Album Rating: 3.2

What Jom said and:



It doesn't matter because he still played them and they were bland (also the lack of power is at least 75% his fault. The rest

could be blamed on production). Also, I just re-read that section (which is half of a single paragraph, not the monstrous

majority that some are making it out to be), and I never said he wrote the material that he played only that it was boring and

that Portnoy would have done better.

Well, it's not surprise that Mike played it safe - that's what got him the gig. There were plenty of drummers who demonstrated better creativity - Virgil Donati even wrote his own drum parts for the audition rather than playing Portnoy's. That clearly was not what the band was looking for. Mike Mangini is a significantly better drummer than Portnoy, and I'm sure there's all kinds of things that he could have done with the parts if allowed - but as the new guy, the best thing he could do was to stroke the band's ego, keep his mouth shut, and play exactly what they want him to.

Yeah, I get that. That segment of the review comes across as unfair in my opinion. Perhaps it's just my interpretation of what you said. Regardless, It's a good review, Willie. Well done. I didn't mean to bust your balls.

Also, thanks Jom. It's good to know I'm not completely irrational.

Album Rating: 3.2

They'll heal ;)



If it comes out that the band dictated that he not deviate then I'd be happy to revise, but until then I have to blame the performer.

Fair enough. We'll just have to agree to disagree then.

cannot wait to get my hands on this

As the ever-ridiculous-but-sometimes-eloquent Rasheed Wallance said multiple times over the course of a silly post-game interview:

"It was a good game; both teams played hard."

Album Rating: 3.5

Best album since train of thought. Not amazing, but shows they are trying to get away from the systematic chaos type sound.

Album Rating: 3.5

Beneath the Surface is pretty much the greatest thing ever.

Album Rating: 3.0

This is definitely a grower.

Album Rating: 3.2

Beneath the Surface is pretty much the greatest thing ever.

Album Rating: 4.5

yeah beneath the surface is damn good...so is the album..but the drumming isnt that great for the dream theater sound, which portnoy brought in..

Album Rating: 4.5

Did you actually listen to the album in FLAC quality though? I found the drums sound light years better in high quality versions. They seem perfectly balanced to me.



And the first time or two I listened to it I was pretty underwhelmed too (it was a low quality MP3 rip, by the way)... But after finding a FLAC version of it (I'll be buying it on release day, no worries), and about a half dozen listens, I finally realize how complex and well executed it is. I'd argue it's one of their best releases in years. (But yeah, I'd still like to see Mangini write his own stuff for the next album).

Album Rating: 4.5

oh hell yeah it is complex..mangini defines complexity...but imo its just not sounding dream theater-ish....probably due to years of portnoy drum-effect.

Not trying to be Metallica with a keyboard player? Sorry just don't understand that comment, don't see where that came from.

Train of Thought.

Album Rating: 3.2

Yeah. That one is definitely the most blatant.

I'm a Dream Theater fan-boy, admittedly.

Mildly disappointed with this, maybe I should listen a few more times.

Album Rating: 4.0

I'm a Dream Theater fanboy as well. Heard this album 8 times through, sounds better each time may I add.