Album Rating: 2.0

@Sonicspeed 500



Favor what albums of theirs you will (I certainly won't try to sway you; the ones I like most (Awake and 6 Degs) aren't either fan or critic favorites far as I can tell) but don't tell me that anything since (and possibly including) 6 Degs has been anything other than a bunch of guys who're set in their ways and enjoying life just showing up for work, punching the clock on the way in and again on the way out.



You may think that because you like some of the songs on there (or maybe the general tone of the albums, I dunno) that they're release worthy, I posit they have nothing new to say, no chip on their shoulders, no demons to exorcise and that I'd rather hear some of them doing different projects or some other band entirely instead. They're satisfied with where they are, producing musical counterparts of what the average Hollywood remake is nowadays, just getting bloated like so many good rock bands over the years, safe in the knowledge that those dedicated many are still going to sell out wherever they're playing regardless of the quality of what they put out.

Album Rating: 2.5 | Sound Off

but don't tell me that anything since (and possibly including) 6 Degs has been anything other than a bunch of guys who're set in their ways and enjoying life just showing up for work, punching the clock on the way in and again on the way out.



You may think that because you like some of the songs on there (or maybe the general tone of the albums, I dunno) that they're release worthy, I posit they have nothing new to say, no chip on their shoulders, no demons to exorcise and that I'd rather hear some of them doing different projects or some other band entirely instead. They're satisfied with where they are, producing musical counterparts of what the average Hollywood remake is nowadays, just getting bloated like so many good rock bands over the years, safe in the knowledge that those dedicated many are still going to sell out wherever they're playing regardless of the quality of what they put out.



I disagree, Mike Portnoy had a big demon with his alcoholism that has been mentioned since 'The Mirror' in 1994 all the way up to the finale of his Alcoholic's Anonymous Suite finale on BC&SL. Every piece of his anger with that and his struggle with it as a sin being equally maintained with the anger and lyrics of 'The Root of All Evil' on Octavarium. Nearly every single Dream Theater song is written in a minor chord or has some degree of depressing, anger filled or hopeless lyrics. Yet you imply that the band dosen't care, treating them as if they are some run-of-the-mill rock band writing songs about hooking up with babes and drinking beer. They're doing exactly the same as when they started, give or take the changing influences of time.



I think the real reason people attempt to write off Octavarium is because they instantly degrade it as some mix of Christian music, which is idiotic and immature. Sure, it had it's obvious flaws, but it also echoed the struggles of the band. Train of Thought showed these clearly visible struggles too and the lyrics and heavy sound prove it. They were pissed from Queensryche telling them how to write music and they were fighting each other for creative differences and Portnoy wanting different things out of Dream Theater. After Systematic Chaos release, the band admitted they had worked out their problems and have gotten along better than in over a decade. SysChaos was near complete crap though, I wouldn't try to defend it. That would be an album I barely enjoy due to a few songs, but I wouldn't dare say that about Octavarium or BC&SL though.

Album Rating: 3.5

the band have returned to the solid, song-oriented melodic prog that made Images and Words and Awake so special

Mangini’s drum parts always seem to stick to the simplest beats possible and rarely (if ever) provide the kind of quirky patterns that made Mike Portnoy so interesting to listen to. His playing also lacks any kind of power or passion, and instead sounds clinical and detached.

nice review Willie. It reads more as a 2.5-3 though tbh.

Album Rating: 4.0

Everyone just needs to shut up just enjoy the album its a great album this has been going since 1994 the fans will never be satisfied it seems fans will always bitch about Dream Theater if you dont like them dont listen.

Album Rating: 3.2

Well, that was certainly enlightening.

Album Rating: 2.5 | Sound Off

this has been going since 1994 the fans will never be satisfied



this is so wrong, everything DT did before Octavarium was betweeb "great" and "classic".



I even adored Falling Into Infinity, back then the band was really into the prog thing, i'm not so sure about that for the period of 2005-now...

I think the real reason people attempt to write off Octavarium is because they instantly degrade it as some mix of Christian music, which is idiotic and immature.

Album Rating: 3.2

I like Octavarium. It's DT-lite for when I don't have time for a huge ass song.

lol

Album Rating: 3.2

How do you figure?



Edit: Oh... RiffOClock is Pyosisified. No wonder everything you say is negative, baseless and fucking stupid.

Album Rating: 2.5 | Sound Off

Christian? We were all annoyed that they wore

their influences far too prominently on their

sleeves for that album; namely U2, Coldplay &

Muse



A lot of people pushed it farther than that though, especially with the song "I Walk Beside You".

Album Rating: 2.0

"I disagree, Mike Portnoy had a big demon with his alcoholism that has been mentioned since 'The Mirror' in 1994 all the way up to the finale of his Alcoholic's Anonymous Suite finale on BC&SL. Every piece of his anger with that and his struggle with it as a sin being equally maintained with the anger and lyrics of 'The Root of All Evil' on Octavarium. Nearly every single Dream Theater song is written in a minor chord or has some degree of depressing, anger filled or hopeless lyrics. "



I'm sorry for the mix-up. In using those expressions I didn't mean what was going on in their personal lives or how it translates to the lyrics. I'm not privvy, nor do I care about their lives and I never did listen to DT for the lyrics. I meant it as a comment about what I listened to them for, which is the music. Whatever went on didn't translate into the music as anything other than what I've described before.



"Yet you imply that the band dosen't care, treating them as if they are some run-of-the-mill rock band writing songs about hooking up with babes and drinking beer. They're doing exactly the same as when they started, give or take the changing influences of time."



But that's precisely the problem. That's what I find objectionable, that they were fortunate enough to garner a fanbase entirely comprised of "their mothers" (you know, as in whenever you ask your mother her opinion about something you made and she always tells you it looks fantastic), and they can afford to not push the envelope and still make a pretty buck and that's exactly what they're doing. And I wouldn't compare them to "some run-of-the-mill rock band" because the run-of-the-mill guys don't usually sell out stadiums, unfortunately for them. Whitesnake or something like that was more what I was going for. And what's wrong with babes and beer? Sammy Hagar is disappoint, son.



"I think the real reason people attempt to write off Octavarium is because they instantly degrade it as some mix of Christian music, which is idiotic and immature. "



I don't really know what people said about Octavarium, apart from a friend of mine (a proper DT fan) that told me it was "horrible, don't bother". I disliked it (apart from what I've already said) because there was only one decent song in there (Panic Attack) and they even managed to screw that one up before it was over (well LaBrie did, at any rate). But regardless, whatever was on there, they'd done it before and done it better.

Album Rating: 3.5

Pretty enjoyable album.

Album Rating: 3.5

Really don't know what they were thinking with the ballads, they've proved often enough that they're just not very good at writing them. Even that aside, this just lacks on the punch that made their best material great in the first place.

Album Rating: 2.5 | Sound Off

apart from a friend of mine (a proper DT fan) that told me it was "horrible, don't bother"



there was only one decent song in there (Panic Attack)



lololololol I really hope you didn't hear of Dream Theater from Rock Band.

Album Rating: 2.0

What does where I heard about them from have to do with anything?



And no. They have audiogalaxy to thank for the albums I bought.

Album Rating: 2.5 | Sound Off

Really don't know what they were thinking with the ballads, they've proved often enough that they're just not very good at writing them. Even that aside, this just lacks on the punch that made their best material great in the first place.







so this.

Album Rating: 3.5

I feel like I put a rating too quickly. I'll see what I can do on my next spin. It saddens me to see the drums taking the back seat. Such a waste of talent.

Album Rating: 4.0

Got the album today. Fairly low 3.5 on first listen, but I will have to take further listens as is usual with albums nowadays. 1, 5, 7 and 9 are my favorites so far.