AlbertA
Fractal Fanatic
Should have hired Minnemann, IMO.
No, otherwise we wouldn't have The Aristocrats
Should have hired Minnemann, IMO.
I would say pick up the Blu-Ray yes James was amazing on Score but you'd be surprised he nailed every note on this Blu Ray at Luna Park,and I am not a fan boy of James I have said a lot of times where he has sounded weak but no sir not on this one.I haven't bought it yet (nor their new CD), but have watched several of the uploaded clips from it (official and otherwise) on YT. I just don't like the modulation effect he seems to have on the entire time with his heavy tones. Also, his lead playing has gotten so stale over the last several years. It's always the same old stiff-armed, speed picked patterns/or sweep picked arpeggios played with the neck pickup over and over again (just like in the drummer audition video posted above). His technique really seemed to go down hill when he started body building. Listen to how great his playing was in this Rock Discipline instructional video. Show me any video from the last 5 years (probably even more than that) where he is playing anywhere near that level.
His playing & tone were the only real incentives for me wanting to buy the Blu-ray to begin with. They haven't put out an album I've loved in a long time (6DOIT), so the setlist consists largely of songs I don't care for. And despite what fanboys like to say with almost every new live release, I'm sorry, but James Labrie is not "Back!" :roll (he sounded "Almost Back!" on Score, but it's been all downhill since). He sounds very little like his former self, and though I know that's largely not his fault (food poisoning incident), I just can't really take his live vocals anymore. On top of that, from what I can tell from the clips I've seen from the Luna Park Blu-ray, it sounds like there is some kind of weird modulation effect on his voice at least some of the time as well (the whole sound of the band also seems overly smooth & slick, and not very "live" sounding).
Ok, rant over (all of this is of course "IMHO" :mrgreen).
Anyway, I'll probably end up getting it. :lol
Mike Mangini = talented + humble
Mike Portnoy = talented + ego maniac(i hate spitters)
Love both drummers but Portnoy is certainly not a an ego maniac.
So..Do you know him??
I think Marco would have been a great edition but you can tell that Mike Mangini gels with and "Really" wanted to be in the band.
The issue with Marco was that,when they asked him if Marco has heard a lot of Dream Theater he told them he hasn't,as he wasn't much
of a fan. It would have been interesting as Marco would have brought some very interesting ideas but then again Mike Mangini is a fan of the band
and really has his heart and soul in Dream Theater and that is what they need.
I think the improv jam is really cool.
No, otherwise we wouldn't have The Aristocrats
They've been basically rehashing the same shit for the past decade or so. The last somewhat original bit was "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence". All you really need to hear to understand what DT is supposed to be like is "Awake". And Mangini, while he's a great drummer, seems to lack the assertiveness of Portnoy, so they dialed him down a bit in the mix compared to where Portnoy was. You can't really hear much of him on the recent two albums. I have a hunch that Minnemann would have done just fine, and he's not the kind of guy that will take shit from anybody. Then again it's their band, they have all the authority in the world to decide what it should be.
Wow that was awesome. This band is just amazing period. Such an inspiration.
I haven't bought it yet (nor their new CD), but have watched several of the uploaded clips from it (official and otherwise) on YT. I just don't like the modulation effect he seems to have on the entire time with his heavy tones. Also, his lead playing has gotten so stale over the last several years. It's always the same old stiff-armed, speed picked patterns/or sweep picked arpeggios played with the neck pickup over and over again (just like in the drummer audition video posted above). His technique really seemed to go down hill when he started body building. Listen to how great his playing was in this Rock Discipline instructional video. Show me any video from the last 5 years (probably even more than that) where he is playing anywhere near that level.
His playing & tone were the only real incentives for me wanting to buy the Blu-ray to begin with. They haven't put out an album I've loved in a long time (6DOIT), so the setlist consists largely of songs I don't care for. And despite what fanboys like to say with almost every new live release, I'm sorry, but James Labrie is not "Back!" :roll (he sounded "Almost Back!" on Score, but it's been all downhill since). He sounds very little like his former self, and though I know that's largely not his fault (food poisoning incident), I just can't really take his live vocals anymore. On top of that, from what I can tell from the clips I've seen from the Luna Park Blu-ray, it sounds like there is some kind of weird modulation effect on his voice at least some of the time as well (the whole sound of the band also seems overly smooth & slick, and not very "live" sounding).
Ok, rant over (all of this is of course "IMHO" :mrgreen).
Anyway, I'll probably end up getting it. :lol
Mangini is incredible, but DT is missing a HUGE amount of energy MP's departure. MM's playing is solid as heck. I saw them live last year and LOVED it!!! However, I miss MP, BIG time!!! They're last two albums are starting to grow on me of late. Heck SC is just now starting to grow on me.
Anyway, Marco is an AWESOME drummer as is Virgil. However, neither, IMO would've been a good fit for DT. Mangini, IMO is the best fit of the ones they auditioned.
I just really miss MP and ALL that he brought to DT.
Now, I'll watch the video.
Thanks for posting this! I really enjoyed watching it.
I've never really been able to get into DT because of their vocals, but I am a big Petrucci fan. I have Petrucci's Suspended Animation album and (like most of us) have his Rock Discipline DVDs. I've recently heard a few of their (assuming) newer songs on Sirius/XM - Liquid Metal, and have been thinking its time I buy some of their music. Which album(s) would you guys recommend?