Dream Theater

Duff Man Jr.

I was listening to metallica at work and started disscussing how rubbish st. anger is with a member of the public, He told me to check out Dream theater that they will change my life.

Being the openminded guy i am, i aqquired a few songs and i could only listen to half of one because i coudldn't stop laughing. I have visions of a guy on the edge of a cliff in a white suit with the wind blowing and his arms outstreached.

I know they have a lot of respect and fans here, and now everyone is going to say they are techinally brillent musicans, but i dont feel the need to analise every band i hear, i just cant stand them.

Crucifix

What stuff did you listen to?
I was heavily into them for a while, but I only listen to them the odd time these days. Still a great band though.

A Primal Nut

Yeah, go to youtube and watch the video of Dream Theater's version of Master Of Puppets. Then watch a version by Metallica. No comparison. Having said that I don't know much of their original stuff so I can't say much on that. As for amazing technique, meh, I know at least two or three local musicians personally who could probably play as fast, so that stuff doesn't impress me anymore when performed by a globally successful band.

Nehpets

They're pretty good.

Duff Man Jr.

Crucifix wrote:

What stuff did you listen to?
I was heavily into them for a while, but I only listen to them the odd time these days. Still a great band though.

I like really heavy speed trash death stuff, since i heard about the ubholy alliance i got into children of bodom and i must say they are one of my fav bands ever.

Arucard

if you havent heard Nevermore, go buy 'This Godless Endeavor'. one of the best metal albums ever released.

Oral Slang

Duff Man Jr. wrote:

He told me to check out Dream theater that they will change my life.
Being the openminded guy i am, i aqquired a few songs and i could only listen to half of one because i coudldn't stop laughing. I have visions of a guy on the edge of a cliff in a white suit with the wind blowing and his arms outstreached.

How long did you give them? If it was only a few songs once, then yeah thats what I thought when I first heard them (also after a friends recommendation). But now, years later they are one of my 2 favourite bands. The only thing that lets them down slightly is James LaBrie's voice, which isn't as strong as other vocalists, but their music totally makes up for it.
I went to see them 2 nights in a row last year in London & watching them the 2nd night, playing Dark Side of the Moon really blew me away. That was at least my 4th time going to see them & they've never let me down.
Give them a chance Duff Man. Put them on when you're chilling out, they are a real grower.
Just wish they didn't cost so much to bring over to Dublin - the gig in Vicar Street a few years ago was brilliant, but their fees are huge apparently.

Owen

DT have been one of my favourite bands for the last 8 years. They're so technically competent, but melodic at the same time. Metropolis Part II was one of the best concept albums I've heard in years. Everything about them just rocks. They're different, and in a good way!

Oh, and if anyone has a John Petrucci Ibanez for sale, PM me :-)

Léan

I love Dream Theater!
I've liked them for years, used be hugely into them, Images And Words is a class album, as is Train Of Thought methinks.

Sofaspud

Awake was my first one of their albums, and I was amazed.

It's still one of my favourite albums, Erotomania being one of my favourite songs.

Zapp Brannigan

They're a 'Love em or Hate em' band.

Some people adore them, others cant stand their music. I used to be the former group but then I got Metropolis Pt.2: Scenes From a Memory, listened to it a few times and became hooked to them. Has to be one of my favourite albums ever!

Undergod

I quite like a lot of their stuff, and Petrucci is great.
Awake is a bit weak sometimes and it aged quickly, but Metropolis Pt.2 is great, and of Train of Thought is the one where they forget about being prog and do a straight metal album, that's well worth a listen.

Somnus

I love Dream Theater.Only got into them last year but they've been one of my favourite bands since.

To the OP do you know what album the songs you got are off? Because just because you dont like one album doesnt mean you wont like the other. Train of Thought is there most "metal" album but Images and Words is brilliant.I also quite like Awake

Sofaspud

I'm not actually crazy about Metropolis 2. As a concept album and story it's good and clever and all that jazz, but as a collection of songs I find the musicianship to be weak and lacking. There was just more power on Awake.

18AD

I think they're really good, although I don't listen to them that much. I much prefer Liquid Tension Experiment, cause it's feckin' amazing

Crucifix

18AD wrote:

I think they're really good, although I don't listen to them that much. I much prefer Liquid Tension Experiment, cause it's feckin' amazing

LTE2 is one of my favourite albums. Funnily enough, I never picked up the first one though. Is it as good?

Beecher

Crucifix wrote:

LTE2 is one of my favourite albums. Funnily enough, I never picked up the first one though. Is it as good?

Its better! You havnt lived till youve heard Kindred Spirits, or Universal Mind or Paradigm Shift!

MunkyHed

I must say i've had much the same experience as the OP. I gave them every chance to impress me and they did with a few crunching riffs but that singer is just pure corny or something, can't listen to them at all now without cringing. White suit on the edge of a cliff with the hair blowing in the wind... Vomit.

Duff Man Jr.

The three songs i have are "Hollow Years", "Pull me under" and "Under a glass moon". I've tried to listen to them a few times in the last few days but it's painful, and i think to myself why should i force myself to listen to a band i dont like, so i just put on something else.

Beecher

Try this. Its something a bit more recent of theirs.

OctavarIan

Duff Man Jr. wrote:

I like really heavy speed trash death stuff

Well then DT's earlier stuff is not for you

Google Axamenta and have a listen to the mp3s on their site....

[edit] meh, here it is http://www.axamenta.com/mp3/axamenta.com_AshesToFlesh.mp3

\m/_(>_<)_\m/

Crucifix wrote:

What stuff did you listen to?
I was heavily into them for a while, but I only listen to them the odd time these days. Still a great band though.

brilliant band... saw them in London last year.

very few could keep up with them.

Dragan

Just listen to "Scenes From a Memory"

Zapp Brannigan

Dragan wrote:

Just listen to "Scenes From a Memory"

I echo this intelligent man/woman.

This album just flows together and is an incredible experience just to listen to.

Dragan

Slurms wrote:

I echo this intelligent man/woman.

This album just flows together and is an incredible experience just to listen to.

First time i ever heard this album i was just thinking...."****." It really is just a very clever little thing, without being completely up it's own arse. Normally the words "concept album" make me puke, but this really is rather good.

Oh yeah, and I'm a man....last time i checked anyway!

Duff Man Jr.

Ok i suppose some of it isnt too bad.

Owen

I think if you're a musician, you appreciate DT immediately. If a bystander, it takes time to grow.

Karl Hungus

Scenes From a Memory was my first Dream Theater album, and I was hooked from then on.

Still, they're not for everyone. I can understand why people don't like them. I mean, there's a lot of people out there without taste. People actually bought the Crazy Frog single for example.

Tar.Aldarion

Karl Hungus wrote:

Scenes From a Memory was my first Dream Theater album, and I was hooked from then on.

Still, they're not for everyone. I can understand why people don't like them. I mean, there's a lot of people out there without taste. People actually bought the Crazy Frog single for example.

If they are the majority, surely you are the one without any taste.

I like Dream theatre, and I spell it thusly.

Karl Hungus

Tar.Aldarion wrote:

If they are the majority, surely you are the one without any taste.

If "Taste" is the likes of Crazy Frog singles, Big Brother, Budweiser, and the myriad of other popular norms that equate the dregs of an intellectual drainage ditch, then I don't even want to have taste!

Lemming

DT for the win. Metropolis II: Scenes from a Memory just never ceases to amaze me, and of course there's always Train of Thought for some straight up metal. First album I ever listened to was Octavarium which got me hooked.

Anarking

Karl Hungus wrote:

If "Taste" is the likes of Crazy Frog singles, Big Brother, Budweiser, and the myriad of other popular norms that equate the dregs of an intellectual drainage ditch, then I don't even want to have taste!

I never thought Id see it but it appears that a Dream Theater fan is now trying to claim the intellectual high ground.


Oh wait, you used the smilie! It was just being ironic!


Oh you card!

pbsuxok1znja4r

I've listened to about three DT albums; Images & Words, Train Of Thought and Octavarium. I think they're good. I love their rhythms and riffs and they surprised me with some satisfyingly heavy parts in songs. But they're badly let down by the vocals. Crap lyrics too, for whatever that's worth. I find the keyboard parts to be for the most part naff. The subject matter, like a lot of metal, gets irritating at times, also.

They're insanely good musicians (not just because their stuff is hard to play, but because their song structures/arrangements/lengths must've made 'em incredibley difficult and tedious to write), but that doesn't necessarily mean they write great records or songs, unfortunately. While listening I just find myself wishing they hadn't made most of their songs ten freakin' minutes long.

Gah, I suppose I'm playing too much the devil's advocate here; they're a pretty good, unique band and it's likely that I've yet to hear their best stuff, so, yeah. Thumbs up for DT, on the whole.

Oh, and ivory towers should really be avoided every bit as much as drainage ditches

Sanitarium

I am a hugh DT fan. From all the albums I have i can safely say my favorite is When Dream And Day Unite or Metropolis Pt. 2 Scenes From a Memory. Thoes albums really show off dream theaters real style. From listening to the commentrys on their DVD they say that their style is more of a Mixture from the Album SFAM and Awake. I would deffinatley say give dream theater another chance. They are a great band with amazing talent.

LTE2 is one of my favourite albums. Funnily enough, I never picked up the first one though. Is it as good?

Liquid Tension Experiment and Liquid Tension Experiment 2 are not albums from Dream Theater. They are a side project featuring Jorden Rudess, John Petrucci, John Myung and Mike Portnoy. It is basically Dream Theater without James LaBrie but it is testing the more experimental side of DT. The bands name is Liquid Tension Experiment and their albums are named after the band name also.

I personally love James LaBrie's solo album "Elements Of Persuasion". It is deffinatley as good as Dream Theaters stuff, if not better. It is my favorite album of 2005.

I find the keyboard parts to be for the most part naff. The subject matter, like a lot of metal, gets irritating at times, also.

They're insanely good musicians (not just because their stuff is hard to play, but because their song structures/arrangements/lengths must've made 'em incredibley difficult and tedious to write), but that doesn't necessarily mean they write great records or songs, unfortunately. While listening I just find myself wishing they hadn't made most of their songs ten freakin' minutes long.

That is what progressive rock is about. They are experimenting with keyboards and off beat songs. Most of their songs are 7/8 timing and split up into different 'Scenes' or sections. For example, the Album Six Degrees Of Inner Turblence is actually one long song, but the band decided it was not right to make an album out of just one song, to they made the song into chapters and then made each chapter a seperate song. As for bad lyrics, I agree somewhat on that, but you cant judge that on just 3 albums. Their origional first singer, Charlie Dominici, on When Dream And Day Unite was an amazing vocalist and song writer. You should Listen.

LightofDarkness

I think DT are about a progressive as mainstream Yes, as in they aren't very much at all. There's much argument in the progressive music world as to whether they are progressive or not. They certainly don't even come close to matching the sort of prog that bands like King Crimson manage to create, or Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, Zappa or Anglagard. And the band rarely go off into zany time signatures, they're often quite simple diddles thrown onto the end of common beats, nothing to get sexually aroused over

@Sanitarium: I think anyone who's heard LTE knows what it is (and are often thankful for the absence of LaBrie :P ).

I would agree that the vocals and sometimes the keyboards add a little too much cheese to the proceedings for myself or a lot of people to enjoy it. I dislike LaBrie's "intrusive" stylings, and the keyboards can be a little over done at times ( Keyboard solos are just a bit naff IMO, even CoB's keys annoy me at times). I think Petrucci is a brilliant guitarist though, one of my favourites, I just find it such a pity that he's in this band.

Sanitarium

James LaBrie was a brilliant front man for all the albums before 1994 because he has severe food poisoning and had to go on tour a few weeks after that. He also got surgery to his vocal chords before the tour, but could not finish the tour. He spent untill 2002 training his voice again. This is whi I tell people not to judge Dream Theater when they see them live or their newer albums, because they dont relise that his voice isn't as good.
I dont see why most DT fans dislike James Labrie. Charlie Dominici is my favorite singer that was in DT, but he was not well suited for the band. I think james labrie is more suited for it.
So far, I have seen no valid reasons for disliking James Labrie in DT.

Somnus

I agree with Sanitarium, I think James is an excellent vocalist.I certainly cant think of anyone else who could replace him.

Crucifix

Sanitarium wrote:

Liquid Tension Experiment and Liquid Tension Experiment 2 are not albums from Dream Theater. They are a side project featuring Jorden Rudess, John Petrucci, John Myung and Mike Portnoy. It is basically Dream Theater without James LaBrie but it is testing the more experimental side of DT. The bands name is Liquid Tension Experiment and their albums are named after the band name also.

Actually Myung isn't in the Liquid Tension Experiment, Tony Levin does the bass.

OctavarIan

Sanitarium wrote:

Their origional first singer, Charlie Dominici, on When Dream And Day Unite was an amazing vocalist and song writer.

Woah, I disagree here. He wrote the lyrics to one song, and co-wrote another, and they were the two weakest songs on the album imo, (Status Seeker and Afterlife), and I don't believe he had much, if any, imput on the actual songwriting. Kevin Moore, now HE was an incredible songwriter/lyricist.

Sanitarium wrote:

It is deffinatley as good as Dream Theaters stuff, if not better.

In your opinion

Crucifix wrote:

Tony Levin does the bass.

He's a powerhouse of a bassist. Without him there would be no 3 Minute Warning, just imagine.... ugh

Crucifix

OctavarIan wrote:

He's a powerhouse of a bassist. Without him there would be no 3 Minute Warning, just imagine.... ugh

He also wrote the bassline for Peter Gabriel's song "Sledgehammer". Legend.

Karl Hungus

OctavarIan wrote:

In your opinion

It's his opinion by virtue of the fact that he said it. No need to point out the fact.

I've not heard the album though, so I've no opinion to offer.

Tar.Aldarion

Karl Hungus wrote:

I've not heard the album though, so I've no opinion to offer.

In your opinion!

*Checks to see of that makes sense*
>_>
<_<

Sanitarium

Crucifix wrote:

Actually Myung isn't in the Liquid Tension Experiment, Tony Levin does the bass.

Didn't he play in LTE 1?

Crucifix

Sanitarium wrote:

Didn't he play in LTE 1?

Erp! Maybe...I don't have that album
EDIT: Apparantly not

Sanitarium

Oh, right. You learn something new everyday I suppose.
Is anyone else into the John Petrucci and Jordan Rudess side project? I got their album at the weekend and it is amazing. It is called 'An evening with John Petrucci and Jordan Rudess'. It so relaxing in some songs and fast in others.
Anyone heard any MullMuzzler or OSI? They are next on my list...

OctavarIan

Sanitarium wrote:

Anyone heard any MullMuzzler or OSI? They are next on my list...

OSI is fantastic. Get the newest album 'Free', then the first one. I haven't heard Mullmuzzler, but if it's similar to Elements of Persuasion, I'm not that keen on doing so.

Sanitarium

OctavarIan wrote:

OSI is fantastic. Get the newest album 'Free', then the first one. I haven't heard Mullmuzzler, but if it's similar to Elements of Persuasion, I'm not that keen on doing so.

Elements of Persuasion was AMAZING! I am guessing you like Octavarium?

OctavarIan

Sanitarium wrote:

I am guessing you like Octavarium?

Yes, but it's nowhere near being my fave DT album. My username is only so because my real name fit nicely into it...

Oeneus

I wasn't too fond of Images And Words despite it's high reputation. It just didn't click with me.
But I'm absolutely hooked on Scenes From A Memory and Octavarium.
One thing I have to criticize about Dream Theater though is the use of odd time signatures. I am totally aware of how technically brilliant these arrangements are, but my ears and brain tend to have quite a hard time keeping up with it.

18AD

Sanitarium wrote:

Oh, right. You learn something new everyday I suppose.
Is anyone else into the John Petrucci and Jordan Rudess side project? I got their album at the weekend and it is amazing. It is called 'An evening with John Petrucci and Jordan Rudess'. It so relaxing in some songs and fast in others.
Anyone heard any MullMuzzler or OSI? They are next on my list...

I haven't been able to get my hands on 'An evening with John Petrucci and Jordan Rudess'. I may try again tomorrow. Have you heard the Jordan Rudess solo stuff? I think it's amazing. Very different sounds on his different albums. I'm not sure how many there are but I have 3 of them. One is just a calm piano only album, the other two are a mixture of soft piano with technical dream theatery sounds with lots of effects. Also, I'm pretty sure Petrucci does the guitar on a lot of it.

Oral Slang

I had a ticket to go & see John Petrucci in Sound Control in London last year the day before the gig. In the end I didn't go though.

I was over visiting my brother & felt a bit guilty about going out 3 nights in a row, so ended up going out with him & his girlfriend instead! Would have loved to have gone to it though...