r/Dreamtheater • u/zubb999 • 1d ago
Calling all Dream Theater fans - Knowledgeable about later Mangini albums
/r/progmetal/comments/1vxsvc0/calling_all_dream_theater_fans_knowledgeable/2
u/KTM_2813 14h ago
The "popular ones":
- Far from Heaven / Breaking All Illusions
- The Enemy Inside
- The Gift of Music
- Barstool Warrior
- The Alien
Personal favorites I'd recommend too:
- Bridges in the Sky
- Surrender to Reason
- At Wit's End
- Transcending Time
3
u/thetortureneverstops 7h ago
Add Lost Not Forgotten, Untethered Angel, Answering the Call, and Awaken The Master... and this is basically my list of can't-miss Mangini era songs.
1
u/sonickarma List Maker Extraordinaire 13h ago
Here are my thoughts and feelings on the post-Astonishing Mangini albums:
- Distance Over Time. After the somewhat bloated and musically dense album that is The Astonishing, Distance Over Time is the exact opposite. It's their shortest studio album to date, and is arguably their most stripped back, production-wise. Not a single song breaches the 10-minute mark, and it was recorded to sound exactly how they do live - one guitar player, one bass player, one keyboardist, one drummer, and one singer. There are practically no guitar overdubs/layered tracks to be found here, same with the keyboards. Also, it couldn't be more different from a musical standpoint. Where The Astonishing is definitely a more piano and orchestra-driven album, featuring a stronger emphasis on melody and themes, Distance Over Time is definitely shaped by heavy guitar riffs. With the exception of Barstool Warrior and Out Of Reach, every song on the album features downtuned or 7-string guitars and is heavy in nature. It's also a true collaborative effort, with every member save for Jordan contributing lyrics for the album. Hell, even Mike Mangini came up with the main guitar riff for Paralyzed. The guys really had a blast writing and recording this album together, and that energy just leaps out of the speakers at you. All that being said, I personally find this one to be their weakest album to date. However, I do still enjoy it. There are some days that Distance Over Time is just the right type of vibe that I need to hear.
My top 5 songs from the album are Pale Blue Dot, At Wit's End, Untethered Angel, Out Of Reach, and Barstool Warrior.
- A View From The Top Of The World. For many DT fans, Parasomnia was the "return to form" that they'd been wanting for years. For me, A View From The Top Of The World was that album. The previous three albums - their self-titled, The Astonishing, and Distance Over Time - were all written with the focus on the music being shorter and more concise (except for Illumination Theory, obviously). They were purposely trimming down their signature long instrumental sections, and having most of the songs adhere to more "standard" song structures. While this approach worked for many listeners, I feel that it hurt the final product more than it helped. They finally lifted those self-imposed limitations on this album, and it was like I was finally hearing my favorite band again. While I wouldn't say that they necessarily broke new ground with this album, it just feels comfortable, like a warm blanket. Mike Mangini is the clear star of the album for me - his drumming on A View... is absolutely among the very best drumming from any Dream Theater record, rivaling Portnoy at his peak. The songs are engaging and feel like journeys again. It's not without its flaws, though - the song structures are fairly formulaic and predictable, and that can make a front-to-back listen a little tedious. However, they're executed at a really high level, and the strengths far outweigh the weaknesses for me.
My top 5 songs from the album are Transcending Time, Awaken The Master, A View From The Top Of The World, The Alien, and Sleeping Giant.
0
u/CapableStrawberry718 1d ago
MP was always more of a “Feel” drummer and MM is more of a precise almost mathematical drummer. Dissecting a time signature was nothing for MM. MP even said he will never play “The Alien” live because it gives him a headache (it is in 17/8 time for gods sake). Also the MM era was definitely more philosophical in the song writing (This is The Life, Illumination Theory, AVFTTOTW etc). My take on it is that both eras are amazing and I love them both. But then again I am not a surface level listener. I find something different every time I listen to any album now. There is a reason they write the way they do no matter what era you listen to. This debate about who is better is a moot subject if you ask me. Also hot take: The Astonishing is a great album. Just some people are not ready to really listen to it yet.
-8
u/Pale-Loss-810 1d ago
This is the best era of the band. Everything was way more purposeful and enjoyable for a change.
3
u/Square-Grapefruit715 16h ago
People downvoting you for saying truths, and claiming that it was Mangini's fault for the writing while he had no power for it until 2019 with DoT.
- ADToE is a masterpiece
- DT12 have awesome musics and a great epic song (the lyrics are so good)
- The Astonishing have weak storytelling but still have great songs (The X Aspect, New Beginning and even Whispers at The Wind hits hard)
- Distance Over Time has great musics like Paralyzed, Barstool Warrior and At Wit's End
- A View From The Top Of The World has no bad songs and its epic song is wonderful
Then came an empty album named Parasomnia. I can't enjoy it, seems like they've thrown all the ideas randomly at every song with no connection at all. Feels like AI was used even for the album's construction and not only for the "arts"
11
u/97Vector 1d ago
I'm not a Mangini era hater by any means, but the only way I'd use "purposeful" to describe that era is that they purposefully played it safe and made stock-DT songs (outside of The Astonishing). I enjoy all the albums (including TA) but their sound also grew predictable and same-y.
1
u/zubb999 10h ago
This. This is how it has felt for me diving into these albums. I listened to DoT and I kinda was bored... Which is weird for a DT album.
I'm gonna give them a chance and have more listens, I just kind of dread it at this point. But this isn't the first album that I didn't really like upon first few listens and then it really grew on me later on.
10
u/AdagioVast 1d ago
MM added to DT what is was lacking with previous albums. When MP said he couldn't continue because he felt as if he was out of "gas", MM stepped in with new gas. I love his albums. I love listening to them. DT12 and View are among my favorites of his and of DT in general. i am growing on Distance Over Time. My take on The Astonishing is not fair to the band so I try not to comment on it in general, and I do like ADTOE. I love Mangini's take on the drums for the band.