YTSEJAM Digest 6707
Today's Topics:
1) Re: Warning: No opinions allowed.
by "Kez" <bkeyser@cox.net>
2) They had big shoes to fill.
by Snarncymbl@aol.com
3) TOT after 12 Listens
by soculese@comcast.net
4) Re: TOT after 12 Listens
by Michael & Pamela Nazer <mnazer@pressenter.com>
5) Re: IMHO of TOT (with Spoilers)
by "Cassiano Barbosa" <cassi.b@uol.com.br>
6) Progressiveness
by "Nathan J Wilhelm" <wilh0038@UMN.EDU>
7) Re: Progressiveness
by "Dave Schott" <admdave@qis.net>
8) Re: Progressiveness
by Mike Shetzer <echo26@videotron.ca>
9) Request: "You Not Me" MP3
by MaxArbot@aol.com
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Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2003 20:50:45 -0500
From: "Kez" <bkeyser@cox.net>
To: <ytsejam@torchsong.com>
Subject: Re: Warning: No opinions allowed.
Message-ID: <005301c3ab1a$e2efc690$6401a8c0@amdathlon14>
>
> See #2 above. Kez, I respect you, but I think this was a silly
> comment. I simply expressed my opinion (yes, in my vehement way, so shoot
> me) and pointed out the silliness of blindly sucking down anything a band
> puts out, just because that name is on it.
>
> -Brian
>
Thank you for the respect.
And it was only your 'vehement way' on which I was commenting, not the
content of your message.
On ToT:
I'm liking some of it, not liking other parts. If I want to hear JP play
melodically, I have a fine selection of other DT cd's to put on. If I want
to hear how quickly he can move his pick back and forth across his strings,
I'll definitely put on ToT.
Jordan has some nice moments and some embarrassing ones, again.
James is top notch, in my view.
Mike is Mike. He's still an animal. And am I mistaken, or is there a
complete lack of MP backing(or other) vocals on this cd? Curious.
Myung sounds great in the mix, but I seem to be missing his normal shred
runs. Probably just me, though, as I haven't had an uninterrupted listen
yet.
I'll keep listening.
That's it. I'm done.
For now.
Kez
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2003 21:03:55 EST
From: Snarncymbl@aol.com
To: ytsejam@torchsong.com
Subject: They had big shoes to fill.
Message-ID: <10c.2c0b1fa6.2ce6e38b@aol.com>
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Everyone has a right to their own opinion but I feel your being too hard on
Dream Theater. I like the change in pace and I like the darkness to it. I mean,
when your that good you have some MIGHTY shoes to fill. If anything I think
that they make each and everyone of they're CD's TOO good and that makes it
difficult to beat but they do it. And I commend them. Being a band that has to
try to outdo they're last album is something no other band has problems with. If
you dont like this album, then mabey you dont have an open mind to what DT
wants to do. Let them change, they will Always be Dream Theater. No matter how
heavy.
Art Fernandez
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Date: Sat, 15 Nov 2003 03:00:06 +0000
From: soculese@comcast.net
To: ytsejam@torchsong.com
Subject: TOT after 12 Listens
Message-ID: <111520030300.19965.3b00@comcast.net>
OK, Twelve listens later, thru computer speakers, thru headphones, a car stereo and Thru a decent set of stereo speakers, I feel that I can better state an opinion on this Disk. My analysis will vary with other, but that seems to be occuring frequently on this list.
As I Am: My first taste was the highly compressed mp3 from the eddie trunk show. liked it then, that has not changed. Still has that balls and chunk feel that Mike described as being where it is at. 2 problem areas with this one: It seems like over the last few disks, there is something that is lacking underneath the guitar solos, The sound really thins out, the rythem being played is usually catchy, but what strikes me as odd is how thin the music sounds during the guitar solo of this song. I have noticed this trend on the last few disks, and I am not too keen on it. It really creates a low point for me in the song. I also am not in love with the guitar solo itself. I think this would have been a great place for him and Jordan to trade fours, and play more of a melodic and dark solo. It still stands that I do not think Canadian People should say the'F' word. James, I love your voice, but the radio edit with 'stuck' sounds so much better. This is not a cursing band!
anyway, maybe it is me and I am just not expecting to hear that from them.
This Dying Soul: Angry, Aggressive, Evil Sounding, Dark, Twisted Musicly. This has sections in it that sound like other bands, yes, I will give everyone that. However, they just do it so much better. There is a lot of megedethy sounding stuff in there. The amazing standout in this song is the blend that James and John get in the chorus. 'I wanna feel your body breaking..' A plus are the throws back to the glass prison. that is a neat aspect. more than just a riff, there is a skeletal structure in there for a while.
Endless Sacrafice: There have been comparisons made to Metallica and Iron Maiden on this one. These are with goog reason and I understand that. I love that little Jordan section, very seldom is there reason to laugh when listening to a metal song, that moment there is one. I still laugh at the ragtime bit from TDOE, this one will come across nice live. Tight use of dynamics, and some very bitchin' vocals at the end.
Honor Thy Father: I think that this may be my least favorite song on the whole disc. THis says a lot about the rest of the stuff because I like this song. Lyrically it seems very jumpy. It seems like Mike wrote out something lyrically that could have used some of that shaping that he said they used to have to do to John Myungs lyrics. Kind of Ironic, isn't it? Anyway, there are some good aspects to this one, the main one being that they don't hold back on the heavy. James really gets forced into tripping all over himself on this one. Musically heavy, poorly written vocals. Mike really shows his angst for the crooked step.
Vacant: Since FII James has really been making an effort to put lyrics on paper for Dream Theater. I think MullMuzzler has shown him that he can do it, and I for one think it is a good thing. He is the voice of this band on stage, why not get him in to making things more personal. This is without a doubt a beautiful arrangement, and as light as it is, it is also very somber which makes it feel so good on this CD. Jordan sounds good, and I really like the Cellist. Yet again they mix another instrument in and do it well. Rewind the times and remember how you felt the first time you heard Jay Beckenstein on ANother Day. This does the same for ne.
SOC: This one everyone spent time looking at in the form of a bizzare notation. Some even took a crack at trying to guess what it would sound like. This is to DT what Orion was to Metallica. It is musical, but not all over the place, it has nice groove, and is well thought out. I think that the thing I like the best is that thematically this song stands on it's own 8 legs and does not borrow from the other songs on the disk. It must be hard to resist that type of temptation especially since they have done that so well in the past with doing an overture type peice. Cudos go out for resisting on this and making it a song on it's own merit.
In the Name of God: 3 things stand out very prominantly in this song. The first verse is solid all the way around, James sounds comfortable, and the band sounds like a rock, but still has a cool fluidity. The chorus hooks you in to the song, and I am very impressed by it. The 3rd and final thing that stands out and probably the most impressive is a certain bass player. Wow! I almost wonder how Myuch of the song was written by Myung. That little diddy he starts doing at 8 minutes and change is flat out awesome. I know people have complained that they can never hear him, I hve never had a problem. I think he makes up for that on this song. It is very Bass Driven and I think really defines how solid he is. Musically he is probably the most proficiant member of this band. Watching M2K DVD with the Commentary on really makes you laugh. JP, JR point out errors that each one commits, Mike makes some blunders, and hell even James sings a wrong word but John Myung never s!
eems to falter. All they do in the commentary is comment him. Everytime you see him on camera they call him spider fingers. He makes this song!
OK, so 12 listens has made me long winded and I apologize. My final ruling on this CD is that it rocks. plain and simple they aimed for a classic metal cd and they achieved. Mike's playing is great, but his drum sound is not what I am used to, very dry, and tonally flat. He does get a metal drum sound though. Jordan uses some decent patches, but on the whole it is very tough to fit his style into a 'classic metal' cd. John finally got a tone that equals the tone from I&W. He sounds excellent all around. John Myung was able to keep his traditional round tone, but he seems to have tossed in some distortion here and there. Overall as usualy he gives a top notch perfomrance. James does a little more experimenting but still sounds strong. Would like to see some more high notes, but I won't complain. A- is my grade on this one.
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2003 22:17:03 -0600
From: Michael & Pamela Nazer <mnazer@pressenter.com>
To: <ytsejam@torchsong.com>
Subject: Re: TOT after 12 Listens
Message-ID: <BBDB04DF.4B53%mnazer@pressenter.com>
on 11/14/03 9:10 PM, soculese@comcast.net at soculese@comcast.net wrote:
hink
The 3rd and final thing that
Wow! I
> almost wonder how Myuch of the song was written by Myung.
LOL great typo! :)
Pam
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 15 Nov 2003 02:49:59 -0200
From: "Cassiano Barbosa" <cassi.b@uol.com.br>
To: <ytsejam@torchsong.com>
Subject: Re: IMHO of TOT (with Spoilers)
Message-ID: <011e01c3ab33$ec6f3a20$e52ffea9@cpb>
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Shetzer" <echo26@videotron.ca>
> My friend pointed out something to me yesterday I found amusing. Listen to
the beginning of Endless Sacrifice, and hum "if you don't like my shit you
can suck my dick" or however that Eminem song goes over it. I've only heard
that song like 0.3 times and i find it kinda funny that the melody is
similar.
>
Funny that you mentioned that, because I always thought that As I Am was
kind of a DT version of that song... ;)
-cassiano
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Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2003 23:21:12 -0600
From: "Nathan J Wilhelm" <wilh0038@UMN.EDU>
To: <ytsejam@torchsong.com>
Subject: Progressiveness
Message-ID: <000701c3ab38$4a0648f0$0d00a8c0@nathan>
A lot of you have been talking lately about whether TOT is progressive and
whether FII is progressive. Just out of curiosity, what are your definitions
of progressive? Someone said that just having complicated time changes is
not enough. So what is the "official" definition of progressive?
Nate
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Date: Sat, 15 Nov 2003 00:59:32 -0500
From: "Dave Schott" <admdave@qis.net>
To: <ytsejam@torchsong.com>
Subject: Re: Progressiveness
Message-ID: <00c701c3ab3d$a44dc220$0200a8c0@Two>
CAN OF WORMS IN THE HOLE!!! *runs away and hides*
-Dave Schott (AdmiralDave)
admdave@qis.net
http://www.bangarangband.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Nathan J Wilhelm" <wilh0038@UMN.EDU>
To: "Multiple recipients of list" <ytsejam@torchsong.com>
Sent: Saturday, November 15, 2003 12:13 AM
Subject: Progressiveness
> A lot of you have been talking lately about whether TOT is progressive and
> whether FII is progressive. Just out of curiosity, what are your
definitions
> of progressive? Someone said that just having complicated time changes is
> not enough. So what is the "official" definition of progressive?
>
> Nate
>
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 15 Nov 2003 02:09:10 -0500
From: Mike Shetzer <echo26@videotron.ca>
To: ytsejam@torchsong.com
Subject: Re: Progressiveness
Message-ID: <003e01c3ab47$5dff0e50$9b00a8c0@mizz>
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Oh boy... I'd like to see someone explain this too :)
I don't really think there is a concrete united definition on it, prog is in my opinion taking music to the next level.
----- Original Message -----
From: Nathan J Wilhelm
To: Multiple recipients of list
Sent: Saturday, November 15, 2003 12:12 AM
Subject: Progressiveness
A lot of you have been talking lately about whether TOT is progressive and
whether FII is progressive. Just out of curiosity, what are your definitions
of progressive? Someone said that just having complicated time changes is
not enough. So what is the "official" definition of progressive?
Nate
--Boundary_(ID_oMSR5NstWCb6pVx/c4lLwg)
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Date: Sat, 15 Nov 2003 03:47:43 EST
From: MaxArbot@aol.com
To: ytsejam@torchsong.com
Subject: Request: "You Not Me" MP3
Message-ID: <10f.289d1dd4.2ce7422f@aol.com>
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Does anyone happen to have the MP3 that was released waaaaaay back of "You
Not Me?" On this particular MP3, it starts with a male announcer saying
something like, "Dream Theater returns to East/West with their new single, 'You Not
Me.'" It even had a couple of skips in the song, including the when the
announcer says the word "single."
I know this is a strange request, but surely someone has it. It was the first
MP3 I'd ever heard of, and I think it was available on the DT site for a
while.
[eriC]
Look closer.
http://metzae.net/
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End of YTSEJAM Digest 6707
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