DREAM THEATER - BLACK CLOUDS & SILVER LININGS - Coming June

[Valhall]

Then brace yourself, because the best is yet to be heard.  :mrgreen:

[Brom]

Listened to the "bonus" disk of covers on the car on the way home today. Really enjoyed it, OK "Stargazer" is a classic locked in my system from a teenager, as is Odyssey, but the rest are all new to my ears... gosh, yes, even Larks Tongues!   , so the bonus has even more bonus value.

Black Clouds & SL is being absorbed with continued enthusiasm.

[EVP]

I was only able to find the standard 1 cd version at Best Buy and I have to say initially
I didn't think I was gonna like this album but I was pleasantly surprised. It's actually
quite good.  It's got me thinking more about getting tickets for the Albany.NY show
coming up in August.

now if I can get get my hands on the bonus disc!

[Valhall]

http://www.play.com/Music/CD/4-/9692282 ... oduct.html

 

[Rooch85]

Great album!  Probably their best effort since Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence.  

[D S]

Wow!  The album went straight in at No. 6 in the US Billboard Top 100 album charts!  :shock:   This from an elated Mike Portnoy:-

DT cracks the US Top 10!!!!
Just got this below email from our A&R guy at Roadrunner....
 
Dream Theater's Black Clouds & Silver Linings entered the US Billboard Charts today at #6!!

This is truly amazing....that after almost 25 years together, this band is still growing and progressing and doing bigger and better numbers than ever.....I can't think of many bands that can claim that...

Plus - a progressive metal album with four songs over 12 minutes in the US Top 10???
(wedged between Jonas Brothers, Eminem and Hannah Montana!)
Hell must've frozen over!!!!
(this must be a first of its kind.....)
 
See the statistics below.....
 
Thank you everybody!  [&:]
MP


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

from Monte Conner (Roadrunner Records):

We did 40,285 units in the first week to come in at #6 (!!!)  
 
That is DT's highest US chart number ever, beating "Systematic Chaos" which charted at #19 back in May 2007 and until now was the band's highest chart debut.
 
That is also DT's highest first week units total ever - handily beating "Awake" which did 36,160 first week back in October 1994 (#32 on the chart). "Awake" was the first (and very heavily anticipated) DT album in the wake of the band's previous breakthrough album "Images And Words" - with its smash hit "Pull Me Under" - and yet here we are 15 years later totally crushing it.  

Previous DT highs:
Systematic Chaos:  35,689 (#19) – May 2007
Awake: 36,160 (#32) – October 1994
 
FYI, 4,783 of those sales were digital (over 10%), and we have actually scanned 40,591 to date because there were pre-release street violations of 306 units last week.

[Pajter]

Yeah I read it on the mikeportnoy forum. Good for them! I think it's great for a band to keep improving after so many years.

I honestly have to say that I didn't expect this, although I really do love BC&SL. (it's no Frost* yet, but still, kudos to them! :lol:)

[Bert]

Pity it's the worst thing they've ever done.

[Pajter]

Pity it's the worst thing they've ever done.

You say that like it's a fact.

[Bert]

Pity it's the worst thing they've ever done.

You say that like it's a fact.

Yes, sorry. In my personal opinion, of course  

Actually, I'm just listening now on my iPod and I have to say, the production is very good - probably the best I've heard on a DT album. And the songs make a bit more sense after repeated listening - believe me, I am really trying to like this album.

However, in my view, they lack focus and quality control which I can only put down to the fact that MP and JP self-produce, and I don't think it's good for them. A bit of judicious editing and pruning wouldn't go amiss, I think.

Don't get me wrong - I haven't got a huge downer on DT - I am a fan and have been since I first picked up SFOAM (I bought the ltd edition of this album, after all) and I'd much rather they were here than not but nonetheless, it seems to me they have traded melody, musical inspiration and uniqueness for a more uniform, metal approach which probably has more appeal to the "Metal Hammer" market, which is where the bucks are to be found.

At the end of the day, the proof of the pudding as we say, is in the eating. I guess it must be working for them cos they're in the Billboard Top 10.

There's really nothing on this album that you couldn't find on Train of Thought or Systematic Chaos. At the end of the day I don't think Dream Theater are progressing through the use of detuned riffs, shreds, quasi-fantasy lyrics, cookie monster vox, endless double bass drum kicks etc.

But then, it seems to float lot of boat's hereabouts, so what do I know ?  

I'm just a dissapointed fan.

[gr8gonzo]

I'm with ya, Bert.  I've been a fan since 1990, own every album and will continue to buy their albums, but it's been harder to enjoy them each time out.  We're in agreement about the direction, the lack of progression, the error of self-producing, etc.  I'm still trying to digest BC&SL (it always takes several listens for this stuff to sink in), but I've already pulled the CD from my car and that's a bad sign.  I'm always hopeful, though, and find I often appreciate the album more after the next one comes out.

[Pajter]

I agree on a lot of points with you both. I think I had the exact same feeling you guys have, with Systematic Chaos.

With this album however, I feel they're getting better again. It's still nowhere near the genius of SFAM, but after Systematic Chaos, I'm quite relieved to hear this album.

I don't know what will happen over time, because I initially liked SC too. But BC&SL has some moments which give me chills (the good kind ), and that's something I've missed in Dream Theater for a long while. I even bought tickets to see them with Opeth, and that's saying something, because I have not gone to a DT gig in years. (and I'm pretty much broke. :lol:)

Also, I have all the isolated tracks, and it's pretty cool to hear how it all sticks together. I might even say that is has made me appreciate the album more.

[Bert]

AAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Despite all I said...

... it's beginning to grow on me

Damn them !!

[gr8gonzo]

Just discovered THIS:

[Bert]

Just discovered THIS:

I don't think it'll be an improvement, if I'm honest.