By this time, I'm sure that many of my fellow Jemsiters have, like me, armed themselves with copies of Train of Thought. I'm nearly finished listening it and have already formed my basic opinions on the album and I was hoping you would share yours.
This is the new DT album, right? How's this for going out on a limb - I reckon it's probably a bit of a let down...the usual fantastic musicianship and incredible vocals...but ultimately a let down. I reckon this is because DT have peaked like every band - how could Queensryche possibly do a better album than Operation Mindcrime, likewise how could DT do a better album than Images & Words (save for the awful triggered drum sound) and Scenes from a Memory. I hope I'm wrong! Please let me know I am and that it's much better than 6DOIT!
Damn straight! Upon listening to it a fourth time I would like to reaffirm my statement of ass kicking above. I think that it is quite a bit better than SDoIT. I think almost everyone liked The Glass Prison off of that though, and if you didn't, this album might not be for you. It sort of reminds me of the heavy feeling you get from The Glass Prison combined with the more "finished" feeling of albums like Images and Words and Awake. If you don't like metal this CD most likely isn't for you, it is definitely DT's heaviest to date. JP's guitar playing on this disc is some of the fastest I've heard him do, it has evolved considerably since the early days.
I got it around 3:00 today, and I'm listening to it right now. I'm a huge DT fan, and I don't think they could do anything to totally disapoint me. I would definatly have to agree that this album is their heaviest, and I like it, except for a few little short parts. This probably won't be my favorite DT cd, but I definatly love it. I've read a few people complaining about its heavieness, but I'm totally cool with DT putting out a really kickin album for us to enjoy After this more metal cd, I think it would be really cool if DT dropped the "progressive bomb" on us for the next album Also, the cd has some awsome lyrics, and JP is totally smokin the fret board
My copy should be in tomorrow, I have heard nothing from it (I avoid preview clips generally) and this is the first thread I have read on any forum about ToT, so this one is heavy yeah?
Cool, I just hope its not heavy for the sake of being heavy and losing the fundamental elements of why I love DT, Symphony X lost ground with The Odyssey to me for being too heavy and losing somewhat of the more prog element of earlier releases.
Got it yesterday, and now listening to it for the fourth time. Awesome album, that first song just hits you immediately. Digging the heaviness. I think this is now my 3rd favorite (after Images and Words and Awake). Dream Theater continue to not disappoint.
Lot's of heavy stuff one here. I'm really digging "As I Am" now that I can hear the FULL version through a proper home stereo setup. I'm still trying to get familiar with the other tracks, but instantly found myself playing along with "As I Am" within a few minutes (except for the solo, of course ). You can definitely tell he's not using the Mark II C's on this album. My favorite JP tone is still SFAM, but this one will grow on me, I'm sure.
Anyone watch the bonus footage yet? I watched the "writing of (8:00)" video and about 10 minutes of the "recording of (16:something)" video. Very cool footage...too bad they're only available as a stream
Yep, "Train of Thought" ranks up there with the greatness of "I&W", "Awake", & "Scenes from a Memory." It is definately a heavier album than most of their catalog. However, I like the fact that from album to album, they are always trying new directions. This may not be the most versatile CD, but it's great nonetheless! WAY better than "6DoIT" & "FII."
I just got it tonight and have given it one run through. Like most of the cd's I really love, this one will require a few good listens to sink in totally, but suffice it to say....Petrucci has never clocked anything faster than his runs on this disc. The speed is just mind-blowing. It seems as if his tone has changed a little since the last record...a little heavier in the mids and not quite as clear, maybe a little nastier sounding all-together...but I've yet to listen through a high quality system so I might be passing judgement on that too early.
The bonus footage on the web was very cool, nice touch. All in all, me likey.
I got the album a few days ago, but its taken a while for me to absorb it all, there is so much going on. I like the album a lot. I love the heavier direction they have taken. Once I know the songs well I will love it just like the other DT albums. My only critisism would be that all of JP's solos are out and out shred. Would have been nice to hear him more laid back as well, but then i guess we have the other albums for that. All in all, and excellent CD, and one that I am listening to non-stop at the moment.
Fantastic, unreal, and amazing. This has been a long time coming from DT and I cant stop listening to it. It was just like the first day i picked up awake. That didnt leave my player for a few weeks and I think this too will have that kind of run. All of the tracks are extremely fresh with no dead wood. I LOVE the heaviness. Its immediately in my top 3. It just bumped off Images out of the #3 spot and shares the top 3 with Awake and WDADU. I can only imagine what will come next from these guys.
This CD keeps getting better & better! Some of the instrumental sections are BEYOND SICK! I especially like the last 2 minutes of "This Dying Soul." It reminds me of old Coroner (if anyone knows who they are).
Is anyone else having problems accessing the bonus footage on the web? I enter all my information, click continue, & then it just sits there. Could it be because the website is getting so many hits? :?
Well, I'm on my 2nd listen and so far I'm not all that impressed.
Something has been lost in the way they write.
For starters, I can't get into Petrucci's lyrics, they are dull and borderlined cliche'd. I feel that I am more than qualified to make this statement as I have been a rabid DT fan since I&W was released and like every album except 6DOIT, which even that has a couple...well...one good song.
The hooks are gone, vocal melody is gone, boring vocal lines are here to stay. I'm sorry but their latest trend seems to be find a chunky rhythm part, jam on that and then have J.L. sing over the top in a monotonous key which only changes slightly. Listen to As I Am, Honor Thy Father, Dying soul, Name of God, they ALL lack any real vocal punch. The verses are boring as hell, sorry to say. I hate the fact that the songs are not as interesting as they used to be, I'm actually kind of annoyed with my purchase thus far. Being only my 2nd listen, I think it'll take a few more to find what i'm looking for in the album, but so far, it is a bunch of scale fragments just built to sound impressive, which they do, but the songs as a whole are weak. I think they have lost the edge and don't have the drive to create like they once did.
Sorry to pee on the parade float, I'm a fan despite the past 2 albums, but I think that they have lost touch with what made them great. They are trying to hard to make songs for air, or break their mold, something, I can't define it, but its gone.
if you want hooks, go listen to top 40 tunes. I suppose there always has to be someone that rains on the parade. I'm on about my 5th listen and I keep getting impressed. I was never one to appreciate lyrics. As far as i'm concerned, they arent necessary and I could care less if they existed at all. DTs music has always had its own voice which doesnt require lyrics. The music itself on this disc is cleverly and incredibly crafted. I enjoy the mutliple time changes that occur in many of the songs. I'm still trying to figure out if Dave Mustaine has a cameo in the later part of Track 2. I dont have my case with me and will look when i get home. It sure sounds like him. Anyways, when comparing this album to something like Images, this kicks its ass musically. It was like they were trying too hard to be prog back then by throwing in the time changes and different voicings. This music has a better flow overall. Everything seems more natural and not out of place. The people who like this album will be the ones who can understand the music and hear its voice rather than just focusing on lyrics and hooks. But if you must have lyrics and hooks, theres always the Backstreet Boys
Save the backdoor boys comments for someone still in highschool.
Check out www.parallelmind.com
I jammed with these guys for a while and there were 0 lyrics, I'm not a lyric and hook guy per se' but when thats part of what makes you strong as a group, why depart from it and mess up a good formula.
Your comments are right in line with all of your comments, pointless, vapid and inane. (no, I don't mean insane)
I listen to many forms of Prog and DT has their own sound, now they're trying to be someone like Symphony X who has their sound together.
I think I clearly voiced the problems I have with the album and the change in writing style.
Stream of conciousness isn't bad, but not as good as a mind beside itself from Awake or Hell's Kitchen from Falling.
If someone were to make a clear point in what I might be missing then so be it, but so far that hasn't happened.
Bamm
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