Edition 3
by Iain Watt
DREAM THEATER
When I discovered Dream Theater back in 2003, it was nothing like I had ever heard before. The first album by them that I ever heard in it's entirety (I Limewired/obtained songs from friends before that) was 1999's Scenes From a Memory, arguably one of their greatest works, if not their greatest (my personal favourite is 1992' Images and Words). Anyway, the music was exactly what I always looked for - technical music with heavyness, and decent vocal melodies, and good overall production...and most importantly, virtuosity from all players. As I myself was a learning drummer, I needed a drummer who was both accesible yet played difficult parts - and Mike Portnoy was the perfect guy for that, for me, at that time. I was so fascinated by what he did, and at the time, I thought it was impossible for me to play - now I can play a lot of DT's catalogue on drums - he was just that accessible for me, that I was WILLING to learn from him. Before DT, I didn't have a lot of "technical" drummers as an influence, I was listening to mostly groove and heavy metal drummers.
From there on, I discovered other bands who were similar to DT, or who inspired DT or were inspired by them. And, the chain continued on, and still does. Anyway, this open letter is not about that. This is about how Dream Theater have went from being an inspiring band for musicians, writing original music with a passion, and doing something different in each album, to being an uninspired, rip-off other bands band, with obviously no desire to do something great anymore. And it's very sad to see that happen to a band I have stuck by and been almost obsessed with for so many years (5 this year).
I remember Mike Portnoy saying in an interview that they feel like they've done everything now, and so now are just making music for the money, and for new fans, basically implying that they're done trying hard, and trying anything new. And, a few years ago, Portnoy said that he never wants to write music that is the same to other albums, and just keep going on the trend of "if it works, keep doing it". Sure, they could have written songs similar to their only commercial hit "Pull Me Under", and they didn't, but that was back in 1992...if they did a "Pull Me Under" in 2007, I can guaran-damn-tee you that they would have been doing their next album similar to that song, just because they are so uninspired.
If you listen to 2007's Systematic Chaos; the first track "In The Presence of Enemies (Part One)" sparks a lease of life, it just immediately opens up and makes you think that this album could have potential to be good - it's the strongest song off the whole album, and has definitely hints of the old DT there, only with a more modern metal sound, and raspier, slightly more matured voice from vocalist James Labrie. The rest of the album is pretty much a train-wreck - from it's obvious rock radio/MTV/Scuzz songs ("Forsaken", "Constant Motion", "The Dark Eternal Night"), to their already ridiculous attempts at political songs ("Prophets of War"), a rip-off of an Opeth/Porcupine Tree style ballad ("Repentance"), and another song that has potential but just ends up as pure music wank ("The Ministry of Lost Souls"), it is just not the DT that I grew to know and love.
And, it's not even just this album - since Scenes From a Memory, they have been on auto-pilot really - whilst the other albums have DEFINITELY had amazing moments, to me, the music has just been uninspired and not original at all really - the best song they have written, in my opinion, since 1999 is probably their 25 minute epic "Octavarium", which is beautiful at times, melodic, heavy at times, and just a well written and structured song. There are close contenders though, but I think it's their best overall song since 1999. And, interestingly, since SFAM, Mike Portnoy and guitarist John Petrucci have been the producers of the albums, that way, not allowing outside influence to give them suggestions. And, that's something they definitely need. With a new album being recorded, here are my...
2. Slow down
2002, 2003, 2005, 2007 - Studio albums
2000, 2004, 2006, 2008 - Official live albums
I know that you feel like you need to please your fans with this amount of material, and you feel like you're on all systems go, but guys, take a serious break. Like, 3/4 years break at least. I think the fans would appreciate you taking a break, then coming back and writing an awesome album, because you feel musically and physically refreshed and ready for action - rather than "oh, it's that time again, let's write another album". Metallica, who are obviously a far bigger name than yourselves, have had a longer career than you, and written the same amount of studio albums as your band, just because they have taken time off to recuperate. And, it will get to the point where fans will think it's just becoming overkill.
3. Try and do something new, stop ripping other bands off
Train of Thought (2003) was meant to be a pure metal album, with obvious Metallica and Black Sabbath influence, and that's fine if you guys wanted to write a pure metal album...just to fulfill your needs. But, come on, the past 2 albums have had such an obvious Muse influence, and countless other bands, just because you "like them" at the time. That isn't YOUR own music then if you just take other bands formulas...recreate your formula, be influenced, sure, but don't blatantly rip them off.
4. Demo your songs
Since SFAM, you have not demo-ed songs, and just went into the studio, jammed, written song structures on a big board, and recorded on the spot. Before SFAM, you jammed, wrote song structures, recorded a demo version, listened to it, and made any changes necessary - coming out with probably a better song (with the exception of one song where the demo was better than the recorded outcome). Please go back to this again, please? The fans aren't, and shouldn't, expect you to write albums in a few weeks. Take months, even a year...make sure it is just the best album you can possibly make...one that is inspiring, and INTERESTING.
I know you guys are only getting older, but I think you still have that spark in you, please prove me wrong, and make a better album this time around. Sadly, I don't see that happening.
Iain Watt
When I discovered Dream Theater back in 2003, it was nothing like I had ever heard before. The first album by them that I ever heard in it's entirety (I Limewired/obtained songs from friends before that) was 1999's Scenes From a Memory, arguably one of their greatest works, if not their greatest (my personal favourite is 1992' Images and Words). Anyway, the music was exactly what I always looked for - technical music with heavyness, and decent vocal melodies, and good overall production...and most importantly, virtuosity from all players. As I myself was a learning drummer, I needed a drummer who was both accesible yet played difficult parts - and Mike Portnoy was the perfect guy for that, for me, at that time. I was so fascinated by what he did, and at the time, I thought it was impossible for me to play - now I can play a lot of DT's catalogue on drums - he was just that accessible for me, that I was WILLING to learn from him. Before DT, I didn't have a lot of "technical" drummers as an influence, I was listening to mostly groove and heavy metal drummers.
From there on, I discovered other bands who were similar to DT, or who inspired DT or were inspired by them. And, the chain continued on, and still does. Anyway, this open letter is not about that. This is about how Dream Theater have went from being an inspiring band for musicians, writing original music with a passion, and doing something different in each album, to being an uninspired, rip-off other bands band, with obviously no desire to do something great anymore. And it's very sad to see that happen to a band I have stuck by and been almost obsessed with for so many years (5 this year).
I remember Mike Portnoy saying in an interview that they feel like they've done everything now, and so now are just making music for the money, and for new fans, basically implying that they're done trying hard, and trying anything new. And, a few years ago, Portnoy said that he never wants to write music that is the same to other albums, and just keep going on the trend of "if it works, keep doing it". Sure, they could have written songs similar to their only commercial hit "Pull Me Under", and they didn't, but that was back in 1992...if they did a "Pull Me Under" in 2007, I can guaran-damn-tee you that they would have been doing their next album similar to that song, just because they are so uninspired.
If you listen to 2007's Systematic Chaos; the first track "In The Presence of Enemies (Part One)" sparks a lease of life, it just immediately opens up and makes you think that this album could have potential to be good - it's the strongest song off the whole album, and has definitely hints of the old DT there, only with a more modern metal sound, and raspier, slightly more matured voice from vocalist James Labrie. The rest of the album is pretty much a train-wreck - from it's obvious rock radio/MTV/Scuzz songs ("Forsaken", "Constant Motion", "The Dark Eternal Night"), to their already ridiculous attempts at political songs ("Prophets of War"), a rip-off of an Opeth/Porcupine Tree style ballad ("Repentance"), and another song that has potential but just ends up as pure music wank ("The Ministry of Lost Souls"), it is just not the DT that I grew to know and love.
And, it's not even just this album - since Scenes From a Memory, they have been on auto-pilot really - whilst the other albums have DEFINITELY had amazing moments, to me, the music has just been uninspired and not original at all really - the best song they have written, in my opinion, since 1999 is probably their 25 minute epic "Octavarium", which is beautiful at times, melodic, heavy at times, and just a well written and structured song. There are close contenders though, but I think it's their best overall song since 1999. And, interestingly, since SFAM, Mike Portnoy and guitarist John Petrucci have been the producers of the albums, that way, not allowing outside influence to give them suggestions. And, that's something they definitely need. With a new album being recorded, here are my...
SUGGESTIONS FOR DREAM THEATER
- Get an outside producer
2. Slow down
2002, 2003, 2005, 2007 - Studio albums
2000, 2004, 2006, 2008 - Official live albums
I know that you feel like you need to please your fans with this amount of material, and you feel like you're on all systems go, but guys, take a serious break. Like, 3/4 years break at least. I think the fans would appreciate you taking a break, then coming back and writing an awesome album, because you feel musically and physically refreshed and ready for action - rather than "oh, it's that time again, let's write another album". Metallica, who are obviously a far bigger name than yourselves, have had a longer career than you, and written the same amount of studio albums as your band, just because they have taken time off to recuperate. And, it will get to the point where fans will think it's just becoming overkill.
3. Try and do something new, stop ripping other bands off
Train of Thought (2003) was meant to be a pure metal album, with obvious Metallica and Black Sabbath influence, and that's fine if you guys wanted to write a pure metal album...just to fulfill your needs. But, come on, the past 2 albums have had such an obvious Muse influence, and countless other bands, just because you "like them" at the time. That isn't YOUR own music then if you just take other bands formulas...recreate your formula, be influenced, sure, but don't blatantly rip them off.
4. Demo your songs
Since SFAM, you have not demo-ed songs, and just went into the studio, jammed, written song structures on a big board, and recorded on the spot. Before SFAM, you jammed, wrote song structures, recorded a demo version, listened to it, and made any changes necessary - coming out with probably a better song (with the exception of one song where the demo was better than the recorded outcome). Please go back to this again, please? The fans aren't, and shouldn't, expect you to write albums in a few weeks. Take months, even a year...make sure it is just the best album you can possibly make...one that is inspiring, and INTERESTING.
I know you guys are only getting older, but I think you still have that spark in you, please prove me wrong, and make a better album this time around. Sadly, I don't see that happening.
Iain Watt
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