Now you need to listen to something with the other Keyboard player: Derek Sherinian I strongly reccoment Lines In The Sand - One of the best songs by the band IMO.
Kevin Moore is the Keyboardist on Images and Words and Awake, he comes up with some amazing stuff. Wait for Sleep being a keyboard driven ballad that's one of the most beautiful little songs ever made...and of course the unique gem that is Space Dye Vest
If you liked "This Dying Soul", that track is actually one track in a larger group of tracks known as the "Twelve Step Suite", named so because the lyrics detail Portnoy going through a bout of alcoholism and subsequent recovery during those years. All the songs have recurring riffs, themes, and compositions that I think you'd really love to dive into. The tracks (in order) are as follows: "The Mirror" (kind of a prelude or prologue to the suite) "The Glass Prison" "This Dying Soul" "The Root of All Evil" "Repentance" "The Shattered Fortress"
Yes! Easily in my top 10 favorite bands, and I've heard a lot of music in my life. Sometimes DT can get a little redundant, but only because they've been going for so long, making so many long songs exploring all manner of their craft. I'll never forget hearing Panic Attack for the first time. It was so heavy, so frantic, a headbanger that sent me into a world of spiraling sensation. My ears felt pure pleasure, but my heart felt every cord and lyric. I've had plenty of panic attacks in my life. I'd never felt so in tune with that sensation, yet in a safe place. Like a rollercoaster you know won't hurt you, but your body still reacts. Little did I know what was ahead of me. Octavarium blew me away. Nothing I'd heard (at the time) sounded like that song. It was operatic in scope and filled with musical creativity that caught up with me over many listens. And then.... there was Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence. There are no words I know to explain what it is like to be someone with mental health issues, to find an album that gives you flashbacks into your life again and again. Despite it's long winded opening (which does come around nicely at the end I'll admit), every song puts you in a place only some can understand fully. When I heard "The Test That Stumped Them All" I was suddenly back in the mental hospital, kept away in a drab room far from my family. More alone than I'd ever been taking so many pills it was sickening to the stomach. (Happy Ending, i recovered.) Solitary Shell.... I weep every time. I did not have the same experience as the boy in the song, but Autism is not the same in everyone. Despite a diffirent experience.... every beat told me the same story I had come to know all too well. Feeling withdrawn, held in, seperated and alone in your own time. You want to reach out but as time goes on you stop trying. If the lonliness and overwhelming seperation push you in enough, you become a black hole. Sometimes it turns to rage, you feel like a burden to those around you when you can't understand something, or have to be reminded of things everyone else seems to understand automaticly. I love this band so much. They probably changed my life. I cannot tell you the amount of times I have gone walking late at night looking up at the stars listening to The Count of Tuscany, or the entire A change of Seasons album. I cannot tell you the time I have wept to Goodnight Kiss or headbanged till I was sore to The Dark Eternal Night. Thank you so much, John Petrucci, Mike Portnoy, James Labrie, John Myung, Mike Mangini, Jordan Rudess! And thank you, you blessed Decomposer. I love your reactions. Edit: Also, I'm still here.
Pull Me Under ends like that to reflect the sudden nature of death. and Take the Time is so fun and uplifting, I can't help but want to move and sing along.
have to disagree, it lacks songwriting inspiration imo. the intent is there and the playing phenomenal, but it doesn't feel very compelling and special.
That was the first post-Portnoy album and I was a bit bitter, but time heals all wounds and I've warmed to this album. There's several great songs on it. Only complaint is the drum production wasn't quite up to their prior standards, but they fixed on that subsequent recordings.
I've been a huge DT fan for 30 + years and never get tired of listening to them. Best band live you'll ever experience. That snare drum in Blind Faith is sick.
Can’t wait until you react to Octavarium, Black Clouds and Silver Linings, and more stuff off of Train of Thought. Can’t ever get enough of DT and their awesome work.
Damn what a selection. I saw Six Degrees in the thumbnail and thought "could it possibly be Blind Faith?". Easily one of their most underrated songs. It usually goes unmentioned, and yet it's one of their best pieces. PD: It'll get mention eleven hundred times, but the keyboardist on Images and Words was Kevin Moore. Jordan didn't join until the album Metropolis. PD2: For an amazing solo by John and one of their great songs: Lines in the Sand. Easily one of the best solos he's ever done, which is saying something.
Yeah I kinda wish lines in the sand hadn’t been suggested as a 2fer w/ Hell’s Kitchen because they are truly two separate songs, and I’d much rather see him do lines alone than not at all 😢😅😂
I do listen to them as a pair nearly every time I listen to Lines, but yeah, it's fine without the "intro" of Hell's Kitchen, and the solo alone is worth it (the rest of the song is a DT classic too as far as I'm concerned, but that solo... both the band with the atmosphere and Petrucci outdid themselves).
24:40 Nope, that's by design. The song is inspired by the story of _Hamlet_ (in fact the lyric being chanted there is "oh that ths too too solid flesh should melt") and like the Prince's life, it gets cut short early.
Jordan Rudess was "let loose" on the "Six Degree of Inner Turbulence" album according to Mike Portnoy. They held him back on the previous album on purpose (for a good reason). Songs from the 6DoIT album like "Blind Faith" are still today just hard to beat in terms of musicianship! As good as Blind Faith is, "The Great Debate" is my personal fave when it comes to ranking the best guitar & key chops. As for "This Dying Soul" (your reaction to the outro was FUNNY as HELL! lmfao! I love it!) is a part of a greater whole suite of songs spanning multiple albums about addiction and the AA steps in short. Train of Thought to this day is still their heaviest album in my opinion and MY personal fave of theirs. I saw them in 2004 play the entire album start to finish in Manchester, UK and they've not done that since, it was an EXPERIENCE I'll never forget!
God, "This Dying Soul" is easily my favorite track by DT, happy to see you reacting to this one! That breakdown at 52:34 is INSANE! always gets me right in the balls!
@@Heatwave9000 They had their period when they had a bit nu metal influences, but not to a point where it usually bothered me. When I bought this album, I actually checked from the notebook that came with CD that is Mustaine actually visiting in the album :).
Images & Words and Awake are two of my favourite DT albums, which happen to have Kevin Moore as the keyboardist in them. Moore also has two more bands which are quite rad: OSI (suggested songs: False Start, Radiologue, Free, Go...) and Chroma Key (suggested songs: On the Page, Undertow, Colorblind). You might like it :) glad as always to see content from you!
Seconding this idea, and also adding to song list for OSI: wind won't howl, new mama, blood, when you're ready, bigger wave, once,.... Well just too many great songs.
Those first two OSI records are at least really good, then they did a third one that was so bad I forgot that it existed. And it's got Gavin Harrison on it and it's still dull as all get out.
30 years since the 1st OSI, it's fun to hear that Take The Time solo from Kevin Moore, but surreal to remember him as the young man that would actually want to play that way.
20 years right? For a second I felt really old haha, the first album from OSI is from 2003. Or did you mean the first Chroma Key album? From 1998, 25 years ago?
"This Dying Soul" is peak Portnoy. It is also song 2 (steps IV n V) of a larger composition, Twelve-Step Suite, which were all written by Portnoy, spanning 5 albums. They reflect his struggles with alcoholism and the 12-step process to overcome it. It's some of the most powerful material in all of DTs catalog
Ya know Geebz, these slowburns are most excellent. In a world of 1 minute sound bytes, the 1hr+ videos have my attention all the way thru. Between you, Daily Doug, Rick Beato and The Charismatic Voice, my entertainment/educational needs are met. I wish Kevin Moore would have stayed with them, he was the perfect metal keyboardist! Thanks Geebz!
Man the first time they broke it down and went “close your eyes, and feel the water rise around me” it completely blew me away… didn’t know I was ready to be washed away and it was NICE!
i highly suggest checking out their most underrated instrumental song ever called 'Stream of Consciousness'. it's a perfect balance between digestibility and craziness. you'll like it
there's something special about that song. and every time i listen it makes my mind wander around the middle, almost like a hypnosis, it's so weird I almost forget I'm listening to it, then at a usual time it brings my mind right back, and I'm left wondering, 'how does that keep happening'
Geebz!!! As a fan of DT since high school, this was a fantastic video with excellent song choices. The album Metropolis Pt. 2 was my introduction to them and Mike Portnoy is one my major drum heroes, but more so it is regarded as one of the best concept albums since The Wall. If you have an hour of free time and are in the mood for more DT, check it out; you won’t be disappointed.
Six degrees is a Masterpiece!!! Probably my favorite and favorite tour…saw them live in Phoenix and followed them to Hollywood Greek Theater! Got to see Dug Pinnick sing Lines in the Sand,like he did on the studio version!! KingsX opened to my surprise!!!! Probably the greatest concert I ever experienced❤🤘
As a composer/music teacher, it's fun watching your reaction to DT. I find my non-musician friends are much less appreciative of them, but insane when you understand the music theory behind it. Even more fun when they are one of your favorite bands. Great song selection, thanks for featuring these! :D
It may not be agreed with, but this was a great playlist to showcase what you mentioned. So many different facets are showcased. Still many more hidden in the rest of their repertoire though 😅
A few interesting notes: - The keyboardist on the first two tracks is Kevin Moore, their original keyboardist who played on their first three albums. Derek Sherinian then played on one album before Jordan Rudess permanently took over. - Pull Me Under is a great track, though not one I think most fans would have ever considered to be one of their more notable ones if not for the fact that it was probably a lot of people’s introduction to the band, as it’s literally the only hit radio single they ever had in their nearly 40 year career. There actually was some pressure on the band at the time to play the industry game a bit and try to have at least one track break through, which it did, but eventually they got so disillusioned with the process that they swore off ever trying to do it again. And no, it doesn’t lead into another song, it just kinda ends abruptly like that, lol. Same with This Dying Soul. - Most people won’t notice or care since it’s not at all uncommon in music in general, but Images and Words (first two tracks) is the only album Mike Portnoy used triggered drums on at the insistence of their producer at the time. Mike is on record as hating the sound of his drums on that album now for that reason, and while I still think it’s one of their best records and love his playing on it, as a drummer myself I tend to agree. The snare sound especially lacks dynamic variety throughout so many of the tracks on it and it’s especially noticeable to me on rolls and fills where you get that excessive machine gun sound, which has absolutely nothing to do with his playing and everything to do with the fact that it’s triggered.
Man, I've watched a few reactions to Pull Me Under, but you're the only guy to notice that super complex solo in the verse. You owe it to society to decompose more of this band (also, thank you for the great analysis)!
haha loved the metallica comment. maaaan, i would love to see you react to more of that snarky puppy concert "we like it here". also, maybe a day designated to showing us some of your favorite stuff. we like to find new music too ;)
Train of Thought is their heaviest album, you got that right. It was also my first album and As I Am is my favorite song. I jumped on my seat when I saw the video thumbnail, you're listening to my favorite band! Laughed at the Metallica bass part haha
Maybe I missed it, but nobody suggested Ayreon to explore? As a composer you should. Especially if you like Dream Theater. A good begin would be The day the world breaks down
I wish i had seen them back then in early 90's with prime LaBrie and his H-I-G-H notes. That must have been a blast for those attending their lives with the band and its youthful enthusiasm and thirst to conquer the world (which they did eventually)
I'd kill to see a Symphony X slow burn! You have reacted to mostly their heavier stuff thus far, so I'm sure you'd be pleasantly surprised by the variety in their discography as a whole!
First of all thanks, I am so thrilled to have found this. I enjoy each of the DT keyboardist's but as you know now this is Kevin Moore, and DT and fans will forever be in debt to his contribution in the first two albums. Space-dye Vest from Awake and Wait for Sleep from IaW are some of my favorites.
Like others have pointed out, Kevin Moore played the keys on I&W. Nice to see Blind Faith here, very underrated song. 6 degrees of inner turbulence is imo one of Mike Portnoy's best performances and Blind Faith is a great example of why.
I've been a DT fan since Image and Words and I love how you can never nail down what direction they are headed. If you played every album from "When Day and Dream Unite" to "A Dramatic Turn Of Events" without vocals I believe you'd be hard pressed to tell it was the same band.
I'm still here. I love Dream Theater!! Saw them in Royal Oak, Michigan quite a few years back. The show was as epic as you would expect. The CG artwork and visuals that played on the screen behind them were designed and animated by the band. Such talent all around with these guys.
Take the Time is one of my all time favorites. The entire IaW album is the biggest reason I really started to take music more "seriously" and listening to new stuff. Edit. Oh, one important thing, this album had their original keyboard player Kevin Moore!
Someone might have pointed it out already but Pull Me Under was the closest Dream Theater ever had to a "radio hit", their best of collection is even called "Greatest Hit", in singular 😂 (..."and 21 Other Pretty Cool Songs") Their vocalist James Labrie had an accident in 1995 after the recording of the Awake album that required vocal chord surgery, apparently the doctors didn't give him much of a chance to keep singing professionally but he was back in full force by the following year! He never was able to hit notes quite as high after that but he still retains that same amazing softness and clarity to his voice up till today, even though his performance on the latest DT album was almost like an afterthought... LaBrie's newest solo album Beautiful Shade of Grey is a banger though, mostly just regular old country-ish rock instead of the prog metal his solo project has been in the past, but still very good!
I'm so excited to listen to this whole thing but I have to go to work. I just started Pull me under". I'm going to listen to the rest of this on the way home later on this afternoon. You are so in for a wild ride. I'm so pumped.
53:45 the passage you're talking about has always reminded me of Metallica actually, Blackened specifically the "Callous frigid chill, nothing left to kill · Never seen before, breathing nevermore. Neverrrrrr" part
Absolutely my favorite band of all time. I would love to see you react to Space Dye Vest. In my opinion, one of their more unique songs in their catalogue.
Geebz my good Sir I'm loving this. I'm a huge DT fan and hearing your thoughts on these songs makes me really happy. Coffee ready, let's gooo! Love your work Sir! The solo section for Take the Time literally steals the air out of my lungs, that's how amazing it is!
Haha Geebz, I was waiting for that sudden ending part at the end of the second song: Pull Me Under. Yes, the song actually ends like that because it's kinda linked to their one concept album for which they made a short "movie". In their one video the song ends abruptly to go with ther visual story in the video. Excellent video as usual, friend.😎
In 1992 my good friend told me about Dream Theater and I went and bought the album and fell in love with DT. Every single album they just make me love them more and more. The latest album they recorded it in there own studio. It’s one of my favorites!!! Whenever you do another Dream Theater reaction do just one song but one song that’s more than 20+. The latest album as one song that’s 20:28 (A View From The Top Of The World). Songs DT has are A Change Of Seasons, Illumination Theory, In The Presence Of Enemies: The Heretic And The Dark Master. Several to choose from my friend. Magnificent job breaking down each part in each song. 😊😊😊
I have so many DT songs I'd love you to react to!! This was a pleasure to watch. Getting to see folks being introduced to who in my opinion is the best most dynamic and talented band in history is always a treat! Outcry is one of their most complicated technical arrangements, written about the Egyptian revolutionary War that was happening in real time. Glad you liked it!
Still here. Loved hearing your reactions. Train of Thought was the album that introduced me to Dream Theater, a great example of hard rock and progressive metal but within the footprint the band is known for. They use fingerprints all the time, most notable on the octivarium album.
Pull Me under was the only real radio friendly track they had, you definitely picked up on that. They are amazing, many of the other comments are pointing you in the right direction if you want to check out more of their stuff. You won’t regret it.
I don't remember if you ever listened to a Liquid Tension Experiment track, but I highly suggest 'When The Water Breaks'. LTE is a side project with mostly DT members and Tony Levin. Also, LTE was how Jorden Rudess got in Dream Theater in the first place!
@@AirwavesEnglish can't comment on this because Im biased when it comes to live performances... 99% of the time I prefer and suggest the studio versions of songs
People undoubtedly already commented it, but that sudden stop is how it's supposed to end! It's like that on the album too and it doesn't transition into another song or anything. No epic fail on your part!
Spectacular! Great selection. They literally have the midas touch on anything they do. Thanks for sharing your appreciation for their diligent endeavors.
About 53:20 min in that vocal cadance and end rhymes where he says: "Come to me my friend. I'll help this torture end. Let your ego go. You can't go through this alone. You'll find your peace of mind. You can no longer hide. Let humility. And become what you can be." Reminded me a lot of "Blackened" by Metallica. Replace the words with any of these: "Blackened is the end. Winter it will send. Throwing all you see. Into obscurity. Death of Mother Earth. Never a rebirth. Evolution's End. Never will it mend." Or... "Blistering of Earth. Terminate its worth. Deadly nicotine. Kills what might have been. Callous frigid chill. Nothing left to kill. Never seen before. Breathing nevermore." Or... "Smoldering decay. Take your breath away. Millions of our years. In minutes disappears. Darkening in vain. Decadence remains. All is said and done. Never is the sun."
And regarding you comments about "the dying soul" being metal. That whole "train of thought" album is the closest to straight up metal they ever got. And it's one of my favourites... "As I am" and "in the name of God" are my favourites from that album. Killer they are.
Blind Faith, what a treat. That is my absolute favorite DT song, and such an overlooked part of their discography. That song is so deceptively complicated, and there's a reason they hardly ever play it live lol.
JP actually used a baritone guitar on Blind Faith, which gives the guitar that super thick sound. Also, the Blind Faith unison at the end of the instrumental section is absolutely peak Dream Theater. It's bonkers once you can hear the difference between the guitar and piano part. They're not playing the same thing.
About Blind Faith.. It's interesting how you see how Jordan sew this together. The song I recommended on the pinned comment, Line in the Sand, has a lot to do with Derek's style.
I’m sure this goes without being said, but you MUST check out some Liquid Tension Experiment!! It’s all the members of DT (minus John Myung and James LaBrie) with Tony Levin (King Crimson) playing the Chapman Stick! They’re all instrumental and they crush DT if you’re not a huge fan of LaBrie’s voice, which I am not 😝 I do see you have one LTE track under your belt from about a year ago! Never a better time to dive back in 😊 The track Biaxident was always one of my favs!
This is a modern super band.. they have arguably the best guitarist, keyboards and bass player at the time with a really good drummer. The more I learn to play to guitar the more I realize john is insane…
So fucking glad you chose these songs. No offence to people who like their new stuff, but in my opinion Dramatic Turn of Events was the last album they released that grabbed me at all. It’s nearly impossible to pick a best album, but Images and Words and Six Degrees are up there for sure!
@@HenritheHorse Probably harsher words than I would use haha, but I do agree - there was clearly a perfect mix when Portnoy was still there, as evidenced by how good Liquid Tension Experiment 3 was!
Great to see this Geebz, thanks. Interesting thing about "Outcry" is that that whole album it came off of echos the album Images and Words in arrangement. Like if I were to write out a description of the song "Lost Not Forgotten" in sections, it could also describe "Under a Glass Moon" From Images and Words. "Outcry", similarly, is basically the same template as "Metropolis Part 1". I would be blown away if you or someone else did a video on the connections sometime.
Glad you're diggin the DT Slow Burn and THANK YOU ALL for the heads-up on the correction on keyboard players. AWWWRIGHT!!
Opeth Slow Burn - when? :D
@@Zitronenparty 🤘🤘
to answer your question, Pull Me Under does not go into another song, it just.. kinda ends.
@@V.F.D.DaleSalvadorYeah, I always freak out what’s happened LOL, they could’ve fixed it, I don’t why they didn’t
Now you need to listen to something with the other Keyboard player: Derek Sherinian
I strongly reccoment Lines In The Sand - One of the best songs by the band IMO.
James LaBrie on Images and Words...a legendary voice.
The older he gets, the better he was, even though he was really great.
Awake my friend. He uses his fry I believe it's called on that album.
Blind Faith is a dark horse for best DT song of all time. Solo section is absolutely unreal.
I agree.
One of my favorites. Six Degrees is a masterpiece
That piano break in the middle always gives me goosebumps.
yeah, not really being into them anymore this is one of their most enjoyable and cohesive songs
th-cam.com/video/zMgr_XJpSwg/w-d-xo.html
YUP!
Images and Words is a perfect album.
one of the all time classics
I’m also really happy Blind Faith made it through - very underrated track. The start of the guitar solo makes me smile every time 🥲
Blind Faith is a masterpiece 🔥🤘🏻
Blind Faith is one of my all time favorite songs, so happy it made it in
Also i love how blind faith progresses slowly and then slowly ends just like the great debate.
Awesome track. Though after all those years of listening to 6DoIT, feels kinda incomplete without listening to Misunderstood right after :)
Absolutely amazing double album! Hard to believe it came out 20 years ago?! 👀
Kevin Moore is the Keyboardist on Images and Words and Awake, he comes up with some amazing stuff.
Wait for Sleep being a keyboard driven ballad that's one of the most beautiful little songs ever made...and of course the unique gem that is Space Dye Vest
Space Dye Vest is a masterpiece! They never went anywhere near that place after his departure.
Two AMAZING songs. Space Dye Vest probably in my top 3 all time favorites from DT..
Space dye west is top 3 DT songs ever made. That song was his departure and good bye to DT song.
Everything on Awake is gold IMO, that album has held up really well all these years.
For me Wait For Sleep and Learning to Live are one song
If you liked "This Dying Soul", that track is actually one track in a larger group of tracks known as the "Twelve Step Suite", named so because the lyrics detail Portnoy going through a bout of alcoholism and subsequent recovery during those years. All the songs have recurring riffs, themes, and compositions that I think you'd really love to dive into. The tracks (in order) are as follows:
"The Mirror" (kind of a prelude or prologue to the suite)
"The Glass Prison"
"This Dying Soul"
"The Root of All Evil"
"Repentance"
"The Shattered Fortress"
I was really hoping he was covering the 12 step suite when I saw he was doing a deep dive. Really a hidden gem.
DTs album "awake" is often overlooked in my opinion and it contains some of the best DT tracks (personal opinion)
Oh yeah, 6:00 alone is a must listen.
Thank you PATREON for picking Blind Faith, best unison run in DT history
As good as it is, I don’t think anything tops In the Name of God.
The Outcry always gives me goosebumps
One can not forget that outrcy middle section... it was pretty much my introduction to this band as a teenage boy - blew my head off pretty much
Yes! Easily in my top 10 favorite bands, and I've heard a lot of music in my life. Sometimes DT can get a little redundant, but only because they've been going for so long, making so many long songs exploring all manner of their craft.
I'll never forget hearing Panic Attack for the first time. It was so heavy, so frantic, a headbanger that sent me into a world of spiraling sensation. My ears felt pure pleasure, but my heart felt every cord and lyric. I've had plenty of panic attacks in my life. I'd never felt so in tune with that sensation, yet in a safe place. Like a rollercoaster you know won't hurt you, but your body still reacts. Little did I know what was ahead of me.
Octavarium blew me away. Nothing I'd heard (at the time) sounded like that song. It was operatic in scope and filled with musical creativity that caught up with me over many listens.
And then.... there was Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence. There are no words I know to explain what it is like to be someone with mental health issues, to find an album that gives you flashbacks into your life again and again. Despite it's long winded opening (which does come around nicely at the end I'll admit), every song puts you in a place only some can understand fully. When I heard "The Test That Stumped Them All" I was suddenly back in the mental hospital, kept away in a drab room far from my family. More alone than I'd ever been taking so many pills it was sickening to the stomach. (Happy Ending, i recovered.)
Solitary Shell.... I weep every time. I did not have the same experience as the boy in the song, but Autism is not the same in everyone. Despite a diffirent experience.... every beat told me the same story I had come to know all too well. Feeling withdrawn, held in, seperated and alone in your own time. You want to reach out but as time goes on you stop trying. If the lonliness and overwhelming seperation push you in enough, you become a black hole. Sometimes it turns to rage, you feel like a burden to those around you when you can't understand something, or have to be reminded of things everyone else seems to understand automaticly.
I love this band so much. They probably changed my life. I cannot tell you the amount of times I have gone walking late at night looking up at the stars listening to The Count of Tuscany, or the entire A change of Seasons album. I cannot tell you the time I have wept to Goodnight Kiss or headbanged till I was sore to The Dark Eternal Night.
Thank you so much, John Petrucci, Mike Portnoy, James Labrie, John Myung, Mike Mangini, Jordan Rudess!
And thank you, you blessed Decomposer. I love your reactions.
Edit: Also, I'm still here.
What really blows my mind is HOW DO THEY REMEMBER IT ALL!! Good God... And I've been listening to them since their first album in 1989.
Exactly….you just spoke my mind….an entire library of riffs from all their albums…and they are always seamless live….staggering…
Pull Me Under ends like that to reflect the sudden nature of death.
and Take the Time is so fun and uplifting, I can't help but want to move and sing along.
Take the time is by far one of the 'grooviest' songs they have
Outcry is one of the most underrated DT songs ever.
Incredible.
have to disagree, it lacks songwriting inspiration imo. the intent is there and the playing phenomenal, but it doesn't feel very compelling and special.
@@dodgrblu This is a fair opinion, but also fits the consistent reality that music is subjective.
@@psychoelectric haha what an opinion!
@@psychoelectric 👀
That was the first post-Portnoy album and I was a bit bitter, but time heals all wounds and I've warmed to this album. There's several great songs on it. Only complaint is the drum production wasn't quite up to their prior standards, but they fixed on that subsequent recordings.
Now you gotta check out
Metropolis part 2 scenes from a memory the whole concept album by Dream Theater. Masterpiece at its best.
I've been a huge DT fan for 30 + years and never get tired of listening to them. Best band live you'll ever experience. That snare drum in Blind Faith is sick.
I’ve been a fan for 5-6 years or so and I’m going to go see them for the first time in February I can’t wait
@@jimmymckie2272 You are going to be blown away. I'm excited for you. Rock on !
Damn son. I wish I knew who these guys were, back then! I'd have been 1yo, but that's besides the point! haha
@@ConnorHammond I took my son to his first DT show when he was 10. He's 31 now and a drummer and his idol is Mike Portnoy, of course, lol.
Can’t wait until you react to Octavarium, Black Clouds and Silver Linings, and more stuff off of Train of Thought. Can’t ever get enough of DT and their awesome work.
Damn what a selection.
I saw Six Degrees in the thumbnail and thought "could it possibly be Blind Faith?". Easily one of their most underrated songs. It usually goes unmentioned, and yet it's one of their best pieces.
PD: It'll get mention eleven hundred times, but the keyboardist on Images and Words was Kevin Moore. Jordan didn't join until the album Metropolis.
PD2: For an amazing solo by John and one of their great songs: Lines in the Sand. Easily one of the best solos he's ever done, which is saying something.
yep it was suggested strongly on Patreon, but i think it was just too long, combined with Hell's Kitchen
Yeah I kinda wish lines in the sand hadn’t been suggested as a 2fer w/ Hell’s Kitchen because they are truly two separate songs, and I’d much rather see him do lines alone than not at all 😢😅😂
I do listen to them as a pair nearly every time I listen to Lines, but yeah, it's fine without the "intro" of Hell's Kitchen, and the solo alone is worth it (the rest of the song is a DT classic too as far as I'm concerned, but that solo... both the band with the atmosphere and Petrucci outdid themselves).
The other disc of 6 degrees is a pinnacle of music, it is much stronger than the title suite.
24:40 Nope, that's by design. The song is inspired by the story of _Hamlet_ (in fact the lyric being chanted there is "oh that ths too too solid flesh should melt") and like the Prince's life, it gets cut short early.
Absolutely love your reaction to when the bottom drops out of the instrumental section and they slow down before the vocal comes back in on Outcry.
Jordan Rudess was "let loose" on the "Six Degree of Inner Turbulence" album according to Mike Portnoy. They held him back on the previous album on purpose (for a good reason). Songs from the 6DoIT album like "Blind Faith" are still today just hard to beat in terms of musicianship! As good as Blind Faith is, "The Great Debate" is my personal fave when it comes to ranking the best guitar & key chops. As for "This Dying Soul" (your reaction to the outro was FUNNY as HELL! lmfao! I love it!) is a part of a greater whole suite of songs spanning multiple albums about addiction and the AA steps in short. Train of Thought to this day is still their heaviest album in my opinion and MY personal fave of theirs. I saw them in 2004 play the entire album start to finish in Manchester, UK and they've not done that since, it was an EXPERIENCE I'll never forget!
God, "This Dying Soul" is easily my favorite track by DT, happy to see you reacting to this one! That breakdown at 52:34 is INSANE! always gets me right in the balls!
Its a bit cringe with the nu metal influence but still a fkn mental track. I like it
@@Heatwave9000 They had their period when they had a bit nu metal influences, but not to a point where it usually bothered me. When I bought this album, I actually checked from the notebook that came with CD that is Mustaine actually visiting in the album :).
Train of thought is my favorite album, it’s a pure banger.
@@Heatwave9000 wouldn't call it cringe
Train of Thought is a kick ass album.
Images & Words and Awake are two of my favourite DT albums, which happen to have Kevin Moore as the keyboardist in them. Moore also has two more bands which are quite rad: OSI (suggested songs: False Start, Radiologue, Free, Go...) and Chroma Key (suggested songs: On the Page, Undertow, Colorblind). You might like it :) glad as always to see content from you!
I'm with you.
Seconding this idea, and also adding to song list for OSI: wind won't howl, new mama, blood, when you're ready, bigger wave, once,.... Well just too many great songs.
Those first two OSI records are at least really good, then they did a third one that was so bad I forgot that it existed. And it's got Gavin Harrison on it and it's still dull as all get out.
@@Aivri oh yes! Wind won’t howl is sheer perfection!!!!!!
@@chriszilar3657 I know, right? Short form masterclass in buildup and release of tension. That last chorus hits hard.
30 years since the 1st OSI, it's fun to hear that Take The Time solo from Kevin Moore, but surreal to remember him as the young man that would actually want to play that way.
OSI is still in my rotation and will never leave
20 years right? For a second I felt really old haha, the first album from OSI is from 2003. Or did you mean the first Chroma Key album? From 1998, 25 years ago?
Whoever is handling your song suggestions deserves a prize. Blind Faith and Outcry are such hidden gems!
And pull me under was such an unheard diamond in the rough...
Couldn’t disagree more… they are good songs but not among their greats. Put Lie and Sacrificed Sons in there.
@@johnward5404 yeah, I don't mind Blind Faith being done, but Outcry was a bit disappointing to see on the list.
@@johnward5404 Uh huh, like those songs were anything special either
@@dodgrbluoh bs 🙄
I will forever treasure the terms ”funk twerkin’us” and ”heady shiet” as a review for Dream Theater just absolutely brilliant!
I love your Active Listening face lol
Sometimes I forget just how much I absolutely adore this band
"This Dying Soul" is peak Portnoy. It is also song 2 (steps IV n V) of a larger composition, Twelve-Step Suite, which were all written by Portnoy, spanning 5 albums. They reflect his struggles with alcoholism and the 12-step process to overcome it. It's some of the most powerful material in all of DTs catalog
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve-step_Suite
Ya know Geebz, these slowburns are most excellent. In a world of 1 minute sound bytes, the 1hr+ videos have my attention all the way thru. Between you, Daily Doug, Rick Beato and The Charismatic Voice, my entertainment/educational needs are met. I wish Kevin Moore would have stayed with them, he was the perfect metal keyboardist! Thanks Geebz!
Man the first time they broke it down and went “close your eyes, and feel the water rise around me” it completely blew me away… didn’t know I was ready to be washed away and it was NICE!
i highly suggest checking out their most underrated instrumental song ever called 'Stream of Consciousness'. it's a perfect balance between digestibility and craziness. you'll like it
there's something special about that song. and every time i listen it makes my mind wander around the middle, almost like a hypnosis, it's so weird I almost forget I'm listening to it, then at a usual time it brings my mind right back, and I'm left wondering, 'how does that keep happening'
Geebz!!! As a fan of DT since high school, this was a fantastic video with excellent song choices. The album Metropolis Pt. 2 was my introduction to them and Mike Portnoy is one my major drum heroes, but more so it is regarded as one of the best concept albums since The Wall. If you have an hour of free time and are in the mood for more DT, check it out; you won’t be disappointed.
Six degrees is a Masterpiece!!! Probably my favorite and favorite tour…saw them live in Phoenix and followed them to Hollywood Greek Theater! Got to see Dug Pinnick sing Lines in the Sand,like he did on the studio version!! KingsX opened to my surprise!!!! Probably the greatest concert I ever experienced❤🤘
As a composer/music teacher, it's fun watching your reaction to DT. I find my non-musician friends are much less appreciative of them, but insane when you understand the music theory behind it. Even more fun when they are one of your favorite bands. Great song selection, thanks for featuring these! :D
It may not be agreed with, but this was a great playlist to showcase what you mentioned. So many different facets are showcased. Still many more hidden in the rest of their repertoire though 😅
You have to do octavarium. The epic of all epics
Geebz you had to hold your hat on for that Dying Soul breakdown lol
A few interesting notes:
- The keyboardist on the first two tracks is Kevin Moore, their original keyboardist who played on their first three albums. Derek Sherinian then played on one album before Jordan Rudess permanently took over.
- Pull Me Under is a great track, though not one I think most fans would have ever considered to be one of their more notable ones if not for the fact that it was probably a lot of people’s introduction to the band, as it’s literally the only hit radio single they ever had in their nearly 40 year career. There actually was some pressure on the band at the time to play the industry game a bit and try to have at least one track break through, which it did, but eventually they got so disillusioned with the process that they swore off ever trying to do it again. And no, it doesn’t lead into another song, it just kinda ends abruptly like that, lol. Same with This Dying Soul.
- Most people won’t notice or care since it’s not at all uncommon in music in general, but Images and Words (first two tracks) is the only album Mike Portnoy used triggered drums on at the insistence of their producer at the time. Mike is on record as hating the sound of his drums on that album now for that reason, and while I still think it’s one of their best records and love his playing on it, as a drummer myself I tend to agree. The snare sound especially lacks dynamic variety throughout so many of the tracks on it and it’s especially noticeable to me on rolls and fills where you get that excessive machine gun sound, which has absolutely nothing to do with his playing and everything to do with the fact that it’s triggered.
Yeah, the triggered drums really sound awful.
Images and words sounds more dated than Awake, for sure.
I really wish Mike could have gotten the chance to rerecord the drum parts for the album at some point, I would have loved to hear that remix.
Kevin Moore îs the keyboard player. Respect!
Man, I've watched a few reactions to Pull Me Under, but you're the only guy to notice that super complex solo in the verse. You owe it to society to decompose more of this band (also, thank you for the great analysis)!
haha loved the metallica comment. maaaan, i would love to see you react to more of that snarky puppy concert "we like it here". also, maybe a day designated to showing us some of your favorite stuff. we like to find new music too ;)
Train of Thought is their heaviest album, you got that right. It was also my first album and As I Am is my favorite song. I jumped on my seat when I saw the video thumbnail, you're listening to my favorite band! Laughed at the Metallica bass part haha
what the hell are you doing here? xD ahahahah niceeee não sabia que seguias o key of geebz xd ahaha niceee.
“It’s of Dream Theater, as you can see; that’s why you clicked on the video”
Correct, sir
Take the time was the very first song that welcomed me to the mighty Dream Theater
Blind Faith 🙌🏼 one of the most underrated, unique and awesome DT song
Maybe I missed it, but nobody suggested Ayreon to explore? As a composer you should. Especially if you like Dream Theater. A good begin would be The day the world breaks down
When "Image and Words" came out, my first Dream Theater cd that I won from a friend, I had to listen at least 3 times so I started to like and love.
I wish i had seen them back then in early 90's with prime LaBrie and his H-I-G-H notes. That must have been a blast for those attending their lives with the band and its youthful enthusiasm and thirst to conquer the world (which they did eventually)
I'd kill to see a Symphony X slow burn! You have reacted to mostly their heavier stuff thus far, so I'm sure you'd be pleasantly surprised by the variety in their discography as a whole!
First of all thanks, I am so thrilled to have found this. I enjoy each of the DT keyboardist's but as you know now this is Kevin Moore, and DT and fans will forever be in debt to his contribution in the first two albums. Space-dye Vest from Awake and Wait for Sleep from IaW are some of my favorites.
Like others have pointed out, Kevin Moore played the keys on I&W.
Nice to see Blind Faith here, very underrated song. 6 degrees of inner turbulence is imo one of Mike Portnoy's best performances and Blind Faith is a great example of why.
I've been a DT fan since Image and Words and I love how you can never nail down what direction they are headed. If you played every album from "When Day and Dream Unite" to "A Dramatic Turn Of Events" without vocals I believe you'd be hard pressed to tell it was the same band.
Outcry is INCREDIBLE. One of my favorites.
Dang, man, and you're *starting* with _Take The Time!_
This is gonna be a great long form, Geebz!
I'm still here. I love Dream Theater!! Saw them in Royal Oak, Michigan quite a few years back. The show was as epic as you would expect. The CG artwork and visuals that played on the screen behind them were designed and animated by the band. Such talent all around with these guys.
Take the Time is one of my all time favorites. The entire IaW album is the biggest reason I really started to take music more "seriously" and listening to new stuff.
Edit. Oh, one important thing, this album had their original keyboard player Kevin Moore!
Someone might have pointed it out already but Pull Me Under was the closest Dream Theater ever had to a "radio hit", their best of collection is even called "Greatest Hit", in singular 😂 (..."and 21 Other Pretty Cool Songs")
Their vocalist James Labrie had an accident in 1995 after the recording of the Awake album that required vocal chord surgery, apparently the doctors didn't give him much of a chance to keep singing professionally but he was back in full force by the following year! He never was able to hit notes quite as high after that but he still retains that same amazing softness and clarity to his voice up till today, even though his performance on the latest DT album was almost like an afterthought...
LaBrie's newest solo album Beautiful Shade of Grey is a banger though, mostly just regular old country-ish rock instead of the prog metal his solo project has been in the past, but still very good!
Thanks for this man. I would love a episode like that with Angra and Symphony X.
I'm still here!!! Great reaction!! I cant't wait for more DT songs to come... Greetings from Spain!
Train of Thought to this day is still my favorite DT album.
This Dying Soul ?!
what a lovely surprise. underrated song
I'm so excited to listen to this whole thing but I have to go to work. I just started Pull me under". I'm going to listen to the rest of this on the way home later on this afternoon. You are so in for a wild ride. I'm so pumped.
53:45 the passage you're talking about has always reminded me of Metallica actually, Blackened specifically the "Callous frigid chill, nothing left to kill · Never seen before, breathing nevermore. Neverrrrrr" part
Absolutely my favorite band of all time. I would love to see you react to Space Dye Vest. In my opinion, one of their more unique songs in their catalogue.
Geebz my good Sir I'm loving this. I'm a huge DT fan and hearing your thoughts on these songs makes me really happy. Coffee ready, let's gooo! Love your work Sir! The solo section for Take the Time literally steals the air out of my lungs, that's how amazing it is!
YES! You and me both!💯
Haha Geebz, I was waiting for that sudden ending part at the end of the second song: Pull Me Under.
Yes, the song actually ends like that because it's kinda linked to their one concept album for which they made a short "movie".
In their one video the song ends abruptly to go with ther visual story in the video.
Excellent video as usual, friend.😎
In 1992 my good friend told me about Dream Theater and I went and bought the album and fell in love with DT. Every single album they just make me love them more and more. The latest album they recorded it in there own studio. It’s one of my favorites!!! Whenever you do another Dream Theater reaction do just one song but one song that’s more than 20+. The latest album as one song that’s 20:28 (A View From The Top Of The World). Songs DT has are A Change Of Seasons, Illumination Theory, In The Presence Of Enemies: The Heretic And The Dark Master. Several to choose from my friend. Magnificent job breaking down each part in each song. 😊😊😊
Geebz!!!!! This is just what I need!! Cant wait to get home from work tonight, find the headphones and enjoy every second of this. Aloha
Bro what a choice. Glad you made the video
I have so many DT songs I'd love you to react to!! This was a pleasure to watch. Getting to see folks being introduced to who in my opinion is the best most dynamic and talented band in history is always a treat!
Outcry is one of their most complicated technical arrangements, written about the Egyptian revolutionary War that was happening in real time. Glad you liked it!
Still here. Loved hearing your reactions. Train of Thought was the album that introduced me to Dream Theater, a great example of hard rock and progressive metal but within the footprint the band is known for. They use fingerprints all the time, most notable on the octivarium album.
Pull Me under was the only real radio friendly track they had, you definitely picked up on that. They are amazing, many of the other comments are pointing you in the right direction if you want to check out more of their stuff. You won’t regret it.
Geebz dropping two slow burns back to back! Let's go!
The abrupt ending on Pull Me Under was intended as a nod to "The Beatles - I Want You" that also ended abruptly.
"it's heady shit" hammer meets nail head. love ya man!
Six Degrees is Dream Theater’s best album in my opinion. You should check out the full album sometime.
Hey mate...been awhile, I have been very busy but DT got my attention
Was expecting this definitely!!!! As a long dt fan yes please
Outcry was written with the topical influence of the civil turmoil that was going on in Egypt at the time (2010)
Man blind faith is such a great song that I don't listen to enough. Such an insanely difficult guitar section in it
I don't remember if you ever listened to a Liquid Tension Experiment track, but I highly suggest 'When The Water Breaks'.
LTE is a side project with mostly DT members and Tony Levin.
Also, LTE was how Jorden Rudess got in Dream Theater in the first place!
YES! "When the Water Breaks" by LTE is a MUST for this channel!!!
@@jetklaatu9831 It was my favorite track of all time for many years!
Yes! Great recommendation! There is a live, more recent video of them performing this somewhere here on YT... th-cam.com/video/aSU0xBGfkfg/w-d-xo.html
@@AirwavesEnglish can't comment on this because Im biased when it comes to live performances... 99% of the time I prefer and suggest the studio versions of songs
People undoubtedly already commented it, but that sudden stop is how it's supposed to end! It's like that on the album too and it doesn't transition into another song or anything. No epic fail on your part!
Spectacular! Great selection. They literally have the midas touch on anything they do. Thanks for sharing your appreciation for their diligent endeavors.
About 53:20 min in that vocal cadance and end rhymes where he says:
"Come to me my friend.
I'll help this torture end.
Let your ego go.
You can't go through this alone.
You'll find your peace of mind.
You can no longer hide.
Let humility.
And become what you can be."
Reminded me a lot of "Blackened" by Metallica. Replace the words with any of these:
"Blackened is the end.
Winter it will send.
Throwing all you see.
Into obscurity.
Death of Mother Earth.
Never a rebirth.
Evolution's End.
Never will it mend."
Or...
"Blistering of Earth.
Terminate its worth.
Deadly nicotine.
Kills what might have been.
Callous frigid chill.
Nothing left to kill.
Never seen before.
Breathing nevermore."
Or...
"Smoldering decay.
Take your breath away.
Millions of our years.
In minutes disappears.
Darkening in vain.
Decadence remains.
All is said and done.
Never is the sun."
And regarding you comments about "the dying soul" being metal. That whole "train of thought" album is the closest to straight up metal they ever got. And it's one of my favourites... "As I am" and "in the name of God" are my favourites from that album. Killer they are.
Blind Faith, what a treat. That is my absolute favorite DT song, and such an overlooked part of their discography. That song is so deceptively complicated, and there's a reason they hardly ever play it live lol.
JP actually used a baritone guitar on Blind Faith, which gives the guitar that super thick sound.
Also, the Blind Faith unison at the end of the instrumental section is absolutely peak Dream Theater. It's bonkers once you can hear the difference between the guitar and piano part. They're not playing the same thing.
About Blind Faith.. It's interesting how you see how Jordan sew this together. The song I recommended on the pinned comment, Line in the Sand, has a lot to do with Derek's style.
I’m sure this goes without being said, but you MUST check out some Liquid Tension Experiment!! It’s all the members of DT (minus John Myung and James LaBrie) with Tony Levin (King Crimson) playing the Chapman Stick! They’re all instrumental and they crush DT if you’re not a huge fan of LaBrie’s voice, which I am not 😝
I do see you have one LTE track under your belt from about a year ago! Never a better time to dive back in 😊
The track Biaxident was always one of my favs!
He already did The Passage of Time, actually. :)
This is a modern super band.. they have arguably the best guitarist, keyboards and bass player at the time with a really good drummer. The more I learn to play to guitar the more I realize john is insane…
I can’t watch this right now but I AM GOING TO ENJOY THIS LATER!!!! 🎉🎉🎉
Once you have heard the album Systematic Chaos in full, you MUST experience the video for
the making of said album.
So fucking glad you chose these songs. No offence to people who like their new stuff, but in my opinion Dramatic Turn of Events was the last album they released that grabbed me at all. It’s nearly impossible to pick a best album, but Images and Words and Six Degrees are up there for sure!
BC&SL was their last great album. They are nothing without Portnoy.
@@HenritheHorse Probably harsher words than I would use haha, but I do agree - there was clearly a perfect mix when Portnoy was still there, as evidenced by how good Liquid Tension Experiment 3 was!
ADTOE is their best album
@@Heatwave9000 good songs but the drums sound like plastic
@@t3hgir Drums sound kinda buried but its still my favourite album.
The Charismatic Voice did a video with James LaBrie about his vocals. You should check it out!
Great to see this Geebz, thanks. Interesting thing about "Outcry" is that that whole album it came off of echos the album Images and Words in arrangement. Like if I were to write out a description of the song "Lost Not Forgotten" in sections, it could also describe "Under a Glass Moon" From Images and Words. "Outcry", similarly, is basically the same template as "Metropolis Part 1". I would be blown away if you or someone else did a video on the connections sometime.
Thank you for the experience, Sir. This is a playlist I would never have experienced in this form without You. Dream Theater is pretty cool, isn't it?
Thanks Geebz! DT is unrivaled!
Really love your insights and perspectives here. You appreciate true mastery!🤟🏻🙏🏻👍🏻
I'm still here!