Dream Theater - Black Clouds & Silver Linings

[CKent]

Ok, so this one's out and about... What are your thoughts?

I'm only a couple songs in, so my impressions are in need of tempering.

However, so far, the sound is killing me. It's loud as fuck and yet manages to sound muddy. Is it just me?

The music is what I've come to expect and love about DT though. I'm really enjoying it despite the SQ.

 

[Banzai042]

Last I checked the official release isn't to tuesday, but I did get the free download of "A Rite of Passage" when they released that, and I did like that song. I'm hoping for some more songs like "In the Presence of Enemies" on this one. I'm looking forward to the arrival of my pre-order copy of the deluxe edition on tuesday.

As far as sound quality is it similar to the mix of Systematic Chaos? Many of those songs, while musically good, were obviously over-compressed (at least for my tastes).

 

[frostedflakes]

Yeah I downloaded that track as well a while back. Didn't really blow me away, but I'm a huge DT fan so I'll pick up the album anyways. Sucks to hear about the sound quality, but unfortunately that seems to be about par for course these days.

 

[biggestmuff]

I'm a big fan, but the two tracks I heard a while ago where nothing special. I'll still pick it up on release day.

 

[mrrman]

picked up the whole album already...I like it

 

[biggestmuff]

Originally posted by: mrrman
picked up the whole album already...I like it

Oh, really? Which store broke the release date?

 

[frostedflakes]

Probably downloading pre-release leaks..

 

[ch33zw1z]

My favorite album is Awake, I look forward to new stuff from these guys though...they rock!

 

[Howard]

The signal does clip at times (going through the first track right now). Can't say much about the compression, but it's extremely likely that they used a lot of it.

 

[BATCH71]

I have to give the whole disc about 5 solid plays before I will give a real opinion.

but....

I like it so far. It is very dark and I also find the recording extremely muddy and overdone.

My favorites are: Awake and Images and Words. I was watching the F# video from "learning to live" the other day and I almost forgot how awesome Labrie was at that time.

For any new listeners of DT, do yourself a favor and get I&W, so much more melodic and emotional vocals compared to their new stuffs.

Happy Listening

Dave

 

[bolomite]

just picked up the special edition with the cover songs and instrumentals. I like it musically, but I'm so disappointed in the lyrics and subject matter. A song about a car accident? And 'The Count of Tuscany'? I mean, really?! This goes back to the last album as well -- remember The Dark Eternal Night, about a freakin' pharaoh?! It's just embarrassingly silly.

 

[Dedpuhl]

The collector's edition was here on Monday. The worst part of the whole thing is I didn't get a silver ticket.

So far I think the album is great. (My fav is Train of Thought)

 

[CKent]

Originally posted by: bolomite
just picked up the special edition with the cover songs and instrumentals. I like it musically, but I'm so disappointed in the lyrics and subject matter. A song about a car accident? And 'The Count of Tuscany'? I mean, really?! This goes back to the last album as well -- remember The Dark Eternal Night, about a freakin' pharaoh?! It's just embarrassingly silly.

They're too smart to get hooked on dope... And they're basically a bunch of rich, educated American white guys. I'm amazed they make good music at all. Mostly that situation produces Creedlebackin Park of a Down type crap.

 

[TechBoyJK]

I personally like it. I think the mixes sound fine, especially the drums. It is kind of loud, but nothing like Systematic Chaos (which I didn't like too much), and not nearly as over produced as Octavarium (you can hear blatent clipping and noise).

Fortunately, there is an instrumental version of the CD as well, and the "producer's" edition actually has a dvd with raw tracks, so if you want to change the dynamics and volume levels, you can.

For those bashing the lyrical content... keep in mind what the band's name is..

"dream" "theater"

Count of Tuscany is almost like a "play", which gets to the "theater" element.

I've given copies of the instrumentals to alot of my friends who don't like Labrie and would never listen to DT because of it, and they've all been thrilled with it. Especially "shattered fortress"

 

[zebano]

Images and words is still my favorite.

 

[TechBoyJK]

OMG

I think the part in Count of Tuscany, the build up to the change around 2:37 and the part that follows is just one of the sweetest pieces of music I have ever heard. I keep repeating it.

 

[CKent]

Originally posted by: TechBoyJK
For those bashing the lyrical content... keep in mind what the band's name is..

"dream" "theater"

It was the name of a cinema they went to in CA. They had to change their name from Majesty after another, obviously sucky, band with the same name threatened leagl action. You can see both DT and M in their logo.

My favorite album would have to be Train of Thought, although they're all pretty good. I'll have to see how this one ages for a few months before I can rank it, but I do like it... it's just the sound quality really bugs me.

 

[Platypus]

kinda crap to be honest.. there are a few cool riffs sprinkled in among a ton of tired and worn out ideas that DT have been cranking out for years. I usually find one or two tunes to listen to in normal rotation from each album but that's getting harder and harder to manage any longer

 

[TechBoyJK]

Originally posted by: Platypus
kinda crap to be honest.. there are a few cool riffs sprinkled in among a ton of tired and worn out ideas that DT have been cranking out for years. I usually find one or two tunes to listen to in normal rotation from each album but that's getting harder and harder to manage any longer

I'm enjoying the stripped down instrumentals more.

 

[TechBoyJK]

Originally posted by: CKent

Originally posted by: TechBoyJK
For those bashing the lyrical content... keep in mind what the band's name is..

"dream" "theater"

It was the name of a cinema they went to in CA. They had to change their name from Majesty after another, obviously sucky, band with the same name threatened leagl action. You can see both DT and M in their logo.

My favorite album would have to be Train of Thought, although they're all pretty good. I'll have to see how this one ages for a few months before I can rank it, but I do like it... it's just the sound quality really bugs me.

I understand all that. That's where YtseJam comes from, it's majesty backwards.

I'm just saying they have theatrical aspects to them. I think they live by the name now.