Dream Theater
 

I enjoy their music very much. I found a quote on the internet and I would like to share it with you. If you are a musician or work with music on a very personal and professional level could you give me your take on this?

"I'm a 17 year guitarist and 7 year recording engineer. My opinion of Dream Theatre is simply that their music stems deeper than anyone here can even probably understand. They are all mathematical geniuses, well schooled in Theory at Berkeley Music. These guys can play any style of music they want to by simply using the "Formula" for that music. Different styles of music use different scales and intervals, creating unique harmonic overtones to that style. Egyptian, Persian, Japanese, Neapolitan, Spanish, etc. When you understand music a little more, you can hear different things, your ears are more receptive and your always trying to understand what they are playing. They are indeed "MASTERS" of the trade and no one can come close to the talent these guys possess. Maybe some of the earlier masters, Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, but that's it."

- Melodyssey


Thank you for your input.

It's ingenius, but overly technical if you ask me.
It's a product, not music in the first place. I like DT by the way, but I realise that it lacks a bit of feel. Tool is even more technical, but at least has some feel to it :)

I like Dream Theater, and at one point I would have ranked them as one of my favorite bands. It's funny that the quote uses the word "formula" because my largest knock of Dream Theater between 2002-2010 was that they had became too formulaic during that period of 4 albums, I think each release got worse and more formulaic, culminating with "Black Clouds and Silver Linings," which I personally did not care for at all.

It's also not rare to have professional trained musicians in bands. I will admit that it is, however, somewhat rare that all the musicians in DT are professionally trained, including Labrie, who has frequently used an Opera coach, but to say that they are all mathematical genuineness seems somewhat odd and a complete overstatement, and even if they were, I don't think that has much to do with creating quality music.

All in all, I like DT, and I won't deny their technical prowess, but a lot of their music lacks an emotional component; therefore, some of it doesn't resonate with me at all.

Agreed, what you are referring to as "feel" I wrote as "emotional component"... agree completely. I feel the same way about Gentle Giant (two completely different bands in style, I know), but for me, both bands can lack a certain feel or emotional resonance-- and that doesn't come from a math formula.

Dream Theater is not a band I can listen to very often but when I'm in the mood I can appreciate their music. I do agree that their music feels a bit lifeless.

Haha, well Tool once based a song on a math formula as you probably know.
I saw Tool live and it sent shivers down my spine the whole concert. Haha, I even feel them whilst typing this. It was an epic experience. I'm not sure what Tool does right.
I see what you mean with the Gentle Giant comparison, altough I must say I never listen to GG, and I to listen to DT a couple of times a year. Not too often.
I should admit that I really only play Images and Words every now and then. Because I like the music, but also because I'm an audiofreak and even though the record has a sharp 90's sound to it, it's a brilliant recording :)

Part of this is due to the singer I think. The music is, imho, far better than the singing itself. Technically he's a very good singer, but again, it lacks feel.
Or, if you will, emotional component (I couldn't think of that, being dutch and all :))

In terms of the Tool math thing, I'm sure you're referring to Lateralus and the whole Fibonacci sequence thing, which was cool. That is a great album, and you are right about the math there; however, Tool still adds a layer of feel or emotional resonance on top of that,which made that album great.. if that album or any album was based solely on a math formula it would fall flat on its face. Agreed on GG vs. DT. I spin DT somewhat frequently, but I rarely listen to GG. I also saw Tool live on the Lateralus tour and it was amazing. Better than any DT show that I have seen.

Honestly, the assessment sounds pretty fanboyish. To claim an artist is greater than the classical minds of history, and that nobody in our century comes close to them is short sighted and frankly, ridiculous.

Matters how badly you have insomnia.

Dream Theater bores me to death. It reminds me of Siberian Orchestra but without the visuals. Lifeless describes it rather well. Its like a machine but not in a good way. I'd much rather listen to Bach, Mozart, or Schubert. I've seen DT live because it was free and even live it lacked any luster. I would call it tedious and severely lacking.