Off Topic Black Clouds and Silver Linings

[Dante]

I'm going thru the second listen right now.

hmmmm... usually... comparing albums is... quite gay...
but i just gotta get this out: way better than systematic chaos and octavarium, heck, even train of thought rocks less than this.

more than a few must know riffs in there for every metal lover.

what do you guys think? i know there are a couple of DT fans in here.

 

[roburado]

I haven't received mine, but it's on its way.

 

[the24thfret]

You know it hasn't been released yet, right?

 

[joe web]

release date in germany had been yesterday.
i love it!

 

[Dante]

i got the hefty big box one. no silver ticket tho

in europe it's already available to those who preordered i think.

 

[deadtotheworld]

Ive listened all the way through about five times and its growing on me more and more. I think its superb. Havent listened to any of the covers yet.

Saw DT in a club in Leeds last week. Met them when they arrived at the venue on the Friday afternoon. Didnt speak to John Myung or Jordan, but the other guys were super nice and we got pics with them too.

But back to the album - Im loving it!

 

[INMT]

i got the hefty big box one. no silver ticket tho

in europe it's already available to those who preordered i think.

Mine is on the way, should be here Monday or tuesday according to post tracking.
Even if I get a silver ticket it won't do me any good.
My record player is just waiting for those LP's.

 

[ProtoChicken]

You know it hasn't been released yet, right?

Roadrunner actually shipped their USA shipments to customers who ordered directly from them, or The End Records on Wednesday. I received my Deluxe 4 disc edition yesterday afternoon from them.

 

[sickindian]

ive pre ordered mine but release date in uk (or maybe at play) is 22/06/09 so ill be waiting for their new album...

 

[ProtoChicken]

I do wish the DVD with the stem mixes had given more than just six tracks per song. It's still nice to be able to remix the album however you like, or to take out the guitar so you can play along with the band.

I think it would have been more interesting if they had provided more tracks to work with. For example the solos are on their own track with both Petrucci's and Rudess' solos isolated on the same track, and all vocals are ont e vocal track, no seperate track for backing vocals.

Not really a big deal I just think the remixing options would have more fun with more to work with. It's kind of funny to listen to just James' vocals with no instruments. I do like cranking up Myung's volume a bit more. Either way I expect I'll be noodling with these for months.

Oh and I love the album, The Count Of Tuscany is amazing, especially the final 4 minutes.

 

[the24thfret]

My record player is just waiting for those LP's.

I always wondered if this actually sounds any better. As far as I know, the album is digitally recorded with ProTools or the like so is there any real benefit to the final format being analog? I can understand the preference for vinyl when an album is sourced from analog tapes...

 

[Dante]

maybe because LPs aren't in everyone's homes today? the few that remain are HiFi gear, usually on rather expensive towers. alot better than a cd player off walmart!

 

[dwells]

i brought it today its sublime!!! count of tuscany,wither and a nightmare to remember brilliance!!!
it is more epic than systematic chaos
love it solos are some of Jps best But drumming is a little sterile at times still brilliant.

 

[Colin]

I always wondered if this actually sounds any better. As far as I know, the album is digitally recorded with ProTools or the like so is there any real benefit to the final format being analog? I can understand the preference for vinyl when an album is sourced from analog tapes...

going from digital to analog is not really a problem, although everyone has they're own tastes. Usually it has a warmer sound whatever the true meaning of that is. Audiophiles are an interesting bunch to talk to. Going from a true analog recording to digital can be another story as digital is capable of showing up imperfections. Kind of like scanning an old photograph. I guess the whole LP thing is an experience to, like having the cover and reading the liner notes while listening. The older guys will understand this I'm sure.

 

[guertzi]

I always wondered if this actually sounds any better. As far as I know, the album is digitally recorded with ProTools or the like so is there any real benefit to the final format being analog? I can understand the preference for vinyl when an album is sourced from analog tapes...

Basically, the thing with vinyl albums is that they have less dynamic range than a CD.

So in order to maintain the originally intended dynamics of a recording the overall volume is lowered so that the peaks can still be played back from a vinyl record.

Ironically, the better dynamic range of a CD led to recordings that were mastered to sound as loud as possible, but for the price of having less dynamics than a vinyl record! (This is often referred to as the "Loudness War").

Whereas louder recordings seem to sound better to our ears at first, after a while of listening to it, they make you feel uncomfortable and cause ear fatigue and so you have the desire to turn down the volume most of the time.

This is only because of the absence of a proper dynamic range. The same recording played with the same loudness but with more dynamic range will be more pleasant to listen to and you can listen to it much, much longer without feeling uncomfortable.

If you want there's more information here: DYNAMIC RANGE | pleasurize music!

BTW:
I had preordered "Black Clouds & Silver Linings", received it on Friday and have listened to it twice since. Great album and a bit more epic than the last one.
If you can, order the special 3 disc edition, CD 2 has 6 cover tunes and CD 3 is the whole album without any vocals, which can be very interesting at times!

Rock on!

 

[marduke]

will be getting my copy tomorrow i love what ive heard so far though

 

[bkrumme]

I haven't received mine yet. Gotta check that tracking...

 

[leftyguitarblue]

I haven't received mine yet. Gotta check that tracking...

Same here. Got the deluxe box edition coming. Can't wait. I've even resisted listening to leaked YouTube tracks.

 

[bkrumme]

Same here. Got the deluxe box edition coming. Can't wait. I've even resisted listening to leaked YouTube tracks.

Same here. The only ones I've listened to are the covers and "A Rite Of Passage"

 

[Jerry Jim]

well, basically I LOOOOOVED every record of DT, but this one just really sucks... It's nothing special, worst sounding and sounds like any italian metal band to my hears... Really not my taste...

I was absolutely looking forward to this one, but for me it's the worst record they ever made.


At least I save the money for the concert tickets