr. Not]

I think my biggest critique of the album at this point is that the lyrical theme gets tiring (haha)