Dream Theater - Systematic Chaos

[PeruvianSkies]

I've been a fan of this band nearly their entire career, really caught on with IMAGES AND WORDS, which is still in many ways one of their best, if not THE best album of theirs. Of course the next few to follow that would be of equal weight: AWAKE and FALLING INTO INFINITY, even SCENES FROM A MEMORY, which is the last album of theirs that I can truly say I love every track. Since then it's been one let down after another...SIX DEGREES, TRAIN OF THOUGHT, OCTAVARIUM, and after listening to this new album, it doesn't grab me that much either, although I appreciate their experimenting and also to some degree....going back to some of their 'roots', which are ultimately the roots of the bands that they respect and love.

Some might say...well, you need to give this new album a chance, listen for awhile, then make up your mind. Well, maybe so, but that didn't happen on the last 3 and with all their material prior to that...I was hooked from the first note to the last note. These last 3 albums, and perhaps now 4 albums have one or two catchy songs, but the rest has me reaching for the 'advance track' button before you can say Dominici. I guess I'll give it a few more spins here tonight and see what happens though.

[kexodusc]

Some might say...well, you need to give this new album a chance, listen for awhile, then make up your mind. Well, maybe so, but that didn't happen on the last 3 and with all their material prior to that...I was hooked from the first note to the last note. These last 3 albums, and perhaps now 4 albums have one or two catchy songs, but the rest has me reaching for the 'advance track' button before you can say Dominici. I guess I'll give it a few more spins here tonight and see what happens though.

All depends what you're looking for. Seems everyone likes the band for different reasons. Most people I talk to at their shows have been long-time fans, and if I grab 6 different people, I'll get 6 different favorite albums. From my perspective, Awake is their weakest album by far. Followed by FII, then 6DOI. By weak, I mean by DT standards, because I love all their albums. Images and Words was a good album for them, nowhere close to their best (though, but I can remember the first time I heard it, watching Pull Me Under on MTV, etc. Scenes From a Memory, Train of Thought, and Octavarium were my favs prior to Systematic Chaos, which I'm sure will fall in there somewhere. I know I like it more than Images & Words already. The last 3 albums have had their best songs ever IMO, but there's been a few on each I didn't care for. Overall, Scenes is probably my favorite album from start to finish, though it doesn't have any of my favorite songs. As Portnoy tells it, they've been most successful with the last 4 studio albums and tours as their fanbase continues to grow. I'm sure they're losing some along the way though. Now, having said all that, this is their 2nd time they've taken the super heavy route throughout - (Octavarium was more like a sample of all their other forrays). I wouldn't mind a change of pace for the next one at all just to keep us guessing. Though I confess, it's this aggression and how they pull it off that appeals to me so much.

I like the prog-metal approach - not too much wankery and pretentiousness like, say, Pain of Salvation, and enough solid songwriting full of emotion and drama to keep them a bit different from being another IQ or Marillion (2 more of my favs).
My only beef with the band is the lyrics are sometimes a bit too cheesy. As I said earlier though, that's my biggest beef with most bands, especially my favs, so I don't think that counts for much.
I do like the 12 steps of AA that they keep writing about (up to 9 now by my count). I'd love to hear an album or show where they work all 12 songs into one performance.

[3-LockBox]

I like the prog-metal approach - not too much wankery and pretentiousness like, say, Pain of Salvation

What do you find pretencious about Pain Of Salvation that you don't find in Dream Theater? Yes, POS has delved into self-indulgence a time or two, especially the last two albums, but what prog-rock band hasn't?

[kexodusc]

What do you find pretencious about Pain Of Salvation that you don't find in Dream Theater? Yes, POS has delved into self-indulgence a time or two, especially the last two albums, but what prog-rock band hasn't?

I never criticize a band for a little self-indulgence, but when it comes at the expense of a good song, instead of complementing it that's when things start to deteriorate.

I really like 2 of POS's albums.

I was really into these guys for awhile after reading and hearing a lot about them. Loved The Perfect Element, thought Remedy Lane was the start of something big.

I always felt that even though they could match or exceed Dream Theater's wankery , and self-indulgence, POS never approached the same level of songwriting - the melodies, hooks, harmonies - kept thinking it would come. It never did. You'd take the bad DT because the good DT would leave a song or riff in your head for days. I never quite got there with POS, but that's okay, I'm a big Symphony X fan who I criticize for the same reason and I put POS right up there with them. Just don't like the direction POS is headed...

[3-LockBox]

I was really into these guys for awhile after reading and hearing a lot about them. Loved The Perfect Element, thought Remedy Lane was the start of something big.

Me too. Remedy Lane is a powerful album in writing, performance and production.

Just don't like the direction POS is headed...

Actually...now that you mention it...me either. I was fairly disappointed with both BE and Scarsick. Both have moments, but the focus is gone.