Off Topic Black Clouds and Silver Linings

[73h Nils]

i will simply reiterate what i've already stated: James is sounding thin, john and mike need vocal coaches. period.


and yes, akerfeldt is god.

I personally don't think James sounds thin at all, especially on this album.

John's backing vocals are pretty cool for a lot of songs, too; I Walk Beside You and Raise the Knife, for example.

I never minded Mike's vocals, really. Gives the songs another dimension (oh, LTE pun )

Oh well, to each his own.

 

[Dante]

i'd like to resurect a 100 post long dead thread with the following bit of information:

JUL 01.09DREAM THEATER DEBUTS @ #6, HIGHEST CHART EVER!

originally here: DREAM THEATER DEBUTS @ #6, HIGHEST CHART EVER! | Roadunner Records News

Legendary progressive metal masters Dream Theater’s latest album, Black Clouds & Silver Linings has taken the band to new heights. The album debuted at #6 on Billboard’s Top 200 album chart, with first week sales totaling 40,285. Both numbers mark the highest ever first week figures for the band, who are enjoying the greatest success of their 25 year career. 12% of the week’s sales were digital, ranking Black Clouds & Silver Linings at #21 on the Digital Albums chart.

Drummer Mike Portnoy had this to say, “This is truly amazing. After almost 25 years together, Dream Theater is still growing and progressing and doing bigger and better than ever. I can't think of many bands that can claim that. We are truly thankful to have this incredible support from fans who believe in the band as a musical force.”

Such a monumental debut places Dream Theater, a band known for lengthy epics and the true “album” format, in the cozy Top 10 company of Jonas Brothers, Black Eyed Peas and Regina Spektor, a truly remarkable feat. Portnoy continues, “An album with four songs over 12 minutes in the US Top 10? Hell must've frozen over! This is one small step for Dream Theater, and one giant leap for music in general.”

Black Clouds & Silver Linings is the band’s tenth studio album and follow up to the band’s 2007 Roadrunner Records debut, Systematic Chaos. In addition to the standard version CD, the album is also available on vinyl LP, as well as a three-disc Special Edition CD that includes the full album, a CD of instrumental mixes of the album and a CD of six cover songs. A limited deluxe collector’s edition boxed set is also available. “This is as smart and well played as metal and hard rock gets, an album just humming with live possibilities and headphone trips waiting to happen,” wrote Dennis Cook in is 6/23/2009 review at Jambase.com, while Shawn S. Lealos said in his 6/16/09 review at 411Mania.com: “Dream Theater has created their masterpiece.”

Dream Theater is currently breaking records in Europe, playing to festival crowds of over 80,000 adoring fans. The band made their debut appearance in Israel last month, rocking a crowd 10,000 strong to their knees. The band’s own Progressive Nation tour returns stateside on July 24 in Miami, and will feature Dream Theater as headliner, Zappa Plays Zappa, Bigelf and Scale The Summit. The tour—which marks the second incarnation of Progressive Nation--wraps on August 29th in Los Angeles.

As only the 10th Top 10 debut in Roadrunner’s 30 year history, Black Clouds & Silver Linings is landmark album for the label as well.

 

[73h Nils]

I still can't wrap my head around that :s

 

[ScoobySteve]

Congrats to DT. I'm really digging this new album.

I realized after a week of comparing it to other DT albums, the musical composition, and scruntinizing every instrumental solo on the album, that I just really enjoy the way this album sounds. Tons of homages everywhere, from Rush to earlier DT albums, but plain and simple it just sounds great to my ears.

And though as a musician I love the indrecible amount of coordination and hard work that went into the musical integrity of this album, I love this album cause it just pours of rocking tunes, which is why I got into them in the first place.

 

[MikeVt]

I went looking for that top 200 list, and I couldn't help but laugh at the top 10. They lost to The Black Eyed Peas, the Jonas Brothers, Dave Matthews and Eminem. At least they beat out Lady Gaga (whatever the heck that is), the Transformers soundtrack and Hannah Montana.

It's just funny seeing DT in a list like that.
Mike

 

[ProtoChicken]

I went looking for that top 200 list, and I couldn't help but laugh at the top 10. They lost to The Black Eyed Peas, the Jonas Brothers, Dave Matthews and Eminem. At least they beat out Lady Gaga (whatever the heck that is), the Transformers soundtrack and Hannah Montana.

It's just funny seeing DT in a list like that.
Mike

My wife was just telling me in the car yesterday how she's forced to listen to Lady Gaga all day long at work. I had to Google it to find out what it was. I wish I hadn't.

 

[MikeVt]

Now that you mention it, I think I remember seeing her on American Idol this season. She looked like a christmas present from hell. VERY scary. THAT'S acceptable, but people find metal off-putting?

Mike

 

[roburado]

So far, I think it's excellent, and I like it more each time I listen. My two gripes are that the lyrics are often terrible and Mike Portnoy needs to quit doing raps and spoken word stuff. If they need a heavy voice, get Mike Akerfeldt to pitch in.

Actually, MP considered getting Akerfeldt to do some cookie monster vocals, but he figured that he'd just end up doing them himself live. So, he went ahead and did an Akerfeldt-type vocal on Nightmare to Remember. JP thought it too heavy for the delicate sensibilities of DT fans (he must have been thinking mostly of the prog side). So, they did an approach that was something of a compromise.

At the following link, you can hear for yourself some of the approaches they tried and compare them to the released version.

The story behind my vocals on "A Nightmare To Remember"

 

[bkrumme]

I went looking for that top 200 list, and I couldn't help but laugh at the top 10. They lost to The Black Eyed Peas, the Jonas Brothers, Dave Matthews and Eminem. At least they beat out Lady Gaga (whatever the heck that is), the Transformers soundtrack and Hannah Montana.

It's just funny seeing DT in a list like that.
Mike

Funny. All of the artists who topped DT are radio and media whores. Took them radio play, mindless sheep, and pre-teen girls to top DT. The only one I think really deserves to be at the top of that list with DT is Dave Matthews. He's a really good songwriter and musician and has a legion of talent in his band.

 

[MikeVt]

Funny. All of the artists who topped DT are radio and media whores. Took them radio play, mindless sheep, and pre-teen girls to top DT. The only one I think really deserves to be at the top of that list with DT is Dave Matthews. He's a really good songwriter and musician and has a legion of talent in his band.

I agree wholeheartedly. At the very least, regardless of whether the list means anything or not, maybe it will get DT some additional exposure - which couldn't be bad. I'm tired of mentioning Dream Theater only to have people ask me if they were the ones that did "Life in a Northern Town".

Hmmm...in some ways, DT gets the same crap as EBMM. "EBMM makes guitars?"

Mike

 

[Brand X]

I've given the cd some time now as is only fair with Dream Theater.....

Personal opinion.....Is it me or has their songwriting gone backwards? The songs just ain't of the same standard as on previous CD's (SDIT, IAW, Octavarium all sound....just.......better). A Dream Theater to me used to be a musical journey - but this one just ain't cutting it for me.

I wish Mike would shut the hell up with his singing.

James sounds good to me, I don't understad why he gets bashed......Geoff Tate was sometimes all over the place live, but all he gets is love off everyone.....

The songs on IAW (for example) are much more mature and musically diverse....I can't help but wonder if Roadrunner are putting a certain amount of pressure on for DT to fall into their traditional genre a bit more......but 50yo guys singing about this stuff just seems slightly weird to me, particularly when the musicians in the band talk about how seriously they take the music........

I would like them the chance to give James the opp to write more lyrics.....his lyric are always good, well considered. His solo album with Marco Sfogli was incredible with just excellent lyrics - but as DT is basically MP & JP's trip - I guess he's onto a loser....

I'm still giving it a chance but........

 

[morsecode]

I think James has an amazing voice. I just don't think that many of the parts that he sings over breathe enough to allow him to just sing. At times they seem forced especially over really fast heavy parts. I believe they could just leave those parts as instrumental pieces or breaks or perhaps could find ways to make the music breathe a bit more. That's when James' voice really shines through.

I listened to this album for the first time last night. I feel overall its very good and there are a few songs that are as good as anything they have put out. Some of the longer epic songs have parts that don't seem to fit quite right or come off a bit cheesy (i.e. Mike's rap) but that is only my opinion based on my own personal tastes.

As far as the lyrics on this album are concerned, I'm fine with them. Overall I don't feel they are as strong as some of their earlier albums. I've always found John Myung's lyrics in the few songs that he's written to be very thought provoking and in their early days Kevin Moore had a real penchant for writing some of ther best lyrics. Some of John Petrucci's lyrics have been good over the years and occasionally as have Mike's. I appreciate Mike writing a song with his father in mind. For me I find that very moving, especially with his passing only being so recent.

Personally, I like their more progressive side over their metal side especially when they start to stretch songs out into these long opuses. I feel that SFAM was their pinnacle with IAW being perhaps their most diverse album. Those are still my two favorite DT.

However, this is who they are and this is their music and their art, and I completely respect and appreciate what they're doing. Especially because they are making music for their own satisfaction first rather than trying to appeal to a mass audience. They have far more talent and creativity than I could I even dream of having.

As a listener, a lot of their music since 6DOIT just has not always been for me. I could also be that I'm getting too old as well.

 

[bkrumme]

I've given the cd some time now as is only fair with Dream Theater.....

Personal opinion.....Is it me or has their songwriting gone backwards? The songs just ain't of the same standard as on previous CD's (SDIT, IAW, Octavarium all sound....just.......better). A Dream Theater to me used to be a musical journey - but this one just ain't cutting it for me.

I wish Mike would shut the hell up with his singing.

James sounds good to me, I don't understad why he gets bashed......Geoff Tate was sometimes all over the place live, but all he gets is love off everyone.....

The songs on IAW (for example) are much more mature and musically diverse....I can't help but wonder if Roadrunner are putting a certain amount of pressure on for DT to fall into their traditional genre a bit more......but 50yo guys singing about this stuff just seems slightly weird to me, particularly when the musicians in the band talk about how seriously they take the music........

I would like them the chance to give James the opp to write more lyrics.....his lyric are always good, well considered. His solo album with Marco Sfogli was incredible with just excellent lyrics - but as DT is basically MP & JP's trip - I guess he's onto a loser....

I'm still giving it a chance but........

Hey. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I kinda agree with the MP singing thing, but can we cool it with the comparisons to IAW? That album is 17 years old and comes from a completely different time in DT's career. They most certainly have different influences and passions now and if that means you don't like what they've put into BC&SL then I'm sorry that's the way you feel. They can't all be your favorite, can they? Anyway, asking DT to make another IAW is like asking Metallica to make another Master Of Puppets. It's just not going to happen.

I do agree 100% about James. He sounds good and does write some good lyrics when given the chance.

I'm not so sure I agree with the argument about their age. People who are in their 40s (not 50s, bro, give it another decade) feel the same things as people who are in their 20s. They just have more life experience and express it in a different way. Besides, I don't feel there is any subject on BC&SL which is age-specific.

But hey. I'm sorry you're not as into it as others. I think it's an extremely good album, albeit a bit more straightforward than I'm used to from DT. It doesn't leave as much open for interpretation like older records. IT DOES do what DT is very good at. It experiments with new influences and rides the fine line that Progressive Rock/Metal is supposed to ride.

 

[ScoobySteve]

To keep the post short. Yes James LaBrie is an astounding (I use this adjective conservatively) vocalist and in all fairness I've been saying that they're not giving him enough room to express himself fully yet, for a while now.

I love DT, i dig the new album, but this is something DT fans, new and old, have been saying for a LONG time. LET JAMES WRITE AND SING MORE!

Tis all.

 

[Paul in WV]

I've listened to it quite a bit now (it's playing as I type this) and as with the other albums, it takes a while for me to "get it".

Easily equal, in my opinion, to most of their other albums. I have say that I find myself enjoying the heavier songs more than the others lately.

I do hear quite a few "Rush" influences but that's OK...right? I also *think* I can hear where people come up with "Metallica" but not a lot.

I think Mr. Labrie is an amazing singer...his voice is his instrument and I would apply the term "virtuoso" to him as well.

I also have no problem with the spoken word stuff...in fact, I think it's kinda cool. The fact that Mike would have to accomplish it live anyway makes complete sense as to why he did it on the recording. Seems like the way to go to me.

In the end, I'm a fan and as a fan, I support them in whatever venture/directly they decide to enter. I don't like to compare this album to albums before because musician's are human too and they may not be in the same "place" musically today that they were say 17 years ago. They've all grown, as have we, in the years since Images and Words and I'm OK with that.

After all, they are the ones making the music we listen to.

Very happy with the album and I'm now eagerly awaiting the Concert DVD!

 

[edrod]

I hope I don't offend anybody. It get's a little irritating hearing DT get bashed. There are fans that are stuck in the IAW era. Dream Theater has evolved musically, unfortunately some of their fans haven't.

It's like asking one of you guys to play the way you used to play 15 years ago, It is just ridiculous. As musicians progress, we get more ideas and influences. Take a look at your playing perhaps, I am sure it has evolve. This might be a "dumb" comparison but maybe some people can understand better.

Everybody says they are open minded but chances are most of them are not.

 

[bkrumme]

I hope I don't offend anybody. It get's a little irritating hearing DT get bashed. There are fans that are stuck in the IAW era. Dream Theater has evolved musically, unfortunately some of their fans haven't.

It's like asking one of you guys to play the way you used to play 15 years ago, It is just ridiculous. As musicians progress, we get more ideas and influences. Take a look at your playing perhaps, I am sure it has evolve. This might be a "dumb" comparison but maybe some people can understand better.

Everybody says they are open minded but chances are most of them are not.

This is exactly what I was getting at, Ed. There are too many fans who aren't willing to accept change. I'm not saying you should AGREE with those changes, just that you should ACCEPT them. I could understand the bashing if the album was complete crap musically, but it very obviously isn't. The musicianship is just as outstanding as any other DT album and in some respects moreso.

My favorite DT album is still SFAM, but that doesn't mean I can't also like BC&SL.

And on another note. Could anyone else see The Count of Tuscany spawning another concept record?

 

[dwells]

I would say know ive listened to BC&SL over a hundred times its a more defined album than Systematic Chaos and i personally absolutely love it now!!!
one of there best albums for sure !!
Count of Tuscany and A Nightmare to Remember Outstanding tracks
and the solos in A rite of Passage and Wither tastyness
DT just rule

 

[bkrumme]

I would say know ive listened to BC&SL over a hundred times its a more defined album than Systematic Chaos and i personally absolutely love it now!!!
one of there best albums for sure !!
Count of Tuscany and A Nightmare to Remember Outstanding tracks
and the solos in A rite of Passage and Wither tastyness
DT just rule

+1 on all counts.

 

[Paul in WV]

Count of Tuscany and A Nightmare to Remember Outstanding tracks and the solos in A rite of Passage and Wither tastyness

Nightmare and Count are my two favorites as well...

For whatever reason, I'm completely GAGA over "Wither". I would LOVE to hear it on the Radio!

I actually checked out the various alternate versions of the spoken part of Nightmare and I kinda liked the Opeth-like Cookie Monster thing...as I said, I'm a bit more fond of "the heavy" lately!