Dream Theater's new single - A Rite of Passage

[Sean Conklin]

Anybody heard the new DT single yet? You can check out the music video to it here:
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.co.uk/p...&news_id=77081

I think it's a cool tune. Really love the chorus especially. Some small elements about it that I don't like, but overall a solid song. Looking forward to their new album on June 23rd.

[Coop]

LIked the heavy parts alot. The rest of the song just did not seem to go with the heavy parts for me. IMHO.

[Zacke]

It sounds pretty much like Dream Theatre use to sound like! The singing part is a bit different though. I like it, but I think they could have speeded it up a little, but that's just me =)

[billmeedog]

LIked the heavy parts alot. The rest of the song just did not seem to go with the heavy parts for me. IMHO.

Hey Coop,

I gotta agree with you on that! I especially noticed that during the transition from the guitar solo/bridge to the end choruses (very cool part....however, to me it sounds like a segue from a song off Metallica's And Justiced For All album to a chorus part from a song off Queensryche's Operation Mindcrime album - LOL! - Petrucci's rockin' as usual though! ) All in all, not bad...a bit disjointed, but pretty solid.

~Bill Meehan~

[Coop]

Petrucci is a great guitarist. One of the best ever, but just something DTs songs just dont do it alot for me anymore.Maybe its all the keyboards, I dont know.

It just seems like they are all so good at what they do that they all want an equal part of the sonic atmosphere. At some point some of the guys have to take a backseat for the sake of the song, and I just dont feel like they do that most of the time.

Lots of Pro bands are like that though. They need to go listen to Moving Pictures or Permenant Waves by Rush. 3 guys,lots of interplay, but fantastic songs.

IMHO,

Coop

[billmeedog]

Petrucci is a great guitarist.

...go listen to Moving Pictures or Permanent Waves by Rush. 3 guys,lots of interplay, but fantastic songs.

IMHO,

Coop

Hey Coop,

Now that's what I'M talkin' about!!! (LOL!)

~Bill~

[Tom Quayle]

What I don't get is why Petrucci seems to have completely altered his playing to suit fashionable trends.

I mean almost every solo he does now it's just basic, mindless shredding at light speed. When I first heard Dream Theater back in about 1995 I loved Images and Words and Awake an was so inspired I learnt everything. Every solo on those albums was so memorable and well written. Now they all sound the same. The guy is such a good writer and yet he seems to just take the obvious route now for all his songs.

Disappointing for me. They've lost something - or maybe I'm just older and more cynical! ;-)

[arc_of_descent]

Thanks Sean for posting that link.

Its a great track but a pretty boring video IMHO. I guess the audio quality is not the best too. Has Petrucci's guitar sound changed? The riffs are much chunkier. I love it!

As with all DT and pretty much other music around, with time, I'm going to end up loving this song. Can't wait for the album release.


--
Rohan

[Sean Conklin]

What I don't get is why Petrucci seems to have completely altered his playing to suit fashionable trends.

I mean almost every solo he does now it's just basic, mindless shredding at light speed. When I first heard Dream Theater back in about 1995 I loved Images and Words and Awake an was so inspired I learnt everything. Every solo on those albums was so memorable and well written. Now they all sound the same. The guy is such a good writer and yet he seems to just take the obvious route now for all his songs.

Disappointing for me. They've lost something - or maybe I'm just older and more cynical! ;-)

No, you're right in my opinion Tom. I think Petrucci and DT as a whole have kind of "lost the magic" since Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence. All the albums after Six Degrees have had a very processed sound to their songwriting in my opinion.

And yeah, Petrucci's solos certainly have changed. I think his slower and melodic solos can still be pretty tasteful, but it does seem like a lot of the faster rock solos are straightforward and somewhat directionless shredding.

I still love DT though and I enjoy the new single, but I'd agree that they aren't really the same magical band to me that they used to be back in the day. With each new release I do hope that some of that magic returns. I guess we'll see how this one turns out on June 23.

[billmeedog]

I still love DT though and I enjoy the new single, but I'd agree that they aren't really the same magical band to me that they used to be back in the day. With each new release I do hope that some of that magic returns. I guess we'll see how this one turns out on June 23.

Hey Sean,

Ya know what? Don't give up, because you never know!

Seriously, I had written the band RUSH off (speaking of Coop's & my last replies!) a LONG time ago, just figuring that they had written all the good stuff that they ever would, and it seems like most bands (especially older bands that have been together a long time) hit that "wall" at some point, if you know what I mean. I never hated entire RUSH LP's either. I would just only like a song or two, ya know?!? However, that all changed the first time I heard their most recent LP, Snakes and Arrows! Front to back, this album is amazing. Excellent songs, diversity, production, musicianship, and interplay! I can't believe a band that has been through so much, and had achieved so much together, still had an amazing album left in them! So Sean, there's your example of "You just never know?!?".

Hey Coop, do you like Snakes & Arrows as much as I do??? Give it a chance if you haven't yet already. I have the exact same two favorite Rush LP's as you, (Permanent Waves & Moving Pictures - both masterpieces IMHO!) and I just love Rush's Snakes & Arrows!

~Bill Meehan~