*Official* A View from the Top of the World discussion thread

[TAC]

The Alien is amazing, and I hope the MP fan boys, once they're back into the band and all, will have a chance at some point to go back and appreciate those 5 albums for what they are...fucking solid as hell.

[SeRoX]

The problem is that with the album for me is songs sound so samey at times and lack of good vocal melodies. I don't desire to go back listen that album and it's weird with DT because I mostly revisit their album time to time.

I love the title track though and Transcending Time must be performed live, hopefully.

[hefdaddy42]

On that subject matter, I've come to realize how much I prefer The Alien over Night Terror. For sure Night Terror has a "classic DT vibe" that works pretty well for its purposes, but The Alien is awesome for what it is and totally deserving of that Grammy. Virtuoso performance is one of the things that have always stood out from DT (like it or not) and The Alien really constructed over that foundation.

I agree wholeheartedly. 

Night Terror is exciting because it is the first release with Portnoy back in the band. But as a song, for my tastes, it's not in the same league as The Alien. Not even close. 

[Schurftkut]

Got a bachelor degree as well, but those time signatures are Chinese to me. So you're not alone... and glad to read I aint either.

Look up "Progressive Drum Concepts" from MP on youtube, he explains different kinds of odd time signatures, and how he divides some of them up in more common meters. You'll understand more how it works and how he thinks about the weirder stuff.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

The Alien is one of the best singles they've ever released. Even though it won the Grammy and was played live every show it probably is still under appreciated. I think to release such a strong track in their late 50s speaks volumes.

[wolfking]

The problem is that with the album for me is songs sound so samey at times and lack of good vocal melodies. I don't desire to go back listen that album and it's weird with DT because I mostly revisit their album time to time.

I love the title track though and Transcending Time must be performed live, hopefully.

For some reason, this is part of the reason I gradually come back to it more and more.  Its seems very focused and in the pocket in terms of sound.  I actually like consistent sounding albums where there's a general feel and vibe across the whole thing and this has that.  I think the melodies are still a little lacking but at the same time, I don't have the problem with that like I once had. 

[wolfking]

The Alien is amazing, and I hope the MP fan boys, once they're back into the band and all, will have a chance at some point to go back and appreciate those 5 albums for what they are...fucking solid as hell.

It's funny, I always thought I had no preference between MP or MM but over the last year, I think I actually subconsciously always had bias towards MP.  I've mentioned it, but the new songs for some reason have already made me open my eyes a little more to this era, as shown with my views on A View.

I too hope people can go back and embrace the era and take it for what it is now it's all said and done.

[Pettor]

The problem is that with the album for me is songs sound so samey at times and lack of good vocal melodies. I don't desire to go back listen that album and it's weird with DT because I mostly revisit their album time to time.

I love the title track though and Transcending Time must be performed live, hopefully.

I think that sums it up well for me too. ADTOE and D/T have so many moments I genuinely look forward to—strong, melodic sections that truly stand out. Albums like Images and Words and Scenes from a Memory are packed with memorable melodies and instrumental sections, all tied together with incredible musicianship. With this album, it feels like the focus leaned more toward the technical side. There's nothing inherently wrong with that, but I think a lot of people fell in love with Dream Theater because of their ability to balance technicality with melody. That's likely why this album feels divisive. I'm listening to it now, and while I can't fault it in any major way, it does feel a bit dry overall.

Maybe The Alien is the perfect single for this album. If you connect with that track, I imagine the rest of the album will be equally enjoyable. Personally, though, I just can't seem to connect with The Alien, even after multiple listens. Not even Petrucci's solos manage to excite me — it's such a well-composed yet oddly unengaging journey.

Over time, the title track has definitely become the highlight for me. While the lyrics — focused on adrenaline junkies — aren't exactly my cup of tea, and the ending feels a bit lackluster, there's still a lot to appreciate here. The track is packed with variety and unique moments that stand out. The intro, in particular, is thrilling and gives me the same excitement as the opening of PBD. However comparing it with 8V there's once again a more dry character instead of the highly vibrant and melodic focus that track excels at.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

I think that sums it up well for me too. ADTOE and D/T have so many moments I genuinely look forward to—strong, melodic sections that truly stand out. Albums like Images and Words and Scenes from a Memory are packed with memorable melodies and instrumental sections, all tied together with incredible musicianship. With this album, it feels like the focus leaned more toward the technical side. There's nothing inherently wrong with that, but I think a lot of people fell in love with Dream Theater because of their ability to balance technicality with melody. That's likely why this album feels divisive. I'm listening to it now, and while I can't fault it in any major way, it does feel a bit dry overall.

Maybe The Alien is the perfect single for this album. If you connect with that track, I imagine the rest of the album will be equally enjoyable. Personally, though, I just can't seem to connect with The Alien, even after multiple listens. Not even Petrucci's solos manage to excite me — it's such a well-composed yet oddly unengaging journey.

Over time, the title track has definitely become the highlight for me. While the lyrics — focused on adrenaline junkies — aren't exactly my cup of tea, and the ending feels a bit lackluster, there's still a lot to appreciate here. The track is packed with variety and unique moments that stand out. The intro, in particular, is thrilling and gives me the same excitement as the opening of PBD. However comparing it with 8V there's once again a more dry character instead of the highly vibrant and melodic focus that track excels at.

I don't know that the lack of memorable melodies (I think ATC is one personally) was due to a shift in focus towards more technical passages. I think it's just that it's really hard to write them. The hook is an elusive thing and sometimes you just don't have it.

I tend to agree with you- my biggest criticism was that the melodies didn't shine through like they did on a ADTOE or DT12. It feels related to how dark and heavy View is but who knows. The internet's biggest complaint about the album is that it's DT by the numbers - which it both is and isn't.

[macneil]

The Alien grew on me a lot, I thought it was pretty generic DT when I first heard it but once I started paying attention especially to what Mangini was doing it's become a pretty fantastic track for me and one of their strongest singles. The title track is spectacular and definitely the highlight of the album.

The rest in between is still pretty good, but I don't find any particularly stand out. I do agree with the previous comments that the vocal melodies were stronger on ADTOE/DT12.

[BeatriceNB]

I don't know that the lack of memorable melodies (I think ATC is one personally) was due to a shift in focus towards more technical passages. I think it's just that it's really hard to write them. The hook is an elusive thing and sometimes you just don't have it.

I tend to agree with you- my biggest criticism was that the melodies didn't shine through like they did on a ADTOE or DT12. It feels related to how dark and heavy View is but who knows. The internet's biggest complaint about the album is that it's DT by the numbers - which it both is and isn't.

I feel the hard part is writing the whole chorus/hook in a cohesive way, not coming up with a melody.
Most choruses on ADTOE and DT12 are incredibly simple and straightforward: basic 6/8 or 4/4 time, and BAI's which is in 5/4 has a very simple melody (with mostly 2 notes per bar), for example. And the harmony is simple too.
A View has a different approach to choruses, which I don't know how to summarize. Although The Alien has a brief moment like that, the "I am the alien, out here in the stars" section.

Sawano Hiroyuki is one of my favourite Pop composers (under the SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] monicker) and his songs have some of my favourite choruses and melodies ever, and they're like braindead basic, but the production and performances make up for it.

But I wouldn't say the choruses and melodies on A View aren't memorable (and I often find myself singing parts of Sleeping Giant and the title track), but rather that the choruses aren't as straightforward as in ADTOE and DT12, and sometimes the accompaniment changes with each iteration.

Long tangent I went into, and I don't even disagree with you
(I know choruses and hooks aren't the same, but most of the time they're interchangeable I think).