Which Dream Theater album....

[Magic Twanger]

is a good introduction to JP's playing?

I know that he is a monster player, but I have really not heard much by him or the band.

So is there one album that really screams "must have" for Petrucci fans?

Thanks!

Magic

 

[Philip]

hey mate,

DT music changes a bit (or sometimes a lot) from album to album but to me the "must have" albums are 'Images & words' , 'Awake' and 'Scenes from a memory'

 

[adambilz]

hey mate,

DT music changes a bit (or sometimes a lot) from album to album but to me the "must have" albums are 'Images & words' , 'Awake' and 'Scenes from a memory'

Agreed, start at the 'beginning' and keep in mind that he also has a solo album that is amazing. For DT, though, Images and Words and Awake are a good start.

 

[kbaim]

does the duo cd he did with rudess count?
It's my favorite playing of john's...though I've only heard about 3 others.
The singer in DT seems an acquired taste.

 

[Bungo]

All good suggestions so far but I have another.

Disc 2 of Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence, a 40 odd minute DT epic that spans 8 separate sections, this really showcases virtually every aspect of John's playing. From the classy, breezy rock of About to Crash' to the Metallica threatening 'Test That Stumped Them all' to the gorgeous notes and sustain on 'Goodnight Kiss' (3.13 to 4.41) I could go on and on (I think I have already ).

It also contains the section which EBMM created the custom 6/12 double neck for (Solitary Shell).

Certainly at one point JP was citing this as his favourite song to play live due to the variety in all the different sections.

Still my favourite piece of DT music.

BTW now that the old DT International fan club is no more please check out the only Official English speaking fan club at www.voicesuk.net

Good fanzine and an exclusive DVD came out recently.

A very friendly bunch and a friendly civilised forum. Plenty of members from both sides of the Atlantic now.

 

[Scarifi3d]

For a good showcasing of JP's ability, I recommend his solo album: Suspended Animation. It's all instrumental, but man I can listen to that whole cd for days on end. You can order that from his website, or check out Amazon. As for DT material, the others have already covered that...except I'd throw in Train of Thought. That album has some great riffs and some really insane solos. A bit more flashy, but as mentioned before DT tries to mix it up from album to album. Of course, one my all time favorites is definetly Scenes from a Memory. That one is a required album, for sure.

 

[MikeVt]

As others have said, DT's style can vary quite a bit from album to album. How about a different approach? What kind of music do you normally like? Maybe with that, we can point you to an album - and you'll get sucked in from there!

If all you want is some Petrucci, then I'd suggest Suspended Animation for some harder stuff, and 'An Evening with John Petrucci and Jordan Rudess' for his mellower, jazzier side.

Mike

 

[Junior]

Scenes From a Memory or even better, the video: Metropolis 2000 - Scenes From New York

 

[roburado]

I'll offer you the suggestion of getting "Live at Budokan" first. Why? Well, I think a good way to see/hear JP's playing is to check out a DT's greatest hits collection. Since there is no such thing, the live albums are as close as you're going to get. I'm all for starting with "Images and Words" and working your way to the present day in chronologic order, but this way you get one release with good looks at his style from different albums. As was mentioned, the Scenes From New York video is good. I just think that both the sound and picture quality are better on LAB.

Better yet, wait until the end of the summer/early fall for the release of the live album recorded at Radio City Music Hall. Every night on this last tour, they played at least one song from each and every studio album. That show was no exception. You'll definitely get some idea of the progression of his playing style throughout the two sets.

Of course, as was mentioned, "Suspended Animation" is also a great way to go.

 

[Philip]

As others have said, DT's style can vary quite a bit from album to album. How about a different approach? What kind of music do you normally like? Maybe with that, we can point you to an album - and you'll get sucked in from there!

If all you want is some Petrucci, then I'd suggest Suspended Animation for some harder stuff, and 'An Evening with John Petrucci and Jordan Rudess' for his mellower, jazzier side.

Mike

right on the money...

So if you like some classic progressive hard rock/metal tunes with not so much crazy stuff but with great guitar work I would suggest "Images & Words" , "Awake" and if you like even less prog and more songish/melodic approach "Falling into infinity"

If you like concept albums "Scenes from a memory" (but even without that it's an outstanding album!)

If you like heavy heavy riffage with balls and chunk - "Train of Thought"

For more John's work as posted before - "suspended animation" and "an evening with John Petrucci and Jordan Rudess"

Philip

 

[mbgreene]

does the duo cd he did with rudess count?
It's my favorite playing of john's...though I've only heard about 3 others.
The singer in DT seems an acquired taste.

No offense to the true DT fans here, but i'm with Keith on this one.

The An Evening With... CD featuring JP and Jordan Rudess is fantastic and was how I was introduced to JP's playing. I then picked up Scenes From a Memory and then Octavarium when it came out. Although I appreciated the playing, I did not really become a fan of the band.

After seeing John at the Open house and then his clinic at Pete DuBaldo's place, I bought the Suspended Animation solo CD and totally enjoyed it. You can purchase it directly from JP's website:
http://johnpetrucci.safeshopper.com/14/6.htm?476

EDIT:

just to add The Liquid Tension Experiment stuff is also good - as referenced by candyredsilo two posts below



good luck

 

[francric]

They are all good but Six Degrees and Train of Thought really stand out............

 

[candyredsilo]

"Scenes from a Memory" and both of the Liquid Tension Experiment cd's

 

[Magic Twanger]

Hi folks,

Thanks a bunch for those suggestions - that's exactly what I was hoping for.

As far as my personal tastes etc - I pretty much listen to any and everything I can get my hands on.

I go from Larry Carlton to Steve Morse to Gary Moore, Jeff Beck, SRV, Eric Johnson, Yngwie, Vai and Satch, Wes Montgomery, Johnny Hiland, Danny Gatton, Randy Rhoads, Frank Gambale, Ronnie Earl.

As far as vocal stuff goes I like Aerosmith, Beatles, Stones, Frampton, Journey, Santana etc...

So.. really I enjoy just about anything - but I am forever a student of the guitar and appreciate good tone and technique - and these are characteristics of what I've heard that JP possesses - so here we go....

Thanks again for the responses.....keep 'em coming.

 

[Enc3f4L0]

You could also start out with both 'Liquid Tension Experiment' albums...

 

[nocluejimbo]

Scenes from a Memory is probably my all-around fave.

For heavier stuff, Train of Thought. For proggier stuff, Images and Words.

 

[joe web]

if you wanna go for DT studio albums, i would recommend:
Images&Words, Falling Into Infinity, Metropolis 2 (SFAM), Train Of Thought

but you´ll have to check out Suspended Animation and Live At Budokan as well.


btw. forumites, check out this sample:
http://www.nefkom.net/joerg.weber/soundfiles/Joes TROAE Sample.mp3

i tried JP´s ampsettings at my rectifier a few days ago.
first you hear the DT-CD in the center and my guitartracks at the left and right, second you only hear my guitar.

 

[Jonny Dubai]

I would go for the Liquit Tension Experiment stuff.... I know it is not DT, but it is ALL JP.


Cheers,


Jonny

 

[CudBucket]

Magic, while we all have our own specific albums that introduced us to JP, mine was 6 Degrees, you really have to hear them all. DT really has evolved over time and so has JP's playing and tone.

A highlight from 6 Degrees of Inner Turbulence is the first solo in The Glass Prison. It's a highly discussed arpeggio piece about a minute in. Most mortal sweep pick it. Or we attempt to. JP alt picks it. Just amazing.

To really get unadulterated JP, take a listen to his "An Evening with John Petrucci and Jordan Rudess" CD as well as his "Suspended Animation" CD.

Another highlight is the solo in "Voices" on the Awake album. That whole song is a masterpiece.

My favorite DT album over all would have to be Scenes From a Memory.

 

[MikeVt]

A highlight from 6 Degrees of Inner Turbulence is the first solo in The Glass Prison. It's a highly discussed arpeggio piece about a minute in. Most mortal sweep pick it. Or we attempt to. JP alt picks it. Just amazing.

Are *most* of us here ABLE to play it in any sense? If so, I'm on the wrong forum.

Mike