Official Distance Over Time discussion thread

[MirrorMask]

Well, I assume one reads reviews of bands he already is a fan of, because there's interest and anticipation. If someone mentions a band I never listened to, it's not that I go looking up for reviews either.

[Architeuthis]

I honestly have to say I don't think I've ever seen such universal positivity from the album reviews leading up to a DT release before. I only hope it continues once we've all heard it. Everything about this pre-release build-up has had incredibly good vibes about it, from the way all five members created the album together in the same room, to how involved in interviews all five have been. The hype from this fan has grown even more as a result of this. And we are almost there. It's Album Release Eve, DTF! Who's to say whether this is the last time we experience this with Dream Theater, so let's enjoy it and savour it.

Well said bro!   

[tristl]

My Collectors Special Edition is coming today

[Bertielee]

I have it guys! Bought it at my local store which always has DT albums available one day before official release. I'm gonna listen to track 1. Excited as hell!

B.Lee

[MirrorMask]

Lucky you! so I guess I will be basically one of the very last ones to hear the album  tomorrow, during my lunch break (that's very early morning for the americans), I will grab this baby! 

[Bertielee]

Lucky you! so I guess I will be basically one of the very last ones to hear the album  tomorrow, during my lunch break (that's very early morning for the americans), I will grab this baby! 

Have just listend to UA. One word : nasty! The opening has a strong sense of déjà-vu, but man, it's really strong! And the sound is great (those drums, baby, those drums!)!

B.Lee

[IDontNotDoThings]

I'm staying up for a pseudo-midnight release, where I start the singles at 11:43pm and play the album from Barstool at the midnight release.


Only 35 minutes left

[Red_Queen]

Lucky you! so I guess I will be basically one of the very last ones to hear the album  tomorrow, during my lunch break (that's very early morning for the americans), I will grab this baby! 

Have just listend to UA. One word : nasty! The opening has a strong sense of déjà-vu, but man, it's really strong! And the sound is great (those drums, baby, those drums!)!

B.Lee

Enjoy !!! Let us know !!

[RoeDent]

I'm surprised people still read reviews. Why bother? If you come across a band name, go on YouTube or some other platform and just spend 5-10 minutes listening to their stuff instead of spending the same amount of time reading what someone else thought about it.

Umm...because we're excited and want to grab every little morsel we can about the album?

Jeez...no need to bring the mood down there. Why people feel they have to make everyone else as grumpy as they are beats me...

And there should be rules in place as regards full and open album discussion before most of the world has reached release day.

[Bertielee]

Lucky you! so I guess I will be basically one of the very last ones to hear the album  tomorrow, during my lunch break (that's very early morning for the americans), I will grab this baby! 

Have just listend to UA. One word : nasty! The opening has a strong sense of déjà-vu, but man, it's really strong! And the sound is great (those drums, baby, those drums!)!

B.Lee

Enjoy !!! Let us know !!

I will (both enjoy and let you know)! 

B.Lee

Edit : I'm going out for the day. Just had time to listen to UA and won't be able to listen to the rest before probably tomorrow.

[nobloodyname]

My collector's box thingy just arrived (from Burning Shed). The lenticular cover is unusually good, I must say! The direction the skull is facing turns through several angles.

[Bertielee]

My collector's box thingy just arrived (from Burning Shed). The lenticular cover is unusually good, I must say! The direction the skull is facing turns through several angles.

Cool!

[lifesonrules65]

Nice.  Since I ordered from Amazon it will not be here until the end of next week or later.  I always wonder why there is such a huge delivery difference from various places.  Burningshed always seems to be the best place to get anything on or before release.

Frank

[nobloodyname]

Amazon (UK) was stating early yesterday morning that the box was going to be delivered on the 26 February. I figured I'd cancel the order and give Burning Shed a go instead for £3 more. Was surprised when I receiving the shipping notification on the same day. Result

Here's my review: yes, it's good.

[Lonk]

Someone posted the drum track for "Pale Blue Dot" on EZdrummer.

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

I Think that this is DT most anticipated album since ADTOE, and the wait is finally over!

[Max Kuehnau]

Someone posted the drum track for "Pale Blue Dot" on EZdrummer.

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

I Think that this is DT most anticipated album since ADTOE, and the wait is finally over!

I doubt that this is the real drum part, rather some "mockup" of the thing (since we all know what EZdrummer does)

[rumborak]

Another positive review

https://distortedsoundmag.com/album-review-distance-over-time-dream-theater/

Could it be their best album since Train Of Thought?

I said earlier that I was reviewed out, but I did read this one. It's nice to see that someone was not afraid to give it a 10/10. 
Usually people will give it a 9.5 even if they feel deep down inside that it's a perfect 10, probably just to make themselves sound more like a critic.. 

I find the 10/10 in itself questions the usefulness of the review. What is the reviewer saying, that it is amongst the best music albums of all time? Or is he saying it more DT-centric, that is, this album is better than IAW and SFAM? Judging from the released singles I personally already find that nigh impossible.

I like reviews that put an album in context with previous albums of the same band. No "JR unleashes a cornucopia of shred hitherto unknown" but rather "here is my personal DT album ranking, and here is where I place the new album in that ranking. It combines elements of album X and album Y...". I also like reviews where the reviewer is aware of her own "new car smell" excitement and rather gives a ranking based on how she expects to like the album in a year from now.

[MirrorMask]

"Cornucopia of Shred" would the quintessential title for an instrumental 

[bosk1]

Repeating what I said above: 

Since the album will be officially released in some countries in a matter of minutes, it is time to let the official discussion begin.  Those that have it legitimately, whether receiving an advance promo, having gotten their pre-order early, or being in a time zone where it is Friday are free to discuss.

As always, discussion of leaks or other illegal means of obtaining the album is prohibited and will result in being banned from this forum.

So...who's excited? 

[MirrorMask]

Me! Tomorrow I will reenact the plan of three years ago for The Astonishing - lunch break, visit to the nearby chain store, purchase of the album, and listening in its entirety for the very first time, having avoided all the singles and promo material!

It's a bit like Christmas, the magic of waiting for an album and buy it and listening not knowing it beforehand it's something that I want to let go of 

[kaos2900]

I'm excited but I'm afraid the uber-Christmas type excitement I once had for new DT releases no longer exists.

[Lonk]

I will be going to the launch event tonight in NYC. Pretty excited!

[Ben_Jamin]

I'm planning on listening once its out on Spotify.

[Samsara]

Best DT record since SFAM, at least for me.

[cramx3]

Looking forward to this 

[Indiscipline]

As feared, it's being released on my wife's birthday. I'm pretty excited.

Divorces are always exciting experiences.

[TAC]

Best DT record since SFAM, at least for me.

Wow, you think it's THAT good, huh? They've released a shit ton of music since SFAM..

[nobloodyname]

It's a very good album, much better for me than their recent output...

...but (sorry, RoeDent!)... most of the vocals are just kind of there (for better or worse), and the dynamics, once again, appear to have been squished from the recording. (Will try the 5.1 mix at some point and also the vinyl to see if they're any different... here's hoping!)

Quibbles aside, I do honestly think the majority will enjoy the album. And I don't think we can ask for more than that.

[jonny108]

Just been notified my box-set has been dispatched and is arriving on Saturday! Luckily I can stream the album on Apple Music at midnight, really looking forward to this one.

[Samsara]

Best DT record since SFAM, at least for me.

Wow, you think it's THAT good, huh? They've released a shit ton of music since SFAM..

For me, yes. Read my comment in the now locked thread. It pretty much sums up where I'm at. This was a nice shot in the arm that I needed to be a DT fan again. I was not a fan of the post-Train of Thought material (I liked some of it, but it was really spotty) really until this record.

[bosk1]

EDIT:  Never mind.  I merged in some of the most recent posts from the other thread.

[TAC]

Gee thanks Bosk!

I actually read both yesterday (Samsara is always a "must read" in my book  ), and just went to the thread to re-read the post.

Sam, you mentioned emotion. I found it in spades all over ADTOE. I'm surprised you don't like that more.

[Dedalus]

Spotify, I'm ready!

[genome]

Best album since Six Degrees. Two of the tracks made me well up with emotion and that NEVER happens.

You guys are gonna be chuffed with it.

[rab7]

Best album since Six Degrees. Two of the tracks made me well up with emotion and that NEVER happens.

You guys are gonna be chuffed with it.

Which tracks?

Also, I don't think there's a single album where I didn't well up with emotion at least once