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Dream Theater goes … well, theatrical. So having read the hype up to this release I have to say that this is not exactly what I was expecting. With culture’s current obsession with dystopian futuristic machine vs. man science fiction movies/books/themes going on it is no surprise to find one of the most prolific and adventurous progressive bands of our era delving into similar subject material. But, while themes of oppression, governmental control, revolution and war were expected, I never expected this to be a modern day version of Romeo & Juliet … sort of. In reality, it is all of those things and much more. This 2 hour concept double CD (4LP) production “plays” out like a play – truly an epic story of love, betrayal and redemption this was clearly written with the intent to take on the road as a big rock opera/theatrical production. Lyrically conceived and written by Petrucci, the story takes place some 200 years in the future where the reigning powers have allowed the NOMACS to suppress musical expression in favor of electronic noise (sound familiar?) In a manner similar to Rush’s 2112, “The Chosen One” rises from the “oppressed” with the offer of the gift of music to humanity – the music to serve as the vehicle to spur revolution and the restoration of humanity. Yeah, it’s much more complicated than that but no spoilers here. The fun of an album like this is to be able to explore the characters, scenes and backdrop for oneself - far be it from me to spoil anybody’s virgin listening experience.
Musically, this is truly different from where the band has gone before. Sure, they’ve done the epic story telling tracks before (“The Count of Tuscany” just one example), but those songs really could stand alone. The Astonishing is an entire theatrical performance (akin to Pink Floyd’s The Wall) and plays out exactly in that fashion, each song dependent on the preceding track for support and context both lyrically and musically. Sound effects are used to create a cinematic vibe and there are some choral and symphonic elements but they never seem to overwhelm what the band is trying to accomplish. It’s cool how the narration of the story is actually worked into the body of the songs so we don’t get corny spoken parts interrupting the flow of music. The way they reference themselves in “When Your Time Comes” is brilliant. And in general, the genius with much of the diversity here is that if you take the work as a whole it actually pays tribute to many different forms of music (rock, jazz, classical, etc.) and in doing so specifically supports the legacy of Dream Theater and in general all forms of musical expression.
So what about the music that supports this epic story? Well, there are a few things that really surprised me. With the exception of the “overture” type songs that we hear at the beginning of Act I and Act II (not new to Dream Theater), it has been a long time since I heard these guys emphasize the melody and really serve the song in this regard. Some of these songs are a bit mellow (especially Act I), so don’t expect huge technical riffing and endless soloing. That is definitely de-emphasized here to the point that I almost didn’t believe what I was hearing at first (only because it was such a departure for DT), but with repeated listens these melodies are strikingly beautiful. Even Mangini takes a back seat to the song – his normally mathematical machinations supplanted by supporting rhythms injected with the occasional flamboyancies. Interestingly, much of this music reminds me of the Images and Words/Awake era in that regard, as well as Scenes From A Memory. The piano plays a huge role, especially in Act I. More surprising though is that LaBrie handles the vocals of (in addition to the narrator) ALL EIGHT of the key characters! Those familiar with Ayreon – Arjen Lucassen is the master of 2 CD concept releases – will recall his “thing” was to give each character in his stories a different “voice” in the form of an individual singer. Folks, James LaBrie does all of the voices here, which is extremely challenging. And while I would have loved to have heard some guest vocalists on a release like this, LaBrie makes it work. He is truly brilliant on this record. Look, I’ve been a sceptic of his voice in the past, at times when his voice was less than stellar. But his performance here is THE focal point of The Astonishing … and to me that is “astonishing” in and of itself since the history of this band has always been that the vocals kind of take a back seat to the instrumental wizardry. Not so here. Although I will say that while Act I feels a bit more melody driven, Act II brings some of the heaviness, instrumental wizardry and soloing that fans will want. My final surprise with this release musically is that the NOMACS don’t play a bigger role here. Their "music" only occupies 5 short tracks on the entire 2CD set. I really thought there might be more “warring” between traditional music and robotic music, but as it turns out the NOMACS are a very small part of the story here as this is really a story about humanity vs. humanity – the machines are controlled by the behavior of the humans, and the ultimate outcome dictated by human actions.
So where are the negatives? Well, more vocalists would have been more fun in my opinion but I applaud LaBrie’s performance here – his best in nearly 2 decades. I don’t like the long lag between tracks which makes no sense if this is actually to play out like a musical. The digipak presentation is very average, the insert booklet (which is bound to the inside of the digipak) very hard to read. And while I realize the deluxe packages and vinyl packages will provide more in the area of “presentation” I still can’t help but think the label could have done a better job with a release of this magnitude. And so the deluxe editions (ridiculously delayed due to manufacturing issues until later this spring despite the “money grab”) should shine in this regard and provide even more depth into the story, but I’ve yet to hear about any kind of 5.1 formats. I suspect that will come with a BD/DVD live presentation most likely after the tour has concluded. For me, I can’t wait to hear the vinyl version. Although it was well advertised ahead of time that the deluxe box version was not going to be available until March, I was disappointed that the vinyl box set has been delayed since as it was originally slated for release today.
In summary, The Astonishing is a different beast, one that might frighten some fans away while simultaneously entice others to explore. But one thing is for sure – this is Dream Theater through and through, and I for one am really glad to see them not only revisit their more melodic roots but also bring something this inspiring, positive and this hugely theatrical to the stage.
3/17/16 - The vinyl version consists of 4 LPs housed in an impressive thick cardboard case containing Act I and Act II - each act a double gatefold 2LP – the impressive fold-out map one side/poster on other, and the FLAC download card. The 180gm black LP’s (mine nice and flat) are contained within non anti-static, printed sleeves (a character on each side) and the lyrics themselves are printed on the inside of the gate-folds. I have to say, for the most part the packaging is primo but I do not understand why the lyrics are printed in the same small white font as the CD version and they don’t fill the entire inner double gate-fold, so it looks awkward and it’s hard to read the lyrics. This is quite disappointing, to say the least. The artwork on the outside of the box does stand out, though, so that’s a plus.
So how does this version sound? Well, with the criticisms about the overly compressed CD version being mostly valid, some fans will be glad to know that the vinyl version does really impart to these songs a more open and vibrant quality, although the difference between the CD and vinyl is not quite as noticeable on this release as that on, say the new Iron Maiden album where the vinyl sounds worlds better than the CD. The bass end does gain traction on the vinyl, but it still seems a bit suppressed (bass drum and guitar that is). What really stands out here are the vocals and some of the nuances in the music (like crowd and background noises) that really jump out of the speakers on the vinyl and really were “background” in the CD mix. And, the vinyl master sounds really great at high volumes (no distortion) and its here that the bass lines start to assert their power. Overall, I prefer this version, and I’m not an audiophile snob as I realize that digital to analog has its pitfalls. In general, I still prefer D to A vinyl to overly compressed CD/mp3 quality most of the time (unless it’s HD 96/24 digital). Still, until we hear the live performances (which steal the show sound-wise from what I’ve read in reviews so far) I think it is fair to say that the vinyl version, which sounds more dynamic and less compressed than the mp3/CD versions, does this composition more justice but still seems a bit lacking in the low frequency punch. Rotating 4 LPs through 8 sides is a lot of work for some so I think this will mostly appeal to those truly looking for the total “listening” experience to The Astonishing. To me the vinyl experience is a step up from the CD/mp3 version (these are clear/crisp sounding records), but for some the cost may be too steep to justify.
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Cinema Show...
Having viewed an interview with John Petrucci prior to the release, I was made aware that this would not be just another Dream Theater album. So I approached it this way: "This is a movie." I started listening in sections, rather than one sitting. Two different settings were ideal for taking in the new work. First was the mundane task of tuning skis. This activity allowed me to listen to the music. And then, driving to the ski hill made me a captive audience. Two elements hit me right off the bat. Number one: "There are some great songs in here." Number two: "This really showcases James LaBrie's vocals." Regarding the music overall, this is as awesome a movie sound track as I've ever heard. And I have the experience to make that claim... when the Beatles made their debut, I much preferred movie sound tracks. Remember Lawrence of Arabia? Back to Astonishing... The object of the piece is to relate the story. However, you don't have to wait long for the signature Dream Theater instrumental showcases. They are scattered throughout, and kept brief so as not to detract from the story. This work has proven my confidence in the DT team. No matter what their next endeavor is, I trust them.
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Miguel Angel Valdelamar Soto
Buen producto, es Dream Theater
Reviewed in Mexico on February 19, 2020
Miguel Angel Valdelamar Soto
Reviewed in Mexico on February 19, 2020
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