YTSEJAM digest 3800

From: ytsejam@ax.com
Date: Mon Apr 27 1998 - 16:41:51 EDT

  • Next message: ytsejam@ax.com: "YTSEJAM digest 3790"

                                YTSEJAM Digest 3800

    Today's Topics:

      1) You're ON buddy!
     by eckie@asu.edu
      2) Hell's Kitchen/Empty Tremor Mailing List
     by "Giannotti, Nick" <GiannottiN@hanscom.af.mil>
      3) Re: question
     by The iban <Theiban@aol.com>
      4) Prog-net
     by Chris Dixon <cdixon@isminternet.com>
      5) Re: ACOS on video?
     by Al Balkiewicz <balkiewi@UMDNJ.EDU>
      6) My Take on FII and ? on the DFW concert
     by Kevin Loechner <kloechn@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu>
      7) Re: Hell's Kitchen/Empty Tremor Mailing List
     by Matt Johnston <matt2518@gladstone.uoregon.edu>
      8) Re: question
     by Matt Johnston <matt2518@gladstone.uoregon.edu>
      9) NDTC - Attn. St. Louis area jammers
     by Alex Fraser <afraser@carleton.edu>
     10) Daytona Show
     by Everett W Painter <ewpainte@runet.edu>
     11) Mental Image of the Day
     by Eckie <eckie@imap1.asu.edu>
     12) Thoughts on FII after 2/3 year
     by Jonathan Case <jcase@ROSSBY.METR.ou.edu>

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------

    Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 11:32:54 -0700 (MST)
    From: eckie@asu.edu
    To: ytsejam@ax.com
    Cc: Multiple recipients of list <ytsejam@ax.com>
    Subject: You're ON buddy!
    Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.91.980427104653.6253C-100000@general4.asu.edu>

    Heh heh, leave it to Mikey to try pulling DTC back to the jam;

    On Mon, 27 Apr 1998, Michael Bahr had a lot of time on his hands:

    > > 7. Lines In the Sand
    > > What can I say that I haven't already? We thought it was great right
    > > out of the gates, with a little bit of opposition by those who were
    > > unhappy with Pinnick's role, but now, this song is thought of as quite
    > > possibly DT's finest. By far the best on FII, it's a 13-minute
    > > masterpiece that takes us up, down, around and through all of DT's
    > > better musical ideas and exercises. The lyrics are downright brilliant,
    > > and the verses gradually build themselves up to a very tangible climax.
    > > In a way, the chorii with the LaBrie/Pinnick interplay is just icing on
    > > the cake, almost an afterthought, to the core of the rest of the song.
    > > Say what you will about this one, because chances are we agree.

    Yeah, this is probably my favorite tune on the disk, along with Trial of
    Tears. It acts as a climax for the entire disk in my mind, which is too
    bad, 'cuz the tunes after it ain't that bad! :) Masterpiece is the word
    I'll slap onto it as well, and I've always thought Doug's addition to the
    song was awesome. Labrie has a great voice, sure, but he just CAN'T do
    what Doug did :).

    > > Initially: A- Now: A+

    Now this is somethin' I just can't do, personally. Rating artwork takes
    somebody other than an artist or musician imo, or maybe people with a
    truly understanding sense of what it takes to create something. FII is
    totally different from Awake, with a few tie-ins here and there, as Awake
    was for I&W. I'll still say Awake is my favorite disc, mainly because of
    my bias towards the guitar's tone and role in the music (DUNT DUNT DUNT!)
    but FII, as a whole, is right up there with it. As for LitS, it's one of
    my all-time favorite DT tunes.

    > > 8. Take Away My Pain

    > > listener's mind. This all changed for me when my grandfather died last
    > > Friday and I put on some music to help me try and deal with it. I
    > > listened to Rush's "Bravado" and "Afterimage", and this song. The first
    > > two got to me, but TAMP hit like a hammer. It is just unbelievable the
    > > impact this song can have when it becomes personal. I don't know how
    > > Petrucci can even manage to play this live, I'd be far too distracted.
    > > The demo versions are different and have merit in their own regard as
    > > well. Overall? This isn't a first-tier song, and is more of a

    I heard this song for the first time in Ed's car as we drove halfway to
    Prescott in the middle of the night, blasting it all the way back to
    Phoenix (it was the night of the release, and the AZ crew at hand decided
    on a mini-road trip to celebrate...just to clear that up for all you
    sicko's out there). At first, my reaction was, "I should direct the
    video for this song. It'll be in Hawaii, James will be wearing a floral
    silk shirt, and have a parrot sitting on his shoulder the entire time.
    Mike will be banging on some coconuts. It will fit." So, right off the
    bat, my twisted imagination had already ruined the song itself, but THEN
    good ol' Ernie says, "Its intro is the same as Mad About You's theme
    song!" and heheheh, he was RIGHT.

    Then I heard the demo for it, and I was actually moved emotionally. The
    composition was so much more powerful in preproduction, it makes me
    wonder just what were the band's/Shirley's ideas when they altered it. If
    I could put the demo version of TAMP to replace the "new" version on my
    copy of FII, I would be a very happy jammer.

    > > 9. Just Let Me Breathe
    > > This is one of those songs that started off good and has more or less
    > > stayed that way. Portnoy does a wonderful job of smiting some entities
    > > that needed to be smoten (grin) and this song does it with the best
    > > overall package. Hell, THIS could have been a perfectly credible hit
    > > single. The groove is just wonderful, the little tastes of Welcome to
    > > the Jungle and Learning to Live are noteworthy, and overall the band did
    > > a decent job here. Second-tier material just because of how dated it is
    > > and because it never reaches any higher.

    Initially, this was my favorite track on the whole disc, and you can't
    blame me, I'm a metalhead at heart. I loooove a good skull-crushing
    groove when I hear it, and whenever DT does it, they do it the best way
    possible, imo. The emotions of anger and frustration are conveyed well
    in the song, but as you get older and learn more about life, I guess it's
    more difficult to dwell on those emotions, so the song itself is kinda
    hurt by that factor; LitS and Trial of Tears are grand slams to the soul
    where BMS may be a line drive down the field, past the pool where all
    those chicks in bikinis are distracting the visiting team's outfielders.

    But I can't listen to LitS OR Hell's Kitchen without listening to BMS, I
    consider BMS to be the intro to another classic DT trilogy, with HK being
    a fantastic build up to LitS, where as I stated before, the climax of the
    trilogy(and disc for that matter) happens. With those three songs
    grouped together, as a whole composition, the music and the lyrics, from
    BMS to LitS just kick too much ass.

    > > 10. Anna Lee

    This got the official Eckie seal of "WHAT THE FUCK?!" and it still
    carries that mark. In my mind, DT was a mind blowing progMETAL band who
    was diverse enough to do lighter, more available-listening songs like
    You Not Me and Hollow Years and still pull off something beautiful, and
    when I heard this song, I had to laugh. Sure, Petrucci kicks major ass
    (again) on this track, but I can't listen to the song itself, I just
    don't enjoy the song. So I always skip it. :)

    > > 11. Trial of Tears

    The entire song just blows me away everytime I hear it. I'm always taken
    out of my truck in rush hour or away from my computer and desk in my
    bedroom to a far far off place, a place free of Green Day and No Doubt
    and Bush, a place where peace and dispair intertwine in a bittersweet mix
    of music that will turn your heart inside out without any lame ass love
    song lyrics. Plus, with that big ass Mexican, El Nino, always dumping
    rain on AZ this year, it made for a GREAT rainy-day tune. I was
    listening to this and APSoG quite a bit this year :)

    > > awesome... you can practically SEE the wasteland as you stand there, the
    > > winds blowing past you and the hazy horizon in the distance.

    Don't forget the asses...nothing but asses....

    > > Addenda: Speak to Me, Cover My Eyes, The Way It Used To Be

    'kay, I gotta make this short, I need to get ready for the day and hit the
    doctor's appt. Speak to Me WAS U2, done exceedingly well, DT should just
    have some hitmen take out the actual U2 and replace them for those big
    ass tours (I would _love_ to see a DT concert at Sun Devil Stadium, sold
    out), plus the U2 fans wouldn't be disappointed, 'cuz let's face it, OFB
    can do it better :) (yeh yeh, the original is always the "best", and
    others can only do it "differently", blah blah blah....well, put that
    little opinion aside for this matter... >;) )

    Cover My Eyes was reaaaaaally poppy, and I can sorta see why they decided
    not to put that on the album, it really wouldn't fit well with the other
    material.

    The Way it Used to Be should've been put on the album and Anna Lee
    would've been cut to make space, if I was emperor of the world....but I'm
    not (yet).

    I can't really rate the albums, but I'd say Awake is still my favorite
    and I&W is the perfect album, but FII's composition is so bad assed I
    just have to be blown away by it, even with Anna Lee being on there ;)

    Plus I don't particularly enjoy the mix on FII as much as I did Awake.
    Again, I'm a biased guitar player >;)

    ~Brave Sir Eckie

    ------------------------------

    Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 14:39:48 -0400
    From: "Giannotti, Nick" <GiannottiN@hanscom.af.mil>
    To: "'ytsejam@ax.com'" <ytsejam@ax.com>
    Subject: Hell's Kitchen/Empty Tremor Mailing List
    Message-ID: <4AA929543BC8D111A4E800600808ACE51B6C97@HAMSXHA2>

            Mike Bahr wrote,
    >
    > > > 6. Hell's Kitchen
    > > >
    > > > Initially: B- Now: B-
    >
            Sorry, but out of all the grades you gave, I have to disagree with
    this one more than anything else. This is *THE* instrumental by Dream
    Theater; The YtseJam is out and out cool, Erotomania is... well... pretty
    self-indulgent and masturbatory with no emotion (to me - and this is all
    opinion, so you can tell me I'm wrong and I'll laugh like Flanders), but
    this... this, man. Nothing has ever given me chills like this song. Brr!

            And for anyone who is on the 'Empty Tremor' mailing list: for your
    sake, don't, PLEASE, don't use the 'reply all' button like I did. You'll end
    up getting about 1000 'Mail Undeliverable' messages from
    Postmaster@dgii.com. I had to set up a filter to delete them as they come in
    (and yes, they're still coming!). What a pain in the ass. Grr.

             - Nicholas Giannotti
            "Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool."

    ------------------------------

    Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 14:40:21 EDT
    From: The iban <Theiban@aol.com>
    To: ytsejam@ax.com
    Subject: Re: question
    Message-ID: <fc07a38f.3544d116@aol.com>

    In a message dated 98-04-27 14:30:21 EDT, you write:

    << I have a question. Could be a stupid question, but I really don't care
     because I want to know, and I figured some of you probably know:
     Who was the first band ever to utilize double bass drums? >>

    i would have to say probably AC/DC or maybe The Partridge Family..

    Rocky

    ------------------------------

    Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 15:03:59 -0400
    From: Chris Dixon <cdixon@isminternet.com>
    To: ytsejam@ax.com
    Subject: Prog-net
    Message-ID: <3.0.1.32.19980427150359.009799f0@mail.isminternet.com>

    I wanted to thank everyone here who helped to make the Prog-Net web site a
    success for its first month. I can tell by the amount of Prog Metal
    information that many of you have helped out. I'd like to invite everyone
    else to stop by and check it out, and if you can, submit a quick review of
    a prog CD that you own to help others know what to try.

    Prog-Net is: http://www.isminternet.com/prognet/
    "Reviews and Opinions About Progressive Music"

    Thanks,

    Chris

    ------------------------------

    Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 15:09:51 -0400 (EDT)
    From: Al Balkiewicz <balkiewi@UMDNJ.EDU>
    To: Multiple recipients of list <ytsejam@ax.com>
    Subject: Re: ACOS on video?
    Message-ID: <Pine.HPP.3.96.980427150821.14827B-100000@njmsa.UMDNJ.EDU>

            Yup, it's on there, but good luck trying to watch it. At
            least the version I have, it is absolutely horrendous, and
            it hurts to watch. I'm talking video-wise, not DT-wise.
            All those "special effects" just kill it. Are there other
            versions of this show, without those effects?

                                                    -Al

    On Mon, 27 Apr 1998, Alan Estrada Adler wrote:

    >
    > I think it is on the video version of the new york show of 1993 (I think
    > is called dance of eternity on audio)
    >
    > On Mon, 27 Apr 1998, Vaughn, Brandon wrote:
    >
    > >
    > > Does anyone know if there is a video bootleg concert in which DT
    > > performs all of ACOS?
    > >
    > > I know it is on plenty of CDs, but it seems a shame if during that whole
    > > period that the band was performing this classic, that it wasn't caught
    > > on video.
    > >
    > > Anybody seen it on video? Maybe Mike P. has it on video and wouldn't
    > > mind sharing with us? :)
    > >
    > > Brandon Vaughn
    > > vaughnb@chipola.cc.fl.us
    > >
    > >
    >
    > ---
    > Alan Estrada
    > Email: al766074@mail.mty.itesm.mx
    >

    =====================================================================
      b l i n d l a b o r s t h e b l i n d a n d I a m
         u n w i l l i n g t o u n c o v e r m y e y e s
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    balkiewi@njmsa.umdnj.edu OR sigma982@yahoo.com OR theprof@bigfoot.com
    HOMEPAGE:http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Towers/9280/index.html
      

    ------------------------------

    Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 14:30:05 -0500
    From: Kevin Loechner <kloechn@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu>
    To: The Ytsejam <ytsejam@ax.com>
    Subject: My Take on FII and ? on the DFW concert
    Message-ID: <3544DCBD.2776@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu>

    Hello Jammers,

    Well, I really liked this new thread on FII, so I thought I would add my
    own opinions to it. Being fairly new to prog and not a musician (well,
    I am going to take drum lessons next semester), I'll give my uneducated,
    yet personal opinions on the album. First opinion, best album by any
    band in the years since I&W, still think it is great, but prefer I&W.
    Now the songs:

    1. New Millenium -- loved it, thought it was the funkiest prog I have
    ever heard in my life, amazing, and I still love it

    First listen: A Now: A

    2. You Not Me -- cheesy at first, especially the chorus, but I think it
    is really not that bad of a song, although I prefer the demo YOM.

    First listen: D+ Now: B-

    3. Peruvian Skies -- My favorite song on the album, especially the
    drums, also my Mom's favorite, she heard a little Moody Blues in it

    First listen: A+ Now: A+

    4. Hollow Years -- I really liked the change of pace in this song, and I
    have nothing wrong with softer songs, they are really what distinguishes
    Dream Theater from so many other bands.

    First Listen: B Now: A-

    5. Burning My Soul -- One of my less favorite songs, but not bad. I
    think it has aged alright, but has not really improved by listening to
    it more.

    First Listen: C+ Now: C

    6. Hell's Kitchen -- Not my favorite instrumental by DT, but a great
    instrumental nonetheless. It is very moving, and I love the transition
    into LitS

    First Listen: B Now: A-

    7. Lines in the Sand -- Great song, and I had no qualms about the
    Pinnick vocals in this song, because I happen to like King's X, well
    actually just picked them up because of this song. Has actually gotten
    better over the year.

    First Listen: A- Now: A

    8. Take Away My Pain -- I really liked the personal message in this
    song, but it is only an alright song. I think this song would really
    hit home when someone close is lost.

    First Listen: C- Now: B

    9. Just Let Me Breathe -- This song doesn't have a timeless message, but
    with the many people out there still obsessing over Cobain and Hoon
    (hate Blind Melon's comments about Dream Theater btw) it still has
    meaning. I think musically it is great, especially Mike's drums.
    Probably the hardest, most aggressive song on the entire album.

    First Listen: B Now: (Lyrics B) (Music A) (Overall A-)

    10. Anna Lee -- In my opinion, the most beautiful song on the album. At
    first I thought weak, but over time I have come to really enjoy this
    song. James's vocals are really moving as are the lyrics.

    First Listen: D+ Now: B+

    11. Trial of Tears -- I always like the Myung songs on each album, and
    this one is no exception. I don't like it as much as Learning to Live,
    but I really enjoy Myung's bass lines in this one (just as much as LtL).
    It really puts visions into my head, and that alone makes it amazing.

    First Listen: B+ Now: A

    Overall this album has gotten better with each listen, although it is
    not I&W II, but it is not meant to be. Some hardcore DT fans really
    hate it, probably the reason I was able to get it used so soon, but I
    love it because it is so unique, like each album that DT makes.

    Now I have a question about the DFW area DT concert: I know the tix go
    on sale May 1st, but will they be sold through TicketBastard or someone
    else? Also, I would like to know whoelse will be at the DFW area
    concert.

    Thanks for reading this long post, and please feel free to respond here,
    Kevin Loechner
    http://studentweb.tulane.edu/~kloechn

    NP: Wings - Greatest hits (in memorium to Linda McCartney, too many
    musicians dying during this month)

    ------------------------------

    Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 12:37:52 -0700 (PDT)
    From: Matt Johnston <matt2518@gladstone.uoregon.edu>
    To: Multiple recipients of list <ytsejam@ax.com>
    Subject: Re: Hell's Kitchen/Empty Tremor Mailing List
    Message-ID: <Pine.GSO.3.96.980427123402.1460A-100000@gladstone.uoregon.edu>

    On Mon, 27 Apr 1998, Giannotti, Nick wrote:
    > Mike Bahr wrote,
    >>
    >> > > 6. Hell's Kitchen
    >> > >
    >> > > Initially: B- Now: B-
    >>
    > Sorry, but out of all the grades you gave, I have to disagree with
    >this one more than anything else. This is *THE* instrumental by Dream
    >Theater; The YtseJam is out and out cool, Erotomania is... well... pretty
    >self-indulgent and masturbatory with no emotion (to me - and this is all
    >opinion, so you can tell me I'm wrong and I'll laugh like Flanders), but
    >this... this, man. Nothing has ever given me chills like this song. Brr!
    >

    Hell's Kitchen is too cool. Period. Shut up. ^_^
    When it builds up to the "Faith No More" moment at about 3:39, you gotta
    go nuts! You just gotta... ^_^
    Well, at least I do. ^_^
    It's up there and above the epic Metallica intrumentals (right up there
    with To Live is To Die and Orion)

    Definately, without a dobut the best studio instrumental (with Eve being a
    close second, and many of the live onse right up there as well).

    > - Nicholas Giannotti
    > "Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool."
    >
    >
    >

    --Matt

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------
    They Might Be Giants: REM with a sense of humor.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------

    ------------------------------

    Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 12:40:03 -0700 (PDT)
    From: Matt Johnston <matt2518@gladstone.uoregon.edu>
    To: Multiple recipients of list <ytsejam@ax.com>
    Subject: Re: question
    Message-ID: <Pine.GSO.3.96.980427123816.1460B-100000@gladstone.uoregon.edu>

    On Mon, 27 Apr 1998, The iban wrote:

    >
    >In a message dated 98-04-27 14:30:21 EDT, you write:
    >
    ><< I have a question. Could be a stupid question, but I really don't care
    > because I want to know, and I figured some of you probably know:
    > Who was the first band ever to utilize double bass drums? >>
    >

    I know the other three members of Led Zeppelin kept taking John Bonham's
    second bass drum away from him, saying something to the affect of, "My
    God, man! Save some room for us!" ^_^ That was around Led Zeppelin IV,
    so... (it was in an interview with Robert Plant)

    I have no idea if they were first, but I am giving you something to go
    on.

    --Matt

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------
    They Might Be Giants: REM with a sense of humor.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------

    ------------------------------

    Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 14:56:52 +0000
    From: Alex Fraser <afraser@carleton.edu>
    To: ytsejam@ax.com
    Subject: NDTC - Attn. St. Louis area jammers
    Message-ID: <01IWD99P9M8M8ZDX7J@carleton.edu>

    Hey, sorry for the clutter, but I need some info from someone from
    St. Louis or the area. I'm looking to catch a Cardinals game in
    mid-May. Are there usually seats available on game day, or should I
    order them now? I can get tix via their web-site, but I was
    hoping to avoid the hassle if the games don't usually sell out. If
    anyone has info, please let me know.

    Thanks,
    Alex (id)

    ------------------------------

    Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 16:01:03 -0400 (EDT)
    From: Everett W Painter <ewpainte@runet.edu>
    To: ytsejam@ax.com
    Subject: Daytona Show
    Message-ID: <199804272001.QAA18635@ruacad.runet.edu>

    WOOHOO,

    Got my ticket in the mail today!!!! I'm finally going to see them. Could
    everyone going to this show mail me? Thanks,

    Everett
    ______________________________________________________________________________

    Everett Painter "Sometimes a view from sinless eyes,
    Radford University Centers our perspective, and pacifies our cries,
    Radford, VA Sometimes the anguish we survive,
                                 And the mysteries we nurture,
                                 Are the fabrics of our lives."
    ewpainte@runet.edu
                                         - Dream Theater, -Lines in the Sand-
    ______________________________________________________________________________

    ------------------------------

    Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 13:08:11 -0700
    From: Eckie <eckie@imap1.asu.edu>
    To: Ytse Jam <ytsejam@ax.com>
    Subject: Mental Image of the Day
    Message-ID: <3544E5AB.925BD023@imap1.asu.edu>

    Picture this:

    Bobcat Goldwaith singing Anna Lee.

    ~Eckie thought it was funny

    ------------------------------

    Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 15:26:34 -0500 (CDT)
    From: Jonathan Case <jcase@ROSSBY.METR.ou.edu>
    To: ytsejam@ax.com
    Subject: Thoughts on FII after 2/3 year
    Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.90.980427145906.26469A-100000@rossby>

    I'd have to say, I'm generally still disappointed with FII. It just
    doesn't cut it for me, like the Kevin Moore days. Maybe DS brings a much
    more relaxed and party atmosphere to concerts, but I still have to say
    overall, I'm let down by FII. I STILL think as well that the sound
    quality is *really* lacking, having a general muddy sound to it. The
    extra bass is great, but the mudiness ruins the sound quality of the
    drums, guitars and vocals.

    Here's my song by song account:

    1) New Millennium. Still about the best on the CD.

    initially, B+, now A

    2) You not Me. One of the most ordinary DT songs I've ever heard.
    Alternative sounding and popish. The drumming is awesome, but just
    doesn't seem to fit such a simple song.

    initially, C, now C-

    3) Peruvian Skies. Good mix of styles here, but sounds too
    Metallica-like, rather than unique DT sounding on the heavy parts.

    initially, A-, now B+

    4) Hollow Years. A ballad. I've liked most DT ballads in the past, but
    I lost interest in this one quickly. Nothing like ANother Day,
    Surrounded, or Lifting SHadows, or Wait for Sleep, or the best of all the
    easier DT songs: To live forever.

    initially C. Now D+

    5) Burning My Soul. Pretty good ballz-n-chunck. Muddy sound ruins part
    of this song for me (sorry I can't get over it). Chorus is just too dang
    repetitive at times, making it fairly poppy.

    initially B, now B.

    6) Hell's Kitchen. The only uniquely progressive DT tune on the CD. The
    only one, sadly with any odd times, besides 6/4 and 7/4 on the CD.
    (except for JLMB)
    Pretty nice emotions on this track. Mostly guitar oriented though, when
    it comes to anything with chops.

    initially, A, now A-.

    7) Lines in the Sand. Despite lacking a unique DT sound and style, it
    still rocks more than anything I've heard in recent times. Simply an
    awesome marathon song. Even though Petrucci simplfies his style in the
    solo, it fits PERFECT.

    initially, A, now A.

    8) Take Away My Pain. A ballad. Pretty good, but unfortunately, I've
    lost interest in this one, too. A rather predictable and ordinary layout
    of the song. Maybe if I heard it live or the demo version, I might
    change my mind. It reminds me of a style similar to "to live forever",
    but just doesn't have what TLF has. Again, the keys just don't seem to
    make an impression.

    initially, B+, now B-.

    9) Just Let me Breathe. Finally, a heavier DT song again. Usually,
    though, DT can make a heavy, metallic song have some melody and
    variations in it. With the exception of the instrumental parts, I can't
    really get into this song much. Keyboards are finally making more of an
    impression in this track.

    initially, B, now B-.

    10) Anna Lee. A ballad. reminds me of contemporary adult Elton John.

    initially, C-, now D. (I don't believe in failing any DT songs, but this
    one comes close, compared to what I like to hear from them)

    11) Trial of Tears. A very good marathon song, again. Lyrics are the
    best of the CD, right up there with LitS. I enjoy this one usually, but
    it doesn't flow quite as well as previous DT marathons.

    initially B+, now B+.

    Overall: I listen to IAW and Awake WAY more than FII. I listen to ACoS
    and WDaDU and FII about equally, I'd say. initially B+, now B-.

    If only James were singing in WDaDU, then that might be among my favorite
    CD of DT as well. Only a Matter of Time is one of their best songs,
    along with most on IAW, Scarred (prob. close to my all-time favorite
    now), 6:00, A Mind Beside Itself, and Lines in the Sand.

    If I had ot pick favorites off each CD, here's what it'd be:

    WDADU: Only a matter of time.
    IAW: Wait for Sleep/Learning to Live. (I treat these as one)
    Awake: Scarred.
    ACoS: (duh)
    FII: Lines in the Sand.

    Well, I'm hoping that looking forward to the next CD is not getting my
    hopes up too much.

    -Jon

    P.S. --> Liquid Tension Experiement probably should have been called:
    "Dream Theater Experiment". THAT'S the style of playing that DT usually
    does!!

    ------------------------------

    End of YTSEJAM Digest 3800
    **************************



    This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Thu Apr 01 2004 - 18:08:55 EST