Let's figure out Dream Theater.

THANK YOU.

BTW how are McLaughlin's collaborations with U. Srinivas (whom I like a lot)?

He *really* bugs me, and not just in the context of Yes. I'm glad he left the Strawbs when he did.

Ned - you can hate me now.

While there are definite moments of cheeze, there are some parts that were better than expected. The keyboard player doing all that wack Danny Elfman knicked stuff and the prissy vocalist bring the whole thing really down. All they need is Jon Lord and Ronnie James Dio and this could be a OK band.

Shakti is freaking insane, especially those high speed unison lines they get going.

A few weeks back, I picked up RTF's Romantic Warrior out of a used bin. I never had that one and boy there some cheeze on that one, especially on the second side. I don't know if it is because of punk rock or whatever, but it definitely seems true that all of those fusion bands lost it after 74-75 (excepting some of the ECM stuff, which really isn't that much like the rawk fusion made by all of those guys that played in Miles band but still gets labeled as 'fusion').

THESE GUYS ARE SICK!!!

is that tony levin on STICK??

Yeah it is. Only the modified bass stick can handle Tony Levin's breathtaking virtuosity.

Best comment on there:

jhon6674u238 (5 days ago)
Not bad. Try CAMZHOME DOT COM for wild webcam girls

the stick bass just makes me mad when i see it....

anyway yeah dream theater. i grew up on guitar magz so you know it's all good.

the real underground shit is shrapnel records shit though, that's tru wank. david t chastain and tony macapline and paul gilbert and blues saraceno and all those dudez.

stu hamm

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8f/Portnoy.jpg

I'm assuming there's a giant gong where the photographer is standing, but until I see it, Portnoy gets no respect from me.

the SS Bozzio

http://grm.martin.free.fr/photosgraym/terrybozzio1.jpg

While, uh, 'researching' Dream Theater on wikipedia, I've discovered that half the band is married to half the chick-metal band Meanstreak. That strikes me as even more fucked up than the drumsets.

It is not clear to me whether all three couples were married at once, or if it's like some six-way open marriage or what.

Maybe they were just annoyed with their husbands making love to their instruments rather than to them and decided to get even.

There are many musicians whose styles may be legitimately compared to making love to their instruments. I'm reasonable certain that no member of Dream Theater fits this category.

they fingerbang their instruments

There are many ways to make love, oilyrags.

I'm not counting all that ridiculous "chili trombone" "rusty sanchez" stuff.

From WFMU: http://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2007/08/you-better-not-.html

I think he signs off with the word "n00b"

Lord. (I was compelled to post a comment linking to the review of the Rock Discipline DVD on here.)

Kind of embarrassing to revive a Dream Theater for the second time but here goes.

This is DREAM THEATER:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b5/Jordan_Rudess_%28H.I.%29.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9e/John_Myung2_%28H.I.%29.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/09/James_LaBrie_%28H.I.%29.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/77/Mike_Portnoy.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8d/John_Petrucci_%28H.I.%29.jpg

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

This was the turning-the-clock-around album for Dream Theater. Mike Portnoy said that this album nearly killed Dream Theater because the record company wanted them to make a commercial album. I despise it when a record company tells you what to do, but Dream Theater compromised. Part of it you would expect to hear on Images and Words or Awake, and some you would go "HUH?"

1.New Millenium-Very techno-ish intro. This is not a great album-opener, but it's a great song. 4.5/5

2.You Not Me-This is the very commercial "huh?" song. Although it tried to be mainstream, I still liked it. Very short solo, however. 4/5

3.Peruvian Skies-The classics begin. This is a very nice soothing ballad turns rocker song. Intresting lyrics about someone named Vanessa. I think it's about child rebellion. Very good instrumental part. 5/5

4.Hollow Years-One of the best Dream Theater songs recorded. This is a regular pop ballad with Spanish influences. It may sound like every other pop ballad, but at least this one has a solo, and good lyrics. Very nice. 5/5

5.Burning My Soul-Did Dream Theater write that? NO WAY! This is an ultra heavy song. It's like Dream Theater taking a stab at Metallica, and they succeed. Great riff. Also, one of the best solos from Derek Sherenian. It sounds like a guitar! I guess the record swines wanted it to be a single. To the record industry: WAKE UP! No offense or anything to the fans, but do you realize who was popular in 1997? HANSON! Do you really think Burning My Soul would get anywhere? Nope, it sounds good! Can't let that happen! See my point? 5/5

6.Hell's Kitchen-It's ok, they could've done better than this. This sounds like a instrumental climax that should've been left in a 14-minute song. Actually, it was the instrumental part in Burning my Soul, but I guess that they let it out so that Burning My Soul could try to be a single. 3.5/5

7.Lines In The Sand-Pure Dream Theater. This is another 12 minute masterpiece. It has a great intro, probably one of the longest for Dream Theater, and the singer from King's X is in it (I forgot his name). Not a great instrumental part, but it still rocks! 4.5/5

8.Take Away My Pain-Great ballad. The guitar has a Police-vibe to it. Good lyrics. Also, a very soothing chorus. I like the bass in this one. No one gives John Myung credit. He's probably one of the greatest bassisits out there. 4.5/5

9.Just Let Me Breathe-A little dissapointing, but good lyrics. 3/5

10.Anna Lee-Nice ballad about child abuse. Very good piano line. 4.5/5

11.Trail of Tears-The geatest epic on this. Let's do this part by part:

I-It's Raining-Very nice intro, and a good jazz like verse. Intresting lyrics about wasted years. I like the chorus. It's got a good hook to it. 5/5

II-Deep In Heaven-Great solos by John and Derek. John's is more crazy, Derek's is more planned. Very nice. 5/5

III-The Wasteland-Great ending. Where is this Wasteland, might I add? Good guitar riff from John. The ending is very soothing, and it's a great ending to a great album. 5/5

YESSSSS

Well, we obviously know that John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy are incredible musicians. John Petrucci's guitar work here is, IMO, his most tasteful, and easily his least flashy, but possibly his best. John Myung is a talented and humble bass player. On "New Millenium" he uses a Chapman Stick, which shows how diverse and talented he is. Mike's drumming definitely did not stand out here as much as previous albums, or as much as later albums, but it's still obviouse that he's an incredible drummer. James LaBrie has an amazing voice, not much else can be said on that. So, what about the new keyboardist, Derek Sherinian? Well, he's pretty good. Not quite the songwriter Kevin was, and not quite the technical player Jordan is, but hey, if he was hired by Dream Theater, don't you think he must be good? Well, he is.

this shit a fuckin goldmine

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t214/ZachRScott/JAMESLABRIE.gif

Where IS this wasteland??!

(This thread was all worth it for Aaron's demolition of that Petrucci DVD.)

amazon review threads Ned, pretty sure you can just pick any album and go to town

^ James LaBrie action figure ^

OK. OK. It's over.

unitard