*Official* The Astonishing discussion thread

[cramx3]

Chosen is my favorite song on the album

[rumborak]

Some people must still be on that post-release sugar high to rank TA higher than SDOIT. I mean, not even close.

[erwinrafael]

I'm strictly pre-Keep the Faith for Bon Jovi. Still don't hear it though.

During "Chosen" I keep hearing the choruses of a slower "Livin' On A Prayer"/"Stick To Your Guns"/"I'll Be There For You" (or, for post-New Jersey material, "Always"/"Bed Of Roses"/"Thank You For Loving Me").

Yeah, like a combo of Always and Thank You For Loving Me. That vibe.

Or better yet.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz9gm0vlhlY

[Ben_Jamin]

Yeah...I'm amazed James LaBrie isn't doing that laugh live. The lines before really lead up to that.

[cramx3]

Some people must still be on that post-release sugar high to rank TA higher than SDOIT. I mean, not even close.

Not me, never was a big fan of SDOIT disc 2.  Disc 1 is great though but that wasn't the comparison.

[TAC]

Some people must still be on that post-release sugar high to rank TA higher than SDOIT. I mean, not even close.

Why isn't it close?

[Podaar]

Because Rock.

[Ben_Jamin]

Six Degrees is my all time favorite DT album and The Astonishing ties that album.

[TheOutlawXanadu]

SDOIT is awesome, but it feels longer to me than The Astonishing despite actually being shorter. I dunno... The album as a whole just doesn't gel as nicely, IMO. Still a great record, though.

[BlobVanDam]

SDOIT is awesome, but it feels longer to me than The Astonishing despite actually being shorter. I dunno... The album as a whole just doesn't gel as nicely, IMO. Still a great record, though.

Complete opposite for me. SDOIT, song and album, have always flown by for me every single time, without skipping a thing. TA has been a thorough slog to get through for me, and there's no way I could manage it in one go without skipping half of it.

[cramx3]

SDOIT is awesome, but it feels longer to me than The Astonishing despite actually being shorter. I dunno... The album as a whole just doesn't gel as nicely, IMO. Still a great record, though.

Complete opposite for me. SDOIT, song and album, have always flown by for me every single time, without skipping a thing. TA has been a thorough slog to get through for me, and there's no way I could manage it in one go without skipping half of it.

I wouldn't say TA feels shorter, because it's significant;y longer, but I get the sentiment.  TA flows much better as a whole than SDOIT, I always felt that song was more of separate tracks than one song because of that reason.  TA's two acts almost feel like they could be a long song each, the flow and musical themes just go much better IMO.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

The only thing TA has made realise about SDOIT lately is the cheap synth orchestral sounds used. I didn't really pay much attention to that in the past but boy, there is a big difference in orchestral sound quality.

[Enigmachine]

Some people must still be on that post-release sugar high to rank TA higher than SDOIT. I mean, not even close.

Um, no. 

TA started off very low in my rankings, but over time it got to 2nd place. That's not a 'post-release sugar high'.

I wouldn't say TA feels shorter, because it's significant;y longer, but I get the sentiment.  TA flows much better as a whole than SDOIT, I always felt that song was more of separate tracks than one song because of that reason.  TA's two acts almost feel like they could be a long song each, the flow and musical themes just go much better IMO.

I agree on TA flowing well as an album, but SDoIT to me is more cohesive as a single unit because it is shorter and movements transition in a natural way compared to the many silences between TA tracks (and only one proper transition in ASitS - WYTHC, although TGoM and MoB smoothly after the overtures on each Act). TA is more satisfying to me purely because it's 130 mins against 42.

[TAC]

TA started off very low in my rankings, but over time it got to 2nd place. That's not a 'post-release sugar high'.

Over time?? It's only been out 6 weeks!

[Enigmachine]

TA started off very low in my rankings, but over time it got to 2nd place. That's not a 'post-release sugar high'.

Over time?? It's only been out 6 weeks!

It's still a period of time! 

[rumborak]

Some people must still be on that post-release sugar high to rank TA higher than SDOIT. I mean, not even close.

Why isn't it close?

Obviously this is all down to personal preference, but SDOIT, to me (and I think to many others) is in the upper echelon of DT's Top 3.
TA, no.

[SebastianPratesi]

Yeah, like a combo of Always and Thank You For Loving Me. That vibe.

Or better yet.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz9gm0vlhlY

Hey, that one is really the most similar!
I didn't know that song until now. Never was a Bon Jovi fan, but my younger brother had their CDs up until Have A Nice Day. I think I liked some songs on Bounce, but never cared for anything after.

[Outcrier]

Some people must still be on that post-release sugar high to rank TA higher than SDOIT. I mean, not even close.

I'm not surprised, this happens with every new album.

[Architeuthis]

Chosen is my favorite song on the album

That is one incredible song!  So we'll written and the sound and melody lines are just perfect. This should be a hit single all over the radio right now..

[Prog Snob]

I love TA more and more with each listen. I went through it three times today. There I was, on the 2 train, heading to a site. I'm listening to the second half of the second act. As everything in the story unfolds: Faythe's almost death, Gabriel refinding his voice, Nafaryus having a change of heart, tears are welling up in my eyes on everything from My Last Farewell to The Astonishing. So much so that the woman next to me turned and asked if I was alright.

I think the second disc is by far the more powerful of the two in regards to the story. It's so intense and profound that I find it hard to get through without feeling something from it.

[TAC]

I love TA more and more with each listen. I went through it three times today. There I was, on the 2 train, heading to a site. I'm listening to the second half of the second act. As everything in the story unfolds: Faythe's almost death, Gabriel refinding his voice, Nafaryus having a change of heart, tears are welling up in my eyes on everything from My Last Farewell to The Astonishing. So much so that the woman next to me turned and asked if I was alright.

I think the second disc is by far the more powerful of the two in regards to the story. It's so intense and profound that I find it hard to get through without feeling something from it.

You're an emotional dude, huh?


And yes, TA is amazing.

[Prog Snob]

I love TA more and more with each listen. I went through it three times today. There I was, on the 2 train, heading to a site. I'm listening to the second half of the second act. As everything in the story unfolds: Faythe's almost death, Gabriel refinding his voice, Nafaryus having a change of heart, tears are welling up in my eyes on everything from My Last Farewell to The Astonishing. So much so that the woman next to me turned and asked if I was alright.

I think the second disc is by far the more powerful of the two in regards to the story. It's so intense and profound that I find it hard to get through without feeling something from it.

You're an emotional dude, huh?


And yes, TA is amazing.

A resounding yes in regards to both sentences.

[Lax]

I love TA more and more with each listen. I went through it three times today. There I was, on the 2 train, heading to a site. I'm listening to the second half of the second act. As everything in the story unfolds: Faythe's almost death, Gabriel refinding his voice, Nafaryus having a change of heart, tears are welling up in my eyes on everything from My Last Farewell to The Astonishing. So much so that the woman next to me turned and asked if I was alright.

I think the second disc is by far the more powerful of the two in regards to the story. It's so intense and profound that I find it hard to get through without feeling something from it.

This
From first listen to know, I have tears each time I listen to act 2, I'm not able to sing along path of divide or my last farewell or hymn of a thousand voices, they hit my guts so hard.

[Prog Snob]

It's good to see that I'm not alone.

[cramx3]

I love TA more and more with each listen. I went through it three times today. There I was, on the 2 train, heading to a site. I'm listening to the second half of the second act. As everything in the story unfolds: Faythe's almost death, Gabriel refinding his voice, Nafaryus having a change of heart, tears are welling up in my eyes on everything from My Last Farewell to The Astonishing. So much so that the woman next to me turned and asked if I was alright.

I think the second disc is by far the more powerful of the two in regards to the story. It's so intense and profound that I find it hard to get through without feeling something from it.

This
From first listen to know, I have tears each time I listen to act 2, I'm not able to sing along path of divide or my last farewell or hymn of a thousand voices, they hit my guts so hard.

I agree with this too.  Act one is more of the set up to the story but act 2 is where all the action goes down and therefore where there is a lot of emotion.  This album definitely brings out some emotions with me which is difficult to do.

[Enigmachine]

Both Acts are pretty vital to the story. Act II wouldn't be as powerful without Act I. Very well constructed.

[Logain Ablar]

So much so that the woman next to me turned and asked if I was alright.

^ Ha, this is great. I have to admit to getting a bit misty at certain sections too.

The album is still holding up well for me. Most folks in our office sit with headphones on most of the day, so it allows me to listen to large chunks at a time. Besides, being in IT, nobody likes to communicate verbally anyway. IM-ing the guy sitting right beside you 3 ft away at the next desk is not uncommon..

[cramx3]

So much so that the woman next to me turned and asked if I was alright.

^ Ha, this is great. I have to admit to getting a bit misty at certain sections too.

The album is still holding up well for me. Most folks in our office sit with headphones on most of the day, so it allows me to listen to large chunks at a time. Besides, being in IT, nobody likes to communicate verbally anyway. IM-ing the guy sitting right beside you 3 ft away at the next desk is not uncommon..

You work at my company?  It's odd how the office is so quiet but the chat rooms are so active... with the people all sitting next to each other.

[Logain Ablar]

I'm sure it seems very weird to anyone not used to that sort of environment.

Anyway, the bosses seem to like it that way. If we don't talk to each other, we can't argue, and the murder rate is kept to an acceptable level. 

[chaossystem]

Every company should have an acceptable murder rate!

[Architeuthis]

Every company should have an acceptable murder rate!

That's a KILLER idea!

[KevShmev]

Chosen is definitely great.

It also sounds nothing like Bon Jovi.

[erwinrafael]

Chosen is definitely great.

It also sounds nothing like Bon Jovi.

But what if we're talking about this Bon Jovi?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SptZSYieps

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz9gm0vlhlY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoRjvYzqdrQ

Yeah, I am pushing it.

[RoeDent]

I keep imagining the life of the characters after the album ends. Just think: Nafaryus (through Faythe) becomes Xander's step-grandfather. (Gabriel: "We're going to visit Grampa Nafaryus today!") Also, he's stuck with that name long after he turned "good". Someone's bound to ask him "Why are you called Nafaryus?" at some point down the line.

[Mladen]

Xander probably talks shit about his uncle Daryus, he's still pissed about the whole dad thing. "X, my son, that's not very nice." "Who cares? He can't hear me anyway!"