A Dramatic Turn of Events

jakedawgwhite88 · Sep 13, 2011

I absolutely love it it is now my 2nd favorite album behind scenes from a memory!!!

ThatsAgood1jay · Sep 13, 2011

on my Third listen, now. Holy crap this album is amazing.

Breaking all Illusions is possibly one of their best songs.

Lost not Forgotten is also fast becoming a favorite

Zoom · Sep 14, 2011

Honestly, I didn't like it at all.

First of all, the sound is surprisingly awful. Absolutely no dynamics, constant sound pressure without any tensions and relieves.

I always wonder, how can you call yourself a "progressive" band and make practically the same kind of music as you did 20 years ago? I couldn't hear any really new musical ideas and this is usually a bad sign for a progressive album. Without some imagination and fresh ideas it turns to be an hour of overly-complicated licks going one after another, accompanied by poor unemotional vocals.

I'm really disappointed, I figured a fresh blood could make some difference for this album. DT went for an easy path and chose a guy they felt fits their already formed sound best. It's a right thing to do in most situations except one when you really want to push forward.
Even latest Symphony X album sounds better.

Sorry guys, this is just my opinion.

Roubster said:
I love how everyone is a critic. Not only here, but on the JP forum. I would love to see all these guys criticizing and comparing one album to another pull off anything remotely as tight as this!

I always thought you don't need to be a cook to tell if something tastes bad.

Norrin Radd · Sep 14, 2011

I think it's pretty darn good, actually. Yeah, JP has a lot of the same tone, but it's an awesome tone - I'd use it a lot too! I thought the vocals and the mix were particularly good on this recording. And it IS nice that the drums aren't all up in my face throughout the entire recording. The last two songs on the album - what a great ending. Just superb.

All in all I really liked it. I'm a casual DT fan, though, so take that FWIW. I didn't care for ToT much and this seems a lot different than that to me. I will definitely put this one on regular rotation for sure.

Oh yeah, anyone else hear Rick Wakeman all over this album??? Brilliant!

Jamie M · Sep 14, 2011

Listening to it as I type this. So far so good. This is the first time i have heard DT. great stuff

RocketRalf · Sep 14, 2011

I've been playing it all day. It's freaking EPIC. My favorite track so far is Bridges in the Sky. One of my flatmates asked me "what are you doing" and I said listening to this: and played BITS to her. She had no idea what DT was all about, so she was clueless during the intro... and her "oh my God!" face when the heavy riffing comes in was priceless

mikeller · Sep 15, 2011

Bought the download version this morning...listened to the first 3 tracks on the way into the office, very nice!

paranoid70 · Sep 15, 2011

Just picked it up this afternoon. Need to spend some time with it, but I am sure it will grow on me in time. I remember not liking Train of Thought when I first heard it, now that one is my favorite from them.

BrickGlass · Sep 16, 2011

This is my favorite album they have done since 6doit. It is great to hear them doing an album that has plenty of prog and is not so metal.

PaoloGilberto · Sep 16, 2011

Honestly, every new DT album finds me with the same expectations: maybe this one will be at least as good as the old times best albums (Scenes from a memory, Images and words, Awake)
to me the album is nice, but way off from this 3 albums...
has some heavy riffs here an there, some solos , and a lot of boring parts (for ex on chorus and not only)
it's good that live (as many other bands) they play mostly of their "old school stuff" that people expect to hear

Jamie M · Sep 16, 2011

What would you guys say is the overall best DT album as this one is the only one i have heard.

RocketRalf · Sep 16, 2011

Jamie M said:
What would you guys say is the overall best DT album as this one is the only one i have heard.

Scenes from a Memory for overall quality (production, sound, etc), Images and Words for songwriting, but I can't stand the 80ish sound so I never listen to it anymore. Not that it matters, I know it by heart by now

ADTOE might be more prog than their last few albums, but Bridges in the Sky is a freaking riff factory, I can't still get over it it's just so awesome.

ScoobySteve · Sep 16, 2011

1. Metropolis Pt 2 - Scenes From a Memory (Many people yell at me for putting this above IAM, but lets face it when SFAM came out and Rudess debuted, we all knew something very special happened in Prog music history)
2. Images and Words - Classic DT. Put them on the map. Quite various in composition but wonderful.
3. Falling Into Infinity - Insanely underrated DT album. The Budokan performances of Trial of Tears and New Millenium are nothing short of epic.

Jamie M · Sep 16, 2011

thanks guys

think i will check out SFAM next then.

paranoid70 · Sep 16, 2011

SFaM is definitely their best, no question. They have some other great releases too - basically everything from Images and Words (1992) to Octavarium (2005) are all outstanding records. IMO, the last two before this new one weren't as spectacular, but are still decent. The jury is still out on the new one.

pearlredburst · Sep 16, 2011

I think John's playing on this album is awesome....but I have a bit of a gripe with the Mike Mangini's playing. I'm familiar with his playing from his recordings with Steve Vai as well as with Mullmuzzler and seeing him live. Does it sound to anyone like he's trying to play like Mike Portnoy? I know they could be construed into having similar styles but still - I really feel like (this is DEFINITELY NOT a knock on portnoy as he is a big part of why I became a drummer) Mangini is almost playing "down" to the level of Portnoy. I guess what I'm saying is, I was more excited for what he was going to bring to the table and feel like he tried to be something he's so much more than.

Thoughts?

Lax · Sep 17, 2011

paranoid70 said:
SFaM is definitely their best, no question. They have some other great releases too - basically everything from Images and Words (1992) to Octavarium (2005) are all outstanding records. IMO, the last two before this new one weren't as spectacular, but are still decent. The jury is still out on the new one.

Just +1000 hopefully we are some to say that, I can't stand people saying i.e. that SDOIT is just a crappy non inspired CD, it's one of my top 3.

Mangini is almost playing "down" to the level of Portnoy

His drumming didn't chock me, he has to get the portnoyish style, he has 20 years of songs to cover !
He has different, maybe less groove, but he can be faster than portnoy and that can make some crazy stuff in the future.

ScoobySteve · Sep 17, 2011

pearlredburst said:
I think John's playing on this album is awesome....but I have a bit of a gripe with the Mike Mangini's playing. I'm familiar with his playing from his recordings with Steve Vai as well as with Mullmuzzler and seeing him live. Does it sound to anyone like he's trying to play like Mike Portnoy? I know they could be construed into having similar styles but still - I really feel like (this is DEFINITELY NOT a knock on portnoy as he is a big part of why I became a drummer) Mangini is almost playing "down" to the level of Portnoy. I guess what I'm saying is, I was more excited for what he was going to bring to the table and feel like he tried to be something he's so much more than.

Thoughts?

JP clarified in an interview that he had already written the drums prior to Mangini joining. Mangini joined then performed the parts. It shouldnt surprise anyone that the drums still feel very Portnoy ish. This album is definitely a transition Period before we really hear Mangini. ADTOE isnt a really good gauge of Manginis influence on their sound yet. The next album will. Which makes me already stoked for the next album.

RocketRalf · Sep 17, 2011

ScoobySteve said:
JP clarified in an interview that he had already written the drums prior to Mangini joining. Mangini joined then performed the parts. It shouldnt surprise anyone that the drums still feel very Portnoy ish. This album is definitely a transition Period before we really hear Mangini. ADTOE isnt a really good gauge of Manginis influence on their sound yet. The next album will. Which makes me already stoked for the next album.

+1

Also to elaborate on the best albums discussion, Train of Thought has probably the biggest replay value of all and it's one of my favorites because of that, but it's not very representative of their sound.

ThatsAgood1jay · Sep 18, 2011

Not trying to stir the pot and start trouble by posting this, but here is a very intriguing interview with Mike Portnoy at Blabbermouth

BLABBERMOUTH.NET - PORTNOY: I Would Have Waited For PETRUCCI If He Wanted To Take A Break From DREAM THEATER

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