Joined: 10 Sep 2004 Posts: 2783 Location: Chino, CA
Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2005 3:16 am Post subject: New Dream Theater Album - Octavarium
I gave up on DT a while back but I'm reading good reviews from others who had gotten tired of what they had to offer. Seems that this one's a winner but I'll have to give it a few runs to decide. Ordered used copies of Vai and Satch's latest offerings as well from Amazon... Decided I need to catch up on the stuff from the name guys even if they don't really float my boat that much anymore... _________________ Ed Yoon
Certified Guthrie Fan-atic
BOING Music LLC - Managing Partner
.strandberg* Guitars USA
Ed Yoon Consulting & Management
Guitar Center Inc.
I haven't listened to DT in a long time. The last DT album that held my interest was Scenes from a Memory. I couldn't get into their newer stuff at all.
But I'm looking forward to your thoughts and opinion on Octavarium. If you recommend it, I'll check it out.
Joined: 10 Sep 2004 Posts: 2783 Location: Chino, CA
Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2005 5:08 am Post subject:
I recommend it - so buy mine!
It's alright and I think LaBrie's singing is better than I've heard of him in the past, but DT and I just don't mix. But I can see why DT fans think this is one of their best efforts in a long time. I was somewhat disappointed in the overall production. For me, the songs don't really connect and the lyrics I find embarrassing to follow. But, hey, that's just me...
Just gave Vai's latest and Satch's latest (used copies I bought off Amazon) a run as well. All I can say is - "At least the collection for both is complete again." Nice and interesting moments here and there, but neither really moves me anymore. Although I often enjoy Vai's playing more than Satch's, I always like Satch's tunes and his down-to-earth approach and attitude much more. Even when I was a big Vai fan, there was always this distance that I felt in his music and playing and I could never totally warm up to him. Everything with him just sounds so preconceived and cerebral. To me, anyways...
I still have much admiration for both and they're great players and musicians, but I've moved on... For me, it's Guthrie, Greg Howe, Brett Garsed, still Pat Metheny, Jeff Beck, Shawn Lane, and, of course, still Jimi... Still love Allan, Scott, Sco, and EJ, although I can only take them in little bits and pieces. _________________ Ed Yoon
Certified Guthrie Fan-atic
BOING Music LLC - Managing Partner
.strandberg* Guitars USA
Ed Yoon Consulting & Management
Guitar Center Inc.
Sadly, DT's has been losing their appeal on me as each album passes, so my expectations for this new one hasn't been very high. Yeah, their lyrics have always been quite lame but at least the compositions of their earlier works sounded very musical and organic, I think. Their newer stuff feels less so and I haven't felt that same connection I once had when I first listened to I&W and Awake.
I guess I'll pass on Octavarium for now, esp. since I bought other more interesting CDs recently (Garbage, Tori Amos..etc.).
As for Vai and Satch, my feelings towards Vai has been on a constant up and down. He's a great musician and I respect the hell out of him but sometimes he puts himself at a certain zone that I just can't get. And despite all his pretentious meanderings and weird experimentations, he still doesn't seem to dig any deeper musically.
On the other hand, I will always love Satch. Sure, he's not as mindblowing as Guthrie, Garsed or Howe but he delivers a solid album everytime that's listenable and accessible throughout. Plus, the production quality of his recent albums have been great, which really adds to the experience.
Joined: 10 Sep 2004 Posts: 2783 Location: Chino, CA
Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2005 9:01 am Post subject:
Carlo wrote:
Sadly, DT's has been losing their appeal on me as each album passes, so my expectations for this new one hasn't been very high. Yeah, their lyrics have always been quite lame but at least the compositions of their earlier works sounded very musical and organic, I think. Their newer stuff feels less so and I haven't felt that same connection I once had when I first listened to I&W and Awake.
I guess I'll pass on Octavarium for now, esp. since I bought other more interesting CDs recently (Garbage, Tori Amos..etc.).
As for Vai and Satch, my feelings towards Vai has been on a constant up and down. He's a great musician and I respect the hell out of him but sometimes he puts himself at a certain zone that I just can't get. And despite all his pretentious meanderings and weird experimentations, he still doesn't seem to dig any deeper musically.
On the other hand, I will always love Satch. Sure, he's not as mindblowing as Guthrie, Garsed or Howe but he delivers a solid album everytime that's listenable and accessible throughout. Plus, the production quality of his recent albums have been great, which really adds to the experience.
You and I must have kindred spirits with same musical tastes and perceptions!
I like Satch's "Is There Love in Space?" I just can't say the same for Vai's latest offering. There's definitely a lot more involving stuff going on Vai's stuff, but to me, Satch's stuff has more heart and feel although it's become very predictable. Vai goes off on the tangent, but you still know where he's going and, to me, it's like, "C'mon, Steve... You took me there before and I didn't really care for it." With Joe, it's: "You took me there before and it was pleasant enough, so I'll go there with you again."
As for DT, it'd be cool if they dropped JLB and just did an instrumental album for a change. Still, I just can't say that I'm really a fan of Petrucci's style of playing. I respect him a whole bunch and the rest of the band, but they just don't do it for me despite repeated tries to really get into what they're doing. _________________ Ed Yoon
Certified Guthrie Fan-atic
BOING Music LLC - Managing Partner
.strandberg* Guitars USA
Ed Yoon Consulting & Management
Guitar Center Inc.
it's just my opinion, but i think vai peaked with ALS. it's been downhill ever since. as for satch, i kinda put him in the realm of guys like robben ford and carlos santana. nothing new but enough followers who'll buy new albums up over and over again.
used to love dt. but they've grown stale as well. oactavarium is okay. they've done better for sure. it's sad to see artists and bands trying so desperately to hold onto their fan base instead of really pushing their music artistcially...
Joined: 10 Sep 2004 Posts: 2783 Location: Chino, CA
Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2005 10:19 pm Post subject:
M@ wrote:
Some Evolve, others just Revolve, the rest simply Dissolve...
Good one! I'll have to remember that one. _________________ Ed Yoon
Certified Guthrie Fan-atic
BOING Music LLC - Managing Partner
.strandberg* Guitars USA
Ed Yoon Consulting & Management
Guitar Center Inc.
I still have much admiration for both and they're great players and musicians, but I've moved on... For me, it's Guthrie, Greg Howe, Brett Garsed, still Pat Metheny, Jeff Beck, Shawn Lane, and, of course, still Jimi... Still love Allan, Scott, Sco, and EJ, although I can only take them in little bits and pieces.
Ditto.
I've been going through a bit of an AH obsession at the moment - his chord progressions, or should I say 'changes' sound out of this world, to me he's a total original.
I always used to prefer Vai to Satch, but now, I can't listen to any guitar playing unless it's improvised to some degree (with the exception of classical music of course) and I'm beginning to hate Vai's perfectionism...
Maybe its from listening to so much jazz and jazz-fusion, but improv, for me, is mandatory to keep it interesting on electric guitar.
Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 173 Location: Manchester, England
Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 7:40 pm Post subject:
I like this album and the last. I know some people didn't like Train of Thought but it worked for me from the word go. I actually prefer Petrucci's rhythm playing to his lead stuff these days and I just take these albums for what they are: good solid progressive hard rock albums...
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