New Dream Theater is Insane.

[TechBoyJK]

The new Dream Theater CD Octavarium, is insane. Its got so many different angles, tones, abstract chordal changes, i dunno its weird really.

I highly, highly recommend it. The intro to the song "Octavarium", like the first 4 of 24 minutes, is a totally meditative genius passage. It completely reminds me of a soaring pink floyd solo, but it has its own unique characteristics.

Some 1 minute samples

Root of all Evil

These Walls

Panic Attack

 

[cjgallen]

I didn't like it. Seems like they tried too hard to put out a weird album.

 

[aplefka]

I haven't heard it yet.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Those samples are most excellent .... Usually I'm more into the Death Metal scene ... but this is damn good stuff too!

 

[TechBoyJK]

The Continuum

The keyboardist uses this in the cd. Interesting device. Lol, Id like to hear the bassist play a stick, the keyboardist use the continuum, the guitarist use his baritone guitar, etc. It would be a very non traditional band.

 

[TechBoyJK]

How the Continuum Works

this thing is sick. I want one.

 

[Triumph]

doesn't sound too bad. i don't know if i'll be able to get into it like Awake, though. nothing since then has come close.

 

[Cristatus]

I dno, the first one sounded something lilke Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles music to me. I thought Dream Theater did Trance music, but this sounds like Rock/Metal.

 

[davestar]

petrucci and co. listened to a bit too much of the Muse and the U2 while writing this album...

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: TechBoyJK
How the Continuum Works

this thing is sick. I want one.

Sounds like an updated version of the theremin

 

My boss is a big shredder and DT fan. He keeps trying to get me into it. Petrucci is a really talented guy but that stuff does nothing for me.

Simple 12-bar blues > wanking.

 

[jman19]

Originally posted by: logic1485
I dno, the first one sounded something lilke Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles music to me. I thought Dream Theater did Trance music, but this sounds like Rock/Metal.

 

[Triumph]

Originally posted by: dwell
My boss is a big shredder and DT fan. He keeps trying to get me into it. Petrucci is a really talented guy but that stuff does nothing for me.

Simple 12-bar blues > wanking.

12 bar blues is what you learn in a beginner guitar/rock & roll book. If you don't progress past that or offer anything new, then why bother playing? It's been done. I understand people's problem with wanking, but it doesn't take more than rudimentary talent OR "soul" to play 12 bar blues.

 

Originally posted by: Triumph
12 bar blues is what you learn in a beginner guitar/rock & roll book. If you don't progress past that or offer anything new, then why bother playing? It's been done. I understand people's problem with wanking, but it doesn't take more than rudimentary talent OR "soul" to play 12 bar blues.

Why do you say that? Sure the basic mechanics and scales are easy to learn but the overall style and feeling you put into it can take a lifetime. Just because it's slow and does not use exotic scales does not mean its not valid.

12-bar is the root of rock. People in general want to hear simple music. Complex music only appeals to musicians. If you ware playing/listening to music just because it's complex, you may be a wanker.

 

[TechBoyJK]

Originally posted by: dwell

Originally posted by: Triumph
12 bar blues is what you learn in a beginner guitar/rock & roll book. If you don't progress past that or offer anything new, then why bother playing? It's been done. I understand people's problem with wanking, but it doesn't take more than rudimentary talent OR "soul" to play 12 bar blues.

Why do you say that? Sure the basic mechanics and scales are easy to learn but the overall style and feeling you put into it can take a lifetime. Just because it's slow and does not use exotic scales does not mean its not valid.

12-bar is the root of rock. People in general want to hear simple music. Complex music only appeals to musicians. If you ware playing/listening to music just because it's complex, you may be a wanker.

12-bar blues was like the first 4 pages of a 50 page book on how to play bass that I read in 6th grade. I've since read a dozen books on composing, style, technique, and other than an easy, intro platform to demonstrate a different concept, 12 bar blues is left in the dust. Dream Theater is definately for musicians or people who at least appreciate composing. I personally liked the new cd, regardless of how much DT wears their influences on their sleeves. It has awesome textures, etc.

Dream Theater = (12(-5) x Ca / yyz) bar blues

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: Triumph
doesn't sound too bad. i don't know if i'll be able to get into it like Awake, though. nothing since then has come close.

Yeah. To me, Images and Words is the best..although scenes from a memory isn't bad, but yeah, Awake is great.

 

[TechBoyJK]

Originally posted by: dwell
My boss is a big shredder and DT fan. He keeps trying to get me into it. Petrucci is a really talented guy but that stuff does nothing for me.

Simple 12-bar blues > wanking.

Honestly, I got into Dream Theater, not because I liked the music, but because the guitarist is so good and the music is filled with concepts and "things" to learn. I've listened to Santana, Satriani, Hendrix, etc. and Petrucci seems to be of a whole, new dimension on how to apply the mind to guitar. I dunno, maybe its just me, but even though the music isnt exactly my thing, the skill in it is so overwhelming that I listen to it, and enjoy it greatly. I might get flamed, but I personally thing that if you put Petrucci and Hendrix on stage together, and nobody knew who each was, Petrucci would make Hendrix look like a beginner.

 

[Excelsior]

Petrucci is amazing, and even at the G3 concert, I enjoyed him more than Vai and Satriani.

 

[TechBoyJK]

Originally posted by: Excelsior

Originally posted by: Triumph
doesn't sound too bad. i don't know if i'll be able to get into it like Awake, though. nothing since then has come close.

Yeah. To me, Images and Words is the best..although scenes from a memory isn't bad, but yeah, Awake is great.

Those previous CD's seemed to have one, overall, texture. AKA, I can tell Awake mix from IaW mix, but this new one seems to be very "varied" ala varium.

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: TechBoyJK

Originally posted by: Excelsior

Originally posted by: Triumph
doesn't sound too bad. i don't know if i'll be able to get into it like Awake, though. nothing since then has come close.

Yeah. To me, Images and Words is the best..although scenes from a memory isn't bad, but yeah, Awake is great.

Those previous CD's seemed to have one, overall, texture. AKA, I can tell Awake mix from IaW mix, but this new one seems to be very "varied" ala varium.

Yeah. I forgot to mention A change of seasons...one of my favorites.

 

[TechBoyJK]

Originally posted by: Excelsior

Originally posted by: TechBoyJK

Originally posted by: Excelsior

Originally posted by: Triumph
doesn't sound too bad. i don't know if i'll be able to get into it like Awake, though. nothing since then has come close.

Yeah. To me, Images and Words is the best..although scenes from a memory isn't bad, but yeah, Awake is great.

Those previous CD's seemed to have one, overall, texture. AKA, I can tell Awake mix from IaW mix, but this new one seems to be very "varied" ala varium.

Yeah. I forgot to mention A change of seasons...one of my favorites.

Honestly, Octavarium, the cd, as a whole, reminds me, more than anything, of Change of Seasons. Dont get me wrong, Ive listened to IaW prolly a thousand times, as well as all their other efforts. Its like I study DT for my phd or something. But, the studying has had an amazing effect on my guitar skills.

 

[Triumph]

Originally posted by: dwell

Originally posted by: Triumph
12 bar blues is what you learn in a beginner guitar/rock & roll book. If you don't progress past that or offer anything new, then why bother playing? It's been done. I understand people's problem with wanking, but it doesn't take more than rudimentary talent OR "soul" to play 12 bar blues.

Why do you say that? Sure the basic mechanics and scales are easy to learn but the overall style and feeling you put into it can take a lifetime. Just because it's slow and does not use exotic scales does not mean its not valid.

Then I wouldn't call that "simple" 12 bar blues. Stones, Hendrix, Cream, SRV, hell even Guns & Roses is blues based, but it is not "simple 12 bar blues."

Some people have this position that all complex bands are simply musical masturbators. Which is really quite a myopic view if you think about it. The attitude is really the same as someone who feels that only complex music can be good.

 

[Triumph]

Originally posted by: TechBoyJK

Originally posted by: Excelsior

Originally posted by: Triumph
doesn't sound too bad. i don't know if i'll be able to get into it like Awake, though. nothing since then has come close.

Yeah. To me, Images and Words is the best..although scenes from a memory isn't bad, but yeah, Awake is great.

Those previous CD's seemed to have one, overall, texture. AKA, I can tell Awake mix from IaW mix, but this new one seems to be very "varied" ala varium.

That is absolutely true, and frankly I just don't like the mix on their latter CD's, especially Metropolis II. The mix is responsible for probably 50% of the "vibe" of an album, and if you don't like the vibe, well then you don't like alot of the CD. A similar example would be Ride the Lightning, probably my least favorite Metallica CD, and Black Album is probably my favorite (gasp!). The mixes on each of the Metallica CD's is different, and I just don't like the mix on RTL.

 

[upsciLLion]

Originally posted by: TechBoyJK

Originally posted by: Excelsior

Originally posted by: TechBoyJK

Originally posted by: Excelsior

Originally posted by: Triumph
doesn't sound too bad. i don't know if i'll be able to get into it like Awake, though. nothing since then has come close.

Yeah. To me, Images and Words is the best..although scenes from a memory isn't bad, but yeah, Awake is great.

Those previous CD's seemed to have one, overall, texture. AKA, I can tell Awake mix from IaW mix, but this new one seems to be very "varied" ala varium.

Yeah. I forgot to mention A change of seasons...one of my favorites.

Honestly, Octavarium, the cd, as a whole, reminds me, more than anything, of Change of Seasons. Dont get me wrong, Ive listened to IaW prolly a thousand times, as well as all their other efforts. Its like I study DT for my phd or something. But, the studying has had an amazing effect on my guitar skills.

I feel like I am soiling guitars in general when I try to play after listening to Petrucci. It's like there's no reason for me to even practice since I'll never be even 1/100 as good as him. Naw mean.

 

[TechBoyJK]

Originally posted by: Triumph

Originally posted by: TechBoyJK

Originally posted by: Excelsior

Originally posted by: Triumph
doesn't sound too bad. i don't know if i'll be able to get into it like Awake, though. nothing since then has come close.

Yeah. To me, Images and Words is the best..although scenes from a memory isn't bad, but yeah, Awake is great.

Those previous CD's seemed to have one, overall, texture. AKA, I can tell Awake mix from IaW mix, but this new one seems to be very "varied" ala varium.

Yep, some cd's, no matter how good they are, wont get played as much because the mix/texture just doesnt seem right. Maybe its just because its new, but Octavarium seems like the next "Iaw" to me, with a whole new level of wisdom, conceptual genius, and abstract dimension. I'm really loving it. Man, the intro to Octavarium is just amazing.

That is absolutely true, and frankly I just don't like the mix on their latter CD's, especially Metropolis II. The mix is responsible for probably 50% of the "vibe" of an album, and if you don't like the vibe, well then you don't like alot of the CD. A similar example would be Ride the Lightning, probably my least favorite Metallica CD, and Black Album is probably my favorite (gasp!). The mixes on each of the Metallica CD's is different, and I just don't like the mix on RTL.