Dream Theater fans, Identify yourselves
 

I'm a die-hard Dream Theater fan, one of the best bands ever IMO. My friend got me into them a year ago, and now it's all I listen to beside classical music (since I'm a classical musician). I like everything about them, their technical mastery, music, and the lyrics. To me, Dream Theater members are more than just musicians, they are also poets ahd philosophers, all of their lyrics were carefully crafted to perfection.

So far, I have listened to Images And Words, Scenes From A Memory (my favorite), Six Drgrees of Inner Turbulence and Octavarium. Soon I'm going to order their Metropolis 2000 and Score DVD, should be a lot of fun.

So, just wondering if anyone else here likes Dream Theater?

I'm one, a pretty substantial one at that, but be warned, there are plenty of people here who dislike them almost as much as you like them.

Also, you may want to add some substance to your opening post.

John Petrucci is GOD

Thanks Helloween, for the advise, how is it now?

One of my favorite bands, and my bridge into classic progressive rock bands like Yes, Genesis, King Crimson, most recently Marillion.

What I really love about DT is that moreso than any other modern progressive rock/metal band, they make an effort to appeal to a wide audience. They're not always successful - most noticably (for me, anyway) in their lyrics, which are mostly solid, but occasionally cringe-worthy.

I think it's very cool to see such a highly-skilled band put their chops into catchy songs, some of which really have a hook to them, like the choruses to "Strange Deja Vu" and "6:00," for example.

I also appreciate how prolific their output has been, especially since Jordan joined the band - studio albums, live CD's/DVD's, instructional material from Rudess/Petrucci/Portnoy, the Liquid Tension albums, the JP/JR live album, and all the stuff available from the YtseJam records site.

Awesome band. They're far from flawless, but I respect them immensely for never mailing it in or half-assing it, whether it's on album or on tour. Can't wait for the 20th anniversary DVD - August 29th!

Yep, the 20th Anniversary DVD is called Score, I'm gonna get it too. The friend who got me into Dream Theater (also a die-hard fan) was there at the concert, he got front row seat too lol.

It's good, but i would be asking some questions of the viewers, essentially ask people to make posts like Starslight did.

As for me, i enjoy all of their albums almost equally. The only song by them i actually dislike is You Not Me on Falling Into Infinity.

In my opinion they're lyrics have suffered a little bit ever since Moore left the band after Awake. Sure Petrucci is a good lyricist, but it seems that there's alot of pressure on him. Sure Portnoy and Labrie are writing songs too, but not nearly to the extent that John has been, and probably will continue to do.

I'm also going to be picking up SCORE on release. Hopefully it won't be too expensive.

Yeah Moore was a good lyrics writter, as apparent in Images And Words, but Jordan Rudess is a much better keyboardist, I guess it's a trade off.

The Score DVD is under $30 on Amazon, it's around $22 if I remembered correctly.

Double Post:
Wow just check Amazon again, price for Score is $17.49 when it comes out. W00t.

I can listen to some Dream Theater stuff. There's a point where I think it goes from very good musicians making interesting music to very good musicians going "look what I can do". This is the same reason I can't stand Yngwie Malmsteen and lots of Joe Satriani's music.

I listen to a lot of Dream Theater stuff because I find the their music pretty awesome. I don't know much about the band and can't name any songs, but I enjoy listening to them.

I agree there. I love DT, and right after Scenes from a Memory came out I went out and bought all their other albums that had been released up until then. I was on a DT binge. Their music is badass, and smart, but is pretty flashy. A lot of times they remind me of Led Zepplin where as musicians they just seem too good. As a result their music lacks a certain emotional depth and their lyrics sound clumsy at times. They may be techincally accurate, but they don't seem to be playing their souls out like a lot of other bands. Instead they're more like, "this music shit is easy... watch this!" and then Petrucci goes off on a 10min solo that's so techincally accurate it was as though a machine played it.

I've been feeling less and less in the mood for Dream Theater after about 7 years of listening. Sometimes you don't need a 22 min track to get your point across. More recently I've been getting into musicians that are more minimalistic in comparison, namely Stephen Merritt who manages to recycle the 1,4,5, pop progression a million times, and yet it still sounds awesome.

Dream Theater is a totally badass band who forever has my respect as musicians, but their music doesn't emotionally inspire me like so many others that may be less technically accurate.

I enjoy Dream Theater. Not a die hard fan but I do enjoy their stuff.

I occasionally listen to Awake, Images & Words and Metropolis Pt. 2. The other albums aren't worth listening at all, in my book. That's about it. I own the mentioned albums and they're good for what they are, as cohesive wholes, unlike the rest of them.

There are so much better bands in the same genre, so I won't be praising Dream Theater in any way.

*identifies self*

Awake's my favourite, followed up by Six Degrees. Octavarium was pretty disappointing apart from the title track. Scenes From a Memory is incredibly overrated. Used to be a huuuuuge fan, so I bought all their CDs, but now I've kinda left them by the wayside.

Actually, I'm listening to "Space Dye Vest" right now - Probably my favourite song of theirs.

Dream Theater is one of my favorites bands !!
:)

I am also a big Dream Theater fan, I got into them pretty much just last year around this time. I loved Octavarium and then just picked up the rest of their albums, including both Liquid Tension albums and James Labrie's singles work.

One of my favorite bands, people complain about their solo's being way to long with lack of emotion. With me, they get me very energetic and it's just really amazing to hear.

One thing that puzzle me is that why people complain their solos lack emotion. Who said solos have to be emotional to begin with?

It's the exact same thing as cadenzas in classical music, it's meant to be a show off of the performers technical abilities.

I've just recently started listening to Dream Theater. My friend actually bought me the album "Images and Words", and the first time I heard it, I actually didn't like it. It wasn't until my third listen that I started enjoying what I was hearing. Now I'm considering buying another one of their albums, but I'll need to do a little more researching before if it's worth it.
Yes, technical abilities are very important in any performance, but I think emotion is also a very important part of the performance as well. Without emotion, the music just feels cold and uninvolving, but that might just be me.

I don't know, but I have never found that Dream Theater lacked emotions for me personally.

And I personally don't find Dream Theater lacking in emotions either, although they definitely are not an "emotional" band. :) I just think that it is very important to have emotion in a song.

I used to be a huge Dream Theater fan before I became more interested in extreme music. I still enjoy their music. That being said, I don't find that technicality takes away from the music at all. I am a drummer, and hearing technical drumming in a song is great. I think that musicians can appreciate that aspect of their music more. Mind you, I love plenty of music with simple drumming, so I'm not saying that that's the only reason I like them, but rather I find it adds to the music.

Reporting.

Huge fan of DT, have been for years now. Seen them live once (on the Octavarium tour), got all their albums, member of the fan club. Practically breathe them. Best songs are Peruvian Skies, The Root Of All Evil, and Octavarium. Short, snappy sentences.

As far as pure musicianship, they're second to none in the prog-metal scene. I mean, Petrucci played G3 with Vai and Satch! And Petrucci and Myung being from my hometown, I'll always be a bit biased. Dream Theater may not be terribly progressive when compared to other bands in the genre, but they're definitely one of my favorites. IMO, Octavarium is their strongest album since Scenes From a Memory (though "In the Name of God" and "Stream of Consciousness" off Train of Thought are probably in my top ten), so I'm excited to see where they go next.

Dream Theater is my favorite band at the moment, I have listened to Endless Sacrifice and Glass Prison alot lately. I didn't like Dream Theater when I first heard of it due to the vocals, which lead me to Liquid Tension Experiment which Is an awesome band/side project. Dream Theater started to grow on me though and I began to enjoy the vocals.

I'm generally not a huge fan of the vocal stylings of James LaBrie either, but at least their songs aren't all about sex / drugs / a one-dimensional view of love / emo-ey loss, pain, or angst.

But there is no denying that John Petrucci's guitarmanship is top tier. (See: the guitar solo in Blind Faith, followed by the beautiful piano solo - classy!)

I'm also a great fan of Dream Theater. Saw them in St. Louis a couple years, great show. Their live show is exactly like the CD. I also saw the Tony Levin band which was freaking amazing. Do yourself a favor and buy the Liquid Tension Experiment, let me know if you need it or cant find it, seriously you will not regret it.

I love Dream Theater so much. I'm missing a lot of their albums, which I want to get sometime soon, but as for what I've got I've been very impressed and very happy.

My favorite album--the one that got me into Dream Theater--is of course, Scenes from a Memory, and I fell in love with the band after that. However, as I started to grow "tired" of Scenes from a Memory, I've found that Awake picks up on a side of their music that I didn't even know had existed. I LOVE "Caught in a Web", and "Voices" so much ;_;

If any of their albums (that I own) have been a dissapointment, I will say that I wasn't too impressed with "A Change of Seasons" and "6 Degrees of Inner Turbulance". None of the songs really popped out of those albums for me (A Change of Seasons understandably, since it was just old music they replayed), but their tones still remained the same. Which is good, because with Inner Turbulance being one of their "newer" albums, I was afraid they were going to change their musical outlet into something less... Dream Theater-y.

The only album I didn't like by Dream Theater was Awake, I don't really know why, but a lot of the music off of it just is odd, and the vocals are probably my least favorite off any album. Maybe it just needs time to grow on me?

This sentence (with the Scenes From A Memory bit abridged - not a fan of SFAM actually, kinda bland imo) gives my exact feelings.

It's a very long-term grower. I hated it for ages, but now I'd rank it fourth or fifth. Awake is generally the ultra-critical "Jordan Rudess is a moron, long live Kevin Moore" Dream Theater cynic's choice, but imo the album's incredibly overrated. It's a good, powerful album, but it's not incredible.

Yeah, they can replicate their songs incredibly well. I saw them this tour, and I love the little extra bits they throw in too. In Peruvian Skies they had a jam (using the continuum... or lap steel guitar, I forget which) at the start, an excerpt of Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here in the middle, and Wherever I May Roam by Metallica at the end. And in the middle of Endless Sacrifice, they replaced the funny orchestral bit with Jordan Rudess playing a rendition of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.

Very happy to catch Another Won, too. Bet they won't be playing that again any time soon. :P Same goes for Octavarium. I've always been impressed by the way they cycle the setlists, too. There are a lot of bands who play the same things day in, day out, but MP really makes an effort with them. I like that. :)

Btw, Dream Theater start writing their new album next month, if anyone's interested.

Have you guys heard of Human Equation? James acts the main character in that album. Since you're DT fan, you should take a look at it if you haven't. It's a prog master piece. And yes, I love DT to death.

Funny you should mention it. In a list of my top 10 albums of all time, The Human Equation is at position 1. Masterpiece.

The other Ayreon albums aren't bad either. ITEC is brilliant.

One of these days I'm going to sit down with that album and really pay attention. I keep forgetting that I have it. >_< I don't know why there are so many Labrie detractors out there. I think his voice has a wonderful tone and his range and command are excellent.

Dream Theater are undeniable good musicians, but theyre music just seems void of any emotion to me. Its like the whole band is just an excuse to show off.

I have alot of friends who adore them, and say they show off "because they can."

I just feel like they belong in the class of Yngwie and to some extent Dragonforce, as far as playing to show theyre the best is concerned.

I used to be a big fan of Dream Theater, but I can't get that enthusiatic over them anymore. They're all extremely technically skilled, but the music is weak compositionally. Still, Scenes from a Memory is a fairly good album and probably my favorite from what I've heard. LaBrie's vocals aren't bad, but they're tons better on Ayreon's The Human Equation. Arjen Lucassen really brought out the warmth and depth of his voice on that album. He has this way of bringing out the best in vocalists.

If you feel like it, check out the song "Goodnight Kiss" and tell me there's no emotion in that song and in the guitar solo at the end.

Your friends kind of have it wrong, too. DT plays progressive rock, and virtuosity is one of the hallmarks of the genre. Prog is a genre largely for people who want to listen to good musicians play their asses off, and while Dragonforce and Yngwie certainly do that, they focus a whole lot less on the other parts (songwriting and composition) than DT do.

So the long solos and complex musical passages aren't really showing off, they're just a part of progressive rock. It can definitely get gratuitous, though, especially in DT's later albums, so I understand where you're coming from.

Good point Starslight. Also listen to "The Spirit Carries On" and tell me there's no emotion in that. That song made me cry countless times.

Talking about emotional, do not forget "Through her eyes"

Ill definately check them out when I get off work. Im usually not one to pass judgement on music without trying to hear all the artist has to offer.

Again, I think Dream Theater focuses too much on virtuosity and not enough on their overall composition. Look at Genesis, for instance. All of the members of Genesis during the Peter Gabriel era were virtuosos of their instruments, but they never felt the need to sacrifice their compositions with instrumental wankery. There were certainly lots more solos in Yes's work, but they were almost always tangential to the composition.

Well Dalkaen can you elaborate on that? Like how are DT's compositions weak? I think they are brilliantly put together.

I just bought the 'Score' DVD, and wow I find it amazing. The setlist is great, while preforming the entire 6 Degrees of Inner Turbulence song. The orchestra flows great with the music.

For me, my favorite was not only the music, but the hour long bonus biography featured on their DVD. I always found hearing about bands past and how they got where they did to be great to listen to.

I think it's a great DVD to buy compared to their last one. This one cost me 21 bucks, there last DVD was around 35, but even Budokan was a great buy.

Well, DT isn't that well-known here, but I heard of them from a friend. And man, are their songs good!! X3 I absolutely love them. ^^ Too bad the albums are selling at pretty high prices here. =( So yea, most of the songs I have I get from my friend, and they're usually the more recent ones.

I'm a casual DT fan... I download anything I can find by them (and would actually buy some stuff if only I could find it where I live, but nobody carries them and buying online = lots of shipping costs), but nowadays I don't really have the attention span to listen to whole albums.

Nobody's mentioned Images & Words, I think. That, together with Scenes From A Memory, are my favourites (in that order). I still haven't listened to Train of Thought and Octavarium, let alone Score (downloaded all of them, but it's been months since I've felt adventurous enough to try them).

When Dream And Day Unite: I haven't given it a listen, but I have heard some of the tracks live (on CD, not _real life_... DT will never come to Malta ^^; ). The only thing that keeps me from listening to it is that I have no idea where the MP3s are. As soon as I find it I'll give it a spin.

Images And Words: My absolute favourite. The long tracks are marvellous (esp. Learning To Live, probably my most favourite DT song), Under A Glass Moon is strange but compelling, and Wait For Sleep's melody (incidentally repeated in Learning...) is so poignant. Another Day has the saxophone and is a ballad, so everybody hates it... it's the only weak track on the album, but still better than most of the drivel on the radio.

Awake: hmm... never heard all of it, I admit. I too can't understand all the love for this album - I love Lie/The Mirror, Erotomania is amazing AND fun, but the rest of the album is a little too angular and harsh. I should give it another listen I suppose.

A Change Of Seasons: the suite works better on the Live Scenes From New York CD/DVD. I tried to listen to the studio version a couple of times some two years ago, and it didn't sustain my interest even though I listened to all of it. on LSFNY though it becomes a masterpiece; it's intense and interesting, which is something for a song 26 mins long.

Falling Into Infinity: this one actually was ruined for me by all the bad reviews it got. I think I only ended up listening to Peruvian Skies, but that song is one of the best, esp. live.

Scenes From A Memory: my first DT buy. Hard to get into at first (it was my first prog metal CD, at the time I didn't even listen to much heavy metal, and nothing as intense, certainly), but I was rewarded for my perseverance later. Not every track is a favourite (Home is a little too long, for example) but they're still a pleasure to listen to in context. Fave track: Overture 1928/Strange Deja Vu.

Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence: First CD is strong, even though it's a little over long. The Six Degrees suite has its moments, but I was turned off by the synth-y orchestra on the overture. I'd give an arm and a leg to be able to play Solitary Shell, though - if anything, they should be congratulated for the wide variety of styles on this. It's just that 42 minutes is a tad too long for my attention span ^^;.

For those who've heard everything DT can offer, I suggest giving a listen to Shadow Gallery (especially Tyranny and Room V, which narrate one story) and Symphony X (the song The Divine Wings Of Tragedy not only has a cool name, but it is a kickass song). And X-Japan's Art of Life is slightly less proggy, but it's still 34 minutes of goodness.

I'll edit this as soon as I hear the rest of the stuff I have yet to hear.

I would stick to live versions of When Dream and Day Unite. The original vocalist was mediocre at best (I can't stand his voice personally).

I think the only thing that Symphony X and Dream Theater have in common is that they're big-time prog metal bands. Symphony X is more power metal whereas DT has limited power metal influences. I like them both.

I personally really like Charlie Dominici when he sings for Dream Theater on their first album. That's probably because i also really like Michael Kiske's work with Helloween. They have similar voices.

szammit: Train of Thought is very different from all of DT's other albums. The mood is subsantially darker, and most of the ablum is based around heavy pounding riffs. It certainly is an acquired taste, but if you give it time, you may come to enjoy it.

Octavarium is quite different than the other albums, and has a similar feel to Awake. The instrumental qualities are no where near as complicated as Six Degrees, Scenes, or Train. I think this album was focused around trying to appeal to the fans who left the band after Falling Into Infinity Flopped, and trying to return to an older Dream Theater, or at least that's how it felt for me.

Hmm... yeah, you're right. I didn't think it through :-p. Then again, most people (like you) seem to like them both. It's probably just me, but I think at least the song The Divine Wings of Tragedy is more on the prog side than the power one, but then some of their other material might be different (I haven't listened to them much... hmm... I just might have to listen to Twilight in Olympus and V again to stay abreast with this thread ^^; ). The fact is that most power metal stuff is so not-proggy that to call Symphony X power metal is almost an insult. I like some power metal, in small doses, but every damn band seems to be the same. I just listen to the classics, as the rest seem to be just copies.

/end threadjack

I have a video where he recently played a gig with them (When Dream And Day Re-Unite, I think), but I forgot what I thought about Dominici ^^;. I remember thinking that he seemed to struggle with some notes, but it was live, so it might have just been that.

Ok, the queue of stuff I have to listen to now is becoming ridiculous, but whatever. :-p

I gave a try to some of the stuff on Live At Budokan. As I Am has a good riff, but dammit... 7mins+ is way too long. I never even listened to the whole song, so maybe in the last minute they justified the length, but meh. I struggle even with the 4mins edited version of that song! Stream of Consciousness is cool, though.

I'll give it a listen before Train of Thought, then. :)

I listened to the live Six Degrees on Score a couple of times. I still spaced out after some 15 minutes (I tend to listen to music while doing other stuff on my PC, so my attention does wander) but the orchestra certainly helped a lot. I'll give it another listen in a few minutes, in fact.

Haha, Scotty is a fan.
Sweet Dragon force in the signature too, btw.

In my avator i'm rocking a Dragonforce tee.
So you can guess like the rest, I'm also a big Dream Theator fan.

They rock. Nuff' said.

Hey, here's another Dream Theater Maniac. I remember the first time I listened to them was when I downloaded Metropolis pt. I on Napster, couple of years ago (Napster was TOP that time, lol).

I went to their show here in Brazil last year in December, second time they came here, after 8 long years! (well, I was 11 when they came here first, no chance of goin' that time hah). One of the greatest shows I've seen. They played the whole SFAM + Lie, Just Let Me Breathe, Glass Prison, Pull Metropolis (great medley), etc. OMG, it was a memorable moment when they played the first notes from Regression and the end with Finally Free... and Petrucci will come here with G3 next month with Satriani and Eric Johnson!

My fav. album is AWAKE, and in this album there are my fav. songs, Space Dye Vest, The Mirror/Lie and Voices. (and Innocence Faded too). I love the heavier atmosphere, darker.

And well, I think Train of Thought comes closer to Awake than Ocatavarium, specially for the heavier and darker atmosphere.

Well... that's good for now :)

I love DreamTheater.

I remember when I was in 8th grade, one of my math buddies that I sat next to in class was absolutely crazy about them, and always was talking about them. I was curious and asked him if I could listen. He brought me a tape that I still remember had two Rush songs and two DreamTheater songs, 6'o clock and Erotomania.

I was hooked from then on. I loved the crunchy guitar riffs, the mind bendingly fast solos (for me at the time at least) and the unique vocals. The very next day I went out and bought Awake and also what would become my all time favorite album of all time: Metropolis Part II: Scenes from a Memory.

These days I don't listen to them as often, but they are still my second most favorite band.

I don't really like their new albums as much, they seem to be changing their sound a bit and going an opposite direction from Metropolis Part II.

I hope that in their next album they will go back to how their old stuff was and really make an album that stands out for me because all their new ones only have about 2 or 3 songs on each album that I like.

Regardless, DT is and will always be a kick ass band.

My interest in DT has almost completely waned, but I'll still listen to them once every few days. Awake remains one of my favourite albums of all time, but I'm finding myself listening to harsher and weirder stuff these days.

I'll buy Score soon, regardless.

I have an mp3 cd in my car that has a ton of DT on it, mostly from 6 degrees. I don't listen to them as much as Mastodon or Opeth these days however, I used to be way more into them.

Lol, it was actually Helloween who got me into them, he's my cousin so I TRY to listen to his music advice, lol.

I think Learning to Live is my favourite DT song at the moment, ironically not from 6 degrees, which is the only DT album I own(still can't believe it cost me 45 bucks, lol).