*OFFICIAL* A Dramatic Turn Of Events discussion thread -- **SPOILER ALERT!!!**

[BlackInk]

I think the first verse vocal melodies of Breaking All Illusions are pretty classic.

A lot of vocal melodies in this album are pretty classic 

Indeed, but that one especially

[Elite]

First off, let me start with saying this; great album! Totally lived up to my expectations.
I listened to it the first time on Friday evening with a friend of mine, got it through the roadrunner download link and I was blown away overall. The full album is amazing and a great listen. Here's a track by track review.

On The Backs of Angels was as opener as I could have thought, it is the perfect way, out of the songs on the album to open it, it immediately gives away the feel this album has to offer. Outstanding track. Also, the outro is awesome.

The second track interrupted the flow for me greatly. Really weird to say it this way, because Build Me Up, Break Me Down is not a bad track, but after the awesomeness that OTBOA was, this felt a little slow and too driving, could have been faster I think. Also the solos are a bit lame. I guess this would be my least favourite, whatever that means.

Lost Not Forgotten, what can I say about you? My friend pointed out the similarities to Under a Glass Moon, and they are certainly there, I actually got a similar 'vibe' from it. The opening freak part (1:50-2:30 if I remember correctly) is one of the most whacky things the band has ever done. People will either love or hate this. I actually thought this was really could, but could have been left out just as easily, without doing any damage to the overall song. This is a very solid song, with a strong chorus and the instrumental section is cool, but not as cool as some other songs on the album.

The first ballad on the album, This is the Life, is a very good one. I got a Wither vibe out of this one, but this trumps that, because it just is better. The chorus is good, the instrumentation is good and, oh. Did I mention that guitar solo yet? Very tasty, great work by mister Petrucci.

Wait, what's this? Tibetan throat singing? What are Dream Theater thinking? The epic middle piece of the album, Bridges in the Sky, starts of very unusually, but, man, this track is GORGEOUS. This is the stuff from Dream Theater I love, words can't do it justice, just everything about this track is awesome! The chorus got stuck in my head for two days after first listen and the whole song is seriously powerful, JLB is as strong as ever here, with great vocal melodies, and JP's riffs drive the song to a further level of brilliance than most their heavier stuff. I mean it, this track is gold.

Outcry would be the track that gets most of the hate so far in this thread, and I can see why. After such an onslaught of awesomeness, this track can just be too much to grab. It doesn't really have a hook or things that got stuck in my head either, but I do find myself coming back to it, because of the brilliant instrumental section. Seriously, listen to that and be overwhelmed.

The one but last ballad on the album is, unfortunately, the one that delivers the least, but luckily, this doesn't say anything. It is merely an indication how bloody great the others are. Far From Heaven a beautiful track, albeit a dark and depressing one. James' lyrics are great and he sings them very well. Also, Jordan Rudess shines on this track, like he does on most, but this is just him and JLB performing one great song.

Breaking All Illusions is the track most of the fans have been looking forward the most, silent man and house bassist of Dream Theater, John Myung, hasn't written a line since their 1999 output, Scenes From a Memory, and boy, does this track deliver!I think I can say with confidence that this track is the most 'proggy' on the album. The chorus is good, as are all of the other parts. Like people expected before, making comparisons to Learning to Live even before it was released, it actually gives away a similar vibe in the sense that it doesn't repeat stuff often and is always moving to new, equally great parts. Outstanding track, this is.

An addition to the album after the rest was written, Beneath the Surface doesn't feel like this and is, to me, the perfect closer to the album. John Petrucci proves here, once again, that he is a great composer with a good sense of melody, harmony and structure. I think this is the best ballad of the album. James LaBrie is once again very solid on this album and proves he can still pull off some truly good stuff.

Overall, I think after a couple of listens this is their best effort since Six Degrees and I might even rank it above that after some more listens. I'm very glad they released OTBOA as a single, and not BMUBMD, because I wouldn't have been anticipating this as much then. The snippets don't really do the album justice, the full product is much more awesome than you can make out of them. All the musicians are top notch, as usual. Mike Mangini's drumming is great, revitalising and refreshing, though one could argue they are a bit low in the mix. John Petrucci is great as usual, as are John Myung, Jordan Rudess and James LaBrie. Dream Theater feels like a band once more, for the first time truly, since 1999's 'Scenes from a Memory'. The boys are back, and they are stronger than ever.

For now: 8.5/10, a very good album.

[jsem]

Lost Not Forgotten has grown on me very much... DAT JP SOLO

[BlobVanDam]

The LNF guitar solo still hasn't grabbed me. It's kind of weird. Not bad, just weird.
I love the keyboard solo though. It's fast and shreddy and just arpeggios, but the chord progression behind it builds so perfectly, and it's not just a repeating pattern, and the keyboard arps harmonize beautifully with it.

[erciccio]

Lost Not Forgotten has grown on me very much... DAT JP SOLO

It's now my favourite on the album by distance!

I think it's by far the best "technical metal" song mabe by DT!
Great riffs, great melodies (chours and second verse), great intro, great outro, great solo and great instrumental section!!

The tickle section has to be taken for what it was intended to be: pure wankery.
But I like to join the game... (will be great fun to learn it on guitar!!)

[wolfking]

Lost Not Forgotten has grown on me very much... DAT JP SOLO

Top 5 JP solo.

[kartmaze2]

This album is so CONSISTENTLY good! Not one song I'd like to skip during a spin.

Outcry and LNF has been the biggest growers so far, both from 'meh' to 'awesome'.

EDIT: I think BTS is still a bit 'meh', though...

[TAC]

I haven't had time to write a full review, and won't for a few days, but this is a Top 3 album right off the bat (behind I&W and Scenes), but I could easily see it taking over the #2 spot in time.

Love everything about it. BMUBMD is easily my least fave, but I LOVE everything else on the album.

[King Postwhore]

I combines everything I loved about DT when I first got into them. 

Melody, Metal, Hooks, the ability to meld all of it in one song and the whole album.  I can't say enough about it.

[FretMuppet]

I love the string bit in Beneath the Surface that sounds like the descending pattern in Ministry of Lost Souls, its pretty much the same. The intricacy of Jordan's keys are just phenomenal

[DeanTheater]

God I love this album so much on a much more emotional level than the past few albums.  That said I enjoyed many songs from the past 10 yrs of DT music, however,  it was in moments.  I feel this album connects throughout.  i dont find myself skipping along anywhere in the album.  I have been waiting for that emotional connection from these guys maybe since SFAM or SDOIT.  This album is a perfect release at a perfect time.  Kudos to the band for sticking it out and giving us a real gem under alot of pressure.

a couple of album notes:

Does anyone get chills (actual goosebumps)  at the last few bars of Breaking all Illusions???  that was some of the best raw emotional energy on any album I have heard in quite a while, and how they captured in in the mix is a testament to this albums production. 

I keep thinking how alot of this album would come off live and The Bridges in the Sky chorus is so memorable, that I think it will be a concert favorite for years to come. But, LNF and Outcry may be epic live.  All I have to say is I will findout soon enough here in Pittsburgh on October 4th.  If they sat and played this entire album live I would be overjoyed.


I am still tinkering with the album and have not gotten to the easter egg NugZ ,  I just didnt care about that yet. This album is meant to be listened to with the lights out and head phones on.  Memorable. Thank you DT!

[King Postwhore]

Yeah there are some great choruses on this album.

[jayvee3]

Iv'e had the album since its release here on thursday, and have extensively listened to it non-stop. I think its easily in the top echelon DT albums, I love the vibe and the scale of all the songs - I really think there are very few weakpoints. Outcry was one that took me a little longer, only as there is so much to digest in that song, but now im far more familiar with it, I think its simply brilliant. One thing that I dont get, is Thiago's so called issue with the album having similar song structures to I&W - So many people over the years have been yearning for something similar to I&W, and when they actually bring something out which perfectly blends new and older DT using some similar structures from that album, it still gets complained about. F'n shits me to tears..

[Bertielee]

Iv'e had the album since its release here on thursday, and have extensively listened to it non-stop. I think its easily in the top echelon DT albums, I love the vibe and the scale of all the songs - I really think there are very few weakpoints. Outcry was one that took me a little longer, only as there is so much to digest in that song, but now im far more familiar with it, I think its simply brilliant. One thing that I dont get, is Thiago's so called issue with the album having similar song structures to I&W - So many people over the years have been yearning for something similar to I&W, and when they actually bring something out which perfectly blends new and older DT using some similar structures from that album, it still gets complained about. F'n shits me to tears..

I think you misunderstood Thiago : he did not do that to bash DT, but because he found that interesting  to begin with. The only complaint I have about that is that he should have waited after the release and known MP would jump on the occasion. Not more.

B.Lee

[EstyMaJ]

Very quickly, I will just say that I pretty much agree with everything KevSchmev has posted in this thread.

Also, I couldn't help but giggle at a few people who complain about a few songs building to a certain point and then doing something else instead of the certain point that they think it was obviously was building towards.  A frequent complaint about recent DT albums was that their song structures were frequently predictable and by-the-numbers, so now when they do the exact opposite they get complaints.  Friggin' LOL.

Im 100% in agreement with this post!

[Bolsters]

My initial reaction to the album as a whole is "average". The album has few low points and they aren't all that low, but while it does have its high points they aren't all that high, either. To compare to their last album, BC&SL had some low points. Some REALLY low points, certainly a lot lower than anything on ADTOE. But at the same time, the highs on BC&SL were for me all higher than thing on ADTOE (pretty much all of TCOT, Beautiful Agony in ANTR, all of Wither, some others). I think if I were to look at it from a very analytical viewpoint and averaged the high/low of both albums, ADTOE would probably equal the same or a little lower than BC&SL.

Having said that, there's a lot I like about ADTOE. The band for the mostpart seems revitalized which is fucking great. The really low points present on the last couple of albums are pretty much non-existant on this one - there's nothing cringe-worthy and no songs I feel like I want to skip all the time and never listen to. Bridges in the Sky is top for me at the moment, love that chorus. I am really liking Jordan Rudess a lot more on this album. The last few albums, it really seemed like he wasn't trying for most of the songs, and even if he were more audible there wouldn't be much to listen to. But on ADTOE he brings new ideas, new techniques, and FINALLY some new frigging sounds. I'm also a fan of the sequenced drums in BMUBMD and especially Outcry. It's so unexpected for a DT album (no I didn't forget ITNOG, but it's not as elaborate as what's here on ADTOE) and tastefully done I think. If the idea came from JLB's solo albums, I wouldn't be opposed to them taking more ideas from there in the future.

I think the album will grow on me after a while, and maybe I won't negatively compare it to BC&SL so much. I know that DT has released a few albums that I had little interest in at first, ToT and FII namely, and I have a feeling this album will follow these two and become more of a favorite as time goes by. If it doesn't, I at least have very high hopes for the next album.

[gabeh1018]

after many listens through headphones and speakers, I must say I love this album. Can anyone suggest a good pair of headphones around $1-- that are clear, accent all frequencies, have bass, etc.

[Heretic]

To anyone expressing doubt or a feeling of being underwhelmed at first-- I think a ton of us had that same impression after the first listen, or even the third. But continue listening and each of the album's intricacies and beautiful moments will begin to hit you, and hit you hard. On my first listen, I thought, "wow, this was good, but I feel like I'm missing something." After numerous repeated listens, my reaction is "wow, this is a fantastic album. Probably in my top 3."

The choruses and their melodies begin to reveal themselves to you, and after a few listens, everything just comes together really well. So, if you're doubtful after a listen or two, keep on keepin' on.

[TheKillingHand]

I think I'm going to start rationing my listening time. I must've listened over 10 times already since Friday and absolutely love it but I don't want that new album magic to wear off too soon!

[Dellers]

Is it even possible to feel underwhelmed on the first listen (well, unlike you hate DT to begin with of course)? I was so exited instantly by some of the stuff, much more than I've been with any other record the first time I heard it. Instant classic IMO, I was sold the second I finished hearing all the notes. Also the melodies was what got most of my attention from the beginning, there's so many catchy lines here (every vocal part in BITS for instance).

[johncal]

after many listens through headphones and speakers, I must say I love this album. Can anyone suggest a good pair of headphones around $1-- that are clear, accent all frequencies, have bass, etc.

I've got the Bose on ear. They're $180 but awesome....should be for that much coin

[champbassist]

My eyes literally welled up with tears of joy when I heard the opening of BAI (so reminiscent of LTL) and a voice in my head kept saying "JMX is back!"  I'm not an emotional fanboi by any means but I couldn't control my emotions because I finally heard something I never expected to hear.

[LieLowTheWantedMan]

Does anyone else love the sorta raspy way he sings "Messenger of truth. I trust in you." in BitS?

[nikatapi]

Does anyone else love the sorta raspy way he sings "Messenger of truth. I trust in you." in BitS?

I do. 
I would say that my only dislike is the "clicky" sound in the beginning of LNF, when the double bass pattern begins.
It might be JR's sound or something, but it is a little annoying.

[EuropaEndlos]

The streaming is over then eh?  Damn, missed out on that!  Guess I'll have to wait till this week when this and Primus' new album come in the mail.

[DreamerTV]

This is the first album since SDOIT that i feel i wouldn't skip any of the songs. Even the weakest one, imo BMUBMD, has something enjoyable, especially if you're driving 
It has weak points, but they're always balanced with strong melodies and great riffs.
As for now, i think it's great.

[ariich]

The ballads on this album are really great. It's like they finally succeeded what they were going for in "Wither".

I think Wither succeeded with what they were going for in Wither.

I dunno, I think they were trying to go for that mellowed out song they hadn't done in awhile and ended up hitting a lot of cliche, bland notes along the way. It did have a guitar solo though which is something I can't say for "The Answer Lies Within".

I don't think of Wither that way at all, I think it was far more of a power-ballad, rather than a straightforward mellow ballad (like TALW and the new ones). It definitely has its share of cliche (the guitar solo, for example, is pure Brian May) but I really couldn't care less, it's still one of my favourite DT songs.

Anyhoo, I had a listen to the RR stream while it was up (wanted to listen again today but it appears to be gone now) and I thought the album sounded fantastic, can't wait to get my copy tomorrow!

Seems to have a bit less variety than the last couple of albums (and I'm a sucker for variety) but possibly as a result the album sounded more organic, and flowing. And I'm sure after repeat listens the variety will creep in through the subtler differences between songs. I can see this being very high in my rankings, but obviously one listen isn't nearly enough to really know.

Standouts so far are definitely Bridges in the Sky and Breaking All Illusions. Both are genuinely amazing songs.

[darkshade]

Hey guys. I've come to the conclusion that this album is better than Scenes From A Memory and Awake, and just as good as Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence and Images and Words.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

I'm ready to rank, I think.

1. Breaking all Illusions
2. Bridges in the Sky
3. Beneath the Surface
4. This is the Life
5. Outcry
6. Lost not Forgotten
7. Far in Heaven
8. Build me Up/Break me Down
9. On the Backs of Angels

That was hard as fuck. Such a strong album.

[BlackInk]

I think my ranking is in order too:

01 - Breaking All Illusions
02 - Outcry
03 - Bridges In the Sky
04 - This Is the Life
05 - Lost Not Forgotten
06 - Build Me Up, Break Me Down
07 - Beneath the Surface
08 - On the Backs of Angels
09 - Far From Heaven

That last one is only at that spot because of it's lacking diversity due to the short length. Amazing still.

That was hard as fuck. Such a strong album.

Nothing is harder than fuck.

[darkshade]

*Deleted* I don't know what happened 

[darkshade]

Far From Heaven / Breaking All Illusions
Bridges In The Sky
Lost Not Forgotten
Outcry
This Is The Life
Build Me Up, Break Me Down
On The Backs Of Angels
Beneath The Surface

There are themes from FFH in BAI, so that's why they're in the same place. Also, had I not been familiar with OTBOA before the album's release, it'd be a couple notches higher.

By the way... I ADORE the melody in Breaking All Illusions that bookends the Pink Floyd-esque guitar solo in the middle of the song.

[Ben_Jamin]

Am I the only one who thinks the Heavy Riff in the beginning of BITS, before the synthy part of the verse comes in, sounds like a riff from Slipknots All Hope Is Gone(don't know what song but I know it from the making of).

[Super Dude]

That was hard as fuck. Such a strong album.

Nothing is harder than fuck.

Least of all when I'm involved.

[aXygnus]

Am I the only one who thinks the Heavy Riff in the beginning of BITS, before the synthy part of the verse comes in, sounds like a riff from Slipknots All Hope Is Gone(don't know what song but I know it from the making of).

It sounded a bit like something by Machine Head to me.

Maybe I'm just tripping balls.