YTSEJAM Digest 5145 Today's Topics: 1) SFaM the best one by "Lic. Guillermo Serrano Malacon" 2) Why I think CowGod and Joe D are right (Story Spoilers) by "Christopher Ptacek" 3) Who killed Nicholas? & Some undefinable noise on track 5, 0:36 by "Christoph" 4) Re: YTSEJAM digest 5143 by "JOSKOE" 5) wow that's a cool video/some DTC by "Trevor W. Hoit" 6) RE: Inspiration corner ****SPOILER**** by Shane Hunziker 7) SFaM by email_address_removed 8) RE: What is that thing on my CD? by Shane Hunziker 9) SFaM ****SPOILER**** by email_address_removed 10) LTE CD's For Sale by Greg Hall 11) Re: tour from a memory by "Wouter Valentin" 12) ROCKS! by Jon Parmet 13) SFAM plot by Adam Sanford 14) Re: SFaM by email_address_removed (Webmaster) 15) chat transcript? by Adam Sanford 16) SFaM mystery by Joe DeAngelo 17) The switchblade by Joe DeAngelo 18) The man who DOESN'T LIKE Metropolis II !! by email_address_removed.fr 19) realvideo chat by "Webb, Ryan M." 20) Re: YTSEJAM digest 5144 by Alexander Coassin 21) SFaM - DUH!!! by "Bernard, Chris" 22) Re: The man who DOESN'T LIKE Metropolis II !! by "Carlos Alfaro" ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1999 02:11:12 -0600 From: "Lic. Guillermo Serrano Malacon" To: Subject: SFaM the best one Message-ID: <000701bf2052$d6d2a780$message_id_removed.mx> Hi ytsejammers: I'm writing this while i'm hearing SFaM, and i've got no words to describe it, the only thing i can say is that Scenes From a Memory is the best DT album and give my thanks to DT for make it. There is no better band in this world than they. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1999 03:38:37 -0500 From: "Christopher Ptacek" To: Subject: Why I think CowGod and Joe D are right (Story Spoilers) Message-ID: <005901bf2056$ab06f760$013ca8c0@madstation> PLEASE DO NOT READ THIS POST IF YOU WANT TO SAVE THE MYSTERY! I MEAN IT! I am just about 100% sure we have solved the puzzle. :) (that in itself is ironic... in I&W it was better to save the mystery, whereas in Home we're greeted with a need to solve the mystery, on the behalf of our protagonist, Nicholas!) -------- Okay, here we go. Tonight Maddy, my friend David, and I sat around and listened to the album straight through in a group (for the record, this was before we got the jam with CowGod and Joe's analysis, so I think that's a sign that we're on the right track). I wrote down 4 pages of notes on the music, and we all interpreted the story together as best we could. The important points are: A). This is hypnotic past life regression, so yes, we are dealing with a story about reincarnation. B). Victoria and Julian bought the farm in 1928. C). Edward apparently lived on. With these three points, you can tie everything together by listening to the auditory cues, if we analyzed the whole thing right. The album as a whole, up to Finally Free, is the story... the who, what, where, and why. Well thought out, and neat, but the mystery is all unveiled in Finally Free. At 0:24, after a little speaking, the therapist (I always see that as The Rapist, because of Benny Hill) says "Open your eyes Nicholas." thus ending the hypnosis. Nicholas gets in his car (what kind of car is that? Sounds like my buddy's old 81 Impala... some trouble staring. :) and drives away. We later hear him park (and the audio sounds as though it's coming from within his car, and the listener is outside the car. That may mean that the Hypnotherapist is there, but I think not). Here's where you have to follow... they do some Pulp Fictioning while the car is driving. Presumably, Nicholas is mulling these things over in his head... these newly unlocked scenes from a memory. He thinks back to the night when he, as Victoria in a past life (which is obvious from the lyrics through most of the album) is shot. That would be in 1928. A voice at 4:35 says "Open your eyes, Victoria." Coincidence? I think not. So there we have Victoria dying 71 years ago. How do we establish that we're actually in the present day, and not still witnessing Nicholas in the midst of a past life regression, as some here have theorized? The news report about JFK Jr.'s death. Why would that be in a past life regression, since it happened only a few months ago in OUR REALITY. What else does the date of JFK Jr.'s death imply? Nicholas, unless he's died again since being Victoria, is 71 years old. How do we support this? I'll get back to that. Now, after turning off the TV (I was watching that same report the day they covered the JFK Jr. crash) Nicholas pours himself a drink. Ice. Beverage. Song. What? If you listen closely, you hear the dark melody from Finally Free... the same one you hear as he's initially getting out of the car. That isn't an accident. No decent studio would have that kind of bleed through. It's intentional, if you ask me. This means that someone else pulled up (who just so happens to be a DT fan listening to the station none of us can find on the dial that PLAYS DT!). And we know at the end of the song, just who that someone is. Now, I said before that we have reason to believe that Nicholas is an elderly man. We actually have 3 reasons, and they're all supported by our conclusion as to what actually happened at the end of the story. 1). After pouring a drink, what does he do? He puts on a record. Not a cd, and not a tape. A record. Only Al and this guy still use that outdated technology, because they're both old enough to remember when it was invented. :) 2). What does he do next? He sits in a rocking chair. Listen to the squeaks as the footsteps of our guest resound. Reason 3 is the last sound we hear Nicholas make. It sounds like an old geezer, not the shout of a young man. Finally, we hear footsteps, and a voice, at 11:14 saying "Open your eyes, Nicholas!" before Nick groans, and the record is knocked off the tracks. (Oooh, foul play!) Why is age important? Well, Victoria presumably died long before Edward. Hence, it stands to reason that she would be reincarnated long before him (don't go to the whole religious thing here... we know that this story is about past lives, and reincarnation. It doesn't matter whether or not you believe in reincarnation, or whether or not you believe DT does... you can embrace the concept for the sake of a story, right?) and would thus be older than he is. Much older. Edward, we then theorize, was reincarnated into the warm voice at the beginning of the album, the therapist... who has come full circle, from a benevolent presence, to an ominous one. Edward is not only a woman beater, but he also beats up on the elderly! I am quite confident in this analysis, and I think the fact that 2 other jammers, as well as the other two people who were with me, all came to the same conclusion supports it. I am rather fascinated though, and would love to hear any other ideas! I will be posting my 4 pages of notes in some abbreviated form, sometime tomorrow. Chris Ptacek - email_address_removed "Everything that can be invented has been invented." -- Charles H. Duell, Commissioner, U.S. Office of Patents, 1899. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1999 10:53:49 +0200 From: "Christoph" To: ytsejam@torchsong.com Subject: Who killed Nicholas? & Some undefinable noise on track 5, 0:36 Message-ID: On 26 Oct 99, at 15:26, Kurt M. Hampton wrote: > Nicholas sits in his car for hours and ponders what he learned and > what > it means to his own life, then goes home only to find that the > psychotherapist went to his house ahead of him and surprises him, then > kills > him a second time. thats why he says "open your eyes, nicholas", which > is > the same thing that he said when he killed him the first time as victori= a > - > "open your eyes, victoria." and the record scratch is the sound of them > struggling. but i think yours makes more sense :) Yeah, that=B4s exactly what I thought! That Edward "The Mad Hypnotherapist= " Baynes killed poor Nicholas! Let=B4s kill him... ;o) Something different: I wonder if someone here has also experienced this undefinable click on track 5, 0:36 on the new CD. It is definitely NOT appearing on the promo C= D!! Who has fucked up this one? Stand up man and fight like a man! BTW, Mike & John: Incredible production. The Best I=B4ve ever heard! Everything comes out so clear and powerful. Great job! Greetings from Germany, Christoph Schr=F6der=B4s World Of Music Befindet sich zur Zeit im Neuaufbau! Deutscher Spock=B4s Beard Fanclub: http://www.thebearded.de MONSTER=B4S OF PROG #2 27.11.99 Alte Festhalle, Flonheim (bei Alzey) mit ESTHETIC PALE, BRIGHTNESS FALLS und SCYTHE Einlass: 18.00 Uhr Beginn: 19.00 Uhr Progrock-Dt & Babyblaue Progreviews proudly present: PROGPARADE =B499 mit NO NAME, BRIGHTNESS FALLS, SCYTHE & ZENOBIA 4.12.99 Klangstation, Bonn / GERMANY Infos unter: http://progparade.musicpage.de ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1999 10:57:53 +0200 From: "JOSKOE" To: Subject: Re: YTSEJAM digest 5143 Message-ID: <000a01bf2059$5b6e59c0$ec643dc3@x2i6z0> hello jammers... me= from holland. going to the concert 11th November in Zwolle. the album was out in Holland the 19th of October allready...(but i am not a spoiler;-)..this album is unbelievable isn't it..i have been in silence since last thursday(when i bought the album)...i am sooooo looking forward to the concert. everybody: i hope you will 'live' this album like i do..it is sooo good. thanks DT. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1999 01:58:41 -0700 From: "Trevor W. Hoit" To: "'Ytsejam'" Subject: wow that's a cool video/some DTC Message-ID: http://www.cyberoctave.com/ Check out the new Buckethead video by Dave McKean (the guy that did the cover of SFaM) featuring Les Claypool (Primus). Wow. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1999 07:27:00 -0400 From: Shane Hunziker To: "'ytsejam@torchsong.com'" Subject: RE: Inspiration corner ****SPOILER**** Message-ID: I hear a LOT of Savatage in both "Fatal Tragedy" and "Finally Free". I seem to recall "The Wake of Magellan" was in the corner, right? Shane Hunziker Harbinger Customer Support -------------------------------------- "You can find all you need in your mind If you take the time."--Dream Theater ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1999 07:52:38 EDT From: email_address_removed To: ytsejam@torchsong.com Subject: SFaM Message-ID: As far as SFaM goes, let me preface my opinion with this: I hate concept albums. I find most of them (with the exception of Operation: Mindcrime) to be borning, self-indulgent, devoid of any hooks, and generally an annoyance. That being said, I absolutely, positively, freakin’ LOVE this album. Yes, the hooks are not as pronounced as in past DT efforts, but when listened to as a whole instead of in parts, the WHOLE ALBUM is one big hook, which I guess was the intent to begin with. Some songs do stand out as strong individual songs, such as “Strange Deja Vu” (my favorite), “Through Her Eyes” (personally, I think the female vox at the beginning is the most stunning and breath-taking thing I’ve heard in years...it’s called “dynamics” people), and “One Last Time.” This album has so many layers to it, lyrically and musically, that I could listen to it for years and still catch something I’ve never heard before. Sometimes the references are obvious (The Dance Of Eternity), and sometimes they are more subtle (Mike replicating the chunky guitar part from Met. I on his hi-hat during “Home”). In any event, this album is not for the faint at heart and actually challenges me, both a musican and a listener (a rarity these days). Jordan fits like a glove and it sounds like they’ve been playing together for years (LTE aside). I like the “circus” sounds he uses. It does add a light-hearted flair that is much appreciated. And those runs...I’m no guitarist or keyboardist, but it sounds like JP and JR were born to play together. They’re so fluid. Lyrically, I believe this is a great effort. Not necessarily in terms of vocabulary, but in terms of painting a picture. James is in fine voice, though I do wish he would have gone for a couple of those high notes more often. And Mike: my God, what are you on? And where can I get some? All in all, I have to say that I am a very happy camper. I wasn’t one of those people clamoring for Met. II, so I can’t take any credit for it’s appearance. But I’m sure glad it’s here. I think I’ve got the story mostly figured out. I’ll post what I’ve got so far. I haven’t read too many jams since the album came out, so I don’t know how much of it has already been covered. Anyway, happy listening and THANK YOU DT! Richie ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1999 07:48:19 -0400 From: Shane Hunziker To: "'ytsejam@torchsong.com'" Subject: RE: What is that thing on my CD? Message-ID: I got mine at Tower, too. Instead of putting the magnetic strip on the shrink wrap, I think they literally open every CD and place it INSIDE the case. That way, shop-lifters can't just rip off the shrinkwrap and stick the CD in their pocket. Makes sense, but wouldn't it be a crappy job? Shane Hunziker Harbinger Customer Support -------------------------------------- "You can find all you need in your mind If you take the time."--Dream Theater > -----Original Message----- > From: email_address_removed [SMTP:email_address_removed > Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 1999 12:45 AM > To: Multiple recipients of list > Subject: What is that thing on my CD? > > > Does anyone else have this thing on the inside of the case? I got mine at > Tower Records, so maybe it's strictly a Tower thing. When you open the > case > and lift the CD out, theres a silver strip on the back insert that you can > > see through the clear plastic. Its a silver strip on another silver strip > on > top of white strip that looks like its glued to the back inside case. Is > that > a security thing or something? What the hell is it? ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1999 08:03:26 EDT From: email_address_removed To: ytsejam@torchsong.com Subject: SFaM ****SPOILER**** Message-ID: ****SPOILER**** Okay, folks. This is SFaM as I see it. I don't know how much of this has already been covered, so I apologize for any repetition. Here goes: Nicholas, a typical late 20th century guy, has been haunted by dreams depicting the same unidentifable girl. To help him discover who this girl is, he visits a hypnotist and undergoes past life regression therapy. Here his journey begins: The year is 1928. He sees a house at the end of a pathway. The whole scene strikes a familiar chord in Nicholas. We hear the voice of a woman named Victoria, who’s words serve as the chorus of the song “Strange Deja Vu” and are later echoed by Nicholas when he is awakened, indicating a bond between them. Nicholas realizes that the bond is that he is the reincarnated spirit of the girl (Through My Words). Unable to sleep later that night, he decides to visit the house he saw in his vision. Once there he talks to an old man who speaks of the death of Victoria as something that was “talked about for years.” Intrigued by the words of the old man, Nick does some research and comes across an old newspaper article that gives details about the crime (“Beyond This Life”), which is the same article that appears on the back of the album’s liner notes. The article also contains the following key information: the “killer” died from an apparent sucide, there was a “witness” who “saw” the killer kill himself, there was evidence of a violent struggle, that same witness discovered a switchblade on the ground, and a note was found in the “killer’s” pocket that was allegedly a suicide note, indicating that it was a crime of passion. Realizing the severity of the crime, Nick begins to feel sympathy for Victoria (“Through Her Eyes”), so much so that he goes to visit her grave. This visit only cements his devotion to discovering the truth about her death, leading to another regression session. At this point, he is searching not only for the truth about Victoria, but for his own identity and peace of mind. Here’s where things get a little tricky. During the next session (“Home”) we learn about the Julian’s (The Sleeper’s) gambling and drug problems, all of which take place in the city. Victoria was involved with Julian (whether they were married or not is a little vague) and felt neglected, forcing her to seek solace in the arms of his brother, the powerful Senator Edward Baynes (The Miracle), as evidenced by the lines “I remember the first time she came to me/Poured her soul out all night and cried.” The Miracle possibly convinces Victoria to leave Julian and start a relationship with him. What started out as fling turns into obsession on the part of The Miracle (“I’ll make her my wife”), so much so that just Julian is addicted to gambling and drugs, The Miracle is addicted to Victoria (the “home” for Julian is the temptation of city and for The Miracle it is the temptation of Victoria, or at the very least the act of having sex with her). The Miracle knows what he’s doing is wrong, but he doesn’t care. He will have her at all costs, possibly as a result of power complex he developed as a Senator. Nicholas feels that the official version of her death, upon learning of the love triangle, doesn’t quite add up. Was her death a result of Julian’s jealousy? Or is there more to it? During “One Last Time,” we learn that she was looking to break it off with one of them, my guess is with The Miracle. Of course she has tie one on before they split up (note to women: don’t sleep with the guy right before breaking up with him...it’s bad form). In an effort to make sense of all this, Nicholas takes another trip to the home where Victoria was killed to see if he missed anything. This trip brings back more memories for Nicholas and he relives the moment of Victoria’s death, a vision so shocking that it erases any doubt that he might have had about this whole past life thing. He now firmly believes in reincarnation (The Spirit Carries On).Furthermore, the house is haunted by Victoria’s ghost (since she’s speaking in the present long after her death). He thinks he knows who the killer is and goes for one last session of therapy. Here is where we learn the most about what happend (Finally Free). Victoria runs into Julian, who has turned his life around and the spark between them is rekindled. They agree to meet somewhere out of the way if not to have sex them at least to talk it over. She’s decided to break it off with The Miracle but not to tell him about her relationship with Julian (or vice versa). They meet and end up in bed together (hence the reversion back to “One Last Time”). The Miracle follows Victoria (I guess he didn’t take the news too well) and catches Victoria and Julian either in the act or just after. It’s unclear whether or not he expected to find both of them there. We hear two shots being fired, a woman’s scream, two more shots, and then the sound of footsteps leaving. Now flash back to the article in the newspaper. The article states that the witness saw the man turn the gun on himself. It should have raised suspicions of the police that there would be two bullet holes in Julian if he was comitting sucide. One should have done it. In any event, both of them were killed by gunfire. So why is there a switchblade at the crime scene? It could have been Victoria’s. But then why is there blood on The Miracle’s hands? It could have been figurative blood.In any event The Miracle is the only survior of the ordeal and then comes up with the idea of planting a bogus suicide note and claiming that Julian killed himself because of his love for Victoria. The police will have to take his word for it, especially since he is a high ranking government offficial and the only witness, though with his influence his name is kept out of the paper. So he returns to the house to plant the evidence and possibly the switchblade to indicate Victoria was trying to defend herself. Satisfied with his findings, Nicholas awakens from his trance at peace with himself. He has found both a sense of identity and Victoria’s killer. Pleased as punch with himself, he drives home. He exits his car, puts the key in the lock to the house, but it is already unlocked. The T.V. is turned on with footage from the JFK, Jr. crash (the tragic death of a famous politician’s relative, sound familiar?). Not the most perceptive of sorts, Nicholas proceeds to pour himself a drink and turns on the record player. Unbeknownst to him, the hypnotist is the reincarnation of The Miracle and follows Nicholas home to do in this life what he did in the last life. He is waiting for Nicholas to get home. Then we hear the voice of the hypnotist, a scream, and a final gun shot, leaving us to guess who actually got shot, though my money is on Nicholas. So that's pretty much it in a nutshell. A very cool story in any event. I definitely did NOT see the end coming since we didn't get much of a glimpse into the character of the hypnotist beforehand. I'm very curious to see what the production of this will be like. If they can pull of something similar to QR's Promised Land show (with obvious compromises for space limitations) I will be very impressed. But this album screams theatrics and that's the one thing missing from DT shows. If they pull that off, they might just become the world's most perfect band. Richie P.S. I had ordered my copy from CDNOW, but when I receieved my backorder notice, I promptly cancelled my order and rushed out to Tower, where it was actually cheaper. Plus DT will get some Soundscan out of the deal. Everybody's a winner. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1999 08:13:50 -0400 (EDT) From: Greg Hall To: ytsejam@torchsong.com Subject: LTE CD's For Sale Message-ID: I am selling LTE and LTE2 for $20 postpaid (for both). Please email me off list if you are interested. U.S. sales only. Please reply off-list (email_address_removed). I am feeling like a dumb SOB, I put Scenes on my birthday list and now have to wait 2 1/2 weeks before I get it. Greg Hall Waterford, MI NP: Neal Morse - Neal Morse ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1999 14:11:04 +0200 From: "Wouter Valentin" To: Subject: Re: tour from a memory Message-ID: <010a01bf2076$fb95ee00$6c16c1c3@valentin> > Dream Theater: Tour From A Memory > A Live Performance in Two Acts > > Act One -- > A Fortune In Lies -- 6 > Under A Glass Moon -- 8* > 6:00 -- 6* > Just Let Me Breathe -- 6* > Metropolis Pt. I -- 10 > > (short 1 or 2 min break, let crowd cool off a bit, then...) > > Metropolis Pt. 2 (Act One) -- 34 > Act One Total -- 74min > > Intermission (20 minutes -- play Maejsty Demos in the background) > > Act Two -- > Metropolis Pt. 2 (Act Two) -- 40 > New Millenium -- 9* > Caught In A Web -- 6* > Learning To Live -- 12* > Only A Matter of Time -- 7 > Act Two Total -- 74min Open your eyes, Matt! :) Where's the Ytsejam?? TTT?? PMU? Lines in the sand?? sorry, couldn't resist.. very good prediction though.. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1999 06:47:12 -0500 From: Jon Parmet To: ytsejam@torchsong.com Subject: ROCKS! Message-ID: Hi, I don't know if I'll be able to buy the disc till next year. Since I can't figure out what my fucking problem is with just unsubscribing, I'd ask (read: lord my opinion) that everyone (you too Mike :) not say anything about the new album till somewhere around the March-August 2000 timeframe. I'll be able to access the mailing list from the new whiz-bang wireless pager thingy. I just got the pager, so depending upon the bandwidth requirements to support the real-time crank distribution, I may not be able to give you instantaneous updates. But that's ok, I know you'll do the right thing. It's the least you can do till EVERYONE from all lat/lon coordinates has the disc and has reported in. Where's the flamewars, the absolute declarations of sellout, the VS. battles, the general pissing and moaning? Look, an F is nothing more than a P that's shed a few pixels on it's journey to the display; but that doesn't mean SPAM can't have its place on the list of things we enjoy too ya know. C'mon! The reason I subscribe to this list is to read about Dream Theater related things. You'd think with the new album out and all, there'd be other things to talk about besides SFAM? But NOOOOOOOO!!!!!! Get a fucking clue!!! SFAM ROCKS MY TITS! :> Regards, Jon '...and, in music theory terminology, the inverted retrograde of "ADSL rocks!" is: "I love LSD". Who says the 60's are over?' -- my brother, a 46 year old musician ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1999 09:07:27 -0400 From: Adam Sanford To: ytsejam Subject: SFAM plot Message-ID: Hey all, a few plot points: Okay, why do people say that Julian (Sleeper) was a gambler? The only vice that is clearly listed is: "Lines take me higher Confined and overtired." That's completely consistent with Julian being a coke-head. Where does gambling (lyrically) manifest itself? I've also been trying to piece together the end in another way. Like a frame story, *perhaps* we were fooled, and the whole discovery of his past was a dream during therapy and the 2nd "open your eyes" was the actual end of therapy. The static representing the realization that his flashback didn't actually happen. But the psychotherapist (miracle) coming back to kill him makes much more sense now that I think about it. Also, WHERE does the miracle say 'Open your eyes victoria' like everyone is talking about? I can't find it. Adam S. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1999 03:59:55 -0300 From: email_address_removed (Webmaster) To: Subject: Re: SFaM Message-ID: <001701bf2048$dfe627c0$message_id_removed> >Sometimes the references are obvious (The Dance Of Eternity), and >sometimes they are more subtle (Mike replicating the chunky guitar part from >Met. I on his hi-hat during "Home"). Oh well , it does sound like it, but that little hihat thing always reminded me of something Jordan does with his keys on Chewbacca (i think) on LTE2. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1999 09:35:56 -0400 From: Adam Sanford To: ytsejam Subject: chat transcript? Message-ID: Does anyone have the chat transcript from last night? I can't find the DT chat info on Sonicnet anymore. Please contact me off list with details if you know anything about it. Thanks, Adam S. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1999 09:41:44 -0400 From: Joe DeAngelo To: YTSEJAM Subject: SFaM mystery Message-ID: Dan wrote: > I haven't looked yet, but is the band going to post > an 'official' version at any point? Actually, I hope not. I mean, I'm curious as hell - - but some mystery being left is great, IMO. It's cool that after 10 years I STILL hear people discussing "who killed Mary" from QR's :OM for example. And Pulp Fiction is extra cool because we never did find out what was in the briefcase..... the movie would lose some of it's magic if Quentin Tarantino (sp?) came out tomorrow and said "yeah man, it was full of cocaine" or something. I WOULD kinda like to hear SOME explanation on why Julian/Senator are called the Sleeper and the Miracle though. I can't see any good reasons, honestly - which makes it just a sorta cheesy way to connect it to Met. Pt. 1. - Joe D. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1999 09:43:25 -0400 From: Joe DeAngelo To: YTSEJAM Subject: The switchblade Message-ID: Oops, sorry to post twice in a row. I forgot to ask if anybody has any ideas what's with the switchblade mentioned in Beyond This Life? - Joe D. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1999 15:41:01 METDST From: email_address_removed.fr To: ytsejam@torchsong.com Subject: The man who DOESN'T LIKE Metropolis II !! Message-ID: Naa, just kidding !! But so far I only read good feelings about this Album, so I'll try to find some things that could have been better (for me). First, you must understand that Dream Theater is located this way on the "music line": ------Progressive Rock------Dream Theater--------Hard Rock-------> Half of Us are coming from the "left side" of DT, and half from the "right (dark?) side". To understand my opinion, you should know that I'm from the Left Side: 1. Mp2 is not the best concept album of the 90s. I think 2 of them are better: - "Subterranea" from IQ - "Into The Electric Castle" from Ayreon So let's say that Mp2 is the best 1CD-concept album of the 90s ;) 2. Why is it not a woman that's singing the Victoria parts? Someone like Anneke from The Gathering would have been perfect... 3. Is it me or the Act II of Mp2 is FAR better (because more quiet) than the first one? I must say that when I listen to it from the beginning to the end, I always think about skipping "Beyond This Life". I understand that this song has to be "violent", because it talks about the way Nicholas/Victoria died, but I think it is too different from the rest of the CD... 4. I think, whatever happened, that they could have wrote somewhere the name of Derek... That's it for my "bad" feelings about the album. On the other hand, it is sure: - one of the 25 best albums of the 90s - one of the 3 best albums of DT To end this mail, I'd like to say "Milles bravos" (yes , I'm french) to Jordan Rudess, whose personnality is audible during all the album. That jazzy part on the Act II is excellent! Well, I'm going to listen to it again. Hope the next one will be ever more progressive! Florent Diverchy Proglistener in Avignon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1999 08:47:28 -0500 From: "Webb, Ryan M." To: "'ytsejam@torchsong.com'" Subject: realvideo chat Message-ID: Did anyone record the realvideo chat last night? My freaking internet connection at home has been down for 3 days straight, so I couldn't participate.... I'd appreciate it if anyone that has it could e-mail me privately (not at home obviously..hah!).... and let me know. Thanks ;) email_address_removed p.s. thoughts on SFaM: might as well go sell all my other CDs now....this is the only one I'll be listening to for a long, long time to come :) ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1999 10:13:10 -0400 From: Alexander Coassin To: ytsejam@torchsong.com Subject: Re: YTSEJAM digest 5144 Message-ID: I can't believe no one is talking about "One Last Time", that songs is awesome, especially all the melodic parts towards the end. I heard someone say this song is cheezy -- what's the general consesus out there for this one?? alex ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1999 10:15:28 -0400 From: "Bernard, Chris" To: "'ytsejam@torchsong.com'" Subject: SFaM - DUH!!! Message-ID: Howdy, y'all...... Hmmm.................. Since i'm the father of a 3-and-a-half year old boy, i'm in Halloween preparedness mode -- therefore my first reaction to SFaM came out like this: After the first couple of listens to SFaM i come away feeling like the kid who goes trick-or-treating and is the first one who discovers the house that's giving away the full-size Hershey bars!!! :-o :-o i was afraid expectations would be a bit high, especially when i read the little sticker they put on the outside of the CD's packaging! But i don't think too many people will walk away from this record disappointed. i'm not even going to attempt to get into discussing the intricacies of the plot line; i'll need all the time i can find in the coming weeks and months to listen to, and pay attention to, all that is going on there. (Although, initially at least, i'm reminded of one of my all-time favorite movies: Dead Again, Kenneth Brannagh's masterpiece) Musically, the record rocks when it should and quiets down when it should. It draws from the best, classic "concept" albums; but then adds to the formula in a way it seems only DT can. Namely, the revisiting of riffs and themes from earlier works -- esp. Met 1. Then there's James' work. To me, he's rediscovered a passion in is singing; and that really helps to make the album work. WOW! It's a treat to know that there are still bands out there that have the guts to record an album like this. If for no other reason, the boys in DT should be commended for that! But there are other reasons. This album may prove to be the defining moment of Dream Theater's career - past and future. What are they gonna do to follow this one up?!? ;-) NP: The Cowsills Greatest Hits -- NOT!!! have fun...... CHRIS =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Calvin: "You don't think humans evolved from monkeys?" Hobbes: "I sure don't see the difference!" =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1999 10:23:16 -0300 From: "Carlos Alfaro" To: Subject: Re: The man who DOESN'T LIKE Metropolis II !! Message-ID: <000901bf207e$6df368e0$message_id_removed> > 1. Mp2 is not the best concept album of the 90s. I think 2 of them > are better: - "Subterranea" from IQ > - "Into The Electric Castle" from Ayreon > So let's say that Mp2 is the best 1CD-concept album of the 90s ;) > > 2. Why is it not a woman that's singing the Victoria parts? Someone > like Anneke from The Gathering would have been perfect... Oh god You EVIL EVIL MAN! I hadnt thought of this and it would be sooooooo perfect!!!! I can only picture her going "tonight ive been searching for it , a feeling thats deep inside me" *shivers* > > > 4. I think, whatever happened, that they could have wrote somewhere the > name of Derek... Me thinks so too! Specially since im positive (call me crazy, i dont care) that some of SFAM *had* to be leftover from the previous met2 sessions. To end this mail, I'd like to say "Milles bravos" (yes , I'm french) > to Jordan Rudess, whose personnality is audible during all the album. That jazzy > part on the Act II is excellent! Which one? ------------------------------ End of YTSEJAM Digest 5145 **************************